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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Book for All Readers + An Aid to the Collection, Use, and Preservation of Books + and the Formation of Public and Private Libraries + +Author: Ainsworth Rand Spofford + +Release Date: September 15, 2007 [EBook #22608] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOOK FOR ALL READERS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Ciesielski and the booksmiths at +http://www.eBookForge.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_i" id="Pg_i"></a>[<a href="./images/i.png">i</a>]</span></p> +<h1><span class="smcap">A Book for All Readers</span></h1> + +<h4>DESIGNED AS AN AID TO THE</h4> + +<h2>COLLECTION, USE, AND PRESERVATION</h2> + +<h2>OF BOOKS</h2> + +<h4>AND THE</h4> + +<h2>FORMATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIBRARIES</h2> + + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Ainsworth Rand Spofford</span></h3> + +<h4>G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS<br /> +NEW YORK & LONDON<br /> +1900</h4> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_ii" id="Pg_ii"></a>[<a href="./images/ii.png">ii</a>]</span></p> + +<hr /> +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright 1900</span></h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">by</span></h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A R Spofford</span></h3> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_1" id="Pg_1"></a>[<a href="./images/1.png">1</a>]</span></p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><th align='right'>Chapter</th><th align='left'>Chapter Description</th><th align='right'>Page</th></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_1">1.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Choice of Books</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_3">3</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_2">2.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Book Buying</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_3">3.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Art of Book Binding</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_4">4.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Preparation for the Shelves: Book Plates, &c.</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_5">5.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Enemies of Books</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_6">6.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Restoration and Reclamation of Books</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_7">7.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pamphlet Literature</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_8">8.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Periodical Literature</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_9">9.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Art of Reading</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_10">10.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Aids to Readers</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_190">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_11">11.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Access to Library Shelves</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_12">12.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Faculty of Memory</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_13">13.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Qualifications of Librarians</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_242">242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_14">14.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Some of the Uses of Libraries</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_275">275</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_15">15.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The History of Libraries</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_287">287</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_16">16.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Library Buildings and Furnishings</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_321">321</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_17">17.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Library Managers or Trustees</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_333">333</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_18">18.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Library Regulations</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_341">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_19">19.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Library Reports and Advertising</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_349">349</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_20">20.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Formation of Libraries</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_357">357</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_21">21.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Classification</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_362">362</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_22">22.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Catalogues</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_373">373</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_23">23.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Copyright and Libraries</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_400">400</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_24">24.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Poetry of the Library</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_417">417</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_25">25.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Humors of the Library</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_430">430</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_26">26.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rare Books</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_444">444</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_27">27.</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bibliography</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_459">459</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#INDEX">Index</a></span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Pg_501">501</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_2" id="Pg_2"></a>[<a href="./images/2.png">2</a>]</span></p> +<h2>A BOOK FOR ALL READERS</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_3" id="Pg_3"></a>[<a href="./images/3.png">3</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_1" id="CHAPTER_1"></a>CHAPTER 1.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Choice of Books.</span></h3> + +<p>When we survey the really illimitable field of human +knowledge, the vast accumulation of works already printed, +and the ever-increasing flood of new books poured out +by the modern press, the first feeling which is apt to arise +in the mind is one of dismay, if not of despair. We ask—who +is sufficient for these things? What life is long +enough—what intellect strong enough, to master even a +tithe of the learning which all these books contain? But +the reflection comes to our aid that, after all, the really important +books bear but a small proportion to the mass. +Most books are but repetitions, in a different form, of what +has already been many times written and printed. The +rarest of literary qualities is originality. Most writers are +mere echoes, and the greater part of literature is the pouring +out of one bottle into another. If you can get hold of +the few really best books, you can well afford to be ignorant +of all the rest. The reader who has mastered Kames's +"Elements of Criticism," need not spend his time over the +multitudinous treatises upon rhetoric. He who has read +Plutarch's Lives thoroughly has before him a gallery of +heroes which will go farther to instruct him in the elements +of character than a whole library of modern biographies. +The student of the best plays of Shakespeare +may save his time by letting other and inferior dramatists +alone. He whose imagination has been fed upon Homer, +Dante, Milton, Burns, and Tennyson, with a few of the +world's master-pieces in single poems like Gray's Elegy, +may dispense with the whole race of poetasters. Until you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_4" id="Pg_4"></a>[<a href="./images/4.png">4</a>]</span> +have read the best fictions of Scott, Thackeray, Dickens, +Hawthorne, George Eliot, and Victor Hugo, you should +not be hungry after the last new novel,—sure to be forgotten +in a year, while the former are perennial. The taste +which is once formed upon models such as have been +named, will not be satisfied with the trashy book, or the +spasmodic school of writing.</p> + +<p>What kind of books should form the predominant part +in the selection of our reading, is a question admitting of +widely differing opinions. Rigid utilitarians may hold that +only books of fact, of history and science, works crammed +full of knowledge, should be encouraged. Others will plead +in behalf of lighter reading, or for a universal range. It +must be admitted that the most attractive reading to the +mass of people is not scientific or philosophical. But there +are many very attractive books outside the field of science, +and outside the realm of fiction, books capable of yielding +pleasure as well as instruction. There are few books that +render a more substantial benefit to readers of any age +than good biographies. In them we find those personal +experiences and adventures, those traits of character, that +environment of social and domestic life, which form the +chief interest in works of fiction. In fact, the novel, in its +best estate, is only biography amplified by imagination, and +enlivened by dialogue. And the novel is successful only +when it succeeds in depicting the most truly the scenes, +circumstances, and characters of real life. A well written +biography, like that of Dr. Johnson, by Boswell, Walter +Scott, by Lockhart, or Charles Dickens, by Forster, gives +the reader an insight into the history of the times they +lived in, the social, political, and literary environment, and +the impress of their famous writings upon their contemporaries. +In the autobiography of Dr. Franklin, one of the +most charming narratives ever written, we are taken into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_5" id="Pg_5"></a>[<a href="./images/5.png">5</a>]</span> +the writer's confidence, sympathize with his early struggles, +mistakes, and successes, and learn how he made himself, +from a poor boy selling ballads on Boston streets, into +a leader among men, whom two worlds have delighted to +honor. Another most interesting book of biography is that +of the brothers William and Robert Chambers, the famous +publishers of Edinburgh, who did more to diffuse useful +knowledge, and to educate the people, by their manifold +cheap issues of improving and entertaining literature, than +was ever done by the British Useful Knowledge Society itself.</p> + +<p>The French nation has, of all others, the greatest genius +for personal memoirs, and the past two centuries are +brought far more vividly before us in these free-spoken and +often amusing chronicles, than in all the formal histories. +Among the most readable of these (comparatively few having +been translated into English) are the Memoirs of Marmontel, +Rousseau, Madame Rémusat, Amiel, and Madame +De Staël. The recently published memoirs by Imbert de +St. Amand, of court life in France in the times of Marie +Antoinette, Josephine, Marie Louise, and other periods, +while hastily written and not always accurate, are lively +and entertaining.</p> + +<p>The English people fall far behind the French in biographic +skill, and many of their memoirs are as heavy and +dull as the persons whom they commemorate. But there +are bright exceptions, in the lives of literary men and women, +and in some of those of noted public men in church +and state. Thus, there are few books more enjoyable than +Sydney Smith's Memoirs and Letters, or Greville's Journals +covering the period including George IV to Victoria, +or the Life and Letters of Macaulay, or Mrs. Gaskell's +Charlotte Brontë, or the memoirs of Harriet Martineau, or +Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson. Among the briefer biog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_6" id="Pg_6"></a>[<a href="./images/6.png">6</a>]</span>raphies +worthy of special mention are the series of English +Men of Letters, edited by John Morley, and written by +some of the best of contemporary British writers. They +embrace memoirs of Chaucer, Spenser, Bacon, Sidney, Milton, +De Foe, Swift, Sterne, Fielding, Locke, Dryden, Pope, +Johnson, Gray, Addison, Goldsmith, Burke, Hume, Gibbon, +Bunyan, Bentley, Sheridan, Burns, Cowper, Southey, +Scott, Byron, Lamb, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley, Wordsworth, +De Quincey, Macaulay, Landor, Dickens, Thackeray, Hawthorne, +and Carlyle. These biographies, being quite compendious, +and in the main very well written, afford to busy +readers a short-hand method of acquainting themselves +with most of the notable writers of Britain, their personal +characteristics, their relation to their contemporaries, and +the quality and influence of their works. Americans have +not as yet illustrated the field of biographic literature by +many notably skilful examples. We are especially deficient +in good autobiographies, so that Dr. Franklin's stands +almost alone in singular merit in that class. We have an +abundance of lives of notable generals, professional men, +and politicians, in which indiscriminate eulogy and partisanship +too often usurp the place of actual facts, and the +truth of history is distorted to glorify the merits of the +subject of the biography. The great success of General +Grant's own Memoirs, too, has led publishers to tempt +many public men in military or civil life, into the field of +personal memoirs, not as yet with distinguished success.</p> + +<p>It were to be wished that more writers possessed of some +literary skill, who have borne a part in the wonderful +drama involving men and events enacted in this country +during the century now drawing to a close, had given us +their sincere personal impressions in autobiographic form. +Such narratives, in proportion as they are truthful, are far +more trustworthy than history written long after the event<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_7" id="Pg_7"></a>[<a href="./images/7.png">7</a>]</span> +by authors who were neither observers nor participants in +the scenes which they describe.</p> + +<p>Among American biographies which will help the reader +to gain a tolerably wide acquaintance with the men and affairs +of the past century in this country, are the series of +Lives of American Statesmen, of which thirty volumes +have been published. These include Washington, the +Adamses, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Jay, Madison, +Marshall, Monroe, Henry, Gallatin, Morris, Randolph, +Jackson, Van Buren, Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Cass, Benton, +Seward, Lincoln, Chase, Stevens, and Sumner. While +these Memoirs are of very unequal merit, they are sufficiently +instructive to be valuable to all students of our national +history.