L I B R.ARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AM 1886-89 this material is re- The person charging 1 its return on or before sponsible for below. Latest Date stamped ond underlining of books Theft, mutilation, aet.on and may are reasons for disciplinary from the Un.vers.ty. result in dismissal University of Illinois Library

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L161 O-1096

PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS

NINTH GENERAL MEETING

AMERIGO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

ROUND ISLAND PARK THOUSAND ISLANDS

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

BOSTON LIBRARY BUREAU 32 HAWLEY STREET 1887 CONTENTS.

Title. Author. Page.

President's address W: F: Poole . , Action of burning-gas on leather C. J. Woodward

Lettering books J. Edmands . . ' . A notation for small libraries C: A. Cutter . 14

Alphabeting J. Edmands . , 16

The British Mu!ei'm system of press-marks . G: W: Harris . . . 21

Business methor":- ,n library management . F: M. Crunden . . . 25 The British Museum catalog as in use in the library of the Young Men's Christian

Association of New York City . R. B. Poole .... 28

Frequency of registrations of book-takers . //:/. Carr 3

A quicker way of measuring books . G: W. CoU .... 35

' Newspaper volumes in a library . . . . //: M. Utley .... 39 Pamphlets and continuations of serials . L. Swift 40

How to bind periodicals . .V. C. Perkins . . . 44 Some thoughts on close classification . G: W. Cole .... 46

Libraries for specialists . C: A. Nelson .... 5i

The Columbia College School of Library Economy from a student's standpoint . . . Miss M. W. Plummer . 53

The relations of city governments to libraries . W: Rice 54

Special collections at Ithaca . G: L. Burr -. . . . 59 62 A course of reading for school children . /: C. Sickley ....

Report on library architecture . J. N. Lamed .... 6?

The possibilities of public libraries in manufacturing communities . Mrs. M. A. Sanders . 85

Libraries and schools . S: S. Green .... 90

Hours of opening libraries . E. C. Richardson . . 92

Brief review of the libraries of Canada . /. Bain, Jr 96

Bibliographic bureaus . H. Putnam 99

Report on catalogues and aids and guides for readers, 1885-87 . W: C. Lane . . . . 104

Proceedings 113 Fourth Session 132 First Session ii3-.i2i Fifth Session 132-137

President's address 113 Classing and arranging maps and charts . . -132 Secretary's report 113-114 Library architecture 132-135 - Treasurer's report 114-115 Distribution of public documents '?5 '37 Cooperation committee's report 116 Free access to the shelves ....'.... 137 Report of committee on School of Library Econ- Sixth Session 137-140 omy, with letter of Miss James 116-117 Public documents I 37" I 38 Action of electric light on paper 118-119 Indexes made by the Patent Office Library . . 138 Report of the committee of arrangements . . . 119-120 Resolution concerning State librarians .... 138 Notation for small libraries 120-121 Schools and libraries 138

Alphabeting 121 Officers. . .< <39 Second Session 122-128 Report of the coMniittee on resolutions ... 139 Alphabeting 122-125 Place of meeting for 1888 39 Jenner's sliding shelf 125 Seventh Session 140-146

Business methods in library management . . . 125-126 Library assistants ...... "4 Librarian's duty 126 Bibliographic bureau ...... 140-142 Manuscript catalogue 126-127 Kansas libraries ...... 142-143 Auditing committee's report 127-128 Place for the next meeting ..... i43~M4 Third Session r28-i32 Badges '44 Newspaper volumes 128-129 Ferree's Mutual Library of Philadelphia t44-'4S Adjustable periodical case 129 Miscellaneous i45-'4&

Binding periodicals ijo Appendix i : A. L.A. Publishing Section. 146-147 of sale r 5 Catalogue 'duplicates (30-131 Appendix 2 : Excursions ...... I47'

1 Seminary work iji Attendance register ...... '5 CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS.

THOUSAND ISLANDS, AUG., SEPT., 1887.

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT,

WILLIAM F. POOLE, LL. D., LIBRARIAN OF THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY, CHICAGO.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSOCIA- When our association was organized at Phil-

TION : adelphia, in October 1876, and it was proposed WE meet for our ninth annual conference to hold annual conferences, the doubt was ex- amid these beautiful islands which fringe the pressed whether such frequent meetings could outer limit of our northern frontier, and near be sustained. Were there topics in our pro- the boundaries of our Canadian brethren. fession of sufficient number and interest, that Some of these brethren we have with us, and we could write and talk about them as often we welcome them to our conference with sen- as once a year ? Should we not, after two or timents of friendship and esteem. Whether three meetings, be threshing old straw? An the homes of those present be north or south inspection of the programme before us and of of the river St. Lawrence, we are all, in the the printed proceedings of recent years will best sense, Americans. Little more than a show that the apprehension was wholly ground- century has passed since the countries which less. Bibliography in itself, and more espe- are now the Dominion of Canada and the cially in its relations to library administration, United States had a common history; and is a progressive study, and I think we may they have to-day common interests and aspira- venture to term it a progressive science. Old tions. I believe that not many decades of topics require to be discussed in new rela- years will have passed before they will again tions, and new subjects come up every year have a common history and a common des- which were not thought of when the associa- tiny. tion was organized. There is every probabil- We come from our various fields of labor ity that the attendance and the interest in to enjoy the delightful social intercourse which these annual conferences will increase; that these annual reunions afford and to be bene- the schemes will from to ; expand year year ; fited and strengthened in our^vork by listen- and that the committee on the programme will ing to the papers and discussions, of which so grow in wisdom, and prescribe a week for the generous a scheme has been provided by the presentation of papers and their discussion. committee on programme. The committee The subject to which I now wish to call this year, I think, has distinguished itself in your attention is : giving us a rich, varied, and solid bill of fare, The Public Library of our Time. and one unsurpassed by that of any previous conference. Their wisdom is also conspicu- I use the term public library with the ous in giving us four days for the work they same restricted signification which is attached have so liberally provided for our profit and to the term pttblic school, meaning by it a entertainment municipal institution, established and regu- THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

lated by State laws, supported by local taxa- a public library in every city and town in the tion, and administered for the benefit of all United States, the National Library at Wash- the residents of the municipality which sup- ington, the Astor in New York, and the Library ports it. It is unfortunate that we have not of Harvard University would be more con- in our vocabulary a term to express this mean- sulted, and be more essential to the public ing without using one which has been and is than they are at present. still used, to some extent, with so wide a sig- The enormous increase in the number and nification that it includes any and every col- size of the libraries of the world during the lection of books which is not the of is remarkable and the most property present century ; an individual and a private library. In this of this growth has taken place since the country there is no ambiguity in the term establishment of the first free public library, public school, for the people have long been less than forty years ago. In 1821 the familiar with the institution. British Museum, now with its nearly 2,000,- The public library, however, as here de- ooo volumes, had only 116,000. Washington fined, has come into being within the memory Irving spoke of it about that time in his of some of us here present. Its rapid devel- "Sketch Book" as "an immense collection of opment during the past thirty-five years in volumes in all languages, many of which are the United States and England furnishes an now forgotten, and most of which are never interesting indication of the progress which read." In 1835, when the first royal com- characterizes the popular methods of educa- mission was appointed to examine into the tion in our time. affairs of the British Museum, it had only Public collections of books for the benefit 200,000 volumes and an annual appropriation of scholars are not new. They are as old as from Parliament for its support of from .200 civilization. They flourished in Egypt in the to .300 an allowance on which most of time of Rameses II., in Athens in the time our town libraries would starve. In 1837 of Pericles, in Rome in the time of the Antony Panizzi was appointed keeper of the Caesars, and all through the middle ages. printed books in the Museum, and began his Every country in Europe has its national great work of library administration and re- library, and many a continental city has its old generation. In 1845 he addressed a memoir municipal library of musty books which the to the trustees, setting forth the deficiencies masses of the people never care to read. of the library, recommending that they be The universities have their collections, and supplied by an adequate appropriation from some of them are excellent. The public Parliament, and that the books in the library library is not a substitute for, and will never be catalogued in a uniform and scientific supplant, these and other collections which method. The trustees indorsed his recom- are for the use of scholars. Its mis- mendations but there was needed ; much opposition sion is among the people at large, to inspire to them in Parliament and prejudice on the a taste for reading, to raise the general stand- part of literary men, chiefly on the ground ard of intelligence, to stimulate literary, his- that Mr. Panizzi was a foreigner and pre- and scientific research when its sumed to instruct In Mr. torical, ; and, Englishmen. 1847 own resources are exhausted, to send inquir- Edward Edwards further called the attention ers to larger collections, if any such be acces- of the public to the low condition of libraries sible. In some of our cities, the public library, in England and the United States, in a paper besides providing for the wants of the masses, which he read before the Statistical Society already outranks every other library of the of London, and printed in the Journal of the vicinity in books of a higher grade, and has Society in August, 1848. He showed that in become the home of the scholar. The more London the ratio of books to the population we have of large collections of books, whether was less than in Naples and Lisbon, and less, they be circulating or reference libraries, the even, than in Dublin. Brussels was five better it will be for the country. If there were times better supplied; Paris, seven times: POOLE. 3

times introduce a resolution for the of Dresden, twenty-one ;' Copenhagen, appointment times and a select committee to into the best twenty-three ; Munich, thirty-seven inquire times. In the United States the largest means of establishing free libraries, especially library he cited was that of Harvard College, in large towns. In March, 1849, ^ie offered with 68,500 volumes; and then in order of such a resolution, which, after marked opposi- size, the Philadelphia Library Company, 55,- tion from conservative members, was adopted, ooo; Boston Athenaeum, 35,000; Yale Col- and Mr. Ewart was made chairman of the York committee. The lege, 34,500 ; New Society Library, inquiry began April 19, 1849, and the of was continued till and the 30.000 ; Library Congress, 28,000. June 12, evidence, These were the statistics of American libra- with the committee's favorable report, was ries just forty years ago. Prof. Jewett's printed in the blue-books. In February, 1850, statistics appeared in 1851, and, although they Mr. Ewart introduced a bill enabling town were somewhat higher, they substantially con- councils to establish public libraries and muse- firm the general accuracy of Mr. Edwards's ums, limiting the rate of taxation for their sup- estimates made in 1847. port to one half penny in the pound; requiring From 1847 to 1850 the stupor which had the affirmative vote of two thirds of the tax- settled down the interests of its to towns upon library payers ; restricting operations England and the United States was rapidly which had at least 10,000 inhabitants, and breaking up. The prejudice of literary men providing that the money so raised should be in England against the energetic methods of expended only in buildings and contingent Mr. Panizzi led to the appointment of the expenses. Meagre as this bill was, compared second royal commission to investigate the with the later enactments of Parliament, it affairs of the British Museum. The com- met with persistent opposition from the con- mission held its first session July 10, 1847, servative benches. Mr. Goulburn, an ex- and the last June 26, 1849. Every man of chancellor of the exchequer, objected to the letters in England who objected to what Mr. bill on the ground that it did not give suffi- Panizzi was doing, and who thought he knew cient power to form a library; that it made all there was to know about cataloguing and no provision for the purchase of books, and library management, had an opportunity to he should object to it more strongly if it did. in his before the commission to select the ? was new give testimony ; Who was books every and it may be read in two bulky blue-book publication to be procured? or was there to folios. It is now, as it was then, droll read- be a literary censorship set up? Another ing. A multitude of persons not especially member claimed that the bill would enable a interested in libraries in the United States few persons to lay a general tax for their own as well as in England read the testimony benefit, and that the library would degenerate for the entertainment there was in seeing wit- into a political club. Mr. Spooner feared ness after witness confused and demolished these free libraries would turn into normal by the wise and sagacious questioning of the schools of agitation. Lord John Manners op- foreigner whom they had volunteered to con- posed the bill because it imposed an addi- fute. The report of the commission was a tional tax upon the agricultural interest. Sir triumphant vindication of Sir Antony Panizzi Roundell Palmer, later lord chancellor of and his principles. He was knighted soon England, feared that the moment the com- after his notable victory. Since that time lit- pulsory principle was introduced a positive erary men have not been eager to indulge check would be imposed upon the voluntary in public criticism on the methods of pro- self-supporting desire which existed among fessional librarians. the people to supply themselves with books. While this investigation was in progress, Mr. Hume thought it was a scheme to get the and perhaps inspired by the interest it awak- Daily News and other liberal newspapers on ened, Mr. VVm. Ewart gave notice in Parlia- file. Three members representing the univer- ment that at the coming: session he should sities spoke and voted against it. The liberal THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

members generally favored the bill. Mr. the subjects on which English people quarrel Bright said that one half of the objections to most must be excluded. The experiment it were not fairly put, and the other half did of including these books in the Manchester not apply. The bill passed, ayes 118, noes and Liverpool libraries, where they were paid 101. for by private subscription, having been tried The Manchester, Liverpool, and Bolton free with peaceful results, all apprehension of dan- public libraries were immediately organized ger from this cause was removed. The adop- under this act, the cost of the books being tion of the compulsory system did not impose defrayed by private subscriptions. In 1854 the a check on the voluntary desire of the people provisions of the act were extended to Scot- to possess books, but increased that desire. land and Ireland. In 1855, the new libraries The subscription libraries were better sup- having gone into operation with the most en- ported, and book sellers had an increase in couraging results, Parliament passed a more their sales in localities where there was a liberal library bill, by a vote of three to one, public library. which raised the rate of taxation from a half- Thus far I have traced the origin and penny to a penny in the pound, and allowed progress of the public library in England. the income to be expended in books. Provis- There was a corresponding movement going ion was also made that the act should apply on at the same time in the United States. If to towns, boroughs, parishes, and districts the sole credit of a discovery must be awarded having a population of 5,000; and it allowed to the party who first suggested the idea and two smaller adjoining parishes to unite in the first put it into operation, the honor of dis- establishment of a library. A public meeting covery in this instance must be claimed as of the rate-payers, duly convened, could estab- American. Mr. Ewart, in his Report of the lish a library without a popular vote. Select Committee on Public Libraries, 1849, " In 1866 the library act was again enlarged says : Our younger brethren, the people of by removing the limit of population required, the United States, have already anticipated and reducing the two-thirds vote on the library us in the formation of libraries entirely open tax to a bare majority vote. Provision was to the public." No free public library, how- also made for cases in which the overseers of ever, was then in operation, in the United parishes refused or neglected to call a meet States, yet one had been authorized by legisla- ing of the rate-payers to vote on the question. tive action. The movements in the same Any ten rate-payers could call and organize direction in England and the United States such a meeting, and the vote there taken seem to have gone on independently of each and other and in the debates and would be legal binding. ; public private The English public-library system is now correspondence relating to the subject there so popular and firmly established, outside of seems to have been no borrowing of ideas, or London, that it cannot be disturbed. Its scarcely an allusion, other liian the one chief patrons are the middle classes, the arti- quoted, to what was being done elsewhere. sans and laborers. The recent extension of In October, 1847, Josiah Quincy, Jr., mayor suffrage in England has strengthened the of Boston, suggested to the City Council that system. No candidate for official position a petition be sent to the State legislature could now hope for success who is not a asking for authority to lay a tax by which friend of the public library. It has been the city of Boston could establish a library found that public libraries have not become free to all its citizens. The Massachusetts political clubs and schools of agitation, but legislature, in March, 1848, passed such an on the other hand have greatly raised the act, and in 1851 made the act apply to all the standard of intelligence among the voters. cities and towns in the State. In 1849 dona- No controversy has arisen concerning the tions of books were made to the Boston selection of books. It was at first supposed Public Library. Late in the same year Mr. that those relating to politics and religion Edward Everett made to it the donation of POOLE. 5 his very complete collection of United States demand something injurious create a real documents, and Mayor Bigelow a gift of appetite for healthy reading. This appetite $1,000. In May, 1852, the first Board of once formed will take care of itself. It will, Trustees, with Mr. Everett as president, was in a great majority of cases, demand better organized, and Mr. Joshua Bates, of London, and better books." his first donation of for the use These were ideas and were the made $50,000 new ; they of the library. ideas over which the wise men in the British It was fortunate that the public-library Parliament stumbled when they opposed Mr. system started where it did and under the Ewart's bill. They were new ideas to Mr. supervision of the eminent men who consti- Everett, and he was not ready to accept tuted the first board of trustees of the them. He entertained the opinion, then com- Boston Public Library. Mr. George Ticknor monly held by educated men, that libraries was the person who mapped out the saga- were for the sole benefit of scholars. Com- cious policy of that library a policy which mon people had enough to do without read- has never been improved, and which has ing books. Mr. Ticknor's opinion was that been adopted by all the public libraries in the main purpose in the establishment of the this country, and. in its main features, by the Boston Public Library was to serve every free libraries of England. For fifteen years class in the community, but especially to or more Mr. Ticknor gave the subject his benefit the middle^and lower classes of the personal attention. He went to the library people, who had few or no books of their own, " every day, as regularly as any of the em- or, as he said, to carry the taste for reading ploye's, and devoted several hours to the as deep as possible into society." To Mr. minutest details of its administration. Be- Ticknor's letter Mr. Everett replied July 26, " fore he had any official relations with it, he 1851. He said: The extensive circulation gave profound consideration to, and settled of new and popular books is a feature of a in his own mind, the leading principles on public library which I have not hitherto which the library should be conducted. much contemplated. It deserves to be well In his biography by Mr. Hillard one of weighed, and I shall be happy to confer with the most charming of American books is a you on the subject. I cannot deny that my letter of his, written July 14, 1851, at Bellows views have, since my younger days, under- Falls, Vt. (where he was spending the sum- gone some change as to the practicability of mer), to Mr. Everett, giving his views as to freely loaning books from large public libra- what the new Boston library should be. His ries. Those who have been connected with main purpose, he said, would be to encourage the administration of such libraries are apt a love of reading, and to create an appetite to get discouraged by the loss and damage for it. "I would," he said, "establish a resulting from the loan of books. My pres- library which differs from all free libraries ent impressions are in favor of making the I mean one in which in the for the use yet attempted ; any amplest provision library popular books, tending to moral and intellec- of books there." In other words, he then tual improvement, shall be furnished in such favored the establishment of a public refer- numbers of copies that many persons can be ence library. reading the same book at the same time; in In the autumn of 1851, Mr. Ticknor re- short, that not only the best books of all turned to Boston, and frequently conferred sorts, but the pleasant literature of the day with Mr. Everett on the subject considered shall be made accessible to the whole people in their late correspondence, and they still when they most care for it; that is, when it held opposite opinions. In the spring of is fresh and new. I would therefore continue 1852, the mayor tendered to both these gentle- to buy additional books of this class almost men positions as trustees of the new Public as as are asked for and Mr. in conference with the long they ; thus, by Library. Ticknor, following the popular taste unless it should mayor, said that he must decline the position THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

unless the library was to be opened for the est he has taken in this branch of the library's its free circulation of most of books ; and un- work." less it were to be dedicated, in the first in- Started as the public-library system was on stance, rather to satisfying the wants of the such principles, and under the guidance of less favored classes of the community than these eminent men, libraries sprang up rapidly like all public libraries then in existence in Massachusetts, and similar legislation was to satisfy the wants of scholars, men of adopted in other States. The first legisla- science, and cultivated men generally. The tion in Massachusetts was timid. The initia- mayor fell in with Mr. Ticknor's views, and tive law of 1848 allowed the city of Boston to they became the policy of the library from the spend only'$5,ooo a year on its Public Library, start. Mr. Everett did not his which has since a yield opinions ; expended $125,000 year. but accepted, with Mr. Ticknor, the position The State soon abolished all limitation to the of trustee, and consented that his friend's amount which might be raised for library pur- idea's should have a fair trial. When he had poses. New Hampshire, in 1849, anticipated seen them in operation, he frankly abandoned Massachusetts, by two years, in the adoption his former views his ser- of a law. Maine followed in ; and, during long general library vice as president of the board of trustees, 1854; Vermont in 1865; Ohio in 1867; Colo- the new his earnest and and Wisconsin in Indiana gave system approval rado, Illinois, 1872 ; support. and Iowa in 1873; Texas in 1874; Connecti- Eight years later, Mr. Ticknor, on the oc- cut and Rhode Island in 1875; Michigan and casion of his presenting 2,000 volumes to the Nebraska in 1877; California in 1878; Mis- Public the of which he souri and in Kansas in 1886. Library, larger portion New Jersey 1885 ; wished placed in the circulating department, New York in 1872 enacted an impracticable wrote in a letter to the trustees: "In statute, under which no public library was this department of the library I have always ever established. No one seemed to have felt the greatest interest. From the earliest heard of the law at the time. It was not suggestion of such an institution, it had been discovered until 1879, when our associate, my prevailing desire that it should be made Dr. Homes, in his antiquarian researches, useful to the greatest number of our fellow- brought it to light. citizens especially to such of them as may The form of legislation in the several States be less able to procure pleasant and profit- is various, as will be seen in the following able reading for themselves and their fami- brief sketch of each, and what has been ac-

lies. This is known to all the trustees with complished under it : whom I have successively served; and our The statute of Maine is a sort of pauper president [Mr. Everett] remembers that I law. Any town can raise by taxation $i should never have put my hand to the institu- on each ratable poll for the forming of tion at all, except with the understanding as a public library; and thereafter 25 cents to its main object and management. Nor annually for its maintenance. Such a beg- has there been any real difference on this garly rate will not establish and maintain in the point among the different persons who have a public library. The result is seen controlled its affairs during the eight years of fact that there are only twelve such libraries in volumes. its existence." [8th Ann. Report, p. 34, 35.] the State, with'an aggregate of 25,409 The letter was referred to a committee of Some of these have the name of a person in which Mr. Everett was chairman, .and in his their titles, as ''Rice Public Library," "Sears report on the subject he says: "The com- Public Library," which means that a public- mittee concur with the views presented by spirited citizen has helped out the alleged Mr. Ticknor in the letter referred to them; poverty of the town, and the positive mean- and it is no more than justice to add that ness of the legislation. Bangor has a nomi- he has from the foundation of the institution nally public library, with 23,255 volumes, other distinguished himself for the efficient inter- about equal to the number in all the POOLE.

public libraries in the State. The character Hartford, New London, New Britain, and of this library is both subscription and free, Norwich have no public libraries. In New which rules it out of the category of public Haven, a public library was opened in May libraries, which are necessarily free. 1887, with 4,000 volumes and an annual tax The statistics which I give have been col- of $12,000. In 1 88 1 a law was passed, allow- lated with some labor from the late and very ing towns to lay a tax of two mills. Previous excellent report of the Bureau of Education, to that time the State law permitted a city or 1886. It is unfortunate, however, that in this town to establish a library, but made no report no designation is made, other than by provision for its support by taxation. The the terms "free and general," of libraries proceeds, however, of fines for breach of any which are supported by local taxation, and penal ordinance may be applied for the sup- hence are public libraries. Some assume to port of a public library. There are only six- be public libraries which are maintained by teen public libraries in the State, with an subscription, and these I have discarded. On aggregate of 48,814 volumes, and only those the other hand, I have included some which I of Bridgeport and New Haven are supported know are maintained by taxation, although by direct taxation. The Bronson Library of they bear the name of the benefactor who Waterbury is not included in this statement, contributed largely to their establishment. as it was created and endowed by private The law of New Hampshire is very simple. munificence, and the citizens have never been Any town may raise and appropriate money taxed a dollar for its support. for the establishment and maintenance of a The State of New York stands in an anom-

public library. There is no limitation as to alous position in reference to public libraries. the amount, and no conditions are prescribed It has no law for their support, except the for the management of these libraries. There statute of 1872, which never has been, nor can are thirty-five public libraries in the State, be, applied to the organization of a library. The with an aggregate of 129,227 volumes. old school-district system, which New York Vermont has a law similar to Maine, except adopted in 1835, has been persistently main- that 50 cents instead of 25 cents per poll may tained in that State to this day. It long since be expended in their maintenance. There proved to be a failure, and was long since are fifteen public libraries in the State, with abandoned by the other States. Up to 1875 an aggregate of 81,193 volumes. The more the State of New York had expended more important of these were established and are than $2,000,000 in furnishing district li- aided by private individuals. braries with books, which generally disap- " Massachusetts has a brief and permissive peared as soon as they were distributed. In law like that of New Hampshire, but it has four fifths of the districts," said the State a noble record in its libraries. It has 192 superintendent of education in 1874, "not public libraries, with an aggregate of 1,770,- one in ten of the inhabitants can tell where 386 volumes nearly as many as are con- the library can be found; and probably in tained in all the other public libraries of the ninety-nine cases out of every hundred the United States. libraries are of no practical use whatever." Rhode Island has a creditable record for The State superintendent in 1875 speaks of so small a State. It has thirty public libra- these books "as constituting part of the ries, with an aggregate of 133,834 volumes. family library, serving as toys for children, A city or town may levy a tax of 2.5 mills on crowded into cupboards, thrown into cellars, the valuation for the foundation of a library, or stowed away in lofts." The State superin- " and subsequently two tenths of a mill annually tendent in 1886 says : The amount of money for its support. appropriated by the State for the support of Connecticut is the most backward of all these district libraries, from 1853 to 1885, was the New England States in the matter of $1,154,903, and yet they have been steadily public libraries. Of its principal cities, running down during this period, and the THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

number of books have decreased more than proper functions are outside of library manage- one half." This ruinous scheme has stood as ment. The Cincinnati Public Library, never- a barrier to the introduction of the public li- theless, is the second largest in the United which no from the States and those of brary, requires appropriation ; Cleveland, Toledo, Day- State, and provides for the preservation of the ton, and Columbus are flourishing institutions. books which the people themselves have paid There are twenty-one public libraries in the for. The original purpose of the district sys- State, with an aggregate of 321,071 volumes. tem was it was to healthful In Indiana the tax for the of good ; provide support public reading for the people at large. It was no libraries is levied by the school trustees, and part of the scheme to provide reading simply the libraries are managed by a committee of for the school children. The libraries were the school trustees. There are sixty public not kept at the schools, nor cared for by the libraries in the State, with an aggregate of teachers but were in volumes. Thirteen of these have ; deposited private 103,120 houses. The statutes always called them 84,000 volumes, and the remaining forty-seven district libraries and never district-school li- are township libraries, none of them having braries. The system failed chiefly because the over 1,000 volumes. A school-district sys- books were not cared for, and it did not pro- tem like that of New York was once very vide enough books to constitute a library in popular in Indiana; and it was a failure, like which the public had any interest. New that of the Empire State, and for the same York, nevertheless, has free libraries, of causes. The small libraries of the townships which those at Syracuse, Newburgh, and are probably the books which were left over Poughkeepsie are specimens, which, organ- after the breaking up of the district system, ized under the school laws, are indirectly sup- with additions since made by the school ported by taxation, and perform the functions trustees. of public libraries. There are twenty-two The public-library law of Illinois, adopted such libraries in the State, with an aggregate in 1872, and since enacted by other Western of 125,811 volumes. States, is more elaborate and complete than New Jersey has a public-library law pat- the library laws of any of the New England terned after that of Illinois, which was en- States. Such a law facilitates the establish- acted in 1885. The statistics of the Bureau ment of libraries, and prescribes how they of Education, which were collected in 1885, shall be conducted. It makes the board of gave to New Jersey three public libraries, with nine directors an independent body, over an aggregate of 12,804 volumes. She could which the mayor, common council, and board probably make a better report to-day. of education have no control in the disposi- Pennsylvania is the only northern State tion of the library funds, the appointment of which has no semblance of a public-library librarian and other employe's, and the-general law, and hence has no statistics on the subject. administration of the library. There are forty- Ohio has a law which enables cities and five public libraries in the State of Illinois, towns to raise money by taxation for the pur- with an aggregate of 304,584 volumes. chase of books a board of of is similar to that of ; provides manag- The law Wisconsin ers for the administration of the library, who Illinois. The Milwaukee Public Library has a have only the powers of a committee under special law which enables the library board, the control of the board of education, and instead of the common council, as in Illinois leaves with the board of education the ulti- (where special laws are prohibited by the Con- mate control of the library, providing the stitution), to fix the amount to be raised for funds for the erection of buildings, and for the library by taxation. There are nine pub- all other expenses, except the purchase of lic libraries in the State, with an aggregate of books. The system is faulty in that it confers 62,748 volumes. so little authority upon the board of managers, There is, I believe, a general library law in a -I ao much on the board of education, whose Minnesota; but on searching the revised stat- POOLE.

utes of 1878, and the later annual statutes, I creasing, and, wherever popular education has have not been able to find it. A generous gained a foothold, there will be a public li- special statute has been enacted for the Pub- brary to supplement the work of the public lic Library of Minneapolis. St. Paul main- schools. No influence, probably, is more tains a flourishing Public Library. effective in promoting the increase and effi- The law of Michigan follows in general ciency of public libraries than the work, be- that of Illinois. The State has 157 public gun by this association, and now being car- libraries, with an aggregate of 23 1 ,365 volumes. ried on in many of the public schools of the Of these, thirty-four have 173,944 volumes, country of bringing the public schools and and the are libraries in closer relations of teach- remaining 123 township libraries, public ; none having 1,000 volumes. ing the pupils how to read, and inspiring in Iowa has a law which enables any city or them a taste for, and .^appreciation of, good town to levy a tax of one mill on the dollar reading. In communities where there is no valuation for the of a teachers with advanced ideas support public library ; public library, and eight municipalities only in the State have are demanding one as an essential part of their such libraries, with an aggregate of 26,556 apparatus for teaching^ School committees volumes. are examining candidates for appointment on Nebraska has a library law enacted in 1877, their knowledge of books which are suitable and has four public libraries, with 17,227 vol- for the reading of young persons. Teachers umes. who have lictle or no knowledge of literature Colorado has a good law; but no city or are finding themselves without appointments. town has laid a tax for the support of a The subject of reading, and the best methods free last library. A library was year estab- of teaching it, was one of the most prominent lished at Denver by contributions made by topics discussed at the late meeting of the the Board of Trade, and the librarian, Mr. National Teachers' Association at Chicago. Chas. R. Dudley, is a member of our associa- The public mind was never so impressed as tion, and is with us to-day. It will be remem- now with the importance of establishing libra- bered that this same Board of Trade last year ries, and much private munificence is taking invited our association to hold its annual that direction. It used to be said that no meeting in Denver. wealthy man or woman in Boston expected to Texas enacted a library law in 1874. It to go to Heaven unless there was a generous has two public libraries, and the one at Gal- legacy in his or her will to Harvard College veston has 5,600 volumes. and the Massachusetts General Hospital. California has a library law, enacted in 1880, Throughout the country much of this longing similar to the Illinois statute, and has sixteen for a blissful hereafter is accruing to the bene- public libraries, with an aggregate of 131,113 fit of libraries. There is no danger of having volumes. too many and too large libraries, and no con- In the twenty States which have public-li- flicting interests can arise between them. An brary laws (including New York) the total num- incident occurs to me which illustrates this ber of public libraries is 649, with an ag- point. gregate of 3,589,692 volumes. In the spring of 1852, when the Boston Although such large results have been Public Library was in process of organization, reached during the past forty years, the pub- it occurred to many of its friends, who were lic-library system is still in its infancy. Many proprietors in the Boston Athenaeum, that in communities have not yet adopted it, and in there was no need of two large libraries one half of the States of the Union it is as one city; and that the effect of the Public unfamiliar to the popular mind as was the Library, which promised to be a great institu- common school to the ancestors of these tion, would be to dwarf the Athenaeum. It people at the beginning of this century. The was therefore proposed that the city should libraries already established will go on in- buy the stock of the Athenaeum, which was 10 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

then selling at $50 a share, and make its have a conception. I shall not live to see the books the basis of the Public Library col- fulfillment of my prediction, but there are per- lection. The city officials and many of the sons present who will." Athenaeum proprietors favored the proposi- When Mr. Quincy sat down, the entire sen- tion, and a meeting of the proprietors was timent of the meeting was changed, and the called to consider and vote upon it. The proposition to sell the Athenaeum to the city meeting was held in Freeman Chapel; I was was defeated by an almost unanimous vote. present and well remember the discussion. When I left the service of the Athenaeum in The gentlemen who advocated selling the January, 1869, the Public Library had been in stock to the city presented their views very operation fifteen years, and the price of shares ably. Mr. Ticknor, and, I think, Mr. Everett, in the Athenaeum had advanced from $50 to were among the number. The current of the $125. Mr. Cutter informs me, in a note lately discussion was running strongly in that direc- received, that the present selling-price of shares tion, when Josiah Ouincy, Senior, then eighty is $265, and the number of volumes in the li- years of age, rose and addressed the meeting- brary is 158,000, or more than double the num-

1 He was an ex-president of Harvard College ber it contained when Mr. Quincy made his pre- the largest stockholder in the Athenaeum, and diction. The Public Library, whose location one of its original founders, nearly fifty years is within a rifle-shot range of the Athenaeum, before. The venerable man spoke with a has in the meantime come up from nothing dignity, impressiveness, and force which I to 490,688 volumes and 339,812 pamphlets; never heard surpassed. He sketched the early it spent last year an appropriation of $120,000, history of the Athenaeum, the crises through gave out for home use 713,852 volumes, and which it had passed, and the service it had issued for reference in the library 244,777 rendered in the cause of literature and solid volumes. We have here a practical illustra- learning. Coming down to the question tion of the support which a popular library " before the meeting, he said: Gentlemen) and a reference library in the same community when you say that Boston needs and will sus- give to each other. tain only one large library, you are simply LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSO- mistaken. I have not lived in this community CIATION : At our meeting last year at Mil- for without eighty years knowing something waukee, the question of succession in the of its wants. Boston needs and will support office of was considered and it president ; two libraries one a reference and large was thought advisable that no person should scholars' which the Athenaeum library, always hold the office for more than two years. In has and I been, will be ; and hope always this recommendation I most heartily con- also a popular for the use circulating library curred. I, therefore, having held the office of the at The Public people large. Library for two years, shall, at the close of the pres- which is to be established will meet this pop- ent session, retire from the very honorable ular need, and will be generously supported position which you have assigned to me. I the The two will make a by people. complete take this occasion to express my sincere Each will contribute to the system. pros- thanks for the compliment of holding this of the and each will become perity other, position, and for the kind consideration shown a of which we now can great institution, hardly me in the discharge of its duties. WOOD WARD. ii

A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY AS TO THE ACTION OF BURNING-GAS ON LEATHER USED FOR BOOK-BINDING.

BY C. J. WOODWARD, B.

Finding that there was no record of experi- from burning-gas, while the other half pairs mental evidence as to the action of burning- were placed in a room at the ordinary tempera- gas on leather, preliminary experiments were ture. made to ascertain as far as possible a reply to The mean breaking strain of the strips the : following inquiries which had been kept at the ordinary tempera- 1. Is leather, after exposure to a foul gas ture was thirty-nine pounds, while that of the atmosphere (produced by burning ordinary strips, which had been kept at 196 F. was coal gas in an ill ventilated chamber), seriously twenty-eight pounds. deteriorated ? 2. If so, is this deterioration due simply to Kept free from gas. the high temperature of the foul atmosphere or is it due to the products of gas combustion or is it due to both causes combined ?

3. To what extent is the sulphurous product of burning-gas absorbed by leather ?

Mode of experimenting.

Strips of brown calf leather, each strip one foot long and one inch wide, were cut from a skin and numbered in pairs, each pair being from corresponding parts of the skin. A set of these strips, (those taken from the butt end), were divided into two sets of ten each, the one set being placed in a fume cham- ber with the exit closed and the gas lighted, while the other set was put aside in a room in which gas was scarcely used. The gas in the fume chamber was turned down until a fairly constant temperature of about 130 F. to 140 F. was obtained f and, after exposure to the foul atmosphere for 1,077 hours, the strips were tested by means of a dynamometer and compared with the similar strips which had been put aside in the (com- paratively) pure atmosphere. The results obtained are shown in accompanying table. The deterioration due to gas may be ex-

pressed as 35 : 17 or about 2:1. Half pairs of leather strips were placed round a steam pipe for 1,000 hours, at a tem- perature of 196 F., in an atmosphere free

* This is an abstract of a paper to be read at Conference of Librarians in Birmingham (Eng.) Sept., 1887. t A few hours near the close of the experiment the temper- ature was inadvertently allowed to rise as high as 162 F. 12 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

following results expressed in percentage of orated by the action of a hot atmosphere sulphuric acid (H2 SO4). charged with the products of burning-gas. No. i i-33 2. It is probable (though not as yet proved " 5 2.92 by my experiments) that a heated though " 6 1.99 pure atmosphere is detrimental to leather. " 7 1.45 3. That the sulphur compounds of burning- " 9 1.97 gas are absorbed by leather to the extent of " 10 i. 06 i or 2 per cent of sulphuric acid after ex- Mean 1.78 per cent. posure for a period of 1,077 hours to the Bir-

I conclude from the above experiments : mingham gas when the products are confined i. That, unquestionably, leather is deteri- in an ill ventilated chamber.

For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see the PROCEEDINGS (First session)*

LETTERING OF BOOKS.

BY JOHN EDMANDS, LIBRARIAN MERCANTILE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA. npHE whole subject of binding in a library not want his attention constantly distracted comes under the control of the librarian, by the word history on whole rows of books. and he should decide how the books shal be He is looking for Froude or Prescott, and the lettered, whether they ar bound in the library books should be so lettered that these names building or at an outside bindery. wil strike his eye at once. If, however, he is If librarians could come to a rational agree- seeking, not for a book by a particular author, ment on some principal points, and if this but for some certain fact, or for whatever the association would promulgate a few general library may contain on the subject he has in rules on the subject, we might soon look for hand, his search wil not be hindered by the an improvement in this matter. proposed order; nor wil any order or sub- most noticeable the of service to him The thing about com- stance of lettering be much ; mon mode of lettering books is its inappro- he must go to title-page and contents and fanciful forms of and his search thru the priateness ; letters, illegible index, keep up body letters, bald and obscure titles, and letterings of book after book. so enclosed in ornamentation as not at once The author's name should be used whether to strike the eye. Dr. Homes's strong and it stands on the title-page, or is ascertained judicious words in the Library journal (5:315) from the preface, or from some other source. seem not to hav received the attention they And the true name should be used, and not deserve. a false one. This should be done even if the It to but is not needless to author is little known for others ought be, quite, very ; may say that the chief object of the lettering is to know him better than we do, and our succes- him. indicate the author and the subject of the sors, at any rate, ar likely to know book. I say author and subject with inten- Author should be used in a wide sense, as tion and with emfasis, because the usual meaning the maker of the book, as a book; as " practice is to giv the subject or title the con- Longfellow's Poetry of Europe." spicuous place, and to put the author some- The collection of individual biografies where else or nowhere. Surely a man is may properly be excepted from the operation superior to his work, and the maker of a book of this rule. It is highly important that all should hav his name in the place of honor. the lives of any individual should be placed all the lives of Most libraries ar now classified, and a together, and equally so that student going to the historical alcove does all persons of the same name should be EDMANDS.

together; in other words, that all individual various persons, the name of the editor biografies should be arranged in close alfa- should be placed, say on the second space betical order by the subject of the life below the title. And in the case of books instead of the writer. And so best to facili- often edited, as Shakespeare, the date should tate the finding of any life, the name of the also be given with the editor's name. It is subject should stand first on the back of the wel, also, to put the date in some incon- book. spicuous place on early printed books of any So far as practicable the lettering should note. be made up of words that ar on the title- When a book is in several volumes, and page, and in the same order. But no binder, the special contents of each can be indicated as no cataloger, should allow himself to be by a word or two, or by a date, it is wel to made the slave of a writer who has not the giv this directly under the volume designa- genius to giv his book a clear and brief title. tion. This is specially important in cyclo- And so in extreme cases one may be com- pedias; and the lettering should be ful enuf pelled to change the order of words, or to use to mark the exact range of each volume. a word or words that ar not on the title-page. Periodicals should bear, not only the vol- It is desirable to giv the title with fulness, ume, but also the year and the part of the and with this view words that ar not likely to year which the volume covers. The volume be misunderstood may be used in an abbre- mark should be primarily the whole series viated form. number, but the various serial designations Quite general usage, in the case of ful should also be given. If the volume and date bound books, has assigned the second space can both be clearly given on one space, it is from the top to the title; and there ar good better to hav it so. The word volume should reasons for continuing the practice. For be omitted as being unnecessary and as valid reasons the title should always hav the tending to distract attention from the thing same relative position on the book, and ordi- sought. Arabic figures should always be narily nothing should be put on this space used, on account of being more quickly red except the author and the title. If the and taking up les space. thicknes of the book allows it, and the Lower case letters should always be used author is one of a multitude, Smith, Jones, rather than capitals, for the two very good it is wel to ad the initials of the Christian and sufficient reasons that they ar more name. easily red, and that they allow more matter to The somewhat common practice of putting be put on a given space. While lower case the author's name in the possessive case is type has been used to some extent by French in some cases unobjectionable, especially and German binders, it is surprising how when the title is a single word, as Dryden's stubbornly capitals hav held their place with Poems but in cases this wil lead to not on book but on ; many us, only covers, title-pages

cacofonous combinations, if the name ends and as hedings of newspapers, on sigjjs, and

. with a sibilant and the title begins with one. in a thousand places where legibility is of the In other cases it wil suggest unpleasant first importance. The letters used should not associations, as Brooks's Influence of Jesus. be of fancy shapes, nor of very hevy or very It would not be to the face but of the with ar altogether agreeable light ; style which we secretary of this association to hear one at familiar. As many books must be placed on " his library calling for Dewey's Deserted the shelves above and below the line of easy Wife," or for the editor of the Library journal vision, it is important that the letters used " " to be asked if Cutter's Awful Boy is in. should be of good size. It should not be need- If a book has been edited by another than ful to add that no ornamentation should be the author, and contains important editorial allowed that interferes with the legibility of matter; or if it is one that has been edited by the lettering.

For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see the PROCEEDINGS (First session). THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

A NOTATION FOR SMALL LIBRARIES.

BY C. A. CUTTER, LIBRARIAN BOSTON ATHENAEUM.

T F I begin with a brief historical and some- mark in every class, so that they can always be what egotistical introduction, showing found in the same part of the class. It is also how I was led along step by step to make often convenient to collect in the same neigh- this notation, the subsequent description of it borhood the books which treat of certain may be very short, because this introduction general aspects of the subject, its history, for will have made you acquainted with all of its instance, its biography, its philosophy. And, component parts, and will have shown the finally, it is well to separate from the books reasons for combining them as I have done. written by single authors, which are arranged When it became necessary some ten years alphabetically by their authors' names, those ago to rearrange the books in the Boston that are the work of several persons, in which Athenaeum Library, I selected the Amherst denomination come, of course, periodicals, decimal plan, on account of its simplicity and and, in general, society publications. The nine symmetry. But after a brief trial I found digits were just suited for this service. They that its notation would not afford that minute- were used as follows : ness of classing which experience had taught 1, works on the theory of the subject. me to be needed in our library. Moreover, 2, works on the bibliography of the subject. I did not like (and I still do not like) Mr. 3, lives of persons connected with the subject. Dewey's classification. The ten main classes 4, works on the history of the subject.

I should not object to, but the subdivisions 5, dictionaries. are unsatisfactory in both their selection and 6, handbooks, tables, charts, etc. their arrangement. So I set about devising 7, periodicals. something better. As the chief deficiency of 8, works of societies. authors. the decimal notation is that it is decimal, that 9, collections of works by several there can be only ten main classes, and, still You will notice that periodicals which worse, only ten divisions in each class, and so belong to both the form classes and the col- on, I naturally experimented with the next lections make the transition from one to the larger basis for a notation the alphabet, other. whose characters are as familiar to every one, These nine divisions preceded the subject both in their form and their order, as the divisions in each class. figures one to nine. The alphabet gives 26 While matters were at this point, Mr. classes. If we use two characters, we have Dewey suggested that great advantage would 26 divisions of each class, or 676 in all classes. be gained by mixing the figures and letters If we use three, we have again 26 subdivi- together indiscriminately to make a base of sions, or 17,606, which is enough and more 36 characters, with of course 36 subdivisions, than enough for very minute work. Never- so that the use of two characters wr ould give theless, there was a use to which the numer- 36x36 = 1,296 classes and three characters als also could be put. Every large class, as 46,656. I adopted his suggestion, and made History, Education, Science, Architecture, a classification and notation now in use at the has in it certain works (such as Dictionaries, Boston Athenaeum. Periodicals, Handbooks, Atlases, or Tables) In this I introduced what I think had of a general character, but differing in form never before appeared in any classification from the other books. These, for practical a geographical list, a set of marks used for it is well to and it is the various countries of the world E for reasons, group together ; (as especially desirable to give them the same England. F for France, G for Germany), and CUTTER. capable of being used in any part of the the 26 letters and the nine numbers, the idea classification where local subdivisions were of a geography list, and Mr. Larned's idea of needed, and always the same wherever used. a notation for countries distinct from the sub- In April 1884 Mr. Larned described in the ject notation, which would make the scheme Library journal a very ingenious notation reversible. These materials have been used which had one admirable feature. He used as follows : distinct sets of characters to mark the The 26 classes are noted letters subdi- two by ; subject and the local divisions of his classes. visions are noted by a second letter; thus w is Thus, if zoo had stood for Zoology, one set of Fine arts, WE Drawing, WG Painting; wv is marks would have been added to it to signify Architecture. The preliminary form classes Vertebrata, or Mammals, or Horses, and are noted by the nine single numbers as I another set to signify the Zoology of Europe, have already explained. Thus W5 is an Art or of India, or of New Zealand. Moreover,, dictionary, w/ an Art periodical. The coun- the two kind of marks being easily distin- tries are designated by the numbers from 1 1 guishable from one another, either could be to 99, omitting those ending in zero. Thus used first that is to in one of the \v41 is w44 French w42 ; say, part English art, art, classification where the subject cohesion was German art. Similarly, wc41 is English strongest, the subject could be made the main painting; WG42 German painting; \vc44 is the subdivisions local in another French and wv41 is archi- class, being ; painting, English where the was more tecture wv42 German architecture part, country important, ; ; wv44 that could be the main class, the divisions being French architecture. such as Lan- The scheme is reversible for if F is subjects History, Geography, ; guage, and Literature, thus bringing together History and G Geography, then French everything relating to any country in these history may be F44 or 44F, the Geog- aspects. raphy of Germany c42 or 42c. If G The notation which I had adopted for the precedes, the geography of all the countries Athenasum satisfied me, and my assistants is brought together arranged in the order of found no in it learned it the local list if F the different difficulty using ; they ; and, precedes, it it of are quickly and used with ease. But soon parts history brought together. But if, appeared that no other library was likely to on the contrary, the numbers precede, then the adopt it. The mixture of letters and figures history and geography of Germany, for ex- has, as Mr. Larned says, "a cabalistic look ample, are brought side by side, 42p, 42c, which is appalling to ordinary minds." People and followed by the geography and history do not stop to see whether there is anything of France 44F, 44c. difficult about it run at It seems to me that this fulfills the really ; they away plan once, and will have nothing to do with it. condition of the problem. It is simple, only And the trustees of small libraries are three kinds of characters being used letters, afraid of a and minute of double and the complete scheme single figures, figures ; letters classification. But my advice is often asked and figures are not mixed.* The distinct in regard to the arrangement of such libraries. notations for the different objects help the My thoughts, therefore, have been led to the comprehension of the scheme greatly. If one preparation of a method especially suited to sees a single letter, one knows that a main libraries of from 1,000 to 99,000 volumes, class is meant; if one sees two letters, it which should avoid the to means a subordinate class if one sees a letter objections made ; the Athenaeum classification as too minute and followed by a figure, one knows that it is for to its notation as too one of the form classes if one sees a complex. ; letter Such a scheme needed to be simple, mne- followed by two figures, it is for a local sub- monic, and and to have * sufficiently minute, This is not absolutely correct. In one class the forms short marks. The materials on hand from Y47B, Y47D, Y47P are used. But it is difficult to conceive any so stupid as to be puzzled by this much admixture of let- which to ters and construct it were, as you have seen, figures. i6 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. division of one of the main classes. Two In another way my tables are mnemonic letters followed by two figures denote a to a slight degree. In the principal classes local subdivision of a subordinate class. it happens that c is Christianity and G

The scheme is mnemonic; the same fig- Geography. In the sub-classes initialism also ures stand for the same country under every is sometimes possible, particularly in Eng- wherever it occurs means lish where the initials Corres- subject ; 41 always literature, Y, c, means France and means Drama and England ; 44 nothing pondence, Letters, D, Dialogues, else. You may remember that in the original F, Fiction, p, Poetry, Speeches, Oratory, w,Wit " " Decimal Classification," the correspond- and Humor, could be used; and in English " ences a D is and G correspond imperfectly ; given language x, where Dictionaries, number does not always denote the same Grammar. country; a given country is not always des- On these two classes x and Y, by the way, ignated by the same figure. In the enlarged a deviation was made from the usual practice. system there is a complete local notation, Instead of letting Y stand for Literature and which does not do away with the confused Y41 for English literature and Y41F for Eng- notation of the earlier scheme, but is used in lish fiction, the desire to get a short mark addition to it. Even this, however, is inferior for English, which is almost the only literature to the one I am now explaining in two respects : to be found in small libraries, led me to use Y First, the marks are long. A local subdivi- for that and (as 11 is the local mark of the sion of any subject except history cannot be world) to use Yll for Literature in general. expressed in less than five figures for a coun- Then English drama, fiction, and poetry have try, and six figures for a smaller place. His- the short marks YD, YF, YP. take one or two less a divi- The notation is in the tory may figures ; short, subject part sion of a subject may take one or two figures seldom using more than two letters, in the letters more (e.g., 628.3742, sewage farming in Eng- local part using either one or two land). Secondly, as the figures which are followed by two figures. Indeed, I think used for countries are also used for subjects, there is none shorter. It is sufficently min- they do not suggest anything to the reader, ute, as you will see when you examine the and until he is completely familiar with all tables that will be published as soon as the the tables he does not know whether he has new edition of the "Rules" is out of the before him a subject or a local division. way.

r or the discussion which followed the reading of this paper, see the PROCEEDINGS first session).

RULES FOR ALFABETING.

BY JOHN EDMANDS, LIBRARIAN MERCANTILE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA.

T T is assumed that the work of the cataloger of arrangement be such as to admit of clear or indexer has been done that the titles and and such ; explanation quick apprehension, hav all been written as they ar to appear in as wil commend itself to the general judg- the book and our is so as to be It is printed ; present purpose ment, universally adopted. to consider and, if possible, to determine the quite manifest, too, that there has been a wide rules that should regulate the proper arrange- diversity of view as to how such an index or ment of these titles so as to form the should be constructed what is most catalog ; or, perfect index. more probable, a lack of careful and thoro It is obviously important that this arrange- consideration of the varied details of such ment be such that title can be found construction because in that ar held any given ; catalogs in the shortest that the ar marked diver- possible time ; method in highest estimation there EDMANDS.

gences of plan, and some of these fail to con- groups of words the articles ar as really form to the rules by which they seem to hav words as the prepositions, and ar equally to been made. be considered in the arrangement. They ar There is need, therefore, of a new and usually so considered. But Merrill, in his more detailed discussion of the Mr. Cin. often them subject. Finding-List, very disregards ; " Cutter, in his Rules for a Dictionary Cata- and Poole, in his Index, nearly always omits has treated it but he seems them. Thus he has logue," judiciously ; not to hav attempted to cover the ground in For his country all its details. It is not my purpose to criti- For the king cise the work of others in this line any further For king and country than may seem to be necessary to illustrate For ladies the application of the rules given, and to show For the last time the need of a reconsideration of the whole For life matter. If such masters in the profession as Poole takes account of pronouns and Cutter and Poole ar found to be at serious particles, and sometimes of articles, as in divergence, a valuable service wil be rendered At a little dinner if one step can be taken towards a common At his gates ground on which all can stand. At sea It is often useful to hav a short motto or At the bar axiom as a guide in the adjustment of details. Connected Words. In this alfabeting work I hav been much " helped by this motto, Something follows We may hav several frases in which the first or three words ar the same nothing; or, conversely, Nothing before one, two, ; something; thus in and two titles, the first four or five letters in one of wil and Art of living In clover which form a complete word, Arthur Incas in the other wil form a part of a word. Of the first the art, in the first case, and the in, in the we may hav

i. How we When I was a boarder. second, ar followed by a space, e., by noth- got away we drunk I in Rome. ing, and so precede the single word in which How got When was

the t and the n ar followed a letter i. How we sober. by ; e., got by something. These, of course, should be placed in this order. the A catalog or an index addresses itself to Of second sort we may hav the eye rather than to the ear, altho many Home education times the direction to the catalog must be Homeless thru the in work Home rule given ear, especially library ; and so in general the written word or frase, Homesick rather than the spoken, must determine the Home side order. In some cases, however, words that If we were to arrange by the letters simply, without to the the ar usually written as two, or with a separating regard separate words, if order would be as and this is the space, ar pronounced as written without a given ; order of Poole in this and in other as break, and so ar properly treated as one word. cases, Book and Water babies A Ifabet thruout. Book auction Waterfalls In alfabeting we hav to deal with letters, Bookbinding Water marks with and with of words and words, groups ; Bookplates Watermelons we should carry the alfabeting thru the whole Bookstall Waterfowl group of words as well as thru the letters of Book thief the words. But these groups of words ar not But in some cases, as under Bank, Farm, to be treated as a mere succession of letters ; Good, Song, War, he arranges in accordance ar to be they arranged as words. In these with the rule I hav given. i8 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

In the Home is a com- derstood an untrained reader as Mr. previous example by ; and, and is followed a i. e. " plete word, by space, by Cutter has sed in his Rules (p. 71), it is the letters in nothing ; same Homeless are not well to demand thought from those who followed another i. e. by syllable, by some- use the catalogue if it can be avoided." But

; and so Homeless should follow Home he also thing says (p. 68) "Arrangement must be rule. This is the order of Cutter, Noyes, arbitrary." And also (p. 69) "One cannot and in his of Pub. Merrill, Linderfelt, catalog have a condensed catalogue without obliging Lib. of Milwaukee. the reader to learn how to use it." He might hav omitted the word condensed and sed any Dependent Words. catalog. Certainly any reader wil under- A word used as a independently subject stand a natural arrangment more redily than heding should precede the same word used one that is unnatural and unreasonable. in connection with another. And if this word New. is coupled with another word to form a com- pound subject heding, it should follow the We hav many titles with the initial word new simple heding. And if this word used as a used as a proper adjectiv followed by a com- simple heding is also used as a substaiftiv to mon noun, and others in which it forms a form a different subject heding, and is also part of a compound place-name. All these used adjectivly before a noun, the substan- should be arranged in one series, alfabeting tiv use should precede the adjectiv use. by the last part. New Amsterdam, new boat, And so we hav this order. New Canaan, new life. Single words begin- Art ning with n. e. w., whether names of persons, Art and artists places, or things, should be arranged in a Art of conversation following alfabetical series. This is the Art amateur prevailing usage. This is Poole's order as to the principal But Poole makes one group of the entries words in the entry, and the reasons for it ar in which new is a proper adjective, and a sub- clear and strong. A substantiv should pre- sequent one made up promiscuously of entries cede an adjectiv, as being the more important in which new is used as a compound place- word, and as being less closely connected name, and of words, both personal and com- with the following than an adjectiv. In mon nouns, which begin with n. e. w. And uttering the frases Art applied to industry, so he has this succession; Newark, New Bed- Art of conversation, there is a perceptible ford, Newby, New Grenada, Newsboy, New suspension of the voice after the word Art, Sharon, Newt, Newton. which does not occur in the case of Art Hyfened Words, journal, Art amateur. Poole is in error in placing entries in which The use of the hyfen seems not to conform the leading word forms a part of a compound to any fixt rule, and, as it does not affect the subject or title among those in which that pronunciation, it is best to disregard it and ar- word forms the subject-heding. Thus he has range as two words. Most recent catalogs Heat, cause of History, forces in ar in accord with this rule. Cutter teaches it of the sun of the world fore- in his Rules, page 71, and generally conforms theory of told in Genesis to it in his catalog; but he has Heat motion History of an adventurer Book of Ballads and In the first and third of these examples the Book of worship Half a million subject is heat, but in the second the subject Bookbinding Halfcentury is not heat, but heat of the sun, the sun's Book-collector Half-hours heat. Booker Halford But it may be sed that this order tho nat- Book-hunter Half-way ural and filosofical, wil not be redily un- Books EDMANDS.

The Article. This separates the second Banks more than two from the first. In some how- If an article, which belongs before a word pages cases,

ever, Poole conforms to the rule ; as in used as a heding, is inserted after it, it is not Art and Animal to be taken account of in alfabeting. This is Artesian Animalcule the usual practice. And the reason for it is Arthur Animals that its insertion serves no good, grammatical Artisan or other purpose, and tends to hinder the Arts quick finding of a title. Cutter, Merrill, But Poole, in with Linderfelt, Noyes, and Poole usually omit it; but often company insert it where there is no more need of it Merrill, and Noyes, conforms to the rule in the case before the than in the cases where they omit it. Thus, placing possessiv plural. Cutter has Book of Costume, The, and Book Plurals in ies. of Ballads, without the article. The article is Plurals in ies of words ending in y should on the title-page in both cases. Merrill and precede the singular, tho not necessarily in Noyes often make the matter still more con- immediate connection. We do not expect in the article in a or index relation fusing by enclosing ( ). Thus, catalog any grammatical

Merrill has these four consecutive entries : between the several entries. And so there is no sufficient reason for words out Question, A taking any Question (The) of Cain of their proper alfabetical place in order that of honor Question (A) they may precede their plurals. The usual Quiet heart, The practice is in accordance with the rule. Poole The article is used after a word properly conforms to this practice in some cases, giving which not a or a represents, subject, thing be- Antique Beauties to a but a noted individual longing class, Antiquities Beautiful

: The The Tower. thing Rhigi, Antiquity Beauty Plural in s and the Possessiv Case, Academies Biographies The plural in s should follow the singular. Academy Biography The possessiv case singular should follow His general practice, however, is to place the singular and precede the plural in s. The these plurals after the singular, as sequence, however, may not in either case be Charity Library immediate. Several entries may intervene. Charities Libraries Cutter's usual order is, Boy Charity boy Library aids Boyd Proper and Common Nouns. Boyne In the case of words used sometimes as Boys Boy's common and sometimes as proper nouns, the But he has true order is * person, place, and thing. This Queen Spirit world is the more usual arrangement. But Billings, Queens Spirits in his Catal. of Lib. Surg. Gen. Of., and the Queen's college Spirit's life Catal. of the Advocates Lib. Edin. the Queens of society Spirits of wine giv and Spiritism. thing the first place. Gushing and Noyes Poole usually places the plural immediately seem to follow no rule. Poole seems to con- after the singular, notwithstanding that a form to the rule wherever this does not considerable number of entries alfabetically require him to deviate from his rule of putting

between this succession : the after the belong ; giving plural immediately singular; Bank thus he has Banks Law, J. but Bank Banker Law Banks Banking Laws N. P. Bankrupt Banks, Banks, N. P. His list contains no person named Bank. 20 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Surnames. ginning with Dr., M., Mme., Mile., Mr., and Mrs. should be treated as if were written Whenever a single name, Charles, Henry, they in as Made- William, is used as the sole designation of a ful, Doctor, Monsieur, Madame, and Mistress. This is in person, this should precede the same word moiselle, Mister, used as a surname. accordance with general usage. Cutter teaches it in his but from it in his cat- Abraham George III. Rules, departs as to Mr. and Mrs. and Poole follows Abraham, George George, Henry alog ; his bad This rule has its reason, not only in the example. eminence of the so persons usually desig- Christian Names. nated, but it follows from our primary axiom, When Christian names ar given in ful, the Nothing before something. Abraham is a arrangement should be in strict alfabetical complete name, and is followed by nothing. order, following the surname. And use should When used as a surname, it is only a part of a be made of all the helps which the cataloger name, and is followed by something. If sev- has given for distinguishing two or 'more per- eral ranks are represented by one name, sons whose names ar identical. If the Smith precedence should be given to those bearing family ar not eminently literary, they furnish the highest rank in this order, pope, emperor, the cataloger a great number of names, and king, noble, saint. If these represent differ- the most numerous of them ar the Johns. ent nationalities, they should be groupt in the And unless he has been very painstaking, and alfabetical order of the countries; and numer- noted date and place of birth or deth, or ically under each country, as John I., John II. title, or given some similar clue, the alfabeter In respect to family names that hav the wil be in danger of getting them badly mixt. same sound, but a different spelling, it were Titles, such as Gen., Hon., Sir, ar to be al- greatly to be wisht, for the comfort of makers lowed to stand, but not to affect the arrange- and users of that brothers could catalogs, ment. agree, so far at least as to use the same form Initials. of name. But so lorig as they wil not, we must If the cataloger has simply followed the bridg over the difficulty as wel as we and initials of Christian can, and allow Read, Reade, Reed, and Reid title-page given only the safe course is to treat to different in our aid- names, only every occupy pages catalog, " initial as a on name ; and, the axiom ing the reader as much as we can by a free Nothing the initial should use of cross references. before something," precede the ful name. Thus J. precedes James even In names beginning with La, Le, and De not French tho, as may afterwards be lerned, the J. stands names there is great diversity of and so for Jehoshaphat. usage ; we hav Lafayette written as one A single ful name should precede a double word, and La Fayette with a capital F initial i. a surname with one Christian following a space. But whichever way these ; e., name should stand before the same surname names ar written, the pronunciation is the with two Christian names ; thus, John, J. M., same. And so as pronounct, the name De not J. M., John. Morgan is as really one word as Demos- thenes. A double initial should precede an initial It is therefore better to disregard and a ful name the same initial having ; thus, the separation, and arrange these words as if J. G., and J. Gregory, when the ful names may they were written solidly. prove to be Josephus Gunter and Jacobus Abbreviations. Gregory. Names with M' c and Ste beginning M , St, A book written by a single author should should be as if arranged written out in ful, as precede one written by him and another. and for the Mac, Saint, Sainte, reason that The practice, followed by Billings and ar so they uniformly pronounct, and often so Noyes, of enclosing initials and Christian written. And for the same reason entries be- unneces- names in ( ) is to be condemned as HARRIS. 21

sary, as hindering the redy finding of entries, Pearl in dark waters Pearl of and as impairing the established significance Bruges Pearl of Damascus of the ( ). Pearl of great price If an author wil hide his identity under an Pearl of the ocean initial, the cataloger must dig and delv and And under College, he has College, and mouse around in the endeavor to discover as followed a " Colleges, subject hedings, by whether A treatise on the metaphysics of a " large number of entries with the word College conundrum by J. Smith was written by spelled out, as or or but the Jerusha Jemima John Smith ; indexer must take the name as he finds it. College boat-clubs education Numerals. College College honors Numerals occurring as hedings should be College studies treated as if written out in letters. The But in similar cases he uses the " very many novel " men for one woman should be 39 dash. Thus in the case of poetry all the entered under t. entries in which this word forms the first Hedings and Insets. part of a title ar mixt with those that belong In order to save space in printing, 'and for under poetry as a subject. And so he gives distinctness to the eye, it is wel to use a dash this succession. to a word or of words that represent group Poetry, art of otherwise hav to be or to in- defense of might repeated ; in set the words that come under the general all things in Care should be taken to make clear prose heding. lectures on what the dash stands for, and to confine its of death use within proper bounds. of September It may be used when we hav several books of youth or ? a written by one person; but it should not be prose story studies in used to cover another person of the same surname. If he had followed our rule and the example he had set under the order would It may be used to represent a word or group college, hav been of words that indicate a definite subject, as art of heat, moral science, socialists and Fourierism, Poetry, defense of for the diffusion of useful society knowledge. lectures on But it should not be used to represent a part studies in of a compound subject heding, nor a part of a Poetry in all things in title e. in the entries Historical Poetry prose ; g. portraits, Poetry of death Historical reading, the word historical should Poetry of September be out in each case. In accordance spelled Poetry of youth with this Poole has Poetry or prose ? a story For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (First two sessions).

