Excerpt from The American Library Institute: Papers and Proceedings, 1917

The topic of archive libraries was introduced in order to have the matter of library history represented. Effort was made to get a recognized specialist in cuneiform collections (and we have them among American librarians) to undertake it, but as no one of them could prepare a paper at this time, it seemed worth while to take it up from the standpoint of the general student of library history and especially in order to call attention to two things: First that there is a work {to be done in the collecting of source materials on library history and making them available, a work which can he done by one who is not trained to the finest point as an expert specialist, and second, the fact that if we keep the scientific aim high we need not be afraid of the attempt or essay at a task, in which we cannot expect to reach final results. We aim in this Association at nothing less than the encouragement of systematic research in the book sciences on the highest and most exacting critical standards and in the most advanced methods. We are committed also, however, as practical librarians to the principle that something finished is better than a lot undone, and if the work that shall be done by the Insti tute is not always perfect, this is only what is true of all scientific associa tions, even 'in the field of natural science and what is still more true in the historical and linguistic associations.

The paper itself is merely an introduction to some printed collections of material on the subject which will be given in the appendix to the Proceed ings.

During the last three decades, the discoveries in early library history have been sensational and the results from the literature found, although these are only very partially exploited as yet, have been revolutionary as to ancient history.

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