</p> + +<p>Another very useful series is that of American Men of +Letters, edited by Charles Dudley Warner, in fifteen volumes, +which already includes Franklin, Bryant, Cooper, +Irving, Noah Webster, Simms, Poe, Emerson, Ripley, Margaret +Fuller, Willis, Thoreau, Taylor, and Curtis.</p> + +<p>In the department of history, the best books for learners +are not always the most famous. Any mere synopsis of +universal history is necessarily dry reading, but for a constant +help in reference, guiding one to the best original +sources, under each country, and with very readable extracts +from the best writers treating on each period, the +late work of J. N. Larned, "History for Ready Reference," +five volumes, will be found invaluable. Brewer's Historic +Note Book, in a single volume, answers many historic +queries in a single glance at the alphabet. For the History +of the United States, either John Fiske's or Eggleston's is +an excellent compend, while for the fullest treatment, Bancroft's +covers the period from the discovery of America up +to the adoption of the constitution in 1789, in a style at +once full, classical, and picturesque. For continuations,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_8" id="Pg_8"></a>[<a href="./images/8.png">8</a>]</span> +McMaster's History of the People of the United States +covers the period from 1789 to 1824, and is being continued. +James Schouler has written a History of the +United States from 1789 to 1861, in five volumes, while J. +F. Rhodes ably covers the years 1850 to the Civil War with +a much more copious narrative.</p> + +<p>For the annals of England, the Short History of England +by J. R. Green is a most excellent compend. For +more elaborate works, the histories of Hume and Macaulay +bring the story of the British Empire down to about 1700. +For the more modern period, Lecky's History of England +in the 18th century is excellent, and for the present century, +McCarthy's History of Our Own Time, and Miss Martineau's +History of England, 1815-52, are well written +works. French history is briefly treated in the Student's +History of France, while Guizot's complete History, in +eight volumes, gives a much fuller account, from the beginnings +of France in the Roman period, to the year 1848. +Carlyle's French Revolution is a splendid picture of that +wonderful epoch, and Sloane's History of Napoleon gives +very full details of the later period.</p> + +<p>For the history of Germany, Austria, Russia, France, +Spain, Italy, Holland, and other countries, the various +works in the "Story of the Nations" series, are excellent +brief histories.</p> + +<p>Motley's Rise of the Dutch Republic and his United +Netherlands are highly important and well written historical +works.</p> + +<p>The annals of the ancient world are elaborately and ably +set forth in Grote's History of Greece, Merivale's Rome, +and Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.</p> + +<p>Another class of books closely allied to biography and +history, is the correspondence of public men, and men of +letters, with friends and contemporaries. These familiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_9" id="Pg_9"></a>[<a href="./images/9.png">9</a>]</span> +letters frequently give us views of social, public, and professional +life which are of absorbing interest. Among the +best letters of this class may be reckoned the correspondence +of Horace Walpole, Madame de Sévigné, the poets +Gray and Cowper, Lord Macaulay, Lord Byron, and Charles +Dickens. Written for the most part with unstudied ease +and unreserve, they entertain the reader with constant variety +of incident and character, while at the same time +they throw innumerable side-lights upon the society and +the history of the time.</p> + +<p>Next, we may come to the master-pieces of the essay-writers. +You will often find that the best treatise on any +subject is the briefest, because the writer is put upon condensation +and pointed statement, by the very form and +limitations of the essay, or the review or magazine article. +Book-writers are apt to be diffuse and episodical, having +so extensive a canvas to cover with their literary designs. +Among the finest of the essayists are Montaigne, Lord +Bacon, Addison, Goldsmith, Macaulay, Sir James Stephen, +Cardinal Newman, De Quincey, Charles Lamb, Washington +Irving, Emerson, Froude, Lowell, and Oliver Wendell +Holmes. You may spend many a delightful hour in the +perusal of any one of these authors.</p> + +<p>We come now to poetry, which some people consider +very unsubstantial pabulum, but which forms one of the +most precious and inspiring portions of the literature of +the world. In all ages, the true poet has exercised an influence +upon men's minds that is unsurpassed by that of +any other class of writers. And the reason is not far to +seek. Poetry deals with the highest thoughts, in the most +expressive language. It gives utterance to all the sentiments +and passions of humanity in rhythmic and harmonious +verse. The poet's lines are remembered long after the +finest compositions of the writers of prose are forgotten.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_10" id="Pg_10"></a>[<a href="./images/10.png">10</a>]</span> +They fasten themselves in the memory by the very flow +and cadence of the verse, and they minister to that sense +of melody that dwells in every human brain. What the +world owes to its great poets can never be fully measured. +But some faint idea of it may be gained from the wondrous +stimulus given through them to the imaginative power, +and from the fact that those sentiments of human sympathy, +justice, virtue, and freedom, which inspire the best +poetry of all nations, become sooner or later incarnated in +their institutions. This is the real significance of the oft-quoted +saying of Andrew Fletcher, that stout Scotch republican +of two centuries ago, that if one were permitted +to make all the ballads of a nation, he need not care who +should make the laws.</p> + +<p>In the best poetry, the felicity of its expressions of +thought, joined with their rhythmical form, makes it easy +for the reader to lay up almost unconsciously a store in +the memory of the noblest poetic sentiments, to comfort +or to divert him in many a weary or troubled hour. Hence +time is well spent in reading over and over again the great +poems of the world. Far better and wiser is this, than to +waste it upon the newest trash that captivates the popular +fancy, for the last will only tickle the intellectual palate +for an hour, or a day, and be then forgotten, while the +former will make one better and wiser for all time.</p> + +<p>Nor need one seek to read the works of very many writers +in order to fill his mind with images of truth and +beauty which will dwell with him forever. The really +great poets in the English tongue may be counted upon +the fingers. Shakespeare fitly heads the list—a world's +classic, unsurpassed for reach of imagination, variety of +scenes and characters, profound insight, ideal power, lofty +eloquence, moral purpose, the most moving pathos, alternating +with the finest humor, and diction unequalled for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_11" id="Pg_11"></a>[<a href="./images/11.png">11</a>]</span> +strength and beauty of expression. Milton, too, in his +minor poems, has given us some of the noblest verse in the +language. There is poetry enough in his L'Allegro and Il +Penseroso to furnish forth a whole galaxy of poets.</p> + +<p>Spenser and Pope, Gray and Campbell, Goldsmith and +Burns, Wordsworth and the Brownings, Tennyson and +Longfellow,—these are among the other foremost names +in the catalogue of poets which none can afford to neglect. +Add to these the best translations of Homer, Virgil, Horace, +Dante, and Goethe, and one need not want for intellectual +company and solace in youth or age.</p> + +<p>Among the books which combine entertainment with information, +the best narratives of travellers and voyagers +hold an eminent place. In them the reader enlarges the +bounds of his horizon, and travels in companionship with +his author all over the globe. While many, if not the +most, of the books of modern travellers are filled with +petty incidents and personal observations of no importance, +there are some wonderfully good books of this attractive +class. Such are Kinglake's "Eothen, or traces of +travel in the East," Helen Hunt Jackson's "Bits of +Travel," a volume of keen and amusing sketches of German +and French experiences, the books of De Amicus on +Holland, Constantinople, and Paris, those on England by +Emerson, Hawthorne, William Winter, and Richard Grant +White, Curtis's Nile Notes, Howell's "Venetian Life," and +Taine's "Italy, Rome and Naples."</p> + +<p>The wide domain of science can be but cursorily touched +upon. Many readers get so thorough a distaste for science +in early life—mainly from the fearfully and wonderfully +dry text-books in which our schools and colleges have +abounded—that they never open a scientific book in later +years. This is a profound mistake, since no one can afford +to remain ignorant of the world in which we live, with its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_12" id="Pg_12"></a>[<a href="./images/12.png">12</a>]</span> +myriad wonders, its inexhaustible beauties, and its unsolved +problems. And there are now works produced in +every department of scientific research which give in a +popular and often in a fascinating style, the revelations of +nature which have come through the study and investigation +of man. Such books are "The Stars and the Earth," +Kingsley's "Glaucus, or Wonders of the Shore," Clodd's +"Story of Creation," (a clear account of the evolution +theory) Figuier's "Vegetable World," and Professor Langley's +"New Astronomy." There are wise specialists whose +published labors have illuminated for the uninformed +reader every nook and province of the mysteries of creation, +from the wing of a beetle to the orbits of the planetary +worlds. There are few pursuits more fascinating than +those that bring us acquainted with the secrets of nature, +whether dragged up from the depths of the sea, or demonstrated +in the substance and garniture of the green earth, +or wrung from the far-off worlds in the shining heavens.</p> + +<p>A word only can be spared to the wide and attractive +realm of fiction. In this field, those are the best books +which have longest kept their hold upon the public mind. +It is a wise plan to neglect the novels of the year, and to +read (or to re-read in many cases) the master-pieces which +have stood the test of time, and criticism, and changing +fashions, by the sure verdict of a call for continually new +editions. Ouida and Trilby may endure for a day, but +Thackeray and Walter Scott are perennial. It is better to +read a fine old book through three times, than to read +three new books through once.</p> + +<p>Of books more especially devoted to the history of literature, +in times ancient and modern, and in various nations, +the name is legion. I count up, of histories of English literature +alone (leaving out the American) no less than one +hundred and thirty authors on this great field or some por<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_13" id="Pg_13"></a>[<a href="./images/13.png">13</a>]</span>tion +of it. To know what ones of these to study, and what +to leave alone, would require critical judgment and time +not at my command. I can only suggest a few known by +me to be good. For a succinct yet most skilfully written +summary of English writers, there is no book that can compare +with Stopford A. Brooke's Primer of English Literature. +For more full and detailed treatment, Taine's History +of English Literature, or Chambers' Cyclopaedia of +English Literature, two volumes, with specimens of the +writers of every period, are the best. E. C. Stedman's Victorian +Poets is admirable, as is also his Poets of America. +For a bird's eye view of American authors and their works, +C. F. Richardson's Primer of American Literature can be +studied to advantage, while for more full reference to our +authors, with specimens of each, Stedman's Library of +American Literature in eleven volumes, should be consulted. +M. C. Tyler's very interesting critical History of the +Early American Literature, so little known, comes down +in its fourth volume only to the close of the revolution in +1783.</p> + +<p>For classical literature, the importance of a good general +knowledge of which can hardly be overrated, J. P. Mahaffy's +History of Greek Literature, two volumes, and G. +A. Simcox's Latin Literature, two volumes, may be commended. +On the literature of modern languages, to refer +only to works written in English, Saintsbury's Primer of +French Literature is good, and R. Garnett's History of +Italian Literature is admirable (by the former Keeper of +Printed Books in the British Museum Library). Lublin's +Primer of German Literature is excellent for a condensed +survey of the writers of Germany, while W. Scherer's History +of German Literature, two volumes, covers a far wider +field. For Spanish Literature in its full extent, there is +no work at all equal to George Ticknor's three volumes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_14" id="Pg_14"></a>[<a href="./images/14.png">14</a>]</span> +but for a briefer history, H. B. Clark's Hand-book of +Spanish Literature, London, 1893, may be used.</p> + +<p>I make no allusion here to the many works of reference +in the form of catalogues and bibliographical works, which +may be hereafter noted. My aim has been only to indicate +the best and latest treatises covering the leading literatures +of the world, having no space for the Scandinavian, Dutch, +Portuguese, Russian, or any of the Slavonic or oriental +tongues.</p> + +<p>Those who find no time for studying the more extended +works named, will find much profit in devoting their hours +to the articles in the Encyclopaedia Britannica upon the +literatures of the various countries. These are within +reach of everyone.</p> + +<p>The select list of books named in this chapter does not +by any means aim to cover those which are well worth +reading; but only to indicate a few, a very few, of the best. +It is based on the supposition that intelligent readers will +give far less time to fiction than to the more solid food of +history, biography, essays, travels, literary history, and applied +science. The select list of books in the fields already +named is designed to include only the most improving and +well-executed works. Many will not find their favorites +in the list, which is purposely kept within narrow limits, +as a suggestion only of a few of the best books for a home +library or for general reading. You will find it wise to +own, as early in life as possible, a few of the choicest productions +of the great writers of the world. Those who can +afford only a selection from a selection, can begin with +never so few of the authors most desired, or which they +have not already, putting in practice the advice of Shakespeare:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In brief, sir, study what you most affect."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>Says John Ruskin: "I would urge upon every young man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_15" id="Pg_15"></a>[<a href="./images/15.png">15</a>]</span> +to obtain as soon as he can, by the severest economy, a restricted +and steadily increasing series of books, for use +through life; making his little library, of all his furniture, +the most studied and decorative piece." And Henry Ward +Beecher urged it as the most important early ambition for +clerks, working men and women, and all who are struggling +up in life, to form gradually a library of good books. +"It is a man's duty," says he, "to have books. A library +is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life."