THE BRITISH MUSEUM SYSTEM OF PRESS-NUMBERING.

BY G. W. HARRIS, ACTING LIBRARIAN OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

'"PHIS paper deals with what many, perhaps, methods and systems totally different from will be inclined to consider the antiquated those followed in Europe ? No doubt, in the system used at the British Museum for nearly different surroundings and conditions which a half century. May it not be, however, that obtain in this country, there is much to justify we in America are too to the ex- this attitude but as Horace "Vix- apt neglect ; yet, puts it, perience of older nations, and to believe that en fortes ante Agamemnona multi" or, as it " we must work out, or invent for ourselves may be paraphrased for this occasion, There 22 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. lived able librarians before the days of the classification and arrangement of the addi- A. L. A.," and it is not improbable that, from tions upon the shelves, I found no difficulty the experience of old-world librarians, we in obtaining all the information I desired. I in the new world, different as our surround- found that the system was considered entirely and conditions still so far as the of ings undoubtedly are, may satisfactory ; that, system press- learn some useful lessons. numbering was concerned, no difficulty had Up to the present time few librarians in been found in disposing of an average annual America have been called upon to deal with addition of 30,000 volumes without making large and rapidly increasing collections of any change in the press-marks of the books books, and even yet our largest libraries are already on the shelves. As the system of but small in comparison with the great libra- classification which is followed has been fully ries of Europe. It is well, however, occasion- described by Mr. Garnett, in a paper read be- ally to look into the future, and to ask fore the London Conference of Librarians in whether the methods which have proved so 1877, I shall confine myself to a brief account successful when applied to small collections of the system of press-numbering. are likely to show themselves adequate and When the present Museum building was satisfactory when these collections shall have openeo\ and the books removed to it from increased far beyond their present extent, as their old quarters in Montague House, the is certain to be the case with many of them presses (or book-cases) were numbered in con- in this era of munificent library endowments secutive order from one onwards, and no and this age of bookmaking. space was left for the insertion of new presses The statement was made a year ago, upon without disturbing the order, or changing the the highest authority, that during the last press-marks in the books. This series of eight years 250,000 volumes had been added numbers extends from the King's Library on to the British Museum in other the North and includes the Library ; or, through wing, words, more than 30,000 volumes are annually presses from one up to about 1,700. Natur- received, classified, and arranged upon the ally the inconvenience of this system was soon shelves. These numbers are startling, but felt; and Mr. Watts, who had been intrusted there is no doubt as to their correctness. by Mr. Panizzi with the classification and ar- Now, if this enormous number of books can rangement of the books on the shelves, de- " " be satisfactorily disposed of every year with- vised what he called the elastic system of out inconvenience and without necessitating numbering the presses, the object being to a continual changing and re-changing of press- provide each book with a press-mark which marks, we must admit that the British Mu- should never need to be changed, and at the seum system fully deserves to be called an same time to keep all the books on one sub- " " elastic system, and that it has successfully ject together. His plan, which is very simple withstood a strain far more severe than any to in principle, requires that all the presses shall which our American systems have thus far be of the same size, and was first introduced been subjected. Hence it occurred to me when what is known as the Long Room was that the members of this association might opened. That room contained about 600 be interested in knowing whether this system, presses, and, instead of numbering them con- which seems to unite many of the merits of secutively in continuation of the old numer- the movable location systems with those of ation, a range of numbers from 3,000 to 12,990 the fixed location, had proved equal to the de- was taken. As the Museum classification as- mand made upon it, and that a brief descrip- begins with the Bible, the first press was tion of its not be to and working might unacceptable. signed Hebrew Bibles, numbered 3,005 ; Thanks to the courtesy of the Museum au- the next contained polyglot Bibles, and was thorities, who afforded me the fullest opportu- numbered 3,015; the next contained Greek nity to examine the working of the system, Bibles, and was numbered 3,020". Then when and to Mr. Jenner, who has charge of the the press of Hebrew Bibles became full, the HARRIS.

polyglot and Greek Bibles were moved on Press 11,420 contains collections of Italian one the with them is devoted to press, carrying numbering ; poetry, press 11,421 Dante, and the press formerly numbered 3,015 became presses 11,422-27 contain Italian poetry of 3,006, and contained Hebrew Bibles. In this the I5th, i6th, 1 7th, and i8th centuries; and way the numbering of the presses changes, but next come presses 11,431-36 with Italian not the press-marks of the books. Thus all the poetry of the igth century. Next to press

numbers from 3,000 to 3,990 were allotted to 1 1, 436 are presses 11,450 and 11,451, contain- General with followed Theology ; 4,000 began Religious ing Spanish poetry, by press 11,454 Discussions including sermons, followed by with Portuguese poetry. The next press in or- Church History and Religious Biography. der is 11,474, which, with 11,475, contains early Next in order came the division of Jurispru- French poetry, followed by presses 11,481 and dence, to which were assigned the numbers 11,482, containing modern French poetry, the from 6,000 to 6,990; to Natural History and next press being 11,498 with Provencal poetry. Medicine were given the numbers from 7,000 With press 11,501 the division of German to 7,690; to Archaeology and Art, 7,700 to poetry begins, and the same general arrange- to to to ment is as in French It will 7,999 ; Philosophy, 8,000 8,990 ; Geog- pursued poetry. raphy and Topography, 10,000 to 10,590; to be evident from this brief statement that in Biography, 10,600 to 10,990; to Belles Lettres, this section of the library (and it may be 11,000 to 12,890; and to Philology, 12,900 to taken as a fair specimen of the whole) the 12,990. available numbers are in most cases still very To each of the minor subdivisions of these far from being exhausted. Modern French great subjects, presses varying in number poetry, for instance, has up to the present were allotted according to importance and time occupied only two presses, leaving six- extent of each in order to teen numbers still and it should probable ; and, unemployed, facilitate the intercalation of numbers, sev- be remembered that each number represents eral empty presses were left at intervals, and a press, two stories in height, which will hold, thus much manual labor was avoided. Then at a rough estimate, about 1,000 octavo vol- the books thus numbered were umes so even in cases where two or when removed, ; that, only in 1857, to the new libraries which surround three numbers are assigned to a minor subdi- the great reading room, and spread over a vision, those two or three numbers represent far greater area, the removal was effected, as shelfroom for some two or three thousand vol- Mr. Garnett tells us, without the alteration of umes in that subdivision, so far as the press- a single press-mark. The books in the Royal numbering is concerned. Of course as these Library, the Grenville Library, and those in numbers were originally assigned from esti- the North Library still retain their separate mates based upon the probable increase of the systems of classification and consecutive press- library in various directions, in some instances numbers, but the great mass of the books in experience has shown that the increase of the the library are arranged in one system of library has not been closely in accordance classification in the presses whose numbers with the estimates. Thus far, however, no run from 3,005 to 12,990. inconvenience has arisen from a lack of num- Within the limits of this paper it would be bers in any section. Indeed, the inconven- impossible to describe in detail the working ience which is now making itself felt arises, of the in all its divisions and to show not from lack of but from lack of system ; numbers, how it is carried into what is the in other lack of shelfroom practice, and presses ; or, words, state of the it will suffice to hold the accessions extensive as are present numeration, ; for, to take as an example that section of Belles the library quarters, the book-storing space is Lettres which contains modern poetry. In being rapidly filled up, and the need for more accordance with the classification, Greek and shelfroom has become a very pressing one, Latin poetry come first, and modern poetry presenting a problem by no means easy to begins with Italian, as a derivative from Latin. solve. Aside from the question of cost, there 24 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

are serious difficulties in the way of any fur- in front of the swinging press, takes hold of ther extension of the present buildings in the two handles placed at a convenient height on direction indicated. In this emergency a very the uprights and pulls the press forward two ingenious invention of Mr. Jenner promises or three feet from the fixed press, and thus at a comparatively slight cost, to double, if not obtains immediate access to the books in the to treble, the book-storing capacity of the libra- latter and to those on the back side of the ries surrounding the reading-room, known as swinging press as well. The book having the Iron libraries. And if Mr. Jenner's plan be been obtained, a slight push is sufficient to adopted, these libraries are likely to store the slide the swinging press back to its usual po- books more than stackroom sition the when compactly any ; for, although swinging press thus far constructed in America, filled with books weighs about half a ton, In the libraries surrounding the reading- it can be pulled forward two or three feet into room the uprights, or standards of the presses, the avenue, or pushed back against the fixed or book-cases, are of iron and form the sup- presses with a very slight exertion of strength, ports for the open iron floors of the gallery much less, indeed, than is needed to pull out avenues, there being no partition walls in the or push back a sliding shelf containing a sin- interior of this building except those formed gle large folio volume. by the double ranges of books in the presses It will be seen that it is thus proposed to which are all of the same size. The gallery place in front of each fixed press, containing avenues between the presses are, as a rule, a single row of books, a press of equal height eight feet wide, and the open iron floor rests and width, but deep enough to contain two on transverse iron girders which cross the rows of books, nearly trebling the book-stor- gallery from the standard of each press. It ing capacity of the library without any enlarg- occurred to Mr. Jenner that in front of each ment of the building. Of course in the stack- of these fixed presses a movable or swinging rooms of most of our American libraries, with press might be suspended from these girders, their narrow passages of two and a half feet and at the time of my visit an experimental in width, Mr. Jenner's plan could not be press had recently been completed and placed adopted. But may there not be some advan- on trial. tages in beginning with passages seven or To the lower edges of each of the trans- eight feet wide, adding these swinging presses verse iron girders are bolted strips of angle as the needs of the library demand them, and iron, forming ledges, from which is suspended thus preserving always a passage from four an iron press, or book-case, of the same di- and one half to six feet in width between the mensions as the fixed press in front of which double rows ? If this plan were adopted, the it hangs. The shoulders of this swinging girders of the galleries might be made of T press being furnished with small iron wheels iron, the flanges of which would afford the nec- or rollers, which rest upon the ledges formed essary support for the swinging presses when- by the angle irons, it can be pulled forward or ever they might be needed. At any rate it seems ushed back against the fixed press very to me that the plan is one worthy of consider- The about four- ation American librarians and architects asily. swinging press being by ; een or fifteen inches in depth, each shelf will while for the British Museum it supplies a contain two rows of books placed fore-edge to perfectly satisfactory solution of the problem fore-edge. Ordinarily these swinging presses which confronted them, and does so at the are pushed back close to the fixed presses, smallest possible expense. and the passages between the fixed presses I wish only, in closing, to add my testimony being originally eight feet wide, when the to that of many others as to the admirable swinging presses are in place there will still provisions for the comfort of students which remain a passage at least five feet six inches are afforded in the reading-room of the British in width between the double rows. If a book Museum, and to the courtesy and attention to is wanted from the fixed press behind one of the wants of readers which are displayed by the swinging presses, the attendant, standing the library staff. For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (Second session). CRUNDEN,

BUSINESS METHODS IN LIBRARY MANAGEMENT. 1

BY F: M. CRUNDEN, LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY, ST. LOUIS.

TT is not many years since the popular observation has sjiown me that librarians mind pictured the librarian as an elderly not only have had a youth, but that they man of severe and scholarly aspect, with find in these conventions the means of con- scanty gray hair, bent form, and head thrust tinually renewing it. There were two or forward from the habit of peering through his three who impressed me in '79 as perhaps spectacles along rows of books in search of a little old, who last year were completely some coveted volume. He was supposed rejuvenated. always to have led a studious and ascetic life, The librarian, then, of the present day is to have had his and in a not like his of a boyhood youth pre- predecessor generation ago ; vious state of existence, and, since becoming and other and different duties are imposed a librarian, to have lived wholly in the world upon him, and other offices expected from of books, without any knowledge, thought, or him. There still, however, remains considera- care regarding the world of men and things. ble misconception regarding his proper func- Nothing more was expected of him than that tions. When I entered the profession I he should be erudite and orderly, know where received numerous congratulations on the to find his books, and be ready to point out great opportunity afforded me for gratifying sources of information wanted by his first my taste for reading. Most of my friends, cousin, the professor, or by another class of one after another, have learned that my duties individuals, who also stood apart from the are numerous and varied, and that my read- rest of mankind, and were regarded as gods ing for personal improvement' or pleasure of Parnassus or as imps of Bohemia. Of must be done in the hours common to all for late years authorship has become more com- rest and recreation. Still in the popular con- mon. Every one has a friend who writes ception the librarian combines business and for publication in some form. Authors are, pleasure by spending a great part, if not the perhaps, less exalted but more respectable greater part, of his time in reading books. than formerly. The professor has long since Very few laymen, even among the better- been recognized as sometimes young and informed, realize how closely the conduct of a athletic and and for the last ten resembles the of a busi- jovial ; years library management the librarian also has been and is ness and even there abroad, ; among professionals now becoming pretty well known. He is may be occasion for emphasizing the value of found to be generally young in years and a more thorough adoption of business meth- always young in spirit. When librarians ods by librarians and by library directors. first came together, each, I believe, was sur- The primary lessons of a library apprentice prised to see how young the others were. In are the same as those of a boy who enters a '79, when I attended my first convention at business house. He must learn neatness, Boston, I expected to find myself among a order, accuracy, punctuality, and despatch. body of patriarchs. Dr. Poole, I thought, And with all these, if he is to succeed in the must be a bent and old issue which to the decrepit man ; and department, public repre- Mr. Dewey, though I had only lately heard sents the library, he must cultivate politeness of him, I had pictured as a little, withered, and equability of temper. He must treat bespectacled old Dryasdust, who had given every applicant as a salesman does a cus- his life to the development of his decimal tomer. He must not let him go away without and was men the article he wants if it is in stock and if it system, warning young against ; the dangers of diffusiveness. Subsequent is not, he should show his concern by promis- 26 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

ing to give notice of the deficiency, and fee. All the more is this necessary in the supply it later if possible. As the youth goes latter case. up the ladder of promotion, all these talents To be more exact in my comparison, the and acquirements find a wider field for exer- duties of a chief executive of a library differ cise; and, as subordinates look to him for in no essential from those of a manager of a direction, other faculties are brought into stock company carrying on a commercial play, and other qualities are required. One enterprise. In both cases there is a board of these is a liking, an enthusiasm, for library of directors to dictate the general policy, work and a thorough belief in the particular which the manager is to carry out. In both institution served. A librarian or an assist- cases the details are left to him; and, if he ant in a position of any authority who does occupies a proper position in the esteem and " not "swear by his library cannot do justice confidence of the directors, they rely on him to his work; and on business principles his largely for suggestions as to measures for services had better be dispensed with. The furthering the objects in view. If he cannot head of a St. Louis jobbing firm told me not be so relied on, he is not fit for the place, and long since that he would keep no one in his another man should be appointed. employ who did not think Blank, Dash & Co. It seems hardly necessary to call attention the greatest hat and cap house in the West. to the librarian's function as purchasing Any salesman known to hold different views agent, in which his judgment, or the lack of less ac- would be instantly discharged. it, is a direct gain or loss, greater or The application of business principles also cording to circumstances. demands a certain degree of loyalty on the The librarian, like the business superin- part of subordinates towards the chief officer, tendent, is expected to organize his subordi- as well as to the institution. Disaffection is nates so as to secure the most efficient house divided itself service at the least for salaries. To contagious ; ^a against outlay stand and a board of directors is not this end the should be cannot ; largest powers given acting in accordance with approved business him in the appointment and removal of methods if it does not speedily secure har- assistants, especially those upon whom he mony of action by removing the disturbing must most immediately depend. Let him element. In one of the large manufacturing have assistants of his own choosing, and then establishments of St. Louis the rule is that hold him to a strict accountability for results. any man who cannot get along with the If from personal favoritism or bad judgment foreman of the shops is at once dismissed. he selects lazy or incompetent people, let There is no investigation, no hearing of com- him suffer the consequences. If he posses- plaints. The company look to the foreman ses the requisite discernment and powers of for results, and recognize that responsibility observation, the innate selfishness of human must be accompanied by corresponding au- nature may be relied on for the rest. The as as their success of the is his success and he thority; and, long superintendent library ; satisfies them, the men must suit him. may be trusted not to jeopardize it by sur- A chief librarian is in a position analogous rounding himself with incompetent friends. to that occupied by the head of a commercial The business man who does this ends in

i. librarian house. He must know his wares, e., his bankruptcy; and so must the books he must know his the of and self ; customers, bankruptcy position, reputation, community; he must study their wants; respect. and, like a merchant of the highest type, he In keeping his institution before the public, will endeavor to develop in them a taste for the librarian may profit by the methods of the better articles. Like a merchant also, he business man. In the case of a public must advertise his business. He must let library, he will generally find the local press the people know what the library offers to willing to render very valuable assistance by whether or for a the such them, gratis subscription publishing news concerning library ; CRUNDEN,

as noteworthy gifts or purchases, reports of lar novels and juveniles, in excellent condi- directors' meetings, abstracts of annual re- tion, were received, accompanied by a note ports, and occasionally an appeal for aid stating that the donor had sent them in or an explanation of some feature of the response to my request, which she had hap- library which may be of public interest. pened to see in an old paper. Mercantile and other class libraries, though But over and above all this, the librarian not on an equal footing with public libraries will find his advantage in the business man's in this respect, are still in a measure public use of printer's ink. Four or five years ago institutions, and may therefore expect a share I distributed through the schools and through- of the notice which a liberal press accords to out the central portions of the city 75,000 all things that are for the general good. circulars. During the next six months more How much the press of St. Louis has con- than three times as many new members were tributed to- the building up of the Public added as in the previous year. To these Library there, it would be difficult to estimate. circulars the increase was largely due. Last Its willingness to assist in such work is December and January the board adopted my attested by four large scrapbooks filled with suggestion to insert regular advertisements clippings relating to the library, which furnish in the daily papers. An expenditure of in outline a sketch of the institution from its $100 brought an.addition of at least $200 from organization to the present day. It goes new subscribers. Some of these probably without saying that no public enterprise can had lived in the city for years and had never succeed without the of the and I before heard of this of volumes help press ; library 65,000 ; think the conver.se is true, that no paper can and at this day I dare say there are thou- achieve great success which ignores public sands of old citizens who are in a similar interests. benighted condition, despite all our efforts for Library affairs doubtless do not interest their enlightenment. Others had a vague as as a base-ball match or a idea that there was such a but it would many people place ; notable or divorce suit but it can not have occurred to them to become mem- burglary ; hardly be that, among the mass of readers of bers if they had not seen the suggestion in a great daily, there are not a respectable the newspaper. number who would rather hear something An eminently legitimate and proper mode about the new books added to the libraries of advertising is the distribution of a large than to learn that a John Smith, of Wayback edition of the annual report; but methods Corners, Tex., was killed in a drunken brawl, must vary with circumstances, and from time or that a William Wilson, of Skrigglesville, to time new ones must be devised. Me., had his thumb cut off by a circular saw, I have found a personal canvass in the or any of the thousand and one petty inci- schools productive of immediate results. I dents that make up the regular columns of take a book or two with me, or sometimes Crimes and Casualties. send a package of ten or twelve books. I As an illustration of immediate results from dilate upon the benefit and the pleasure of little a press notice : Some years ago one of our reading, explain at how cost these may papers published a communication from me be obtained through a membership in the asking citizens to give to the library old library, putting it at the price per week, directories and other books of no further use exhibit the books with appropriate comments, to them, especially anything relating to St. and end by reading an entertaining extract Louis. Within a week or two sixty or from one of them. In short, I play to the seventy-five volumes and a number of pam- best of my ability the role of a commercial phlets were received. How many subsequent drummer. gifts this brought, I cannot tell; but nearly I have said the librarian is expected to do two years afterwards sixty-eight volumes and so and so. Expected by whom ? Well, to twenty-four pamphlets, the greater part popu- some extent and in some particulars, by the 28 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

public, whom he has in the last few years advancing standard, which each individual taught to look for what previous generations must strive to reach, or allow himself to be never thought of. But the highest and shelved among specimens of the antique. heaviest demands are those of conscience The modern librarian, then, must be, as of and The is a scholar and a than professional pride. public vastly old, gentleman ; but, more more exacting than it used to be; but the that, he must be a good business man. And true librarian keeps always in advance of his with all this, unless he have the industry and community, and constantly educates it to endurance of a Napoleon and the patience of a make greater demands upon him. The body Job, he shall sometimes fail to satisfy his consti- of the profession fixes a high and ever tuents and at all times fall short of his own ideal.

For the discussion that followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (Second session).

THE CATALOGUE OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, AS IN USE IN THE LIBRARY OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSO-

. CIATION OF NEW YORK.

BY R. B. POOLE, LIBRARIAN YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, NEW YORK.

the of this to T T will be purpose paper briefly The books are first catalogued on slips of describe the mechanical form of this cata- tough bond paper, 5x1 1-2 inches. These logue (the only one in use in this country that we slips are inserted in the blank books, to be described the ends are aware of), and direct attention to some of the below, by pasting only. If and the advantages it possesses over the card catalogue. properly carefully pasted, slip can be removed with ease. The card catalogue has never been used in The consists of 28 folio volumes. this library, so I do not feel competent to give catalogue Each volume contains a decisive opinion as to the superiority or about 250 leaves of white with stubs between inferiority of this system over the popular heavy paper, the leaves to allow for the card catalogue. expansion caused by the insertion of the In 1870, when this library was removed to slips. the new building of the Association, it was The volumes are half bound in heavy mo- re-catalogued, and, on the recommendation rocco, thick boards, covered with vellum. of Mr. Robert Hoe, the plan of the British The foot of the boards is protected from wear brass Museum Catalogue was adopted. The library by guards. The books are made in the then numbered 2,000 volumes. best manner, strong and durable. They were I had myself never seen the Museum Index, made by Mr. Matthews, the bookbinder, at a and was guided only by general principles. cost of $10.00 per volume exclusive of the That catalogue doubtless differs in certain guards. details from this. In my first index the alpha- The volumes are placed in compartments betical arrangement extended only to the beneath the desk on which they are con- initial and following letter, as Ab, Ho, etc. sulted. The floor of these compartments is In 1882 the library numbered over 12,000 covered with cowhide to resist the action of volumes, and had come into possession of the the brass guards. Niblo Fund, and a new catalogue was neces- The library is catalogued on the Dewey sitated. The index now in use was then com- system and classified on the shelves. The menced, with a complete alphabetical arrange- catalogue is arranged on the dictionary plan, ment. and the alphabetical order is indicated by let- POOLS. 29 ters on the backs of the volumes. One volume any extended research, or in any investigation of the 28 is used exclusively for the Bible and to ascertain what the library contains, on any " biblical works, and is lettered Bible," and an- subject, or of any author's works, the gain in other for government documents and works time will be very material. Many of the relating to the United States, and is lettered advantages of the printed page are presented " United States." A special book might be by the readiness with which this catalogue set apart for any other subject according to can be used. If the volumes were indexed the requirements of the library, as Great through, greater facility still would be ac- Britain, Architecture, etc. quired. To preserve a strict alphabetical arrange- Again, contents can here be given and dis- ment, spaces must be left for additions, and played to the eye in full, an item of no small the extent of these spaces may be estimated importance. by the use of some large printed catalogue, Cross references can be spread before the counting the titles and making certain allow- user without limit. In the dictionary cata- ances for matters that would not pertain to logue, orations, sermons, works of fiction, the in hand. As fill are not catalogue spaces up } periodicals, etc., brought together, are taken and moved backwards or as form collections but lists of slips up except they ; forwards, and new slips intercalated. authors of these classes of works and lists A will contain ten a volume of are instead. Here page (10) slips, } periodicals supplied 5,000; 28 volumes, 140,000 slips; but, as sub- again they can be exhibited at a glance. jects and authors will not fill up with any References from historic periods can be made mathematical uniformity, it will be necessary to works of fiction and the reverse, and so to diminish these but as to attract the reader's attention. figures considerably ; displayed should we reduce them to 100,000, we then This catalogue has its limitation, and herein have capacity for about 50,000 volumes. lies its weak point. Parts fill up unequally. Subjects, authors, and titles are inter- A partial remedy is found by changing the mingled in the same alphabetical arrangement. slips as before mentioned, and as allotted In the case of subjects, the subject heading is spaces are used, by the insertion of leaves. written in a bold hand, on a slip by itself, and These remedies are temporary, and the beneath it the required cross-references. If work of re-construction or the commencement the references are numerous, the slip is of a supplement must next ensue. doubled in width, or the paper can be cut to As yet, nothing has been devised to meet cover the whole page. Beneath this heading the difficulties of the case. The perforated stand the titles of works on that subject, the and laced shelf lists in use, might suit the author's name, written first, and, when the wants of a small library. A large library subject is a prominent one, in alphabetical must have strong and durable books. Strength order, with spaces for additions. and flexibility must be combined in the model The slips are indented, and a red dash catalogue. A devise has been invented by a drawn before them to indicate that they are gentleman whose name I am unable to give, subordinate to the general alphabet. Certain by which leaves can be intercalated, and each authors' works are similarly arranged. I will leaf is supplied with insets for slips, so that here submit some fac-simile pages from this they can be removed at will. This catalogue catalogue, which will give a more practical was on a small scale, and would not supply illustration of the above description. the desideratum, but contains the germ of This catalogue has the advantage of cards in what is required. Cannot some believer in several particulars. In the first place, it can evolution evoke from this the coming mov- be consulted with greater ease and more able catalogue ? Cards would then be dis- rapidly than cards, as the open book presents carded, and printed catalogues could be to the eye from one to twenty titles. Cards properly supplemented. must be examined one by one. In making For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (Second session). THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

REGISTRATION OF BOOK BORROWERS.

BY H: J. CARR, PUBLIC LIBRARIAN, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

TT may be said that all public libraries custom, the requiring of such, as a prelimi- make some sort of a registration of those nary to receiving the privileges of the library entitled to draw books therefrom for home as a book-taker, has become a growing practice use i. those termed its in this and is now so established ; e., variously members, country, fully or book-takers, or borrowers. that any other course may be considered the The extent and nature of such registration exception rather than the rule. will to local and rules I find observation at vary according practice ; This from personal with such assurances of fitness, or right to the many libraries, and study of the rules and benefits of the and of more and in a sort of library, corresponding regulations many ; safeguards against imposition, as the nature representative collection of the working blanks of the community or experience may dictate. of various libraries, east and west, the fre- In the simplest form, as used in some quent use of the surety or guaranty certificate localities, a written statement or application (as it is indifferently called), as an application on the part of the would-be taker, made upon and preliminary to registration, stands out in a simple printed blank or form, is all that is strikingly preeminent contrast with the older required. but more occasional use of less stringent forms. A promise to observe rules, etc., is also But in the surety method considerable lati- included or else the same is libraries its use very frequently ; tude prevails. Some requiring obtained by his or her further signature to a only in case of unknown persons, or for formal agreement in a Registration Book. minors or youth below .a certain age of sup- If the signature on the application blank be posed discretion. Others require such for " the only one taken, then such application or each and every one, regardless of age, sex, promise is usually recorded and numbered in color, or previous condition of servitude;" regular sequence in a book, which action con- and this would seem to be a more democratic stitutes the registration. The separate appli- plan, and one less liable to any plea of class cation, whether on a slip or a card, is then discriminations. free to be filed in alfabetical order, and so Then comes in play a variety of practice as becomes of further use as an index to the to qualifications of the surety, some requiring Registration Book. the surety to be a tax-payer or property- In smaller places this informal method of owner; others simply that the surety be a treating applications may answer sufficiently citizen over 21 and known to the library, or well without further steps. In larger cities duly identified. the aid of the police is often invoked as a This latter variation is in the nature of a sort of committee of and weakens consider- municipal investigating ; relaxation vigilance, In the and with such, as a moral effect, the needed ably the legal force of the guaranty. purposes are, perhaps, adequately subserved. majority of cases the chief value of having a Too often, however, it is found that loss guarantor is its moral effect ; and I believe it and misuse of books occur without satisfac- is that, generally, which is most relied upon while other deficien- of or on the tory remedy ; annoying in case transgression delinquency cies of frequent occurrence seem to require part of the principal, or book-taker. " still further safeguards and means of moral Still, such agreements, when properly drawn suasion," to say nothing of legal remedies and executed, have a legal value, and, with for negligence and wilful delinquencies. proper responsibility on the part of the guar- To those ends, then, some personal security antor, it need be no difficult matter to enforce or is thru the courts as a last resort. guaranty sought ; and, following English them CARR.

It will be seen, then, that registration, in and file the guaranty certificates in the same its broader sense, implies and includes several order as the registration, and provide a special index. things. is a ist. An application on the part of the An excellent form for this purpose would-be borrower. card (not less than 10 x 15 cm.), ruled and the headed on both sides on side is to be 2d. Compliance with respective rules, ; \hefront fur residence of as to fitness and right; and, if required, entered the name and every per- as or nishirig adequate security. son to be indext, whether principal is alfabeted this 3d. An entry of the borrower's name on- guarantor, and the card by the head- the Registration Book; the order or sequence entry. If a book-taker, then below follow of which usually determines the designating ing and on the same side of the card, with and number assigned to such person, as a book- his or her registration number, date, taker, and used on his or her library-card as a the name and residence of guarantor, and convenient means for charging books, and the space for remarks. The back of the card is like. And also as a ready basis of statistics reserved for entries of number, date, name of those for that as to number using the library, etc. and residence whom particu- lar have become surety. A dis- Note. Where a security signer is required, such guaranty party may then the tinction between the two sides and corres- is usually taken on a special blank or form ; and sig- the is taken on nature or promise of principal (or borrower) ponding classes of entries is readily made, the Registration Book (sometimes called the Signature Book). not only by varying form, but may be empha- Occasionally the signatures of both piincipaland guarantor sized colors of ink in or are required to be made on the book at the library; but for by ruling printing. many reasons this is not so convenient nor acceptable a method Bearing in mind that the same person may as of on a separate blank. having signature guarantor sooner or later act in a dual capacity and be 4th. Information as to residence or ad- both a borrower and likewise a surety for dress of the borrower and surety respectively. another, often for several others, the advan- This item of residence being really a most tage in having all registration entries concern- important matter, and yet, by the very nature ing that one person concentrated on one oi things, an especially difficult one to keep card is readily seen. With cards of an ad- "up to date," since removals or changes of equate size, such an index becomes almost address on the of either or and be made continuous with part principal perpetual ; may surety are about the last thing that borrowers several subsequent registrations. Then, too, ever think of reporting to the library. in case of delinquencies, with default on the 5th. Due indexing of the registration, with part of any guarantor it becomes a simple reference to both the borrower and the surety. matter to record same for a future "black-

6th. Cancellation at expiration of the list," and also to cancel at once the rights of regular term of issue under the rules; or all other book-takers, if any, depending upon sooner for cause, as in case of unsettled delin- the same guarantor; which is a very essential quencies, removals from the place, surety matter for the safety of the library. declining to continue, or death, and so on. So much for the machinery and general Here a few words concerning the indexing routine, which, to a greater or less extent, is of the registration, the fth item mentioned understood and necessitated in the registra- above. As said before, if no surety be re- tion of borrowers. quired and the application of the borrower be The practice of various libraries as to on a separate form, then arrangement of same extent, duration, or termination of any one in alfabetical order makes ample index to the registration is not at all uniform. Many (and Registration Book. If a surety be furnished this is seemingly the older practice) run the which is now the later and ruling practice, a registration on almost interminably, until the double index is needed and since the one have and cum- ; numbers become very high blank cannot be into two or order brous and a air is found put places ; general antiquated of arrangements, it seems better to number to prevail. And, too, by the growth of the THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

community and the inevitable shifting of beyond the loan period provided) have long and losses to the population, deaths, removals, new-comers, been understood ; and library the like, it is eventually found that the are greatly mitigated where such practice is recorded residences and other data are as un- sharply followed. But a prime requisite to reliable as a ten-year-old directory, to say effective notice is to have the correct address nothing of kindred deficiencies. of the delinquent. Long terms of registration Then a new registration is ordered, in are not conducive to accuracy in that respect, which reason or unreason may prevail. The and the defect becomes more evident, when, latter, where, for sake of uniformity, all in case of sureties being required, the address previous cards are made void, regardless of of two parties for each card outstanding is date, whether one day, or one year, or five essential. years old; a better practice being to con- So, then, I ask, Is the importance of sider issues of the preceding one year or two frequent re-registry of those drawing books years as valid, and re-register all of an earlier from the public libraries of growing cities and date. In other instances, a new registration towns, and particularly in the larger places, is sized required upon filling a certain book, duly appreciated ? or in number a certain limit has bro't to mind more upon reaching ; This query been my either of which may be a fair basis, if pro- forcibly by reason of some personal expe- vision be made to avoid re-registration of the riences during the past eighteen months, later issues within a certain calendar time, as and again upon noting items in the same before suggested. connection which have come to hand casually In the western cities, owing to rapid in reports of some public libraries for 1885 growth in population, varied character and and 1886, and occasional older instances. shifting circumstances of those who use a To be sure frequent registration means library most, the need for frequent verification some work at the library desk, and a certain of residences and correction of guarantor-lists, amount of annoyance to the book-takers. But etc., has been felt more decidedly than in the under an adequate, continuous system, which older and more settled communities of the I have mentioned, neither of those features eastern States. need be in excess, and will, I believe, pay in As a consequence, most of the newer li- the long run, and save work, annoyance, and braries, and many of the older, have found it losses in other directions. best to limit the period of registration, and I doubt if librarians generally comprehend life of the to of consequent library-card, terms as fully as might be how rapidly changes either three years or two years, usually the take place in the effective force and number latter. have five in a Some adopted years, but, of those using the library growing city ; I think, will sooner or later find a shorter term nor how much more satisfactory a comparison advisable. of the use of different libraries can be made, a is num- Where specific term adopted, and once if, in addition to size of the library and in full force, re-registration becomes a regular ber of volumes circulated, the number of and continuous matter; each month calling active borrowers can be given more exactly. for the re-registration of all cards issued Under similar circumstances as to size of in the same month two, three, or five years library and population, the number of vol- before, as the case may be. This has the far- umes of home issues divided by number of ther advantage of allowing for a regular allot- actual takers show a markt regularity of ratio. ment of work, and avoids the spasmodic effect Bearing upon the above statement, and in and over-work or rush consequent upon other connection with the general plea for a briefer plans of determining the frequency or period term of registration, it is possible that the of each new registration. following extracts may prove of interest. It The advantages of prompt notification in must be understood, however, that the same case of over-due books (i. e., those kept out are not selected for invidious reasons, but CARR. 33 because they offer striking or pertinent in- year was 3,863. As last report showed over stances the libraries or cited the of a ; parties having 9,000 registered members, necessity issued valuable from which it has enrollment is and think the reports new apparent ; we been possible to obtain the facts quoted. best interests of the library demand a new About the earliest protest against a long enrollment every three or five years." continued registration which has come to The Detroit P. L. in report for 1885 con- my notice is that of Mr. C: Evans, when veys an interesting lesson on this subject, as

Librarian at the Indianapolis P. L., in 1878. follows : Reporting a registration of some five years, "In August last the rules of the library numbering 14,600, he says: were so changed as to require all holders of " This number is naturally in excess of act- readers' cards whose cards were issued more

ual number of borrowers. . . . As in other than five years ago, to sign the register anew, almost all the losses of books can their sureties and that hereafter a new large cities, with ; be directly traced to changes of residence by registry should be required every five years. removal from the city; and our experience This rule applied to 11,440 cardholders, of for the past three years shows that it would whom 829 have since registered. The fact be for the safety of the property of the library that so small a proportion of persons entitled if a rule were adopted that hereafter no cer- to use the library have come forward to renew tificate of guarantee shall remain in force their signatures, made evident what was be- longer than two, possibly three, years." fore supposed, that the great mass of readers' His successor, Mr. A. W. Tyler, repeats cards formerly issued are not now in actual

and confirms this statement in 1879. use. . . . Notwithstanding the striking June 30, 1886, the same library reports from the registry of so large a number of total registration 27,620, the population of names, the statistics show that the library Indianapolis being perhaps over 90,000. never had so many users as now." And Mr. W. De M. Hooper, the Librarian, The report from the Cleveland P. L. in " says: It is impossible to tell how many of 1886, of the immediate results of a new regis- these cards ar now in use, since but few per- tration are equally corroborative, thus : sons, upon ceasing to use the library, ever think "A different system of charging books of resigning their cards. Judging from what having been decided upon, it was placed in data we have, it is estimated that at least operation January I. From September I to 15,000 to 18,000 of these cards must be still December 31, 1,395 cards had been issued, in use." bringing the entire number of the old series to Many other libraries, with a less number of 23,340. On January i the issue of a new series volumes and actual takers, report a circulation was begun, and 8,893 had been issued to August quite equal to that of the Indianapolis library; 31, which probably is a fair indication of the and I judge that his estimate of cards in use number at present using the library." is much too high. The report shows that in the new registra- In the report of the Toledo Public Library, tion 4,137 issued in January, and 1675 in Feb- for similar considerations are bro't after which the issues decreased from 1880, out, ruary ; viz: "Anew enrollment of those using the 91 1 to 379 in a month, averaging 500 a month, library was commenced with the year, as the which is a fair allowance. trustees were satisfied that a large number of The Free Public Library of Worcester, the sureties for book-borrowers were either Mass., a city of some 70,000 population, dead or had removed from the city. A public reports for 1886: " library is peculiarly exposed to the loss of Total number of names registered (a new books. The best safeguard is a responsible registry made July i, 1873), 28,535. Regis- surety, coupled with vigilant oversight on the tered during the year, 1,585. Number of part of the librarian in sending for over-due notices to delinquents, 6,038, in a circulation books. Number of cards issued during the for home use of 136,745 volumes." The large 34 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. number of notices and the disproportion of registrations in the year, as compared with the total, are both striking. As a salient instance of a two-year registra- tion method, note the following from the Chicago Public Library in 1886: " Present number of book-borrowers, 27,142. These persons hold cards, each secured by the certificate of a responsible guarantor, which entitle them to draw books from the library for home use for the period of two years. Each card is canceled at the expira- tion of two years from date of issue, when a new registration must be made on a new cer- tificate of guaranty. Cards issued during the year, 13,845; preceding year, 13,297. Circu- lation of the year, 608,708 volumes for home use. Volumes in the library, 119,500." The Registration Clerk at that library in- forms me that, according to their experience, of a series canceled when each, card has run fully two years, but about one quarter are re- newed. This accords in the main with my own experience under a new registration in a smaller city, extending thru one year, and in which but 2,330 were renewed out of 7,400 in previous registration, the proportion of renewals in a small city being naturally greater than in one of large population. Other good effects of a new registration have been very noticeable, also, it may be said, as the reduction in lost books, and especially in the number so delinquent as to need the services of a messenger. In 10 months of the present library year but 10 volumes have required a messenger, against 49 in preceding six months of previous year. Of books lost without remedy or payment, but one in present year, against 12 so lost in the year before. Like results are apparent as to fines and decrease of delinquent notices. In conclusion, I subjoin a comparative table of items from some 16 libraries, which may be of interest in this connection and I ; hope other libraries may be led to give like data in their annual reports, from which further study may be made concerning the subject of fre- quent registration, and, possibly, a more just basis for comparison of yearly results. COLE. 35

A QUICKER METHOD OF MEASURING BOOKS, WITH PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

BY GEORGE WATSON COLE.

History of the A.L.A. Size Rules. At the New York conference this com at mittee submitted its 2: which TN 1876, the Philadelphia conference of report (L. j. 37), was the librarians, Mr. Charles Evans, then of the partially adopted ; question relating to the sizes of Indianapolis Public Library, read a carefully books smaller than quartos referred to the prepared paper giving, at considerable length, being committee on uniform the reasons why the -old method of measuring title entries for further consideration. A the sizes of books had become confused and joint report was given in the Library journal, misleading. He agreed with Prof. Jewett (3: 19-20) which is, as far as I can discover, final that the difficulty admitted of but one solution, the report on the subject, and which and that was "to introduce some new method must be considered as containing the recom- of designating the sizes of books;" and he mendations of the Association upon this sub- recommended that a committee be chosen to ject, though I fail to find that it has ever take the matter into consideration and fix adopted the report or given it its official sanc- upon some new method that should supersede tion. This final report embodies the results the old one of measuring books by the fold. of the deliberations of three distinct com- This paper called out, at a later date, an article mittees, the members of which are recog- by Mr. J. B. Ruling, written in defence of the nized as among the leading lights of the old but the size titles in this and their practice ; appended and library profession country ; several the measurements given in his article did little, if reports abundantly show that anything, toward disproving the arguments results were arrived at only after the most for a change so carefully stated by Mr. Evans. careful and deliberate consideration of the In accordance with the latter gentle man's sug- question. The reason why no action was gestion, a committee was appointed, and taken by this Association upon the final before the close of the conference a report report of the committee may have been due was submitted, which opened the way for the to the fact that, while American librarians report of a second committee, formed for the were attempting to solve this problem, our purpose of giving the matter more careful English friends were at work upon the same consideration. This second committee, after question, and action was deferred in hopes giving a most thorough examination of the that a uniformity of practice might be estab- subject, published its report in the Library lished upon both sides of the Atlantic. But journal for Jan. 31, 1877. This report goes the conservative tendencies of our English into the matter with great detail, and recom- friends prevented their seeing in the plan mends the adoption of an entirely new scheme reported by our committee though it received for the sizes of books one their consideration a solution of determining ; based satisfactory upon the apparent size or measurement of the the question. After considering the A.L.A. book, rather than upon any accident of its plan, as well as two others proposed by their construction. The principal departures from own members, Messrs. Madeley and Wheat-

the old : to a method were these (i) actual or approx- ley (L. j. 4: 199-200). they decided adopt imate size and instead of fold size rule from our own. proportion, ; (2) differing essentially the standard of measurement to be the metric Thus all hope of concerted action on this instead of the standard and at least for a ceased. system, ordinary ; question has, time, the size to be (3) indicated by letters, the Advantages of the A.L.A. Rules. initials of the old names rather employed, The plan reported the A.L.A. com- than the by symbols formerly used. mittee, seems to be perfectly well adapted to THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

meet the wants of the most exacting bibliog- than among the regular sizes; but this is a in order that its from a rapher ; and, advantages may departure regularly increasing propor- be more fully known and appreciated, I would tion, and, as already stated, it does not con- recommend that the final report of the com- form to the English rule on this point. It mittee be rewritten, embodying all the points seems desirable, therefore, that this point be mutually agreed upon by the three com- settled once for all, if for no other purpose mittees, and be adopted as the size rules of than to secure uniformity of treatment in such this Association. I suggest this step, be- cases. cause I have been informed by a gentleman Actual Size Measurements. who was a member of each of the three com- The importance of giving the actual size mittees that the rule fixing upon the propor- of the book instead of following the A.L.A. tional width which forms the line boundary rules was brought up for discussion at the between books of the ordinary proportions Lake George conference, and met with some and books termed sq., has been reconsidered little support. There is ample opportunity by the committee, and that the boundary line for those who desire to give actual measure- is now placed at 3-4 the relative width of the ments, to do so under the recommendation of book, instead of 4-5 the width, as has always the committee, who reported a rule that was been given in the reports of the committees. reiterated at that conference, and that enables I find nowhere in the Library journal any " those desiring great accuracy to Give the other boundary line mentioned for this pur- outside height in centimeters, using fractions than the in the re- pose 4-5 originally suggested where extreme is desired." 25 (decimals) accuracy of the second committee. i: port (L. J. I78 , There is no doubt but that in the case of 13 in 267 .) The English have part adopted book rarities, strict measurement is often this width between the proportional regular essential in order to determine their market sizes and the The where stfs. only places value but for work the A.L.A. ; ordinary library the proportion of 3-4 is employed is in Mr. rules are far more satisfactory than the old- Madeley's plan above referred to, which was time method, and give the sizes with a defi- not the librarians, and in adopted by English for little if " niteness and certainty that calls Mr. Dewey's Library Abbreviations." The any change. I shall attempt to show, before original proportional dividing lines reported closing, how the present rules may be made by the committee were the regular ones by to give even still more definite results than and or as wide as and fifths, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, high; are now obtained. they have never been departed from nor Boxwood Rule. varied, so far as I know, except in the cases just mentioned. The final report of the com- During the discussions and in the reports mittee provides that, where the width of a upon the size rules, many different methods book is less than 3-5 its height, the regular of putting them into practical use were sug- size shall the of which were mark be preceded by nar. e.g., nar. gested, most prominent rule a card with S., nar. D., etc. ; where the width is between the common boxwood and 3-5 and 4-5 its height, it shall receive the reg- the subdivisions carefully marked upon it. ular size letters Q., O., D., etc.; where the The more common practice of measuring width is more than 4-5 its height and less books has been, we believe, with the box- than its height, the regular size mark shall be wood rule made by the Library Bureau, or by etc. their For most preceded by sq. e.g., sq. D., sq. T., ; and, simply measuring height. rules finally, where the width exceeds the height, books this is sufficient, but the regard- the book shall are so that trouble be called an ob. e.g., ob. D., ob. ing proportions formulated, Fe., etc. It is true that books which are arises if one wishes to apply them accurately. between 3-4 and 4-5 as wide as high seem Without stopping to make an arithmetical more naturally, from their general appear- computation, those books near the boundary to fall are liable to be in ance, among those denominated sq. lines of nar. and sq. placed COLE.

the wrong class. The A.L.A. rules are so divisions are desired, they can readily be more definite than the old much system of obtained by inserting more parallel or diag- measurement that to it onal lines and the result will be by fold, many may ; always of little if seem importance occasionally a obtained with certainty. This plan, if car- book is called a nar. or sq. when strictly ried out sufficiently, might satisfy those who speaking it is neither, or fails to receive one wish to indicate the size with still greater of those designations when entitled to it. If minuteness. we are to have a code of rules, it seems very Method of Using the Card. desirable to have them accurately applied in case otherwise indefiniteness and con- constant use of this card has every ; Two years' fusion will inevitably follow. Fortunately satisfied me that for all practical purposes the for all concerned, this particular branch of A.L.A. rules are simplicity exemplified, in- " library work, unimportant though it may stead of being tiresomely elaborate," as one seem, can be reduced to a mathematical cer- of our English friends has taken occasion to tainty. If the books were not to receive call them. A book lies on the cataloguer's different to their table he has but to it introduce the designations distinguish ; pick up, relative proportions, if, in other words, only left-hand edge of the card between the cover height was to be considered, the boxwood and the fly leaves on a line with the bottom of rule would, without doubt, be the best tool to the cover, and the size of the book appears at use. With the height constantly to be taken once on the card, above and at the right of into account, and the proportions ever vary- the corner. If the top of the cover falls upon ing with the height, a card seems preferable. one of the parallel lines, it takes the designa- size above if one of the tion of the ; upon diag- The Card and Its Advantages. onal lines, that of the size at the right. Having given considerable time and thought It often happens that the book to be meas- to the construction of a card for this purpose, ured exceeds the card in height or width. I think I have at last succeeded in getting Extended scales upon the back enable one the greatest possible utility from any card of to measure any book that does not exceed a given size. The construction of the card is twice the height of the card, unless it is of briefly this : Parallel lines are drawn at the quite unusual proportions. For ordinary uses proper distances, i.e., 10, 12 1-2, 15, 17 1-2, 20, a card 25 by 20 centimeters is as large as 25, etc. centimeters, from the bottom, indicat- necessary. For large books, one 50x40 cen- ing the outside limits of the height of each timeters, with extended scales upon the back, size. From the lower left-hand corner, three would be desirable for measuring atlases, diagonal lines are drawn, which run at a uni- bound newspapers, elephant folios, and other form proportion from the edge of the card, books of exceptional size. A card of this one of 3-5, one of 3-4, the third forming a size would measure any volume not exceed- true diagonal. Every point in the first diag- ing i metre, or about 40 inches, in height or onal is 3-5 of the distance from the left-hand width.

of the card that it is from the bottom of the extended edge ; The modus operandi using the second is the same distance and the scales is and Insert 3-4 ; simple easily acquired. true diagonal line is at every point equi-dis- the card as before, and with a pencil, mark tant from the left-hand edge and the bottom. the fly leaves just enough to show how high These lines therefore as the card extends then take the card its diagonal clearly ; by indicate the line of demarkation between the lower left-hand corner, and turn it over in nar., regular size, sy., and ob. books, as do such a manner as to bring it at the upper the parallel lines between those of different right-hand corner. Place the lower edge of heights. As a result, we have mapped out the card, thus turned, on a line with the before us the boundaries of all our sizes with pencil marks, and close the cover, when the strict mathematical accuracy. If further sub- size will be ascertained as before. THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

I f the book should now prove to be wider any of the other sizes. We can, in like man- than the card, as is apt to be the case, make ner, subdivide the sizes for the width of pencil marks at the right-hand edge of the books by drawing an additional diagonal line card, then take the card by its lower right- midway between the regular ones. In this hand corner and turn it around so as to bring way we may subdivide the octavos into it at the corner the octavos and broad octavos upper right-hand ; put (O.) (b. O.). By left-hand edge on a line with the new pencil employing both forms of subdivision at the marks, and close the book, and ascertain the same time, we get four sizes where we now size as in the first at have one and we if we place. Large figures, ; may, choose, designate the lower edge of the card, indicate the cor- them as tall octavos (/. O.), large octavos rect octavos position of the card in each of the three (/. O.), small octavos (s. O.), and broad positions just explained. The use of pencil (b. O.), as we now speak of narrow (nar. O.), marks can easily be dispensed with, if two square (sg. O.), and oblong octavos (pb. O.). cards are used instead of one, or if the large There may be a reasonable doubt enter- sized card is used in the place of the smaller tained as to whether it is worth while to sub- one. The directions for measuring books divide any of the sizes below the octavo, but larger than the card itself may seem a little I am strongly inclined to favor the subdivi- involved, but the application of the card, in sion of that size and all above it, and possibly measuring such books, is really quite simple the duodecimos, for the reason that there now in practice. seems to be too great a difference in size between the largest and smallest octavos, Further Subdivisions. quartos, and folios. The greater the height, The subdivision of the folio sizes by the the greater the difference. If it is thought A.L.A. size rules is such an obvious advan- wise to make further subdivisions, the size tage over the old system of measurement by notation must be made brief and suggestive. fold, that it is with some hesitancy that I It should be self-explanatory rather than suggest the introduction of further subdivi- obscure. As soon, however, as a rule is sions in the rules. I am the more encouraged decided upon, a card can readily be prepared to do so, however, from the discussion upon which will explain itself to any intelligent this very point which was called out by Mr. mind. Schwartz's article in the Library journal But, before the matter of futher subdivision (10: 394-96) soon after the Lake George con- is entered into, it would be well to determine ference, where the same question had been whether a book 3-4 as wide as high shall previously discussed. I entirely disapprove have the sq. prefixed to its size letter, or not of Mr. Schwartz's plan, believing that it is until it is 4-5 as wide as high. much wiser to modify existing rules, when- It may be well to state that I have made ever practicable, than to abandon them for my cards upon the former scale, at the sug- new and untried schemes. Great accuracy gestion of Mr. Dewey, as he has informed me and minute subdivisions can be secured in that the committee having this matter in hand the A.L.A. rules in the ways I am about to have practically decided upon that propor- suggest. tion, and as it is the one he has adopted in This may be done, first, by subdividing the the cataloguing department of Columbia sizes for the height of books. The present College. octavo size extends from 20 to 25 centimeters An attempt has been made to still further in height. If this is subdivided by inserting add to the usefulness of the card by using a horizontal line at 22 1-2 centimeters, or mid- the unoccupied spaces for abbreviations and way between the two extremes, we get two other matters that the cataloguer desires to sizes which not be him. may inappropriately desig- have constantly before , nated as octavo small I it said large (/. O.) and octavo In conclusion, think may safely be (s. O.), or long and short octavo, and so with that if those who have adopted the A.L.A. UTLEY. 39

size rules, and desire to do exact work, will will be most thankfully received. If I have make use of this card for a short time, they failed to make my meaning sufficiently clear, will find it so convenient and accurate that or have overlooked any point, I shall be very they will not readily consent to dispense with glad to have my attention called to it now, or its use. at some future time. Any suggestions that will add to its value

NEWSPAPER VOLUMES IN A LIBRARY.

BY H: M. UTLEY, LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY, DETROIT, MICH.

"DERHAPS librarians may think the exam- tinuous usage, and have found it stand the ple of Detroit newspaper publishers best of anything yet tried. But it costs five worth commending to the publishers of their times as much as duck, and is no better for own cities. The managers of our four Eng- newspaper work. I have put on newspapers lish dailies have deposited their complete full binding of common gray duck, 8 ounce " bound files in the library for safe keeping weight, costing about 10 cents a yard by the and the public convenience." Here they are piece. Volumes of the size of the New York as available to the newspaper employe's them- Tribune are bound with this material by our selves as in their own offices, access being contractors at $1.50 each. had to them during the hours when the library These are sewed with the whip stitch in is closed by application to the janitor. The sections of a half dozen papers each, the purpose of making the deposit, as stated by whole thus being made strong and flexible. the managers, is twofold safe keeping and Daily papers of eight or more pages I bind the public convenience. Newspaper offices into quarterly volumes, dividing each year's seem to be peculiarly exposed to fire, each of issue into four parts. It is economy in the the leading offices in Detroit having been long run to make lighter and more easily twice burned out within the past ten years. handled volumes, though, being more numer- The library building is probably as safe from ous, they may cost a little more at the outset. danger from fire as any building in the city, I have tried some of this binding lately on so that safe keeping was undoubtedly a strong Harper's Weekly, Illustrated London News, motive to induce the managers to accede to etc., and am well satisfied with it. The titles my request. But I happen to know that the are lettered with black ink on the canvas. benefit the public might gain from having This reminds me of some of the difficulties of these volumes thus accessible had great putting titles on the buckram. Of this weight in influencing them. The only obliga- material I have used only the flax color, or tion the library authorities are under is to light greenish tint, and the gilt lettering does care for the volumes, and permit only their not show well on it. Then the title was put proper use in the building. on title leather, which was pasted on. But in At the Lake George conference the best spite of the utmost pains this would peel off. material for newspaper binding was discussed. Our binder now stains with analine, dark Mr. Peoples recommended duck, Mr. Schwartz, green, the space for the title, and the gilt buckram and that the shows all ; everybody agreed sheep, lettering right. so commonly used, is quite unsuitable. It The newspapers are lettered the longest soon loses all its vitality and strength, and way of the back, as they lie flat on the shelves, crumbles into dust at the touch. English instead of standing on end. And this leads buckram is admirable material for binding. I me to a description of the cases in which the it are have imported several pieces of it, and used newspaper volumes placed. on books which get the hardest and most con- It happened that the room available for the THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. purpose is a high and well-ventilated base- interest are generally dealt with by the news- ment, with plenty of windows on two sides. papers on or about the same dates. Along the wall on the other two sides, and in But there are many important matters double rows across the room, with ample treated by the leading newspapers of the passages between, are ranged the newspaper country which are not covered by this index cases. These are 6 feet 6 inches high and 2 of only a single one of them. There are scien- feet 2 inches deep, and are divided into sec- tific and literary articles and discussions of tions ranging from 2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 10 economic questions by brilliant writers, which inches, though mainly 2 feet 7 inches in are quite valuable, and which are practically width, these sizes well accommodating the inaccessible without the aid of an index. If various volumes. The upright divisions be- the public library in each city would undertake tween the sections are panelled to prevent the task of indexing one or two of the leading of ex- warping. The shelves are made of 3-4 stuff, dailies of its own city, by a system with strips dovetailed across each end, to hold changes, the whole mass of daily newspaper them level. A half-round section is cut out of literature would become available to all. the front edge at the centre to enable the There is another class of papers that de- volume to be grasped by the hand. The shelf serves some attention also under this head. rests upon three screw eyes at each end. If These are the special journals, such as the it pulls out with the volume, as it probably Iron Age, Railroad Gazette, Insurance will, being loosely fitted, the centre screw eye Spectator, Pharmaceutical Journal, Electri- prevents it from dropping out of place, and cian, etc. The topics treated in these are of causes it to run back smoothly to its proper fresh and lively interest, and the library patron bearings when pushed in. Glass doors, with looking up one of them is now forced to waste lock and key, keep out the dust and the fiend much time turning them over to find what an with scissors, and permit the reading of the index would help him to instantly. titles. Each series of volumes is arranged The Nation has lately set a good example chronologically. by publishing a general index of itself. Per- A word as to indexes. If the cooperative haps others will have sufficient appreciation indexing scheme could be carried beyond its of its merits to follow this good example. -I present limits, corresponding advantages doubt, however, whether any cooperative would result. I do not know that it is practi- scheme is practicable with this class of jour- cable to carry it very far. The New York nals, especially while the indexing of the Tribune publishes an index annually, which more important scientific and professional serves in some degree as a general index to periodicals is in abeyance. daily newspapers, because the great topics of

For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (Third session.)

PAMPHLETS AND CONTINUATIONS OF SERIALS.

BY LINDSAY SWIFT, BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

/^vWING to a turn which the general dis- After some seven years' almost daily experi- cussion on the expense of cataloguing ence with all sorts of pamphlets, I take a per- took at the Lake George meeting in 1885, I sonal interest in them, and now wish, in a have felt moved to say a few things upon one commonplace way enough, to champion their of the dullest of subjects. To one reading cause. the published account, the impression would The terminology of exact bibliography really remain that the absolute worth of pamphlets as ought not to contain the word "pamphlet," if a class of literature in themselves is not large. we mean thereby an inferior and little-to-be- SWIFT.

" " esteemed sort of book, of few pages, and gen- are pamphlets ? Pressure of work and the erally unbound a kind of bantam in litera- poverty of most libraries have much to do ture, or book without its clothes on. The with this state of things; but there is a great fewness of pages has nothing to do with a deal of the camel in a librarian. He mourn- just estimate of them. The reading people fully resents having fresh burdens laid upon of this country care more for the latest word, him, yet somehow he always does manage to in pamphlet or book, on the Inter-State stagger up and ahead under his load. commerce act, the Fisheries question, the How, then, shall this enormous bulk of Irish question, or the Chinese puzzle than unbound literature, which is the vexation of they ever can care for some Universal History all large libraries, be managed? The un- in I know not how many scores of dull, fat vol- bound condition is, first, a serious problem. umes. The present worth of a pamphlet is Pamphlets won't stand up in undress, and often immense, but how inadequately do many they are hard to get at, when placed on their large libraries meet the demand of the day for sides in piles. At the Harvard College the literature thereof! Furthermore, these Library, I learn that pamphlets are arranged creatures of an hour sometimes become of alphabetically by authors, and if one knows immense value. We do not marvel when a his author this arrangement should work library pays, at the Brinley sale, $80 for a few very well. Certain general subjects, as ser- leaves, because they were the first printed in mons and sale catalogues, are placed together. the town of Boston on John Foster's press. I do not know if this admits of as nice a cata- No one dreams of calling such a rarity a logue classification as is thought needful in pamphlet, when it has been clad in its Lon- the case of books. don-made suit by Pratt or Bedford. Some Decidedly the ideal way is to bind sepa- harmless maniac in A. D. 2087 may give $100 rately each work, great or small, and thus, in " " for the absolutely unique uncut trifle which fact, all rarities in pamphlets are treated. he needs to perfect his precious collection of Expensively bound dainties for which libraries literature on the great Andover heresy case of have to pay so well were once three-penny two hundred years back. pamphlets. The dress makes the book as To put this a little more harshly, librarians well as the man. Happy the library when have no right to pronounce upon the intrinsic each publication has its own standing-room. value of the wares they handle. Censores If separate binding is out of the question, the morum they must at times constitute them- next best plan is, of course, to bind by sub- selves and there should not be too much of jects. This is what is doing continually at this but they are not called to the office of the Boston Public Library, and we are satis- inspectors, weighers, or gaugers of public fied with the results. In the last Quarterly the will attend to that. of the Librarian I find that to property ; people The Report up June, Force, or Winsor, or McMaster of the future 1887, 339,520 pamphlets have been added cannot use the passing trifles of this decade, from the first. They come in now at the rate as he will surely wish to, unless they are of from 12,000 to 15,000 a year. For some carefully treasured and most carefully cata- years past they have been arranged by sub- logued. Remember the howlings of Carlyle jects, as closely defined as so rapid an ac- while at work on his Cromwell in the British cumulation will allow and then bound. The vol- Museum, which institution would gladly have umes,which contain from five to 40 pieces, an escaped his tirades. average perhaps of from 12 to 15, are stoutly But in all this I shall find no one to dispute bound in goat and plainly lettered. A large me, and yet allow me to ask nine librarians subject, slavery for instance, is allowed to out of ten if more often than not publications accumulate for several years before it is made of great contemporary interest do not get up into volumes. The shelves are then pushed aside, shelved, or closeted, anything cleared, and after several years emptied again. but catalogued, for the simple reason that they This enables a nicer arrangement, in binding, THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

of the subdivisions of a large subject. In a is as follows: 1877-8, 3,360; 1878-9,5,174;

lot of newly bound slavery pamphlets, we 1879-80, 2,788; 1880-1, 3,664; 1 88 1-2, 4,695 : shall have very likely a score of volumes on 1882-3, 4,217; 1883-4, 4,257; 1884-5, 7,2575 in the United States as more an Slavery ; many 1885 (eight months), 3,646; 1886, 5,069; on Slavery in the West Indies, several vol- average of nearly 4,500 a year. This would umes respectively on the Slave trade, the not appear to be keeping pace with the rate Fugitive Slave law, Slave narratives, etc., etc. of increase, but more than half of all our No attention is paid in cataloguing to the title pamphlet accessions now are duplicates. of the bound volume. It represents to us Figures of this sort are at best deceptive, mearly a dozen or more works, each of which for they say nothing of the immense acci- is numbered and catalogued as Independently dental benefit done to a catalogue by a careful as if it were a literary monument in 10 folio treatment of pamphlets. Thousands of old volumes. For instance in a volume backed pamphlets have been recatalogued in the U. S. Politics, there may be pamphlets on the process of work, snags in the card catalogue Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska removed, fresh subject references introduced, etc. bill, the Bank of the United States, and, above all, the influx of duplicates almost These will be entered under their respective wholly stopped. The accumulation of dupli- headings in the catalogue. We of course are cates is, as you will agree, a perfect curse to very particular as to full author or title a library. Without stopping to tell how, I entries. can safely say that it costs us nearly three The bound volume, however, must be con- times as much to catalogue a duplicate as a sidered as a genuine volume in the" running fresh title. By any system less painstaking of the a brief than ours I don't see this evil is to be annals library ; accordingly, very how list of contents is made on a card, which is broken up. Aside from their expense, dupli- filed away by its shelf number in a place kept cates, when counted into the total number of apart for this purpose. We can thus tell works in a library, make the enumeration what is lost, if a pamphlet volume disappears, misleading. When the Boston Public Library as sometimes, though very rarely, happens. says that it has 400,000 volumes, it would be The volumes, I may mention, are not allowed more accurate to admit that from 20,000 to to be taken from the library. Some years 40,000 of this number are duplicates. As a ago we used to print the contents of the vol- fact, however, our actual number of volumes an title to the whole I doubt nearer than umes, and give arbitrary ; is, not, 600,000 400,000, a sort of cross reference was then made to if we only would count in our pamphlets each author indicated in the contents, and separately which are now bound in volumes. each title thus treated was underscored in Why not, if we count each separately bound This was and is now useless as of course we do thous- red. expensive, ; pamphlet, by the method arose from the now antiquated ands ? These duplicates also take up shelf- notion that a pamphlet volume should have room, of which we need every inch, if I may some tangible recognition of its existence. use before you that archaic expression for Diligently thinning out unbound pamphlet- linear measurement. shelves by this painful, expensive, but most The cause of an over accumulation of these satisfactory process, we have reduced our pests is curious, and not quite easy to obviate. unbound collection to about 40,000 or 50,000, The case of the Boston Public Library well one half of which are probably duplicates. It illustrates the difficulty. For the past eighty is no easy work to find a desired pamphlet in years in our city two topics have been upper- these dusty, roughly arranged heaps. most the Unitarian and the Anti-slavery con- In the past ten years, during which our troversies. Our public men have almost with- latest method has been in practice, the out exception been in the heat of the contest, progress is encouraging. The number of their weapons being orations and pamphlets. pamphlets newly catalogued during this time An immense local literature on these sub- SIVIFT. 43

jects has been the result. Now every good the merits of Lamplough's Pyretic Saline or Bostonian intends, though he sometimes Pears' Soap are not appreciated in the next forgets, at his death to leave a portion of his century, it will not be the fault of that institu- worldly goods to the Public Library. As a tion. consequence, nearly every well-meaning citi- By a not too abrupt transition, the vexed " " zen who has died within the past 25 years has problem of continuations lastly and natu- bequeathed to the library a copy of Sumner's rally suggests itself. How shall the public True grandeur of nations. The edition must best be informed of recent additions to publi- have been enormous, although I think that cations on file upon our shelves ? Each the returns for that pamphlet must be nearly library must adopt methods peculiar to its all in. So of Channing's, Parker's, and system, and I may be pardoned for presenting Phillips' writings. When we added to our ours. It is plainly impossible to note in a bibliothecal treasures our ninth duplicate of catalogue the arrival of each weekly, monthly, the first edition of Daniel Webster's Address or quarterly part of a volume of a periodical or " " at the laying of the corner stone of the Bun- of the proceedings of learned bodies. We ker Hill Monument, it was felt that we must do, however, as soon as a volume is complete

order a halt. The fact is, it used to seem a and bound, make a memorandum to that effect sacrilege to break apart these volumes once on the main catalogue card and on the shelf the property of our most esteemed citizens. list. Below the printed title on the cards But such volumes were, no doubt, as great cross-reference cards as well as main cards a nuisance to their former owners as now to is a legend in type, to the effect that whatever our while of the work is not mentioned on library ; accordingly, everything part the identified with the literary life of our public card-title may be applied for. This is espe- men is held in due reverence, we do not now cially useful in the case of such publications as hesitate, acting in this matter of course under annual and triennial college catalogues, which in the instructions of the Librarian,'Judge Cham- come so fast that we cannot easily take berlain, to break up certain volumes, and se- particular note of each accession. When lect only such pamphlets as we really want. possible, works of this sort are bound by A small library, I admit, could not afford to decades, and then the main cards are made to break up volumes already bound, but it is correspond with the facts. When a pile of economy for us. these serial publications is incomplete, or While it seems to me a wise general rule to title-pages and indexes of periodicals ere treat pamphlets precisely as books, there are missing, we never bind until the defects ~re It is some classes of printed matter which need made good. astonishing, if you will w.iit, not these filled at a make such exactions on time and money. how gaps get in, large library ! Sale-catalogues of all kinds, fashion-books, Everything should be done to help the and many guide-books may be done up in public in its search for desired numbers of bundles or cared for in some other way. Easy periodicals or serials. To learn to consult access should, however, be possible in all periodicals and the like, seems to be as troub- cases. lesome a part as any of even the most intelli- Nothing should be destroyed. Now and gent visitor's task. In the Boston Public then some demented person proposes to make Library there has been for some years in " " a selection of the books in one of our operation a most valuable separate catalogue immense libraries, and would warm his wits at on small cards which contain the titles with- a general conflagration of such matter as he out cross references of all sorts and con- " " deems unfit to be passed on to posterity. ditions of periodicals, transactions and pro- In the Boston Public Library, and I suppose ceedings of societies, and serial publications of in every library of size, all printed matter is every kind, complete or incomplete, on file or sacred. Even the advertisements of medical out of file. Its projector, Miss Harriet N. are if saves hours and in the course magazines carefully bound apart ; and, Pike, days of a THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

this economical contrivance. It is for much them want to learn it all year by impress ; they library use exclusively. for themselves, and they are apt to arrive at " As for indexing periodicals on proceedings middle life singing the old refrain : Oh ! if I " and transactions, it should be done whenever could begin life over again ! A library possible. We all know what immensely impor- which neglects its pamphlets, and does not tant papers are continually appearing in govern- keep up its fag ends of periodicals and serials ment works. Whatever has been said of the will of necessity regret it. All pamphlets are of here too. of some worth the newer ones intrinsic value pamphlets applies ; must be One person in our library is constantly, as he placed promptly before the public. A cheap snatches the opportunity, enriching our card contrivance which we call "novel-covers," catalogue by indexing parts of volumes which that is, two boards, without a back, fastened can never, by the nature of the case, be in- to the pamphlet by a temporary thread, will do cluded in future editions of the great Poolers very well for new and interesting works. The Index, or indeed in any system of cooperative older and more valuable should be better pre- indexing yet proposed. Mr. Griffin's valu- served. In all cases the cataloguing should able Index of American local history now pub- be for all time, each title separately, and no lishing in our Bulletins is one result of this grouping of titles under one head. happy use of odd moments. I shall admit finally that this care of pam- If of value to be drawn from is in our anything is. phlets expensive ; case, very expen- what I have said, it is the lesson of experience. sive, for past mistakes have added to I know of no library which in 30 years of life the present cost. It will cost very nearly as has had to learn or unlearn more than the one much to catalogue any pamphlet as any which I have the honor to serve. The road book; and perhaps it will cost more, because to the stars was the harder because it was the labor of intelligent cross reference mak- new. A library which has been peculiarly the ing is increased in this class of literature, architect of its own reputation, it has had to which often deals with special phases of reject, as it built, what at one time seemed to technical or scientific subjects, all of which do well enough. I am convinced, therefore, requires more skill and research. But how- that the wisest plan for a library which ex- ever costly it may be, it is wisdom to persist pects to grow at all is to start with a scheme in the best of care for pamphlets, for in all which shall meet the demands of a future in- great libraries the neglect of this duty will crease. Experimental methods are very eventually involve a much larger expense, to wasteful, and it is almost impossible to undo set things right; otherwise, you will get wholly a bad start. Libraries are like small deeper into your perplexities year by year. boys, the experience of their elders does not

HOW TO BIND PERIODICALS.

BY NORMAN C. PERKINS, ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY, DETROIT, MICH.

T N a late bookseller's catalogue appeared a The Atlantic and Century, and perhaps the list of American magazines which were older Putnam, with its outer leaves of green recommended as in the can still be had uncut and unmutilated especially being orig- corn, ; inal numbers as issued, with all covers and but what should we say to a full set of the advertisements and the in as complete ; question Gentleman's Magazine, parts issued, recurred, Why, if these coverings and accom- with not a [leaf or publisher's slip missing paniments add to the value of a periodical, since the days of George II.? In the pos- they should not always be preserved. session of any person not a barbarian, such a PERKINS. 45 series would go into volumes intact, as they the announcement of new books as they are should, simply for protection and preservation, published. The second number of the North without dismembered the binder's American Review for announces being by ', instance, hand or knife. what must have been the first American edition It " " is easy enough to perceive the proper of Scott's Lord of the Isles not a literary treatment for a magazine running back through item of the first magnitude, to be sure, but 150 years; but the issues now current will one that some student may be very glad to grow old with time, and why should we not find. Between that day and this the Review treat every periodical that comes into our has chronicled the appearance of pretty nearly possession in precisely the same considerate every book that goes to make up what we now In other should not all reckon as American literature and the way? words, why ; junior serials be bound just as they come from the Atlantic may be counted on to give on its publishers' hands, without the loss of a cover advertising leaves much information, not so or a page of advertisement? certainly found elsewhere, which the collector The quarterly or monthly number, with its is sure to want, concerning first editions of tinted cover embelished, it may be, with more the New England poets and prose writers of care than the text within, is as much a literary the generation that is passing away. entity as a bound volume. It is the charming No one who has undertaken to collate and opusculum of our time, giving us much of the arrange sets of periodicals to determine just best that is written through the year; and no what belongs to each volume and series, and insignificant part of its attraction lies in the to trace changes in name and in dates .of advertisements, which are like instantaneous issue, and the steps by which separate publi- photographs, that go to make up the picture of cations have been merged or submerged the age, and illustrate its life and manners. needs to be told how he misses and longs for Some of these printed allurements of trade the little scraps of information which must seem frivolous, no doubt; and the quality of have been given on the covers of the num- Pear's soap may not, indeed, be of vital inter- bers as they came out, but is nowhere to be est to the student of the future but neverthe- found since have the ; they passed through less the unconsidered trifles of to-day become remorseless fingers of the binder. Questions the history of- tomorrow, and it may some day of editorship and authorship are often settled be quite as important to know what complex- upon printed covers, when neither text nor ion powder Mrs. Langtry used in 1887 as to title gives any intimation of the fact that is be told that Mrs. Pepys wore three patches on wanted. For a long time the names of the her face, and looked handsomer than the writers in the Atlantic were given on the Princess Henrietta in or that Nell covers and the first nine as 1665, only ; volumes, Gwyn painted her cheeks red, to the scandal ordinarily bound, give no suggestion of of the fine ladies of the court. authorship whatever. It may truly be said It is safe to assume that almost any maga- that, as a rule, the paper covers of a periodical zine advertisement will become interesting exhibit its own continuous history, explain- within 10 years, and curious within 20, and ing its literary management and workman- within in more than the same is to be found likely enough important 50 ; and, ship, clearly recognition of the permanent value of these in any other place. things of the day, many serials, like the Illus- In binding serial publications of all kinds, trated London JVetvs, have their advertising even such as the consular reports from the leaves paged consecutively with the rest; State Department and circulars from the and some, like Life and the Library jour- Bureau of Education and college catalogues nal, page the covers and all. But magazine and reports, I would put in the covers of blue the advertisements have also a special literary or brown or yellow paper, even though value of their own, from the fact that they print upon them may be a duplicate of the of give an epitome of current literary history in main title; and I would treat pamphlets THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

whatever kind in the same way. The covers, of the periodical at the bindery, but to include at any rate, serve to show in what shape the whatever is printed as a part of the periodical issue was originally made, and in the bound itself. volume they indicate to the eye where each There are some reading-room devices for number or ends and a which are intended o pamphlet ; occasionally holding periodicals nota bene of two lines on the last tinted page serve as permanent bindings when the vol- will give an interesting fact, which otherwise umes are completed, and there is at least one a week's investigation might not reveal. thing to be said in their favor : they keep the There are some periodicals, like the Edin- numbers together in their perfect condition, burgh and Quarterly reviews, in which the and preserve the attractiveness which always proportion of advertisements is certainly very belongs to a big or little book which has never but the cost of is not suffered devastation at the hand of man. There great ; binding percep- tibly increased by including them, and the are at present some grounds for hoping that, additional shelf-room required can hardly be a so far as periodicals at least are concerned, serious objection. A good rule probably is to the time approaches when bookbinding itself throw out only those advertisements in the will become an art preservative, instead of shape of thin catalogues, illuminated insurance being an agency for the destruction of what- tables, and the like, which are printed else- ever good work the printer has produced. where, and merely stitched inside the covers For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper see PROCEEDINGS (Third session).

SOME THOUGHTS ON CLOSE CLASSIFICATION.

BY GEORGE WATSON COLE.

Broad Classification. classification is essential, and is recommended all librarians of T F ever library work is to be raised to the by experience. The from broad clas- dignity of a science, it must be done by disadvantages arising sification are to be overcome in the comparative study. The importance of this sought work cannot well be over-estimated. Per- catalogues, where we almost invariably find a haps in no branch of the work, will this an attempt made to catalogue by subjects, even than are study result in richer fruit than in the field greater number of subjects until of classification. No little attention has been recognized upon the shelves. So that, a recent the close classification of the paid to the subject of close classification by period, was if at in its our profession for the past few years, more library done, all, catalogues rather than the shelves and that cata- particularly within the past two years. By upon ; was the most other this term, I understand, is meant the arrange- logue excellent, things which carried close classification ment of books upon the shelves by specific being equal, extent. Close subjects or forms, which follow each other in to the furthest classification, I consider to be but the natural an orderly and systematic sequence. The therefore, first instinct of the librarian is to divide his result of a healthy growth in library work, books into broad classes as and it be attributed almost entirely to the ; history, science, may abandonment of a fixed location for a rela- travels, biography, etc. This has generally been done in all libraries as tive one. ; and, they have increased in the Fixed vs. Relative Location. size, tendency has naturally been to increase the number of these divi- Formerly every library was arranged and sions, or classes, either by making new ones, numbered by a fixed location. The alcoves, or the old ones. of by breaking up Some form sections, and shelves were first] numbered, COLE. 47

the subdivisions what are to be de- and then the books were placed upon ; advantages in numerical rived from close classification and what ob- shelves, and numbered regular ; order until the capacity of each shelf was stacles lie in the way of its general adoption ? exhausted. At first, as we have already indi- Close in the vs. the cated, some attempt was made to keep dif- Classification Catalogue Shelves. ferent subjects separate by assigning certain alcoves or portions of the library to special It has long been the cataloguer's rule to topics. As the library grew, it usually ex- enter each work under its specific subject. panded in unlooked for directions, and as a Without entering into any discussion as to the natural result the spaces assigned to some best form of the catalogue, whether classed or subjects were often filled to overflowing, long alphabetical, which is a question that needs before others were at all crowded. As a special time for its treatment, the question result the subject, instead of being found in arises whether, as far as practicable, a corres- fre- minuteness shall not be the place originally assigned to it, was ponding employed in quently found in several different parts of the shelving the books of a library. Some libra- the library, it might be at quite a distance from rians acknowledge necessity of having each other. The disadvantage of this system the catalogue minutely subdivided, each topic soon became to one it. under its most head but at apparent evejy using appearing specific ; Not until within a few years, however, has a the same time they are unwilling to admit relative or movable location, or a system of that a corresponding minuteness in the arrange- assigning a number to a subject or topic, ment of the books themselves is to be desired. instead of to a certain location in the library, Others see in such an arrangement, not only been generally adopted. This has been found a great advantage in the ease and economy so great an advantage over the old method, with which the library may be administered, that it is almost entirely used in the arrange- but also that its usefulness as an educational ment of new libraries as well as in the re-ar- power is increased and that a far-reaching and rangement of many old ones. Its great advan- beneficent influence is exerted upon its tage lies in the fact that by moving the books patrons. Its advocates do not and never along upon the shelves, or better still by have claimed to accomplish the impossible or at the of each all the but do as far as leaving spaces end subject, impracticable ; they claim, books upon that subject may be kept together possible, to transfer the advantages of close by interpolation. classification from the catalogue to the It has been that the old methods shelves to make the shelves their own cata- said, by ; the books were usually divided into broad logue.O Close classification seeks to make the classes. It was but natural, therefore, that library more useful and available by arranging with the adoption of a relative location, the its resources in minute classes. This is of old ideas as to the number of subjects em- primary value to those who are in the library, ployed should at first prevail. As a conse- as it enables them the more readily to ascertain quence we find the first libraries arranged by the resources of the library upon a specific the relative location were divided into a small topic. It may be claimed that this is the number of classes. It soon became apparent function of the catalogue, which is true. The that more classes could be employed to ad- catalogue should give the resources of the vantage. As the relative location was used library more fully than the shelves can possi- and better understood, it grew in favor, and bly do. It is true that we cannot have the the question of close classification has since entire resources of the library standing side come to the front as a natural outgrowth of by side upon the shelves, unless we can take its use. The questions that now most imper- some of our books apart, and in some cases atively demand our attention are these : how perform the impossible feat of making them far is it practicable and desirable to carry the occupy two distinct places at the same time division of the library by subjects and their but all this does not and never can compen- 48 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

sate for the advantages derived from having whether it costs any more than the old meth- books which treat of the same specific topic ods, while the results are far more satisfac- grouped together upon the shelves, and these tory in every respect. groups arranged in some and systematic Existing Systems of Classification. natural order. The catalogue has certain There are several systems of classification functions and advantages that cannot in the now in use, and with which you are all more nature of things be relegated to the shelves. or less familiar, which be named Because close classification does not accom- among may those of Messrs. Cutter, Dewey, Edmands, plish what it never attempted or because it Perkins, Schwartz, and Smith. Whether any was not used by our grandfathers, is no argu- of these systems will be in use, outside of ment against it. Our grandfathers never used the libraries in which they were developed, the telephone nor attempted to light their fifty years hence, time alone will reveal. Of one drawing-rooms or libraries by electricity, but thing we may rest assured that the law of we do both. The advantages of close classi- " " the survival of the fittest will be inexorably fication are found to be many, not only by li- and impartially applied. In the discussions of brarians, but by the users of libraries. The these systems we have at times witnessed a idea is based upon practical and economical warmth and censoriousness, begotten more of considerations, rather than upon any Utopian personal interest than of fair and impartial theories. The advantages are far in excess criticism. In these discussions much use of its cost. Instead of confining itself to the " has been made of the terms "natural order, narrow views of library management, quite " " logical system, etc., which I think have generally entertained until within a few years, been given an undue prominence. To my it attempts to reap the reward of comparative " " " mind, the terms practical order or orderly study. It is progressive as well as aggressive. " arrangement are to be preferred, not so much It starts upon the basis of utilizing the best in describing the system as such, as in denot- and ripest experience of the past, and seeks ing their uses and aims. The utmost skill of to avoid the errors and obstacles to success, man has failed, as yet, to devise a complete that were a constant source of trouble and circle of knowledge, and until this is done no anxiety to our predecessors. Business meth- system of classification can be in the fullest ods are as necessary in the management of a acceptation of the terms considered either as in other of the affairs of life and library any ; " " " logical or natural." The coming system, that library will be the most successful, other if it has not already been invented, will be the things that is conducted in a being equal, one that combines in the best manner the thorough-going business manner. Close clas- logical, natural, practical, and orderly arrange- sification is a step in this direction. It is an ments of books in the library. attempt to do once for all, as far as practica- A Index. ble, the work of the library. If the work is Iphabetical worth doing at all, it is worth doing in a This system must have an alphabetical thorough and systematic manner, rather than index to make its application easy and certain. in the slip-shod way in which it is too fre- This is so obvious, notwithstanding the ob- to quently done. It attempts, first of all, to de- jections of some who are opposed any termine into how many classes of subjects system that requires an index, that the fact and subordinate divisions it is wise and prac- has but to be stated to meet with general ticable to divide the library, bearing constantly assent. It is further witnessed by the addi- in mind the demands of its future growth. tional fact that no system has been printed Library work in the past has consisted too within the past ten years that has not been much in what has been clone such an index. If a care- undoing already ; accompanied by a if not misapplication, a positive waste of fully prepared system, fully elaborated and energy, that close classification endeavors to coordinated in all its parts, were to be pub- avoid, In the end it may safely be questioned lished without such an index, the user of it COLE. 49

would soon find himself supplying the defi- to their combined use, which can only be ciency by making an index of his own, thus justified upon the ground of brevity and a showing not only that an index is a conven- greater capacity for subdivisions. The com- ience but a necessity. binations are too complex to be fully under- stood by the usual frequenters of libraries. Class Notation. Figures alone, seem to answer most fully I come now to speak of two great obstacles and satisfactorily the requirements we have to be dealt with in the formation and applica- named as essential to an ideal system of tion of the ideal of classification the most and system ; notation, being easily written, read, system that is destined, because of its intrin- remembered, and being in their combinations sic merits, to take the precedence of all others the simplest forms known to the human mind. and attain a general use. The first to be con- Figures in all their permutations are perfectly sidered is class notation. The combined in- natural and simple, and are easily read or genuity, and the best talent of the library pro- remembered, which cannot in all cases be said fession has, as yet, failed to devise a class of letters. There are two methods of dealing notation that is entirely satisfactory. We with figures as a class notation that call for have systems that use letters alone, as Mr. a moment's notice. We may first lay out our Edmands' letters and as Mr. Cutter's of elaborate it to ; figures, ; scheme classification, and and as Mr. Smith's desired and then and num- letters, figures, symbols, ; any extent, begin and figures alone, as in Messrs. Dewey's, Per- ber our classes, sub-classes, and sections in kins' and Schwartz's systems. Each of these regular numerical order, leaving occasional notations has its peculiar advantages, and it gaps for new subjects that may arise in the is greatly to be regretted that some new nota- future. While this may seem a more eco- tion cannot be devised that will combine all nomical use of material than the other method their best points, but this is clearly impossible. which I shall presently mention, I am inclined What is to be sought for, in our ideal nota- to think that in the end nothing is gained, tion is : but that much confusion is liable to arise, 1. Naturalness and simplicity in its char- especially if inadequate gaps are left for future acters and their combinations . This is the same ; contingencies. very objec- 2. Ease in reading, writing, and remember- tion which we saw rendered the fixed location ing them; and objectionable, and led to its abandonment. 3. Brevity, with a great capacity for sub- The second method of using figures is that of divisions. using decimals for purposes of subdivision. The most natural and available materials This method, if we may judge by the favor from which to construct a notation are letters with which it has been received and adopted, and figures. There is little reason to suppose seems to be the best application of figures, that any system, based upon the use of other when used alone. The great objection to the characters, could be successfully or generally use of decimals lies in the fact that minute of class employed. Between the use figures and subdivision necessitates long numbers ; letters, used alone, there are reasons to be but I think I express the mind of many in deduced in favor of both, though person- saying that a class number of not more than ally I am inclined to prefer figures. Let- four, and in exceptional cases of five figures, ters are open to two objections: I. They are is preferable to one of mixed figures and not as easily written or read as figures, besides, letters, even if the latter were shorter by they require a greater number of strokes of one or two characters. It does not follow the pen in their construction, and are therefore because a system of classification has been more liable to illegibility. 2. They are not carefully elaborated for the use of specialists capable of as great a variety of combina- in all its classes, that it must be adopted, with tions, without producing unpleasant effects. all its subdivisions and minute headings, in all Figures or letters used alone seem preferable libraries. The extent to which it is to be THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. adopted is purely a matter of judgment, to be secured by simply using the authors' be determined by the circumstances of each initials, followed, whenever necessary, by particular case. For a library just starting, the numerals in the regular order of accession; wisest course seems to be to select some e. g., B, Bi, B2, etc. In many small classes system that has been carefully coordinated of which close classification will give us a and worked out, and decide how much of it large number, this will often give us a strict shall be adopted, it constantly being borne in alphabetical arrangement and in many others mind that the future growth and success of it will be so nearly so as to occasion little if the library depend much upon its being laid any inconvenience. out upon a broad and liberal basis, and that Object of This Paper. careful and even elaborate work will, in the This has been with end, prove most economical. paper prepared especial reference to the wants of public libraries that Alphabetical Book Numbers. circulate their books, instead of those refer- The second obstacle to be dealt with great ence libraries where the demand for economy in the of our ideal is in application system in call numbers is not so imperative. The the too use of persistent alphabetical systems adoption of close classification, within the of book "numbers. Those best known and limitations I have laid down, will enable them used are to generally primarily designed keep to do their work once for all, as far as classes of as fiction and large books, biog- practicable, and to put off, as far as possible, and even whole in strict raphy, libraries, the evil day of a general re-adjustment, and order. the alphabetical When, however, deprive it of most of its terrors. library is broken up into minute classes, Recapitulation. under a system of close classification, the for a strict To I have necessity previously existing briefly recapitulate ; attempted alphabetical order, either by authors or works, to show : ceases and instead of a con- 1. That relative location is a natural out- ; being great venience it becomes a This in work disadvantage. growth library ; may be seen in those libraries that have 2. That relative location has not only attempted to use close classification, Mr. made close classification possible, but prac- for in ticable Dewey's example, connection with ; Mr. Cutter's system of book numbers. There 3. That close classification has inherent are certain large form divisions, like fiction, advantages which we cannot afford to ignore; drama, and poetry, as well as biography, and which no system of close classification can 4. That, in its formation and application, satisfactorily break up. In these and other two difficulties have to be met and over- similar classes, an alphabetical order is come : highly desirable, and can in most cases be a. The class notation must be formed of satisfactorily secured by abbreviating the such materials and in such a manner as to usual class number but where close class- the essential features : ; combine following ing is used and small divisions of books a. Naturalness and simplicity in its char- some other of acters their combinations secured, system book numbers and ; should usually be employed. The alphabeti- b. Ease in reading, writing, and remem- cal arrangement has perhaps more and bering them; and greater advantages than any other, but c. Brevity, with a great capacity for sub- instead of an worked- divisions and employing elaborately ; out system, the capacity of which is practically b. In its application, approximate rather unlimited, I would use an approximate than strict alphabetical order should be used, alphabetical arrangement. This can readily except in certain rare cases. NELSON.

LIBRARIES FOR SPECIALISTS.

BY C: ALEX. NELSON, ASTOR LIBRARY.

" " A N issue of Science a few weeks ago con- authority on musical sands only at the

tained the following in an editorial note : Astor Library, and in the preparation of his " The increasing number of series of mono- catalogue of scientific and technical periodi- graphs on special topics must have attracted cals has the assistance of the Smithsonian the attention of all those who possess any Institution and of more than 125 librarians. " acquaintance with current literature. We In a recent discussion, in the main quite an " have an American science series, a set of sci- idle one," says the Boston Transcript, as to ence primers, several sets of literature prim- the relative advantages of New York and Bos- ers, historical monographs, economic papers, ton as places of residence for literary men, one and so on. The development in this direction significant statement was -made by a New is a perfectly natural one, and one which York man of letters, to the effect that he, in results from the increasing specialization in his work, not infrequently found it impossible study. It is impossible any longer for even to obtain the books he needed in New York, the well-informed man to follow methods and and was under the necessity of coming to

details : he must rest content with results, and Boston and Cambridge to get at them." even those concisely stated." Prof. W. O. Much valuable aid has been rendered to Atwater, in his article on Food in the June specialists in ascertaining where the authori- " Century, says : The experiments of the last ties they wish to consult may be found in the twenty years are numbered by hundreds and liberal exchange of catalogs, bulletins, and even thousands, and the literature of the sub- check lists between libraries, and in the publi- ject is so voluminous that few specialists even cation of cooperative lists and special bibliog- are able to handle it." raphies. But all these have served to bring In connection with this literature of special- out more clearly the great but perhaps not ization a difficulty has arisen to which it is wholly insurmountable difficulty; viz. that the the purpose of this note to call attention, and authorities in any and all lines of research are to suggest a possible remedy for the same. It widely scattered in libraries far apart from is the common experience of the librarians of each other, and that the specialist is often put the older and the larger libraries to have spe- to an expenditure of time and money from cialists come to their collections for the pur- 10 to 100 times the cost of the book he pose of consulting authorities not accessible wishes to get at, in traveling to the place elsewhere. Dr. Edward Eggleston, in the where it may be examined. preparation of his valuable monographs for "When Huxley writes on science in general, the Centttry on the early life of our ancestors Walker on political economy, Geikie on in the colonies, had to go from his own fine geology, Martin on biology, and Young on the library on the shore of Lake George (of pleas- sun, we may rest assured that the results will ant memory) to the Astor Library and the be beyond criticism." Historical Society Library in New York, to Some specialists, like Ex-Pres. A. U. the Boston Public and Athenseum, to the White, of Cornell University, Von Ranke, and Massachusetts Historical Society Library, to Mr. Hubert H. Bancroft, have been able to Harvard College Library, to the State Library gather to their own libraries needed authori- at Albany, to the National Library at Wash- ties in such numbers as to make their collec- and even to the British Museum. tions and invaluable but how ington, unique ; very Prof. H. Carrington Bolton, of Trinity Col- seldom during the life-time of the collector, as lege, Hartford, finds one long looked for in the first instance, or at his death, as in the THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

case of Von Ranke and a few others, do such nuclei of which are already provided, in the collections go en masse to some library libraries of the medical, historical and scien- for the free use of students in perpetuum ! tific societies and professional schools all over How often, rather, like that on the history of our land. printing made by the late Mr. Richard M. Hoe What has been done at Washington in col- of New York, and in scores of other instances lecting the splendid library at the Surgeon- that might be named, are the collections of a General's office (for the elaborate and incom- life-time scattered broadcast ! parable Index catalogue of which the librarf- Every librarian labors to make a specialty ans of the world are so much indebted to Dr. of some department of his library, and to Billings and his painstaking assistants) and all he can that bears it at the of the United States gather together upon ; library Geological but only too often what he manages to get Survey with its 60,000 volumes and pam- barely serves to emphasize the more press- phlets, must be done in connection with ing need of what he does not get. Every libraries for specialists in all departments, at college librarian can tell us of the efforts centers where they can be easy of access. made by each professor to secure the lion's One profession, the legal, is already amply share of the appropriations for his own provided for, and perhaps deserves but little department in the library, and of the loud sympathy on our part. There are hundreds calls from each of these specialists for much of well-equipped law libraries where legal wits needed authorities. Other librarians also are may be sharpened for the prosecution and " " often indebted to specialists for suggesting or defence of boodle aldermen and bribe-giv- requesting the purchase of valuable books, ing railroad presidents, and for breaking the but few are able to respond as liberally as did wills of such liberal and munificent testators the Astor Library in buying scores of books as Tilden and Mrs. Fiske, and perverting the asked for by the compilers of the Cyclopaedia funds intended for library endowment towards of Painters and Paintings edited by Champlin refilling the depleted pockets of the contest- and Norton. ants in these ill-begotten suits. There must of necessity be a limit beyond Our general or free public libraries cannot which general libraries cannot go in supply- be expected to buy works of interest only to the demands of the their mission and are ful- ing specialists. How, then, specialists ; purpose shall these demands be met? We reply by filled when they provide for the instruction the establishment of libraries for specialists. and entertainment of the people. Our great We supplement our public school system with reference libraries will have all they can do in " the free public library, the people's univer- providing the best editions of the best books sity;" we must complement our college and for the use of scholars and those who seek " university provision for the higher educa- more than the free public library provides; tion," by supplying to its expected and natural but our libraries for specialists should each product, the specialists, fully equipped libra- contain everything in print on the subject or ries tor their several departments, where they subjects for which it is established. may pursue their work and complete the circle Comparatively small endowments thus ap- " by preparing and publishing the small books plied will add indefinitely to the positive incre- " on great subjects for the information and ment of the world's stock of knowledge, in instruction of the people. We said by the saving to specialists much time for the pur- establishment of libraries for we suit of which is now specialists ; original investigations might have said by the prompt and liberal wasted in the search for information as to endowment of the scores of such libraries, the what their predecessors have accomplished. PLUMMER. 53

THE COLUMBIA COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY ECONOMY FROM A STUDENT'S STANDPOINT.

BY MISS MARY WRIGHT PLUMMER OF CHICAGO.

"DERHAPS no body of instructors ever had a making suggestions, and answering questions more expectant class or one more ignorant with almost infinite patience. The time was of the subject to be entered upon than were all too short, however, to thoroughly conquer most of the members of the School of Library the vast amount of detail, and the apprentice- Economy on the 5th of January last. It is ship term was of great value in confirming almost .a wonder that the ferment of energy our uncertain impression of what we had and enthusiasm with which we listened to been taught. From carding we went to and attempted to follow our instructions did classification, which proved fascinating but not burst out the walls of the superannuated difficult. Only a few of the class elected to building, for it was a clear case of new wine devote themselves to this during the appren- in old bottles. ticeship term, the majority preferring to work We began at once on our work under the at cataloguing. instructors appointed, applying ourselves first Some weeks were spent in carding accord- to the attainment of the library hand. Later ing to the dictionary system, and with this the we were allowed a choice between this and term virtually ended. a printed hand, and several adopted the It was not merely during the appointed latter. hours of practice that we worked, for there More than one family were astonished in seemed to be a general disposition to fill up these first days to receive letters written and the odd moments. Some busied themselves superscribed in characters abjured since with cyclostyling, some with the Hammond childhood, for the enthusiasm went so far as type-writer, others with reference work and to make this almost a test of class spirit. the elaboration of their lecture notes. If I remember right, the next step was For one or two weeks our notes were taken acquaintance with the accession-book, as down by ear, without much idea of what they being simplest. We used loose sheets similar meant, in the faith that some day we should to those of the condensed accession-book. look them over and find that practical experi- From this we went on to gain a slight knowl- ence had made them comprehensible. This edge of the writing of shelf lists and condens- proved true only in a measure, but the plan ing of titles, giving but a short time to this as now inaugurated of a short term of practice we were to return to it later. before the lecture course will do away with The writing of catalogue cards came next. this difficulty. The questions asked will prob- For some time this was done on slips of ably be more intelligent, and notes can be author and subject sizes, until we could be taken with full understanding. trusted to take the regular cards. Piles of It is greatly to be hoped that the lecture- books were brought up to us to be catalogued, courses in future may be arranged so as to and we took them as they came without selec- bring together discourses on the same or kin- tion. Our instruction on the dred this the mind previous slips topics ; by means, may had been in systematic order biographies for remain upon one subject until it be examined a few days, then analyticals, then works in on all sides, avoiding the waste of energy that series, etc., so that we might master the writing must come from a continual change of the sub- of one kind of card before going to another. ject under consideration. Such an arrange- During practice hours the instructors ment would also facilitate the taking of notes remained with us, overseeing our work, in topical order. 54 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

As to our interest in the lectures, I think class in German was started, under one of the some of the eminent librarians who had hardly staff, and proved helpful. Several of us would said their last word before they were sur- be glad if the third year's course might include rounded by eager questioners and greeted a review at least of our studies in languages, with individual applause, can answer for that. ancient as well as modern. The lectures might be divided into two sorts The plans with which many entered the the technical and the inspiring; the former school suffered changes and may undergo aroused practical discussion, the latter enthu- more before the end of the apprenticeship siasm, and the combination was a good one. year. Our ignorance of the many depart- It was noticeable that nothing that appealed ments, the infinite detail, and the higher aims to the missionary spirit appealed in vain. of librarianship, led us to make hasty choice When the apprenticeship term began, the of future work, which was modified or reversed value of actual and constant practice soon as we gained insight. Fitness for special became evident. Reference-books and aids to lines developed itself and seemed almost to cataloguing that had been but names to us force a choice in some instances. One feel- became a continual need, and we soon learned ing, however, was common to the class, that, to form a judgment, albeit a crude one, of whatever place and whatever division of labor their relative merits. might fall to our lot, we should not be satisfied There has been expressed by several of the with less than our best work, now that we had class in my hearing, a doubt whether it is a standard. With the untried enthusiasm of best for the school to attempt to teach more tyros we even yearned for small libraries in than one system of cataloguing, considering straitened circumstances, that so we- might the short time during which many of the class show how much could be done with a little. have the benefit of its instructions. In school I have intimated that the class was ambi- " ourselves " mixed enthusiastic parlance, we found up by tious, industrious, conscientious, ; the different methods taught, so that when we all this would sound like self-praise if I had came to be apprentices we had to relearn not intended all along to account for it in some things in order to do our work cor- great part by the patient painstaking, the rectly. persevering energy, and contagious zeal of The convenience of training in languages the faculty of the school. If the class be was very apparent, more so, doubtless, than called a success, it is greatly owing to the if our apprenticeship had been in an ordinary ability and the generous spirit with which it library. To meet a want in this direction, a was managed.

THE RELATIONS OF CITV GOVERNMENTS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

BY WILLIAM RICE, D. D., LIBRARIAN CITY LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

ad- T N discussing the relations of city govern- of popular education is now universally ments or town authorities to public libra- mitted by educators, and to such an extent ries in this Library Association, I have no by the general public, that provision has been occasion to urge that free public libraries are made,in many of the States for the appropri- desirable, or that they should receive encour- ation of public funds for their support. The in agement and support the form of a direct amount which a city or town may appropriate tax or And I am is still limited in some of the States while in by municipal grant. happy ; to know that the importance and value of Massachusetts, and to a considerable extent public libraries as factors in the grand scheme elsewhere, that amount is left to be deter- RICE. 55

mined by vote of the town or municipality. man of the library board was a keeper of a Very many of the libraries established by saloon, and more interested in the business towns and cities under the laws of the various of rum-selling than in the promotion of the in States have originated the generous gifts moral and intellectual welfare of the city, of individuals or in the bequests of public- which the library was supposed by its founders spirited citizens. Comparatively few, indeed, to subserve. even of the best-established and most flour- It is not to be expected, indeed, that men ishing public libraries of the country, have whose prominence in ward politics alone originated in the public action of the town or raises them to positions of temporary author- in their municipality. But whether inception ity in a city should on this account be espe- result of the individual munificence or muni- cially suited to direct in the management of a cipal action, the authority which is vested in library, either as to the administration of its the town or municipality is substantially of affairs, the choice of its books, or the selec- the same general character, and involves two tion of the librarian. elements viz. those of control and in relations of ; support. The second element the a I shall offer a few obvious suggestions on town or city to the library is that of financial both these points. support. To secure the first element in its best type, This, of course, is a vital factor in the it is necessary that the board of control be growth and usefulness of the institution. intrenched beyond the petty strifes of local Given an efficient management, it then fol- politics, and that the members of such boards lows that the more money which is at the be selected from the intelligent and cultivated disposal of the trustees, the greater will be classes of the community. Moreover, it is the benefits secured. exceedingly desirable that these boards of Of course, the amount must be regulated to control be elected for a considerable term of a considerable extent by the population and 'years, and be so constituted that in no single wealth of the municipality; but the public year shall any radical or material change be library deserves, and should receive, a fair made in their membership. proportion of the amount which is appropriated The officers in direct charge of the library in a town or city for educational purposes. should be wisely chosen, and be rarely Provision should be made for all current changed. No institution can attain a healthy expenses which an efficient management of and symmetrical growth if its immediate its affairs demands, and also for such a supply managers are incompetent, or if they are of new books as will secure its healthy and frequently superseded and the general plan vigorous growth. And this supply should be of the institution is subjected to continual broader and more comprehensive than the modification. But a wise choice of librarians range of a mere circulating library which pro- is scarcely to be expected unless the trustees poses to furnish the current literature of the or directors are intelligent and cultivated day. It should contemplate meeting the more men; and the permanence of these officials earnest and serious needs of the community can only be secured by the permanence of by additions to the departments of the library the supervising board. No arrangement can which are best adapted to aid in the acquisi- be more mischievous than the supervision of tion of substantial knowledge. a public library by a committee of the city If we put this claim for liberal appropria- government annually elected. tions on no higher ground, we might urge I knew an instance where in a large city that none of the material interests of a city the library was under the control of such a can certainly be more important to its well- board, some of whom were illiterate men, and being than the development of its citizens in where the librarian and his assistants were intelligence, in practical knowledge, in culti- industrial changed three times in five years. vated skill, and in power to apply to I knew another instance where the chair- pursuits the constantly increasing discoveries THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

in science and the arts that no of an endowment fund for its ; money possession expended will bring such a rich return as that reference department, adequate to provide which is devoted to secure this development; for its regular and symmetrical development. and that no instrumentality is more effective The history of libraries will show that in securing this end than the maintenance of most of those which are of real and acknowl- a public library, on a broad and generous edged value have been supported, in part at basis. endowment funds while those insti- least, by ; But, in addition to these advantages, who tutions which have been entirely dependent can doubt that the public library secures to upon city or town appropriations have been the city or town in which it is located a full largely libraries of a popular character and return for all reasonable appropriations in a of less value. more orderly, intelligent, and useful popula- Though we would not underrate the impor- tion? Who can doubt that pauperism and tance of the circulating department of a library, crime are lessened by its influence, and that nor fail to appreciate the advantages which every moral and social, as well as material, result from the introduction of the popular liter- interest is promoted ? ature of the day into the homes of the people, We have thus very briefly indicated the we desire to emphasize the fact that in its ref- financial claims of the library upon the town erence department is found the highest util- or city. But we cannot fail to recognize the ity of a public library its greatest efficiency fact that the future of a library is somewhat in. developing the mental power as well as uncertain at best, when the dependence for advancing the industrial and commercial in- growth and support is entirely contingent terests of a community. upon the annual vote of a town or city govern- We have thus briefly considered the gen- ment, whose members are constantly chang- eral topic, and it will be seen that the dangers ing, and whose action is affected by so many arising in the practical working of a library influences which can neither be foreseen nor controlled and supported by town or city are controlled. The cry of retrenchment may at two-fold. any time be raised, and retrenchment often 1. From unwise and unintelligent manage- where it should end that with the in of begins ; is, ment, resulting frequent changes policy, appropriations for educational purposes. Or in undiscriminating purchases of books, and the demand for some so-called material im- often in the appointment of incompetent provement may assume disproportionate librarians. importance, and the more vital interests of a 2. From insufficient support, crippling the city be sacrificed for a time for the attainment library in its most important departments, of those of minor consequence. and thus essentially impairing its usefulness. A library thus dependent, is therefore, con- The discussion of this subject furnishes me stantly in danger of such a reduction in its with an opportunity to present to you a brief income as will seriously impair its efficiency. history of the City Library Association of Moreover, in a free library thus dependent, Springfield an opportunity which I had in those interests are liable to suffer which are mind in suggesting to your committee my in reality the most essential to its welfare and topic on this occasion. usefulness. I desire to give this history of a successful Rarely can an appropriation be expected experiment, because it suggests a form of which will do much more than provide for the organization which would be practicable in current necessary expenses of the library, and many towns and cities, and which would result supply the constant demands of its readers in the establishment of a library more desira- for the popular literature of the day. The ble in some respects than the public library only assurance which a library can have for proper, maintained and supported by the city its stability and for the attainment of its or town alone. highest usefulness is to be found in the The City Library Association of Springfield RICE. 57

was organized to supply a great public need. which sum was charged for the use of books,

In 1855, through the efforts of a few intelli- and, as a consideration to the city, agreed gent and enterprising citizens, a petition was that the use of books on the premises should circulated and signed by 1,200 people, asking be free to all. for the establishment of a public library. The The city government responded favorably city government considered the subject favor- to this request, and from 1864 to 1870 appro- ably, but, as the appropriation bill for the year priated an average of about $1,600 a year. had passed, no action could be had upon the The library now contained about 17,000 subject. volumes, and at least $45,000 had been con- The next year the City Hall was built, and tributed by citizens to the funds of the Asso- the city government decided that it was inex- ciation. It was, therefore, apparent that the pedient to make any appropriation for a library had become an established institution, public library, in view of the heavy indebted- and it was felt that provision must be made ness of the city. Disappointed in this for its permanent accommodation and con- direction, the friends of the library enterprise tinued growth. The Association was there- determined to make a vigorous effort for the fore reorganized under a new charter, which " establishment of a library by means of a constituted it a corporation for the purpose voluntary association. For this purpose the of establishing and maintaining. a library for City Library Association was organized Nov. the diffusion of knowledge and the promotion 2 7> T 857- The members of two existing of intellectual improvement in the city of institutions, the Young Men's Literary Asso- Springfield." The corporation was authorized ciation and the Young Men's Institute, united to "hold real and personal estate to the 'with other citizens in the new enterprise, and amount of $150,000 (since increased to their small libraries were made over to the $300,000), exclusive of the books in its library, new organization. and the collections of natural history and A committee was appointed to solicit sub- works of art in its museum." All its real and scriptions among the citizens, a considerable personal estate was to be held in trust for sum was raised, and accessions were made "the uses and purposes appropriate for a to the library by donations of books. public and social library and museum, to be In 1859 another appeal was made to the used and enjoyed by the inhabitants of city government. The Hon. W. B. Calhoun, Springfield, under such regulations as the to the Mayor of the city, recommended in his corporation might from time time pre- " an for this scribe and the of was inaugural appropriation purpose, ; city Springfield " and argued that, In view of the benefit of a authorized to make appropriations for its public library as a fruitful source, not of the maintenance so long as the corporation " ordinary and acknowledged blessings of allowed the inhabitants of the city free intelligence merely, but of an efficient and all access to the library at reasonable hours the pervading economy, it would be literally an for the purpose of using the same on institution of saving." But the city govern- premises." The officers of the Association, ment, still feeling the pressure of its debts, consisting of a president, vice-president, and declined to make any appropriation for a ten directors, were invested with the entire library. They consented, however, to pro- supervision and control of the library. But vide a room in the City Hall for the use of to give the city government some voice the Association, and also to furnish fuel and directly in the management of the library, lights. No funds, however, were received the by-laws were subsequently changed, so from the city for the support of the library that the Mayor of the city, the President of until 1864. the Common Council, and the Superintendent

In 1864 the Association petitioned to the of Schools were constituted, ex officio, mem- city government for an appropriation to bers of the Board of Directors. be- supplement the yearly subscriptions of $.i, It was provided that any citizen might THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

come a member of the corporation, with the adopted by which it was provided that all right to vote at the meetings, on payment of subscriptions of $5,000 and upwards might $50. at the request of the donors be separately in- The rooms hitherto occupied by the As- vested, and the fund thus created be known sociation in the City Hall were now filled to by the name designated by the donor, and overflowing, and the necessity for more com- the annual interest on such fund be expended obvious and at the for the benefit of the of modious quarters was ; specific department first meeting of the new organization, a lot of the library indicated by the donor. Thus the land for a new building was donated by Hon. contributors to these funds were enabled to George Bliss, with a subscription in addition secure a lasting memorial of themselves or of $10,000; and the directors voted to proceed their friends, while at the same time they at once to obtain farther subscriptions and provided for a regular and perpetual growth plans for a building. In the spring of 1871, of some department of the library. the new building was completed, at an This plan met with approval, and $30,000 expense of $100,000. The Association was was almost immediately subscribed. More- about $25,000 in debt, at the completion of over, about $50,000 in addition has been the but this amount soon in to the building ; was given legacies library, contingent raised, and, at the annual meeting in 1874, the for the present on the lives of other legatees, Treasurer reported that the entire debt had but which the Association will receive in been paid. comparatively a few years. On the removal of the library to the new In connection with this movement for in- building, application was made to the city for creased endowment funds a more decided an increase in the annual appropriation, in effort was made to secure an increase in the view of the large increase in the current annual city appropriation, for the purpose of expenses of the Association. making the library entirely free in its circu- were able to as an They present argument lating as well as in its reference department. to enforce this the fact that the application, The subject was fully presented to the city amount of funds contributed by the Associa- government by the officers of the Associa- tion, and used for expenses, or invested in tion as the an additional ; and, result, appro- or had reached the land, buildings, books, priation of $3,000 was unanimously voted for of sum $185,000. The city government res- the new departure. to this and ponded favorably appeal, though The library was opened to the public as a the annual varied from to appropriations year free library on the ist of June, 1885. The with the of the year, varying exigencies city, success of the free library was beyond the and the moods of the varying officials, the expectations of its most sanguine friends. annual from average appropriation 1870 to The number of cardholders increased during was about The Association also 1885 $6,000. the year from 1,100 to over 7,000, and the had an income this during period, from the circulation of books from 41,000 to 154,500. annual fees of each from subscription $i This success was so satisfactory that the the and from the interest of cardholders, Association easily secured a farther addition its invested funds, aggregating about $2,000 a to the appropriation in 1886, and it now this the of year. During period, importance receives from the city, including the "dog additional endowment funds was urged upon tax," the sum of $15,000 a year. the in the annual of the direc- public reports We have now in the library 60.000 volumes. tors. The desirableness of making the library We have a reading-room, well supplied with an increased entirely free, by appropriation, newspapers, magazines, and reviews, and a was also from time to time to the presented, museum of natural history, which is used in city goverment. connection with the study of natural science In 1884 a special effort was made to in- in our schools. crease the endowment funds. A plan was In conclusion I would say that the points BURR. 59

to which I wish to call attention, and which, 2. As to funds. it seems to me, may be suggestive to the We have secured this generous support friends of the library enterprise elsewhere, from the city government, because we have are these : not only been able to show the value of the i. As to library management and con- library to the public welfare, but also to pre- trol. sent to them from time to time the fact that

We have, in this somewhat unique enterprise the liberal appropriations of the city were, of ours, a library supported, as to its current after all, but a reasonable interest on the expenses and its circulating department, en- large amount which the Association had tirely by public funds, and yet under the already contributed for the public benefit. supervision of a Board of Directors elected We have also been successful in raising by the Association (a corporation composed endowment funds, because we have been of intelligent, cultivated, and enterprising able to show to our wealthy and generous men, who are interested in the library, and citizens that our library in its current ex- who have shown their interest by contribut- penses and circulating department would ing to its funds), in which body the city is undoubtedly be liberally supported by public represented, ex-officio, through its Mayor, the funds, and that the amount of their donations President of the Common Council, and the would be appropriated solely to the building Superintendent of Schools, certainly a wiser up of an increasingly valuable reference de- Board of control than could ordinarily be partment, thus placing the library upon a secured through the direct agency of a city stable foundation, and insuring its healthy government. growth and its permanent usefulness.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT ITHACA.

BY GEORGE L. BURR, LIBRARIAN OF THE WHITE LIBRARY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

T^HAT much-quoted philosopher who first collections thus sought were in compara divides education into the two stages of tive philology and in the ancient classics. learning something about everything and of 1. Franz Bopp, the father of modern com- learning everything about something, has un- parative philology, died at Berlin in 1867, the wittingly denned the ideal difference in scope year before the opening of Cornell. His and aim between the public and the private library of 2,500 volumes included nearly the library the library of reference and the whole literature of the infant science up to library of research. But the university that date. Like that of his equally venerated library is a nondescript. Standing where colleague, Leopold von Ranke, on whose heir- the two educations join, it must supply tools ship a sister American college has just earned for both if it not like those our it "held no trash." ; and, may hope, congratulations, rare universal geniuses, the national libraries, Bought from his heirs, it was transferred to know everything about everything, it must to the shelves of the university before her at least, for training's sake, aim to know doors were opened to students. Its chief everything about several somethings. wealth, apart from the beginnings of compara- It was perhaps some such instinct as this tive philology, is in the literatures and gram- which led the founders of Cornell Univer- mar of the Oriental, African, Polynesian, and sity at the very outset to combine with broad American tongues. A Sanskrit manuscript or general purchases the acquisition of special two are its only curiosa. collections. To those who hold Cornell a 2. Scarcely less thoroughly equipped in technical school in danger of forgetting her his own field was that patriarch of American original calling, it may seem strange that the classical commentators, Professor Charles 6o THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Anthon, of Columbia College. His death a sum in money for the collection of a special occurred in the same year with Bopp's, and library in mathematics. About this nucleus his library passed with the latter's to the have gathered some 4,500 volumes, covering shelves of Cornell University. Its 7,000 nearly the whole field of mathematical science, volumes were preeminently a "working" col- both pure and applied. The collection is lection the authorities and editions used in especially rich in mathematical periodicals. the preparation of the classical dictionary, 6. In the same year, Ezra Cornell, the the dictionary of antiquities, the annotated founder of the university, whose collection in Greek and Latin classics, familiar to so many agriculture (he was himself a farmer) had generations of students. Yet Prof. Anthon found its way to her shelves, added $1,000 for was by no means above bibliographical luxury. increase in this field. Not a few such exquisite typographical 7. Of the library of Jared Sparks, the indulgences as the Bodoni Homer and Picart's historian, President of Harvard University, Ovid, such rarities as the Aldine Aristotle, the which came to Cornell in 1872, it would be a Elzevir Livy, Plautus, Curtius, Vitruvius, be- work of supererogation for me here to speak. tray the book-lover as well as the scholar. Its 5,000 volumes and 4,000 pamphlets 3. With these, which swelled its total to relate almost wholly to the history of about 16,000 volumes, the university began America. Many of them are enriched by his its work. Among the first to feel the poverty marginal notes. His manuscripts, as is well of its library was its Professor of English known, went to Harvard all save one vol- History, Goldwin Smith, late Regius Profes- ume of autograph documents, among whose sor at the University of Oxford. To the priceless contents are the interlined and gift of his own services he now added that blotted original of Franklin's closing speech of his books; and in 1869 his rich collec- in the Constitutional Convention and the tion upon the history and literature of sheet written "with a toothpick and a little Britain was transferred from its English home. boot-blacking" from Lafayette's dungeon at Among its treasures were rare editions of Magdeburg. Of the military maps and plans as well as of classics but used the ancient, English, ; by Washington during Revolution, its main fullness is in the political and social which also came to Cornell, we shall all history of the mother-land a department in doubtless soon learn more through Mr. which it has received and still receives Winsor's history. frequent accessions from the generous donor. 8. From the Rev. Samuel Joseph May, of 4. President White at the same time Syracuse, came in 1873 the nucleus of a col- placed at the disposal of his students in the lection of which the university is especially history of continental Europe several thou- proud that on slavery and anti-slavery in sand volumes of his own private library; and America. Mr. May's gift found generous co- T in 1870 he gave outright to the newly organ- operation, and the joint appeal of W illiam ized school of architecture his store of works Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and Gerrit over a thousand in that favorite field, Smith to their old co-workers has brought a with a sum for its increase. The sum has flood of contributions, both from America and multiplied in the using. The collection, England. Although the number of titles is swollen to several-fold its original size, is not definitely known, the collection is believed especially rich in rare and costly illustrated one of the richest existing. works, and has of late years been supple- 9. A value out of proportion to its numbers mented, from the same source, by what is belongs to the little group of 600 volumes given probably the largest collection of architectural to Cornell in 1884 by the Hon. Eugene Schuy- photographs yet brought across the Atlantic. ler, historian and diplomat. They deal mainly In 5. 1870, too, the Hon. William Kelly, with Russian history, literature, and folk-lore, one of the trustees of the university, as a and include the printed sources used by him certain attacks his the Great." protest against upon it, gave in the preparation of "Peter BURR. 61

10. In 1886 was bought for the projected France the library's special wealth begins with law-school of the the law of the wars of the Fronde is illustrated university library religion ; Merritt of an excellent selec- several hundred Mazarinades but it is King, Ithaca, by ; tion of its sort. And not to be overlooked upon the French Revolution that the collection is (n) the growing patent collection of is phenomenal, its contemporary pamphlets Cornell, the gift of the American, British, and alone numbering from 5,000 to 7,000. Canadian governments. The British patents Of the other countries of the continent, already fill alone 3,000 quarto volumes. Italy and Russia are covered with greatest 12. The only other collection of which I fullness. In the history of Great Britain it is have to speak the latest and greatest gift of the period of the Stuarts that receives most all is the historical library of the university's attention, the pamphlets coming largely from first President and first Professor of history, the library of Macaulay. In American his- Andrew Dickson White. Broader in its tory, although there are not a few early scope than most of the other collections Americana Ptolemies, Margaritas, the Im- named, its contents demand a less hurried ago Mundi of Pierre d'Ailly, the Cosmogra- review. In general, it may be said to differ phies Introductio^ the Psalter of Giustiniani, also in this, that it is the library as well of a among the rest it is the civil war alone that teacher as of a writer. The fullness of is voluminously represented by contemporary illustrated and illustrative works, the unusual material. There are, however, considerable number of epoch-making books, the abund- collections upon Santo Domingo and upon the ance of all that goes to make history vivid, Maximilian episode in Mexico. bespeak the lecture-room rather than the Even richer, on the whole, than these collec- study. Striking, too, is the preponderance tions upon national history are those upon of biography and of material bearing upon the certain phases of the general history of civili- history of civilization, as against mere political zation upon monasticismand chivalry, upon and dynastic narrative. In ancient history the Inquisition and the Index, upon the the library is respectable, but by no means Counter-Reformation and the Jesuits, upon remarkable. It is only with the Middle Ages, the struggle beween theology and the natural and especially with the rise of the modern sciences, upon the growth of international states, that it becomes noteworthy. Its law, upon judicial torture and its abolition, mediaeval MSS., classical and ecclesiastical, upon the dark history of persecution for many of them illuminated, have mainly witchcraft. In the field last named, where its illustrative value. Its incunabula, on the titles count by many hundreds, and include other hand, though representing most of the not a few manuscripts, it is perhaps the leading printers of the I5th century, have foremost of its kind. been chosen chiefly for intrinsic historic Of the White library a complete catalogue interest. But it is with the period of the is approaching publication, whose first section Reformation that we reach the first of its that on the Reformation will soon ap- special collections. The thousand or so of pear. A word as to the catalogues of the titles are in large part contemporary impres- remaining collections. The Bopp and Sparks sions. In Lutherana it is surpassed, indeed, libraries were catalogued for sale, and brought by the Beck collection at Hartford; but in these printed catalogues with them. Of the the works of the minor Reformers, in the Kelly, White Architectural, and Schuyler editions of Erasmus, of Hutten, of Melanch- collections, catalogues have been printed in thon, in the anonymous satires and caricatures the official bulletin of the University Library. of the period, it has perhaps few American Of the Anthon, Goldwin Smith, Cornell Agri- rivals. In German history the only other cultural, May, and King collections, manu- collection of note is a body of pamphlets on script catalogues alone exist. the Thirty Years' War. In the history of Such are the special collections which, with 62 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

the 30,000 or 40,000 volumes of its own direct earlier periods of English literature, that of purchase, make up the library of Cornell Professor T. F. Crane upon the folk-lore and University. popular tales of Europe, especially those of " But no account of the special collections the Middle Age, that of Mrs. Henry A. " at Ithaca would be even approximately com- St. John upon the life and works of Words- plete which should fail to mention also the rich worth. And still other collections are in the library of Professor Hiram Corson upon the making.