</p> + +<p>And says Bishop Hurst, urging the vital importance of +wise selection in choosing our reading: "If two-thirds of +the shelves of the typical domestic library were emptied of +their burden, and choice books put in their stead, there +would be reformation in intelligence and thought throughout +the civilized world."</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Selection of Books for Public Libraries.</span></h4> + +<p>Let us now consider the subject of books fitted for public +libraries. At the outset, it is most important that each +selection should be made on a well considered plan. No +hap-hazard, or fitfully, or hastily made collection can answer +the two ends constantly to be aimed at—namely, first, +to select the best and most useful books, and, secondly, to +economize the funds of the library. No money should be +wasted upon whims and experiments, but every dollar +should be devoted to the acquisition of improving books.</p> + +<p>As to the principles that should govern and the limitations +to be laid down, these will depend much upon the +scope of the library, and the amount of its funds. No library +of the limited and moderate class commonly found +in our public town libraries can afford to aim at the universal +range of a national library, nor even at the broad +selections proper to a liberally endowed city library.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_16" id="Pg_16"></a>[<a href="./images/16.png">16</a>]</span>But its aims, while modest, should be comprehensive +enough to provide a complete selection of what may be +termed standard literature, for the reading public. If the +funds are inadequate to do this in the beginning, it should +be kept constantly in view, as the months and years go on. +Every great and notable book should be in the library +sooner or later, and if possible at its foundation. Thus +will its utility and attractiveness both be well secured.</p> + +<p>Taking first the case of a small public library about to +be started, let us see in a few leading outlines what it will +need.</p> + +<p>1. A selection of the best works of reference should be +the corner-stone of every library collection. In choosing +these, regard must be had to secure the latest as well as +the best. Never buy the first edition of Soule's Synonymes +because it is cheap, but insist upon the revised and +enlarged edition of 1892. Never acquire an antiquated +Lempriere's or Anthon's Classical Dictionary, because some +venerable library director, who used it in his boyhood, suggests +it, when you can get Professor H. T. Peck's "Dictionary +of Classical Antiquities," published in 1897. Never +be tempted to buy an old edition of an encyclopaedia at +half or quarter price, for it will be sure to lack the populations +of the last census, besides being a quarter of a century +or more in arrears in its other information. When +consulting sale catalogues to select reference books, look +closely at the dates of publication, and make sure by your +American or English catalogues that no later edition has +appeared. It goes without saying that you will have these +essential bibliographies, as well as Lowndes' Manual of +English Literature first of all, whether you are able to buy +Watt and Brunet or not.</p> + +<p>2. Without here stopping to treat of books of reference +in detail, which will appear in another place, let me refer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_17" id="Pg_17"></a>[<a href="./images/17.png">17</a>]</span> +to some other great classes of literature in which every library +should be strong. History stands fairly at the head, +and while a newly established library cannot hope to possess +at once all the noted writers, it should begin by securing +a fine selection, embracing general history, ancient and +modern, and the history of each country, at least of the +important nations. For compendious short histories, the +"Story of the Nations" series, by various writers, should +be secured, and the more extensive works of Gibbon, Grote, +Mommsen, Duruy, Fyffe, Green, Macaulay, Froude, McCarthy, +Carlyle, Thiers, Bancroft, Motley, Prescott, Fiske, +Schouler, McMaster, Buckle, Guizot, etc., should be acquired. +The copious lists of historical works appended to +Larned's "History for Ready Reference" will be useful +here.</p> + +<p>3. Biography stands close to history in interest and importance. +For general reference, or the biography of all +nations, Lippincott's Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of +Biography is essential, as well as Appleton's Cyclopaedia of +American Biography, for our own country. For Great +Britain, the "Dictionary of National Biography" is a mine +of information, and should be added if funds are sufficient. +Certain sets of collective biographies which are important +are American Statesmen, 26 vols., Englishmen of Letters, — vols., +Autobiography, 33 vols., Famous Women series, +21 vols., Heroes of the Nation series, 24 vols., American +Pioneers and Patriots, 12 vols., and Plutarch's Lives. +Then of indispensable single biographies there are Boswell's +Johnson, Lockhart's Scott, Froude's Carlyle, Trevelyan's +Macaulay, Froude's Caesar, Lewes' Goethe, etc.</p> + +<p>4. Of notable essays, a high class of literature in which +there are many names, may be named Addison, Montaigne, +Bacon, Goldsmith, Emerson, Lamb, De Quincey, Holmes, +Lowell, etc.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_18" id="Pg_18"></a>[<a href="./images/18.png">18</a>]</span>5. Poetry stands at the head of all the literature of imagination. +Some people of highly utilitarian views decry +poetry, and desire to feed all readers upon facts. But that +this is a great mistake will be apparent when we consider +that the highest expressions of moral and intellectual truth +and the most finely wrought examples of literature in every +nation are in poetic form. Take out of the world's literature +the works of its great poets, and you would leave it +poor indeed. Poetry is the only great source for the nurture +of imagination, and without imagination man is a +poor creature. I read the other day a dictum of a certain +writer, alleging that Dickens's Christmas Carol is far more +effective as a piece of writing than Milton's noble ode "On +the Morning of Christ's Nativity." Such comparisons are +of small value. In point of fact, no library can spare +either of them. I need not repeat the familiar names of +the great poets; they are found in all styles of production, +and some of the best are among the least expensive.</p> + +<p>6. Travels and voyages form a very entertaining as well +as highly instructive part of a library. A good selection +of the more notable will prove a valuable resource to readers +of nearly every age.</p> + +<p>7. The wide field of science should be carefully gleaned +for a good range of approved text-books in each department. +So progressive is the modern world that the latest +books are apt to be the best in each science, something +which is by no means true in literature.</p> + +<p>8. In law, medicine, theology, political science, sociology, +economics, art, architecture, music, eloquence, and +language, the library should be provided with the leading +modern works.</p> + +<p>9. We come now to fiction, which the experience of all +libraries shows is the favorite pabulum of about three readers +out of four. The great demand for this class of read<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_19" id="Pg_19"></a>[<a href="./images/19.png">19</a>]</span>ing +renders it all the more important to make a wise and +improving selection of that which forms the minds of multitudes, +and especially of the young. This selection presents +to every librarian and library director or trustee some +perplexing problems. To buy indiscriminately the new +novels of the day, good, bad, and indifferent (the last +named greatly predominating) would be a very poor discharge +of the duty devolving upon those who are the responsible +choosers of the reading of any community. Conceding, +as we must, the vast influence and untold value of +fiction as a vehicle of entertainment and instruction, the +question arises—where can the line be drawn between the +good and improving novels, and novels which are neither +good nor improving? This involves something more than +the moral tone and influence of the fictions: it involves +their merits and demerits as literature also. I hold it to +be the bounden duty of those who select the reading of a +community to maintain a standard of good taste, as well as +of good morals. They have no business to fill the library +with wretched models of writing, when there are thousand +of good models ready, in numbers far greater than +they have money to purchase. Weak and flabby and silly +books tend to make weak and flabby and silly brains. Why +should library guides put in circulation such stuff as the +dime novels, or "Old Sleuth" stories, or the slip-slop +novels of "The Duchess," when the great masters of romantic +fiction have endowed us with so many books replete +with intellectual and moral power? To furnish immature +minds with the miserable trash which does not deserve +the name of literature, is as blameworthy as to put +before them books full of feverish excitement, or stories of +successful crime.</p> + +<p>We are told, indeed (and some librarians even have said +it) that for unformed readers to read a bad book is better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_20" id="Pg_20"></a>[<a href="./images/20.png">20</a>]</span> +than to read none at all. I do not believe it. You might +as well say that it is better for one to swallow poison than +not to swallow any thing at all. I hold that library providers +are as much bound to furnish wholesome food for +the minds of the young who resort to them for guidance, +as their parents are to provide wholesome food for their +bodies.</p> + +<p>But the question returns upon us—what is wholesome +food? In the first place, it is that great body of fiction +which has borne the test, both of critical judgment, and of +popularity with successive generations of readers. It is +the novels of Scott, Austen, Dickens, Thackeray, George +Eliot, Cooper, Hawthorne, Kingsley, Mulock-Craik, and +many more, such as no parents need blush to put into the +hands of their daughters. In the next place, it is such a +selection from the myriads of stories that have poured +from the press of this generation as have been approved by +the best readers, and the critical judgment of a responsible +press.</p> + +<p>As to books of questionable morality, I am aware that +contrary opinions prevail on the question whether any +such books should be allowed in a public library, or not. +The question is a different one for the small town libraries +and for the great reference libraries of the world. The +former are really educational institutions, supported at the +people's expense, like the free schools, and should be held +to a responsibility from which the extensive reference libraries +in the city are free. The latter may and ought to +preserve every form of literature, and, if national libraries, +they would be derelict in their duty to posterity if they did +not acquire and preserve the whole literature of the country, +and hand it down complete to future generations. +The function of the public town library is different. It +must indispensably make a selection, since its means are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_21" id="Pg_21"></a>[<a href="./images/21.png">21</a>]</span> +not adequate to buy one-tenth of the annual product of +the press, which amounts in only four nations (England, +France, Germany, and the United States) to more than +thirty-five thousand new volumes a year. Its selection, +mainly of American and English books, must be small, and +the smaller it is, the greater is the need of care in buying. +In fact, it is in most cases, compelled to be a selection from +a selection. Therefore, in the many cases of doubt arising +as to the fit character of a book, let the doubt be resolved +in favor of the fund, thus preserving the chance of getting +a better book for the money.</p> + +<p>With this careful and limited selection of the best, out +of the multitude of novels that swarm from the press, the +reading public will have every reason to be satisfied. No +excuse can be alleged for filling up our libraries with poor +books, while there is no dearth whatever of good ones. It +is not the business of a public library to compete with the +news stands or the daily press in furnishing the latest short +stories for popular consumption; a class of literature whose +survival is likely to be quite as short as the stories themselves.</p> + +<p>Take an object lesson as to the mischiefs of reading the +wretched stuff which some people pretend is "better than +no reading at all" from the boy Jesse Pomeroy, who perpetrated +a murder of peculiar atrocity in Boston. "Pomeroy +confessed that he had always been a great reader of +'blood and thunder' stories, having read probably sixty +dime novels, all treating of scalping and deeds of violence. +The boy said that he had no doubt that the reading of +those books had a great deal to do with his course, and he +would advise all boys to leave them alone."</p> + +<p>In some libraries, where the pernicious effect of the +lower class of fiction has been observed, the directors have +withdrawn from circulation a large proportion of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_22" id="Pg_22"></a>[<a href="./images/22.png">22</a>]</span> +novels, which had been bought by reason of their popularity. +In other newly started libraries only fiction of the +highest grade has been placed in the library from the start, +and this is by far the best course. If readers inquire for +inferior or immoral books, and are told that the library +does not have them, although they will express surprise +and disappointment, they will take other and improving +reading, thus fulfilling the true function of the library as +an educator. Librarians and library boards cannot be too +careful about what constitutes the collection which is to +form the pabulum of so many of the rising generation.</p> + +<p>This does not imply that they are to be censors, or +prudes, but with the vast field of literature before them +from which to choose, they are bound to choose the best.</p> + +<p>The American Library Association has had this subject +under discussion repeatedly, and while much difference of +opinion has arisen from the difficulty of finding any absolute +standard of excellence, nearly all have agreed that as +to certain books, readers should look elsewhere than to the +public free library for them. At one time a list of authors +was made out, many of whose works were deemed objectionable, +either from their highly sensational character, or +their bad style, or their highly wrought and morbid pictures +of human passions, or their immoral tendency. This +list no doubt will surprise many, as including writers +whose books everybody, almost, has read, or has been accustomed +to think well of. It embraces the following popular +authors, many of whose novels have had a wide circulation, +and that principally through popular libraries.