PLAN FOR COURSE OF READING FOR PUPILS OF THE POUGHKEEPSIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BY J: C. SICKLEY, LIBRARIAN CITY LIBRARY, POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

" '"T'HE world is full of books ; but there are tion which have heard or ; books they about, multitudes which are so ill-written, that which have been recommended to them. This were never worth man's and is shown the with which the they any reading ; by eagerness there are thousands more which may be good "Arabian Nights" and "Robinson Crusoe" in their kind, yet are worth nothing when the are read and re-read. Children are always month or year or occasion is past for which glad to read a book which has been recom- they were written. Others may be valuable mended by their parents. The recommenda- in themselves for some special purpose, or in tions of companions are often relied upon, and some peculiar science. . . It is of vast ad- in this way sensational and trashy books are vantage for improvement of knowledge, and brought to their notice, when otherwise they saving time, for a young man to have the would not hear of them. most proper books for his reading recom- Most parents desire their children to read mended by a judicious friend." instructive as well as entertaining books, but So wrote Dr. Watts many years ago, and, if the time and attention required to make suita- true in his day, how important that some ble selections render this a difficult task. We direction should be given to the reading of have several admirable lists of books for chil- the at this when the dren Mr. Larned's "Books for Read- young time, publication ; Young of books has so greatly increased. ers" and Miss Hewins' "Books for the When a child first begins to use the public Young" contain as good selections as can be library, he is like one who, never having made; and would parents provide themselves visited the Thousand Islands, starts out for a with copies of these manuals, and select from day's boating trip without a guide. There are them books for their children, the general so many beautiful objects to attract him, he reading of young people would be vastly has heard of so many more that he wishes to improved. see and know, that, gliding to and fro among For some time I had thought that a list of these charming isles, he becomes confused books adapted for a child's reading for a cer- and loses himself them. a tain time one that he could have and finally among So ; himself, child, when he first enters the library, sees use and consult and select from, and one that around him thousands of books; he picks up the parent could see, would be useful and prac- one. glances through another, thinks of sev- tical. Impressed with this idea, I began early eral that companions have told him to read, in November last to prepare a course of read- till he, after a time, becomes confused, and ing, or list of books, for the pupils of the pub- unable to decide what he wants or needs. lic schools of Poughkeepsie, wishing to have Children prefer to read entertaining books. it ready at the beginning of the present year. They like to read books that have a reputa- Many other duties prevented my completing SICKLE Y.

it till June. I then presented it to our Board bring to the notice of the child the better of Education, which has the control and super- class of books, and, if possible, to keep him vision of the library as well as the schools, from reading the silly and sensational ones and it was approved, and a resolution passed which are often selected, and cultivate his that it go into effect at the opening of the taste for wholesome literature, so that he schools in September. shall not acquire a taste for any but the best

The plan proposed is as follows : The books. course at the schools of public Poughkeepsie By this plan the necessity for many dupli- is divided into twelve The first four grades. cates will be avoided, as no particular order are called the years "Primary Grades," need be followed in reading the books. Some fourth the lowest the next four being grade, duplicates will be necessary, but not as many " " the next is the grammar grades ; year as though a regular course on some special second of the and department High School, subject had been arranged for. the last three are the School years High As to the lists of books selected, I do not proper. I began with the first primary grade, pretend they are the best that could be chosen. the fourth of school, the of year average age As stated before, I have endeavored to avoid the pupil being 10 or II years. This is the sensational, and adapt the books to the about as soon as a child begins to use the age and acquirements of the several years of and is as soon as he should library, probably the course. A test of the plan will undoubt- be permitted to. I selected a list of books for edly suggest many changes. Some books the pupil to read for that year, adapting the may be too much beyond the years in which books as far as I could to the judge age. I have them others not be far placed ; may This I did for each of the year succeeding enough. Then other and better books may grammar grades and the high school. Selec- be suggested to take the place of some that tions have been made in science, history, biog- are not so desirable. Valuable suggestions and literature as well as raphy, poetry, general can be made by members of the A.L.A., and fiction or books. for the story, My plan in fact I see no reason why a*course suitable details of the is to operating arrangement for any graded schools or any school could notify each teacher, her full information giving not be prepared by cooperation of the Associ- in reference to the subject. The names of ation and used throughout the country. those pupils who use the library, and those FIRST YEAR who wish to use it, will be taken, and the list PRIMARY GRADE. FOURTH sent 10 to the library. A notice will then be sent OF SCHOOL. (Average age of pupil to the parents informing them that a list of or n.) books FICTION. suitable for the child's reading has been recommended by the Board of Education, and Abbott, Jacob. Franconia stories. that their wishes in requesting they signify Alcott, L. M. Lulu's library; My boys; the matter. This seems to me a of method My girls. . and reaching parents obtaining from them an Anderson, H. C. Fairy tales. expression of their wishes in reference to their Hatuthvrne. Wonder book. children's reading. Lodge, H. C., Editor.- Six popular tales i-. " " " The lists of books will be printed on cards, 2. one for each The thus have Molesworth. Cuckoo clock year. pupil may ; Grandmother his list with him, and consult and check off dear Tell a ; me story. his books as he reads them. I do not think a Stowe. mission Little Wil- Dog's ; Pussy course of for children in or on low little reading history ; Queer people. any special subject would be practicable, nor Swinton &* Cathcart, Editors. Book of is such idea; to tales Golden book of choice my ray object being only ; reading. the child or provide his parents with some- Woolsey, S. C. Eyebright; Mischief's thing from which to make a and to Nine little selection, thanksgiving ; goslings. 64 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE,

MISCELLANEOUS. Brues, C. Round Africa. Abbott, J. Heat. Butterworth. Young folks' history of Abbott, J. S. C. Columbus and discovery America. of Soto and the France Land of the America; De Mississippi; Chesney,- J. Around ; La Salle and the Northwest. pyramids. Angus, D. The Eastern wonderland. Coffin, C. C. Days and nights on the bat- Browne, Maggie. Chats about Germany. tlefield. Coffin C. C. Following the flag. Drake, S. A. Indian history for young Conant, Helen S. The butterfly hunters. folks. Darwin, C. What Mr. Darwin saw, etc. Goodrich, S. S. The animal kingdom. Chaillu. of the dwarfs A. behave. Du Country ; Gray, How plants Gorilla country. Heild, Mary. Land of the Temples. Francis, B. Isles of the Pacific. Herrick, Mrs. S. B. Plant life. Gray. How plants grow. Ingersoll, E. Old ocean. Hawks, F. L. Uncle Phillip's talks about Macgregor, John. Thousand miles in Rob New York. Roy canoe. of South Amer- Thunder and Heild, Mary. Glimpses Wonder Library. lightning ; ica. Wonders of the ocean. T. W. folks' folks' of Higginson, Young history Yonge. Young history England ; of United States. Young folks' history of France. E. Friends worth Ingersoll, knowing. THIRD GRAMMAR GRADE. SIXTH YEAR Phillips, E. C. All the Russias; Peeps OF SCHOOL. into China. FICTION. Wonder Library. Intelligence of ani- mals of water. William. Four Macnicols. ; Wonders Black, FOURTH GRAMMAR GRADE. FIFTH YEAR Day. Sanford and Merton. />F SCHOOL. Diaz. William Henry letters. FICTION. Edgeworth. Harry and Lucy. Rollo's tour in 10 Six to six- Abbott, Jacob. Europe. Ewing. Lob-lie-by-the-fire ; vols. teen We and the world. ; Alcott, L. M. Old-fashioned Thanksgiv- Jackson, H. H. Nelly's silver mine. Proverb stories. Molesworth. Four Winds farm. ing ; Anderson. Fairy stories. Otis, James. Mr. Stubb's brother; Rais- Craik book. the (Miss Mulock.) Fairy ing pearl ; Toby Tyler. Grimm. Fairy stories. Ruskin. King of the golden river. Grandfather's clock W. O. Dab Kinzer The Hawthorne. ; Tangle- Stoddard, ; quar- wood tales. tette Saltillo the lakes. ; boys ; Among

G. Round dozen What did ; Jerdon, Keyhole country. Woolsey. ; Katy Molesworth. Christmas child did at What did ; Rosy ; What Katy school; Katy Tapestry room. next. MISCELLANEOUS. Richards, Laura E. Joyous story of Toto. Abbott, J. Julius Cassar; Alexander the Cross Little Great. Woolsey. patch ; country girl; New Year's bargain. Abbott, J. S. C. Washington and the MISCELLANEOUS. revolution Daniel Boone and Kit ; Kentucky ; Alfred the the far Paul and Abbott, J. Great ; Hannibal. Carson and West ; Jones S. C Miles Standish and the the Crockett and Texas. Abbott,}. navy ; Davy Kidd and the buccaneers Paul. First in scientific Pilgrims ; Captain ; Bert, steps Peter and New York Part animals Part Stuyvesant ; Benjamin knowledge ; first, ; second, Franklin. plants. SICKLE Y.

Bryant. (Selections from Poems.) Death Stokes. Microscopy for beginners. of the flowers Little of the snow. E. Lessons in manners. ; people Wiggin, M. for Wonder Acoustics Glass-mak- Coulter, Farming boys. Library. ; Du Chaillu. Lost in the Sun. Apingi kingdom ; ing; Human body; Wild life. G. natural jungle ; Wood, J. Popular history. Arthur M. Life beneath the Wordsworth. The The red- Edwards, longest day ; waters. breast. Insect world Ocean world. Figuier. ; FIRST GRAMMAR GRADE. EIGHTH YEAR Longfellow. (Selections.) Children's hour; OF SCHOOL. Rain in summer Snowflakes. ; FICTION. Whittier. Barbara Fretchie (Selections.) ; L. M. cousins Barefoot boy; Flowers in winter. Alcott, Eight ; Jo's boys; Rose in bloom Silver Under the Wonder ; pitchers ; Library. Egypt, 3,300 years ago ; Wonders of Wonders of the lilacs. engraving ; heavens. Aldrich. Story of a bad boy. L. Adventures of a natural- Anon. Young Mechanic. Biart, young folks' ist. Yonge. Young Germany ; Young folks' Greece folks' Rome. Carroll. Alice's adventures in wonder- ; Young land the ; Through looking-glass. SECOND GRAMMAR GRADE. SEVENTH YEAR of a short life Ewing. Story ; Jackanapes. OF SCHOOL/ Hale. Mrs. Miriam's scholars; Ten times one is ten. FICTION. Porter. Thaddeus of Warsaw. jEsop. Fables. Trowbrtdge. Lawrence's adventures. Alcott. Old-fashioned Little girl ; women ; Warner. Being a boy. Little men. MISCELLANEOUS. Arabian Nights. W. H. D. Secret of success. Burnett. Little Lord Fauntleroy. Adams, De Foe. Robinson Crusoe. Blaikie. How to get strong. Paul. Part Part ani- Eggleston Hoosier schoolboy. Bert, 5, chemistry ; 6, mal Part Hawthorne. True stories. physiology ; 7, vegetable physiology. The ocean Hoppin. Two Compton boys. Byron. (Selection.) (from Childe Porter, Jane. Scottish chiefs. Harold.) Reid. Cliff climbers Plant hunters. Coffin. Old times in the colonies. ; M. Ten acres Taylor. Boys of other countries. Coulter, enough. Davies. T. How to make and how Wyss. Swiss family Robinson. money to keep it. M I SCELLANEOUS. Lossing. United States navy for boys. Beard. American boys' handy book. Mace, Jean. History of a mouthful of

Bert. First steps : Part 3, stones and bread. rocks Part Politics for Americans. ; 4, physics. Nordhoff. young Bryant. (Selections.) Night journey of Pepper, J. H. Play book of science. the river of the tree. R. Flowers of the ; Planting apple Proctor, A. sky. of of '61. Scott. of the lake. Coffin. Boys '76 ; Boys Lady Gihoin's ride Winter morn The cloud. Cowper. John ; Shelly. ing walk. Thompson, M. Witchery of archery. Gibson, W. H. Camp life in the woods. Thurstan, R. History of the steam engine. Hou^hton, N. Country walks of a natural- Wonder Library. Heat; Pompeii; Sub- ist; Seaside walks of a naturalist. lime in nature.

Longfellow. (Selections.) Flowers in au- Wordsworth. Influence of natural ob- tumn ; of the stars. The linnet. Light jects ; green 66 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

HIGH SCHOOL SECOND DEPARTMENT. HIGH SCHOOL FIRST DEPARTMENT. (JUNIOR NINTH YEAR OF SCHOOL. CLASS.) TENTH YEAR OF SCHOOL. FICTION. FICTION. Aldrich. Daw. Marjorie Aldrich. Continued. of Baldwin, J. Story Siegfred. Buliver. " Bunyan. Pilgrim's progress. '' Cooper. < Last of the Mohicans Cooper. Deerslayer ; ; Dodge, Mary M. Donald and Dorothy. Prairie. Pathfinder; Pioneers; Dickens. Continued.

Dickens. Christmas stories ; Old " curiosity Ewing. shop. Hale',E.E. " Hale. Man without a Christmas country; Hawthorne. " eve Crusoe in New York. ; Alhambra N. Y. Irving. ; Knickerbocker, Hawthorne. House of the seven gables ; Lamb. Tales from Shakespeare. Marble faun. Scott. Continued. Hughes. School days at Rugby; Tom " Thackeray. Brown at Oxford. " Whitney. Irving. Sketch book. MISCELLANEOUS. Scott. Kenilworth ; Ivanhoe. Stowe. Oldtown folks Uncle Tom's Ayres, A. The mentor. ; cabin. Butterworth, H. Zigzag journeys in Eu- Thackeray. Christmas books, etc. rope. Faith Les- Coffin. Our new way round the world. Whitney. Gartney's girlhood ; lie Goldthwaite. Coultas, H. What may be learned from a MISCELLANEOUS. tree. the Alcott, W. A. Young housekeeper. Cowper. England. (From Timepiece.) robin Winter sunshine. Dole. Young folks' history of Russia. Burroughs. Wake ; Geddie. Lake of Central Africa. Butler, N. F. The wild north land. regions Gilman. of the American Burns. The Cotter's Saturday night. History people. G. Letters to Campbell. Lord Ullin's daughter. Holland, J. young people. Lowell. Fireside travels. Cheney, Mrs. Young folks' history of America. Ober, F. A. Young folks history of Mex- ico. Coleridge. Youth and age. Parton. of Craik, G. L. Pursuit of knowledge under Captains industry. difficulties. Ruskin. Sesame and lilies. Macbeth. Hale. How to do it. Shakspeare. Julius Caesar; Harrison, Mrs. C. C. Woman's handi- Smiles. Self-help. work in modern homes. Southey. (Selections.) Views afoot. Irving. Condensed life of Washington. Taylor. Mrs. kitchen. Jackson (H. H.}. Bits of Talk. Ttrhune, Cottage (Chap- ters on " Familiar Lockyer. Elements of astronomy. Talks.") Moore. The Mohawk. Tyndall. Heat as a mode of motion. Warner. summer in a Pittinger. Capturing a locomotive. My garden. and Proctor, B. W. 1\\& sea. Wonder Library. Bodily strength skill art. Stanley. Through the dark continent. ; European Wordsworth. Continued. Thompson, James. Sheepwashing (from The snow storm FIRST DEPARTMENT. Summer) ; (from Winter). HIGH SCHOOL (SUB- Thoreau. Week on the Concord and Mer- SENIOR CLASS.) ELEVENTH YEAR OF rimac. SCHOOL. Wonder etc. FICTION. Library. Meteors, aerolites, ; Sculpture. Bulwer. Continued. LARNED. 67

Cooper. Continued. HIGH SCHOOL FIRST DEPARTMENT. (SENIOR " Dickens. CLASS.) TWELFTH YEAR OF SCHOOL. Goldsmith. Vicar of Wakefield. FICTION. Hall Tales of a Austen. Pride and Sense and Irving. Bracebridge ; prejudice ; traveler. sensibility. C. Alton Locke Bulwer. Continued. Kingsley, ; Hypatia. " Scott. Continued. Cooper. " Thackeray. Continued. Dickens. Hawthorne. " Woolfert's Roost mis- MISCELLANEOUS. Irving. ; Crayon cellany. Blackie, J. Self-culture. MacDonald. Annals of a quiet neighbor- Birds and Locusts hood Burroughs. poets ; ; Seaboard parish. and wild honey. Mitford. Our village. Croll, P. Climate and time. Scott. Continued. Daives, Anna M. How we are gov- Thackeray. Continued. erned. MISCELLANEOUS. Emerson. Behavior Conduct of Amicis. (from Holland ; Spain. Books and use of books. Life) ; (from Society Solitude). Atkinson. The right Goldsmith. Deserted village. Fields. Yesterdays with authors. Gray. Elegy. Green. Short history of English people. Howitt, W. The country year book. Hamerton. Intellectual life. Huxley. Science and culture. Holmes. Autocrat. Mackenzie, K. America. Lowell. Among my books. Mathews. Getting on in the world. Lubbock. Ants, bees, and wasps. Mitchell. My farm of Edgewood. Mackenzie. Nineteenth century. Munger. On the threshold. Miller, H. My schools and schoo Imas- Parloa. Household etc. ters Old red sandstone. management, ; Chapters I to 12. Porter. Books and reading. Ruskin. Work (in Crown of wild Rennie, J. Insect architecture. olives); Unto this last. Shelley. Selections. Smiles. Thrift. rock Battle of Duty ; Southey. The Inchcape ; Shakespeare. Continued. Blenheim. Stickney. True republic. White. Natural history of Selborne. Tyndall. Forms of water. Williams, W. M. Science in short chapters. Warner. Back log studies. Wilson, W. Congressional government

REPORT ON LIBRARY ARCHITECTURE.

BY J. N. LARNED, SUPERINTENDENT BUFFALO LIBRARY.

'"THE chief object, as it seems to me, of of that object demands more of regularity these successive reports which we have and continuity in the reports than we have for planned our meetings, on certain matters realized as yet. I find on looking back that of permanent interest in the library field, is only one of the six topics with which we the record of ideas and experiments, of opened the scheme, at our Cincinnati meet- movements and developments, that may thus ing, in 1882, has been reported on at each be preserved. But a satisfactory attainment meeting since, and that is the important 68 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

topic of "Aids and Guides for Readers." able estimate for the remaining five will raise " " On Charging Systems we have had no the generous total to $1,250,000. And the " " since on Classification but one. stream of is still for five of report ; bounty flowing; " " " On Cataloguing and on Reading for the the new buildings in contemplation which I Young" there have been two reports pre- have in my list will be gifts, and their cost is sented, but we missed them last year. On not likely to be less than half a million more. " " Library Architecture there have also been The reported cost of 32 among the 41 two excellent reports, but one of them was buildings finished or now in progress is unwritten and very little of it appears in the $2,617,000. This does not include the great printed transactions of the Association. So building just begun at Washington for the the continuity of the record which we hoped Library of Congress, the expenditure on to have preserved is being unfortunately which is sure to run far into the millions. broken on several of the lines along which The reported capacity of 23 among the we intended to trace it. Some new lines of same 41 buildings is for 1,378,000 volumes. importance have been taken up, in reports on From the descriptions that are given of them, " the subject of Libraries and Schools," for I estimate that the remaining 18 buildings will " example, and on Fiction in Public Li- store some 375,000 volumes. braries," but none of them has been pursued. Three of the finished buildings and eight In fact, the scheme of yearly topical reports of those now in progress are of fire-proof seems likely to lose the greater part of its construction. Three are of the method of worth unless we resolve to carry it out with construction called slow-burning. more consistency and regularity. The high In ten of the new buildings, including value attaching to it in my mind is the excuse nearly all of the largest class, the shelving I must offer for going somewhat out of my of books is in iron stacks, or intended to be. way to speak a little urgently of the matter. In several others that mode of construction My own present report on Library Archi- will probably be introduced, but is not yet tecture has been prepared to cover as far as determined. In the Library of Congress, it practicable the two years that have passed is understood that the arrangement of books since the preceding report was made. I have will be in alcoves, at first, with an ultimate endeavored to list the new library buildings addition of stacks. In four other libraries, in this country which have been finished with- the reported arrangement is in alcoves, with in the two years, or that are now in progress, a single gallery in two of them, and with no or that are definitely in contemplation, and to gallery in the other two. gather the essential particulars of information Twenty of the 41 buildings finished or in concerning them. No doubt there are omis- progress are for library uses exclusively; 21 sions that will be discovered in the list, but I are 'designed in part for other uses. trust they are not numerous. The following The buildings which I enumerate as being is a summary of the facts I have gathered: in immediate contemplation are for the Boston Number of new buildings finished within Public Library; the Yale College Library; the two 18. of the of years past, Library University Pennsylvania ; Number now in the the Howard progress, 23. Newberry Library, Chicago ; Number in Orleans the contemplation (plans being con- Library, New ; Cambridge (Mass.) Public the Public sidered), 9. Library ; Quincy (111.) Total, 50. Library; the Library of Northfield Seminary; Eleven of the finished buildings and 12 and the Library of Syracuse University. of the buildings in progress, being 23 out of The notable features of this record are:

41, or more than one half, are gifts from (i) The remarkable number of new building private individuals to the public. I have enterprises which two years have initiated or

reports of the cost of 14 of these gift-build- brought to completion : (2) the great sum ings, and it aggregates $916,000. A reason- expended in them or appropriated for them; LARNED. 69

(3) the large proportion of that expenditure hand-reach, or 7 to 7 1-2 feet, from a floor. which has been a gift to the public from But here starts a difference. If we call this generous private hands; (4) the extent of hand-high arrangement of -books the strati- fire-proof construction that is placing so many fication of a library, then Mr. Poole's plan libraries out of danger of all ordinary casual- makes each stratum of the library determine ties; (5) the manifest great improvement in a story of its building. He would give one architectural forms and arrangements. Touch- full story of 1 6 feet height to each range of ing this latter point, the exhibit is a very 7-feet cases, believing the 9 feet of vacancy striking one. The old type of library build- above them to be a necessary heated-air ing, which Mr. Poole has denominated the space. On the other hand, there are many Cathedral or Gothic Church type, with its among us who find this concession to atmos- wall-scaffolding of book-shelves, in galleries pheric demands excessive, involving too of alcoves, with its profligate waste of inner much of the very extravagance of building- space, and with its many zones of tempera- room which Mr. Poole has condemned. We ture from floor to ceiling, has nearly disap- would have a wholesome air-space above our peared. Except as it may appear in the new books, keeping the topmost shelf of them building for the Library of Congress, its only some proper distance below the ceiling of the new construc- their room we feel safe in important survival, among ; but, doing that, tions of this list appears to be in the build- piling two or three ranges or strata of books ing which the Library Association of Newark, upon one another, in a compact stack. For N. J., has now under way. It is approached, my own part, I should object to more than perhaps, also, in two or three of the smaller three tiers in the stack, and my preference is edifices described here. for two but within those limits I believe that But, speaking gen- ; erally, we need not hesitate to say that the stack, by its compactness, economizes American library architecture has distinctly labor immensely, while the air at its top-level taken a new departure, the departure from may be as cool and as pure as the air at the mediaeval to modern conditions, which we floor. joined our voices to the strong voice of Mr. In the stacks which I planned for the Poole in demanding six years ago, at the library under my own charge, there are two Washington Conference. The notable paper tiers of 7 feet each in a room 22 feet read at that meeting by Mr. Poole, emphasized high. To reach the farthest books in the by the warm endorsement which was given lower tier there are 140 feet of level distance to in the it, has unquestionably exercised a remaik- to travel. To reach the nearest books able influence. If all that has resulted from upper tier there are 7 feet of stairway to it, in the disseminating of rational ideas of climb. Which is to be preferred, for econ- library construction and arrangement, derived omy of time and muscle ? If the same books from the experience of librarians, were taken were spread out on one floor-level, those now out, we should certainly find the exhibit that nearest in the upper tier would be put farther I am bringing to you to-day a very different away than the farthest of the present lower and much less than it is. tier whatever the of one, satisfactory ; and, plan arrangement The fundamental principles of library con- stacks or cases may be made upon, the rela- struction which were formulated first by Mr. tions of distance, as between one level and Poole, are affirmed by the common experience two, will vary little from the ratio that appears of librarians, and have been accepted almost in this case. Which, then, shall we prefer without dispute. But some features of the the 140 feet of floor-passage, or the 7 feet application of them which he recommended of stairs ? Which journey is the less labori- have seemed more and the ous ? If we decide to the questionable ; prefer stairway, tendency of opinion, I think, is against his we have decided against one story of Mr. views. We are all in agreement with him Poole's plan, so far as concerns economy of that no book-shelf should be built above library work. But when a second story is THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

added to Mr. Poole's structure, then the It has occurred to me that these principles question changes. Then it is he who re- of construction may be applied with advan- trenches longitudinal distances and moves tage to small library buildings, and I have result vertically; but, instead of climbing 7 feet to given some study to the subject. The his second stratum of books, he would make is submitted in the accompanying sketch of a us climb 1 6. The objection has now become suggested floor plan for a library building very heavy, indeed, and it outweighs, in my which may be shelved in the first instance judgment, all the advantages of the plan. A for about 20,000 volumes, with a provision in book-stack of two or three tiers is almost reserve for 20,000 volumes more. It is of in to so sure to be preferred to it, even though the important, course, such a library high stack of five or six tiers is condemned. arrange that books, delivery desk, and read-

A, Reading-room. B, C, Rail. D, Delivery Desk. E, F, Book-stacks.

G, Library Working-space. PLAN FOR SMALL LIBRARY.

I would offer an amendment, therefore, to ing-room may be under the supervision, if Mr. Poole's scheme of library-building, rais- necessary, of one person. That is perfectly ing his bookrooms to a height of 20 or 21 accomplished by the plan here proposed. feet between floor and ceiling, and introduc- One large room, 70 x 42 feet in interior ing stacks of two tiers in each, which will dimensions, contains the whole. It affords leave 6 to 7 feet of air space above the books. an unusually spacious reading-room, 42 feet by The addition of but 5 feet of height to 29 feet 6 inches, divided from the books by a each story will thus double the capacity of light open railing. It gives the librarian ample the building, economizing cost, room, labor, space, 30 x 1 6 feet, for his work, and exposes to and making the whole arrangement more him at all times every part of the reading- convenient. room, when he looks into it through the open LARNED.

passages between the stacks of books. The with annex to same for ladies, 15x35 feet, latter be book-cases instead of both 100 readers may stacks, seating ; catalogue-room, made of wood, 21 feet long, 7 feet high, and 36x40 feet; "bibliographing-room," 25x46 limited to the 20,000 volumes which that feet; collating-room, 19x24 feet; one book mag- will contain. Or be cases x feet one book x shelving they may azine, 36 40 ; magazine, 24 30 of the same height framed of gas pipe and feet. The shelving will be in stacks of two cast iron, on top of which another stage of tiers, each 7 feet high, with cast-iron per- similar cases may at some time be added, to forated floors between tiers, which will be produce stacks for 40,000 volumes. If the lighted from two sides, with direct light in latter is contemplated, the height of the room each passage. The arrangement for daylight should be 21 we will it in the book and the feet, say ; otherwise, larger magazine adjacent may be less. An experienced architect "bibliographing-room" is similar to the sys- has estimated for me that such a building as tem employed by the Harvard College Library the one sketched here may be constructed, since its extension. The book-stacks will be fire proof, with a pretty porch and without made of iron, with hard-wood shelves. The scantiness of architectural ornamentation, capacity of the two magazines is estimated to for $20,000 to $25,000. be for 98,000 books, while 6,000 additional will be contained in cases in the reading- These suggestions and observations are room. The building will be heated by low- rather obtrusive perhaps, and I have en- steam, and ventilated induction deavored to be brief in them. I return now pressure by through the fire stack. to my stricter duties as a reporter. The I am indebted for these descriptive particu- following is a succinct account of the new lars to a communication courteously made to library buildings projected or now in prog- me by the architects, who have also placed in ress, or completed within two years past, my hands a perspective view of the edifice, with concerning which I have been able to pro- ground plans, which appeared in the Inland cure information : Architect of last April. The building will ALLEGHENY, PA. Carnegie Free Library. undoubtedly be a very beautiful one, and there The Free Library and Music Hall building are some excellent features in its plan; but in which Mr. Andrew Carnegie will build and several particulars it seems likely to prove present to the city of Allegheny, Pa., is now disappointing. The provision of room for at the point of being commenced, as I am dealing with the public at the delivery coun- informed the Messrs. Smith- ter is restricted the book by architects, exceedingly ; maga- meyer & Pelz, of Washington, and is to be zines are small for the probable growth of finished in about 14 months. The cost of such a library, within the period which so the structure will be Its a to be calculated for $260,000. style costly building ought ; of architecture is the Rhenish the in the Romanesque ; and light reading-room promises the materials used will be granite for to be scant, though possibly it may suffice. the street facades, red brick for the court AURORA, ILL. Public Library. An addi- facades, and the whole construction will be tion to the original library building, to accom- fire proof. The library part of the building modate growth, costing about $7,000, and is its westerly part, and embraces, besides affording room for about 25,000 books, was the library, two picture galleries, a lecture completed and opened Jan. I, 1886. room seating 400 people, trustees' room, etc. The Music Hall, to which the eastern part is BALTIMORE, MD. Enoch Pratt Free Li- appropriated, will seat 1,200 people. The brary. The Enoch Pratt Free Library, dimensions of the whole building are 140x160 founded by Enoch Pratt, of that city, with feet; library portion, 90x140, not including an endowment fund of $833,333.33 and a projecting parts, in two stories, with a noble building, which cost $225,000 more, memorial tower x was with formal ceremonies on the ; reading-room, 50 40 feet, opened THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

4th of January, 1886. I have abridged the and a museum of antiquities and curiositise. following description of the building from an The books of the library are shelved in cases elaborate account published, with illustra- of ash, which are intended to contain 6,000 tions, in one of the Baltimore newspapers, volumes. The cost of the building has been is the on the day following the dedication : about $20,000. A son of Mr. Woods architect. It has a frontage of 8r feet 10 inches on street, with a depth of 140 feet. Mulberry BATAVIA, N. Y. Richmond Library. Mrs. The of the architecture is bold Roman- style Dean Richmond, of Batavia, N. Y., is erect- esque. A tower in the middle of the front ing at that place a fine library building which rises to the height of 98 feet. The delivery will be presented to the village when finished. room, at the right of the entrance, is some- It was commenced in July last. The archi- what small, being but 30 feet square. The tect of the building is Mr. James G. Cutler, room, at the left of the entrance, is registrar's of Rochester, who has supplied the following the same in size. Behind these rooms, and " information : The building will cost, com- communicating with each of them, are two plete, about $25,000. The front building, bookrooms, one above the other, in half which shows from the street, contains the stories of nine feet each. These are 75 feet reading-room, librarian's room, and toilet- long and 37 feet wide, having an open space rooms, and is entirely of cut stone, with a of 20 feet wide on each side for light and air. tile roof. The stackroom at right angles The low ceiling means, of course, low cases, with the main building is built of brick and or stacks, and no book out of reach from the is entirely fire proof. The stackroom is floor. The two rooms are estimated to be 14 feet high, and as the present cases will be capable of storing 210,000 volumes. only 7 feet, you will see that we can double Above the in the second bookrooms, story the capacity of the library by putting in of the is a fine building, notably reading- another tier of cases. I have not yet and feet It is a room, 75 %35 feet, 25 high. designed these cases, but expect to make wainscoted and decorated handsomely apart- them of gas pipe, with wooden shelves. The on two and ment, excellently lighted sides, reading-room is about 24x42 feet. It has a of readers. A reference capable seating 250 large open fire-place at the end of it, over and the librarian's with room adjoins it, office, which we shall place a bronze memorial other administration are on the same rooms, tablet. The part of the front building in the front of the The floor, part building. occupied by the hall, toilet-room, and libra- broad to that floor is of marble and stairway rian's room will have a second story which very fine. will be available for extra workrooms. Has a cellar under the whole of BARRE, MASS. Woods Memorial Li- good building, course provided with an outside entrance. brary. H: Woods, a native of Barre, Mass., The of the stackroom, as at present but resident in Boston, has erected a capacity fitted up, will be from 12,000 to 14,000 library building in the former town, which he volumes." gives to the public. The building is reported to be finished, but waits the return of Mr. BELCHERTOWN, MASS. Clapp Memorial Woods from Europe for its dedication and Library. A fine library building erected at formal opening. It is a square, substantial Belchertown, Mass., in accordance with the edifice, of brick, with Longmeadow brown bequest of John F. Clapp, was dedicated on sandstone trimmings, 40x60 feet in dimen- the 3oth of June last. It is an edifice of the sions, and two stories high. A cut of it Norman order, in Greek-cross form, 102 feet appeared in the Library journal i July, 1887. long by 50 feet wide, constructed of Long- The library reading-room, directors' room, meadow stone, with granite base. The apart- and waiting-room take up the first floor, while ment distinctly called the Library is 40 feet the second is divided between a lecture hall square, and 27 feet high. Adjoining it is a LARNED. 73 reading-room, from which it is separated only BOSTON. Public Library, The present by a screen of carved cherry wood. The situation of the building project for the Boston books are arranged in alcoves, estimated to Public Library is explained in the following it is hold 15,000 volumes, with possibilities, note from the Librarian, Judge Chamberlain : " thought, equal to 50,000 volumes. The fund By act of the Massachusetts Legislature the bequeathed by Mr. Clapp five years ago was plans and construction of the new building $40,000, three quarters of which was to be for the Boston Public Library were placed in expended on the building. the hands of the Trustees, and recently they employed McKim, Mead & White to prepare BLOOMINGTON, ILL. Library Association. plans and estimates. They have submitted The Library Association of Bloomington, 111., sketch plans of the interior, and it is expected is erecting a building which is promised to be that the Trustees during the summer will finished by the first of the coming October. suggest such modifications as occur to them. Mr. Charles L. Capen, of the Board of No work will be done on the erection this Trustees, has kindly supplied the following " season, but it is hoped to go forward in the notes of information : The estimated cost spring of 1888." of the building is $17,000. The lot, worth PA. The $5,000, was given us, making the entire value BRADDOCK, Carnegie Library. munificent Mr. Andrew is said to be $22,000. The money is raised and to be Carnegie a beautiful and lecture-hall raised by public subscription. We receive erecting library at which he will nothing from public funds. The architect is building Braddock, Pa., give to the town when it is finished. The George H. Miller, Bloomington. The style of building is to cost The room architecture is composite. Materials of con- expected $80,000. library in it is feet in and is intended struction, pressed brick and stone trimmings. 86x30 size, for volumes. The building is 6ox 80, maximum dimensions. 5,000 The floor has rooms of the principal following BRATTLEBORO, VT. Brooks Library.

dimensions : x Library room, 30 57 ; reading- The Brooks Library at Brattleboro, Vt., directors' i6x 12 room,22X36; room, ; recep- erected and presented to the town by George tion hall, librarian's office, 13x20; 16x9; J. Brooks, who died two days before the The floor is waiting room, 15x25. upper formal inauguration of the building took place, divided into rooms of the same size up nearly was opened and dedicated on the 25th of and This floor is to be proportions. upper January last, Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, of for "the of in a rented, purpose aiding raising the Boston Public Library, delivering an revenue It is to for the library. now rented admirable address upon the occasion. The Th e Club ' for a term of Bloomington years. building is of pressed brick and Longmeadow The mode of is in rows of book- shelving brown stone, on a foundation of granite, one stands, the aisles through room, separated by story in height. The bookroom, projecting none the material and size against wall; at the rear, 33 1-2x40 feet in dimensions, not determined The is fully upon. building contains eight double cases of oak, with a to be heated with numerous by steam, grates. capacity for shelving 13,000 volumes. The These are the means of ventila- grates only main building, 50 x 28 feet, contains two fine tion provided." reading-rooms, finished in California redwood. BOSTON, MASS. Boston Athenceum. Committee room and other apartments are in the basement. The is illustrated and Plans are under consideration for raising the building described in the of walls, putting on a mill roof, and filling the fully Library journal third story so heightened with stacks having March, 1887. a capacity of 280,000 volumes. The rest of BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Public Library. Mrs. the building has a capacity somewhat exceed- Hills, Librarian of the Bridgeport Public ing 100,000 volumes. The architects are Library, writes under date of May 21, with Messrs. Cabot Chandler. reference to the commodious building that is 74 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

now being made ready for that institution: library occupies its main floor, with parts of " The work upon which we are engaged is the second floor and the basement. the alteration of an already existing building The delivery room, to which the entrance which was bequeathed to us several years from the lobby leads, is a large apartment, ago for library purposes. As originally irregular in form, 40 x 60 feet in dimensions. it in erected was intended for stores and offices; Behind it, the northeasterly wing of the it is admirably located, and is valued at up- building, is the book room, or rooms, divided wards of $100,000. It is estimated that the by heavy walls, with large open arches, into alterations will cost about $30,000. We shall what may be called three rooms or three retain the stores for the present, as the rent sections of one room. As a whole, it is 47 makes a welcome addition to our scanty feet wide and 132 feet long, about one fourth income. On the floor above the stores, we of the total length being in each of the end shall have a book and delivery room for the sections, and one half of it in the middle circulating department, shelved for about section. All these sections may be filled 50,000 volumes, a catalogue room, and a with book-stacks when needed. At present pleasant parlor which will serve the double there are book-stacks erected in the middle purpose of director's room and librarian's and westerly sections only. The book-slacks office. Upon the next floor we shall have a are but two stages of 7 feet each in large, well-lighted reading-room, the reference height. The room having a height of 22 feet, collection, a room for quiet study, and a room from floor to ceiling, it is possible, at any in which chess and other games may be time, to add a third tier to the stacks, but that played. Above this is a large hall which will is not to be recommended. As now con- be ultimately used as an art gallery and structed, their capacity is for something more museum. We have a vacant lot at the back, than 150,000 volumes. When extended into so that, as the library grows, an extension can the easterly section of the room, they will be easily built. The main details of the store 200,000 volumes. Supporting nothing furniture and other interior arrangements will but their own weight, with that of the books be copied from the Buffalo Library. which they carry, the stacks are of a simple and light construction. Thin cast-iron cross- N. Y. The BUFFALO, Buffalo Library. pieces, or bearings, slide upon standarcis of new of the Buffalo building Library, designed one-inch gas pipe, being adjustably fixed in and erected for the joint occupation by place by steel set-screws, and these are flanged and the Buffalo Fine Arts Acad- Library by for holding the shelves. The platform which the Buffalo Historical and the emy, Society, constitutes the floor to the second stage is of Buffalo of Natural was Society Sciences, light iron gratings and rough glass in about in and finished in the begun October, 1884, equal proportions. The stacks are 15 feet of The formal dedication and spring 1887. long, each divided into five shelf-sections of of the took on the opening building place 7th 3 feet each. They are 18 inches in depth, of the been in February, 1887, library having from face to face, thus giving a shelf 9 inches of it since the of the occupation beginning wide on each face, and there is no partition year. between these two opposed shelves. The The called building may be Romanesque in passage between the stacks is 32 inches of and is style architecture, peculiarly effective wide, and this is found to be quite sufficient. in color, offering none of the strong contrasts There are two rows of these stacks, with a that are common in the architecture of the broad passage inclosed within iron railings day. The materials are a warm brown sand- carried down through the middle of the room Trenton red stone, pressed brick, and red between them. The passage is bridged to with terra-cotta, red slate upon the roofs. It establish easy communication from one row is of fire-proof construction throughout. The of book-stacks to the other. The purpose of LARNED. 75

constructed on the of those in the this passageway is to give public entrance to plan of the Buffalo A committee-room the large room at the easterly end book- Library. adjoins stacks, which will not be needed for book this. storage until many years hence, and which The building as a whole has a fine fagade to class studies and is assigned meantime of 190 feet on the main street of the city and similar special uses. a depth of 260 feet. It is four stories in the on enter- To the right of delivery room, height, with a massive and picturesque tower, it the ing, and separated from only by piers and is of the Romanesque style of archi- of three large arches, is the catalogue-room, tecture. The materials are brown sandstone containing the card catalogues and bibliog- and red brick. The great Music Hall on its raphy of the library. A door from this main floor has capacity for seating an audi- room leads into "the study," or reference ence of 3,000 people and more, with a stage reading-room, which is an apartment S 2x 33/4 on which a chorus nearly equal to that in feet in size, well lighted with windows on two numbers can be placed. On the second floor sides. In the opposite direction are the is a smaller hall for minor concert occasions, librarian's office and the reading-room for 66 feet square and seating 1,176 people. In periodicals, the latter occupying the large other parts of the building, apartments are bow front of the building, 54x38 feet, with provided for several of the German musical windows on three sides. societies of the city, with a large banquet On the second floor are the ladies' reading- hall, reception-rooms, etc. The building is to be with an musical room, 54x38 feet, the Board of Managers' opened important festival in and will be room, 21x40 feet, a chessroom, 21 x28 feet, October, entirely finished somewhat later. Its cost will be and a lecture-room, 33 x 52 feet, with seats for to The architect is Mr. 225 people. Packing and storage -rooms and $200,000 $225,000. Richard A. Waite of Buffalo. a prospective bindery are in the basement.

The Society of Natural Sciences occupies BURLINGTON, VT. Billings Library . The the greater part of the basement, which is Billings Library of the University of Vermont high and light. The Fine Arts Academy has is now being enlarged by the addition of a its picture galleries and classroom on the room about 30 feet square, at a cost of perhaps second floor, and the third floor is occupied $15,000. The room is to hold the 12,000 vol- by the Historical Society. The engine and umes of the library of Geo. P. Marsh, given boiler house is at the rear, and entirely to the University by F. Billings, who also detached. provided the building.

BUFFALO, N. Y. German Young Men's CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Harvard Divinity Association. The German Young Men's School Library. I am indebted to Prof.J. H. Association, of Buffalo, have nearly completed Thayer for the following description of the a large and costly Music Hall and library new library building which is being erected building to replace an inferior building of the at Cambridge for the Harvard Divinity same character which burned some two years School. Prof. Thayer wrote last week while and a half ago. In the main, the fine edifice absent from Cambridge, and could not give is for musical uses but the Association dimensions: ; precise which builds and owns it is essentially a "The architects are Messrs. Peabody & library organization, and the maintenance of Stearns; the builders, the Messrs. Norcross, its library is the primary object with which of Boston. The cost of building and furniture it is concerned. The library is provided for will be between $35,000 and $40,000. The in an apartment 38 x 67 feet in dimensions, building is of face-brick, with free-stone trim- the corner of the not fire but of what occupying northeasterly mings ; absolutely proof,

' building, with an independent entrance at the the architects call slow combustion.' The side. The books will be placed in iron stacks main building is occupied by a spacious hall 76 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

or passageway, on the right of which are two be the Librarian of the nascent Newberry lecture-rooms accommodating each say 25 Library, in the same city, is the first step students two similar rooms the taken toward ; occupy realizingthe magnificent bequest second story. From the left of the hall the of Walter L. Newberry. It is understood is entered it is that the settlement of the estate will reading-room ; lighted mainly probably from the top. At the east and west ends of produce an endowment for the library of more it are alcoves, three on a side, for books than $2,000,000. That a worthy building for

' ' reserved for the common use of students it will be erected in due time is a matter of and for works of reference. The shelving in course; and what is known as the "old New " these alcoves is of wood, and runs only head berry homestead in the north division of the high. At the end of each alcove is a narrow, city of Chicago, being a block bounded by high window, beneath which there is no Pine, Rush, Erie, and Ontario streets, has shelving. To the north of the reading-room already been fixed upon for the site. But and entered by an iron door from the librari- there will be no haste, I am told, in building. ' ' an's room, is a fire-proof stack lighted by Ample time will be taken for the studying and slit-windows in its northern wall and from maturing of plans, while a collection of books above built of and of is and we be sure that ; brick, flooring shelving being formed, may as in the Poole the of will lie perforated iron, University library ; under Mr. studying plans capacity about 30,000 volumes. The building wisely and carefully done. It is extremely is heated by steam, although the reading-room fortunate that so important a library building is provided with a large and ornamented open is to be designed and constructed under the fire-place." eye of a gentleman who has given more attention to the of architect- CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Public Library. Mr. problems library ure than other librarian has F. H. Rindge, formerly of Cambridge, Mass., any done, perhaps, and who has a wide but resident lately in California, has promised brought very experi- ence to bear them. It is fort- a building site and $70,000 to $80,000 in upon extremely unate that Mr. Poole has been the money to the city in Cambridge for a building given to a model in which to house the public library of 20,000 opportunity produce conspicuous of construction on the volumes known as the Dana Library, which library large scale, to the well-determined and excel- Cambridge already possesses. according lent principles that are matured in his mind. CHELSEA, MASS. Public Library. On the 22d of December, 1885, the Public Library CONCORD, N. H. Fowler Library Build- at Chelsea, Mass., was opened in a new ing. The Libraryjournal'of June, 1 887, reports building, the gift of which to the city was the purchase of a house which is to be fitted made at the same time by Mr. Eustace C. for the City Library of Concord, N. H., by Fitz. The dedicatory address, delivered on William P. Fowler and his sister, Miss Clara the occasion by James Russell Lowell, has M. Fowler, of Boston, and which will be been widely read and admired. The building presented to the town when finished. The was originally a private residence, of solid cost of the building was $12,000, and $10,000 and costly character. It was remodeled by more will be expended upon it. The gift is Mr. Fitz for its library use, and affords room for a memorial of Judge Asa Fowler and wife, for 50,000 volumes. It is surrounded by by their children. spacious grounds, which are made part of the CORTLAXD, N. Y. Hatch Library. A gift. The first cost of the property is said to new library building, erected at Cortland, have been $60,000. The cost to Mr. Fitz, N. Y., by Mr. Franklin Hatch, to be a gift to alterations included, was $25,000. the Franklin Hatch Library Association, will CHICAGO, ILL. Newberry Library. The be completed this fall. The cost of the build- appointment of Dr. Wm. F. Poole, lately at ing, exclusive of ground, will be about $8,000. the head of the Public Library in Chicago, to It is constructed of Trenton pressed brick, LARNED. 77 with terra-cotta and gray limestone trimmings. Provision is made at present for the accom- The library room proper, occupying the whole modation of 65,000 volumes, and the second front of the structure, is 50 feet long by 25 story unappropriated. The books now in the feet wide and 26 feet high. The arrangement library number 24,775 volumes. of books will be in alcoves around the walls, EAST SAGINAW, MICH. Hoyt Public with a gallery. At the rear is a reading-room. Library. A new building at East Saginaw, The building is a handsome and attractive Mich., for the Public founded one. Library by bequest of the late Jesse Hoyt, of New York, DAYTON, O. Public School Library. At was begun last May, with the intention that it Dayton, O., a fine new building is being shall be finished in June next. The material erected for the Public School Library. The of which it is being built is a bluish gray lime- architects, Messrs. Peters & Burns, of Day- stone, from Bay Port, Mich., trimmed with ton, have supplied the following notes of Lake Superior red sandstone. The architects description and information : are Messrs. Van Brunt & Howe, of Boston. Mr. Poole, then of the Public The cost of the building, so far as con- Chicago was consulted in the of tracted, which includes everthing but gas Library, preparation and of course are admirable. I fixtures, furniture, and the finishing of second plans, they have sketches of them, which I owe to the story, will be about $90,000, including the kindness of Mr. James B. Peter, of architects' fees of 5 per cent. It is con- Secretary the Board of Trustees, who has also structed as nearly fire-proof as practicable, supplied the information which I summarize'. The en- by the use of stone, brick, terra cotta, and trance to the is in its iron. The exterior walls are laid up in rock- building southerly wing, " " a fine and hall lead- faced broken ashlar of native blue-gray through porch, vestibule, to a feet inches x limestone, trimmed freely with Lake Superior ing large delivery-room, 32 4 feet 10 inches in dimensions. Behind the red sandstone of very fine quality and color. 47 counter is the The roof is of heavy red slates, with terra delivery (easterly) bookroom, 52 feet x 31 feet inches, the whole width cotta crestings, finials, etc. In style it is a 4 filling of the main and well on both free treatment of the Romanesque. The building, lighted sides. What form and of general dimensions of building are 40x120 arrangement shelving will be is still a The inten- feet, with two wings, 20 x 52 feet each. adopted question. tion is to provide at present for 40,000 volumes, The architects sent a rough sketch of the and the building is planned to permit future first floor plan, with dimensions, also a print extensions. The northerly wing contains a of the architects' perspective view. A better nobly lighted reading-room, 27 feetio inches x idea of the appearance of the building may be 47 feet 10 inches, with a large projecting bay, had, it is said, by reference to The American and the librarian's office. On the second floor Architect, of February 6, 1886. It is being are a lecture-room, 47 feet 10 inches x 32 feet built at the cost of the Dayton Board of Edu- 4 inches, trustees' room, a room for special col- cation, upon ground owned by the city and lections, etc. The estimated cost of the build- heretofore used as a small park, the tract ing" is $50,000. being about 300x375 feet. Work was begun in November, 1885, and the building will be GARDNER, MASS. Levi Heywood Me- completed, as far as intended at present, some morial Library. A fine new building, erected time during the coming autumn. The shelving - at a cost of $30,000, was presented to the will be in alcoves, without galleries at present. town on the 4th of February, 1886, by the Details of cases are not yet decided upon. children of Levi Heywood, who have since Provision is made for both gas and incandes- given additionally a fund of $25,000 to the cent electric lighting. Heating will be done library. In compliance with their wish, the steam ventilation means of heated institution is now known as the Levi by ; by Heywood ducts. Memorial Library. The following account of THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

the building is condensed for the most part dimensions, and is constructed of pressed from a description prepared by the architects, brick, terra cotta, and marble. The first floor Messrs. Fuller & Delano, of Worcester, is designed for business uses, and contributes Mass., and published in the Gardner Weekly its rental to the support of the library. The News of June 27, 1885. I am indebted for it second and third floors contain the library

to Miss Osgood, the Librarian : The building rooms and a pretty lecture hall. The books, is in the Romanesque style of architecture, about 4,000 in present number, are shelved in 70 x 58 feet in size, two stories in height, with cases of cherry wood. on front and east side. The large gables LITTLETON, MASS. Town Hall and Reu- basement is built 5 feet above the sidewalk, ben Hoar Library. The August, 1887, issue of of rock-face granite ashlar. Above the granite, the LibraryJournal reports at length the dedi- the first story is of pressed brick, with brown cation, on the 28th of July last, of a new build- stone and terra cotta trimmings. The ap- ing at Littleton, Mass., designed for the Town proach to the main entrance is by two flights Hall and for the Reuben Hoar Library. Its of broad granite steps, leading up to an open cost was $11,000. It was built by the town, porch, px 16 feet. This porch is the striking but the undertaking was stimulated by a gift feature of the front. The first floor is occu- of $10,000 to the library from Mr. W. S. pied with the library proper and the rooms Houghton, of Boston, who stipulated that the appertaining to it, including a waiting hall, name of Reuben Hoar, a former resident of feet reading-room, 20x25 > reference-room, Littleton, should be perpetuated in it. Hon. 12x14 feet; trustees' room, librarian's office, John D. Long delivered the dedicatory desk, and feet. delivery bookroom, 38x25 address. The bookroom is built in a half-circular form. ME. Public A It is 18 feet in height, to allow of a gallery LIVERMORE, Library. Gothic of erected being built when it becomes necessary to have library building, granite, by members of the Washburn in more bookroom. It is lighted with frequent surviving family of their father and Israel windows in the circular wall and a light in the memory mother, Washburn and was ceiling. The forms for the books are set in wife, presented, together with volumes of to the town of the floor of the bookroom, radiating from the 2,000 books, centre, and on the inside walls. There will Livermore, and dedicated with suitable cere- monies on the of The be shelfroom for about 17,000 volumes, and 5th August, 1885. there can be shelves added which would building is 32x48 feet in dimensions, with a It is handsome in with double the capacity. The second floor will porch. design, high slated roof and stained windows. have a waiting-room, 10x20 feet, with a fire- place, and a hall, 24 x 36 feet. In the trustees' LUDLOW, MILLS, MASS. Hubbard Memo- room and reading-room are handsome memo- rial. The Library journal of May, 1887, rial fire-places, in brown stone and terra cotta, describes a beautiful memorial library and to be surmounted with busts of Levi Heywood lecture-room building which is being erected and Charles Heywood. The heirs of Charles at Ludlow Mills by the children of the late Heywood have given a fund of $5,000 to the Charles T. Hubbard, of Weston. It was library reading-room. There are also two designed by W. R. Emerson, of Boston, and memorial windows in the trustees' room, is to be a Gothic structure, built of Long- representing Art and Science. meadow brownstone and pressed brick. The library will contain about 8,000 volumes, KXOXVILLE, TENN. Public Library. The arranged in alcoves. If expectations are Library journal of July, 1887, announced the realized, the building will be finished during completion and occupation of an elegant the coming winter. building erected for the Knoxville Library, at a cost of $40,000, by Col. C. M. McGhee, in MALDEN, MASS. Converse Memorial Li- of his memory daughter. It is 5ox 100 feet in brary. The Converse Memorial Library, LARNED. 79

erected at Maiden, Mass., by Hon. Elisha S. competition, in which six local and two non- Converse and Mary D. Converse to the resident architects took part. After various memory of their son, was finished and dedi- modifications, the present design was decided cated on the ist of October, 1885. It was upon, and Messrs. Long & Kees, a Minneap- designed by the late H. H. Richardson, and olis firm, put in charge. Ground was broken built richly of Longmeadow brown sandstone, last July, and the building has nearly reached at a cost not made known. The main library its second story. The contract calls for its room, 50x36 feet in dimensions on the floor, enclosure by November. It should in that has a high vaulted ceiling, and is beautifully case be ready for occupancy by next summer. finished in polished white oak, with elaborate "The design contemplates a quadrangle, of carving. The books are in alcoves, with one which the elevation exhibits the two outer and the is for alone are to be built for gallery ; present provision wings. These the 35,000 volumes, but the ultimate capacity is present. The building is for the use, not estimated at 60,000 volumes. The delivery- merely of the library, but also of the Minn. room is 25 feet square. An art gallery, Academy of Natural Science and a Society of 24x37 feet in size, and other apartments are Fine Arts. Making allowance for the differ- contained in the building. ences in site, you will see that the general of the interior is similar to that MANSFIELD, O. Sailors and Soldiers arrangement of your own Buffalo Library, except that with Memorial Library. At Mansfield, O., the us the Museum is to occupy the second (main) tax which a State law permits to be levied and floor, the library taking the high basement, as applied to the building of a monument to the well as the first floor. The Art Gallery and dead of the civil war has been appropriated, the stack-room are placed exactly as yours. on petition of the surviving soldiers, to the "The building is no feet in front and 142 erection of a public library building, named " feet on the side street. The entrance is The Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Library." about midway down the side facing upon the The sum to be expended on it is $50,000, and avenue. Directly within the doorway is the the building will be one of considerable char- main staircase hall feet acter. (32 square), lighted For the maintaining of the library, a from above and from the long windows over Ladies' Library Association has been organ- the entrance door. Back of the hall is the ized, and is actively engaged in the raising of x feet. funds. delivery-room, 24 52 The main reading- Mrs. J. E. Dixson has been employed room occupies 40 feet square of the corner. to select books for purchase. The basement The newspaper reading-room is directly below and the upper floor of the building are this, of like dimensions, and reached a assigned to the use of the G. A. R. The by separate entrance direct from the street. A hook-stack room and the reading-room of the third reading-room is to the right of the hall library will be on the main floor. on the main floor. Back of this, and adjacent MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Public Library. I to the delivery-room, are the administration- am indebted to Mr. Herbert Putnam, of the rooms, occupying also a small magazine story. Athenaeum Library, Minneapolis, for the fol- Their area is about 24x48 feet. " lowing description of the magnificent building The bookroom (that section at present that is being erected for the Public Library of building) runs back on the side street too that city, and in which the books of the Ath- feet. It is 28 feet deep to the court. On the enasnum are to be placed, under a lease of street side are to be alcoves for student

99 years to the city : reference. Along the court the books are to "Land was purchased for our Public be stacked as closely as practicable. The in the winter of a cor- well as is to Library building 1885 ; room (as the whole of this floor) ner 132 feet on one of our principal avenues be 1 8 feet high, and will admit of a double (Hennepin), with 190 feet of depth on abroad tier of shelves. The exact system of stack to cross street. The plans were arrived at by a be used has not yet been determined. We 8o THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

are at present inclined to some such economic MX. VERNON, O. Public Library. A move- material as you have used at Buffalo. A ment toward the collecting of money for the second bookroom will be available in the purchase of books to form a small public basement whenever necessary. In the base- library was started at Mt. Vernon, O., not ment also are to be the patent-room, storage, long ago, among some of the citizens whose dressing, and directors' rooms. circumstances are narrow and who could only " The second floor will contain meeting- contribute very moderate sums. This action rooms and museum-rooms. The third will be opened the eyes of a wealthier class to the given up to classrooms and the art gallery. needs of the town, and they promptly sub- The two remaining wings, when built, will scribed a library endowment fund of $20,000, nearly double the present capacity, and fur- besides buying and remodeling a pretty nish in addition a lecture hall to seat 600 church, which serves excellently for a library people. The building will have a clear space building. The building is just finished, and on every side of not less than 20 feet, on the initial collection of books is being gotten three sides of 50 feet, besides the inner court ready for it. of 50 feet square. The material of the exte- rior is to be Bayfield (brown) sandstone. The NEWARK, N. J. Library Association. is whole building is to be fire proof throughout. The Newark (N. J.) Library Association " a The cost is being defrayed as follows : now engaged in reconstructing for its use the Bonds issued by the city . $100,000 building in that city which was lately City tax, 1886 .... 23,000 Park Theatre, having previously been a church. do 1887 .... 37,000 The front half of the old building is to be Private subscription (to date) . 70,000 entirely razed and a new edifice erected on the site. The rear portion will remain stand- $230,000 is to be for the removal of the " ing, and ready Of this amount $63,000 was paid for the books of the library into it by November next. site. The cost of the building (the two wings In the new part of the building, forming its already in process of construction) will be front, are to be placed the reading-rooms and about $190,000. This leaves about $25,000 administration offices of the library, together still lacking, which it is hoped to raise by with a small lecture hall and other apartments. further private subscription. The constitu- This new section of the edifice will be 75 1-2 tion of the new library was described in the feet front, extending back 46 feet, and Library journal of April, 1885." rising to three stories in height, with a central Vx. Vermont State MONTPELIER, Library. tower 65 feet high. It will be of Newark A new for the State and the building Library stone, the facade in Romanesque style, the Court in Supreme was erected 1886, as an entrance round-arched, with considerable carv- annex to the west of the State House. wing ing. The construction will be on what is The is on the second library-room floor, called the slow-burning system, with open- 45 50 feet in size, and 28 feet 6 inches in of by timbered ceilings, showing the full depth There is an estimated for height. capacity the beams. The bookroom, or library proper, 70,000 shelves in iron frames volumes, upon in the old section of the building at the rear, or stacks. The is of con- building fire-proof will be 60 x 63 feet in floor dimensions, and struction. The architects were Messrs. R. J. 45 feet high to a cove ceiling. It will be & W. P. Richards, of Boston. The sum lighted by four cathedral windows on each for the appropriated building was $36,000. side. The books will be shelved in alcoves,

MORGAN PARK (!LL.) Library. "A build- with one gallery above the floor. Contracts ing costing $10,000 has been erected for the for the entire work upon the building were valuable collection of books gathered at lately given out, and it is now being carried on the Theological Seminary." Libraryjournal, with vigor. The completion of the building May, 1887. early next spring is expected. LARNED. 81

These particulars have been derived from NEWTON, MASS. Free Library. Exten- newspaper reports kindly supplied to me by sive additions to the library building, and the librarian, Mr. J. E. Layton. changes remodeling several parts of its NEW HAVEN, CONN. Yale College Li- interior, have been recently completed, at a brary. Concerning the intended new library cost of $24,000. The result is said to be building at Yale, which is to be a gift to the remarkably satisfactory in every view. The college from the Hon. Simeon B. Chittenden, library-rooms are strikingly beautiful, and the

Mr. Van Name writes, Aug. 19, as follows : convenience of the working arrangements of " We have made slower progress than we an- the library is unsurpassed. The bookroom, ticipated with our plans, and have not yet the delivery-room, the reference-room, the arrived at anything definite enough for publica- newspaper-room, the document-room, and the tion. The plan which we are at present con- librarian's room are all reported to be of sidering may prove too costly, and something liberal dimensions, well lighted, and hand- quite different may be substituted. We shall somely finished. work as as are begin soon our plans ready, NEW YORK CITY. Young Men's Chris- I this fall if in the hope ; not, early spring ; tian Association. It is announced that the and the I be building, suppose, may completed Young Men's Christian Association will erect, in a from that time. The state- year only further up town, a new central building, and ments which can be made at safely present that its library will be transferred to it. are that we have $100,000 for the building, NEW YORK CITY. Free Circulating Li- which is to be of stone (brownstone, though brary. Two new buildings for branches of of what is while quarry yet undecided) ; that, the New York Free Circulating Library are it will have a temporary connection with the being erected. The George Bruce Branch, present library building, which is still to re- for which a fund of $50,000 has been fur- main in use, it will be a part rather of the future nished Miss Katherine Bruce, will be than an annex to the that by building present ; ready for occupation, it is hoped, early in the we expect it to contain administration-rooms, coming winter. For the Vanderbilt Branch, a reading-room which will seat not far from ground has just been cleared, and the work 100 readers, and shelf-room for 200,000 vol- of building is to go forward at once. umes, and that we hope to make it fire-proof or nearly so." NORTHFIELD, MASS. Seminary Library. NEW ORLEANS LA. Howard Library. A fire-proof library building of granite and brown with In March last, the Library journal contained stone, capacity for 40,000 vol- a statement to the effect that Miss Annie F. umes, is about to be erected on the Northfield at a cost of Howard had determined to carry out the in- Seminary grounds, $25,000. It tentions of her father, Mr. Charles T. How- is to be the gift of James Talcott, of New York. ard, who, for many years before his death, contemplated the erection of a great public OAK PARK, ILL. Sco-ville Institute Li- in New Orleans that a site for the library ; brary. The Scoville Institute Library build- had been and that it would at building purchased, ing Oak Park, 111., plans of which were be constructed at once, in accordance with exhibited at the Lake George meeting of the designs prepared some years ago for Mr. A.L.A. in 1885, is now far advanced toward Howard the late by H. H. Richardson, and completion. Work upon it was begun in the which had in the view accommodating of a spring of 1886; the exterior is finished, and collection of books. I wrote 150,000 lately to the building is expected to be ready for New Orleans for fuller but have information, occupation next spring, or early in the summer. been told in reply that Miss Howard and her The architects are Messrs. Patton & Fisher, brother are and that can be of abroad, nothing Chicago, 111., who have made a special study learned at present, except that Mr. Richard- of library architecture, and who have intro- son's have been plans accepted. duced the most approved ideas of arrange- 82 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

ment. The building (of which a view, with worthy fire-proof building for its library, on floor plans, has been published in the Inland the university grounds, east of the college Architect) is in the modern Romanesque style. building, in Philadelphia. Plans are already The outer material is a hard bluish white under consideration, but nothing has yet been limestone, laid with a bold rock face, and decided. The Provost of the university, Dr. with trimmings of Buff Bedford limestone. Pepper, lately visited a number of the im- The construction is fire proof throughout. On portant libraries of the country, to study their the main the and it is intended that the floor, proper library apartments arrangements ; are grouped around a spacious octagonal new building shall represent the best that rotunda, which is the delivery-room. They have yet been evolved, in all respects. include a bookroom, 33 x 40 feet, well lighted, According to present purposes, the building with a compact and judicious arrangement of will contain, besides the library, a large and cases of volumes beautiful theatre for exercises capable containing 30,000 ; a commencement reference 21 x feet a and for the of Greek library-room, 33 ; reading- performance plays. room, 17x19 feet, with toilet-rooms, etc. In About $300,000 is the sum proposed to be the second is a also in- and Mr. Wharton of the story lecture-room, expended ; Barker, tended to be made an art gallery, and there Board of Trustees, is engaged in gathering a are several smaller apartments for various fund for the undertaking. Dr. Pepper, in a " purposes. The attic will afford room for a letter received lately, writes : The fund is gymnasium. The estimated cost of the increasing rapidly, but we shall not build building was $60,000; but it is said by the until we have matured our plans thoroughly. architects that the actual cost will somewhat Our project is to erect a library for 300,000 to exceed that sum. It will be a to the volumes free for reference to the gift 500,000 ; public by Mr. James W. Scoville, of Oak community, though, of course, specially Park, who intends to place the property under adapted to needs of students. We have the care of 15 trustees. ample space, and I trust shall have the build- ing completed in three years." I learn from PHILADELPHIA, PA. Library Company. the Librarian of the university, Mr. Gregory The annual report of the Library Company B. Keen, that' there are now about 40,000 of Philadelphia, made in May last, urges the volumes of books and 65,000 pamphlets and need of an enlargement of the present library unbound periodicals in its library. building, and states that the Directors have PA. issued an appeal to the members and the PITTSBURG, Keystone Bridge Works, Workmen's A community generally for contributions to a Library. library building which cost with for the building fund. It is believed that $75,000 $28,000, $1,000 pur- chase of was last will be required for the purpose, and it is pro- books, presented year by Mr. Andrew The posed to raise that sum by annual subscrip- Carnegie. building, nearly is from one which con- tions running for five years, in amounts new, adapted formerly stituted two varying from $12.50 to $100 per year. dwelling-houses. the "a number of "Already," says report, QUINCY, ILL. Public Library. Prepara- have been subscriptions secured ; one notably tions are being made at Quincy, 111., for the from C. of when Henry Lea, $5,000, payable erection of a Public Library building, intended shall have been obtained from other $50,000 to cost about $20,000. But the plans have sources; but the to their circular response not yet been definitely determined upon. has not been sufficiently general to justify the ST. Louis, Mo. Mercantile Library. expectation that the addition can be made in Concerning the new fire-proof building of the the course of the current year." St. Louis Mercantile Library, Mr. Dyer wrote " PHILADELPHIA, PA. Library of the Uni- in May last : We have secured $ 1 20,000 from versity of Pennsylvania. The University of the sale of perpetual memberships, at $100, Pennsylvania is contemplating the erection of a and will borrow the balance that may be nee- LARNED.

essary to complete the building say $250,- manesque style of architecture, two stories in ooo. broke on the 22d of March with a tower carried to We ground ; height, square up the foundations are in, and we hope to have three stories. It is expected to cost $15,000. the roof on by the ist of November, and to The library proper is evidently to be of the occupy our new home by or before the ist of old Gothic-church fashion, which Mr. Poole May next. The building will be as near fire- has so vigorously condemned, giving much as it is to construct the esti- room to few books. The books are to be in proof possible ; mated cost is $300,000. The issue-room will cases under stained-glass windows, which be on the first floor, reading and stack rooms will be raised 7 feet above the floor to on the reached two modern elevators make wall for them. sixth, by ; space the reading-room finished in antique oak, WASHINGTON, D. C. Library of Congress. and furnished with every convenience. When Mr. Spofford, Librarian of Congress, informs the A.L.A. meets here in the fall of 1888, I me that work preliminary to the laying of the hope to show you a model library building." foundations of the great building planned for SOMERVILLE, MASS. Public Library. A the National Library is in progress. The act new building, erected by the city, was occu- of Congress making provision for the con- pied by the library in the autumn of 1885. It struction of the building and appointing the is a handsome brick structure, with Rockport commission to be in charge of the work underpining, Longmeadow freestone sills, became a law on the I5th of April, 1886. and and slated roof. It is belts, trimmings, Some six months were then consumed by the made fairly safe from fire by slow-burning or proceedings necessary to acquire title to the mill-construction floors. The area covered by land purchased for its site, which is 8 acres the building is 3,650 square feet, of which one in extent, facing on ist street and adjoining half is carried to the of two stories. height East Park. The on the " Capitol buildings According to the architect's description, the grounds were sold and demolished, which height of bookroom is about 17 feet, and involved some further delay. The whole site_ admits cases but as very high ; planned required then to be brought to one level, by to meet the present requirements, half that much cutting and excavation, and that has suffices. Should the future demand height been done. Contracts for the excavation of more bookroom, the height of the cases can the trenches which surround the building, for be raised." It is to be hoped that some other the extensive system of sewerage or drainage method of meeting the demands of the future pipes, and for the excavation of the basement can be found. The cases in the bookroom have since been let, and are, in fact, approach- will contain, it is said, 3 5,000 volumes. There ing completion. The question of a building- are now 13,550 volumes in the library. Mr. stone for the superstructure is now before the Geo. F. Loring, of Somerville, was the archi- commission, which will test samples of every tect of the Its cost was $30,740. building. in the collection it has variety great gathered ; TORONTO, ONT. Legislative Library. The but the choice is expected to lie between Legislature of the Province of Ontario has granite and white marble. The enormous begun the erection of new legislative build- building will cover about 3 1-4 acres of ings, including a room of about 40 x 70 for ground. The front on ist street will be the library. The site is in the Queen's Park, 460 feet long. The plan of the building,

Toronto, close to that of the University of designed by J. L. Smithmeyer, of Washington, Toronto, which has an excellent library. is familiar to librarians from many publica- tions of it. WARREN, R. 1. Geo. Hail Free Library. The Library journal announces the laying of WASHINGTON, D. C. United States Medi- the corner-stone of a new building for this cal Museum and Library, Surgeon-General's library on the 24th of June last. The build- Office. The new building in which the Medi- ing is to be of rock-faced granite, in the Ro- cal Museum and the Medical Library of the THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Surgeon-General's Office of the United States sides of the frames, and bolted to lugs at- Army are to be accommodated together, at tached to the latter. Besides this fixed shelf, Washington, is approaching completion. The there must be provided two movable shelves " Librarian, Dr. Billings, writes : I hope the on the upper part of the frames. One shelf building will be finished next fall, so that it extends along the space between the frames can be occupied, but am rather doubtful (2 feet 9 1-2 inches), and their ends are sup- about it." ported by Z shaped shelfholders of No. 14 The floor plans of the building were pre- ductile steel. These in turn rest in indenta- pared by Dr. Billings, while the elevations tions of the frames, spaced all the way up, one were designed by Messrs. Cluss and Schulze, inch between centres, so as to facilitate the architects, of Washington. It is of brick and adjustment for different sizes of books. The iron, and to cost $200,000, exclusive of stacks oak shelves for the book-stacks are 33 1-4x8 and furniture. The work of construction is X7-8 inches for the upper tiers, and 33 r-4x being done by contract, under superintend- 12 1-2 x i inches for the lower tiers. ence of a Colonel in the Engineer Depart- The estimated capacity of the 22 stacks is ment, acting under the orders of the Secretary about 150,000 volumes, or about 6,800 volumes of War. A brief description of the edifice, per stack, closely packed, or about 130,000 with a cut, appeared in the Medical News of volumes loosely packed, as I wish them to be. Philadelphia Sept. 18, 1886, and it was also Sufficient space has been reserved on the illustrated in the American Architect of library floor to place at least 11 additional Jan. 16, 1886. I am indebted to Dr. Billings stacks for future growth. A large reading- for a lithograph view, with plan of main room adjoins the stackroom. floor. Dr. B. has also sent to me a copy WASHINGTONVILLE, N. Y. Moffatt Li- of the specifications for the book-stacks, brary. At Washingtonville, Orange County, from which I condense the following descrip- N. Y., a library and public hall building, erected tion : at a cost of $25,000, has recently been presented The second story of the west wing of the to the village (his native place) by David H. is allotted to the it is x building library ; 55 130 Moffatt, of Denver, Col. The building is feet in size, has an open roof construction, is of brick, with brown stone ornamentation, 32 feet high to the eaves, illuminated by three and has a fine fagade of 100 feet, with a clock tiers of windows in the side walls, and by a tower. The style of architecture is Eliz- continuous lantern over the roof it is light ; abethan. It was designed by J. Hearney, of warmed by steam-heated hot air, and ventil- New York. The main portion of the build- ated through registers near the floor, com- ing, at the rear, is designed for a public hall. municating with a heated ventilation shaft. The front, on either side of the entrance lobby, The book-stack is three stories, of 7 feet 9 is assigned to library and reading room. Mr. inches in height, and composed of cast-iron J. Owen Moore, the Secretary of the library, open book-cases, parted and surrounded by writes me that a fund is in hand for the pur- passages, with floors of perforated cast-iron on chase of about 1,000 volumes of books for the the galleries. Nine open cast-iron frames of beginning of the library collection. It is to be 2 feet in width at the base, and 7 feet 9 inches free for consultation, but books will be loaned in height on each tier, are placed at distances out to members $2 At of inches are only paying per year. 34 ; they connected by 64 light, present there is no provision for the mainte- flanged cast-iron girders oh the level of the nance of the library except these dues and the main floor, galleries, and ceiling, and form one rental of the hall; but it is believed that Mr. case. book The lower part of each story is Moffatt contemplates an endowment. dimensioned for folios and quarto volumes, and is parted from the narrower upper part, WILKESBARRE, PA. Osterhout Library. of width for proper ordinary sized books, by The Osterhout Library, founded at Wilkes- fixed oak shelves, resting on ledges cast to the barre, Pa., by the bequest of Isaac Osterhout, SANDERS. with an endowment fund of nearly $400,000, $10,000 has been appropriated to add a wing is to be placed during the present month in a for the library to the town hall now building. building remodeled from a church. Miss It is to be partially fire proof, to contain a James, formerly of the Newton Free Library, reading-room and a bookroom with a capac- has been appointed Librarian. ity of 30,000 volumes. It will be ready for occupancy early in 1888. Messrs. Rand & WINCHESTER, MASS. Town Library. Taylor are the architects,

or the discussion which followed the reading of this paper, see PROCEEDINGS (Fifth session).