</p> + +<p>Here follow the names:</p> + +<p>Mary J. Holmes, Mrs. Henry Wood, C. L. Hentz, M. P. +Finley, Mrs. A. S. Stephens, E. D. E. N. Southworth, Mrs. +Forrester, Rhoda Broughton, Helen Mathers, Jessie Fothergill, +M. E. Braddon, Florence Marryat, Ouida, Horatio<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_23" id="Pg_23"></a>[<a href="./images/23.png">23</a>]</span> +Alger, Mayne Reid, Oliver Optic, W. H. S. Kingston, E. +Kellogg, G. W. M. Reynolds, C. Fosdick, Edmund Yates, +G. A. Lawrence, Grenville Murray, W. H. Ainsworth, +Wilkie Collins, E. L. Bulwer-Lytton, W. H. Thomes, and +Augusta Evans Wilson.</p> + +<p>Bear in mind, that only English and American novels +are included, and those only of the present century: also, +that as to many which are included, no imputation of immorality +was made. Such a "black list" is obviously open +to the charge of doing great injustice to the good repute +of writers named, since only a part of the works written by +some of them can properly be objected to, and these are +not specially named. Bulwer-Lytton, for example, whose +"Paul Clifford" is a very improper book to go into the +hands of young people, has written at least a dozen other +fictions of noble moral purpose, and high literary merit.</p> + +<p>Out of seventy public libraries to which the list was sent, +with inquiry whether the authors named were admitted as +books of circulation, thirty libraries replied. All of them +admitted Bulwer-Lytton and Wilkie Collins, all but two +Oliver Optic's books, and all but six Augusta Evans Wilson's. +Reynolds' novels were excluded by twenty libraries, +Mrs. Southworth's by eleven, "Ouida's" by nine, and Mrs. +Stephens's and Mrs. Henry Wood's by eight. Other details +cannot find space for notice here.</p> + +<p>This instance is one among many of endeavors constantly +being made by associated librarians to stem the +ever increasing flood of poor fiction which threatens to submerge +the better class of books in our public libraries.</p> + +<p>That no such wholesome attempt can be wholly successful +is evident enough. The passion for reading fiction is +both epidemic and chronic; and in saying this, do not infer +that I reckon it as a disease. A librarian has no right to +banish fiction because the appetite for it is abused. He is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_24" id="Pg_24"></a>[<a href="./images/24.png">24</a>]</span> +not to set up any ideal and impossible standard of selection. +His most useful and beneficent function is to turn +into better channels the universal hunger for reading +which is entertaining. Do readers want an exciting novel? +What can be more exciting than "Les Miserables" of Victor +Hugo, a book of exceptional literary excellence and +power? Literature is full of fascinating stories, admirably +told, and there is no excuse for loading our libraries with +trash, going into the slums for models, or feeding young +minds upon the unclean brood of pessimistic novels. If it +is said that people will have trash, let them buy it, and let +the libraries wash their hands of it, and refuse to circulate +the stuff which no boy nor girl can touch without being +contaminated.</p> + +<p>Those who claim that we might as well let the libraries +down to the level of the poorest books, because unformed +and ignorant minds are capable of nothing better, should +be told that people are never raised by giving them nothing +to look up to. To devour infinite trash is not the road to +learn wisdom, or virtue, or even to attain genuine amusement. +To those who are afraid that if the libraries are +purified, the masses will get nothing that they can read, +the answer is, have they not got the entire world of magazines, +the weekly, daily, and Sunday newspapers, which supply +a whole library of fiction almost daily? Add to these +plenty of imaginative literature in fiction and in poetry, +on every library's shelves, which all who can read can comprehend, +and what excuse remains for buying what is +neither decent nor improving?</p> + +<p>Take an example of the boundless capacity for improvement +that exists in the human mind and human taste, from +the spread of the fine arts among the people. Thirty +years ago, their houses, if having any decoration at all, +exhibited those fearful and wonderful colored lithographs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_25" id="Pg_25"></a>[<a href="./images/25.png">25</a>]</span> +and chromos in which bad drawing, bad portraiture, and +bad coloring vied with each other to produce pictures +which it would be a mild use of terms to call detestable. +Then came the two great international art expositions at +Philadelphia and Chicago, each greatly advancing by the +finest models, the standard of taste in art, and by new economies +of reproduction placing the most beautiful statues +and pictures within the reach of the most moderate purse. +What has been the result? An incalculable improvement +in the public taste, educated by the diffusion of the best +models, until even the poor farmer of the backwoods will +no longer tolerate the cheap and nasty horrors that once +disfigured his walls.</p> + +<p>The lesson in art is good in literature also. Give the +common people good models, and there is no danger but +they will appreciate and understand them. Never stoop +to pander to a depraved taste, no matter what specious +pleas you may hear for tolerating the low in order to lead +to the high, or for making your library contribute to the +survival of the unfittest.</p> + +<p>Is it asked, how can the librarian find out, among the +world of novels from which he is to select, what is pure and +what is not, what is wholesome and what unhealthy, what +is improving and what is trash? The answer is—there are +some lists which will be most useful in this discrimination, +while there is no list which is infallible. Mr. F. Leypoldt's +little catalogue of "Books for all Time" has nothing +that any library need do without. Another compendious +list is published by the American Library Association. +And the more extensive catalogue prepared for the World's +Fair in 1893, and embracing about 5,000 volumes, entitled +"Catalogue of A. L. A. Library: 5,000 vols. for a popular +library," while it has many mistakes and omissions, is a tolerably +safe guide in making up a popular library. I may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_26" id="Pg_26"></a>[<a href="./images/26.png">26</a>]</span> +note that the list of novels in this large catalogue put forth +by the American Library Association has the names of five +only out of the twenty-eight writers of fiction heretofore +pronounced objectionable, and names a select few only of +the books of these five.</p> + +<p>As for the later issues of the press, and especially the +new novels, let him skim them for himself, unless in cases +where trustworthy critical judgments are found in journals. +Running through a book to test its style and moral +drift is no difficult task for the practiced eye.</p> + +<p>Let us suppose that you are cursorily perusing a novel +which has made a great sensation, and you come upon the +following sentence: "Eighteen millions of years would +level all in one huge, common, shapeless ruin. Perish the +microcosm in the limitless macrocosm! and sink this +feeble earthly segregate in the boundless rushing choral +aggregation!" This is in Augusta J. Evans Wilson's story +"Macaria", and many equally extraordinary examples of +"prose run mad" are found in the novels of this once noted +writer. What kind of a model is that to form the style of +the youthful neophyte, to whom one book is as good as another, +since it was found on the shelves of the public library?</p> + +<p>I am not insisting that all books admitted should be +models of style; even a purist must admit that one of the +greatest charms of literature is its infinite variety. But +when book after book is filled with such specimens of literary +lunacy as this, one is tempted to believe that Homer +and Shakespeare, to say nothing of Thackeray and Hawthorne, +have lived in vain.</p> + +<p>Never fear criticism of those who find fault with the absence +from your library of books that you know to be nearly +worthless; their absence will be a silent but eloquent +protest against them, sure to be vindicated by the utter ob<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_27" id="Pg_27"></a>[<a href="./images/27.png">27</a>]</span>livion +into which they will fall. Many a flaming reputation +has been extinguished after dazzling callow admirers +for six months, or even less. Do not dread the empty sarcasm, +that may grow out of the exclusion of freshly printed +trash, that your library is a "back number." To some +poor souls every thing that is great and good in the world's +literature is a "back number"; and the Bible itself, with +its immortal poetry and sublimity, is the oldest back number +of all. It is no part of your business as a librarian to +cater to the tastes of those who act as if the reading of endless +novels of sensation were the chief end of man. As +one fed on highly spiced viands and stimulating drinks +surely loses the appetite for wholesome and nourishing +food, so one who reads only exciting and highly wrought +fictions loses the taste for the master-pieces of prose and +poetry.</p> + +<p>Let not the fear of making many mistakes be a bug-bear +in your path. If you are told that your library is too exclusive, +reply that it has not means enough to buy all the +good books that are wanted, and cannot afford to spend +money on bad or even on doubtful ones. If you have excluded +any highly-sought-for book on insufficient evidence, +never fail to revise the judgment. All that can be expected +of any library is approximately just and wise selection, +having regard to merit, interest, and moral tone, more +than to novelty or popularity.</p> + +<p>In the matter of choice, individual opinions are of small +value. Never buy a book simply because some reader extols +it as very fine, or "splendid," or "perfectly lovely." +Such praises are commonly to be distrusted in direct proportion +to their extravagance.</p> + +<p>A good lesson to libraries is furnished in the experience +of the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library. In 1878, out of +16,000 volumes in that library, no less than 6,000 were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_28" id="Pg_28"></a>[<a href="./images/28.png">28</a>]</span> +novels. The governing board, on the plea of giving people +what they wanted, bought nearly all new books of fiction, +and went so far, even, as to buy of Pinkerton's Detective +stories, fifteen copies each, fifteen of all Mrs. Southworth's +novels, etc. But a change took place in the board, and the +librarian was permitted to stop the growing flood of worthless +fiction, and as fast as the books were worn out, they +were replaced by useful reading. It resulted that four +years later, with 40,000 volumes in the library, only 7,000 +were novels, or less than one-fifth, instead of more than +one-third of the whole collection, as formerly. In the +same time, the percentage of fiction drawn out was reduced +from 69 per cent. of the aggregate books read, to 50 per +cent.</p> + +<p>Libraries are always complaining that they cannot buy +many valuable books from lack of funds. Yet some of +them buy a great many that are valueless in spite of this +lack. Can any thing be conceived more valueless than a +set of Sylvanus Cobb's novels, reprinted to the number of +thirty-five to forty, from the New York Ledger? Yet +these have been bought for scores of libraries, which could +not afford the latest books in science and art, or biography, +history, or travel. There are libraries in which the latest +books on electricity, or sewerage, or sanitary plumbing, +might have saved many lives, but which must go without +them, because the money has been squandered on vapid +and pernicious literature.</p> + +<p>In almost every library, while some branches of knowledge +are fairly represented, others are not represented at +all. Nearly all present glaring deficiencies, and these are +often caused by want of systematic plan in building up the +collection. Boards of managers are frequently changed, +and the policy of the library with them. All the more important +is it that the librarian should be so well equipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_29" id="Pg_29"></a>[<a href="./images/29.png">29</a>]</span> +with a definite aim, and with knowledge and skill competent +to urge that aim consistently, as to preserve some +unity of plan.</p> + +<p>I need not add that a librarian should be always wide +awake to the needs of his library in every direction. It +should be taken for granted that its general aim is to include +the best books in the whole range of human knowledge. +With the vast area of book production before him, +he should strengthen every year some department, taking +them in order of importance.</p> + +<p>Some scholarly writers tell us that very few books are +essential to a good education. James Russell Lowell +named five, which in his view embraced all the essentials; +namely, Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Cervantes, and +Goethe's Faust. Prof. Charles E. Norton of Harvard remarked +that this list might even be abridged so as to embrace +only Homer, Dante and Shakespeare. I can only +regard such exclusiveness as misleading, though conceding +the many-sidedness of these great writers. To extend the +list is the function of all public libraries, as well as of most +of the private ones. Next after the really essential books, +that library will be doing its public good service which acquires +all the important works that record the history of +man. This will include biography, travels and voyages, +science, and much besides, as well as history.</p> + +<p>Special pains should be taken in every library to have +every thing produced in its own town, county, and State. +Not only books, but all pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers, +and even broadsides or circulars, should be sought for and +stored up as memorials of the present age, tending in large +part rapidly to disappear.</p> + +<p>In selecting editions of standard authors, one should +always discriminate, so as to secure for the library, if not +the best, at least good, clear type, sound, thick paper, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_30" id="Pg_30"></a>[<a href="./images/30.png">30</a>]</span> +durable binding. Cheap and poor editions wear out quickly, +and have to be thrown away for better ones, which wise +economy should have selected in the first place. For example, +a widely circulated edition of Scott's novels, found +in most libraries, has the type so worn and battered by the +many large editions printed from the plates, that many +letters and words are wanting, thus spoiling not only the +pleasure but abridging the profit of the reader in perusing +the novels. The same is true of one edition of Cooper. +Then there are many cheap reprints of English novels in +the Seaside and other libraries which abound in typographical +errors. A close examination of a cheap edition of +a leading English novelist's works revealed more than +3,000 typographical errors in the one set of books! It +would be unpardonable carelessness to buy such books for +general reading because they are cheap.</p> + +<p>Librarians should avoid what are known as subscription +books, as a rule, though some valid exceptions exist. Most +of such books are profusely illustrated and in gaudy bindings, +gotten up to dazzle the eye. If works of merit, it is +better to wait for them, than to subscribe for an unfinished +work, which perhaps may never reach completion.</p> + +<p>A librarian or book collector should be ever observant of +what he may find to enrich his collection. When in a +book-store, or a private or public library, he should make +notes of such works seen as are new to him, with any characteristics +which their custodian may remark upon. Such +personal examination is more informing than any catalogue.</p> + +<p>I think each public library should possess, besides +a complete set of the English translations of the Greek and +Latin classics, a full set of the originals, for the benefit of +scholarly readers. These classic texts can be had complete +in modern editions for a very moderate price.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_31" id="Pg_31"></a>[<a href="./images/31.png">31</a>]</span>How far duplicate volumes should be bought should depend +upon demand, and the views of the purchasing +powers. There is a real need of more than one copy of +almost every standard work, else it will be perpetually out, +giving occasion for numerous complaints from those who +use the library. It would be a good rule to keep one copy +always in, and at the service of readers, of every leading +history, standard poet, or popular novel. Then the duplicate +copies for circulation may be one or more, as experience +and ability to provide may determine. A library +which caters to the novel-reading habit as extensively as +the New York Mercantile (a subscription library) has to +buy fifty to one hundred copies of "Trilby," for example, +to keep up with the demand. No such obligation exists +for the free public libraries. They, however, often buy +half a dozen to a dozen copies of a very popular story, when +new, and sell them out after the demand has slackened or +died away.</p> + +<p>The methods of selection and purchase in public libraries +are very various. In the Worcester (Mass.) Public +Library, the librarian makes a list of desiderata, has it +manifolded, and sends a copy to each of the thirteen members +of the Board of directors. This list is reported on by +the members at the next monthly meeting of the Board, +and generally, in the main, approved. Novels and stories +are not bought until time has shown of what value they +may be. The aim is mainly educational at the Worcester +library, very special pains being taken to aid all the pupils +and teachers in the public schools, by careful selection, and +providing duplicate or more copies of important works.</p> + +<p>In the Public Library of Cleveland, Ohio, there is appointed +out of the governing Board a book-committee of +three. To one of these are referred English books wanted, +to another French, and to the third German books. This +sub-committee approves or amends the Librarian's recom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_32" id="Pg_32"></a>[<a href="./images/32.png">32</a>]</span>mendations, +at its discretion; but expensive works are referred +to the whole board for determination.</p> + +<p>In the New York Mercantile Library, which must keep +continually up to date in its supply of new books, the announcements +in all the morning papers are daily scanned, +and books just out secured by immediate order. Many +publishers send in books on approval, which are frequently +bought. An agent in London is required to send on the +day of publication all new books on certain subjects.</p> + +<p>The library boards of management meet weekly in New +York and Philadelphia, but monthly in most country libraries. +The selection of books made by committees introduces +often an element of chance, not quite favorable to +the unity of plan in developing the resources of the library. +But with a librarian of large information, discretion, and +skill, there need seldom be any difficulty in securing approval +of his selections, or of most of them. In some libraries +the librarian is authorized to buy at discretion additions +of books in certain lines, to be reported at the next +meeting of the board; and to fill up all deficiencies in +periodicals that are taken. This is an important concession +to his judgment, made in the interest of completeness +in the library, saving a delay of days and sometimes weeks +in waiting for the board of directors.</p> + +<p>All orders sent out for accessions should previously +be compared with the alphabeted order-card list, as well +as with the general catalogue of the library, to avoid duplication. +After this the titles are to be incorporated in the +alphabet of all outstanding orders, to be withdrawn only +on receipt of the books.</p> + +<p>The library should invite suggestions from all frequenting +it, of books recommended and not found in the collection. +A blank record-book for this purpose, or an equivalent +in order-cards, should be always kept on the counter +of the library.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_33" id="Pg_33"></a>[<a href="./images/33.png">33</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_2" id="CHAPTER_2"></a>CHAPTER 2.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Book Buying.</span></h3> + + +<p>The buying of books is to some men a pastime; to +others it is a passion; but to the librarian and the intelligent +book collector it is both a business and a pleasure. +The man who is endowed with a zeal for knowledge is eager +to be continually adding to the stores which will enable +him to acquire and to dispense that knowledge. Hence +the perusal of catalogues is to him an ever fresh and fascinating +pursuit. However hampered he may be by the lack +of funds, the zest of being continually in quest of some +coveted volumes gives him an interest in every sale catalogue, +whether of bookseller or of auctioneer. He is led +on by the perennial hope that he may find one or more of +the long-wished for and waited-for <i>desiderata</i> in the thin +pamphlet whose solid columns bristle with book-titles in +every variety of abbreviation and arrangement. It is a +good plan, if one can possibly command the time, to read +every catalogue of the book auctions, and of the second-hand +book dealers, which comes to hand. You will thus +find a world of books chronicled and offered which you do +not want, because you have got them already: you will +find many, also, which you want, but which you know you +cannot have; and you may find some of the very volumes +which you have sought through many years in vain. In +any case, you will have acquired valuable information—whether +you acquire any books or not; since there is hardly +a priced catalogue, of any considerable extent, from which +you cannot reap knowledge of some kind—knowledge of +editions, knowledge of prices, and knowledge of the com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_34" id="Pg_34"></a>[<a href="./images/34.png">34</a>]</span>parative +scarcity or full supply of many books, with a +glimpse of titles which you may never have met before. +The value of the study of catalogues as an education in +bibliography can never be over-estimated.</p> + +<p>The large number of active and discriminating book-buyers +from America has for years past awakened the interest +and jealousy of collectors abroad, where it has very +largely enhanced the price of all first-class editions, and +rare works.</p> + +<p>No longer, as in the early days of Dibdin and Heber, is +the competition for the curiosities of old English literature +confined to a half-score of native amateurs. True, we have +no such omnivorous gatherers of literary rubbish as that +magnificent <i>helluo librorum</i>, Richard Heber, who amassed +what was claimed to be the largest collection of books ever +formed by a single individual. Endowed with a princely +fortune, and an undying passion for the possession of +books, he spent nearly a million dollars in their acquisition. +His library, variously stated at from 105,000 volumes +(by Dr. Dibdin) to 146,000 volumes (by Dr. Allibone) +was brought to the hammer in 1834. The catalogue filled +13 octavo volumes, and the sale occupied 216 days. The +insatiable owner (who was a brother of Reginald Heber, +Bishop of Calcutta) died while still collecting, at the age +of sixty, leaving his enormous library, which no single +house of ordinary size could hold, scattered in half a dozen +mansions in London, Oxford, Paris, Antwerp, Brussels and +Ghent.</p> + +<p>Yet the owner of this vast mass of mingled nonsense and +erudition, this library of the curiosities of literature, was +as generous in imparting as in acquiring his literary treasures. +No English scholar but was freely welcome to the +loan of his volumes; and his own taste and critical knowledge +are said to have been of the first order.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_35" id="Pg_35"></a>[<a href="./images/35.png">35</a>]</span>From this, probably the most extensive private library +ever gathered, let us turn to the largest single purchase, in +number of volumes, made at one time for a public library. +When Dr. J. G. Cogswell went abroad in 1848, to lay the +foundations of the Astor Library, he took with him credentials +for the expenditure of $100,000; and, what was of +even greater importance, a thoroughly digested catalogue +of <i>desiderata</i>, embracing the most important books in every +department of literature and science. No such opportunity +of buying the finest books at the lowest prices is +likely ever to occur again, as the fortuitous concourse of +events brought to Dr. Cogswell. It was the year of revolutions—the +year when the thrones were tottering or falling +all over Europe, when the wealthy and privileged classes +were trembling for their possessions, and anxious to turn +them into ready money. In every time of panic, political +or financial, the prices of books, as well as of all articles of +luxury, are the first to fall. Many of the choicest collections +came to the hammer; multitudes were eager to sell—but +there were few buyers except the book merchants, who +were all ready to sell again. The result was that some 80,000 +volumes were gathered for the Astor Library, embracing +a very large share of the best editions and the most expensive +works, with many books strictly denominated rare, +and nearly all bound in superior style, at an average cost +of about $1.40 per volume. This extraordinary good fortune +enabled the Astor Library to be opened on a very +small endowment, more splendidly equipped for a library +of reference than any new institution could be today with +four or five times the money.</p> + +<p>Compared with such opportunities as these, you may +consider the experiences of the little libraries, and the narrow +means of recruitment generally found, as very literally +the day of small things. But a wise apportionment of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_36" id="Pg_36"></a>[<a href="./images/36.png">36</a>]</span> +small funds, combined with a good knowledge of the commercial +value of books, and perpetual vigilance in using opportunities, +will go very far toward enlarging any collection +in the most desirable directions.</p> + +<p>Compare for a moment with the results stated of the Astor +Library's early purchases, the average prices paid by +British Libraries for books purchased from 1826 to 1854, +as published in a parliamentary return. The average cost +per volume varied from 16<i>s</i> or about $4 a volume, for the +University Library of <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Edinburg'">Edinburgh</ins>, to 4<i>s</i> 6<i>d</i>, or $1.10 a volume +for the Manchester Free Library. The latter, however, +were chiefly popular new books, published at low +prices, while the former included many costly old works, +law books, etc. The British Museum Library's average +was 8<i>s</i> 5<i>d</i> or about $2.00 per volume. Those figures represent +cloth binding, while the Astor's purchases were +mostly in permanent leather bindings.</p> + +<p>Averages are very uncertain standards of comparison, as +a single book rarity often costs more than a hundred volumes +of the new books of the day; but in a library filled +with the best editions of classical and scientific works, and +reference books, I presume that two dollars a volume is not +too high an estimate of average cost, in these days represented +by the last twenty years. For a circulating library, +on the other hand, composed chiefly of what the public +most seek to read, half that average would perhaps express +the full commercial value of the collection. Of its intrinsic +value I will not here pause to speak.</p> + +<p>There are many methods of book buying, of which we +may indicate the principal as follows:</p> + +<ul class="plain"><li>1. By direct orders from book dealers.</li> +<li>2. By competition on select lists of wants.</li> +<li>3. By order from priced catalogues.</li> +<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_37" id="Pg_37"></a>[<a href="./images/37.png">37</a>]</span>4. By purchase at auction sales.</li> +<li>5. By personal research among book stocks.</li> +<li>6. By lists and samples of books sent on approval.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Each of these methods has its advantages—and, I may +add, its disadvantages likewise. The collector who combines +them, as opportunity presents, is most likely to make +his funds go the farthest, and to enrich his collection the +most. Direct orders for purchase are necessary for most +new books wanted, except in the case of the one government +library, which in most countries, receives them +under copyright provision. An advantageous arrangement +can usually be made with one or more book-dealers, +to supply all new books at a fairly liberal discount from retail +prices. And it is wise management to distribute purchases +where good terms are made, as thereby the trade +will feel an interest in the library, and a mutuality of interest +will secure more opportunities and better bargains.</p> + +<p>The submission of lists of books wanted, to houses having +large stocks or good facilities, helps to make funds go +as far as possible through competition. By the typewriter +such lists can now be manifolded much more cheaply than +they can be written or printed.</p> + +<p>Selection from priced catalogues presents a constantly +recurring opportunity of buying volumes of the greatest +consequence, to fill gaps in any collection, and often at surprisingly +low prices. Much as book values have been enhanced +of late years, there are yet catalogues issued by +American, English and continental dealers which quote +books both of the standard and secondary class at very +cheap rates. Even now English books are sold by the +Mudie and the W. H. Smith lending libraries in London, +after a very few months, at one-half to one-fourth their +original publishing price. These must usually be rebound, +but by instructing your agent to select copies which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_38" id="Pg_38"></a>[<a href="./images/38.png">38</a>]</span> +are clean within, all the soil of the edges will disappear +with the light trimming of the binder.