THE POSSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN MANUFACTURING COMMUNITIES.

BY MRS. M. A. SANDERS, LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY, PAWTUCKET, R. I.

CIR JOHN HERSCHEL, in an address conducted themselves in their intercourse to the working people of Windsor and with each other. " Eton upon the occasion of opening a public There is a gentle but perfectly irresistible library for their use in 1839, sa'd : coercion in a habit of reading well directed, " If I were to pray for a taste, which should over the whole tenor of a man's character stand me in stead under every variety of cir- and conduct, which is not the less effect- cumstances, and be a source of happiness and ual because it is really the last thing he cheerfulness of. to me through life, and a shield dreams " against its ills however things might go amiss It cannot, in short, be better summed up and the world frown upon me, it would be a than in these few words : It civilizes the taste for reading. conduct of men, and suffers them not to " Give a this barbarians." man taste and a means of grat- remain ifying it, and you can hardly fail of making a Recognizing this love of reading as the happy man, unless, indeed, you put into his keynote to broader culture and a higher hands a most perverse selection of books. standard of morals, one by one, during the "You place him in contact with the best last half-century, libraries have been thrown society in every period of history; with the open to the public that were before only wisest, the wittiest, with the tenderest, the accessible to the scholar (and often grudg- bravest, and the purest characters who have ingly even to him), and new libraries estab- in adorned humanity. lished, till, every community, a free public " You make him a denizen of all nations, a library is as much a necessity to-day as its contemporary of all ages. The world has churches or its schools. been in the troublous of created for him. It is hardly possible Even days the Revolu- but tion our forefathers the character should take a higher and were awaking to this better tone from the constant habit of asso- demand, for in 1776 there were 29 "partially libraries in the ciating in thought with a class of thinkers, to public colonies;" in 1800 the least of there were in the number had say it, above the average of 49; 1876 humanity. increased to over 3,000; while to-day we " It is morally impossible but that the man- number between 5,000 and 6,000 public libra- ners a total of over should take a tinge of good breeding and ries, comprising 20,000,000 volumes. civilization from having constantly before one's eyes the way in which the best-bred The influence of a public library is contin- and the best-informed men have talked and gent upon many circumstances its com- 86 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

munity, its finances, and largely upon its 1883, had a population of 66,000, one third of management. Possibilities which may be whom were employed in its 300 manufactories. developed in one library, in another remain Manchester, N. H., with a population of unnoticed; while something of equal import- 40,000, employs 15.000 persons in its 102 ance is made of incalculable benefit to its manufactories. own community. Thus, though working on And so I might go on enumerating special a general principle, each library independ- statistics, but these are simply representative ently works out the problem of the greatest communities. It is sufficient for my purpose good to the greatest number of its own to say that there are in the United States patrons. Happily, therefore, there is no about 254,000 manufacturing establishments, cause for the rivalry and jealousies that dis- employing nearly 3,000,000 persons, at an turb the harmony of so many fraternities. average wage of $1.15 per working day. It is my pleasure and privilege to live in a It is to this great class that we look for to watch the much of the of our for manufacturing community; prosperity country ; development of practical ideas; to follow the we find that the value of the product of the progress of mechanical improvement, and manufactures of the United States for the witness with pride their results, for the dis- last ten years was $5,400,000,000. tinctive feature of Pawtucket is the variety It is also an important factor in our govern- of its industries. ment, for the pride and principle of our We remember with pride our parentage country is "Vox popidi, vox Dei" and the honor due to it but In these when skilled labor is at a ; surely when days Samuel Slater, after a weary time oi toil and premium, when issues are constantly arising discouragement, perfected the first power requiring the best legislative ability, and the machinery for cotton spinning in this country, demand for both is far greater than the supply, and with a pardonable pride saw it in success- how are we to meet it? The reply comes " ful operation in the first bona fide cotton from far and near, Educate the people." mill in the United States, which still Yes, educate the people ! for they are very in to stands the centre of our city (I ready be educated, many of them striving speak with authority, though I am fully with a self-denial known only to themselves aware that this is a case parallel to the to give to their children the education that " Seven Grecian cities striving for Homer was denied them : our schools of to-day are dead.") when, as I said, this was accom- showing good work from the sons and daugh- plished in 1791, there was no power of the ters of these parents, and its influence is imagination that could have foreseen the blessing their homes. change from the little mill village on the But many are denied that privilege, and Blackstone River, with its few hundred cannot afford to spare their children's wages inhabitants, to the present city of 25,000, for even the three months covering the com- 13,000 of whom are engaged in industrial pulsory law of education. pursuits, its 70 schools, its 600 manufacturing .At the average wage a private library the small is unattainable a establishments, embracing greatest variety though ; newspaper of industries. may be a luxury indulged in. Where, then, is But Pawtucket is only one of many thriv- the royal road to learning ? We do not hesi- ing manufacturing communities. tate to say the free public library is that long- Waltham, Mass., the adoptive parent of the sought highway. Then open wide the doors; American Watch Co., which had in 1865 a let us stock our shelves with the best mechan- of but over ical and scientific works see that each craft population 7,000, now numbers ; with not less than is the works 16,000, 7,000 employe's, especially represented ; supply 2,500 of whom alone are employed by the on the leading questions of the day, also American Watch Co. works pertaining to the civil government. In to the census of this must not be these Lowell, Mass., according we partisan ; subjects SANDERS.

must be considered in all their bearings, and asks for "a book on birds," and when we in the broadest manner. direct an attendant to give him a certain work " The biographies of working men who have on ornithology, quickly replies, 'T is not that attained honor by their practical worth and I want; 't is a book on birds ;" or the girl preseverance either in mechanical, civil, or who wants an "adequate book" to furbish service must have a her manners. in military prominent place ; up society Not one ten history and travel will receive their share of persons comes to a library with a definite attention; while we will not forget that object. the working man and woman must have Roaming at will among the books, the sight some amusement and recreation, and that of Blaikie's "How to get strong" has " " meat is not desirable been the first toward the strong always ; step recovery our fiction department must be supplied of health otherwise lost; John B. Cough's " " with all that is bright, fresh, inspiring, and Darkness and daylight has brought in the but that will create a same to a wretched household helpful, nothing craving way happiness ; " for greater stimulant, or tend in the least while Andrew Carneigie's Triumphant De- " degree to weaken the moral character; for the mocracy has awakened in more than one citi- office of a public library is to develop to its zen an interest and pride in his native or fullest capacity the best powers of a adopted country heretofore unknown. community. The extent of such develop- There are the contents of the shelves to ment must the manner select from no fear of one the depend largely upon ; any leaving of its use. library without a book; whereas, after pre- Believing that the first entrance into a senting from the catalogue a list of books to " library should bring with it that most be returned as "not in," he either has n't " delightful sensation, the companionship of time," or will make no further trouble," and books, we have at our own library, contrary to passes out unsatisfied. the custom which now obtains, thrown open I have already said that a possibility in one our shelves to the with the title and be in another public, community may impracticable ; name of author plainly printed on each vol- with us this open system has proved an un- ume, so that literally "he who runs may qualified success. read." A community of this class is not aggres-

old man said to me a few since : sive on the are in a An days ; contrary they library " I get little time for reading now, but I love rather shy. They should be met with prompt to come in and look at the books and the of the ; they bring service, courtesy drawing- to mind many a thing that I read long ago, room. Make them welcome as they enter the and I it with me all the it is their own them to cultivate carry day through ; library ; ; help 't is an education to be with them." You a in it ascertain their just personal pride ; tastes, say, How can this be done without loss of (many of them will surprise us), and call their books ? attention to such works as will gratify them, Ten years of experience has taught us that gradually leading them to higher standards there is a point of honor in these working when it is necessary. people in this regard, with which we must If they are seeking special subjects and come in contact to we have need our let us fully appreciate ; help, exhaust our references. " lost no more books with our open system To "give to him that asketh and "the Lord than other libraries with their closed shelves. loveth a cheerful giver" should be a librarian's Understanding fully the value of a cata- watchword. logue, especially a closely classified one, to What does it matter if half of the pleasures, the scholar, to an uneducated man it is a and all of the ills of our patrons be poured labyrinth through which he gropes till in into our ears? It only brings us nearer to despair he either lays it aside or appeals for them, and shows us how to be more helpful, help. What is a catalogue to a man who and widens the influence of our work. 88 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

'Tis a wise that enables its to and there are when if not community $10 ; days nearly trustees to give to their librarian sufficient quite 500 persons sit at our tables. clerical assistance to allow him to mingle The greater possibilities, however, are with with the people, to learn their habits and our children, the future parents and guar- tastes, to direct their reading (especially of dians of our commonwealth. What are we the young), and to assist them in their doing for them as public libraries as educa- researches for we all know that tors? hand in hand with the ; peculiarly Working inherent weakness of human nature, to seek schools faithfully and well, as shown by the for information from the highest source, and valuable and interesting reports published in to be better satisfied, even though the same the Library journal, without which we would help may be rendered us by a subordinate. know as little of the library work outside our The reading-room in connection with a own as we would know of the outside world public library may be made an important without our newspaper. Long may it live ! agent in the education of a community, Does our responsibility rest here? What especially of its young men and children. of the multitude of waifs worse than homeless, After a day of hard work, what are the without restraining or guiding influence, to be homes to which many of these young men thrown into the community to swell the num- return? The acccommodations of a cheap bers of paupers and criminals, many of whom, boarding-house, which means a room generally yes, the majority of whom, have the same occupied by two or more, with barely furni- gentle instincts and latent ability as our own ture for necessity, to say nothing of comfort. little ones so tenderly nurtured. What inducement has he to spend his We may say this is the work of charitable at home ? will he ? institutions and humane societies not this evenings Where, then, go ; so; Into the street, to drift into the place offering is essentially our work. We call ourselves the most attraction for the least and have the honor to be money ; educators, recog-

alas ! too often at the bitter cost of nized as such the work of a is misery ; public library to himself and sorrow for his friends hereafter. to teach, to elevate, to ennoble; there is no This, then, is our work, to make our read- limit to its possible influence. ing-rooms so attractive that they will be Must we wait, then, until our children (for drawn hither. Have them well lighted, well they are all ours as a community) are four- heated and ventilated, supplied with the daily teen years of age or upwards before we begin papers of our own and other cities, also the to teach them the first principles of right liv- current magazines. We cannot afford to be ing, of mental growth, of love to their neigh- niggardly in this work. Let us supply our bor? tables with illustrated mechanical and art We maintain that we cannot begin too works, also the best literature of the day. early, and that this is a part of library work The more freedom that we can give, from which we get the greatest percentage of the better the results. The young man reward. Again I ask, What are we doing for will pass in and out at his pleasure, these children, the future pride or dishonor spending an hour or two with whatever of our communities ? pleases him best, till the reading-room largely Brockton, Mass., has a reading-room to takes the place of home, and reading becomes which children are admitted, and which they a part of his daily existence, the beneficent are encouraged to visit, so well patronized effect of which he will carry through life. that it will soon double its seating capacity. There are lying on our tables week after Waltham, Mass., has taken a step in the week by actual count 600 papers, magazines, right direction. The trustees of the public " " " and books, from Baby Days to The Cathe- library have supplied two tables in their drals of the World," free to the public. This waiting-room with Wide awake and St. has ceased to be an experiment, for during Nicholas for the children. the ten years our losses have not amounted Lowell, Mass., admits children during the SANDERS. 89

day, and supplies them with juvenile its own story far better than I can tell in magazines. Manchester, N. H., admits it, and the one whose mind this great children to the but unfor- remedial is blest in reading-room ; agent originated daily tunately, from various causes, they are unable seeing the good results of his experiment. to offer the necessary attractions, and few Help the children to begin early to under- visit it. stand that even they are of use in a com- R. can furnish St. Nicho- awaken their and ambition in Newport, I., only munity ; pride las for want of money, but children may the right direction, and their future is come and go at their pleasure. assured. If there are those Olneyville, R. I., is offering every induce- who doubt the practi- ment that their means will allow to draw cability of this work, and, like Hosea Biglow, children to their and to interest would reading-room ; and instruct them seems to be the of " object Give more for one live bobolink those in charge. Than a square mile of larks in printer's ink," Willimantic, Conn., admits children at the " age of 12 years. come and see our Flower Band," numbering Somerville, Mass., supplies juvenile maga- 200 children, gathered from the little girls and zines, and has no limit to age. boys who frequent our library and reading- also admits children at from five of to Springfield, Mass., room, years age 14 ; from the all ages. little fellow who brings three wilted daisies, The Boston Public Library, the parent of or a rose without a stem, to the dainty miss the public libraries of New England, true to with a bouquet from the greenhouse. its paternal instinct, begins to exert its Their badges signify a pledge to bring the influence over the children at earliest flowers once a week (if possible), and to years. respond to a call to distribute them in any There are doubtless others from whom we place where they will add a bit of brightness would be glad to hear, but I confess that, after to a shadowed household; also to seek out visiting and inquiring among public libraries such homes and report them. Several names concerning this work, I became disheartened have been already stricken from our list, of and ceased investigation, for the popular ver- those who have died leaving a blessing for dict seems to be "Children and Dogs not these little missionaries. allowed." The influence of this work upon the chil- With our experience in this work with the dren and the community cannot be told. It children since the opening of our library in must be seen to be appreciated. 1876, and knowing the possibilities only wait- I have endeavored to show that upon the ing for development, I am emboldened to influence of the public library working in speak earnestly. harmony with the spirit of the churches and

" - Let us the children in milk the with the of the gather ; give schools, single object for babes," in the illustrated books which highest welfare of the people, depends much they may understand though they cannot of the prosperity, morality, and culture of our read; juvenile magazines and literature of a industrial communities I might also say of nature to counteract the our but when we consider that there healthy pernicious country ; trash that is flooding our communities. are less than 6,000 public libraries in the It is only necessary to refer you to the spec- United States, are we not tempted to say in " imens of flash literature which our boys have the words of old, What are they among so relinquished to us, with pale faces and tremb- many?" ling hands, after reading from the scrap- But let us remember that the same spirit book here on exhibition the cuttings from that gave power to feed the multitude from " " the newspapers of the day showing the the five loaves and fishes still lives in the bad influence of the dime novel. It tells hearts of men to animate them to good works, THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. as shown by Messrs. Ames, Hail, Pratt, as public benefactors on the tablets of public Carneigie, Osterhout, Newberry, and a host libraries. of others whose names are yet to be engraved May God speed the work ! For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper, see PROCEEDINGS (Fifth session).

LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS.

THE RESULTS OF A NEW EXPERIMENT IN WORCESTER, MASS.

BY SAMUEL SWETT GREEN, LIBRARIAN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

T WROTE an article for the number of the 8th, and Qth grades occupying one of the Libraryjournal issued in March, 1887, for grammar school buildings in Worcester dur- the purpose of giving an account of the results ing the two months and a half that had passed of some new experiments which had been re- by since they had been placed in the school- cently tried in the Free Public Library in rooms. Worcester in adding to the facilities, which, This paper is written principally for the pur- up to the time of the trial of those experi- pose of announcing the results of the last- ments, had been afforded to the schools of named experiment as shown by the records of that city. a whole school year. It was stated in the article that, during the There have been 156 pupils in the four first library year in which statistics of the rooms in which the libraries have been placed regular school work were kept for a full 53, 43, 29, and 31 in those respectively of year, namely 1880-81, 7,501 volumes were the pth, 8th, 7th, and 6th grades. given out to teachers on the two kinds of The books from the libraries have been cards which they are allowed to have in taken out to be used by the teachers and the Worcester library, and that the use of pupils at home 2,696 times, and have been con- these cards had been growing steadily until sulted for purposes of reference, when suffi- 298 teachers (that is to say, nearly all those cient time was consumed in the use to make it then in the city) had availed themselves of the seem desirable to record the fact, 6,027 times. of teachers' cards and That is to the last school privilege having ; 210, say, during year, or three quarters of the whole number of in- reckoned as 40 weeks of five days each or structors, had also taken out pupils' cards, as 200 days, 13^ volumes were taken home and until 12,511 volumes, the record of the from the school libraries every day the schools last complete library year, were being annually were in session, and more than 30 volumes drawn out of the library on cards of these on the average were used within the school kinds. That is to say, 875 volumes drawn building every day for purposes of reference. out on cards of the kinds specified were in The use was divided among the four rooms use and on the by pupils teachers, average, as follows : every day that schools were in session during Grade IX. Home use 856 Reference use 2522. " " " " " the library year last closed at the time when VIII. 595 1565. " " " " " the article was written. VII. 650 1032. " VI. " " " " An account was also given in the article of 595 908. several successful experiments that had re- As appears from these statistics, books have cently been tried by the library. been taken out freely to use at home. The It was written, however, mainly with the principal of the school informs me that the purpose of showing what results had followed scholars in the rooms containing the libraries the use of little libraries that had been placed have been so continuously employed in read- in the rooms of schools of the 6th, 7th, ing books taken from them, or suggested by GREEN.

their use, as to have been kept almost wholly A few of the books in the little libraries from poor books, which would otherwise have have been read by nearly every scholar in the been read in large numbers. four rooms. Books from the libraries have The books have, he says, been in constant frequently been read by other members of use for purposes of reference and of great as- families than the scholars who took them sistance in prosecuting studies in different home and sometimes by pupils belonging to departments of school work. other schools. He would find it difficult, he tells me, to An increased direct use of the Public over-estimate the value of the results that Library has been made by the scholars of the have come from their use by the scholars and schools in which the libraries have been teachers in the Qth grade. They have been placed since their introduction into the school- in constant use in learning lessons in geog- rooms. Pupils, for example, have often gone raphy and American history and in preparing there to get other copies of a book in general for the reading exercise. It has been very demand among members of a school, and to noticeable that a taste for reading has been get information not obtainable from the books growing in the schools, especially among the in the school libraries. boys, and that scholars are learning how to It will be understood, of course, that the use books in order to get from them what use of the books in the school libraries is ad- they want. These benefits have been secured ditional to that of such as have been taken without any exercise of force. In using out from the Public Library on teachers' and books for purposes of reference, the plan has pupils' cards and on cards held or used by been for a teacher to look up for himself the individual pupils, and to that of the immense fact sought for or for him to send a scholar number of books used by instructors and to a book to look it up, care having been school children within the building of the taken to have the pupil conduct the inquiry general library. himself when it has been one that he was Such beneficial results have followed the capable of prosecuting without assistance. plan of having little libraries at hand in school- Scholars started in this way have soon come rooms of one building, that two or three of their own accord to look up facts which months ago I invited teachers in four other they thought would be required in class grammar school buildings to hand to me lists exercises. of such books as they would like to have in An interest has not infrequently been libraries in their schools. awakened by a teacher in some useful and en- The teachers in Worcester have now used tertaining book by giving a description of it to the books of the Public Library freely for the scholars in a class. Thus, for example, several years, and many of them Have found the principal of the school when preparing on out what kinds of books and what especial a certain occasion for a lesson in read the useful for their history works are most purposes ; for his own information a volume published and the lists which have been sent to me in " in Harper's Half-hour Series entitled Six response to the invitation have, therefore, " Months in a Slaver and, when the hour for been selected with great intelligence. recitation came, told the boys and girls in the It is interesting to note, also, that they class about it. One of the boys asked him to reflect the individuality of the teachers who lend it to him to read. Then others wanted have made them out. It is apparent that, to take it home, and in the course of four while all the teachers have been careful to weeks many of them had read it fourteen ask for books that would be of service in pur- whose names the teacher remembered. An- suing the studies of the regular school course, other instance of the same kind is that sixty and most of them to provide for the general out of sixty-four children read a book in reading of the children, some have manifested which they had become interested through an especial taste for geography, others a pre- remarks by a teacher. dilection for history, and two principals 92 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. a decided interest in the study of natural ter is in harmony with convictions which have history. been showing themselves in New York City I have bought this summer $1,600 worth of and elsewhere in regard to providing reading duplicates for use during the coming school for children that are quite young, and I am year. sure that it is wise to begin to cultivate the The little libraries were placed in the school- taste for good literature among scholars in the rooms by agreement with the Superintendent lower grades of schools. of Schools. Now that we have had a year's I mean soon to try some experiments with in their it is to school children little children experience use, my plan bring young ; certainly the work that has been done to the attention get hold of poor papers containing unwhole- of the School Committee or, at least, to that of some stories, and often read them with avidity. a sub-committee of the School Committee. If Considerable testimony has been collected obstacles prevent librarians from placing li- from dealers in blood-and-thunder literature braries in schoolrooms, similar advantages to in Worcester to the effect that books of that those which follow their presence there may class are not sold there nearly so much to be- secured by letting teachers take out large boys as to men. May we not congratulate numbers of books at a time, and keep them for ourselves that the efforts at the library and longer or shorter periods as they may desire. in our schools to provide children with whole- It must be understood, of course, that if some and at the same time interesting books libraries are placed in schoolrooms, the books have had no inconsiderable influence in satis- in them will have to be changed from time to fying the craving in the young for stories and time as new desirable books appear and some kept them from debasing literature, which, if of the old ones become comparatively undesir- the right kind of books had not been furnished, able and as exigencies arise. would have been sought for, purchased, and I would add that our experience in Worces- read ?

For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper, see PROCEEDINGS (Sixth session).

HOURS OF OPENING LIBRARIES.

BY ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, LIBRARIAN OF HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

HP HE June number of // Bibliqfilo 1885 con- interesting to librarians in every part of the tained an article by G. Signorini entitled world, that the contents of the article deserve 1'Orario. to have the attention of all directed to them

Starting from the fact that the libraries of in order to bring light upon this much neg- London and Brussels are open the greater lected matter. In his article he mentions part of the day, he complains of the short the petition of the Hessian Medical Associa- open hours of Italian libraries (those of tion to the Grand-ducal Minister of the In- Florence e. g. being uniformly, except the terior, that the library at Darmstadt should be A. Marucelliana, 9 M.-3 p. M.), and, after a little open to readers 10 hours each day in summer discussion of the users and needs, concludes and at least seven in winter instead of five that libraries should be opened in the early (9-12; 2-4) as at that time. and in the morning evening, say from 7-10 The two complaints fairly represent the M. A. and 3-10 P. M. 10 hours. general state of continental libraries as to The editor of the Neuer Anzeiger in the hours of opening. of the August number same year gives an analy- American scholars who are anxious to do sis of this article with further observations, re- original work, in many lines are more and marking that this topic is so important and so more compelled to use these libraries during RICHARDSON. 93 their brief vacations, and it is with much re- A. M.-6.55 P.M. 8 h. 55 m. The rules say gret that they find themselves able to work 10-7, but this is not true. only four to six hours a day. Stinted for time, and wishing to make cer- My own interest in this subject was started tain necessary collations, I carefully noted by a bit of personal experience, roused again one day the readings which I considered by these two articles, and stimulated by the most necessary, and kept careful watch of experience of a friend who spent last year time to get the most possible of the most among the MSS. of German libraries. necessary in the given time. At five minutes I make no apology for introducing personal before seven, with half a dozen more readings experience beyond remarking that it is under- to note, I was startled by a bell, followed by stood to be permitted and encouraged in this the peremptory suggestion, and still more Association. I shall introduce nothing but peremptory look, of the attendant, demanding " what I hope to have make a line in the picture that I put up books and evacuate. But, my of the present state of libraries in this regard. good friend, you advertise 7 o'clock. I will be The before the above articles out of the that time I have year appeared reading-room by ; only I used a four months' vacation to get a little half a dozen readings to note." He would n't of libraries to see it. It was the rule five minutes before glimpse European ; espe- help cially what hints could be gotten on library seven. I could come next day. "But I start economy, but taking advantage of the oppor- to-morrow morning at half past four for Oxford tunity also to obtain a little familiarity with on my way to Liverpool." He was inexorable. the art of manuscripts. I looked about for Dr. Garnett, but he was To this end I chose a work which needed gone. I snatched a few more readings, saw all much a new edition, and hunted out and col- excepting the last two or three lines, deposited lated MSS. for it as I went along. Being anx- my books politely, and in spite of delays got ious to see as many libraries as possible and out of the reading-room before 7 o'clock. I also to get as many collations as pos- value the blank in these readings as an illus- sible, it was with surprise, which deepened tration of red tape. into vexation and pretty nearly to despair, Its only parallel in the seventy or so libra- that I found instead of ten or a dozen ries that I visited was at Vienna, and here hours to work in, only five to six on the again I bear witness to the politeness of the average. librarians, while admiring with a sort of won- It seems ungracious to criticise those who der the red tape which seemed an inextricable have exercised hospitality towards one, and if part of the system. I had but two days, and it were any reflection on the librarians whose three rather unimportant, to be sure, MSS. to almost universal politeness helped to get the examine. Being summer, the library was only most out of the hours, and sometimes extended open three hours any way, and with a curious them, I should stop short, and keep my impa- democratic wonderment at monarchical institu- tience and to but it is and tions I waited two mortal hours with chagrin myself ; not, chatting a as these papers have opened the way to a, to very well-posted assistant, as one person after " " me, very interesting subject, after suppressing another from the court took precedence of myself for two years more, I venture to my little request. At last the assistant saw the express the feelings which the fact that they chief, and in five minutes I was buried in the embodied roused, and the comparisons which MSS. which five assistants, including the chiefs they suggested. of two departments, could n't let me see, until In reviewing the condition of European one of them had gone through the form of libraries, a very brief statement will dispose asking the chief, who knew nothing of me but of unique and peculiar hours of opening, and what he told him. clear the way for some groupings and gener- These were of course accidents, but were alizations. I mention in distinct contrast to the volunteered and ;

I. The British Museum, open (in 1884) 10 marked politeness in extending time, espe- 94 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

daily at the Bodleian, at the Bibliotheque I have a suspicion not verified, I may Nationale, in Paris, and at Carlsruhe, where say that that librarian has died, and with they volunteered permission to work as long him all access to the library has perished. as the attendants were there. I fancy I see the janitor waiting for the Res- The second example of curious openings urrection day, when his Bibliothe'caire shall is that of a valuable French library of 30 to return to open his library. I see but one 40,000 volumes in a well-known though not way of reaching the MS. If I should hear of large city, which is open two days in the week his demise I might venture to suggest it to for three hours in the day. Contrast this the authorities of his city, perplexed as they with Springfield, Mass., if you like, 1 1 hours must then be as to means of access to the in the day, or Woburn, Mass., 12,000 inhabi- books. As in the favorite story of the organ tants, 20 odd thousand volumes, and open builder, his wonderful organ bursts spontane- 10 hours in the day, and you have a perfectly ously into strains of fullest and sweetest fair contrast of the average French provincial music when the body of the fair Samaritan is library and a corresponding American one. borne up the aisle of the cathedral, so, I A third library was to me of all unique ones fancy, were the remains of the defunct Bib- the uniquest so to speak. A French city liothe'caire carried for sepulture to his library, him. has a capital library in an elegant building, the gates would swing open to receive but the hours of opening depend on the libra- Almost equally remarkable in the other rian's health. direction were the Bodleian, where I was able After traveling a good many miles out of to get in 12 hours work in the day, and the the my way to see a very unimportant MS. I library of St. Gall in Switzerland, where found myself at the library, and interviewed librarian, world renowned among students " " his the janitor. When was the library open ? for his courtesy, more than sustained He didn't know; the librarian was sick. He reputation by saying that the library was open supposed it would be opened when he' got 8-12 and 2-6 and as much more of the day as " " well. But could you show me the MS. ? desired. Impossible. Then I took M. le Bibliothe- But these are exceptions. caire's address, and wandered off to see when It took me six weeks in Paris the first one he expected to get well or die. After wrest- at the library and the last to leave, and allowing I could ling with various gamins, and finding it as only 10 minutes for lunch to do what difficult to or a dozen understand their patois as they easily have done at the Bodleian mine, I gathered directions enough to get American libraries in three. It was even harder " there. Yes. Monsieur would see me." I at Munich, where one works from 8 to I, and was ushered into the presence of a very com- then has to waste all the rest of the day sight- fortable looking convalescent a very intelli- seeing a very delightful sort of waste to I one gent man, take it, as he seemed to under- be sure, not like giving a stone when stand like my French with no great difficulty. asks for bread, but much substituting " Would it be possible for me to see the MS.?" sugar plums for good roast beef. And it was " No, he was sick, and could n't go. But much the same everywhere. the the matter might janitor let me see it?" Impossible. The general spirit in respect of " of Was there no one in the city director, trus- is well represented by the circular M. tee, or mayor, or policemen, or any one who Goblet, the French Minister of Instruction, for love or any amount of compensation could concerning the regulations of university let me look at the MS. for half an hour if no libraries, in which he fixes the hours of " more ? There was no one. But if I should opening at six, regretting that the funds for return on next week. (This would take me assistance do not permit of longer hours, and many miles out of my way again.) He could n't increasing the borrowing facilities as a partial tell. It might be I would find it open, and compensation. This, it should be said, applies might not. I gave it up. less forcibly to English libraries, which, since RICHARDSON. 95

the Public Libraries Act, have steadily im- must recognize, although he may have serious proved in this regard. doubts, as I do, about opening Sunday just The average hours of opening of the 38 the same as other days, that the tendency is European libraries of which I happen to have to the abolition of all holidays. figures is 6.1 hours. 2. The question of hours of opening is If I had the figures of more English public very closely linked in most of our minds with " libraries, the average would be raised; but a the hours of service. Open all the day, but real comparison ought to be restricted to con- not with the same force of attendants," is the tinental libraries, as the English ones are cer- motto. You remember the man of whom Mr. tainly "on the move" that of Mr. Yates Yates spoke, earlier in the session, who (Leeds P. L.) and the London Corporation wanted libraries open all night not a new e. g. being open 1 1 hours, and the British idea, by the way, as Mr. Nelson reminds me Museum say 9 or 10. that Charles v. (I suppose of France) is said Summarizing briefly the hours of the coun- to have ordered his libraries to be kept open tries from which our two complaints came, and lighted all night.

Italy and Germany : A little questioning of librarians this week Seventeen representative Italian libraries has brought the following answers to the average 6j hours and 15 similar German ones, question, What do you consider a day's work

in : 6 two one 4#. your library hours, ; 6% h., ; Contrast with this American libraries, the 7j h., three; 8 h., two; 8j4 h., one; 9 h., average of the 41 from which I received answers three. The prevailing opinion is that in real- to is I little arbi- my circular ioi-2hours. sent a ity these hours are too much, but necessary trarily, but in general to all the largest, whether in order to keep the libraries open as they reference, public, institutional, or state, with a ought to be, and so the experience of Ameri- few smaller for sake of contrast with the pro- can librarians seems to agree with that of M. vincial foreign libraries. I chose about the Goblet, that six hours of opening is about all same number, and of corresponding classes, that ought to be demanded of one set of as what I had of the foreign libraries. 10 1-2 librarians, and that twelve or fourteen hours hours is the average of all. of opening requires two sets of workers in the Selecting all the general libraries and all lending department at least. the university libraries at hand, we find that The verdict of the Prussian Minister of the general libraries average n 1-2 hours, and Education, as expressed in an official notice the university libraries 9 1-2, or together aver- to the chief librarians of the universities con- age 1 1 hours. cerning hours of service, seems very apropos. In brief, the hours of opening of conti- It is given in the Centralblatt of Jan. 1887, p. nental libraries are not much more that 1-2 31-2. those of American. The following distinctions are made: But the question of hours of opening in- I. The chief is not confined to set hours, volves two kindred but will be to as hours topics ; expected spend many " I, Library vacations (not librarians') and 2, in the library work as the "scientific (wis- Hours of service, including the subject of senschaftliche) librarians, as directed in II. librarians' vacation. II. Thirty-four hours per week is required i. Here among us the sentiment against of the other "scientific" librarians. any such thing as library vacations is very The chief has authority to increase hours strong, and libraries which close for any in special pressure of work, or to diminish considerable time are few and far between. them in vacation time.

The only holiday recognized by Columbia e. g. III. Forty-eight hours is required of the is Good Friday. subordinate librarians (unterbeamten). The number of libraries which open on The state of the case as to hours of open-

is and one is this : abroad a and sue- Sunday very largely increasing ; ing vigorous partly THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. cessful demand for increased hours of open- formation through papers in the A.L.A. Pro- ing, and here a more successful and constantly ceedings or Library journal, concerning : enlarging demand, (i) for increased hours in (1) Sunday opening (information, not dis- " " the day, (2) the abolishment of all library cussion). vacations and holidays, but withal, not at (2) Hours of service. the cost of overworking the librarians. (3) Library vacations. I should like in this connection to see in-

BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LIBRARIES OF CANADA.

BY JAMES BAIN, JR., CHIEF LIBRARIAN TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

HTHE history of the different library sys- took an active part in the work, and ordered tems of Canada is largely a history of the on behalf of the subscribers ^500 worth of origens of the people. books from London. The selection was en- to the time of the in the trusted to the dramatist Up conquest 1760 Richard Cumberland, ; circumstances of French Canada were such and an interesting letter from the Governor that learning, even of the humblest character, addressed to him, describing the literary wants was almost entirely neglected, and the reader of the town and the class of books to be sent, of Parkman will easily understand that the is now in the Public Archives. A room for their sole in the Palace representatives of culture were the two reception was granted Bishop's ; seminaries at Quebec. and as late as 1806, we learn from Lambert's Four years later the first Canadian news- Travels that it was the only library in Canada. paper, the Quebec Gazette, was published and Removed several times, it slowly increased, the first book, a church catechism. until in 1822 it numbered 4,000 volumes. The war of 1776 led however to the influx The list of subscribers having become very of a population different from the purely French much reduced, it was leased to the Quebec one which occupied the land. The Loyalists Literary Association in 1843. In 1854 a por- brought with them into the wilds all that love tion of it was burnt with the Parliament Build- of and culture which where it was then and reading distinguished ings, quartered ; finally the best families of Massachusetts, New York, in 1866 the entire library, consisting of 6,990 and Virginia. Their little stores of books were volumes, were sold, subject to conditions, to very carefully guarded, and, while they them- the Literary and Historical Society for a nom- selves were too widely scattered and too few inal sum of $500. in number to form fire was an evil public libraries, theirimme- The not, however, unmixed ; diate descendants were able to effect what their for the partial destruction of the library, to- fathers had found impossible. I had the pleas- gether with the Parliamentary library, called ure recently of examining such a collection of attention to the danger which existed of the books, which were brought from Boston in total loss of many valuable books referring to 1 and other volumes noted a the of the and it was re- 777 ; among copy early history country ; of the history of Virginia by R. B. Gent, from solved, in consequence, by the Canadian gov- the library, and containing the autograph of, ernment to reprint the entire series of the the Rev. Thomas Prince. Relations des Jesuites in three 8vo volumes, a In 1779 a number of the officers stationed book for which librarians have been grateful at Quebec, and of the leading merchants, everywhere. This was supplemented in 1871 undertook the formation of a subscription by the Journal des Jesuites in one volume 4to. library. The Governor, General Haldimand, Naturally on the organization of each of the BAIN. 97

provinces, libraries were established in con- as we have seen, the library passed into the nection with the Parliaments. We have hands of the Federal government. Each of

therefore the following : these provinces, now known as Ontario and

Nova Scotia. Halifax, . . . 25,319 Quebec, established new libraries at Toronto New Brunswick. Fredericton, 10,850 and Quebec City, which, by the last returns, Prince Ed. Island. Charlottetown, 4,000 number respectively 40,000 and 17,400 vol- Quebec. Quebec. I7)4OO umes. Ontario. Toronto, .... 40,000 In 1872 the Canadian government instituted

Manitoba. Winnipeg, . . . 10,000 an Archives Branch for the preservation Northwest Territory. Regina, 1,480 and collation of MSS. documents relating to

British Columbia. Victoria, . 1,200 Canada. Large numbers of these have been Dominion of Canada. Ottawa, 120,000 copied at the Public Records office and other Total volumes in Parliamentary national repositories in England. A prelimi- libraries, 230,249 nary examination of others in the Colonial By far the most important of our Canadian Archives, Department de la Marine, Paris, has ' libraries is the Dominion Library of Parlia- been made, and many valuable records and ment at Ottawa. Almost corresponding with papers have been secured in the country. the Congressional Library at Washington in I would refer, for a list of these, to the an- its sources of income and work, it has grown nual reports, commenced in 1881, by the able the ten and now Mr. and when I rapidly during past years, archivist, Douglas Brymner ; numbers 120,000 volumes. Originally estab- add that the War office transferred their en- lished on the union of the provinces of tire Canadian military correspondences for Upper and Lower Canada in 1841, it was nearly 100 years, amounting to upwards of successively removed with the seat of gov 200,000 documents, you will see that I do not ernment from Kingston to Montreal, to Que- exaggerate its value. The library contains bec, to Toronto, again to Quebec, and finally about 4,000 printed books and pamphlets and to Ottawa a wandering life which effectually i, 800 volumes of MSS. prevented its attaining large proportions. The 38 colleges in Canada are provided The unfortunate fires in Montreal and Quebec with libraries containing 429,470 volumes, or still further injured it, robbing it of much that an average of 11,302. The senior of these, was valuable as was to be Laval is famous as very ; for, expected College, Quebec, being, it contained many of the early books relating after Harvard, the oldest on the continent, to the history of, and travel in, the northern being founded by Bishop Laval in 1663. part of this continent. On the federation of During the dark days which witnessed the the different provinces in 1865, the library of long struggle, first with the Iroquois, and after- the two provinces only, passed into the hands wards with the English and Americans, little of the Federal government, and was removed progress was made in the collection of books, to Ottawa. Placed in a beautiful building be- and it was not until it was converted into a hind the Houses of Parliament, it presents a university, in 1852, that it commenced to in- prominent feature in the magnificent pile of crease rapidly. On the suppression of the buildings which crown the heights overlook- Jesuit order and seminary, their books were the Ottawa River and from the transfered to it. It vol- ing ; windows now numbers 100,000 the spectator gazes across the rocky gorge, over umes, and is unrivaled for the extent and the Chandiere Falls, toward the Laurentide character of its French collection and its hills, which form one of the most picturesque many scarce books in early French Canadian scenes on the continent. literature and history. The student of the On the confederation, in 1865, of the prov- history of New France is always under deep inces which now form the Dominion, the obligations to it. Their collection of the suc- union which existed between the provinces of cessive volumes of the relations or reports Upper and Lower Canada was dissolved, and, written by the early Jesuit missionaries is, I 98 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

believe, the most complete in existence. Un- ment. During the 30 years of its existence fortunately the library has never issued a 1,407,140 volumes were so supplied. printed catalogue. Under the patronage of The proposal to establish the second class the was in a com- was however and find- university published 1870 premature ; accordingly, plete edition of the various voyages of Cham- ing that mechanics institutes were being de- plain, in six volumes, edited by L'Abbe" Laver- veloped throughout the towns and villages, diere, librarian and professor of history, the Educational Department wisely aided the which, like the originals, is fast becoming movement by giving a small grant proportionate scarce. to the amount contributed by the members The wealthy province of Ontario, settled and reaching a maximum of $200, after- almost entirely by an English speaking popu- wards increased to $400 annually. In 1869 lation, is, however, the only one which has these had grown to number 26, in 1880, 74, attempted to grapple with the question of and in 1886, 125. The number of volumes public libraries. possessed by these 125 is 206,146, or an aver- In 1848 the late Dr. Ryerson, Superinten- age of 1,650. In the Library List, however, dent of Education from 1844-1876, drafted a only 80 appears as containing over 1,000 vol- school bill which contained provisions for umes, the remaining 45 containing from 500 to school and township libraries, and succeeded 950 volumes. in awakening a deep interest in the subject. With a total membership of 13,701 the Ever anxious to impress on his hearers the circulation for 1885-86 amounts to 296,830, importance of libraries as the key-stone to a or an average of 21.6 books to each free educational system, he urged it on every op- member, which is a very creditable return, portunity. Lord Elgin, at that time Governor- considering that only 49 per cent of it is General, was so strongly impressed with the fiction. The subscription is generally $i a importance of the movement that he styled it. year, and additional grants are usually re- the "crown and glory of the institutions of this ceived from the town or village councils. province." In 1854 Parliament passed the In the cities, however, the mechanics in- requisite act and granted him the necessary stitute, with its limited number of subscribers, funds to carry out his views in the matter. has been found unequal to the task assigned of the in The regulations department authorized it, and accordingly 1882, the Free Libra- each county council to establish four classes ries Act was passed, based upon similar en- of libraries actments in Britain and the United States. 1. An ordinary common school library in Six cities and towns have availed themselves

each schoolhouse for the use of the children of it.

and ratepayers. Berlin, 2,255 2. A general public lending library avail- Brantford, 5.442 able to all the ratepayers in the municipality. Guelph, 4,171 3. A professional library of books on teach- Simcoe, 2,822 ing, school organization, language, and kindred St. Thomas, 2,677 subjects, available for teachers only. Toronto, 48,000 4. A library in any public institution under the control of the municipality, for the use of Total number of volumes, 65,367 the or in the of inmates, any county jail, for the use By the Free Libraries Act, maximum of the prisoners. taxation is fixed at 1-2 a mill on the annual To aid this a book was and while in this is work, depository assessment ; Toronto, established in the Education office to enable sufficient to produce $48,000 per annum, in the smaller libraries to obtain readily good the towns and villages where the assessment literature. The books were supplied at cost, is low, it rarely produces as much as the vol- and a grant of 100 per cent on the amount re- untary contributions to the mechanics' insti- mitted was added in books by the depart- tute. These latter lack the element of stabil- PUTNAM. 99

in ity, they owe their existence most cases Council enables the Board to act with great to the energy and faith of two or three liberality. members when these men cease to take The fact that Halifax is a ; and, largely military an active part, the institute barely exists. and naval centre, is marked by an Officers' The problem therefore before us is to convert Garrison Library, numbering 12,260 volumes, these institute libraries into free public libraries which was founded in 1847 by Lord Dalhousie. with sufficient income to pay a regular Having thus taken a hurried survey of our librarian. Two courses lie before us either Canadian libraries, let me briefly glance at the by giving them a larger area from which to tale told by the figures, as set forth in the draw a share of the taxation or by altering the Library list. act so as to increase the maximum. To this Estimating the population at 4,757,288, and later proposition serious opposition would having a total number of 1,103,000 volumes, we arise in the cities, where the feeling exists have an average of one book to every 4.3 persons that it would be dangerous to permit a body throughout the Dominion. But when we look not directly elected, power to enforce a higher at the individual provinces, very varied results taxation. are found. In Prince Edward Island the rate

As I have none of the other is one book to 21.2 said, provinces every persons ; have followed Ontario in this matter but the r to 16 ; BritishColumbia, every persons. " " generosity of the late Mr. Fraser and of a New Brunswick, i 10.6 " " number of gentlemen in Montreal has pro- Nova Scotia, i 5.7 " " vided a fund for the establishment of a free Ontario, i 4.7 " " library in that city, which was opened Manitoba, i 4.4 " " in October, 1885, under the title of the Quebec, i 4.1 Fraser Institute. The Mercantile Library The latter alone possessing more than the Association transferred to it 5,500 Eng- general average of the Dominion. lish books and L'Institut Canadien, 7,000 It is curious to notice on closely examining French. the latter, however, that no less than 72.8 per In St. John, N. B., a free library was founded cent of the whole books in libraries of the in June, 1883, to commemorate the landing of province of Quebec are contained in colleges the loyalists a century previous. a fact which speaks more for the education of In the more recent province of Manitoba the clergy than for that of the people, while the energy of the Literary and Historical in Ontario only 24.2 of the books are thus Society has provided a library which contains, placed. In making these calculations it should including the Isbister collection loaned to be noted that I have excluded the Parliament- them by the university, 12,000 volumes; and, ary Library, the Archives, the Geological Sur- though a subscription fee is demanded, yet the vey, and the Supreme Court, as being com- liberal donation towards it made by the City mon to the whole Dominion.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC BUREAUS.

BY HERBERT PUTNAM, LIBRARIAN MINNEAPOLIS ATHENAEUM.

A NOVICE glancing over the Proceedings notation, registration every other detail of of the Library Conventions, or the more .library management receives devoted, at miscellaneous discussions in the Library times belligerent, attention. With catalogues, journal, must be struck with their persistent with reference lists, with familiar talks, the silence upon two questions: The selection most engaging methods are discussed for and the purchase of books. Classification, rendering the captured hare popular, palatable, IOO THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

and nutritious but for the hare selections. are thus reduced to ; capturing They merely or even for determining it to be a hare and descriptive information, all at second hand, not a rabbit, or less savory quarry he will and in some cases merely inferential. They will find hardly a suggestion. He be the must rely upon (i) publishers' catalogues; (2) more at as he would have of other libraries biblio- surprised this, catalogues ; (3) thought this very preliminary the selection graphic manuals such as Hall's bibliogra- of the books themselves to be the most phy of Education or Adams' Historical as well as the of a reviews. difficult, most essential, Manual ; and (4) book librarian's duties one that he would be most The latter class of ; covers, course, only anxious to as far as current literature. Of the others it be systematize possible ; may one at any rate too responsible to be left to said, in brief, that the catalogues of individual mere caprice. publishers, while exact enough as to prices, It may be that the topic has been avoided show small light as to the relative worth of that a methodical has different and no at all as to the intentionally ; system editions, light been deemed impracticable in a matter vary- best work on a given topic. And the same ing so much with the needs of the individual may be said of the general trade lists. The library; or, if practicable, that its very sugges- bibliographic manuals are indeed most useful tion would affront the discretion of the indi" as far as but as they go ; they cover, yet, only vidual librarian. I trust the latter may not a few of the topics on which information is

be the real cause. If it is, I must shift the needed. Of course the works of Dibdin, responsibility of my own misdoing upon your Watts, Ebert, Graesse, and the like are for committee, who have themselves invited the large libraries priceless. But their cost puts impertinence. them beyond the reach of the smaller libra- For the eastern libraries within easy reach ries, to which, indeed, the curios of which of the book centres, the problem of choice is they largely treat are equally unattainable. not so difficult a one. In most cases they At the other extreme are the lists in the Best can make their selection from volumes act- Reading the most useful compilation, per- ually before them sent in by the publishers haps, for small libraries. Their very merit for inspection or at least open to examina- of brevity and compactness prevents the full- tion on the shelves of the book stores. It is ness of detail necessary to a choice. They the libraries of the West, however, whose undertake to indicate the best work and the difficulties I would more particularly suggest best cheap work on every topic. Even were for discussion. In the larger cities of the such exact discrimination practicable, it is too West there is no lack of book stores. But bald, too dogmatic, to content a conscientious the editions which they find most profitable to librarian. He must know something of the keep in stock are not always those most comparative merits that go to determine this serviceable for library use. They will send graded scale of excellence. He must know for book for of what works are exclusive. He must any published ; but, purposes mutually examination merely, they can in many cases assure himself that the standard of desir- offer only cheap reprints gdod enough for ability laid down in a work of general appli- the household, but by no means economical cation is exactly the standard for the very for the public library. And even with this particular institution which he represents. stock they are beyond the reach of most of He may, indeed, get much light from the the smaller libraries, distances being so great experience of other libraries similar to his and transportation so expensive in the West. own. He may take it for granted that their For the libraries of Minnesota, for instance, librarians have investigated thoroughly, ac- Chicago would be the natural reservoir. But cept their choice as his own, and make up the majority of the libraries in Minnesota are his lists from their catalogues. But he can- small and poor; they cannot afford to send not always feel safe in this. The volumes in their librarians to Chicago to make their the catalogues do not always represent the PUTNAM. 101 judgment of the librarians. They may have ness. The endeavor of a bookseller is to been presented; they may have been pur- supply people with what they want to read; chased with bequest funds hampered by the duty of a librarian is in many cases to conditions have been with what to read. special ; they may pur- supply people they ought chased (as in some college libraries) at the A bookstore must cater to the taste of the of a to direct it. And request professors, ordering recklessly public ; library hopes from foreign catalogues tangential works the higher the claim of the library to be con- that touch nobody's circle on more than one sidered an educational institution the nearer have been at the it to a of point ; they may purchased approaches university learning application of any reader, ordering vagari- the less seemly to have its books selected on from book reviews have a trade basis. ously ; they may been purchased at the bidding of trustees, I am sure, however, that there is no need ordering sentimentally under importunity from of urging upon a convention of librarians that book agents. In none of these cases would the selection of books should belong to the the catalogue indicate the librarian's own library profession, nor of demonstrating in preferences. detail the looseness and the heterogeneity of Such being the limitations of each partic- the methods of selection now in use. It ular authority, it is evident that only by a care- remains to suggest a remedy. ful collation of them all can a conscientious The ills (it will be remembered that I am decision be arrived at. And this process of speaking particularly of the western libraries), collation grows daily more laborious. The the ills are :

American Trade List Annual alone includes the (1) Remoteness from book centres. names of 200 publishers. The publications (2) Poverty in bibliographic material. of a single year in the English language (3) Repetition on the part of each library of alone amount to nearly 10,000; while of the the investigation gone through with by its standard authors there will be sometimes a neighbors. half edi- dozen, and quite commonly a dozen (4) The impropriety of calling upon other tions to choose from. at the librarians for the information needed and Perplexed ; immense mass of undigested bibliography lying (5) The necessity of relying for this informa- before him, perplexed still more at the pos- tion upon correspondence with distant pub- sible revelations of bibliographies which he lishers. cannot get access to, it is small wonder that To obviate this, we need the cooperation of the librarian concludes to shirk the responsi- neighboring libraries, the concentration of bility altogether. He writes to the bookseller their bibliographic material, its classification to make the choice for him. into a ready working system, easy reference This has accordingly become quite the facilities to this of all desiring bibliographic fashion the smaller libraries and not information. And what I would is among ; propose merely in the case of isolated volumes, but for each State a Bibliographic Bureau, which of large lots purchased at one time, the book- should undertake to do methodically, syste- sellers being willing to compile the lists for matically, and on business principles for the the profit of supplying the books. whole district the work which any one library This method of disposing of the problem of its district is too feeble to accomplish has no doubt some features of advantage, pre- properly by itself. suming a firm to be selected whose candor Let me take Minnesota as an instance. may be relied upon. On the other hand, it There are now in the State upwards of 90 must occasionally cost the library dear. An public libraries. The largest of them has bookseller know more about less than volumes the rest from experienced may 25,000 ; vary editions than the librarian that is to volumes. one of them is average ; 300 14,000 Only his business. But the librarian knows more endowed. All of them must practice close about books or for that is his busi- and in all of them must ; should, economy ; economy IO2 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

tell first upon the department that affects the 25,000 inhabitants and no public library) public least the library tools, the bibliog- wishing to establish a library, and ready to raphy. Few of them can afford $40 for purchase the books, need only send to the the English catalogue. Fewer still are within Bureau, and in a fortnight, perhaps, receive reach of the large general bibliographies. back the lists, the prices, editions, and pub- Only six of them out of 60 find it practicable lishers specified, and the various classes to buy their books from local dealers. The proportioned to the needs, not of Boston or most, not being able to send their librarians Cincinnati or St. Louis, but of the railway to Chicago or New York to make their selec- centre and chief shipping port on Lake tions, must depend for their lists upon stray Superior. It would have to pay something catalogues and distant correspondence. for the service, but the fee would be a trifle I would propose the establishment of a compared with the indirect saving. The Bibliographic Bureau, in connection with money would be spent in building up the the chief Public Library of the State. By central collection of bibliography, and thus the chief library I mean the library purchas- yield a perpetual return for itself. ing most books, so having most interest There can be little doubt, I think, that the in the introduction of a methodical system, various smaller libraries would soon see the and willing to take the initiative in establish- advantage of using the Bureau. It is only ing it. Let this library announce that it the central library itself whose gain would intends to pay special attention to building be at first doubtful. The Bureau would up a department of bibliography, not merely have to be started, and the department of for its own use, but for the benefit of all the bibliography built up out of its own funds. libraries in the State that it will be the aim But the ultimate of the Bureau" ; profit having of this department to render unnecessary the under its own roof should justify this outlay. ownership of expensive bibliographic material The Bureau must be above suspicion. It those various smaller libraries that to must not be an trade concern. It by ; independent this end it will not merely be made as com- must not be a money-making concern. It plete as possible, but will be so classified and must emanate from the libraries themselves systematized as to furnish the readiest in- as a money-saving concern. It should not formation, not merely as to the history of a undertake to purchase books. Its work given book, but as to the best books on a should be simply to inform. Above all, to given topic, the special merits of different keep itself informed. With the cooperation works on the same and all other mat- of other libraries this would be combin- topic, easy ; ters of bibliographic interest; that this col- ing the money now spent in purchasing frag- lection will, of course, be open for purposes ments of bibliography, it could gather in one of consultation like the rest of the the best aids attainable it library; mass bibliographic ; but that, in addition, the special assistant in could afford to send a representative East charge of it will be prepared to furnish by once or twice a year to explore and to verify. letter any information desired, and especially It would be welcomed by the publishers as that he (the Bureau, that is to say) will, upon saving them an immense amount of scattered application, prepare purchase lists of books and repeated inquiry. It might induce in time to desired that what is so desirable in trade comprehend any expenditure ; uniformity no preliminary subscription will be asked of catalogues. In short, instead of being a pas- any library, but that, besides the actual sive recipient of the advertisements of the expense of the work, a small fee will be publishers, it would itself be active and aggres- charged for such special services, which sive in prying out the best of the market. shall go solely towards the improvement of It is probable that the libraries already the collection. established would at first make use of the Presuming the Bureau established, any Bureau only for reference. The librarians town in the State (Duluth, for example, with might be loth to relinquish the office of PUTNAM. 103

their books would in I have the as an selecting ; they repair suggested State appropri- person to the central collection and make up ate district, because the work of the Bureau the lists themselves. Even in this way they could be done more thoroughly in a small would get the benefit of the concentration of area, because the sense of a common interest the material and of suggestions from the and of a common proprietorship easily at- official in charge. In case the use of the taches to such a line of division. And for Bureau never went beyond this personal refer- one further reason the possibility that in ence, it might be proper to invite a regular time the Bureau might come to have the subscription from all those wishing such name and the character of a State institution. access to it. But I am confident that its use I am not yet clear that such an event would would be far more that its methodi- be desirable. I certain that its biblio- general ; am cal system would be found so exact, so graphic work would be done no better in that speedy, and so economical that it would be reg- capacity. But it cannot be denied that its ularly employed to make up the purchase lists, benefits might be incalculably extended. In and that the graded fees for this work should California the libraries of the district schools suffice to pay its expenses. Nor do I see have been most successful. Their books are why the various librarians should be loth to selected by the State Board of Education. avail themselves of this service any more than Our own Superintendent of Public Instruc- they should be loth to avail themselves of the tion is urging upon the Legislature to build various labor-saving devices of the Library up the school libraries of Minnesota in a like Bureau. The selection of books is a high func- manner. It is true that the selection of the tion of library work, but not the highest func- books by the State is in these cases part of tion for that is to those books to the the State and the ; interpret control, justified by appro- is also a function of State funds for the public. Cataloguing high ; priation part support but cooperation in cataloguing is esteemed no of the libraries. But there is a tendency indignity. And, however much good sense towards the enlargement of the educational be ascribed to the individual librarian, he functions of the State visible in many direc- cannot be expected to do with poor tools what tions. It is the least to be regretted, perhaps, can be done well only with the best of tools. of all phases of centralization. Quite in If the Bureau would be an economy for harmony with this educational function would Minnesota, it would be as much so for any be a State Library Bureau, which should in other of the Western States. Among these no wise constrain or control local and indi- Minnesota is by no means backward in the vidual effort, but should furnish free of matter of libraries in to her to free libraries the best ; proportion charge practical population her libraries sum up as many information about books and reading. Such volumes as those of any State west of Ohio an institution would assuredly be grateful. California alone excepted. But they share But the libraries must first prove themselves with all the others in their remoteness from that it would be practicable. book centres and their need of organization for bibliographic work.

For the discussion which followed the reading of this paper, see PROCEEDINGS (Seventh session). IO4 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

REPORT ON CATALOGUES AND AIDS AND GUIDES FOR READERS.

1885-87.

BY W: C. LANE, ASSISTANT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

/ "pHE report made by Mr. Crunden on Aids repeat here any of the information contained and Guides at the meeting of the Asso- in those lists. I have also omitted all men- ciation in 1886 was principally devoted to a tion of the great biographical dictionaries now detailed statement of what means were taken in progress or recently completed, though they to help readers in the various more important are closely related to the subject of this report. libraries of the country. The information There is in the first place the great Diction- was obtained directly from the libraries by ary of National (British) Biography, edited by means of circulars sent out by the com- Leslie Stephen, of which eleven volumes have piler, and was so full and exact that no further been received, bringing the work down to Con. work in the same line is needed at the present Two volumes of a Cyclopcedia of American time. This report will, therefore, be confined Biography, edited by J. G. Wilson and John to a consideration of the bibliographical Fiske, and published by the Appletons, have works which have appeared since 1885, not appeared during the current year, including including any which were mentioned by Mr. names from A. to Grim. Crunden in a list appended to his report The eighth volume of the Belgian Bio- which was brought down to June, 1885, and graphie Nationale, begun in 1866, bears the omitting also all which were described in a imprint 1886, and brings the work down to Hel. report on catalogues made by Mr. Nelson at In Italy Prof. Attilio Brunialti has begun the meeting of the Association in 1885 the publication of an Annuario Biografico of of which two volumes have (Library journal, p. 263 ; Papers and Proc. Universale, the A.L.A., p. 69). appeared for the years 1884-85 and 1885-86. A list of titles with occasional notes must Its articles are for the most part on men who therefore form the main of this have died, but others or dead are portion paper ; just living but a few introductory remarks will not be also included who have been brought into out of place to sum up some of the results, prominence by the erection of a statue, the and to call attention to a few points not publication of a biography, or in any other noticed below. way. In the first place I have included in the fol- A Nou-velle Biographic Normande, by lowing list only independent separate publica- N. N. Oursel, in two volumes, was published tions. The titles of the numerous special bib- in 1886, and a Lexikon der Schleswi^-Holstein- liographies and reference lists which have Lauenburgischen und Eutinischen Schrifl- appeared in periodicals or in books have steller von 1866-82 by Ed. Alberti was already been indexed, as far as they have come published at Kiel in two volumes in 1885 in under my observation, in two numbers of the continuation of an earlier work by the same Harvard University Bulletin for October, 1885, author, covering the period from 1829 to 1866. and and have January, 1887, been issued sep- Four volumes, the 5ist to 54th, of Wurz- as arately Bibliographical Contributions, Nos. bach's Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiser- 20 and These will 24. shortly be consolidated thums Oesterreich appeared in 1885 and 1886, into one and alphabet, combined with the which nearly completes the work. " " Index to notes about books in the Boston Owners of Vapereau's last (5th) edition of Public Handbook for Library's readers, 1883, his Dictionnaire Universel des Contempo- and the A.L.A. published by Publishing Sec- rains should not fail to notice that a supple- so that I consider it tion, unnecessary to ment of 129 pages was published in 1886. LANE. 105

The recently (1887) published supplement extraordinary rapidity. The valuable monthly to Vallde's Bibliographie des Bibliographies, index to current periodical literature given in which supplies some of the many deficiencies Book Chat should not pass unmentioned. The of that work, should also be obtained by July number indexed the principal contents of those who possess the original. 240 different magazines, including 29 French, As a contribution to a solution of that German, Italian, and Spanish periodicals. problem with many anwers, Which are the Book Chat also gives lists of the new serials best books? the Pall Mall Gazette's "Extra, begun in magazines and a title index of " No. 24, The Best Hundred Books is inter- current poetry in magazines. esting. The discussion started with a list Of special bibliographies of places, persons, made out by Sir John Lubbock, and this or subjects a very large number have been " " Extra contains the whole controversy as recently published, but no special mention carried on in the columns of the Pall Mall by beyond the notes appended to many titles in many distinguished writers. the list below is necessary. Some of these The literature of pseudonyms has been en- are vast and trackless wastes in which no riched by four notable works : Cushing's guiding paths can be found, but by far the Initials and Pseudonyms, 1885; a second larger part are well classified or provided with edition of Weller's great Lexicon Pseudonim- subject indexes. The prevailing form for orum, 1886: a second edition of Doorninck's such publications seems to be an alphabetical work on Dutch and Flemish pseudonyms, and author list with index of subjects, but from an Italian work by G. B. Passano, a supple- Germany come some excellent specimens of ment to Melzi's well-known Dizionario, 1848- a systematic arrangement by subjects with 59. The third volume of Halkett and Laing's author index. Dictionary of Anonymous and Pseudony- Several important catalogues have been mous Literature of Great Britain should also published within the last two years. The first be added to the number. The fourth volume, two volumes of the Astor Library catalogue which will complete the work, is still lacking. have been often mentioned in the pages of the Indexes to Harper's, the last series of Library journal, and require no further com- Notes and Queries, the Revue des Deux ment. The second and third volumes of the Mondes, and the Deutsche Rundschau are the great catalogue of the Peabody Institute bear more important contributions in this special the dates 1885 and 1887, and open up a vast class of Aids and Guides. An extensive mass of material not hitherto accessible by index to Littell's Living Age and an index to means of any one instrument. the obituary notices in the Gentleman's Maga- The British Museum has issued a catalogue zine from 1731-80 are also under way, but of its printed maps, charts, and plans, which still far from completion. The New York shows that library to be infinitely richer even Daily Tribune has followed the lead of the in maps of our own country than any library London Times in issuing an annual index to here except, perhaps, the government libraries. its contents. The Museum has also printed a subject index The records of current literature have been to the modern works added to the library in enriched by the publication of an Annual the years 1884-85, which forms, as it claims to " American for 1886 the first volume a nearer to a index Catalogue ; be, approximation general of a continuation of Lorenz' Catalogue Glne- of current literature than has yet been rale de la Librairie Franqaise, for 1876-1885, attempted elsewhere." and an additional volume to each of the three The catalogue of the Milwaukee Public great German records, the i8th volume of Library requires special mention, as its author, Heinsius, 1880-84 the 7th volume of Hinrichs, Mr. Linderfelt, has not been content to follow 1881-85, and the 23d and 24th volumes of blindly in beaten tracks, but has introduced Kayser, 1883-86. The latter still lacks a little ideas of his own. of completion, but has been published with The system of arrangement is in the main io6 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Mr. Dewey's decimal system, with more or less kinds of information it does not undertake to complete change in the sub-divisions of politi- give; so, in examining the Milwaukee cata- cal science, law, sermons, Africa, and North logue, one is struck first of all with the fact America, and minor changes in many other that one cannot find all of an author's works places. A synopsis of classification with an together in one place, but must hunt them alphabetical index of subjects is given at the down in succession from the references in the end of the volume, with the Dewey numbers. author index, which does not give shelf- These numbers are printed at the head of the marks. Neither can one find the titles of all page throughout the body of the catalogue, and the works about a person in one place, except are used in references but the of the ones and in order to ; arrangement strictly biographical ; the titles on the page is to a considerable find these, one has to find first in the biography extent independent of them, different head- index the author of some work on the subject, ings, either more or less numerous than the then look for the author's name in the author divisions of the synopsis, being used, and num- index, which will refer to the page of the bered or lettered independently. In some systematic catalogue, where that and other cases, as under geography and history, the titles will be found. The references to ana- arrangement of the titles is directly at variance lyzed articles on the other hand cannot be with the succession of the numbers. The looked up at all, except by sending for the change is doubtless an improvement in the books, which, it must be confessed, is the arrangement of the catalogue, inasmuch as it essential point, and Mr. Linderfelt is perhaps brings together the history and description of wise in not attempting anything further. What the same but it is a little to be the to do is to its place ; puzzling catalogue attempts group referred in the index to 948 for the history of titles systematically in such a way as to give Scandinavia, only to find that 929 is the high- all that the library has on a special topic in est number in regular succession on the page- one place, and all that it has on closely related headings, and that 948 is back with 914. If I topics side by side, and in connection with am looking for the description of Scandinavia general works which cover the whole ground. on the other hand, I am referred to 914.8, and This it succeeds in doing perhaps better than unless I am fortunate, or familiar with the cat- any catalogue yet printed, unless it be the have to run headed librarian alogue, through 45 pages Brooklyn Library Catalogue ; every 914 in order to find Scandinavia, which is knows that the problem is incapable of a headed "12 Europe. h. Scandinavia, 2 wholly satisfactory solution, and that each its Description," when I find it, and not 914.8 at attempt has its peculiar weaknesses and all, which only appears in the shelf-marks. special advantages. Mr. Linderfelt has worked Of course one learns how to handle such mat- out on some new lines, and has succeeded in ters in a short time, but it tempts one to wish overcoming some old difficulties. No one that Mr. Linderfelt had thrown aside the else starting over again would follow in just Dewey notation altogether, or else adapted it the same paths, so every one finds something more to his wants. An index of to criticise but the Milwaukee is completely ; catalogue authors (including also anonymous, striking, one which I know from experience is practi- and indefinite titles) stands at the beginning cally useful in other libraries besides the one of the volume, and refers by page (or rather which has made it. column) numbers (but without shelf-mark) to Notes on other library catalogues recently the full entry in the systematic catalogue. An published are given with the titles below. index alphabetical of biography completes the GENERAL. volume. In this reference is not made to the BIRMINGHAM, ENG. FREE LIBRARIES. Books full title, but simply the shelf-marks are given. for a reference library. London, 1885. 192 p. In looking over a new catalogue, especially O. when it strikes out on a somewhat new plan, Lectures on books on law and jurisprudence, books on legal one notices first its the always deficiencies, and constitutional history, the Greek and Latin classics, books LANE. 107 on Shakespeare, botanical books, botanical books of the nine- A complete index to LITTELL'S LIVING AGE; by teenth century, some art books ; with bibliographical appen- E: Roth. Vol. i (first too volumes). Nos. dices to each lecture. Reviewed in Library journal, 1887, i-io. Phila., 1883-86. O. p. 69. Nos. 7-10 were issued in 1885 and '86. The BEST hundred books. London, 1886. " Index to the NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE for 32 p. Q. (Pall Mall Gazette Extra," no. 24.) 1886; J: L. Weinheimer, compiler. N. Y., Sir J: Lubbock's list, with criticisms and other lists by S. many writers. 1887. 95 p. NOTES AND General index to series VALLEE, L. Bibliographic des bibliographies. QUERIES. 6th Vols. 1-12. 1886. Supplement. Paris, 1887. 354 p. L. O. (1880-85). London, Alphabetical by authors, with alphabetical index of sub- 147 p. Sq. O. jects, like the original work. It supplies many of the defects REVUE DES DEUX MONDES. Suite de la table noticeable in the latter, and includes recent publications. generate, 1874-86. Paris, 1886. 204 p. O. BOOK-PRICES current. A monthly record of A threefold index, alphabetical by authors, analytical the prices at which books have been sold at (systematic) and geographical. auction. London, January, 1887-. O. It is to be hoped that the volume will be concluded by an Etc. alphabetical index, as the titles are now given in short separate NATIONAL, lists according to the sales. American. LIBRARY notes. Improved methods and labor- The ANNUAL American Catalogue. 1886. savers for writers N. Publishers' O. librarians, readers, and ; Y., Weekly, 1887. L.

1 This is made from the titles in the Publistiers edited by Melvil Dewey. Vol. i. June, 1886- up printed into All etc. Weekly thrown a single alphabet. notes, , are March, 1887. Boston, Library Bureau. O. reproduced. An author, title, and subject index follows. Quarterly. PSEUDONYMS AND ANONYMS. LEON AND BROTHER. Catalogue of the first edi- tions of American authors. N. Y., 1885. 58 GUSHING, W. Initials and pseudonyms, a dic- p. O. tionary of disguises. N. Y., literary 1885. A priced catalogue. 603 p. L. O. American (Government). DOORNINCK, J. I. VAN. Vermomde en naamlooze POORE, B. P. Descriptive catalogue of the het der neder- schrijvers opgespoord op gebied government publications of the United States, e landsche en vlaamsche letteren. 2 uitg. der 1774-1881. Washington, 1885. 1,392 p. O. "Bibliothek van en is anonymen pseudonymen." A strictly chronological arrangement followed ; with an 2 pt. Leiden, 1883-85. O. index of subjects somewhat deficient in cross-references. The The first part is devoted to initials and pseudonyms, the list comes down to March 3, 1881. For later publications see second to anonyms. the American catalogue (supplement), which covers the term from Jan. i, iSSi, to June 30, 1884. Hickox's monthly cata- PASSANO, G. B. Dizionario di opere anonime logue begins with Jan. i, 1885. The best complete index is e in a di pseudonime supplemento quello on the cards of the Boston Public Library. See review in Gaetano Melzi. L. Ancona, 1887. 514 p. O. Libraryjournal, 1886, p. 4. E. Lexicon WELLER, pseudonymorum. Wor- American (Pennsylvania). terbuch der aller Zeiten und C: R. of Pseudonymen. HILDEBURN, A century printing ; Volker. 2e aufl. 1886. O. Regensb., 627 p. the issues of the press in Pennsylvania, 1685- INDEXES. 1784. 2 vols. Phila., 1885-86. Q. Arranged chronologically, with index of authors and titles. General zur DEUTSCHEN RUNDSCHAU Register Compiled with great care and exactness. Band 1-40 Nebst (i-io jahrgang). system- American Poetry. atischer Uebersicht der Hauptartikel. Berlin, C. The memorial STOCKBRIDGE, J. Anthony ; 1885. 160 p. O. a catalogue of the Harris collection of Ameri- Index to the and notices obituary biographical can poetry, with biographical and biblio- in the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, 1731-80; by graphical notes. Prov., 1886. 320 p. O. R. H. Farrar. Part I. A-Gi. Index in the 1886 London, Reviewed Nation December 30, ; Library Society, 1886. O. journal, 1887, p. 69. Unsatisfactory, grossly inaccurate, and Index to HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, disappointing. alphabetical, analytical, and classified. Vols. Belgian. BIBLIOGRAPHIE nationale. Dictionnaire des 1-70. 1850-85. N. Y., 1886. 783 p. O. Printed on one side of the leaf only. Very full and elaborate. ecrivains beiges et catalogue de leurs publica- io8 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

tions, 1830-80. Livr. 1-7 (A-Dye). Bruxelles, libros impresos en Mexico, 1539-1600. Con 1882-86. L. O. biografias, etc. Mexico, 1886. 419 p. Q. and in 1886. Livr. 5, 6, 7 Spanish (Aragon). Dutch. LATASSA, F. de. Bibliotecas antiqua y nueva BRINKMAN. Repertorium op Brinkman's cata- de escritores aragoneses, aumentadas y refun- logussen, 1850-82. Bewerkt door R. van der didas en forma de diccionario bibliog.-biog. Meulen. Amst., 1886. O. por M. Gomez Uriel. 3 vols. Zaragoza, A subject index to Brinkman's Catalogus (1883-84), which 1884-86. Q. includes all works published in the Netherlands, 1850-82. English (Aberdeen). SPECIAL CLASSES. EDMOND, J. P. The Aberdeen printers, 1620- Academic Dissertations. 1736. Aberdeen, 1886. 274 p. O. JAHRESVERZEICHNISS der an den deutschen Franciscans. Universitaten erschienenen Schriften. I. 15 DIRKS, S. Histoire litteraire et bibliographique Aug., 1885-14 Aug., 1886. Berlin, 1887. O. des Freres Mineurs de 1'observance de St. MOURIER, ATH., and DELTOUR, F. Catalogue et Fran9ois en Belgique et dans les Pays-Bas. analyse des theses fran9aises et latines admises Anvers, 1886. 456 p. O. par les facultes des lettres. Annee scolaire French. 1885-86. Paris, 1886. 40 p. O. A. his- " LAPORTE, Bibliographic contemporaine ; A continuation of the authors' Notice sur le doctoral es litteraire du toire 19* siecle; supplement de lettres, 46 d. 1880," which contains a catalogue of theses Brunei, de Querard, de Barbier, etc. Tom. from 1810 to 1880, and has been followed by annual supple- ments. Full table of contents of each thesis is given, and at 1-3. A-Dre. Paris, 1884-87. O. the end an index of authors and subjects. LORENZ, O. Catalogue general de la librairie FRANCE. Mm. DE L'!NSTRUC. PUBLIQUE. Cata- fran9aise depuis 1840. Tom. 9. 1876-85 logue des theses et ecrits academiques. Fasc. (A-H). Paris, 1886. O. i, 2. Annees 1884-85, 1885-86. Paris, German. i88s-6. O. W. Biicher-Lexikon HEINSIUS, Allgemeine A much more comprehensive list than the last (which in- 17" Bd. 1880-84. Lpz., 1886 ['85-87]. Q. cludes only the faculte's des lettres). Titles very brief and no er index. HINRICHS' fiinfjahriger Biicher-Catalog. 7 Bd. 1881-85. Lpz., 1886. O. Societies and Periodicals. ITALY. Mm. BELLA ISTRUZIONE PUBBLICA. KAYSER'S vollstandiges Bucher-Lexikon. Bd. Elenco delle rice- 23, 24, lief. 1-3. 1883-86 (A-S). Lpz., pubblicazioni periodiche vute dalle biblioteche 1887. Q. pubbliche governative nel 8. Greek. d'ltalia 1884. Roma, 1885. (Indici e cataloghi. I.) LEGRAND, E. Bibliographic hellenique ou De- Of especial value for Italian publications. Arrangement scription raisonnee des ouvrages pub. en alphabetical by titles (including publications of societies). The des aux et 16* siecles. 2 grec par grecs 15* current volume only is recorded. Noticed and described in vols. Paris, 1885. L. O. Libraryjournal, 1886, p. 61. With extensive literary, historical, and critical and notes, LASTEYRIE R. DE, and LEFEVRE-PONTALIS, E. a valuable introduction on the history of Greek literature in des travaux et the middle ages. Bibliographic historiques les societes de la France. Icelandic. archeo). pub. par Livr. i, 2. Paris, 1885-^6. Q. BRITISH MUSEUM. Catalogue of the books Arranged alphabetically by towns under departments. The printed in Iceland, 1578 to 1880, in the library work, when complete, is to be furnished with an index of of the Museum. ^ v F. London, 1885. P- authors and of subjects. The contents of the different pub- with detail. FISKE, W. Books printed in Iceland, 1578- lications is given great to the British 1844; supplement Museum MULLER, J. Die wissenschaftlichen Vereine und catalogue. [Florence, 1886.] O. (Bibliog. Gesellschaften Deutschlands im 19 Jahrhun- notices, i.) ihrer dert ; Bibliographic Veroffentlichungen A list of titles not in the British Museum. 139 seit ihrer Begriindung bis auf die Gegenwart. Mexican. e e i -9 Lief. Berl., 1883-36. Q. ICAZBALCETA, J. G. Bibliografia mexicana del Gives contents of the publications in many cases. Arranged siglo 16, I" parte. Catalogo razonado de by cities. LANE. 109

YEAR-BOOK of the scientific and learned societies An elaborate bibliography brought down to 1870, arranged in two parts, systematically by subjects, and of Gr. Brit, and Ireland; an account of their alphabetically by authors, with a topical index. origin, constitution, and working; from official Germany. sources. ist-3d annual issue. 3 vols. L., WEISE, A. Bibliotheca Verzeich- 1884-86. O. germanica; niss aller auf Deutschland und Deutsch- The first volume gave historical and descriptive particulars in regard to each society. Succeeding volumes have given the Oesterreich beziiglichen Origin al-Werker die or the titles of papers read published during preceding year. 1880-85 im gesammten Auslande erschienen sind. Paris und Lpz., 1886. 142 p. S. SPECIAL PLACES. Includes also the more important magazine literature. with index. Agenais. Alphabetical catalogue, subject ANDRIEU, J. Bibliographic generale de 1'Age- Italy. uni- nais et des parties du Condomois et du Baza- BLANC, J. Bibliographic italico-franjaise ou de tous les dais incorporees dans le dep. de Lot-et- verselle, Catalogue methodique en sur 1' Italic Garonne. Tom. i. A.-K. Paris, 1886. O. imprimes langue fran9aise 2 vol. An alphabetical list of works pub. in or relating to Agenais, ancienne et moderne, 1475-1885. Milan, with biog. notes on the authors. 1886. L. O.

America. The first volume contains works on the history of Rome, CLARKE (ROBERT) AND Co. Bibliotheca Ameri- the Church, and Italy; the second gives the French trans- lations of Latin and Italian works, articles in French reviews, cana, 1886. Catalogue of a valuable collec- a supplement for the first half of 1886, and indexes of places, tion of books and pamphlets relating to persons, authors, and translators. America. Cincinnati, 1886. 280 p. O. Kassel. Belgium. ACKERMANN, K. Bibliotheca Hassiaca; Reper- LAHAYE, L., and others. Bibliographic de 1'his- torium der landeskundlichen Litteratur fiir toire de la en Bel- Belgique ; ouvrages parus den k. preussischen Regierungsbezirk Kassel. gique et a 1'etranger de 1830 a 1882. Fasc. I. Nachtrag i. Kassel, 1886. 60 p. O. Liege, 1886. O. A supplement of 700 titles to an earlier bibliography. Promises to be one of the most valuable and complete historical bibliographies. Madagascar. Dorset. SIB REE, J. A Madagascar bibliography [with] MAYO, C. H. Bibliotheca Dorsetiensis. Ac- a list of publications in the Malagasy language, and a list of of Antana- count of printed books and pamphlets relating maps Madagascar. O. to the history and topography of Dorset. rivo, 1885. 92 p. In two parts alphabetically by authors, and chronologi- London, 1885. 296 p. Sq. O. cally under topics. Egypt and Soudan. Steiermark. IBRAHIM-HILMY, Prince. The literature' of A. Die Literatur der Steiermark Egypt and the Soudan from the earliest SCHLOSSAR, in historischer, und Beziehung. times to 1885. Vol. i. A-L. London, 1886. geog. ethnog. Graz, 1886. 171 O. 398 p. Q. p. Extended notes and contents freely given. United States. England. ABBOT, G. M. Contributions towards a bibli- AIRY, O. Books on English history (Birming- ography of the civil war in the United States. ham reference library lectures). London, I. Regimental histories. Phila., 1886. 34 1886. xv. O. 41, p. p. O. A with list of books of lecture, reference. Reprinted from the Jan. Bulletin of the Library Company Frankfort. of Philadelphia. H. Verzeichniss von Abhand- GROTEFEND, ALLEN, J. G. Topical studies in American und Notizen zur Geschichte Frank- lungen history. Rochester, N. Y., 1885. Sq. S. furt's aus Zeitschrif ten ; und Sammelwerken. For grammar school use. A topical outline of the subject, with a few references for Frankf. a. M., 1885. 95 p. O. parallel reading. Gaul. DUNBAR, C. F. Political Economy 8 [topics and RUELLE, C. E. Bibliographic generale des references on the history of financial legisla- e Gaules jusqu'k la fin du 5 siecle. Paris, 1886. tion in the United States]. Camb., 1886. 1732 col. O. 12 p. O. IIO THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

FOSTER, W. E. References to the history of Petrarch. presidential administrations, 1789-1885. N. Y., FISKE, W. Hand-list of Petrarch editions in 1885. T. (Economic tract, No. 17.) the Florentine public libraries. Florence, 1886. O. TAUSSIG, F. W. Topics and references in (Bibliog. notices, 2.)

Political 6 Harvard : Economy [in College Raleigh. Tariff of the United history States]. Camb., BRUSHFIELD, T. N. The bibliography of Sir 1886. O. 31 p. Walter Raleigh, with notes. Plymouth; Exe- A synopsis of lectures, with current references to authori- ter, 1886. 36 p. Q. ties. Reprinted from the Western A ntiquary. WILLIAMS, G. A. and references in Topics Schiller. American N. 1886. history. Syracuse, Y., eine HETTLER, A. Schiller's Dramen ; Bibliog- 50 p. S. raphic, nebst einem Verzeichniss der Aus- Intended for use in schools. gaben saemmtl. Werke Schiller's. Berlin, Venice. 1885. 57 p. O. SORANZO, G. Bibliografia veneziana. Venezia,

- Shakespeare. 1885. 938 p. Q. MORGAN, Appleton. Digesta Shakespeareana. Intended as a continuation and supplement to E. A. index of matter than Cicogna's Saggio della bibliog. ven. Topical printed (other Classed. Extremely full and extensive. literary or aesthetic commentary or criticism) Worcester, Mass. rel. to S. or the S. plays and poems, printed in to N. So- PAINE, N. Bibliography of Worcester history. English 1887. Y., Shakespeare S. Worcester, 1885. 18 p. O. ciety, 1887. 224 p. Arrangement alphabetical by topics. An addenda of foreign SPECIAL PERSONS. titles is in preparation, and the society intends to issue annual supplements. Not intended to be exhaustive. Dickens. Shelley. JOHNSON, C. P. Hints to coi'ectors of original FORMAN, H. B. The Shelley library. An essay editions of the works of Charles Dickens. in bibliography. Parti. London, 1886. 127 London, 1885. 56 p. S. p. O. With careful bibliographical notes. With extended bibliographical and historical notes. KITTON, F. G. Dickensiana. Bibliography of Thackeray. the literature relating to C. Dickens and his JOHNSON, C. P. Hints to collectors of original writings. London, 1886. xxxii., 510 p. O. editions of the works of Thackeray. London, Contains some 570 titles, and quotes frequent and extensive S. extracts from the articles named. 1885. 48 p. With careful bibliographical notes. Eliot, George. Waitz. WOOLLEY, C. P. George Eliot. Suggestions STEINDORFF, E. Bibliographische Ubersicht for clubs and private reading. Chicago, 1886. iiber Waitz' Werke. Gott., 1886. 10 p. S. Georg O. Hamilton. 34 p. FORD, P. L. Bibliotheca Hamiltoniana. List of SPECIAL SUBJECTS. books by or relating to Alexander Hamilton. Chemistry (Explosives). N. Y., 1886. 159 p. O. literature of Full titles and critical notes. Printed on one side of the MUNROE, C. E. Index to the leaf only. explosives. Pt. i. Bait., 1886. O. Lipsius. Contains the titles in 442 volumes of periodicals, arranged in the order of the referred to. To be followed by VAN DER HAEGHEN, F. Bibliographic Lip- periodicals and author's index. The indexed in the sienne a subject periodicals ; CEuvres de Juste Lipse. 2 vol. : of Sci. Philos. Trans. Soc. ; first part are Amer. J. ; Roy. Gand, 1886. S. Proc. U. S. Naval Inst. ; Revue d'Artillerie ; Journ. Roy. Reprinted from his Bibliotheca Belgica, now in course of of Unit. Serv. Inst. ; Reports of H. M. Inspectors Explo- An publication. elaborately annotated bibliography. sives. Longfellow. Chemistry (Uranium). BENJAMIN, W. E. Longfellow collector's BOLTON, H. C. Index to the literature of handbook. of first editions. Bibliography uranium. Wash., 1885. 36 p. O. N. Y., 1885. 55 p. D. From the Smithsonian report for 1885. LANE. in

An earlier index was in the A nnals the printed of lyceum toriques du Moyen Age. [Vol. i.] Bio- of natural history, Feb. 1870. bibliographie. P., 1877-86. L. O. Church History. This first volume is an extremely full list of mediaeval FISHER, J. A. A select bibliography of ecclesi- names, with copious references to the works from which information can be obtained. The second vol. is to be devoted astical history. Boston, 1885. 55 p. S. " to places, the third to literary works. Reprinted from Methods of teaching and studying his- tory," edited by G. S. Hall. OESTERLEY, H. Wegweiser durch die Literatui der 2 Theile. Education. Urkundensammlungen. Berlin, 1885-86. O. HALL, G. S., and MANSFIELD, J. M. Hints Of the greatest importance in the study of mediaeval history toward a select and descriptive bibliography when any considerable collection of original records is at hand of education, arranged by topics and indexed for consultation. authors. 1886. O. by Boston, 309 p. Hunting. SCHULZE, C. Systematische Uebersicht der SOUHART, R. Bibliographic generale des ouvrages veroffentlichten wertvollen Aufsatze iiber sur la chasse, la venerie et la fauconnerie, Padagogik, 1880-86. Hannover, 1887. 276 depuis le 150 siecle jusqu'a ce jour. Paris, p. O. 1886. 750 col. O. extracts or Carefully classified, and giving from summaries With critical notes on value and prices. of the most important books and articles. The contents of Jewish question. 65 German educational periodicals are included. JACOBS, Joseph. The Jewish question, 1875-84. English Literature. London, 1885. 96 p. S. BLISS, R. Reference list. "English poets and A list of 1,230 items. Reprinted from Trilbner? Oriental dramatists." Unity Club, Newport, R. I., record. 8 [1886.] p. Q. Local institutions. Faust. GOMME, G. L. The literature of local institu- K. der Faust-Schrif- ENGEL, Zusammenstellung tions. London, 1886. 248 p. S. ten vom 16. Jahrh. bis Mitte 1884. Olden- This is an essay on local institutions, with a review of the literature of the and references. burg, 1885. xii., 764 p. O. subject bibliographical A very complete and elaborate compilation. Natural history and Mathematics. Franco- German war. FRIEDLANDER, R., & SOHN. Bibliotheca his- SCHULZ, A. Bibliographic de la guerre franco- torico-naturalis et mathematica; Lager-cata- allemande (1870-71) et de la commune de log. Berlin, 1886. O. Unites in a volume of about 1,000 the classed 1871. Paris, 1886. 128 p. O. pages separate of the firm for the last three years. Alphabetical catalogue, with index of subjects. catalogues Genealogy- (American). Political economy. C. F. and references in DURRIE, D. S. Bibliographia genealogica ameri- DUNBAR, Topics Political of cana; alphabetical index to American gene- economy 4 [Economic history and America since the alogies and pedigrees contained in state, Europe Seven-years' S. county, and town histories, printed genealogies, war]. Cambridge, 1885. and kindred works. 3d ed. Albany, N. Y., Politics. 1886. 245 p. O.' Fox, G. L. The study of politics. Chicago, Indexes the information in over no. genealogical 400 separate 111., 1885. 16 p. S. (Unity leaflets, 10.) works, amounting to some 20,000 references. Printing. Genealogy (English). BIGMORE, E. C., and WYMAN, C. W. H. A G. W. The 2d MARSHALL, genealogist's guide. bibliography of printing, with notes and illus- ed. 682 O. London, 1885. p. trations. 3 vol. London, 1880-86. O. An index to the English pedigrees in every important gene- Reprinted from the Printing times and lithographer. An and as well as to those in alogical topographical work, many alphabetical list without index. of minor importance. Protozoa, etc. History. THOMPSON, D. W. A bibliography of proto- W. F. for schools ALLEN, History topics high zoa, sponges, ccelenterata, and worms for 1861- and 1886. S. colleges. Boston, 83. Camb., Eng., 1885. O. With list of books of reference in English. Trades unions, etc. History (Mediaeval). BLANC, H. Bibliographic des corporations CHEVALIER, U. Repertoire des sources his- ouvrieres avant 1789. Paris, 1885. 102 p. O. 112 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

CATALOGUES. MANCHESTER PUBLIC FREE LIBRARIES. Cata- 'of the Hulme branch. ed. Man- ASTOR LIBRARY, New York. Catalogue. (Con- logue 4th O. tinuation.) Authors and books. Vol. 1-2 chester, 1885. 196 p. A-K. O- Camb., 1886-87. MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Systematic A supplement to the earlier catalogue of the Library pub- catalogue of the library, with alphabetical lished in 1857-61. An author catalogue,' with scattering author, title, and subject indexes. Milwaukee, subject entries, for the most part under names of persons. O. Reviewed in the Library journal, 1886, pp. 160, 215; 1887, 1885-86. P- 253- NEVINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, Methuen, Mass. BRITISH MUSEUM. of the Catalogue printed Catalogue of the library; by Harriet H. Ames. and charts. maps, plans, London, 1885. 4648 2 vols. Boston, 1887. O. col. F. A library of 10,000 volumes, which were selected, arranged, Strictly alphabetical by places and not classed. The ar- and catalogued by Miss Ames. The catalogue is on the ordi- rangement under a place is chronological. Entries are made nary dictionary plan, and seems to be carefully compiled, and under authors as well as under places. a good amount of analytical work done. It is noticeable that no class-lists of fiction, essays, or poetry are given, but a list Catalogue of books placed in the gal- of dramas is included. leries in the reading-room. London, 1886. NEW YORK. UNION LEAGUE. of 6np. O. Catalogue the Ellsworth Totten. 1886. O. A brief-title author-catalogue of the books most frequently library ; by called for in the Museum. A useful index of subjects follows. An author-title-subject alphabetical catalogue. THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. A subject index to the modern works PRINCETON, (N.J.) of the Part I. added to the library 1880-85. BY G. K. For- Catalogue library. Religious literature. 1886. O. tescue. London, 1886. 1044 p. O. Princeton, This is intended only to supplement the general catalogue Rio DE JANEIRO. BIBLIOTHECA NACIONAL. of the Museum, hence no personal names will be found among Catalogo da exposisao permanente dos cime- the headings, and the heading Bible has been omitted. lios. Rio de Janeiro, 1885. O. Novels, tales, plays, and poems have also been omitted. A careful and elaborate catalogue of a collection of rare or CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. TRINITY COLLEGE. representative works designed to illustrate the history of of the books before to of Catalogue English printed printing and of letters, and arranged according places MSS. as well as 1601 now in the library; by Robert Sinker. publication. The collection includes printed books. Camb., 1885. 488 p. O.

Arranged by towns and printers, with index of authors. ROCKFORD (///.) PUBLIC LIBRARY. Catalogue. FITCHBURG, Mass. PUBLIC LIBRARY. Classi- Rockford, 1886. 275 p. O. A of a library of 13,000 volumes. fied catalogue, compiled by G. W. Cole. dictionary catalogue list of books Fitchb., 1886. 758 p. Q. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. A An author and title catalogue (including also biographical received at the library of the department; entries) is followed by a subject catalogue on the Dewey- with references to international treaties and decimal plan, with a synopsis of classification and subject- articles on subjects relative to the law of index. The library contains over 16,000 volumes. nations and diplomacy in magazines. FONDATION TEYLER. Catalogue de la biblio- Published at intervals of a month or more, beginning July theque; par C. Ekama. Livr. 1-4. Harlem, i, 1886. 1885-86. Q. BARLOW, S. L. M. A rough list designed as A classed catalogue of a library devoted to natural history. the basis of a more complete catalogue of [his] GLASGOW. FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AN-D SUR- library; by J. O. Wright. Americana, 1477- GEONS. Alphabetical catalogue of the li- 1799. N. Y., 1885. 220 p. O. brary; preceded by an index of subjects; by HAWKINS, Rush C. The library of Gen. R. C. Alex. Duncan. Glasgow, 1885. ccxlii., 828 Hawkins. N. Y., G: A. Leavitt & Co. p. Q. March, 1887. O. The alphabetical index of subjects covers 242 pages. Peri- Remarkable as a number of black-letter odicals, reports, and society transactions are catalogued containing large and other rare works. annotated. separately. The library contains 25,000 volumes. Generously LEIPZIG. BORSENVEREIN DER DEUTSCHEN LoCKER-LAMPSON, F. The Rowfant library; BUCHHANDLER. Katalog der Bibliothek. catalogue of the printed books, manuscripts, collected L. Lon Lpz., 1885. 708 p. O. autograph letters, etc., by A carefully classified catalogue (7,564 titles) of a library de- don, 1886. O. voted to works on bookmaking, bookselling, and bookkeeping. A remarkable collection of English literature, and specially Index of authors. rich in first editions. PROCEEDINGS..

THE PROCEEDINGS.

ROUND ISLAND HOUSE, THOUSAND ISLANDS, JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK, TUESDAY

TO FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 TO SEPTEMBER 2, 1887.

FIRST SESSION. during the week. If left till the last day, no one will have time or As is usual, (TUESDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 30.) opportunity. any contributions of this kind unclaimed by the WILLIAM F: POOLE, LL.D., President, in the owners will be added to the A.L.A. Bibliothecal chair. Museum, which is at last arranged and displayed The meeting was called to order at 2.40 P. M. at the School where it will do the greatest President Poole read the Library good to the largest number. Time is precious, PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. but we want no member to carry home any good idea which he intended to divide with us. (Seep, i.) new Give us the points in five minutes if there is not MELVIL DEWEY, Secretary, gave extempo- the half hour you would like for elaborating them. raneously the The A.L.A. has won the reputation of doing its SECRETARY'S REPORT. business with an unusually small amount of talk- In a ten-minute speech he pointed out that the ing against time. If each will make his points year has been markt by greater interest in libraries crisply and promptly, we shall get thru. than ever before that new libraries were Mr. ; starting Our able Assistant Secretary, Richardson, in all directions that old ones were to will take entire of the records. ; waking again charge Papers new life and improving their methods and increas- are to be handed to him as soon as read. Speak- their that the of the ers will ing efficiency ; place library be furnisht with tablets and pencils when had been recognized by the leaders of public they sit down, and are expected to give a correct thought, and that year by year the great body of abstract of their remarks for the minutes, as this thinkers were coming to respect heartily the new year there is but one stenografer present, and she in that the air was full of is out profession ; and, brief, private property. Do not defer writing hope. your remarks till later or till you get home. You

At the end he said : There are many other will forget either to do it or what you really said. things of which I should like to speak to this There are a growing number of details requiring but the shortness of time and the the attention of the title as body ; length Secretary, which is, you of program submitted by our committee con- know, a euphemism for "maid of all work." There strain me to use the time for some general are mail, telegrams, excursion tickets, etc., to be announcements, and hope for opportunity later. attended to. I move that Arthur N. Brown be It is specially necessary this year that members appointed Second Assistant Secretary for this be promptly in place at the hour of opening. We meeting. Voted. are forced to adjourn every day sharply at noon, It is our pleasure this year to have three dele- and no minutes can be lost in getting business gates from England : Rev. W: H: Milman, started promptly at 9.30. Librarian of Sion College, London; James Yates, The question box on my table is open for any- Chief Librarian of Leeds, England where he has thing pertinent to our sessions. Group your twenty-seven branches, and Edward G. Allen, the queries about that general topic on the program, well-known agent for American libraries in Lon- if there be any. If not, put them in early, and they don. Mr. Yates was with us in '76 when the will be taken up at the first opportunity. If you A.L.A. was organized. To Mr. Milman the fail to put them in, do not go home and say that American delegates to the London Conference of the wants of your special kind of library were not 1877 were indebted for perhaps the most charm- sufficiently considered. ing of many delightful dinners in our honor. There are some interesting new devices, blanks, It also happens that the Chairman of one of our catalogs, etc., here. There are others in trunks or committees will attend the English meeting, but bundles. Bring them in at the early sessions, and I was about to say two. I have just learned that give all a chance to examin them at odd moments Mr. Bowker has reached New York, and is on THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

his way to this meeting. I move that the Secre- B. tary be directed to forward to the Secretary of the HENRY J. CARR, Treasurer. In account with the L.A.U.K. the credentials of Miss E. M. Coe, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: 1886. DR. Librarian of the N. Y. Free Circulating Library, as Oct. To balance received from our delegate to its meeting in Birmingham on 9. Jas. L. Whitney, Treasurer, per September 20. Voted. report A $581 33 A later letter informed the that Secretary Oct. 5 to Aug. 26, 1887. ' another member, Mr. Gardner M. Jones, one of To 198 annual membership viz. : the pupils in the Columbia College Library fees, For year 1884, i .... 2 oo School, would also attend the English meeting. " 1885, 4 .... 8 oo Mr. S: S. GREEN. I move that the record of " 1886, 37 .... 74 oo the of the last of this asso- " proceedings meeting 1887, .... 310 oo " 155 ciation be amended by striking out the word 1888, I .... 2 00 " " committee in the third line of the second col- $396 oo umn of the of the eleventh volume of 378th page To i life membership Mrs. the Library journal, and putting in its place the Louisa C. F. Mann, to date " word community." Voted. from 1885 $25 oo To interest, viz. Concord . . $6 85 H: J. CARR, Treasurer, read the Grand Rapids 4 98 TREASURER'S REPORT. A. $11 83 Mr. L. Treasurer for James Whitney, Total $1,014 16 previous year, reported at the Milwaukee Conference to July I, 1886, showing a 1886. CR. balance on hand to new account amount- Oct. 12 to Aug. 26, 1887. ing to $422 08 By freight ($2.85) and postage To which should be added sundry ($22.03) on Proceedings (275 fees membership received by him after copies rec'd, 255 distrib.) . $24 88 that date to Oct. 1886 up 5, 196 oo By supplies for Treasurer's Also correction in bill of Publishers' office, viz. mailing stamp and and blanks 2 Weekly, as entered Dec. 22, 1885 (see pad 75 and ex- note in Milwaukee Conf. report) ... 4 oo By postage, express, change 10 52 Total $622 08 1886. Oct. 12. By W. F. Poole, bill Aug. 5, on account Mil- The Treasurer's books show payments expenses waukee Conference and to his credit, subsequent to report of pro- 60 July i, 1886, and prior to transfer, as gram 3 follows : 1887. Feb. W: I. bill Nov. 1886. 23. By Fletcher, 2, for Cooperation Committee 10. Paid July stamps, $3.00; express, expenses, 1885-86 .... 19 25 5 $35 March 2. By Rockwell & Churchill, bill Sept. 2. Paid express to E. Magnusson, 75 Oct. 1 6, 1886, for 275 cop- " " 2. Custom-house fees on E. ies Proceedings Milwaukee Conference (196 pp.) . . . 489 66 Magnusson package ... i oo " Jan. 31. By Library Bureau, bill Dec. Paid P. & Co. en- 24. J. Murphy 17, 1886, ads., etc., for Mil- gravings for E. Magnusson's waukee Conference in Li-

article in Transactions . . 20 oo brary Notes, No. i .... 50 oo " Oct. 4. Paid Library Bureau, printing 31. By Library Bureau, bill Jan. 14, circulars, July, 1886 ... 9 oo 1887, stationery and print- " for office . . oo 4. Paid Same, postage on circu- ing Secretary's 13 April 12. Rockwell & Churchill, bill lars 6 50 By March 31, 1887, for 50 copies E. Magnusson's article on Payments $40 75 spiral building, Oct. 12, 1886, 3 50 Balance transferred to H: J. Carr, Treasurer, Grand Ra- $617 16 pids, Mich $581 33 Aug. 27. Balance on hand to be ac- counted for $397 oo Total $622 08 Total $1,014 16 PROCEEDINGS.

1887. DR. quite $1.90 a copy. Therefore, the Treasurer has not felt warranted in a nominal Aug. 27. To balance to new account . . $397 oo putting price upon the few which might be spared, and hence has not Account examined with vouchers, and found of sale, altho two or three correct. disposed any by parties have expressed a desire to obtain extra copies. SAMUEL S. GREEN, He submits it to the Association. The 20 copies J. N. LARNED, of 1886 are all that remain in the Treas- CHARLES C. SOULE, present urer's hands. If of remain Committee on Treasurer's Account. any copies prior years undisposed of, he does not know who has them, C. nor where. A few details from the Treasurer concerning Since the Milwaukee Conference the list of regu- the Proceedings and membership of the A.L.A. lar membership has been reduced as follows : not be with view to the future. i under over may untimely Death, ; resigned, 4; dropt by-law, Of the last four published Proceedings, the three years in arrears, 17; total decrease, 22. editions and cost were as follows : And has been increased by new members up to

Cincinnati Conference (1882), 86 p., 750 the date of this report, 19. copies, cost $260 96 The membership status is now as follows : 22 Buffalo Conference (1883), 146 p., 350 Life members copies, cost 418 20 Paid to 1888, inclusive i " " 154 Lake George Conference (1885), 160 p., 1887, for 300 copies, cost 461 97 Owing 1887 only 52 " 1887 and 1886 19 Milwaukee Conference (1886), 196 p., 275 " and 6 copies, cost 493 16 1887, 1886, 1885 (Expenses of on account of E. $25.25 Magnus* Total 254 son's article, not included in cost of 1886 Pro" With in the as ceedings.) $397 treasury, reported (of is for life and It is not found that the amounts stated above which $25 a new membership, awaits in accordance with include anything for editorial services or other than disposal prospective action taken at to regular cost of manufacture, properly speaking. Milwaukee, looking funding such the additional revenue Each year, it will be observed, the number of items), prospective for is from the number in arrears, as above, copies has been less; but, owing to larger number 1887

viz. : of pages, the expenditures have increased. for i for 2 and 6 for years. The charges made for the last year's Proceed' 52 year, 19 years, 3 from to be received ings (Milwaukee Conference, 1886) were on a Presumably $90 $100 may from the with such fees as new and lower basis for work and material, however, than same, which, members will contribute, be those of any year previous. It is also understood temporary may likely to the avails for to that 300 copies were really ordered of said 1886 carry 1887 quite #500. At the same time the in connection Proceedings, which quantity would not have cost prospect, with other current is not such as to more than for 275. By mistake of the printers expenses, warrant other than a conservative the lesser number only was issued, and is the outlay upon the of the Conference. total number received for distribution, of which Proceedings 1887 15 copies were delivered thru the office of Mr. Respectfully submitted, H: J. CARR, Dewey, Secretary, and 240 by the Treasurer, leav- Treasurer. ing a balance of 20 copies yet on hand. Of the above 255 distributed, 35 went to tem- Mr. GREEN. As no member of the Finance porary members of 1886, 5 to special use (compli- Committee is present, I move that a committee mentary, etc.), and 215 to regular members. of three be appointed by the chair to audit As against the 20 copies on hand, there are 19 the Treasurer's accounts, and to take into consider- members owing for 1886, and 6 for 1885 and 1886, ation the suggestions which he has made. making 25 entitled to copies of the 1886 Proceed- Voted, and Messrs. S: S. Green, J. N. Lamed ings, if they pay arrears. All of whom have been and C: G. Soule appointed. "cordially invited" so to do; but it is doubtful Mr. DEWEY. The state of our finances suggests now if more than 10 or 12 will finally comply. that we were overwhelmed last year with matter, Including postage, these last Proceedings cost so many permissions to print were given, and some THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

of the papers were so long. There ought to be copy made. The expense of the undertaking is some authority to edit or condense any or all paid by subscriptions on the part of the different papers so as to bring the printing within the limits libraries who have taken such number of copies as of our funds. each desired some only two or three, others 100 Mr. GREEN. I move that this matter also be or more. A library contributing lists did not referred to the committee just appointed. Voted. thereby incur any responsibility for expense of Mr. W: I. FLETCHER, Chairman, gave the publication. In this way we have printed a pam- phlet of about 60 pages, each library giving the COMMITTEE'S REPORT. COOPERATION needed work and paying in addition such money as it chooses. It has cost a deal of I accepted the position of Chairman of this com- good labor, but will be of value, us to direct mittee last year under protest, having hoped that great enabling after our literature to the some one else might have been found for it who inquirers periodical to I this would be more free from other duties in connec- library best able satisfy them. hope may lead to a more extensive which shall us tion with our cooperative work. Having the work, give for the whole a list of the non-scientific Publishing Section to look after, as well as the country similar to Bolton's of Scien- Cooperative Index to Periodicals, and, in the last magazines Catalogue tific Periodicals. few months, the forthcoming five-year supplement Mr. FLETCHER asked that the of the to Poole's Index, I have found it impossible to Report Section be until later give attention to the development of any new Publishing might postponed in the to allow another of its work. Fully satisfied, however, that there is yet meeting, meeting Executive Board. a large field for such work, I had hoped to secure Mr. S. S. GREEN read the a meeting of the committee early in the present season, with a view to getting something on foot REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE SCHOOL before the present conference, so that we could OF LIIiRARY ECONOMY. give a report showing at least the semblance of life. Hearty thanks from the librarians of the United The absence of one member of the committee in States and from all friends of libraries and of Europe and other circumstances have conspired education in this country are due to Mr. Melvil to prevent such a meeting. Consequently, there is Dewey for the strenuous efforts which he has nothing left for the committee but to confess that made to establish a school of library economy. nothing has been done by the committee as such, Before he entered upon that undertaking, we and to emphasize the demand thus indicated for had incurred a heavy weight of obligation because the appointment of a new committee, or at least of his enthusiastic and well-directed efforts to one with a new head, for the ensuing year. bring about an organization of the librarians of Mr. Fletcher called on Mr. W. S. Biscoe to give the United States, and to found the Library an account of the cooperation work of the New journal, and for numerous and fruitful suggestions York Library Club. in regard to the management of libraries. MR. BISCOE. The main task we attempted this The American Library Association, as the re- year was the publication of a list of all the periodi- sult of his skill and energy, has become firmly cals currently received by the New York and established several years before it would other- Brooklyn libraries. To this we added such other wise have come into existence. magazines as are included in Poole's Index and its The Library journal, in consequence of his supplements. By four varieties of type we have exertions, and through the self-sacrificing labors indicated what magazines are received by each of Frederick Leypoldt and the wise management

library, and how complete a set it has : complete of its business affairs and admirable conduct from and current; partial and current; partial and not an editorial point of view by Mr. Bowker and current; and current numbers only, not preserved Mr. Cutter, has become one of the few really after a few weeks or months. good sources of information on the subject of The lists of half a dozen of the larger libraries Library Economy, and the best expositor of cur- were first printed in proof, and these were sent to rent opinions, as well as purveyor of news that is the cooperating libraries for them to add such of interest to librarians and other persons who other magazines as they received, and to place their have a taste for library pursuits. initials against those already on the list. These 30 Finally, a School of Library Economy has been or 40 lists were then consolidated, and the final established, and, during a year's existence, has PROCEEDINGS. 117

fully justified the opinions of those persons who offer inducements to experts of assured reputation favored its establishment. who entertain different views from those held by Let us with the utmost cordiality, and gratefully, the officers of its own library to go from other express our thanks to Mr. Dewey for taking this parts of the country to New York to present those additional step in advance, and for inaugurating views. This does not mean merely that com- and carrying to a successful issue a movement pensation in money should be offered for services that is of the greatest importance when regarded to be rendered, but also that lecturers who go to in the light of the influence which it will exert in the college to aid it in its undertaking should raising the standard of librarianship among us, receive their appointments from the corporation of and in the education of the people of the country. the college, be regarded as a part of its regularly We ought also to express to Columbia College established corps of instructors, and be received, the thanks of this Association for its readiness to when they visit New York, with such attentions allow its well-informed and energetic Librarian to from the higher officers of the institution as would carry out his plans for the benefit of education, show that gratitude is felt for their presence and and our admiration of the faith which made it assistance. willing to second a new movement by lending its Another danger to which a school of library name, affording its support, and giving from its economy is subjected is the exaggeration of the resources to make it successful. importance of instrumentalities by its pupils, and I had the pleasure of visiting the School of a failure on their part to catch the spirit of help- Library Economy during the season of the in- fulness which is essential in libraries, and to tensest work going on in it, and was delighted acquire the disposition to serve all men faithfully, with what I saw there. and make of the institutions to which they are to The Director of the school, the teachers, and belong great centres of educational influence in pupils, all of them engaged in the work of the which enthusiasm for the dissemination of knowl- school with manifest enthusiasm. edge and wisdom, the choicest fruits of study, Energy and wisdom were apparent in adminis- ability and culture, is to provide the motive power tration. The instruction given was thorough, and make manifest the spirit which, only, can liberal, and profuse. The devotion of the scholars justify the labor expended in becoming acquainted was remarkable, and their intelligence, capacity, with the approved appliances and methods which and preliminary general education very noticeable. are taught in a school of library economy. Were it important to criticise keenly and to I presume that it is unnecessary even to allude point out defects in the school, the task of the to the last danger which occurs to me. No critic would be a hard one. Any slight short- graduate of the School of Library Economy of comings that appeared during the first year of its Columbia College will become a conceited prig, existence will be removed another year, and, under or believe, as some of the graduates of other the watchful eye of its Director, improvements will educational institutions do, that the knowledge be introduced into it. obtained in school or college is adequate in any Perhaps it would be proper to say that it seemed calling or profession until supplemented by the to me that something of that quality which is teachings of experience. known in art as repose was lacking in the conduct For the Committee. of the exercises of the school. I seemed to be, SAMUEL SWETT GREKN. while in an that was there, atmosphere slightly Mr. W. E. FOSTER being called upon by the feverish. President, as a member with Mr. Green of the There are certain to which a school of dangers committee on the Library School reporting in the kind under consideration is liable, which may 1885, stated that he wished only to add to the be but which I feel sure this one will mentioned, report presented by Mr. Green the fact that the steer clear of. One of these is provincialism. school had in its very first year so closely approxi- It seems to me to be a matter of prime impor- mated to the conception presented as desirable in tance in to the in that, respect subjects Library advance, and was also greatly impressed on visiting which there exists a difference of Economy upon the school during the winter with what might be opinion and librarians, " among thoughtful practical called its spirit." This was not merely one of those should be studied in all their subjects enthusiasm, but of complete devotion to the work, aspects; and that Columbia College would do as shown in in the refusal many ways ; notably by well, in the interests of breadth in to education, some of the pupils of offers of library positions in THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

order to complete their course at the school, in the ACTION OF BURNING-GAS ON LEATHER. the to have the length of the petition by pupils Mr. B. P. MANN read the paper of C. S. WOOD- term extended, and in their evident preference of WARD, B. Sc., entitled the school and its discipline over the attractions of A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY AS TO various entertainments in the The whole city. THE ACTION OF BURNING-GAS ON LEATHER is very promising for the future. aspect USED FOR BOOK-BINDING. ABSTRACT OF A third mem- The report by Miss H. P. James, a PAPER TO BE READ AT THE CONFERENCE OF ber of the same committee, was received at a later LIBRARIANS IN BIRMINGHAM, ENG., SEPTEM- session, but is inserted here. BER, 1887. I am glad of an opportunity to make a report (Seep. II.) upon the School of Library Economy, because of ACTION OF ELECTRIC LIGHT ON PAPER. in its methods my special advantages observing Mr. Woodward, in a letter accompanying the I during a two weeks' visit to it, and also because " paper, said : I should particularly point out that am a daily proof of the excellence and having I regard the experiments as preliminary only. of its outcome in the work thoroughness practical There has not been time to make an exhaustive of two of its pupils. enquiry. A variety of leather should be examined. What impressed me at the school, especially I have tried but one. Again, a very great number from the enthusiasm of the which apart students, of be tried as the strips should ; two, though prob- was almost phenomenal, was the breadth of the ably of equal strength, cannot with any confidence which was aimed at. Not was teaching only be said to be so." from the minut- library work of every description, Mr. CRUNDEN. In accordance with the est detail to the broadest generalization, carefully request that kindred matters be brought up in considered, but the utmost pains were taken that their relation, I should like to speak of a letter no one should be taught exclusively. system which I have received from Mr. Dyer, of the St. The was taught as a matter of Dewey System Louis Mercantile Library, enclosing a communica- course, but all other systems had a fair and candid tion to him relating to certain alleged dangers hearing, and the students were constantly obliged resulting from the use of electric light. The writer to do their own and arrive at their own thinking, had read in Public Opinion, of London, an extract conclusions after a fair exposition and discussion from some foreign periodical, which stated that of other methods had been presented by different electric light changed paper to a yellow color. Mr. librarians. visiting Dyer asks me to bring the matter before the con- No more task ever fell to me, than to delightful vention and secure a thorough discussion of the speak upon library work to a class of such eager, subject. He is naturally anxious to get all the interested listeners, and I know I only voice the information obtainable on this subject, as they are experience of others in saying so. The many erecting a $300,000 building and want to have the questions asked concerning the methods I had very best light in existence. If the detrimental touched upon were so direct and practical as to effects of gas are matched or exceeded by new show the excellence of the training and the ear- dangers from electricity, it is important to all that nestness of the students. it should be known. I should be glad to hear I felt that a and needed work was well grand from those who can speak from personal observa- begun, and that the aim of the school was in the tion on this point. direction. right Mr. DEWEY. Half a dozen people have sent I am not competent to go into any detail upon me this same cutting. It has come in original, the methods of the school. Doubtless many copies, and translations with a persistence that improvements will be made this year and in suggests a wealthy gas company behind its circula- future years, but I know I am right in saying that tion. It must refer to the old arc light. The the school will continue to be of the utmost same thing was said about the injurious effect of practical value, and its establishment marks the the electric light on the complexion it would beginning of new life and zeal in library adminis- produce freckles. But I see no increase in tration. freckles nor reduction in the number of ladies who HANNAH P. JAMES, use our reading-rooms. Librarian Osterhout Free Library. One who cares for his eyes will surely use the Edison Wilkes Barre, Pa., Aug. 1887. incandescent electric light. We use the PROCEEDINGS. 119

system, which is infinitely better than any use of and Hild be put in charge of the A.L.A. ball team, gas. with power to appoint associates. Voted. Mr. GREEN. I had to look into this matter. Thursday night is set apart for a general illumi- The paragraph referred to related to books in a nation of all the cottages on the island, with fire- library in Vienna. The point made seemed to be works and music by the Clayton Brass Band, end- that intense light like the electric changes the ing with a hop in these parlors. Friday afternoon color of paper made of wood pulp. Why would is filled with a marine parade, amateur and profes- not it be possible, supposing this to be a fact, to sional sailing and rowing races, tub races, etc. place curtains before the books of the library, and Besides all this we have chartered the large side- still avail ourselves of the advantages of unvitiated wheel steamer John Thorn, for the famous forty- air to books, library attendants, and readers ? I mile trip among the Thousand Islands. We leave showed the paragraph referred to to a prominent promptly at i.oo P. M. Wednesday, and will be manager of a large industrial institution in Wor- back by 6.30. The total expense for this, as for cester. He has agreed to send a copy of it to a the Thursday trip to Kingston on the same boat, distinguished expert in electic lighting for consid- is 50 cents each. Tickets can be had from Assist- eration. If I receive an answer of importance, I ant Secretary Brown. If you do nothing else while will send it to the Libraryjournal. here, take this trip among the islands. We shall President POOLE. This same clipping has been land at the Thousand Island Park, go over to sent to me in various forms, and I assure you there Gananoque, Can., through the Lost Channel and is nothing in it. It does not prove nor even tend the famous Lake of the Islands, where no other to prove that the electric light is injurious. I steamer goes, and land at Westminster Park and have had experience of Edison's. There is noth- at Alexandria Bay for a brief inspection of their ing better in the world except sunlight. I have attractions. been surprised that that paragraph should attract On Thursday we go in the opposite direction to so much notice. It only proves that certain the edge of Lake Ontario, and have time in Kings- papers made of wood pulp will change color in a ton to see Fort Henry and the various objects of strong light. interest in that ancient city, getting back before Mr. MANN. Then any light will change it. 7.00 P. M. Mr. CRUNDEN. I have seen the experiment On Friday night, the full of the moon, the large tried in sunlight, with the same result of changing, side-wheel steamer St. Lawrence will take us the islands to so that whatever will apply to the electric light in through see the illuminations, stop- this respect will also apply to sunlight. ping an hour at Alexandria Bay, where we are Mr. DEWEY gave the invited to inspect the large hotels. To those wishing to row, sail, or fish ample REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGE- facilities are provided at the dock in front of the MENTS hotel at very reasonable rates. After careful consideration your committee Evidently no one need stagnate in the four days selected Round Island as best for this year's meet- allowed to Round Island. ing. Your programs and itinerary give details, Now a word about rooms. We have with us which I need not repeat, for the post-conference this first day double the number we have ever had excursion. The elaborate program posted in the at hotel headquarters before. The unexpected main hall shows what good things the cottagers success of this meeting is our only embarrassment. here have prepared for us. To-night a comedy, We learned at seven o'clock last night of the size with music and in the of the recitations, dining-room ; party coming. The hotel manager, Mr. to-morrow night an Adirondack camp-fire at Shady Davis, has done everything in his power that we Ledge, with glee club, orchestra, brass band, could possibly ask, and will continue to do so. He humorous entertainment, and land and marine fire- has declined guests paying nearly double, to save works afternoon athletic us. ; Thursday games of rooms for When we found that these were various kinds, including a base-ball match between insufficient he at once offered to run a free steamer the librarians and the cottagers. As to this I to Clayton and furnish needed extra rooms at the assured the committee that only two of our mem- best hotels there at his own expense. He and I bers were sure which end of the bat was for the took the steamer due before the A.L.A. train to hands, and the committee promist a cottage nine give this notice, so that those who were unwilling " " equally proficient. I move that Messrs. Crunden to double up here might go at once to rooms I2O THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

alone in Clayton. Our boat was late. The size and figures, I was obliged to reduce by a quarter of the party led to the firing up of another steamer, the divisions in each class. But as, on the other and, before our boat had touched the dock, yours hand, I gained two places in many classes by the had left it with all on board. Mr. Davis and I improved local list, I found that I seldom lost came down with you only by making two danger- much that was important by the change. ous jumps across clear water. He had his own Mr. FLETCHER. Do I understand that if you boat, the Farrington, fired up, and took back a load were to make your large classification over again to Clayton; and during the week she will run, after you would use only the 26 characters rather the close of the exercises here, to the large hotel than the 36? at the Thousand Island Park, two miles below, Mr. CUTTER. lam not prepared to say that. carrying both ways free any who prefer the extra The chief difficulties of classification come when room to be had only in this way. one gets down into the details, and I have not For fear that more excursions have been pro- worked this out in detail yet. Some advantages vided than the members care to make, I will take over the Athenaeum scheme it certainly has, but I a show of hands as to the number wishing to go. think I discern some dangers in the dim distance. We thought that on these large steamers specially There will be, I fear, an incapacity in a few places chartered for us, there would be ample room and for a subdivision minute enough to meet the as good opportunity for committee meetings and wants of a very large library, unless it shall aban- our little 7x9 conferences as at the hotel. The don its simplicity of notation in classes like local result showed that the majority wisht to include history and geography, and permit in them a slight all the excursions. mixture of letters and figures. But if that is made, Mr. BROWN reminded members that the return- should think that the points in which the new plan trip certificates must be used within three days of is inferior to the old will be fewer and less impor- final adjournment. tant than the points in which it is superior. Mr. DEWEY moved that the final adjournment Mr. GREEN. Are you willing to make an index of this conference so that it be on Saturday, September 10, to it, as Mr. Dewey has done to his, can till which time we should still be together in a be used as readily ? kind of traveling conference. Voted. Mr. CUTTER. Yes. I consider an index abso- Mr. EDMANDS read a paper on lutely necessary to the easy use of any classifica- tion. I have at the Athenaeum an index to the LETTERING BOOKS. classification used there it is on cards larger ; kept (Seep. 12.) at present, but is to be printed as soon as I have Mr. NELSON, after expressing the author's regret worked out that scheme into all its details. at not being present, read Mr. MANN. As a library grows, will it be Mr. FREDERICK SAUNDERS'S paper necessary to change the notation ? A SKETCH OF DR. G. FIRST LIBRA- J. COGSWELL, Mr. CUTTER. I began with the idea of making RIAN OF THE ASTOR LIBRARY. several notations for libraries of different sizes,

This will l>e in the : ( published hereafter Library the list of which would have read as follows journal.) No. i. For a library of 1,000 volumes. (N. B. I do not recommend to use so little President POOLE. It has been thought best any library classification as this. The smallest will by our sagacious Secretary, seconded by myself, on library account of the crowded program, to continue this find No. 2 better.) session till six o'clock. Voted. No. 2. For a library of 1,000-5,000 volumes. Mr. CUTTER gave his paper (N. B. For a library of this size having a pros- pect of considerable increase, I recommend No. A NOTATION FOR SMALL LIBRARIES. 3 or No. 4.)