</p> + +<p>Purchase at auction supplies a means of recruiting libraries +both public and private with many rare works, and +with the best editions of the standard authors, often finely +bound. The choice private libraries of the country, as well +as the poor ones, tend to pour themselves sooner or later +into public auctions. The collectors of books, whose early +avidity to amass libraries of fine editions was phenomenal, +rarely persist in cultivating the passion through life. +Sometimes they are overtaken by misfortune—sometimes +by indifference—the bibliomania not being a perennial inspiration, +but often an acute and fiery attack, which in a +few years burns out. Even if the library gathered with so +much money and pains descends to the heirs of the collector, +the passion for books is very seldom an inherited +one. Thus the public libraries are constantly recruited by +the opportunities of selection furnished by the forced sale +of the private ones. Here, public competition frequently +runs up the price of certain books to an exorbitant degree, +while those not wanted often sell for the merest trifle. +One should have a pretty clear idea of the approximate +commercial value of books, before competing for them at +public sale. He may, however, if well persuaded in his +own mind as to the importance or the relative unimportance +to his own collection of any work, regulate his bids by +that standard, regardless of commercial value, except as a +limit beyond which he will not go. Few librarians can +personally attend auction sales—nor is it needful, when +limits can so easily be set to orders. It is never safe to +send an unlimited bid, as there may be others without +limit, in which case the book is commonly awarded to the +most remote bidder.</p> + +<p>There are many curiosities of the auction room, one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_39" id="Pg_39"></a>[<a href="./images/39.png">39</a>]</span> +them being the frequent re-appearance of book rarities +which have been through several auctions, sometimes at +intervals of years, keenly competed for by rival bibliophiles, +and carried off in triumph by some ardent collector, +who little thought at the time how soon his own collection +would come to the hammer.</p> + +<p>There are also many curiosities of compilation in auction +catalogues. Not to name errors of commission, like giving +the authorship of books to the wrong name, and errors +of omission, like giving no author's name at all, some +catalogues are thickly strewn with the epithets <i>rare</i>—and +<i>very rare</i>, when the books are sufficiently common in one +or the other market. Do not be misled by these surface +indications. Books are often attributed in catalogues to +their editor or translator, and the unwary buyer may thus +find himself saddled with a duplicate already in his own +collection. There has been much improvement in late +years in the care with which auction catalogues are edited, +and no important collection at least is offered, without +having first passed through the hands of an expert, familiar +with bibliography. It is the minor book sales where +the catalogues receive no careful editing, and where the +dates and editions are frequently omitted, that it is necessary +to guard against. It is well to refrain from sending +any bids out of such lists, because they furnish no certain +identification of the books, and if all would do the same, +thus diminishing the competition and the profit of the +auctioneer, he might learn never to print a catalogue without +date, place of publication, and full name of author of +every book offered.</p> + +<p>Never be too eager to acquire an auction book, unless +you are very thoroughly assured that it is one of the kind +truly designated <i>rarissimus</i>. An eminent and thoroughly +informed book collector, with an experience of forty years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_40" id="Pg_40"></a>[<a href="./images/40.png">40</a>]</span> +devoted to book auctions and book catalogues, assured me +that it was his experience that almost every book would +turn up on the average about every seven years. Of course +there are notable exceptions—and especially among the +class of books known as <i>incunabula</i>, (or cradle-books +printed in the infancy of printing) and of early Americana: +but it is not these which the majority of libraries are +most in search of. Remember always, if you lose a coveted +volume, that there will be another chance—perhaps many +of them. The private collector, who carries it off against +you, has had no former opportunity to get the rare volume, +and may never have another. He is therefore justified in +paying what is to ordinary judgment an extraordinary +price. Individual collectors die, but public libraries are +immortal.</p> + +<p>If you become thoroughly conversant with priced catalogues, +you will make fewer mistakes than most private +buyers. Not only catalogues of notable collections, with +the prices obtained at auction, but the large and very +copious catalogues of such London book-dealers as Quaritch +and Sotheran, are accessible in the great city libraries. +These are of the highest use in suggesting the proximate +prices at which important books have been or may +be acquired. Since 1895, annual volumes entitled "American +Book Prices Current" have been issued, giving the +figures at which books have been sold at all the principal +auction sales of the year.</p> + +<p>There is no word so much abused as the term <i>rare</i>, when +applied to books. Librarians know well the unsophisticated +citizen who wants to sell at a high price a "rare" +volume of divinity "a hundred and fifty years old" (worth +possibly twenty-five cents to half a dollar,) and the persistent +woman who has the rarest old bible in the country, +which she values anywhere from fifty to five hundred dol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_41" id="Pg_41"></a>[<a href="./images/41.png">41</a>]</span>lars, +and which turns out on inspection to be an imperfect +copy of one of Barker's multitudinous editions of 1612 to +'18, which may be picked up at five to eight shillings in any +old London book-shop. The confident assertions so often +paraded, even in catalogues, "only three copies known," +and the like, are to be received with absolute incredulity, +and the claims of ignorant owners of books who +fancy that their little pet goose is a fine swan, because they +never saw another, are as ridiculous as the laudation bestowed +by a sapient collector upon two of his most valued +nuggets. "This, sir, is unique, but not so unique as the +other."</p> + +<p>Buying books by actual inspection at the book-shops is +even more fascinating employment than buying them +through catalogues. You thus come upon the most unexpected +volumes unawares. You open the covers, scan the +title-pages, get a glimpse of the plates, and flit from book +to book, like a bee gathering honey for its hive. It is a +good way to recruit your library economically, to run +through the stock of a book-dealer systematically—neglecting +no shelf, but selecting throughout the whole +stock, and laying aside what you think you may want. +When this is done, you will have quite a pile of literature +upon which to negotiate with the proprietor. It is cheaper +to buy thus at wholesale than by piecemeal, because the +bookseller will make you a larger discount on a round lot +of which you relieve his shelves.</p> + +<p>Another method of recruiting your library is the examination +of books "on approval." Most book-dealers will be +so obliging as to send in parcels of books for the inspection +of a librarian or collector, who can thus examine them +leisurely and with more thoroughness than in a book store, +without leaving his business.</p> + +<p>All books, by whatever course they may be purchased,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_42" id="Pg_42"></a>[<a href="./images/42.png">42</a>]</span> +are indispensably to be collated before they are accepted +and paid for. Neglect of this will fill any library with imperfections, +since second-hand books are liable to have +missing leaves, or plates, or maps, while new books may +lack signatures or plates, or be wrongly bound together. +In the case of new books, or books still in print, the publisher +is bound to make good an imperfection.</p> + +<p>In old books, this is usually impossible, and the only +remedy is to return the imperfect books upon the seller's +hands, unless there may be a reason, such as the rarity of +the volume, or its comparative little cost, or the trifling +nature of the imperfection, for retaining it. The equities +in these cases are in favor of the buyer, who is presumed +to have purchased a perfect copy. But the right of +reclamation must be exercised promptly, or it may be forfeited +by lapse of time. If an imperfection in any book +you order is noted in the catalogue, it is not subject to return. +I have ever found the book auctioneers most courteous +and considerate in their dealings—and the same can +be said of the book trade generally, among whom instances +of liberality to libraries are by no means rare.</p> + +<p>One of the choicest pleasures of the book collector, +whether private student or librarian, is to visit the second-hand +book-shops of any city, and examine the stock with +care. While he may find but few notable treasures in one +collection, a search through several shops will be almost +sure to reward him. Here are found many of the outpourings +of the private libraries, formed by specialists or +amateurs, and either purchased by the second-hand dealer +<i>en bloc</i>, or bid off by him at some auction sale. Even rare +books are picked up in this way, no copies of which can be +had by order, because long since "out of print." The +stock in these shops is constantly changing, thus adding a +piquant and sometimes exciting element to the book<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_43" id="Pg_43"></a>[<a href="./images/43.png">43</a>]</span>-hunter, +who is wise in proportion as he seizes quickly upon +all opportunities of new "finds" by frequent visits. To +mourn over a lost chance in rare books is often more grievous +to the zealous collector, than to lose a large share out +of his fortune; while to exult over a literary nugget long +sought and at length found is a pleasure to which few +others can be compared.</p> + +<p>Of the many <i>bouquinistes</i> whose open-air shops line the +quays of Paris along the Seine, numbering once as many +as a hundred and fifty dealers in second-hand books, I have +no room to treat; books have been written about them, +and the <i>littérateurs</i> of France, of Europe, and of America +have profited by countless bargains in their learned wares. +Nor can I dwell upon the literary wealth of London book-shops, +dark and dingy, but ever attractive to the hungry +scholar, or the devotee of bibliomania.</p> + +<p>Of the many second-hand booksellers (or rather sellers +of second-hand books) in American cities, the more notable +have passed from the stage of action in the last quarter of +a century. Old William Gowans, a quaint, intelligent +Scotchman, in shabby clothes and a strong face deeply +marked with small pox, was for many years the dean of this +fraternity in New York. His extensive book-shop in Nassau +street, with its dark cellar, was crowded and packed +with books on shelves, on stairways and on the floors, +heaped and piled in enormous masses, amid which the +visitor could hardly find room to move. On one of the +piles you might find the proprietor seated—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Books to the right of him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Books to the left of him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Books behind him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Volleyed and tumbled,<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>while he answered inquiries for books from clergymen and +students, or gruffly bargained with a boy or an old woman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_44" id="Pg_44"></a>[<a href="./images/44.png">44</a>]</span> +for a dilapidated lot of old books. He had a curious quizzical +way with strangers, who at once set him down as an +oddity, and his impatience with ignoramuses and bores +gave him the repute of crustiness, which was redeemed by +suavity enough whenever he met with people of intelligence.</p> + +<p>Gowans issued scores of catalogues of his stock, in which +titles were often illustrated by notes, always curious and +often amusing, credited to "Western Memorabilia," a work +which no bookseller or man of letters had ever heard of, +but which was shrewdly suspected to have been a projected +scrap-book of the observations and opinions of William +Gowans.</p> + +<p>There was another eccentric book-dealer's shop in Nassau +street kept by one John Doyle, who aimed so high in +his profession as to post over his door a sign reading "The +Moral Centre of the Intellectual Universe." This establishment +was notably full of old editions of books of English +history and controversial theology.</p> + +<p>The most famous second-hand book-shop in Boston was +Burnham's, whose fore-name was Thomas Oliver Hazard +Perry, shortened into "Perry Burnham" by his familiars. +He was a little, pale-faced, wiry, nervous man, with piercing +black eyes and very brusque manners. In old and +musty books he lived and moved and had his being, for +more than a generation. He exchanged a stuffy, narrow +shop in Cornhill for more spacious quarters in Washington +street, near School street, where he bought and sold books +with an assiduous devotion to business, never trusting to +others what he could do himself. He was proud of his +collection and its extent. He bought books and pamphlets +at auction literally by the cart-load, every thing that +nobody else wanted being bid off to Burnham at an insignificant +price, almost nominal. He got a wide reputation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_45" id="Pg_45"></a>[<a href="./images/45.png">45</a>]</span> +for selling cheaply, but he always knew when to charge a +stiff price for a book, and to stick to it. Once when I was +pricing a lot of miscellaneous books picked out for purchase, +mostly under a dollar a volume, we came to a copy +of "The Constitutions of the Several Independent States +of America," 1st edition, Philadelphia, 1781, of which two +hundred copies only were printed, by order of Congress. +This copy was in the original boards, uncut, and with the +autograph of Timothy Pickering on the title page. "If +the Congress Library wants that book," said Mr. Burnham, +"it will have to pay eight dollars for it." I took it, well +pleased to secure what years of search had failed to bring. +The next year my satisfaction was enhanced when an inferior +copy of the same book was offered at twenty dollars.</p> + +<p>Burnham died a wealthy man, having amassed a million +dollars in trade and by rise in real estate, as he owned the +land on which the Parker House stands in Boston.</p> + +<p>Among Philadelphia dealers in second-hand books, one +John Penington was recognized as most intelligent and +honorable. He was a book-lover and a scholar, and one +instinctively ranked him not as a bookseller, but as a gentleman +who dealt in books. On his shelves one always +found books of science and volumes in foreign languages.</p> + +<p>Another notable dealer was John Campbell, a jolly, +hearty Irish-American, with a taste for good books, and an +antipathy to negroes, as keen as the proverbial hatred of +the devil for holy water. Campbell wrote a book entitled +"Negromania," published in 1851, in which his creed was +set forth in strong language. He was a regular bidder at +book auctions, where his burly form and loud voice made +him a prominent figure.