(Seep. 14.) No. 3. For a library of 5,000-10,000 volumes. Mr. S. S. GREEN. How does that differ dis- (N. B. A rapidly growing library of this size will tinctively from your classification for a large put off the necessity of changing for a longer time ? library by using No. 4 or No. 5). Mr. is CUTTER. The classing in the main the No. 4. For a library of 10,000-20,000 volumes. difference lies in same. The the marking. I have (N. B. No. 5 is but little fuller, and will last 26 principal classes instead of 29, and, using for longer). the sub-classes letters instead of letters 25 only, 36 No. 5. For a library of 20,000-100,000 volumes. PROCEEDINGS. 121

These several notations would have been sub- second work remaining untouched, and the stantially the same, except that No. 2 would have author-marks of all the rest. had more divisions than No. I, and No. 3 more This elasticity, common to all alfabetic and than No. 2, and so on. decimal systems, by which an entire rearrangement I the 26 No. perhaps would have had only main is avoided, is a very great advantage. classes, possibly not even so many. No. 2 would Mr. EDMANDS read his paper on have divided some of these classes, using, however, the same notation as No. i, but adding to it. For ALPHABETING. instance, No. I might have had a class English liter- (Seep. 16, 122.) ature marked Y. No. 2 would certainly find it Mr. PHINNEY. The of necessary to take out English fiction and make principles arrangement set forth by Mr. Edmands I find to be in a separate place for it, say YF. No. 3 would no general those that I have worked out and have doubt differentiate English poetry YP, and No. 4 myself followed in the cards in the of English drama, YD. Whether I shall publish arranging Library the of Rochester. Of course the differ- these as separate lists, I do not know. Perhaps University of the same end ence between glancing down a printed page and variety printing would accomplish ; over cards one at a time modifies the subjects and marks that were to be used by the turning appli- cation of those I have here a code of smallest library (corresponding to list No. i) being principles. in the the additional short rules which show how the general principles put largest type ; subjects recommended for No. 2 to be in the next size of have been applied to our card catalogue, which embraces authors, type, and so on. title-subjects (not systematic and in titles. I will read them. A small and slowly growing library may be subjects), part in this with few subdivisions and Cards are to be arranged alphabetically by words arranged way, ; and sentences, when it has grown large, if it has a card catalogue, by except can be at time if 1. The initial of a title is any subject rearranged any ; but, disregarded, however its catalogue is printed, the opportunity may be transposed. taken when it reprints (as all libraries do from 2. Personal names precede other words spelled time to time, if they print at all), to rearrange like them. those parts which need subdivision. Note, ist, 3. Names of sovereigns distinguished by num- that these parts can be subdivided without touch- bers precede the same names without numbers. ing at all the rest of the library, and, 2d, that 4. Several cards headed by the name of the same even in the that is the are thus : books him part rearranged general person arranged (a) by ; (b) works remain as they were, and, 3d, that even in books compiled, edited, or translated by him; (c) that of the is not and written or edited in with others part subject which general, books conjunction ; so the class-marks have about him others. requires subdivision, only (d) lives, memoirs, etc., ; (e) titles authors' to be altered (by adding one or more characters 5. Several alike are arranged by to them). There is no need whatever of altering surnames. the author-marks. For example, if we wanted to 6. Several titles alike as far as a numeral are divide English history F 41 into nine parts, and we arranged in the natural order of the numeral. had already the marks 7. Reference cards follow all other cards headed F4I. A24 by the same word or phrase. F4i. B79 8. Various spellings of the same person's name F4i. 084 are disregarded. F4I. Dl6 President POOLE announced the of which the first is to go into the ninth period, the Committee on Resolutions, Mellen Chamberlin of second to remain the general works, the among Boston, W: E. Foster of Providence, C: C. Soule third to the second and the fourth to the period, of Boston. fifth, we should have Committee on N. Larned of F4i. B79 Nominations, J. C: A. Nelson of R. B. Poole F4I2. 84 Buffalo, New York, of New F: M. Crunden of St. W: I. - Di6 York, Louis, Fletcher of Amherst. A24 the whole change consisting in adding the 2, 5, Mr. DEWEY moved to begin the morning session and 9 to the class-marks, the whole mark of the at 9.00 A.M., because of extent of program. Voted 122 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

SECOND SESSION. For king and country For ladies (WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 31.) For the last time, etc. President POOLE called the meeting to order at My own impression is that the wisest rule is that the articles should never be given weight as factors President POOLE. we had the mat- Yesterday in alphabeting. This is the only rule which can be ter of alphabeting brought up, with strictures on given of equal simplicity, and this seems to me a various indexes Mr. Cutter's Poole's catalogue, sufficient reason for it. Index, etc. I am glad the matter has been " Under his heading, Connected words," Mr. So far as Poole's Index is concerned, brought up. Edmands cites from Poole : I would say that the nucleus is now more than Book old, and is not as scientifically arranged 40 years Book auction (2 words) as it would be if done now. The new edition is Bookbinding (i word) largely the work of Mr. Fletcher, and, for my Book plates (2 words) I think it is done. I shall call on part, admirably Book stall Mr. who will have to on Fletcher, something say Book thief the of the I will just say that subject alphabeting. This is one of the most difficult points I have met there will be a five supplement to the Poole's year in the whole matter of alphabeting. Mr. Edmands's Index. It will be made up in the [Applause.] rule is the one which I think has generally been same as the Index, so that the volumes, as way followed, namely, that those titles in which the come out, can be numbered 2, etc. They they 3, word Book, for instance, is a separate word should will cost the same rate per page as the Index. all stand (alphabeted by the next word) before all It is not known how pages there will be. yet many those in which Book is but a part of a word, We hope to make the Supplement pay the This would give us : and that is all we ask. That expenses of printing, Book auction is more than the Index has done, as yet. I may Book plates that I am still out of on it. say $3,000 pocket Book stall The are own I have been plates my property. Book thief to the remaining copies of the edition trying get Bookbinding, etc. from the publishers, but have not succeeded as But there comes in this prime difficulty that the yet, although my check has been in Mr. Soule's same combination is, by equally good authorities, hands for some time. I will call on Mr. Fletcher treated sometimes as one word and sometimes as now for some remarks on two. This is the case with Book worm, which, if treated as two would be before Bookbinding, ALPHABETING. words, if as one, a considerable distance after it. After interested I Mr. FLETCHER. I was much yestet- considerable backing and filling on this point, day in Mr. Edmands's most judicious discussion of have decided that the only safe rule is to treat all the this subject, especially as the alphabeting of adjective use of nouns as constituting them a part titles in Poole's Index, to which he made frequent of a compound, to be alphabeted as a consolidated reference, in the main commendatory, was mostly word, whether printed as one or as two, with or my own work. With nearly all his decisions of without the hyphen. questions connected with alphabeting I agreed, Variations from this rule in Poole or in the and most of the variations in Poole from his Cooperative Index under my charge must be principles must be set down as accidental slips. ascribed to the hesitation with which I have come But there are a few points on which there is yet to this conclusion. room for discussion and Mr. has in I differ from Mr. Ed- ; Edmands kindly Another point which placed his MS. in my hands, to enable me to mands is where he attempts to make a distinction the touch briefly upon some of them in order. between a word used as a subject-heading and Mr. Edmands favors considering the article in same word used as part of a compound title. He alphabeting titles where it occurs after the first instances word, and criticises the practice of Poole in such Heat, causes of cases as: of the sun For his country Theory of For the king as an example of confusion resulting from the PROCEEDINGS. 123

failure to observe this distinction. 1 have not arranging a, 6, ii as if spelled ae, oc, uc, but I see found sucn a distinction necessary or desirable. Mr. Dewey adopts the new plan. The distinction I have made is the simple one Mr. LINDERFELT. The Germans themselves between a word used in its real or natural sense are changing over. The tendency in works for and the same word used in a fanciful or arbitrary general circulation is to use the e as if it were sense,- as written out. Against this, however, is the custom History, abstract of which is becoming universal of printing all um- in modern education lauted vowels with the two dots rather than History of an adventurer written out. the Mr. TYLER. Hinrichs after last title belonging to the class of fanciful uses, puts vEschylus Aschbach. I should like to know if this is the and the word History being repeated instead of of other or if there is kind of being replaced by the dash. usage catalogues, any to reason, even in German, for putting a latinized As plurals I have wavered considerably, but am still word in this order. disposed to adhere to the practice of plac- the Mr. VAN NAME. There is another considera- ing plurals after the singulars, though strict tion which is not unlikely to finally decide this alphabetical order may be violated. This is a prin- question of usage in Germany, and that is the ciple, however, which I would apply to a printed The e does not there. It is index or a written one in which many titles are philological. belong a of the modification of the vowel caused before the eye at one time, but would hesitate to only sign to a by an e or / in the following syllables, and the apply card or a dictionary catalogue. authority of scholars will be the The question of placing the article after titles naturally against was writing of it. touched upon by Mr. Edmands. My prac- Mr. CRUNDEN. I don't think we to tice has been to use the article in this way when ought go it into philology a great deal. The matter is seems necessary in order to preserve the full prac- of tical, and lies just here. The Germans distin- understanding the meaning. When used at all, I guish between the names Moller and Moeller (M61- am satisfied that it should always be placed ler). Now in alphabeting, if the e is not regarded, after the whole phrase to which it belongs, rather it mixes names which are different.* than after the first word, either with commas or up really Mr. LINDERFELT. I don't see as that will parentheses. make any difference in the arrangement. Ten to Mr. GRISWOLD. How have you distinguished one Miiller or Muller, Moller or Moller, will be Bookworm in the real sense and in the artificial ? Miller when he gets over here anyway. [Laughter.] Mr. FLETCHER. By repeating the word in- Mr. CRUNDEN. But I don't think we are stead of using the dash. called on to naturalize a man before he has ap- Mr. SWIFT. I should like to ask some one plied for papers. who is more familiar with the German than usage Mr. NAME. It that " " " " VAN might happen Muller I am about the transposition of ein and eine (Mueller) would be separated from Muller by inter- in alphabeting. vening names, e. g., Muff. The better plan would Mr. LINDERFELT. Strictly speaking, there are be to treat them as distinct vowel-letters (which " " they cases where ein would not be transposed ; but, really are) and place u in alphabetic order imme- as a matter of in it is safe to usage alphabeting, say diately .after or before u; and follow the same that there are no exceptions that all should be course with the other umlaut-vowels. I can see no reason transposed. good why any Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Crunden's point is exceptions should be made in alphabetical ar- " " e. the the should be dis- * rangement, why, g., e.g. In the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographic, v. 22 : 122, regarded. I find that the German catalogs and there are n Mollers and 13 Mollers grouped. Now a strict of the e would result in a Lorenz have introduced this confusion, but see disregard series, Moller, A; Moller, C. F. no reason Americans should bother with Bartold; Moller, Bernhard; Moller, A.; Moller, why Daniel Daniel; Moller,- W. ; Moller, Ed.; Moller, Gustav; them. As to compounds, I think with Mr. Moller, Heinr. ; Moller, Heinr. Ferd ; Moller, Joach. ; Mol- Fletcher that the to consider only way compounds ler, Joach ; Moller, Johann; Moller, Johannes; Moller, J. is as G. G. etc. and compounds. ; Moller, J. P., Now, Moller, J. G.P., Moller, Gustav, are father and son, but have interposed between them Mr. GREEN. There is another thing which in the alphabet three men of different stock and different to be considered the use of the umlaut in ought names, interposed simply because their names happen to be German. I incline to stick to the old method, spelled somewhere near alike. E. C. R. 124 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

well taken. It is that we have and and u and v till their as dis- the same problem j they won places in English with Smith and Smyth and Smythe. tinct letters, and it seems rather quaint to us If these were regarded as the same word, it would already to read the catalogs where they are mixt mix up families un pardonably. There would be up as one letter. Examination of the trend of just as much reason for putting Smollet in the alphabetic science for the past dozen years, in midst of the Smiths as in putting Smyth. We which great advances have been made, convinces would ri't think in American usage of mixing A. A. me that the umlauts are to take their places after Muller among the Millers. O is a discrimination the a, o, and u in the alphabet as distinct letters, in in as much as and that there is not the recognized both writing and pronunciation, j v, and and no logic which finds no place for an addi- slightest chance that these sounds will long be if to a as ae tional discrimination, but simply neglects it, as written ae oe ue. To continue alphabet what is there were not there, can stand. seems to be trying to revolve the wheel of time In preparing a bibliography which I have just backward. finished and which has a very large proportion of This would make it clear that the umlauts ought German titles, I examined a large number of Ger- to be kept together after the plain letter, just as

about the v i u. This course the man bibliographies, and, while the usage was j and follow and gives half and half, I concluded that on the whole the minimum of confusion, avoiding the evils of both weight of usage was toward the recognition of the the other plans. umlaut as if it included an e. In our arrangement at Columbia we have not Mr. DEWEY. If we look at a little history of yet ventured farther than to keep all the umlauted language and alfabets and printing, we shall get names after the same without umlauts, putting some important side light on this question. The Muller, A., after Muller, W., thus getting all of use of the e seems to be a blunderbus method of each family together. indicating the umlaut which has attained a wide Mr. GREEN. I should like to know what Mr. currency and is now going out of use. No scholar Cutter intends to do about this matter in his re- claims that tttere is any e there. There was a vised rules. sound with no independent letter to indicate it. It Mr. CUTTER. In the first edition I advised was allied to a, and a markt a was adopted. In arranging umlaut vowels as if written ae, oe, ue. capitals the face of the letter fills the whole body Afterwards I was dissatisfied with this. The a is of the type, and there is no space above for the an a modified in sound, and therefore accented two dots, which could only be put on with kerns. (compare the French e and e and e). The accent As a rule the printers had no umlaut caps. (umlaut) is often written, and was formerly often When the letter occurred it had to be represented printed as a quirl much resembling a small e over by the simple a or by adding something to it, and the a. Printers who had not the letter a with dots the e was added. In the Roman alphabet when a or a little e over it, represented the accent by put- tail is wanted for any luckless kite, e is apt to be ting an e after the a. This they did especially chosen. We use constantly what scholars call the with capitals, because there is not usually room on " servil to indicate that a vowel is for accents over a e," preceding the body of the type capital ; long, as in pin, pine, pan, pane, etc. We have a but the practice was in time extended to lower- similar case in our ng, which is of course not an n case letters. The e therefore is not in its origin a followed by a g, but a distinct sound represented letter but an accent, and it should not have the by tacking on the diacritic letter to n to which it is rights of a letter. I don't think this is a very allied. Now, so long as there is only this two-let- strong argument, but it moved me (as I found the ter way to represent the sound, there is no question Germans nearly equally divided in their practice) that we ought to follow both letters in alfabeting. to recommend to the A.L.A. Committee on Con- " But we thought we had already passed that time densed Cataloging rules the rule that The Ger- with the that and umlauts, and a few years later a cata- man ae, oe, ue are always to be written a, 6, ii, log arranged as if the e were written would be de- arranged as a, o, u." The committee assented, and cidedly old fashioned. The new letter has taken this is now the A.L.A. rule. As I said, I do not its place as a distinct letter. Printers have it in think the etymological argument of much weight in their box, and the best offices now have umlauts deciding this practical question. Well-established on caps as well as on lower case. This is done usage would be of much more importance; but, by cutting down the body slightly to allow space since the German custom does not decide the for the dots. The same evolution went on with i matter for us, I am inclined to let the linguistic ar- PROCEEDINGS. 125

gument have the casting vote, and I have in the Mr. SWIFT. But take the case of the Boston new edition of my Rules reversed the directions Public Library. We have a narrow space between given in the first edition. the cases, not enough for another case, but wide As to the objection drawn from mixing up fami- enough for this plan. lies, it is not to the point. A catalog is not a A little misunderstanding and talk at cross pur- genealogical dictionary. Moreover, families are poses was cleared by already mixed up and separated on every page of Mr. DEWEY. Mr. Swift's point is that if you every catalog printed. have a narrow aisle you must have some such Allow me to add, in regard to the inconsistencies system, in order to utilize a building which cannot of arrangement which Mr. Edmands points out in be built over on the wiser plan. the Boston Athenasum catalog, that when I began President POOLE. But if you are building, get printing that catalog there were no rules for arrange- the room some way, and, if you want more room, ment, or indeed for cataloging, that went at all take it. into minutiae. I had to work out a system for Mr. DEWEY. No one questions the wisdom of " myself; and it was my experience in carrying the this advice to take all the land you want" for first two volumes of the catalog through the press those who live on the prairies where land can be that led to the compilation and publication of the had for 50 cents or so an acre. But I am just now " Rules for a Dictionary Catalogue." It is not to the victim of the other circumstances that our Presi- be wondered at, therefore, that there are traces, dent seems to forget exist. Land in our vicinity is principally in the earlier volumes, of considerable worth about $500,000 per acre. Add to that item wavering of opinion, especially as the attention of the second, that on all sides we are surrounded by all concerned in that work had to be closely fixed very costly buildings that only a millionaire could on weightier matters of the law. demolish. Our campus is a vest-pocket edition Mr. POOLE. I suggest a committee to consider of a fit size to frame and hang in a dining-room. this whole matter and to report next year. In our case the only possibility is to go well toward Mr. CUTTER. I hope it will rather be in time the stars (my plan is for 10 stories of book stacks) for the new edition of my Rules. and to get every aid from mechanical devices for Mr. DEWEY. I move that the Cooperation economizing room two things which our able Committee be requested to report a code of rules President insists are never necessary. In our for alphabeting in the Library journal. Voted. case the abolition of the library seems the only Mr. FLINT. I hope we shall not make too alternativ. great haste. The matter is important. We should In justice to this Museum plan I must point out take steps to secure uniformity. that if we could get along with a narrower aisle four faces of books could be Mr. SWIFT read Mr. HARRIS' paper eight-inch suspended, leaving a 4O-inch aisle out of the 72-inch space, THE BRITISH MUSEUM SYSTEM OF PRESS-MARKS. while we should put in only two faces and have (See p. 21.) only a 28-inch aisle. Mr. DEWEY. This ingenious skeme will hardly Mr. CRUNDEN read his paper be clear to those who have not seen a model or BUSINESS METHODS IN LIBRARY MANAGEMENT. studied the diagrams sent with the paper. This wide doorway between these parlors happily illus- (See p. 25.} trates. The Museum aisles are about this width President POOLE introduced Mr. James Yates, and are much lighter and roomier than our of Leeds, Eng., reminding the Association that narrower, compacter plan. With a six-foot aisle Mr. Yates was present at the original meeting of we should insert a i6-inch double-face case in the the A.L.A. in 1876, speaking of his kind recep- center and have a 28-inch aisle left on each side tion of the American deputation on their visit to without having to move the suspended cases. A Great Britain in 1877, and welcoming him in behalf 28-inch aisle works very well if lighted by elec- of the Association. I listened tricity. But if the i6-inch case were suspended, it Mr. YATES. have with great pleasure I he would give a s6-inch aisle on its free side, if only to the paper read by Mr. Crunden, and think one case were suspended. might have laid greater stress upon his illustra- President POOLE. I don't see any advantage in tion of the necessity of the chief librarian having the plan. It is better to build wide enough to put full control over his staff. If we take an ordinary in his in another case of shelves if necessary. work shop, the employer is bound own 126 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

interest to see that his employees are provided far #s time and strength allows, is his bounden with true and good work tools, and that when duty. I am surprised that a paper so utterly at they flinch they must be replaced. variance with our common library orthodoxy, be home that Another point should pressed ; is, should be passed without question. the cooperation of the press in our work. There Mr. MANN. And yet Mr. Van Name is right. is no doubt that the members of the press are Much of such work is supplanted by bibliographies. under great obligations to our libraries. Recently President POOLE. I believe in subject cata- the Editor of the Yorkshire Post remarked that he logs. I have never found at Chicago that we sometimes would find it an advantage to have the carried the subject cataloging too far. We go library to use throughout the night. very much into such matters, and I hope that next It is a fact that the librarian must possess and year we shall have a paper on the value of subject exercise all the qualities of a business man. . catalogs. Mr. CRUNDEN. About the way to get this help Mr. FLETCHER. Perhaps I may offer a few from the press : Reporters like it if you have words by way of an irenicon on this subject. I can items sketched out in such a way that they certainly agree in the main with both Mr. Van take them, and present them as news which they Name and Dr. Poole. Few of us would fail to have gathered. recognize the necessity of such a subject catalog President POOLE. Mr. Crunden, you under- as Dr. Poole describes, at least until something stand, is from St. Louis, where enterprise has to be better is offered to take its place. But on the worked up in this way. [Laughter.] other hand, there is certainly no duty of a librarian Now, in Chicago we have about a dozen re- to his successors more important than that he shall porters in the library every day, and if we give not undertake and bequeath to them elaborate them one item they make a column of it. undertakings in the line of cataloging work, which Mr. CRUNDEN. You see there is so little stir- will become a burden and nothing else. It is to ring in Chicago that they are ready to pick up any- be hoped that through our present cooperative thing for news. [Laughter.] work we shall soon have the means of relieving the libraries from the of Mr. VAN NAME gave his paper individual necessity keeping up a great deal of the close analytical work which THE LIBRARIAN'S DUTY TO HIS SUCCESSOR. forms so large a part of our present subject (This has not been furnishedfor publication.} catalogs. Mr. I that Mr. Van DEWEY. supposed Name Mr. R. B. POOLE read his paper was going to say, in closing, that the librarian's dutv THE BRITISH MUSEUM CATALOG AS IN USE IN THE is to leave on record what he carries in his head, LIBRARY OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN so that there can gradually be gathered a collection ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK CITY. of subject helps, greater than any one head could ever hold. By the old skeme, if the librarian is at (Seep. 28.) dinner, or on vacation, or engaged, or in heaven, Mr. TYLER. When I went into the Y.M.C.A. you are utterly destitute of all the priceless infor- library and saw this system in use, I .could hardly mation which he has acquired in his lifetime among believe my eyes. these books. Is there any duty to his successor so Mr. CARR. The suggestions in Mr. Poole's great as leaving clearly arranged notes of all this, paper, and the work shown by him, are especially so that the new incumbent may begin approxi- interesting to me, and encourage the continued mately where the old one left off, and go on with hope that sooner or later some form of a manus- the great and good work ? All my experience and cript catalog will be devised which, for certain observation tend strongly to this conclusion the uses, will prove more satisfactory than one upon libraries (witness Harvard) where most of this is cards. For, while the many and undeniable ad- done are the ones that are doing most for Ameri- vantages of the usual card catalog are well recog- of the can scholarship and letters. nized, yet, considered from the standpoint I yield to none in appreciating the cost of such public, or as a continual user, it proves very work, and the necessity of cooperation in bringing unsatisfactory, and at times almost a nuisance, out subject bibliographies. But after we have got and always extremely slow to consult. Hence I all we hope to get, there remains an enormous do not take at all kindly to a card catalog. After amount which the librarian may record for the some eight years' search and study upon this gen- benefit of his successors. To do this I believe, so eral question of a better form, or of a substitute PROCEEDINGS. 127

as in the for it, either by some sort of sheet form, point with several cuts in the last Library notes,

British Museum practiced, or that now shown by no. 5, p. 31-37. Mr. Poole, or the Leyden form as shown at the Mr. DEWEY exhibited Lake George meeting, or else one of the many BURR'S PATENT LOCKED CARD ROD FOR CARD other devices from various minds working in the CATALOGS. same direction (some more and some less well of known), I have finally come to almost despair Long experiments have proved the great supe- its accomplishment, chiefly for lack of an adequate riority of the rod that fastens cards at the bottom temporary binder. but many have been dissatisfied with even the Out of several .dozen variations known to the best devices for keeping it in place and manipu- stationery trade or found in the files of the patent lating it. This device, made plain by the two office (of the majority of which I have obtained working models before you, is simple, effectiv, con- samples or patent copies), while some answer well venient, and the Library Bureau says it will apply " " for other varied applications, none fill the bill it cheaply to card cases. completely for this purpose; that is, to prove of The rod, instead of passing out through the use be or back of the is in thru the front. It easy ; readily filled, changed, replenisht ; drawer, put admit of freedom in access to the leaves and all has this small ornamental knob, in which is the of the leaves slot for a catches it and holds parts ; and, speaking generally, ap- Yale key. A spring proximate sufficiently to the usual flexibility of a it firmly in place. The key prest in and given bound book, and yet admit of change and interpo- a half turn relieves the rod from the spring. Of lation without too much machinery and bulk. course one key fits all the cases in any one library, The same thing is wanted for many commercial so that each cataloger entitled to add or remove and I am told of a in cards have and all others are purposes ; person Chicago may it, prevented who for several years has made a standing offer from tampering with them. The device seems of $500 for a suitable binder of that character to worthy general adoption. hold salesmen's lists and the like. I price fully Mr. CARR read his paper believe that what is sought there is the one thing FREQUENCY OF REGISTRATIONS OF BOOK-TAKERS. needful in this library connection. Mr. MANN. What objection do you find to (See p. 30.) such temporary binders as allow the passage of a Mr. EDMANDS reported for the Committee on cord through holes in the sheets ? Nominations the Executive Committee for the

: Messrs. Van Mr. CARR. Such binders are sufficiently flexi- coming year Name, Lamed, Dewey, and who were elected. ble when they contain few sheets, but when they Foster, Cutter, get thick they cannot be opened to the hinge. Mr. S: S. GREEN gave the Mr. MANN. I find that two hundred manila AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. sheets can be opened conveniently, but, if in any The report of the Treasurer has been examined, case they cannot, it is only necessary to make two with vouchers, and found correct. Entries in his books of one. As to the objection urged to the use books were shown to the committee, covering of cords that it is difficult to reinsert the cords transactions of the previous Treasurer subsequent when new sheets are inserted, if holes are made at a to the date of his report. Vouchers for those definite distance from the front edge, and from the entries were not seen by the committee, but the bottom of the sheets, the sheets can be shaken entries seemed to be correct. The balance in the down upon a smooth surface, and needles can be hands of the Treasurer is invested as follows : passed through the holes without difficulty. Middlesex Institution of Savings, Con- Mr. FLETCHER. I would like to ask Mr. cord, Mass $78 93 if he knows Mr. Burr's new idea of a Dewey Grand Rapids (Michigan) Savings Bank . 260 07 binder. A was in the and sample room, by request Temporary loan, for which the Treasurer Mr. BROWN exhibited the and binder, explained holds himself responsible 58 oo its workings.

Mr. DEWEY also described some other devices, " and came to the conclusion that the Common- The committee recommends that the Proceed- " sense binder is on the whole the most practical ings be printed as hitherto, and that Mr. Cutter, thus far, but referred to his discussion of this very who edits them, shall have intrusted to him the 128 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

power of making such abridgments in the reports without damage. Our old cases, made in the days of the papers and Proceedings as it seems to him of blanket sheets, were arranged for laying vol- wise to make. umes flat. Our later cases are made in square SAMUEL S. GREEN, } sections of the size of a quarto paper, so that the N. Committee. J. LARNED, volumes may be shelved either way. I prefer to C. C. SOULE, place them upright, as making them more acces- The was report accepted. sible and saving space, and also preventing damage President POOLE that several hundred proposed to binding caused by dragging heavy volumes along extra of the be struck off and copies Proceedings the shelves. This, of course, can be avoided by sold to members at cost price. using sliding shelves or the roller shelves which I Mr. moved that extra be CRUNDEN 500 copies described at Milwaukee, and which we use for and sold to members at cost printed price. heavy folios with perfect satisfaction. Mr. GREEN. The committee considered this, I wish opinions on the relative durability of it to but thought best go on as heretofore, without leather and cloth for books little used. I have " I move to amend if in the change. by adding concluded that cloth is decidedly more durable as of the Finance Committee the cost will opinion well as cheaper on first cost, and so have deter- permit." mined to bind all reference copies of periodicals Several rose to speak, and, as the hour was late, and other books not much used in cloth. I have the whole matter was laid on the table. On motion found old reference books in original cloth bind- of Mr. Green the session was declared adjourned ing in much better condition than others which at 11.50. were rebound in leather some years later. I tried THIRD SESSION. buckram, but did n't find it a success, as the letter- ing was illegible. (THURSDAY, SEPT. i, A.M.) 9.15 Mr. UTLEY. As to buckram, I first tried President Poole in the chair. pasting on labels, but now our binder stains the Mr. VAN NAME for the Executive Committee place with a dark green aniline dye, and the let- moved that the Executive Commiitee lie requested ters are legible enough. There is no trouble. not to nominate the same for two person president Mr. CRUNDEN. I am glad to hear this, because consecutive Voted. The committee also years. that was the only objection to buckram. asked that an informal ballot be taken and put in Mr. R. B. POOLE. I have come to the same the hands of the committee without announcement, conclusion to bind a good many books in cloth. as a to the for guide preferences president. We bind newspapers in cloth or % sheep. Mr. DEWEY. The committee do not consider Mr. SWIFT. The trouble in getting a volume this in sense an but as the any election, simply out if kept flat would be obviated by inserting a quickest way of asking members who they would thin shelf between the books. like for next president year. Mr. LARNED. If you bind in duck, I don't Mr. DEWEY. On account of the limited time, think you will have the difficulty about wearing need to be in as brief a form as papers given in pulling out. I don't see how newspapers, except possible. the smaller ones, can be stood on end. Mr. COLE read his paper Mr. NELSON. We might take a lesson from A QUICKER WAY OF MEASURING BOOKS. the mercantile houses. There duck is universally used to cover as we cover our acces- (See p. jj-.) ledgers sions catalogs. Mr. UTLEY gave orally his paper on Mr. UTLEY. Our newspapers are in constant NEWSPAPER VOLUMES IN A LIBRARY. use. Those bound in duck show very little signs (See p. 39.) of wear. Mr. CRUNDEN. Mr. Utley's plan of binding Mr. NELSON. At the Astor Library, news- newspapers in quarterly volumes is unquestionably papers are, next to Patent Office reports, the most the best one. Such volumes are as thick as can be used. securely bound or conveniently handled. Mr. R. B. POOLE. In our library, too, they are As to shelving newspapers, the folios must very much used. necessarily lie flat. Several may, without serious Mr. WESTON FLINT. In the Patent Office inconvenience, be placed on one shelf, and thus Library we bind large folio drawings of patents save space. Quartos can, I think, stand on edge in strong half morocco, and place on end, but PROCEEDINGS. 129

the volumes from protect rubbing by lining the them that must be kept together. I regret that of the top shelves with soft leather, and inserting the hurried drawing and photograph do not show thin wooden or partitions every two three vol- more fully this case, which has solved the difficul- to them from down. umes, keep falling These ties we had to contend with in arranging our peri- books are in constant use and wear well. I think odical files for use. They are so simple that any if there were a separate partition for each volume messenger can keep them in order by having the would last as if they fully long as placed hori- files numbered and lettered to correspond with the zontally, and are much more convenient for spaces in the cases between the rods and shelves. reference, as we have the text arranged above the Mr. BASSETT. I found that we had some books in drawings corresponding order. which were being injured by being drawn out. I ADJUSTABLE PERIODICAL CASES. pasted strips of ordinary listing across the shelves, and it has worked to prevent wear. I As there may be no better opportunity, I will admirably don't think we could find anything better. explain the present plan of arranging unbound Mr. EDMANDS. What kind of cloth is used periodicals in the Patent Office Library, where we for the binding commended ? cloth has have nearly 500 at present. In order to have Ordinary little strength. Is there a suitable cloth ? them together by classes, and for immediate Mr. CRUNDEN. I think buckram would serve. reference by any one, I planned, with the aid of We rebind well-worn books that are hardly worth one of my assistants at the time, a periodical case, leather binding, in cloth. This costs cents as which has proven quite valuable to us. All our 25 against cents for one-half morocco; and the files of periodicals have to be kept in order for 45 binding lasts as as the book. lot sent reference, so we use Hutchinson's Strap and File long Every to the bindery contains a number of such books. Binder, as the most convenient, having each binder Mr. BAIN. We bind books that are much used fully lettered on back and side. These file bind- in one-half roan, with results. Refer- ers are placed in the case as shown by the photo- satisfactory I if ence books bind in buckram ; intended for graph and drawing. This case may be briefly de- permanency, in one-half morocco. Newspapers scribed as an ordinary book case, with thin ad- are in continual use with us. The roller system justable or movable shelves, but rather short, not has been in use, and I am much pleased with it. over two feet long. Through these shelves about Mr. GREEN asked to hear from Mr. E. G. Allen one-third distant from the front edge are bored of London on the subject of binding. one-quarter inch holes an inch apart, or arranged President POOLE introduced Mr. Allen, who had as desired, but all the shelves in one case must be just come in. perforated precisely alike. Through these shelves Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President of the A.L. A. and pass galvanized iron rods from top to bottom as members of the same : I wish to thank you for a shown in the drawing, the rods dropping into kind welcome to me, a stranger. Technically holes in the bottom of the case and passing speaking, I am, perhaps, a foreigner, but the through a board at the top of the case, so that creative intellect of all time the each rod can be taken out or greatest and great- changed separately " est master of humanity has said that one touch without disturbing the rest, by simply dropping of nature makes the whole world kin." I am all the shelves in the case to the bottom. The satisfied with this kinship of humanity, but more shelves are easily moved and set at any distance and so with the kinship of your country and mine. I apart up down on the rods without difficulty, to am not myself a librarian, but rather the essence fit large or small sizes of files, as desired, thus of one, supplying the raw material for the librarian permitting files of various sizes to be arranged to work up into that condition which Shakespeare close together, as seen in the photograph. One describes as "order which gives each thing view." great advantage of these rods is the separation of each It is generally admitted that the American people periodical file, so that there is no falling are distinguished for their high for the down in removing; besides their being back from intelligence, number of books are the they possess ; distinguished front and nearly out of sight, permits the file to be for the number of their libraries, and distinguished taken out and replaced easily; and, if a peri- odical for the number of their librarians. Hence I con- happens to have no file, it can just as well be clude that librarians are distinguished. I am put in its place without falling down, the rods happy to find myself in the of distin- being a sufficient support. I think this case might company guished men, and, let me add, of women, also. be used for pamphlets and other collections that are Privately I say that I look myself as a needed for constant reference, or for classes of may upon 130 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

second Columbus, having only this week dis- Mr. NORMAN C. PERKINS read his paper covered America a second time on my own HOW TO BIND PERIODICALS. account. (Seep. 44.) The question of binding is a wide subject, and, if Mr. LARNED. Is the value of a machine a little time were allowed, I should be happy to sewing in the preparation of periodicals generally under- prepare a paper on the subject in its general bear- stood ? I find it of the use. as it I shall be to answer greatest ings ; is, very glad any Mr. CRUNDEN. What is the custom as to bind- questions. ing more than one of such The latest thing in binding is the reintroduction copy general periodicals, as the Ninteenth Century or Quarterly Review ? of pigskin. It is very durable, looks very well, If you bind only one copy, do you let it circulate ? and is likely to supersede all others. We keep one copy for reference and Mr. CRUNDEN. We have been asking for in- generally circulate three formation as to the relative merits of cloth and copies. Prest. POOLE. You are about That is leather for books not much used. Don't you right. the way to do. think the cloth will last as long ? Mr. BAIN. I found in library that novels Mr. ALLEN. I think the cloth will last quite my were too much used. I introduced 20 of as long in the case of little-used books. copies the Nineteenth Century and put them into circula- Mr. RICHARDSON. You know you seldom find tion. It worked are much an old book bound in pig skin where covers are admirably. They taken. I look to the periodical part of a library as not badly warped. The binding lasts forever, most important. but won't it warp just as badly now as it used to ? Mrs. SANDERS. We bind all we can get. Mr. ALLEN. That warping was, I think, be- When half worn they are retired to reading- cause it was put on while it was green. tables. Mr. S. F. WHITNEY. I learned at Glasgow Mr. SWIFT. Our rule is the ten-year limit. that it was used almost exclusively there. It was Mr. askt took than that in CRUNDEN how many more thought America, as we have a few pig- one copy of any excepting the strictly popular peri- skins here, it might be found a cheap material odicals. I mean more than one copy of the Nine- when our tanners have learned how to prepare it. teenth the North American and the Mr. ALLEN. We sent some volumes bound in Century, like. Six hands were raised. pigskin to Mr. Van Name. He did n't quite ap- Of those who only took one copy, 15 let it circu- prove the looks, but I only claim advantage for late and 8 kept the one copy strictly for reference. their durability. Mr. DEWEY moved that Mr. Crunden be askt to Mr. SOULE. Pigskin has been used in this collect full data and prepare a paper on this country for several years in binding the law subject for next year. Voted. reports of some of the states. Librarians might Mr. DEWEY spoke of get information as to its value in standing wear and tear from the experience of those who have OUR CHEAP AND EFFECTIV CATALOG OF SALE used them. DUPLICATES. Mr. SWIFT read his paper. The duplicate question is one of the most puz- PAMPHLETS AND CONTINUATIONS OF SERIALS. zling with which librarians deal. To print a catalog of duplicates is too costly. One in ms (Seep. 40.) is annoying, for when wanted it is usually in the Mr. FLETCHER. I move, in view of the hands of some one at a distance who is patiently crowded program, that for the rest of the session reading it thru (or promising to do so" to-morrow ") we listen only to the reading of papers and omit to see if there is anything in his line that he will buy all discussion. or exchange for. After considerable study I pro- Mr. GRISWOLD. I would rather hear the dis- pose adopting this plan. First, we class all our cussions. The papers will be printed and can be duplicates, putting in the number of the in read subject anyway, while the discussions cannot if they pencil and arranging them in the duplicate room. are not had. Then for the catalog we use these new small Mr. DEWEY reinforced this idea. standard catalog slips recently put on the list by Mr. CUTTER. I move, as an amendment to Mr. the Library Bureau and only two fifths the length Fletcher's motion, that only such papers as are of the P sixe; i. e., 5 x 7.5 cm. On the Hammond likely to provoke discussion be read, and others typewriter 20 letters will go on the short way and passed. Voted as amended. PROCEEDINGS.

30 the long, thus giving ample room for a brief SOME THOUGHTS ON CLOSE CLASSIFICATION. and the is for mail- heading, catalog very compact (Seep. 46.) ing. These cards are, like the books, arranged by Prof. H. B. ADAMS gave an oral abstract of his subject numbers. Now, if a man comes to the li- paper brary, we take him to the books themselves as the LIBRARIES AS FACTORS IN best catalog and let him look over the subjects in SEMINARY WORK. which he is interested. A botanist will take time This paper will be published in the Johns Hop- to look over 300 duplicates in botany when he kins University Studies. could not be induced to over our 6,000 v. go finding Mr. BURR. The seminary method was in only one in 20 in his Exchanges are greatly subject. operation at Cornell University as early as 1877, facilitated this If it is not by grouping. practi- caried on very vigorously under Prof. C. K. Russell. cable to examin the books personally, the cards In our new library building we shall have not less for the topics in which the buyer is interested can than a dozen seminary rooms, just as each depart- be sent him mail or in large quantities by ex- by ment of natural science has its laboratory. press. He lays out the cards of those he wishes, Mr. BAIN. I found the want of some such and his list is and either he or already made up ; thing as this for a public library. I went to the we both can enter on the margin or back the price heads of various corporations, and got them to askt or offered. With the books when exchanged invite their men. I had a part of the library the cards can be sent, or they can be kept stampt opened and lit up. I had men who were engaged with date and name of person buying, and ar- in a special branch of manufacture come on a ranged in an alfabet, thus making a complete in- given evening, and had all the things relating to dex to books sold, which serves as a check on ir- that branch gathered and spread out for use. regularities. We have also compact and ingen- Then I had one of their number read a paper on ious blanks in which we have the record, with the subject. I found it a very profitable method. little labor, of the number of duplicates in each Mr. NELSON read his paper, subject, and also the number added and sold from that subject during the year. The balance must LIBRARIES FOR SPECIALISTS. with the on or some of course agree number hand, (See p. si.) one has been off our A com- carrying duplicates. Miss PLUMMER read her paper mon of this would add adoption plan wonderfully THE COLUMBIA COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY to the with which exchanges could be facility ECONOMY FROM A STUDENT'S STAND-POINT. made.

. (See p. S3-) I wish here to put on record my surprise at the The informal ballot for President of the A.L.A. short-sightedness of the founders of new libraries was taken and the votes in the hands of the and of the librarians who buy for them but neg- put Executive Committee without lect the large duplicate collections of our large li- counting. for braries. I have e. g. about 6,000 duplicates. On call Mr. CRUNDEN reported the Base-ball Among them are many books in good editions and Committee. in good condition, that any respectable library must The managers were given the power to appoint have. We would gladly sell them for less than the nine, and after careful consideration have made they can otherwise be had, as we need the room out the list : and also the to new books. And money buy yet pitcher Poole. men who ought to know better will ignore the catcher Winsor. duplicates and pay a higher price to pick up the ib Chamberlain. identical editions from second-hand catatogs. Of 2b Poole, R. B. the till crumble because duplicates preserved they 3b Rice. one will shelf I have no give them room, nothing s. s Dewey. to but I of valuable books suit- say ; speak really 1. f Cutter.

able in every way to form part of a reputable c. f Lamed. ex- library. We are making many extensiv r. f Green. changes, but wish to do still more. Umpire to be agreed on by the two sides. Mr. COLE, by permission, passed to the Printing Committee his paper on 132 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

stances of the value of maps, as historical docu- Dr. RICE read his paper ments.* THE RELATIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENTS TO Mr. LARNED gave the LIBRARIES. REPORT ON LIBRARY ARCHITECTURE. (See p. 54.} (Seep. 67.) Mr. CRUNDEN, in behalf of the Mercantile and Mr. FLETCHER. Has iron over Public libraries of St. Louis, invited the A.L.A. to any advantage wood with only two stories in a stack? Wood is meet there next year. Referred to a special Com- cheaper. mittee on Invitations : Messrs. Edmands, Larned Mr. CARR. An iron contractor at Grand and Linderfelt. Rapids offered to put in cases cheaper than the FOURTH SESSION. wood contractor. Mr. DEWEY. You mean the sheet-iron cases (THURSDAY EVENING, September i.) of course. The cast-iron form commonly used called to order at President Poole Meeting 8.40, costs vastly more than wood. the chair. in Mr. EDMANDS mentioned a building at Dan- Mr. BURR his gave paper ville, Pa. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT ITHACA. Mr. DEWEY spoke of the new library buildings at of the Osterhout (See p. 59.) Madison, Syracuse University, at Wilkes Barre, Pa., and at Mansfield, O. Dr. GUILD read his paper Mr. BOWKER. It may interest the conference, NOTICE OF CHARLES C. JEWETT, though it is going far afield, to know how much FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOSTON PUB- is being done in London in this direction of pro- LIC LIBRARY. viding for the people, largely as the result of a This will be in the ( printed hereafter Library book which many of you have read, Walter journal.) Besant's "All sorts and conditions of men." I

this that the is Mr. J. C. SICKLEY gave his paper found summer People's Palace A COURSE OF READING FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. already a fixed fact, the great Queen's Hall being now open for the use of the East End public. (Seep. 62.) When the scheme is completed, there will be in A recess was taken at 9.40. front of it an enormous circular or part circular room, welcoming all comers to the of FIFTH SESSIOA\ advantages a finely fitted reading and conversation room, (FRIDAY MORNING, September 2.) while at the back will be an enormous octagonal second to the of The meeting was called to order at 9.15, Presi- bookroom, only reading-room the dent Poole in the chair, who resigned the chair to British Museum. Mr. Fletcher for a meeting of the A.L.A. Pub- Mr. WINSOR. I wish to enter a protest against lishing Section. the sacrifice of any of the cubical contents of a Mr. Larned puts 16 feet of stack in (For proceedings see Appendix.) library. only a 2ofoot room. The President of this Association CLASSING AND ARRANGING MAPS AND CHARTS. and I, even if we do not have the game of base Mr. WINSOR some of the gave particulars way ball which was proposed, are at least to run a race in which the book in the of 20,000 maps library in this matter of I a library building ; mounted on Harvard University are kept, in folds of tough little, shaggy polo pony, and President Poole on card-board, laid four or five deep on sliding a great elephant, for he has the great Newberry shelves. The arrangement of the maps is a pro- library, and I the oversight of the building to be gressive geographical one, and a label on the erected for the Cambridge Public Library. outer of each fold the character of the edge gives Prest. POOLE. Mr. Larned has made -a very contents. The folds are with numbered gaps, to instructive and after the entertaining report ; and, allow of intercalated folds. The are num- maps complimentary mention he has made of my contri- bered in each fold. Two have been catalogues butions to the reform of library construction, it made one the geographical showing progression * The Secretary greatly regrets his inability to secure a in which the are the other is a maps arranged ; report of this speech, which was received with great interest. It is that it later be as interest topical index to the place or region covered by each hoped may printed having great historically, and illustrating the importance in international map. Mr. Winsor closed with giving some in- relations of old maps with MS. additions. PROCEEDINGS. 133 may seem ungracious in me to indulge in criticism what Mr. Larned did; but I should not have on his paper. I will do so only on a single point, boasted of it as a better arrangement than shelv- where I think he has not understood my meaning, ing the books on one floor. If iron was to have and where he has not fully explained his own been used in the stack, Mr. Larned's device of " meaning. Mr. Larned says : The fundamental using gas pipe is much better than cast iron, which principles of library construction, which were first is constitutionally treacherous. I think, however, formulated by Mr. Poole, are affirmed by the I should use wood in a stack. If we have fire- common experience of librarians, and have been proof buildings, I see no sense in shelving books accepted almost without dispute." One of these on iron. fundamental principles was, that the climbing of I wish to speak of one other point on which I galleries is unnecessary, and that galleries them- think Mr. Larned has misunderstood me. He " selves are nuisances. Hence galleries are wholly says that I would give one full story of 16 feet eliminated from my theory of construction. Mr. height to each range of 7 feet cases, believing the Larned thinks that, in the form of a stack, one or 9 feet of vacancy above them to be a necessary tiers of are rather desirable but he heated-air For a two galleries ; space." large structure, where will not tolerate the idea of having more than two. the rooms 50 feet in depth were to be lighted, I If two are desirable, why not three or four ? If a would give 16 feet stud; but I never gave the person finds it refreshing to climb two pair of height of the bookcases less than 8 feet. In stairs, when there was no need of climbing at all, smaller libraries, with narrower depth, a height of it is not easy to see why this delectation should 14 or 15 feet is enough for the story. Mr. Larned " end at the top of the second flight. thinks so much height is excessive, involving too At the Lake George Conference I had some- much of the very extravagance which Mr. Poole to about the felicities of stairs has condemned." I cannot with him on this thing say climbing ; agree and, as the printed volume is before me, I will read point. It is all needed for the distribution of light, an extract (see Libraryjournal 10: 329). which is mainly done above the bookcases. I have In the Chicago Public Library about 120,000 v. no doubt but that we shall substantially agree upon are shelved on a level floor, and their average principles when we come to understand each distance from the delivery desk is about 45 feet. other. Suppose one half of the book-cases be taken from Mr. CRUNDEN. I think your argument about their present position and placed on the top of the going around an obstacle depends on the time at other half. Will Mr. Larned say that the books one's disposal. If one was in a hurry to get to a in the cases removed to a second story in the air place he would choose to go up 7 feet (the are more accessible than before they were height of a library gallery) rather than a block removed ? He is a candid man, and will acknowl- around. edge that they are less accessible. The whole ques- Mr. YATES. The President has proved that tion, as to principles, between Mr. Larned and Mr. Larned, like the fox having his tail cut off, myself lies just here, and I shall nominate him as wishes the rest of us to follow suit. We in Leeds my referee. He will further admit that, if he could unfortunately have had ours cut off by the architect take the second tier of his stack from its present of our new building. position and place it on the floor alongside of the Mr. BOWKER. The question has to be dis- first tier, he would greatly improve the administra- cussed with a strong sense of practical limitations. tive facilities of his library. This is the precise What will be best in one set of circumstances will thing he could not do, for he had not the space at not be in another. his disposal. The very elegant building which his Mr. LARNED. It is certain that there must library occupies is the home of several other insti- come a time in every library when a man is obliged tutions, and in the division of space his storage to decide whether he will travel 140 feet on a room for books is restricted in size. Hence he is level, or 7 feet up. obliged to place his books in a stack of two stories, Mr. FLETCHER. I don't see that the 6 feet of which, in his case, was proper; for it is the best unused space is any objection. I notice in visiting thing he could do. My only criticism on this part in some of the New York flats, that the tallest of his report is, that he seems to claim as an flats have the highest rooms. If you are to use advantage what was really an inconvenience, which an elevator, it makes little difference whether necessity obliged him to submit to. I should there are a few feet more or less. probably have done, under the same conditions, Mr. TYLER. I am sorry that all of our tall 134 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE. libraries don't have elevators. As to going 140 and heat going thru the floors. But as soon is first feet on a level, or climbing 7, the question as growth required it, I would put on the who is to do the climbing. I think any one of the 8-foot stack a second running to the ceiling, 10 young lady assistants that I had when I was in thus utilizing all the space. Assume that such a Indianapolis would have rather gone round a room can be ventilated so to keep pure air and block than up the stairs. not too hot at the ceiling, since modern methods Prof. CLARK of Syracuse How would you make this feasible. light the lower floors of such a building as Mr. With these 1 6-foot fire-proof rooms, I should Lamed or President Poole suggest ? spend no extra money in cast-iron uprights. The Prest. POOLE. You ought to have light on danger of fire is almost infinitly small in such a sides. shows that is not room stacks of and the both Experiment light containing only books ; iron, available more than 25 feet away, and so no room beside costing so much, warps badly and is less should be more than 50 feet wide. pleasing in appearance than wood. Mr. FLETCHER. That is true where the cases Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Dewey says that his run to the top of the room, but I am under the im- statement that ventilation can be secured if the pression that if a space were left above for the diffu- stack runs to the top of the room is an assumption. sion of light, a room might be made 80 feet wide. I should call it presumption. All experience is to Mr. GRISWOLD. Why not make an elevator the contrary. unnecessary by having a boy on each story with a Mr. LARKED. I am sure Mr. Dewey in pre- " " simple lift for the books ? ferring wood to iron in a stack does n't know of Mr. DEWEY. Mr. President, what is your ex- the gas-pipe stack. This doesn't warp. perience of being on the top floor of a tall building Mr. BOWKER. As to ventilation, the British with quick elevators? Do you find any incon- Museum has an ingenious and interesting system venience or disadvantage ? of ventilating through the gas-pipe supports of the Prest. POOLE. Not the least. It is better be- readers' desks. cause it is quieter. The elevators make it just as Mr. DEWEY. They have a system some- convenient as being lower. thing like this in Australia, where the air is Mr. DEWEY. I am especially glad to hear this conducted back of the shelves, so one goes to the testimony from a source so high, from the top of shelf, and gets at once a fresh volume and some a very tall building, and of a very able profession. fresh air. As some of you may remember, it has been for My strictures on the cost and bad warping of many years my theory that in cities where land is iron were directed wholly to the common construc- costly, and streets are dark and noisy, the quick tion as used in nearly every library that has elevator was the solution of the library building adopted iron. The sheet-iron shelving made in difficulty. The library needs to be central and Milwaukee gives excellent promise. I have now accessible to the last degree, and that means the in my office working models of them. The gas- most costly land. My plan was to have the de- pipe construction I have seen only twice, but livery on the ground floor, so that a book could be Mr. Larned's good opinion should be conclusive returned or drawn with the fewest steps. Then to to any of us who know the thoroughness with run quick elevators to the top of tall buildings, which he examines methods. where it was quieter and lighter, and space was As to my assumption about ventilation, my cheaper, and to have there reading and reference critics are talking of the old efforts at ventilating and other needed rooms. I understand that it is without proper appliances. By the down draft, substantially this plan adopted for the fine new or by a direct fan run by a steam-engine (both of building of the St. Louis Mercantile. This en- which plans we use at Columbia) you can change ables the valuable lower stories to be rented, thus the air clear to the ceiling as often as you wish. securing a most satisfactory source of income. It is a mere question of coal. The result of no little study of this question Mr. EDMANDS. If iron book-cases are more leads me to prefer for a large building a con- costly than wood, it is certainly useless to incur struction combining the opposit theories of Mr. the additional expense, because if a fire gets Winsor and Mr. Poole. I would have fire- started in a library the water used in extinguish- proof floors, cutting the tall building into floors ing it will do more damage than the fire. There- with i6-foot ceilings, thus avoiding the danger in fore the chief care should be to make the exterior the common stack plan of water, smoke, dust, of the building fire-proof, and also the floorings. PROCEEDINGS. 135

In the fire at the Mercantile Library of Phila- the Committee on Printing, and sent to the Sec- delphia the amount paid by the insurance com- retary. I made out such a statement, had it panies was over $40,000, and not five books were signed by the four members of our committee, burned. and endorsed by the present and past higher offi- Mr. BOWKER. I would like to hear next year cers of the American Library Association, and a thorough report on fires in libraries, including sent it to Mr. Poore, accompanied by a letter of practical lessons, rates of insurance, etc., and move some length addressed to Mr. Poore himself.* I that a special reporter be appointed for the next received from him a cordial response to my com- conference. munications, and a renewal of his promise to do Mr. LARNED. I should like to have him treat for us all that he could. He asked for the infor- especially of the scheduling of insurance policies. mation, which I gave him in writing, in order that Voted. he might embody a statement of our wishes in the Mr. GREEN read the report which Congress had ordered the Printing REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRIBU- Committee to prepare, and which that committee TION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. had asked its Secretary, Mr. Poore, to write. For some reason which I have not been able to find At one of the meetings of this Association held the not to out, report was presented Congress ; at Milwaukee, a report of this committee was ac- it was never written out cepted which recommended the renewal of efforts probably fully by Major Poore, who, as we all know, has died since the to secure the passage by Congress of the last joint adjournment of Congress. resolution, introduced at our request into the pro- The recommendation of the members of the ceedings of that body by Senator Hoar of Massa- committee of the are chusetts. Library Association, who present at this meeting, is that we take steps to The resolution reads as follows : have the joint resolution recited above introduced Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Con- again into Congress at the next session. gress assembled; That the public printer shall de- This course is recommended after consultation liver to the Interior a sufficient num- Department with Senator Hoar, who has been an enthusiastic ber of copies of the Congressional Record (bound), and efficient advocate of legislation desired by Statutes-at-Large, and of every other government publication, not already supplied for this purpose, this Association, and who can always be relied at the printed government printing-office, includ- upon to do everything in his power to further the ing the publications of all bureaus and offices of interests of the libraries of the country. the government, excepting bills, resolutions, docu- It has been to the Chairman of ments printed for the special use of committees of long apparent Congress, and circulars designed, net for communi- this committee that the quality particularly needed information to the but for use within cating public, by its members and by librarians generally, when the several executive departments and offices of seeking for the passage of laws by Congress the government, to enable said department to sup- calculated to effect a wise distribution of ply a copy to every depository of public docu- public ments designated according to law. documents to libraries, is patience. is that The committee went promptly to work to try Our prayer patience may do its perfect to carry out the wishes of the Association. At the work, and our hope is that by persistence we shall last session of Congress, before our Milwaukee obtain the legislation which is demanded by the meetings, the Senate Committee on Printing had obvious interests of the community. been directed to look into the matter of the For the Committee, printing and distribution of public documents, SAMUEL S. GREEN, and make a report on the subject at the following Chairman.

session that is to ) ; say, at the session which closed DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, its sittings March 4, 1887. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 1887. ) MY DEAR MR. GREEN : I sought for an interview with the late Mr. Ben: I much to that it will be Perley Poore, Secretary of the Senate Committee find, my regret, imprac- on ticable for me to be present at the of the Printing, secured it, and had a pleasant talk meeting American Association. I have been with him in regard to the wishes of librarians in Library de- in the Blue Book in hand failure respect to the distribution of public documents. layed getting by of the to make re- He readily promised us his assistance, and asked Treasury Department prompt me to make a formal statement of our wishes to * The statement and letter were pnnted in Library jour- be addressed to Senator Manderson, Chairman of nal, 2: 482-3. 136 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

and to be absent I I at the last to secure some turns ; now, would, fear, delay was able, session, the work still more. I am anxious to issue the legislation providing for the sale of documents at first volume, if possible, early in December, and so cost price, which will be found a great convenience must press the work. to many, and will to some extent regulate the price I hope your committee, or the Association in of documents in the hands of dealers, and prevent general, will not lose interest or grow discouraged exorbitant charges. in the matter of public documents. I think some- The exchange of documents through my office thing is being accomplished each year, and persist- continues, greatly, I venture to think, to the ent effort will in the end bring about most of the advantage of our libraries. reforms desired. I have written quite fully to Mr. Barton on this Little was done by Congress last year, as the matter, and so will not enlarge here. I am about Senate is waiting for its Committee on Printing to to send out five other lists in the interest of make a full report in the premises. exchange, copies of which I send herewith. I Major Poorehad been, at the time of his death, wish the Association would urge all libraries to co- at for several months engaged, to some extent operate in this effort, as the larger the number least, upon an exhaustive and voluminous report the greater the good accomplished. Besides, it is touching the printing and distribution of docu- not probable that any other opportunity of this ments, but what progress he had made I have not kind will ever be offered our libraries to supply learned. I suppose his successor will take up the deficiencies in these series of documents. work and endeavor to have something ready in the I would like to see some action taken by the way of a report when Congress meets. Association advising and urging the preparation He will labor of course under some disadvan- by the government of a thoroughly good index of tages, as it is not easy for one unfamiliar with the public documents, a continuation of Maj. Poore's subject to ascertain what is being done under work, but under quite a different method. The existing laws and regulations, or to determine publications of the government should be indexed what recommendations to make in the interest of day by day as issued, and an index published wise reform. On the other hand, it may be well yearly, and these annual indexes combined. But " " for all concerned to have a new hand at the some system should be adopted, approved by the work who will not be influenced by old conceits or best indexers amongst our librarians, and then the prejudice, or by the convictions of superior work be steadily prosecuted, leaving no breaks, knowledge which long service is likely to en- such as now exists between the date of Maj. gender. What I fear is that any attempt to revise Poore's work and the present. the entire subject of printing and distributing docu- I began the preparation of such an index of the ments will fail in Congress, because of its extent documents of the 4Qth Congress, but had time and complexity. In my judgment this matter will only to prepare a few sample pages, and those not have to be dealt with piece-meal, if anything satis- entirely to my satisfaction. factory is to be accomplished. I have talked of this matter, and of others relat- I think if one or two points are pressed each ing to documents, with Col. Flint, who will repre- Congress, something may during each Congress sent the Patent Office at your meeting. He can be achieved. speak more at large on the subject, and I hope The first thing to aim at is to secure for deposi- will have an opportunity of doing so. tories all documents issued by the government I sent you, I think, my last annual and special additional to those now sent them, and the next reports, but take the liberty of inclosing another thing to provide for the regular supply to our copy, calling attention especially to what I say principal libraries, not depositories, of the most regarding the titles of public documents, another valuable publications of the government. thing in which reform based upon common sense Senator Hoar is a good man through whom to should be introduced. work, and if the western librarians would see or Excuse the length of this epistle, and attribute communicate with Senator Manderson, Chairman it to my interest in the work. of the Committee on Printing, it would be a good With best wishes for a successful meeting of thing. the Association, In the House I don't know of a man who could I remain very sincerely yours, do better service than Gov. Long if he were JOHN G. AMES, thoroughly interested in the matter. Superintendent of Documents. PROCEEDINGS. 137

" WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 1887. are not, strictly speaking, immoral. They are " I hope you and others will not get discouraged trash and nonsense and of course injurious. To by the slow progress being made in the matter of satisfy myself as to their real character, I got some reform in printing, distributing, indexing, redis- copies and read them for myself. tributing, etc., etc. of public documents. Judge CHAMBERLAIN. Few matters of library " I think we are gaining something every year, administration are more difficult, or more impor- and have only to keep on in the same line to tant, than to determine what freedom of access to accomplish decided results at an early day. the books and periodicals in a library should" be are interested as to the dis- accorded to the and for that reason I "As you specially public ; position of duplicates in our public libraries, I have listened with great interest to the paper of wish to say that exchanges through my office are Mrs. Sanders. The lateness of the hour prevents going on all the time. I suppose I have received any extended remarks, but I am unwilling that at least 32,000 volumes, most of which have been the matter should pass without a single observa- again sent out to supply deficiencies. tion. Mrs. Sanders' paper has shown that the " A large number, however, of prominent libra- question is a practical one, one to be settled ries have not yet begun cooperation in the work. by actual experiment. I hope, therefore, that The best results cannot be realized until all do the government will arrange for one or more this. papers on this subject to be presented at the next " If I am not at the convention, I wish you annual meeting, setting forth the practice in dif- would urge upon all the importance of joining in ferent libraries, and suggesting expedients by this effort, and for this purpose of putting them- which the contents of a library can be made selves in communication with this office. more accessible to the public, and at the same "I have already sent to all our prominent time be secured from spoliation or misuse. libraries five lists of documents suggesting ex- Mr. DEWEY announced that there would be an changes, and have prepared five more which I extra meeting at 2 o'clock. Adjourned. shall send as soon as my other work will permit. " This work, you know, is all extra volunteer SIXTH SESSION. work, and can be taken only when I have up (FRIDAY AFTERNOON, September 2.) leisure from other duties. Meeting called to order at 2.15, President "JOHN G. AMES, " POOLE in the chair. Sup't ofDocs," PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Mrs. SANDERS read her paper Mr. BAIN. -*- Public documents are really the THE POSSIBILITIES OF LIBRARIES IN MANUFAC- life of the of a In Canada the TURING COMMUNITIES. history country. government prints and binds a certain number of (Seep. 83.} sets which are presented to members of Parlia- Mr. YATES. I listened with deep interest to the ment. I think I could a'rrange to have such sets able paper read by Mrs. Sanders, but regret that I sent to, say 25, representative libraries in the should have to appear to criticise adversely one United States. All that I ask in return is that subject touched upon in it; viz. the admissi- you will help me to get the U. S. Documents, bility of allowing borrowers to go to the shelves about which I have had the greatest difficulty. I and help themselves. This plan might be possible tried to get some Patent Office reports, but they in a small village library where everybody was told us we were neither a State library nor a uni- known to everybody else, but in a large town li- versity library nor anything else, and they could brary the catering must be on the principle that find no authority to send. your chain is only so strong as its weakest link. Mr. FLINT. On the other hand we, at the

The power of borrowers to help themselves in our Patent Office, have had the greatest difficulty in library would mean such an abuse of the privi- getting Canadian documents. We have now at lege that it would have to be discontinued directly. the office the MS. of one which we actually had" to Our aim is to make the contents of our library as have transcribed in order to get access to it. well known and accessible as possible without Few of you would think of searching for book risking undue responsibility of loss to the town. rarities among Patent Office reports, but I can Mr. SWIFT. It ought to be said of that class assure you that there are certain of these volumes of papers to which Mrs. Sanders refers that they that are now so scarce that several dollars THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

each will not secure a copy. It is well known here librarians have suggested the cooperative that the average public document is out of print, plan, which might aid very much in carrying on the and cannot be had after three hence the im- a little labor to a years ; work, and would add but large portance of the subject of Mr. Green's report. I number of libraries, if they would join in making had a conversation with Dr. Ames just before I the cards, leaving the Patent Office Library to left Washington in which he stated that the ex- do its part also, and print the index. If this work changes with libraries had brought back 32,000 can be done, it will be a supplement to Poole's volumes the past year, and the plan was to be ex- index on the practical 'and technical side of great tended to other sets published by the government, value, which, though not yet fully decided upon, by other circulars. The plan of indexing all gov- is one of the possibilities, and I hope will soon be ernment publications in a thorough and intelligible a reality. manner would be a great boon to all libraries as Mr. LINDERFELT, with brief remarks, submitted well as the public. I would suggest a complete his paper on title and subject-matter index to the publications HERESIES. of each at and as soon as Congress least, possible not ( This was furnished for publication.) an index of the publications to date, with, say ten- Mr. CUTTER diction- year supplements. This may in time be secured, praised Murray's English and remarks on the words tho' it is difficult to get such matters before Con- ary, made some begin- for the of business with Biblio. gress action amid press other ; ning but this Association can do much to further the Mr. CUTTER introduced resolutions concerning work. postage on library books. INDEXES MADE BY THE PATENT OFFICE Resolved, That the bill introduced hi the last LIBRARY. session of Congress, through the instrumentality of the committee appointed by this Association, re- While this of I state upon topic indexing may ducing the postage on books sent through the briefly what has been done by the Patent Office mails to one cent per pound, meets with our ap- Library of late. A complete subject-matter index proval. That the committee be continued and of French patents in English to date, has been Resolved, requested to renew their efforts to accomplish the compiled and printed as you know, and lately the object for which they were named at the coming French sent for of as government copies it, they session of congress. Voted. have annual indexes. A new edition of the only Mr. FLETCHER introduced complete Subject-matter Index of Italian Patents RESOLUTION CONCERNING STATE LIBRARIANS. to date, will be issued from the press in a few days, which has also been translated and arranged On information that the State librarians of the in the Patent Office It is to Library. proposed United States are corresponding in regard to the make similar in of the indexes, English, Belgian, formation of a State Librarians' Association, and other German, Austrian, Swedish, patents Resolved, That the American Library Associa- in due time and keep them indexed to date. We tion extends to the State Librarians a cordial invitation to in its next conference and, in have nearly ready a complete subject and title join ; case there are subjects which they may wish to index of the Scientific American and Supplement discuss, not of special interest to general libraries, from its commencement to of course some- date, the formation of a separate section of the Asso- what imperfect, but which will, we hope, be valua- ciation for State and law libraries is suggested. the ble for reference in many libraries, especially for Mr. MANN moved the reappointment of inventors, mechanics, and general readers. I am Committee on Public Documents. Voted.

to that 's sorry say Dingier Polytechnisches Journal Mr. GREEN read his paper on is not indexed but as a I yet fully ; compensation SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. will hint at a plan we have in contemplation for (Seep, go.) making a complete subject-matter index of current scientific and technical periodicals, of which we have Mr. CRUNDEN. At every meeting of our Li- "about 500 on file. The plan suggested is to index brary Committee it is said that more copies of these periodicals monthly, like the cooperative Alger and like works are wanted. The question index plan, and have this printed, and then as fast always comes up as to whether we should have as possible take up whole sets of the various tech- only one copy or more or none. nical periodicals not found in Poole's index. This Mr. GREEN. When we issued a new printed seem a and it is but since I I of may long work, ; came catalog brought up the question dropping PROCEEDINGS.