</p> + +<p>Of notable auction sales of books, and of the extravagant +prices obtained for certain editions by ambitious and eager +competition, there is little room to treat. The oft-told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_46" id="Pg_46"></a>[<a href="./images/46.png">46</a>]</span> +story of the Valdarfer Boccaccio of 1471, carried off at the +Roxburghe sale in 1812, at £2,260 from Earl Spencer by +the Marquis of Blandford, and re-purchased seven years +after at another auction for £918, has been far surpassed in +modern bibliomania. "The sound of that hammer," wrote +the melodramatic Dibdin, "echoed through Europe:" but +what would he have said of the Mazarin Bible of Gutenberg +and Fust (1450-55) sold in 1897, at the Ashburnham +sale, for four thousand pounds, or of the Latin Psalter of +Fust and Schoeffer, 2d ed. 1459, which brought £4,950 at +the Syston Park sale in 1884? This last sum (about twenty-four +thousand dollars) is the largest price ever yet recorded +as received for a single volume. Among books of +less rarity, though always eagerly sought, is the first folio +Shakespeare of 1623, a very fine and perfect copy of which +brought £716.2 at Daniel's sale in 1864. Copies warranted +perfect have since been sold in London for £415 to £470. +In New York, a perfect but not "tall" copy brought $4,200 +in 1891 at auction. Walton's "Compleat Angler," +London, 1st ed. 1653, a little book of only 250 pages, sold +for £310 in 1891. It was published for one shilling and +sixpence. The first edition of Robinson Crusoe brought +£75 at the Crampton sale in 1896.</p> + +<p>The rage for first editions of very modern books reached +what might be called high-water mark some time since, +and has been on the decline. Shelley's "Queen Mab," 1st +ed. 1813, was sold at London for £22.10, and his "Refutation +of Deism," 1814, was sold at £33, at a London sale in +1887. In New York, many first editions of Shelley's +poems brought the following enormous prices in 1897.</p> + + +<ul class="plain"><li>Shelley's Adonais, 1st ed. Pisa, Italy, 1821, $335.</li> +<li>Alastor, London, 1816, $130.</li> +<li>The Cenci, Italy, 1819, $65.</li> +<li>Hellas, London, 1822, $13.</li> +</ul> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_47" id="Pg_47"></a>[<a href="./images/47.png">47</a>]</span></p> +<p>But these were purely adventitious prices, as was clearly +shown in the sale at the same auction rooms, a year or two +earlier, of the following:</p> + + +<ul class="plain"><li>Shelley's Adonais, 1st ed. Pisa, 1821, $19.</li> +<li>Alastor, London, 1816, $32.</li> +<li>The Cenci, Italy, 1819, $21.</li> +<li>Hellas, London, 1822, $2.</li> +</ul> + +<p>The sales occasionally made at auction of certain books +at extraordinary prices, prove nothing whatever as to the +real market value, for these reasons: (1) The auctioneer +often has an unlimited bid, and the price is carried up to +an inordinate height. (2) Two or more bidders present, +infatuated by the idea of extreme rarity, bid against one +another until all but one succumb, when the price has +reached a figure which it is a mild use of terms to call absurd. +(3) Descriptions in sale catalogues, though often +entirely unfounded, characterising a book as "excessively +rare;" "only — copies known," "very scarce," "never before +offered at our sales," etc., may carry the bidding on a +book up to an unheard-of price.</p> + +<p>The appeal always lies to the years against the hours; +and many a poor book-mad enthusiast has had to rue his +too easy credulity in giving an extravagant sum for books +which he discovers later that he could have bought for as +many shillings as he has paid dollars. Not that the <i>rarissimi</i> +of early printed books can ever be purchased for +a trifle; but it should ever be remembered that even at the +sales where a few—a very few—bring the enormous prices +that are bruited abroad, the mass of the books offered are +knocked down at very moderate figures, or are even sacrificed +at rates very far below their cost. The possessor of +one of the books so advertised as sold at some auction for a +hundred dollars or upwards, if he expects to realise a tithe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_48" id="Pg_48"></a>[<a href="./images/48.png">48</a>]</span> +of the figure quoted, will speedily find himself in the vocative.</p> + +<p>While there are almost priceless rarities not to be found +in the market by any buyer, let the book collector be consoled +by the knowledge that good books, in good editions, +were never so easy to come by as now. A fine library can +be gathered by any one with very moderate means, supplemented +by a fair amount of sagacity and common sense. +The buyer with a carefully digested list of books wanted +will find that to buy them wisely takes more time and less +money than he had anticipated. The time is required to +acquaint himself with the many competing editions, with +their respective merits and demerits. This involves a comparison +of type, paper, and binding, as well as the comparative +prices of various dealers for the same books. No one +who is himself gifted with good perceptions and good taste, +should trust to other hands the selection of his library. +His enjoyment of it will be proportioned to the extent to +which it is his own creation. The passion for nobly written +books, handsomely printed, and clothed in a fitting +garb, when it has once dawned, is not to be defrauded of its +satisfaction by hiring a commission merchant to appease +it. What we do for ourselves, in the acquirement of any +knowledge, is apt to be well done: what is done for us by +others is of little value.</p> + +<p>We have heard of some uninformed <i>parvenus</i>, grown +suddenly rich, who have first ordered a magnificent library +room fitted with rose-wood, marble and gilded trappings, +and then ordered it to be filled with splendidly bound volumes +at so much per volume. And it is an authentic fact, +that a bookseller to the Czar of Russia one Klostermann, +actually sold books at fifty to one hundred roubles by the +yard, according to the binding. The force of folly could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_49" id="Pg_49"></a>[<a href="./images/49.png">49</a>]</span> +no farther go, to debase the aims and degrade the intellect +of man.</p> + +<p>In the chapter upon rare books, the reader will find instances +in great variety of the causes that contribute to the +scarcity and enhancement of prices of certain books, without +at all affecting their intrinsic value, which may be of +the smallest.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_50" id="Pg_50"></a>[<a href="./images/50.png">50</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_3" id="CHAPTER_3"></a>CHAPTER 3.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Art of Book Binding.</span></h3> + + +<p>In these suggestions upon the important question of the +binding of books, I shall have nothing to say of the history +of the art, and very little of its aesthetics. The plainest +and most practical hints will be aimed at, and if my experience +shall prove of value to any, I shall be well rewarded +for giving it here. For other matters readers will naturally +consult some of the numerous manuals of book-binding +in English, French and German. The sumptuous +bindings executed in the sixteenth century, under the patronage +and the eyes of Grolier, the famous tooled masterpieces +of Derome, Le Gascon, Padeloup, Trautz and other +French artists, and the beautiful gems of the binder's art +from the hands of Roger Payne, Lewis, Mackenzie, Hayday +and Bedford, are they not celebrated in the pages of +Dibdin, Lacroix, Fournier, Wheatley, and Robert Hoe?</p> + +<p>There are some professed lovers of books who affect +either indifference or contempt for the style in which their +favorites are dressed. A well known epigram of Burns is +sometimes quoted against the fondness for fine bindings +which widely prevails in the present day, as it did in that +of the Scottish Poet. A certain Scottish nobleman, endowed +with more wealth than brains, was vain of his +splendidly bound Shakespeare, which, however, he never +read. Burns, on opening the folio, found the leaves sadly +worm-eaten, and wrote these lines on the fly-leaf:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Through and through th' inspired leaves,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye maggots make your windings;<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">But O respect his lordship's taste,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spare the golden bindings!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_51" id="Pg_51"></a>[<a href="./images/51.png">51</a>]</span>Yet no real book-lover fails to appreciate the neatness +and beauty of a tasteful binding, any more than he is indifferent +to the same qualities in literary style. Slovenly +binding is almost as offensive to a cultivated eye as slovenly +composition. No doubt both are "mere externals," as we +are told, and so are the splendors of scenery, the beauty of +flowers, and the comeliness of the human form, or features, +or costume. Talk as men will of the insignificance of +dress, it constitutes a large share of the attractiveness of +the world in which we live.</p> + +<p>The two prime requisites of good binding for libraries +are neatness and solidity. It is pleasant to note the steady +improvement in American bindings of late years. As the +old style of "Half cloth boards," of half a century ago, with +paper titles pasted on the backs, has given way to the neat, +embossed, full muslin gilt, so the clumsy and homely sheep-skin +binding has been supplanted by the half-roan or morocco, +with marble or muslin sides. Few books are issued, +however, either here or abroad, in what may be +called permanent bindings. The cheapness demanded by +buyers of popular books forbids this, while it leaves to the +taste and fancy of every one the selection of the "library +style" in which he will have his collection permanently +dressed.</p> + +<p>What is the best style of binding for a select or a public +library? is a question often discussed, with wide discrepancies +of opinion. The so universally prevalent cloth +binding is too flimsy for books subjected to much use—as +most volumes in public collections and many in private libraries +are likely to be. The choice of the more substantial +bindings lies between calf and morocco, and between +half or full bindings of either. For nearly all books, half +binding, if well executed, and with cloth sides, is quite as +elegant, and very nearly as solid and lasting as full leather;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_52" id="Pg_52"></a>[<a href="./images/52.png">52</a>]</span> +for if a book is so worn as to need rebinding, it is generally +in a part where the full binding wears out quite as fast as +the other. That is, it gets worn at the hinges and on the +back, whether full or half-bound. The exceptions are the +heavy dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and other works of reference, +which are subjected to much wear and tear at the +sides, as well as at the back and corners. Full leather is +much more expensive than half binding, though not +doubly so.</p> + +<p>Every librarian or book collector should understand +something of book-binding and its terms, so that he may +be able to give clear directions as to every item involved in +binding, repairing, or re-lettering, and to detect imperfect +or slighted work.</p> + +<p>The qualities that we always expect to find in a well-bound +book are solidity, flexibility, and elegance. Special +examination should be directed toward each of these points +in revising any lot of books returned from a binder. Look +at each book with regard to:—</p> + + +<ul class="plain"><li>1. Flexibility in opening.</li> + +<li>2. Evenness of the cover, which should lie flat and +smooth—each edge being just parallel with the others +throughout.</li> + +<li>3. Compactness—see that the volumes are thoroughly +pressed—solid, and not loose or spongy.</li> + +<li>4. Correct and even lettering of titles, and other tooling.</li> + +<li>5. Good wide margins.</li> +</ul> + +<p>A well-bound book always opens out flat, and stays open. +It also shuts up completely, and when closed stays shut. +But how many books do we see always bulging open at the +sides, or stiffly resisting being opened by too great tightness +in the back? If the books you have had bound do not +meet all these requirements, it is time to look for another +binder.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_53" id="Pg_53"></a>[<a href="./images/53.png">53</a>]</span>The different styles of dressing books may all be summed +up in the following materials: Boards, cloth, vellum, sheep, +bock, pig-skin, calf, Russia, and morocco—to which may be +added of recent years, buckram, duck, linoleum, and the +imitations of leather, such as leatherette and morocco +paper, and of parchment. I take no account here of obsolete +styles—as ivory, wood, brass, silver and other metals, +nor of velvet, satin, and other occasional luxuries of the +binder's art. These belong to the domain of the amateur, +the antiquary, or the book-fancier—not to that of the librarian +or the ordinary book-collector.</p> + +<p>Roan leather is nothing but sheep-skin, stained or colored; +basil or basan is sheepskin tanned in bark, while roan +is tanned in sumac, and most of the so called moroccos are +also sheep, ingeniously grained by a mechanical process. +As all the manufactures in the world are full of "shoddy," +or sham materials, the bookbinder's art affords no exception. +But if the librarian or collector patronises shams, +he should at least do it with his eyes open, and with due +counting of the cost.</p> + +<p>Now as to the relative merits and demerits of materials +for binding. No one will choose boards covered with +paper for any book which is to be subjected to perusal, and +cloth is too flimsy and shaky in its attachment to the book, +however cheap, for any library volumes which are to be +constantly in use. It is true that since the bulk of the +new books coming into any library are bound in cloth, they +may be safely left in it until well worn; and by this rule, +all the books which nobody ever reads may be expected to +last many years, if not for generations. Cloth is a very +durable material, and will outlast some of the leathers, but +any wetting destroys its beauty, and all colors but the darkest +soon become soiled and repulsive, if in constant use. +In most libraries, I hold that every cloth-bound book<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_54" id="Pg_54"></a>[<a href="./images/54.png">54</a>]</span> +which is read, must sooner or later come to have a stout +leather jacket. It may go for years, especially if the book +is well sewed, but to rebinding it must come at last; and +the larger the volume, the sooner it becomes shaky, or +broken at some weak spot.</p> + +<p>The many beautiful new forms of cloth binding should +have a word of praise, but the many more which we see of +gaudy, fantastic, and meretricious bindings, and frightful +combinations of colors must be viewed with a shudder.</p> + +<p>Vellum, formerly much used for book-bindings, is the +modern name for parchment. Parchment was the only +known writing material up to the 12th century, when paper +was first invented. There are two kinds—animal and vegetable. +The vegetable is made from cotton fibre or paper, +by dipping it in a solution of sulphuric acid and [sometimes] +gelatine, then removing the acid by a weak solution +of ammonia, and smooth finishing by rolling the sheets +over a heated cylinder. Vegetable parchment is used to +bind many booklets which it is desired to dress in an elegant +or dainty style, but is highly unsuitable for library +books. Vellum proper is a much thicker material, made +from the skins of calves, sheep, or lambs, soaked in lime-water, +and smoothed and hardened by burnishing with a +hard instrument, or pumice-stone. The common vellum +is made from sheep-skin splits, or skivers, but the best +from whole calf-skins. The hard, strong texture of vellum +is in its favor, but its white color and tendency to +warp are fatal objections to it as a binding material.