Alger, but found the same difference of opinion. Cooperation Committee. I have had but one copy of such works. W. S. Biscoe, Columbia College Library. Mr. FLETCHER read Miss BURT'S paper C: A. Nelson, Astor Library, New York. R. B. Y. M. C. New York. THE RELATION OF STANDARD LITERATURE TO Poole, A., PUBLIC SCHOOL WORK. Standing Committee (with power to appoint Sub-

the committees). ( This has been accepted for publication by The President, ex officio. Bureau of Education.) The Secretary, ex officio. Dr. POOLE. Miss Burt to be here her- hoped R. R. Bowker, Publisher Libraryjournal. self to read her paper, but was prevented. I may Councillors. say that she has a book in preparation which will Justin Winsor, 1876-1885, Harvard University, express of this same line of thought. something Ex-President. Mr. MANN. I move that the U. S. Bureau of W: F. Poole, 1885-1887, Newberry Library, Education be requested to print this paper as one Chicago, Ex-President. of its circulars. James Bain, Toronto Public Library. Mr. RICHARDSON read his paper on E. M. Barton, American Antiquarian Society, HOURS OF OPENING LIBRARIES. Worcester.

(Seep. 92.) W : H. Brett, Cleveland Public Library. R. C. Davis, of Mr. SOULE did not read his paper on University Michigan. C. R. Dudley, Denver Public Library. CLASSES OF LAW BOOKS SUITABLE FOR GENERAL J : N. Dyer, St. Louis Mercantile LIBRARIES Library. R. A. Guild, Brown University. and it is held the next for conference. Miss C. M. Hewins, Hartford Library. Mr. VAN NAME read the report of the Executive H: A. Homes, New York State Library. Board appointing the K: A. Linderfelt, Milwaukee Public Library. OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSO- Mrs. M. A. Sanders, Pawtucket Public Library. A. R. of CIATION FOR 1887-88. Spofford, Library Congress. H : M. Detroit Public President. Utley, Library. Miss T. H. West, Milwaukee Public Library. <3: A. Cutter, Boston Athenaeum. A. W. Whelpley, Cincinnati Public Library. Vice-Presidents. Judge CHAMBERLAIN read the S: S. Green, Free Public Library, Worcester, REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Mass. Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be Hon. Mellen Boston Public Li- Chamberlain, extended to the various railroad and steamboat brary. lines which have offered greatly reduced rates on this occasion to the which have re- J. N. Lamed, Buffalo Library. ; newspapers its and to the of F: M. Crunden, St. Louis Public Library. ported proceedings ; proprietors the Round Island House, not only for their re- Secretary. duced charges, but for the use of their parlors the Melvil Dewey, Columbia College Library. during meetings. That we the Assistant Secretaries. Resolved, gratefully acknowledge courtesy of Mr. F. H. Taylor and of the other H. E. Bureau, Boston. Davidson, Library gentlemen and ladies on this island, who have A. N. Brown, United States Naval Academy, done so much to render our stay an agreeable one Annapolis. by their comprehensive, varied, and most successful series of entertainments; and that we especially Recorder. appreciate the kindness of some of them in open- E. C. Richardson, Hartford Theological Semi- ing their houses for our accommodation. nary. Resolved, That this Association has observed with and the first Treasurer. pleasure gratification year's workings of the School of Library Economy at H: Public Grand J. Carr, Library Rapids, Columbia College, and that it regards the work Mich. there initiated as of great promise for the future. Finance Committee. Mr. EDMANDS reported on PLACE OF MEETING FOR l888. W: E. Foster, Providence Public Library. C: C. Soule, Boston. He introduced an invitation from Mr. Dyer on A. Van Name, Yale College Library. behalf of the libraries of St. Louis, remarking that 140 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

" we were sure of a warm reception there at any assistants are appointed for extra duty. As they " time of year and mentioned an informal invi- show adaptation to the work, and vacancies occur, tation from Boston. they are promoted to the regular staff. We are get- An animated discussion as to time and place of ting a much better grade of talent than formerly. meeting was cut short by postponement. Mr. FLINT. In the civil service rules there is A recess was taken till 8 p. M. a form for applicants to the Patent Office Library. They might be better applied than they are, but SEVENTH SESSION. they serve to keep out some incompetent persons. An must know two modern (FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 2) applicant languages, and we have even required three or four. The meeting was called to order at 8.20, Presi- dent POOLE in the chair. Mr. PUTNAM'S paper Mr. BAIN presented his paper BIBLIOGRAPHIC BUREAU BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LIBRARIES OF CANADA (Seep. 99)

(Seep. 96) was read in his absence by Mr. Biscoe, and pref- and said that instead of reading it he would prefer aced by an extract from Mr. Putnam's letter ac-

to a for discussion viz. the as follows : bring up subject practical ; companying paper, " reform in method of appointing library assistants. I had occasion last winter to make up a pur- They come to us, he said, with an ordinary school chase list of 10,000 volumes for our new library. education, can read and write (often very poorly), They were to be added to the 14,000 already in and expect to get positions by the influence of some the Athenaeum. I went east for the work, and trustee. I have succeeded in getting permission did most of it in connection with the libraries from the trustees to hold an examination for about Boston and New York. It is needless to junior assistants. The Association should take say that I had every facility, as well as every this The offered and I availed of both strong ground upon subject. English courtesy, me ; myself have already begun to do so. The examination with a shameless liberality that I trust may not be should be equivalent to that of a third-class assist- laid up against me by my victims. At the end of ant in the civil service. I recall an instance where my inquiry I began to wonder whether some a gentleman in our library sought for something method couldn't be devised for rendering other on the history of the corn-laws in England, and such inquiries simpler, more systematic, and less was given by an assistant Froude and Macaulay. of an imposition upon one's fellow-librarians, We want assistants who are trained to help the whence these presents. readers. We can only get this by preliminary I hope to see the Bureau started in Minnesota examinations. in for our will be best Minneapolis ; library Mr. CRUNDEN. The Buffalo conference adopted able to afford the experiment of any in the State. a resolution pledging this Association to civil ser- But we shall not be in condition to undertake it vice reform to be on defi- for over a Were it fair to our own ; appointments made only year. tax-pay- nitely ascertained fitness, and if possible by promo- ers, I should consider it the duty of the richest tion and retention during good behavior. In my library in the State to furnish gratuitously this library all the higher positions have been filled bibliographic assistance to its feebler brethren. As for by promotion, except one where I obtained an it is, it seems only right to have the work paid assistant on Mr. Dewey's recommendation. They on a business basis, but only at its actual cost. A usually begin as messenger boys. I advertise for State Bureau at present may seem chimerical; it a boy and get perhaps 40 answers. I select from may, one of these days, seem less so. Free public these 12 or 15 for personal examination, and sift libraries are on the eve of a hard struggle with the them down to four or five. Then I bring it before free public taste. Even now it is hard to keep out the committee, and generally get the one I want. vicious books that people want to read; and very to Mr. BAIN. You are fortunate in advertising. few librarians have the courage or the power We have the applications shoved upon us. withstand the pressure. The most are, at any Mr. UTLEY. I have applications nearly every rate, glad to compromise by admitting the vapid day. A few years ago the board adopted a system books, if they can keep out the vicious ones. But of examinations, and about 200 presented them- with the authority of the State to back their selves. The examinations are written, two or three choice (even though this be not mandatory, but in hours long. From those who do best, temporary merely advisory), they could feel far bolder PROCEEDINGS. 141

excluding the relatively as well as the absolutely amount, thanking me for the information, and bad. But there are cons as well as pros. hoping we might have further business relations. Mr. BAIN. In Ontario, several years ago, the I should like to know whether other librarians experiment was tried of establishing a number of make any charge for such services. libraries and a central office, for supplying them Mr. TYLER. The Astor Library used to charge with books. For the first ten years it worked very for work of this kind. It was done by the assist- well. Then a stock of old books had accumulated ants outside of library hours. at the central office, and the libraries became dis- Mr. CRUNDEN. Large jobs are always charged satisfied at receiving so few new books. I have with us, and are given to an assistant as outside persuaded the minister of education to prepare a work. quarterly list of 250 volumes, designate by stars Mr. CUTTER. We have the same practice. their relative value, and have offered to supply Mr. NELSON. Mr. Putnam's plan is simply the brief notes characterizing the works. A.L.A. catalogue in another shape. Mr. Saunders, President POOLE. A State bureau, such as Mr. of the Astor Library, is constantly receiving in- Putnam suggests, is impracticable. It would not quiries of all sorts, on the market value of books, meet the exigencies of the case. Small libraries about a coat-of-arms, etc., and these are answered must inquire and every large library receive many without charge. such questions. A bibliographical collection to Mr. MANN. Libraries for their own protection which they should come would not work. They should refuse to do this work gratuitously, except could not use it, any more than one could make a for their own constituency. There is a bureau in watch if the tools were given to him. I never had a Washington undertaking to answer just such librarian come to Chicago to use our bibliographi- inquiries with the facilities of the large libraries, cal collection, which is large. A country librarian and at moderate cost, and such work should be has usually not learned the alphabet of bibliography. sent there. Mr. Putnam has made a good collection of Mr. SWIFT. Do you encourage the asking of books, and wishes to aid others. But I can trivial questions by the readers ? We endeavor to tell him a better way. Get the Boston Public answer all inquiries brought to us, giving a great Library catalogue (an admirable collection of deal of time, even to unimportant things. I books largely selected by Mr. George Ticknor) and spent a long time looking up for some one the " go through this and select the books he needs. author of Mary had a Little Lamb." Use the Chicago lists. He has the thing already Mr. CARR. I wish to show to the Association in his hand in these is not to do it viz. the of catalogues. The scheme how ; Michigan way buy- ingenious, but impracticable. ing books. A printed list is prepared and pub- Mr. CRUNDEN. Again in accordance with the lished in the daily paper. This one just issued by suggestion of the Secretary, that miscellaneous us makes 24 columns. It is then made up in topics be brought up in connection with papers on pamphlet form and printed in the proceedings of allied subjects, I wish to ask the custom of libra- the boards and lies over for 30 days. This list rians on this point. I assume that you all, like cost us $60, and as the only way to get any good myself, have frequent applications for information from it I have had it triple leaded, so that we can add on all sorts of things. These come to me, not our library numbers and use it for bulletin pur- only from my own constituents, but from people poses as the books are received. all over the country. A person from Iowa or Mr. FLINT. Mr. Poole's remarks remind me of Texas writes to ask about a legal advertisement of the difficulty I have had in reading the reports that appeared in a St. Louis paper, or wants to the A.L.A., because when I had read a paper about know the best book on house-building or the which I doubted much whether the librarians agreed to find manufacture of vinegar. I have always answered with it, I had to turn over several pages for not the these questions to the best of my ability, and have the antidote the paper. Could papers never made any charge or had any offer of pay- and the discussions upon them come in their con- ment until a few months ago, when a real-estate secutive order ? It would certainly be much more of firm wrote to inquire about two men who were convenient. As to Mr. Crunden's question said to have lived in St. Louis between 1870 and charges for questions to be answered, I would say 1875. The request that a bill be rendered rather that in the Library of the Patent Office some years rates for took me by surprise. I charged 50 cents, and ago I had a rule made charging regular or received a letter inclosing a postal note for that work done by assistants in searches translations, 142 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

generally at the rate of $i per hour. The great done by many scientific societies. All were agreed point gained was this, that the calls made to that it was desirable, and it was left to the secreta- answer questions or render services has been ries and the editors to devise the best practical way greatly lessened. of accomplishing it. Mr. LARNED. I want to correct a misappre- Mr. TYLER asked whether Miss Hewins' list of " hension of our President. Mr. Putnam proposes Reading for the young," to be published as part not to give them the tools and have them make a of the A.L.A. catalog, was to include books sell it of her watch, but to make a watch and to them. which could not now be obtained ; a third In this connection I would inquire also for the last list are now out of print.

A.L. A. catalog : Where is it ? Mr. LINDERFELT. We cannot even find the

Mr. DEWEY. It is almost a reality, as Mr. existence of some of them. Larned will find from Mr. Fletcher's report from Mr. BOWKER. We hope to make the record the Publishing Section. number of the Libraryjournal a permanent feature. The forthcoming works are nearly all simply sec- We propose for next year a list of valuable private tions of the A. L. A. catalog as was planned from libraries, giving the specialty of each collection, the first. As fast as these are ready they will be and hope this may be a means of interesting pri- printed and later gathered into a volume. vate owners in the public libraries and the work of As to answering inquiries, the rule we adopt at the A.L.A. and Library journal. This list can Colombia is a good one. Local libraries should be prepared only by cooperation, and the not use the money of tax payers for such purposes. librarians in the cities especially must give us all We publish in our circular that we are willing to the information hi their power if it is to succeed. do the work and what it costs us. charge exactly Mr. DEWEY. That is certainly part of the Any call for investigation, translation, copying, of the in the we must work A.L.A. ; and same way or work I look at and typewriter stenographic have the cooperation of every one on the A.L.A. turn over to the lowest salaried officer that can catalog. All criticisms and suggestions on Miss do the work The facilities satisfactorily. library Hewins' "Reading for the young" should be sent are all free. We at rate of annual charge salary, at once either to her or to Mr. Fletcher, so they 2,000 hours as a or 200 hours as a counting year, may be considered. Don't wait till we print, and month. If a clerk can do the the $500 work, then criticise, but help make it as it ought to be. charge is only 25 cents per hour for time actually Mr. CUTTER read portions of Mr. LANE'S used, or for copying and duplicating we charge the AIDS GUIDES fixt prices per folio of too words 6 cents for one REPORT ON CATALOGUES AND AND FOR copy, with reductions for duplicates. The time READERS, 1885-87. staff is in given by the regular hours, and is de- (See p. 104.) ducted from the pay roll. If certified copies are Mr. DEWEY read by title Mr. ABBOT'S paper, wanted, one of our officers is a notary public and has a seal for use in the building. Every one SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF LLOYD P. SMITH, then feels free to come and ask for where help, which will be printed hereafter in the Library 'otherwise they might feel delicate about applying journal ; for it. Mr. Putnam's idea of bibliografic bu- also part of a letter from Mr. SPONABDK : reaus is admirable. The mistake is in it limiting " MIAMI Co., KAN., 24, 1887. to a single State. Let us get one before we PAOLA, Aug. " try to establish 30 or 40. One good bureau is I find that it looks now as if I cannot be with all and perhaps more than the country will support you this year. I regret it very much. " at present. To try to make several will result in I send you a list of Kansas libraries so far as none of them being good enough to command I could learn; also the laws of Kansas relating patronage. to free libraries. Also I hope that the draft of A discussion participated in by Messrs. NELSON, an association I sent you last year may be con- CUTTER, DEWEY, and others, followed on the sidered. I am inclined to think that there are best method of making a closer connection in people in the United States that would like to the printed proceedings of the A.L. A. between join an organization to promote and organize the and the discussion thereon either libraries where needed. I think Kansas is about papers ; by exact reference to pages both ways or by inserting the only State that has made a lawful free the discussion immediately after the paper as is library law by act of Legislature. This law is PROCEEDINGS.

very new, and to put it in full force it needs some good missionaries.

Name of Library. 144 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Lake George. Last year we decided at Milwaukee L.A.U.K. If wished, the name might be detach- to come here at this time, and we have much the able and put on only after getting to the place of largest attendance in our history. If we go .to a meeting. resort city, I advocate St. Louis. For a summer Mr. BOWKER' s amendment was voted, and then the White Mountains, Catskills, Mount Desert, Mr. Mann substituted "number" in place of been At and Old Point Comfort have named. "name," and the resolution was passed. these we might cultivate the spirit of repose for THANKS. which Mr. Green yearns. MR. MANN also moved the following. Voted. No three men should be asked to decide a ques- Resolved, That the thanks of the A.L.A. be tion on which member has a every preference. tendered to Messrs. H. E. Davidson and A. N. Let us decide before adjournment, and begin now Brown for their arduous, courteous, and prompt to plan for the meeting. services in facilitating our travels. Mr. GRISWOLD. I don't want to go to a city; MUTUAL LIBRARY. but the Atlantic coast has no and place cheap Mr. CARR read a letter from Mr. S. P. Ferree, desirable. The Catskills are good. of the Mutual Library of Philadelphia, a sub- Mr. LARNED. Is there not danger in going- to scription library resembling Mudie's. summer resorts that the meeting becomes, at least "PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 29, 1887. in the of a ? view outsiders, picnic " H. J. CARR ESQ., TREASURER, Mr. NELSON. In a city we separate and lose "My Dear Sir: I am very much disappointed our common feeling. I am more disposed now to to find at the last moment that it will be impossi- go to St. Louis than I was earlier in the session. ble for me to leave for the Thousand Islands, as Mr. GREEN. I should like to take again the the representative of the Mutual Library of this of on St. Louis. If expression opinion enough interest in city. I have always taken the greatest cannot go there, I would prefer either Bar Harbor the published proceedings of your Association, or the White Mountains. I move to the pres- lay and have never finished reading the papers and ent motion on the table. Voted. accounts of your meetings without a sigh of regret I move that the meeting of the Association next that I had not been present. This year I had year be at St. Louis in October. Voted. fully determined to go, but must content myself by BADGES, of giving you a sketch of the growth and success Mr. MANN. One of the most agreeable and the Mutual Library, believing it will interest you profitable portions of our meetings is the social. and some of your co-laborers. When we are to the it is coming meetings often "In the spring of 1879 I found myself 'stuck,' difficult to tell on the train are our who fellow- through the failure of an advertising scheme, with and also to remember the names of those members, some 500 copies of Franklin Square and Seaside we have met before. I therefore move the follow- Library issues, bound in cloth covers. Being

resolution : ing unable to sustain the loss, I devised the check That in order to facilitate Resolved, recognition register system, and, having secured as librarian and to promote social intercourse, the Committee a young lady familiar with the business, on May of Arrangements for the next meeting be requested we announced the of the Mutual to provide badges of appropriate design to be worn i, 1879, opening by the members and to bear the names of the wear- Library on its new system of 100 books for $i, ers respectively. with no fines. In addition to the cloth-bound

Some think this will be too expensive, and it is issues above named, we did not have a dozen suggested to print numbers instead of names. regular bound books.. " The badge would be a permanent one, however, It was more than amusing to have the old and I will guarantee that the expense of printing patrons of my lady librarian, after their usual con- names shall be met. gratulations, look around the room at the empty ' Mr. BOWKER moved that the part in regard to shelves, and ask, Well, Emily, where is the names be stricken out, and various members library?' and hear her smilingly explain, as she objected to wearing the name so prominently. pointed to the shelf of tall Seaside & Franklin

' Mr. DEWEY. It has been already decided that Square issues, These are all the books we have there should be a badge. A committee was ap- at present. We were disappointed in getting a lot at Milwaukee to one but Miss of but will be here And so pointed prepare ; Coe, books, they shortly.' the Chairman, is in Europe as our delegate to the confidingly they paid their dollar, which was PROCEEDINGS.

turned into and in a little while we all the and as issued quickly books; leading magazines reviews, ; really looked like a library, and were soon com- for they all contain articles of vital interest to the pelled to add new cases for books, and in a few intelligent clerk or workman. It pays to give years seek our present enlarged quarters, where brain food to your employes. It elevates and we have been for five years, but are now negotiat- stimulates them to higher excellence in their ing for permanent quarters to give us greater lives and duties. " facilities. Very truly yours, "The register of additions now numbers, includ- "SAMUEL P. FERREE, " ing duplicates, upwards of 40,000 volumes. We Treasurer." seek to keep our books in circulation. We loan Mr. CRUNDEN. At Milwaukee we received a more books than other in the for any library city, very cordial invitation to meet at Denver, to which our terms are more liberal. We allow two books they have received no answer. If none has been at a time on a $i check register, or three at a time made, the invitation should receive now a formal on a $i for three subscription months., recognition, and an explanation and hearty " are asked what we have We frequently security acknowledgment be sent to them. for the books loaned, as a dollar hardly covers the Mr. DEWEY. I think such a resolution was cost of two or three bound books. We believe in passed, and have a pretty clear recollection of the of the and trust our sub- honesty community, signing the type-written copy to mail to Denver. scribers as such. We have lost a few but books, I will, however, send a duplicate when I get home. doubt if a instance reflects on the single integrity Mr. DEWEY then read by title Miss James' of the subscriber. Hundreds have paid the value REPORT ON THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY ECONOMY of lost books. Each subscriber is treated as though he was our only patron, and his taste in (See p. 118) reading so closely consulted that a large number and part of a letter from Mr. W: C. LANE: " rely entirely on the librarian for the selection of I hope for the next conference the various re- their books. porters will be appointed at your meeting now. If " We loan current issues of all the leading maga- I had been appointed to do this a year or two years zines and reviews as books, but do not bind them ago (the report covers two years), I should have into volumes. You would be surprised to know made notes for it right along, and could have pre- the extent to which magazines, and especially the sented something much more complete and valu- heavy monthly and quarterly reviews, are bor- able than the present production. I shall be glad lies rowed. to try it again (if it is desired), as it quite " The is run on business within line but I should like to know it now, library purely principles my ; to make money; and while it has been claimed and not be called on a month or two before the that the cheap issues of books has ruined the next meeting, when it will be impossible to go over library business, and many of the old circulating the ground thoroughly." " libraries relinquished business in consequence, it Mr. DEWEY called attention to the Uebersicht is a fact that the Mutual Library successfully der systematischen Ordnung der Stadtbibliothek built its business on the issues. up cheap They zu Hamburg, 1885," and the "Classified catalogue have made a host of readers when America ; and, of the Public Library of Fitchburg, Mass., com- and justly acknowledge the claims of England piled by G : Watson Cole," which were on exhi- authors to international it will copyright, be found bition. that the tastes formed from the present glut of Mr. DEWEY offered the following resolution, cheap issues will make a demand for books, no with a brief introductory tribute, saying that matter what their cost may be, that no other almost the last work of Mr. Jackson was his efforts medium could have secured. " in welcoming the Association to the Northwest and I believe the possibilities of library influence to St. Paul : and extension in this country are not appreciated. Whereas, In the death of Frederick Jackson, Not should town have its only every circulating of St. Paul, the American Library Association has or public library, but every neighborhood should lost one of its original members, for many years of its most active and efficient en- be united by its local institution. Every bank, one officers, deared to all who knew him by his rare qualities insurance, trust, and manufacturing company of head and heart; therefore should have its of standard books and library Resolved, That we unite with the family and journals devoted to its special interest, as well as friends of our late associate in a keen sense of our 146 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

common deep bereavement, which has left us only Resolved, That no bills against this Association a memory in which there is nothing we would be incurred by any officer or committee in excess forget in place of the generous, unselfish, modest of the appropriation allowed for the purpose by spirit, whose worth grew more and more apparent the Finance Committee. to all who had the lot to know every year happy The whole question of printing and binding the him. Proceedings was by vote referred to the Standing Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be Committee with power. sent to his family. Mr. GREEN. Mr. Jackson was one of our Mr. LINDERFELT offered the following : That the Finance Committee be author- most useful associates, and most dear to the early Moved, ized and instructed to collect and manage all the '( members. I move the passage of the resolutions rules, regulations, by-laws, or resolutions, which a vote. The resolution was by rising passed by have been passed from time to time by the Associ- a unanimous rising vote. ation for the regulation of its business transactions, and to cause them to be in form Mr. DEWEY moved to refer to the Standing Com- printed pamphlet before the next regular meeting of the Association mittee the binding of a part of the copies of the and distributed among its members. Voted. Proceedings. Mr. DEWEY moved to take a recess for the Mr. GREEN inquired if this was not in the excursion to Quebec. Voted. province of the Finance Committee, and after the vote of the Conven- some discussion the following by-law was moved By Aug. 30 (see p. 120) tion on 10. by Mr. Dewey and voted : finally adjourned Sept.

APPENDIX 1.

The A.L.A. Publishing Section met at the open- that of employing clerical assistance in the prepara- ing of the session on Friday, September 2. tion of matter for publication, and that of the actual In the absence of the President, Mr. C. Alex. publication of such material, in so far as it cannot Nelson was chosen President pro tent. be secured without cost to the Section as such. Messrs. W: E. R. B. and H. L. Foster, Poole, With regard to the several undertakings outlined were a committee on nomi- Koopman appointed in our preliminary circular, we report progress as nations. follows : The report of the Executive Board was read by 1. The Index to General Literature: Its scope the Chairman, W: I. Fletcher, and also the Treas- and plan have been more closely defined, and a urer's report. list of the works to be covered by it has been REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR 1886-87. begun, and carried well towards completion.

Following the lines indicated at the meeting last 2. The Handbook for Readers : It has been year, your Executive Board have gone forward to outlined by Mr. Soldan of Peoria, to whom it was carry out, as far as possible in the first year, the entrusted for preparation. His outline has been work of the section. submitted to us, and he informs us that he has

38 persons joined as provisional members written out a considerable part of it, and hopes to at the last meeting, paying $i each; and, with have it finished in a short time. " " the funds thus provided, circulars were prepared [Mr. Soldan 's Outline was here read.]

and sent to all the considerable libraries in the 3. Catalog of Bibliographical Reference Lists : country, setting forth the plans of the section, and Mr. Lane reports this as nearly ready for issue. asking for annual subscriptions of $10 to consti- This and the Handbook for Readers will prob- tute regular membership. ably be the first and second issues of the section.

42 libraries have responded with these sub- 4. Printed catalog cards : Subscribers to the scriptions. The report of the Treasurer is re- section were asked to state their choice between ferred to for a statement of the receipts and dis- three classes of cards on which the work of fur- bursements. It will be seen that the total receipts nishing printed cards might be commenced. AH have been $458, the total expenditures $85.67, but one of those who expressed a preference a class viz. cards of bib- leaving balance of $372.83. voted for the third named ; As to the use of the funds of the Section, it has liographical reference under topics. Two consid- been decided by the Executive Board that this erations have prevented us from following at once money should be divided between two purposes, this indication of preference. APPENDIX. 147

First, the fact that Mr. Lane's forthcoming list Your Board note with encouragement the spread to some cover the same of of the old will, extent, ground ; and, dissatisfaction with the results sys- second, that special facilities are now offered for tem of absolute individualism among the libraries printing author-cards of new books through the in cataloging work, and the increasing readiness offer of Mr. Bowker to give the use of the electro- to join in cooperative work for the common good. typed titles now being prepared for the Annual STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, AUG. 24, 1887. American Catalog. The Board have decided to commence immediately the printing of cards, of Receipts.

of I.oo . . both standard sizes (postal and index), from these 38 Preliminary subscriptions $ $38.00

of . electrotypes and their distribution to the members 42 Regular subscriptions for 1887 $10 420.00 of the section, and to others who may subscribe for them. This is an experiment, but one which Expenses. can be tried with slight expense, and which we and . . . believe lead to results. Stationery, printing, postage $31.67 may important good " Clerical labor on Essay Index "... 54.00 5. The A.L.A. Catalog: Your Board have made with Hon. -N. H. R. arrangements Dawson, 85-67 the U. S. Commissioner of for the Education, Balance 372-33 publication by the Bureau of Education of the sections of this proposed catalog. The Bureau $458.00 will assume the of the and expense publication The Nominating Committee reported the follow- distribution of these sections, and it only remains ing names of officers for the ensuing year, and they for us to submit the material ready for publication were duly elected : to the Bureau. It is proposed to bring out a new President, J. L. Whitney. edition (with some changes in form) of Miss Secretary, W: I. Fletcher. Hewins' "Reading for the Young" as the first of Treasurer, W: C. Lane. these sections. A list of works in the department Executive Board, W: I. Fletcher, M. Dewey, of Travels which has been partly prepared by Mrs. C: A. Cutter, R: R. Bowker, and Miss E. M. Coe. Dewey, and one in Political Science by Mr. Bow- ker may follow. Adjourned.

APPENDIX 2.

THE ATTENDANCE AND THE EXCUR- of these are wives, sisters, and daughters of mem- the social features but SIONS. bers, drawn by ; 19 lady

librarians and assistants were ; BY MELVIL DEWEY. chief 23 present and of the other 48, some were ex-librarians, or [From the Critic^ assistants, or trustees actively interested, as shown their faithful attendance on all sessions. Of the The attendance has grown from 60 or 70 till by 85 men, 42 were chief librarians, 13 assistants, five this year it numbered 175. They came from other officers, five publishers or booksellers (regu- 23 States, from Eastern Maine to Western lar members and attendants on the meetings), and California; and Great Britain sent three dele- and others while of the American 20 ex-librarians, editors, clergymen, gates ; two members interested in the work. Geographically, the regis- Association were in attendance on the Library is The North Atlantic States Association of the United Kingdom in session at ter noteworthy. all of the South there were represented ; Atlantic, Birmingham, the senior delegate being the lady were and the District of (Miss Ellen M. Coe) who has accomplished so only Maryland, Virginia, Columbia. None of the seven Gulf States ap- great a work at the head of the New York Free peared. The Lake States came next to the North Circulating Library. Two interesting facts are to Atlantic. For the past three years the largest be observed in the registration this year. Except has come from Columbia College in Boston, the number of women up to 1885 never single delegation Library. exceeded 20. In '85 it rose to 25, in '86 to 54, alone numbered and this year to 90, as against 85 men. A part The New England party 70, 148 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

while New York sent half as many more. At vist, A. D. De Celles and M. J. Griffin, the libra- Clayton a special steamer took them to Round rians of Parliament, and others, with carriages, Island, where the four days' session was held. and were driven through that enterprising and The commodious steamer John Thorn was char- picturesque city. They were conducted through tered for two afternoons to make the trips around the splendid Parliament buildings and its gem of the St. Lawrence a also the under the Islands and to Kingston, and library ; through building where, for the moonlight trip to Alexandria Bay. A the care of Mr. Brymner, the Canadian Archives stroller about the boat on any of these trips was are kept the most valuable collection of manu- sure to find committees at work here and there, scripts for historical purposes to be found on this and animated little groups discussing matters of continent, and to the museums of geology and interest and there was natural The then drove to Chaudiere common ; yet always present history. party the atmosphere of a thoroughly enjoyable outing. Falls, and to Hull which gave an idea of the The cottagers on Round Island showed many immense lumber interests of Ottawa and later courtesies. An Adirondack camp-fire at Shady to the Russell House to dine. Nothing could Ledge, with brass band, orchestra, glee club, fine exceed the cordial and generous hospitality which land and marine fireworks, and an exceedingly was extended to the party in Ottawa. clever humorous filled one In the Pullman were entertainment, enjoy- . evening sleeping-cars taken, able evening; a comedy in the hotel dining-room and the party arrived at Toronto in the morning, another and a illumination and where similar awaited them. ; general fireworks, hospitalities After with a band, occupied a third. they had taken breakfast at the Rossin House, On Saturday morning about 125 took the Mayor Howland and the Public Library Board steamer Corsican, shooting the famous rapids, appeared at the hotel with carriages and took at for to the and arriving the Windsor Hotel, Montreal, them principal points of interest in the city an admirable late dinner, which the hungry libra- the Public Library, the educational headquar- rians will long remember. The Canadian Pacific ters and museum, the Wellesley public school, sent up special cars for those who wished to hurry Osgoode Hall and law library, University of on to on and but the Toronto and Quebec Sunday Monday ; library, Rosedale, bringing up for main party enjoyed Montreal, and went on to lunch at the elegant residence of Ex-Alderman Quebec by moonlight on the Monday night John Hallam, the first President of the Library steamer, devoting all day Tuesday to that quaintest Board. Plates were laid for about 50 guests; of American cities. Here four parties broke off. and Capt. James Mason, the President of the One went up the Saguenay, another to Ottawa present Board, presided. At the conclusion of and Toronto, where various courtesies were ex- the banquet, he tendered the visitors a cordial tended by local committees; another returned via welcome, and called up Mayor Howland, who Lakes and and a fourth via the made a Dr. Poole Champlain George ; graceful speech. and other St. Lawrence and the Thousand Islands. The members of the visiting party responded to com- main party, however, took the side-wheel steamer plimentary toasts; and finally Mr. Hallam, the

Miramichi for Pictou. generous host, and Mr. James Bain, Jr., the accomplished librarian of the Public Library, were their feet. To Mr. THE WESTERN PARTY. brought upon Bain the visiting librarians were greatly indebted for constant BY WM. F. POOLE. attentions during the whole trip. section of at the A members residing West (with The party were then conveyed to the elegant the addition to " their number of Prof. Van Name, steam yacht Vivid," which had been placed at of Yale College Library, and Mrs. Van Name) the disposal of the committee by Mr. Frank the eastern section to accompanied Quebec, and Poison, who had joined the party. The yacht shared with them the pleasures of sight-seeing in steamed to the exhibition grounds, where an hour that interesting city. Parting with them at was spent in viewing the display of natural pro- Quebec, the Western party returned via Montreal, ducts, arts, and manufactures of Canada. Then " Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara, and Buffalo. Spending followed a harbor excursion, a sail around the a at at day sight-seeing Montreal, they left on the Island," and a collation of solid and liquid re- of morning September 7th for Ottawa, and were freshments in the cabin, which, with brief parting met at the station a by committee consisting of speeches, closed the day's delightful entertain- Messrs. Douglas Brymner, the Dominion Archi- ment. The regret was frequently expressed by APPENDIX. 149

of out the there was weather and the committee that they had not the pleasure trip, perfect ; special are neither asked entertaining all the librarians who met at Round courtesies were extended which Island. Taking a steamer the next morning, the by nor granted to an ordinary excusion. At Grand the site of the party had a pleasant sail across Lake Ontario, Pre the train was stopped opposite the excursionists were and, arriving at Niagara, proceeded on to Buffalo, old church, 52 smuggled where Mr. Larned was in waiting with carriages ingeniously through the barbed-wire fence, which formidable than custom-house to convey the party to the Genessee House. Here' proved more any of the was secured an elegant dinner, with Mr. Larned as the host, officers, and a photograph party awaited the visitors. Mr. Eidlitz, the architect at Evangeline's church. Another feature of the a railroad lunch the of the new library building, joined the party at day was extemporized by dinner. The afternoon was spent in examining, secretaries. Instead of the expected mad rush for coffee of a under Mr. Larned's guidance, the new library the lone doughnut and muddy country lunch-counter a ten-minutes' all hands building, of which he may well be proud. In the during stop, to sit while from the rear car evening the party separated, and took trains for were warned still, their homes. came white paper napkins, tin cups, big baskets of THE NOVA SCOTIA EXCURSION. delicious fruits, sandwiches, eggs, cakes, biscuits, etc., and more ginger ale and fresh milk than the BY MELVIL DEWEY. car-load could drink. " " THE LIBRARIANS' HOLIDAY in the [From When the train stopped at stations, a favorite Critic^ episode was a song or a full chorus, which even the The Miramichi was held from Tuesday noon till noise of the train had little effect in stilling, or a night to accommodate the librarians who wished speech, the happiest efforts being by Mr. J. T. to see more of Quebec, and steamed down the Buhner, of Halifax, and Judge Chamberlain, of the great river on one of the most enjoyable thousand- Boston Public Library. Altogether it was a red- miles conceivable. The on the letter a series and as the bookmen trips scenery right day among ; for four days was picturesque in the highest degree, lunched while passing the basin of Minas, where and the night stops at Mt. St. Louis, Madeleine, the tides rise from 60 to 70 feet, the spirits of and other points where the French boatmen came the party kept pace with the salt water. Captain off to the steamer for freight, and talked faster Colby held the steamer New York to allow a than they worked, gave a flavor of a foreign land. short visit to the old fort, and then the last day on Stops of three to five hours each at Gaspe, Perce board ship began in the beautiful Annapolis Basin. Summerside, Charlottetown, and Pictou gave By invitation of the captain, the whole party took delightful breaks in the voyage, which combined the pilot's deck, and with sea-chairs and rugs went in a rare degree the bracing salt air of the ocean into camp for a last "old-fashioned sing." The with the romantic scenery of a tourist's paradise. Bay of Fundy had no terrors on this trip, which The feelings of the party on leaving the steamer was varied from the straight course to Boston, were expressed in hearty resolutions which assured going round the Grand Manan in the early evening, Captain Raquet that the trip had more than met past Mt. Desert, and down the New England all the sanguine expectations with which it was coast. The program called for separation at undertaken. Halifax into three parties one for New York A special car met the steamer at Pictou and direct, another through St. John; but the days carried the librarians across Nova Scotia to Hali- were so full of good fellowship that no one could fax, where the two days were filled to overflowing. be found willing to break away, so that there Besides the ordinary drives and sight-seeing, there landed at the dock in Boston every one who had was a general attendance at the garrison church to started eight days before from the dock at Quebec. hear the military band and several hundred soldiers On leaving the steamer, the Association was render the Anglican service with a volume not to called to order, and passed unanimously votes of be a the thanks "to A. for the success- forgotten ; special yacht trip through (i) Capt. Raquet Northwest Arm, to the Dingle and Melville ful efforts of himself and his associates in making Island, through the harbor, and into the wonderful our trip enjoyable beyond our anticipations," and basin; and on Monday night a delightful evening (2) "that we bear our united testimony to the at the Waverley Hotel, where the literary Hali- unexpected pleasure of the trip down the St. ms welcomed the Americans. Tuesday was Lawrence, as combining great variety of beautiful i to the Evangeline country, and, as through- scenery on land with the enjoyment, without the ISO THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

discomforts, of the ocean voyage, and that we such beauty for the needed repose of our state- gladly commend it as one of the pleasantest rooms, and when we fell asleep it was to the excursions on the North Atlantic Coast." music of rich Canadian voices singing French choruses below our deck. We were roused be- THE SAGUENAY TRIP. times next morning, for at 5^ we had reached the limit of our journey, the town of Chicoutimi. We BY GREGORY B. KEEN, Librarian of the University went ashore in a shower of rain, some visiting the of Pennsylvania. large cathedral, others driving to the falls. Re- at A. M., the members Wednesday, Sept. 7, j% turning to our boat, we began the descent of the of the Association who had decided to take the river, the captain indicating points of interest on the Saguenay River started down the St. trip up our way. Ha-ha Bay especially charmed us, where Lawrence the steamboat Union. The upon day we climbed a hill to the parish church, and sat with showers of but opened unpropitiously rain, down to rest at a hotel which commanded a we soon realized that fleeting clouds and inter- particularly fine view of the Saguenay. Proceed- mittent sunshine afforded finer effects of and light ing thence, we noted many curious rocks and shade than are obtained in clearer weather. After " chasms, among others Le Tableau," with its awhile in admiration at the distant Falls of gazing broad limestone face, and the gothic cave of which some of us had seen the " Montmorenci, day Statue Point." We were more and more fasci- before and others to visit on to hoped returning nated with the grandeur of the scene until we we skirted the southern shore of the large Quebec, reached the acme of sublimity at Cape Trinity and Isle of Orleans, pleased with its constant succes- Eternity Bay. St. John's Bay next impressed us sion of old French cultivated farms, and villages, with its beauty, and the prospect up the Saguenay cliffs. The mountain ' wood-crowned promontory at the Island of St. Louis. Farther down the of Tourmente next met us, and was followed Cape stream we observed its abrupt turning, after the of and by lofty granite peaks Cape Rouge pursuing short, straight courses between palisade- Gribaune. About noon we entered the Cape like banks, which came very close together at St. Paul's and passed the exquisite Bay, charming Pointe la Boule. On arriving again at Tadousac Isle aux a little later touched at the Coudres; we saw the fish-ponds and the old chapel of the of Les Eboulements, remembered for its village Jesuit mission founded 200 years ago. The place high mountain, and at 4 o'clock stopped a few itself, too, pleased us by its picturesque situation minutes at the well-known summer resort of at the juncture of two rivers so utterly dissimilar Here we left the north- Canadians, Murray Bay. in character and effect upon the mind. As we re- ern of the St. and to cross bank Lawrence, began entered the St. Lawrence we were struck with the the river. Riviere du we a Nearing Loup, enjoyed green color of its waters as contrasted with the sunset, and, turning back toward the Sague- superb black Saguenay, as well as their difference in level, in the arrived at Tadousac soon after nay twilight, producing a long ridge of waves where their tides dark. transition marked from the The was very met. At the same time we saw a school of white broad expanse of the lake-like stream we had been porpoises, which abound at this point. On leaving all to the narrower waters and navigating day Riviere du Loup we beheld a brilliant rainbow, which now surrounded a con- gloomy heights us, followed by a golden sunset. Reaching Murray trast rendered the more striking when the moon Bay in the evening, we remained there a couple rose in after The stars great beauty just 9. of hours, interested in the work of some Indians, seemed for so a and it was very bright light night, and watching the mode of catching smelts. We pleasing to note the clear reflection of them in the enjoyed another moonlight night, and soon after dark river near our bow. We were loth to leave daybreak Friday morning arrived -at Quebec. ATTENDANCE REGISTER.

ATTENDANCE REGISTER. THOUSAND ISLANDS MEETING.

ABBREVIATIONS. A., Assistant; C., Cataloger; F., Free; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; P., Public. The letter after the address shows on which of the Post Conference excursions each went. Blank means only the Thou- to sand Islands and return ; Mtl., Montreal; Q., Quebec; M., Miramichi ocean trip Quebec Boston; S., Saguenay River; O., Ottawa and Toronto. All Q.includes Mtl., and all M., O., and S. include both Mtl. and Q., as all went via Montreal and Quebec.

Adams, Prof. Herbert B., Johns Hopkins Univ., Cooke, H. H., Bookseller (McClurg & Co.), Chica- Baltimore. Q. go, 111. Q. Adams, Harriet A., P. Ln. Somerville, Mass. M. Crunden, F: M., P. Ln. St. Louis, Mo. M Allan, Mrs. J. T., Omaha, Neb. Q. Curran, Mrs. M.. H., P. Ln. Bangor, Me. M. Allan, Jessie, P. Ln. Omaha, Neb. Q. Cutler, Louise S., Florence, Mass. (Columbia Allen, E: G., L. Agent, 28 Henrietta St., Covent L. School.) M. Garden, London. Q. Cutler, M.. Salome, C. Columbia College L., Allen, J. W., Worcester, Mass. . M. N. Y. M. Ames, Harriet H., C. Brookline, Mass. Q. Cutter, C: A., Ln. Boston Athenaeum, Boston. S. Atwater, Jennie S., Chicago, 111. M. Cutter, Roland Norcross, Winchester, Mass. S.

Bain, Ja., Jr., P. Ln. Toronto. O. Daniels, Prof. Jos. L., Ln. Olivet College, Mich. Baldwin, H.. S., A. Normal Inst., Hampton, Va. Davidson, H. E., Manager Library Bureau, Bos- Bassett, H. F., Ln. Silas Bronson L., Water- ton, Mass. M. bury, Conn. Davidson, Mrs. S.. Coolidge, Melrose, Mass. M. Bassett, Mrs. H. F., Waterbury, Conn. Denio, Lilian, A. Columbia College L., N. Y. Bean, M.. A., P. Ln. Brookline, Mass. Q. Dewey, Mrs. C.. A., Oneida, N. Y. Q. Beatty, Ella O., A. Ottendorfer L., N. Y. City. Dewey, Joel, Oneida, N. Y. Biscoe, Walter S., A. Columbia College L., N. Y. Dewey, Melvil, Chief Ln. Columbia College L., M. N. Y. M.

Bovvker, R: R., Ed. L. journal, N. Y. Mtl. Dixson, Mrs. J. E .,C. Columbia College L., N.Y. O Brown, Arthur N., Ln. U. S. Naval Acad., Annap- Dorr, H: S., Fremont, O. M. olis, Md. S. Dorr, Mrs. M.., Fremont, O. Q. Brown, Walter L., Bookseller (Peter Paul & Co.), Dudley, C: R., Mercantile Ln. Denver, Col. Mtl. Buffalo, N. Y. Dunton, C. A.., P. Ln., N. Adams, Mass. Bullard, Martha A., Ln. Seymour L., Auburn, Eddy, M.. A., F. P. Ln. Coldwater, Mich. O.

N. Y. Edmands, J:, Ln. Mercantile L. Co., Philadel- Burr, G: L., Ln. White L., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, phia. Q. N. Y. Ellison, F: P., Waltham, Mass. M. Carr, Mrs. Edith Wallbridge, Grand Rapids, Ellison, S.. E., A. P. L., Bangor, Me. M. Mich. O. Fletcher, W: L, Ln. Amherst College, Mass.

Carr, H: J., P. School Ln. Grand Rapids, Mich., Flint, Weston, A. Scientific L., U. S. Patent, O. Office, Washington. M. Chamberlain, Hon. Mellen, P. Ln., Boston. M. Flint, Mrs. Weston, 1101 K St., Washington. M. Chase, Alice, Worcester, Mass. M. Foote, Harriet S., Buffalo, N. Y. Chase, C: Augustus, Worcester, Mass. M. Foster, W: E., P. Ln. Providence, R. I. Clark, G: T., A. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. Garland, C. H., P. Ln. Dover, N. H. Q. Prof. J. Scott, Syracuse Univ., N. Y. Cast, Mrs. Harriet A., Ln. Birchard L., Fremont, G: W., A. Columbia Col. L., N. Y. M. O. Q. Mrs. G: P. L. ;, W., Columbia College L., N. Y. Godbold, S.. C., Ln. East Boston Branch M. Mass. 152 THOUSAND ISLANDS CONFERENCE.

Green, S: S., F. P. Ln. Worcester, Mass. M. Miller, Eulora, A. P. Ln. Lafayette, Ind. M. Greene, Caroline S., Boston, Mass. Miller, Maude, Lafayette, Ind. M. Griswold, Mrs. H. S., Bangor, Me. Q. Milman, Rev. W: H., Ln. Sion College, Victoria Griswold, W: M., A. Congressional L., Washing- Embankment, London. ton, D. C. Q. Moore, Etta B., Fremont, O. Q.

Griswold, Mrs. W. M., Washington, D. C. Q. Morse, Mrs. H.. J., Methuen, Mass. Q. Guild, Olive L., Providence, R. I. Morse, J: H., Methuen, Mass. Q. Guild, Reuben A., Ln. Brown Univ. L., Provi- Moyan, Mrs. S.. M., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mtl. dence, R. I. Murphy, E. Kate, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mtl. Hagar, Miss K.., 323 College St., Burlington, Vt. Nelson, C: Alex., C. Astor, L., N. Y.

Mtl. Nolan, Dr. E: J., L. Acad. of Nat. Sciences, Hagar, M.. L., Burlington, Vt. Mtl. Philadelphia. M. Hagar, S.. C., Ln. Fletcher F. L., Burlington, Vt. Norton, Gen. C: B., Bibliographer, Boston, Mass. Mtl. Nutting, M.. O., Ln. Mt. Holyoke Seminary, So. Hall, Lizza H., A. Library Bureau, Boston, Mass. Hadley, Mass. Harding, Julia, C. Wellesley College, Wellesley, Oakley, Minnie M., Ln. F. L. Madison, Wis. O. Mass. M. Patten, F. C., A. Columbia College L., N. Y. Mtl. Harris, Grace, Fremont, O. Q. Peck, A. L., Ln. Levi Parsons L., Gloversville, Hayes, Rutherford P., Trustee Birchard L., Fre- N. Y. Q. mont, O. M. Peoples, W: T., Mercantile Ln. N. Y. M. Higgins, Mrs. A. R., Bangor, Me. Q. Perkins, Norman C., A. P. L. Detroit, Mich. Hild, F: H., P. Ln., Chicago 111. Q. Peters, Annie C., Bangor, Me. Q. Hill, Frank P., Lowell, Mass. Peters, Fannie R., Bangor, Me. M. Hills, G: W., Bridgeport, Conn. Peters, Mrs. J: A., Bangor, Me. Q. Hills, W. ]., Supt. P. L., Bridgeport, Conn. Phinney, H. K., A. Univ. of Rochester, N. Y. Houghton, Alice E., C. Elyria, O. Plummer, M.. W., C. Columbia L., N. Y. M. Howard, Julia M., Boston, Mass. M. Poindexter, C:, State Ln. Richmond, Va. Mtl. Jaquith, Mrs. O. B., Ln. Norman Williams P. L., Poole, Mrs. F. M., Evanston, 111. O. Woodstock, Vt. Poole, Reuben B., Ln. Y. M. C. A., N. Y. Jencks, C: W., Providence, R. I. Q. Poole, W: F:, Ln. Newberry L., Chicago. O. Jencks, Ella M., Providence, R. I. M. Poole, Mrs. W: F:, Evanston, 111. Jenkins, M.. A., A. Lower Hall P. L., Boston, Porter, Mrs. Ruth, Waterbury, Conn. S. Mass. M. Pratt, H: A., Director Levi Parsons L., Glovers-

Jenks, Rev. H: F., Canton, Mass. M. ville, N. Y. Q. Johnson, Miss Sumner, P. Ln., Waltham, Mass. S. Presnell, H., Ln. U. S. Bureau Educ., Washington. Keeler, Lucy E., Fremont, O. Q. Rice, Mrs. D. Hall, Brookline, Mass. Keen, Gregory B., Ln. Univ. of Penn., Phila- Rice, P. C., P. Ln. Fitchburg, Mass. delphia, Penn. Q. Rice, Rev. Dr. W:, Ln. City L. Assoc., Spring- Kephart, Horace, A. Yale Univ. L., New Haven, field, Mass. Mtl. Conn. Mtl. Richardson, Ernest C., Ln. Theol. Seminary, Kephart, Mrs. Horace A., New Haven, Conn. Hartford, Conn. Mtl. Ropes, Ja. Hardy, Andover, Mass. M. Koopman, H. L., C. Univ. of Vt. L., Burlington, Rule, E.. E., A. P. L. Lynn, Mass. M. Vt. Mtl. Sanders, Mrs. M. A., F. P. Ln. Pawtucket, R. I. M. Lake, R: C., Aurora, 111. Sargent, Abbie L., A. Middlesex Mechanics Assoc., Lamed, J. N., Supt. Buffalo L., N. Y. Lowell, Mass.

Linderfelt, K. A:, P. Ln. Milwaukee, Wis. O. *Sargent, J: F., F. P. Ln. Paterson, N. J. Linderfelt, Mrs. Margie E., Milwaukee, Wis. O. Sargent, M.. E., Ln. Middlesex Mechanics Assoc., Lockwood, J: S., Purchaser for P. L., 82 Equita- Lowell, Mass. ble Building, Boston, Mass. Q. Schaffer, C:, M.D., 1309 Arch St., Philadelphia. Q. Mann, B: Pickman, Bibliographer, 1918 Sunder- Scott, Laura E., 1336 nth St., N. W., Washing- land PI., Washington. M. ton, D. C. L.. Mann, Mrs. C. F., Ass't Bibliographer, 1918 Shaw, Ja., P. Ln. Aurora, 111. Sunderland PL, Washington, D. C. M. Sickley, J: C., City Ln. Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mtl.

* Died Sept. 37, 1887. Succeeded by his predecessor, Frank P. Hill, of Lowell ATTENDANCE REGISTER. 153

Sickley, Mrs. J: C., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mtl. Winsor, Constance, Cambridge, Mass. Q.

Simpson, Medora J., P. Ln. Chelsea, Mass. Winsor, Justin, Ln. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, Sleeper, Lydia, Woodstock, Vt. M. Mass. Q. Smith, Sarah L., 1304 L. St., N. W., Washing- Winsor, Mrs. Justin, Cambridge, Mass. Q. ton, D. C. Q. Yates, Ja., P. Ln. Leeds, Eng. Mtl. Smith, Zelia A., Ln. Lawrence Univ., Appleton, Zimmerman, Mrs. G: Fremont, O. Q. Wis.

Soule, C: C., Law Bookseller, Boston, Mass. Southworth, Myra F., P. Ln. Brockton, Mass. M. c IT / r, T ii7 /- SUMMARIES BY SECRETARY. Sperry, H.., C. Bronson L-., Waterbury, Conn. S- BY POSITIONS AND SEX. Stechert, G. E., Foreign Bookseller, 828 Broadway, Men Women.

N - Y - Chiefs 43 19 Summit O. M. Stevens, Lucy, C., 495 St., Toledo, Assistants 13 23 Stott, E., A. F. N. Y. M. Janet Circulating L., Officers S Swift, A. P. L. Mass. Lindsay, Boston, Q. Booksellers and publishers ... 5 Truesdall, Mrs. Nette, Fremont, O. Q. Others 21 48 Tuttle, E.., A. L. I. Hist. Soc. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. Q. 87 90 Tuttle, G:, Brooklyn, N. Y. BY GEOGRAFICAL SECTIONS. Tuttle, Mrs. W. S, Brooklyn, N. Y. 9 of the 9 No. Atlantic States . . . . ir 9 'Arthur W., Ln. Male L. ( Plainfield, Tyler, Job g g Lake ^^ ^ Mg " Atlantic States -? *9 So. ... 13 Utley, H:M, P. Ln. Detroit, Mich. u I Mountain States 3 Utley, Mrs. H: M., Detroit, Mich. M. , g Pacific States i Van Name, Addison, Ln. Yale Univ., New Haven, ,r Q g tates Conn. O. England 3 Van Mrs. New Conn Name, Addison, Haven, r d 2

Van Zandt, Margaret, A. Columbia College, N. Y. 177 Q- BY STATES. Waldo, Prof. Clarence A., Ln. Rose Polytechnic M^& ^ Carried forward, 157 Inst, Terra Haute, Ind. N Y 34 Ind 3 Ward, Rev. Boston Linwood , . Julius H., Herald, 23 n N T 2 St., Boston, Mass. M. ~ , Conn 12, Mdf 2 Mrs. Olive \\ard, E., 23 Linwood St., Boston, ~r\ r q Va ' 2 Mass " M - 111. 8 Neb.' ! 2 Theresa A. P. L. Wis. . West, H., Milwaukee, i ' 7 N H A. W., P. Ln. Cincinnati, O. M. Whelpley, y ^ l^ o x Whelpley, Mrs. A. W., Clifton, Cincinnati, O. R 'j 6 Col j M> Mich. ... 6 Cal I White, Sophia E., A. L. Mass. City Springfield, Wig England 3 Whitney, Solon F., F. P. Ln. Watertown, Mass. / penn 4 Canada \ \ \ 2 'Wing, J. N., Bookseller (C: Scribner's Sons), 743 Broadway, N. Y. 157 177

ERRATUM. Page 118-21 for C. S. Woodward read C. J. Woodward.

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