</p> + +<p>Vellum is wholly unfit for the shelves of a library; the +elegant white binding soils with dust, or the use of the +hands, more quickly than any other; and the vellum warps +in a dry climate, or curls up in a heated room, so as to be +unmanageable upon the shelves, and a nuisance in the eyes +of librarian and reader alike. The thin vegetable parch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_55" id="Pg_55"></a>[<a href="./images/55.png">55</a>]</span>ment +lately in vogue for some books and booklets is too unsubstantial +for anything but a lady's boudoir, where it may +have its little day—"a thing of beauty," but by no means +"a joy forever."</p> + +<p>Sheepskin—once the full binding for most school-books, +and for a large share of law and miscellaneous works for +libraries, is now but little used, except in its disguised +forms. It is too soft a leather for hard wear and tear, and +what with abrasion and breaking at the hinges (termed by +binders the joints), it will give little satisfaction in the +long run. Under the effect of gas and heated atmospheres +sheep crumbles and turns to powder. Its cheapness is +about its only merit, and even this is doubtful economy, +since no binding can be called cheap that has to be rebound +or repaired every few years. In the form of half-roan or +bock, colored sheep presents a handsome appearance on the +shelf, and in volumes or sets which are reasonably secure +from frequent handling, one is sometimes justified in +adopting it, as it is far less expensive than morocco. Pig-skin +has been recently revived as a binding material, but +though extremely hard and durable, it is found to warp +badly on the shelves.</p> + +<p>Calf bindings have always been great favorites with +book-lovers, and there are few things more beautiful—<i>prima +facie</i>, than a volume daintily bound in light French +calf, as smooth as glass, as fine as silk, with elegant gold +tooling without and within, gilt edges, and fly-leaves of +finest satin. I said beautiful, <i>prima facie</i>—and this calls +to mind the definition of that law term by a learned Vermont +jurist, who said: "Gentlemen of the jury, I must explain +to you that a <i>prima facie</i> case is a case that is very +good in front, but may be very bad in the rear." So of our +so much lauded and really lovely calf bindings: they develop +qualities in use which give us pause. Calf is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_56" id="Pg_56"></a>[<a href="./images/56.png">56</a>]</span> +most brittle of the leathers—hence it is always breaking +at the hinges; it is a very smooth leather—hence it shows +every scratch instantly; it is a light and delicate leather—hence +it shows soils and stains more quickly than any other. +Out of every hundred calf-bound volumes in any well-used +library, there will not remain ten which have not had to +be re-bound or repaired at the end of twenty or thirty +years. Heavy volumes bound in calf or half-calf leather +will break by their own weight on the shelves, without any +use at all; and smaller volumes are sure to have their brittle +joints snapped asunder by handling sooner or later—it +is only a question of time.</p> + +<p>Next comes Russia leather, which is very thick and +strong, being made of the hides of cattle, colored, and perfumed +by the oil of birch, and made chiefly in Russia. The +objections to this leather are its great cost, its stiffness and +want of elasticity, and its tendency to desiccate and lose all +its tenacity in the dry or heated atmosphere of our libraries. +It will break at the hinges—though not so readily as +calf.</p> + +<p>Lastly, we have the morocco leather, so called because it +was brought from Morocco, in Africa, and still we get the +best from thence, and from the Mediterranean ports of the +Levant—whence comes another name for the best of this +favorite leather, "Levant morocco," which is the skin of +the mountain goat, and reckoned superior to all other +leathers. The characteristics of the genuine morocco, +sometimes called Turkey morocco, having a pebbled grain, +distinguishing it from the smooth morocco, are its toughness +and durability, combined with softness and flexibility. +It has a very tenacious fibre, and I have never found a real +morocco binding broken at the hinges. The old proverb—"there +is nothing like leather"—is pregnant with meaning, +and especially applies to the best morocco. As no ma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_57" id="Pg_57"></a>[<a href="./images/57.png">57</a>]</span>terial +yet discovered in so many ages can take the place of +leather for foot-wear and for harness, such is its tenacity +and elasticity—so for book coverings, to withstand wear +and tear, good leather is indispensable. There are thoroughly-bound +books existing which are five centuries old—representing +about the time when leather began to replace +wood and metals for binding. The three great enemies +of books are too great heat, too much moisture, and +coal gas, which produces a sulphurous acid very destructive +to bindings, and should never be used in libraries. +From the dangers which destroy calf and Russia leather, +morocco is measurably free.</p> + +<p>As to color, I usually choose red for books which come +to binding or rebinding, for these reasons. The bulk of +every library is of dark and sombre color, being composed +of the old-fashioned calf bindings, which grow darker with +age, mingled with the cloth bindings of our own day, in +which dark colors predominate. Now the intermixture +of red morocco, in all or most of the newly bound books, +relieves the monotony of so much blackness, lights up the +shelves, and gives a more cheerful aspect to the whole library. +Some there are who insist upon varying the colors +of bindings with the subjects of the books—and the British +Museum Library actually once bound all works on botany +in green, poetry in yellow, history in red, and theology +in blue; but this is more fanciful than important. A second +reason for preferring red in moroccos is that, being +dyed with cochineal, it holds its color more permanently +than any other—the moroccos not colored red turning to +a dingy, disagreeable brown after forty or fifty years, while +the red are found to be fast colors. This was first discovered +in the National Library of France, and ever since +most books in that great collection have been bound in red. +A celebrated binder having recommended this color to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_58" id="Pg_58"></a>[<a href="./images/58.png">58</a>]</span> +connoisseur who was having fine morocco binding done, +instanced the example of the Paris Library, whose books, +said he, are "mostly red," to which the amateur replied +that he hoped they were.</p> + +<p>Add to the merits of morocco leather the fact that it is +not easily scratched nor stained, that it is very tough in +wear, and resists better than any other the moisture and +soiling of the hands—and we have a material worthy of all +acceptance.</p> + +<p>In half-binding chosen for the great majority of books +because it is much cheaper than full leather, the sides are +covered with muslin or with some kind of colored paper—usually +marble. The four corners of every book, however, +should always be protected by leather or, better still, +by vellum, which is a firmer material—otherwise they will +rapidly wear off, and the boards will break easily at their +corners. As to the relative merits of cloth and paper for +the sides of books, cloth is far more durable, though it +costs more. Paper becomes quickly frayed at the edges, +or is liable to peel where pasted on, though it may be renewed +at small expense, and may properly be used except +upon the much-read portion of the library. The cloth or +paper should always harmonize in color with the leather to +which it is attached. They need not be the same, but they +should be of similar shade.</p> + +<p>One more reason for preferring morocco to other +leathers is that you can always dispense with lettering-pieces +or patches in gilding the titles on the back. All +light-colored bindings (including law calf) are open to the +objection that gold lettering is hardly legible upon them. +Hence the necessity of stamping the titles upon darker +pieces of leather, which are fastened to the backs. These +lettering-pieces become loose in over-heated libraries, and +tend continually to peel off, entailing the expense of re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_59" id="Pg_59"></a>[<a href="./images/59.png">59</a>]</span>pairing +or re-lettering. Every morocco bound book can +be lettered directly upon the leather. Bock is made of the +skin of the Persian sheep, and is called Persian in London. +It is a partially unsuccessful imitation of morocco, becoming +easily abraded, like all the sheep-skin leathers, and although +it is to be had in all colors, and looks fairly handsome +for a time, and is tougher than skiver (or split sheep-skin), +the books that are bound in it will sooner or later +become an eyesore upon the shelves. A skin of Persian +leather costs about one-third the price of genuine morocco, +or goat. But the actual saving in binding is in a far less +ratio—the difference being only six to eight cents per volume. +It is really much cheaper to use morocco in the first +place, than to undergo all the risks of deterioration and +re-binding.</p> + +<p>Of the various imitations of leather, or substitutes for it, +we have leatherette, leather-cloth, duck, fibrette, feltine, +and buckram. Buckram and duck are strong cotton or +linen fabricks, made of different colors, and sometimes figured +or embossed to give them somewhat the look of +leather. Hitherto, they are made mostly in England, and +I have learned of no American experience in their favor +except the use of stout duck for covering blank books and +binding newspapers. The use of buckram has been mostly +abandoned by the libraries. Morocco cloth is American, +but has no advantage over plain muslin or book cloth, that +I am aware of. Leatherette, made principally of paper, +colored and embossed to simulate morocco leather, appears +to have dropped out of use almost as fast as it came in, having +no quality of permanence, elegance, or even of great +cheapness to commend it. Leatherette tears easily, and +lacks both tenacity and smoothness.</p> + +<p>Both feltine and fibrette are made of paper—tear quickly, +and are unfit for use on any book that is ever likely to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_60" id="Pg_60"></a>[<a href="./images/60.png">60</a>]</span> +be read. All these imitations of leather are made of paper +as their basis, and hence can never be proper substitutes +for leather.</p> + +<p>All torn leaves or plates in books should be at once +mended by pasting a very thin onion-skin paper on both +sides of the torn leaf, and pressing gently between leaves +of sized paper until dry.</p> + +<p>Corners made of vellum or parchment are more durable +than any leather. When dry, the parchment becomes as +hard almost as iron and resists falls or abrasion. To use +it on books where the backs are of leather is a departure +from the uniformity or harmony of style insisted upon by +many, but in binding books that are to be greatly worn, use +should come before beauty.</p> + +<p>In rebinding, all maps or folded plates should be mounted +on thin canvas, linen, or muslin, strong and fine, to protect +them from inevitable tearing by long use. If a coarse +or thick cloth is used, the maps will not fold or open easily +and smoothly.</p> + +<p>The cutting or trimming of the edges of books needs to +be watched with jealous care. Few have reflected that the +more margin a binder cuts off, the greater his profit on any +job, white paper shavings having a very appreciable price +by the pound. A strictly uncut book is in many American +libraries a rarity. And of the books which go a second +time to the binder, although at first uncut, how many retain +their fair proportions of margin when they come back? +You have all seen books in which the text has been cut +into by the ruthless knife-machine of the binder. This is +called "bleeding" a book, and there are no words strong +enough to denounce this murderous and cold-blooded atrocity. +The trimming of all books should be held within +the narrowest limits—for the life of a book depends largely +upon its preserving a good margin. Its only chance of be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_61" id="Pg_61"></a>[<a href="./images/61.png">61</a>]</span>ing +able to stand a second rebinding may depend upon its +being very little trimmed at its first. If it must be cut at +all, charge your binder to take off the merest shaving from +either edge.</p> + +<p>Every new book or magazine added to the library, if uncut, +should be carefully cut with a paper-knife before it +goes into the hands of any reader. Spoiled or torn or ragged +edges will be the penalty of neglecting this. You +have seen people tear open the leaves of books and magazines +with their fingers—a barbarism which renders him +who would be guilty of it worthy of banishment from the +resorts of civilization. In cutting books, the leaves should +always be held firmly down—and the knife pressed evenly +through the uncut leaves to the farthest verge of the back. +Books which are cut in the loose fashion which many use +are left with rough or ragged edges always, and often a +slice is gouged out of the margin by the mis-directed knife. +Never trust a book to a novice to be cut, without showing +him how to do it, and how not to do it.</p> + +<p>The collation of new books in cloth or <i>broché</i> should be +done before cutting, provided they are issued to readers +untrimmed. In collating books in two or more volumes +double watchfulness is needed to guard against a missing +signature, which may have its place filled by the same +pages belonging to another volume—a mixture sometimes +made in binderies, in "gathering" the sheets, and which +makes it necessary to see that the signatures are right as +well as the pages. The collator should check off all plates +and maps called for by the table of contents to make sure +that the copy is perfect. Books without pagination are of +course to have their leaves counted, which is done first in +detail, one by one, and then verified by a rapid counting in +sections, in the manner used by printers and binders in +counting paper by the quire.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_62" id="Pg_62"></a>[<a href="./images/62.png">62</a>]</span>The binding of books may be divided into two styles or +methods, namely, machine-made book-bindings, and hand-made +bindings. Binding by machinery is wholly a modern +art, and is applied to all or nearly all new books coming +from the press. As these are, in more than nine cases out +of ten, bound in cloth covers, and these covers, or cases, are +cut out and stamped by machinery, such books are called +"case-made." The distinction between this method of +binding and the hand method is that in the former the +case is made separately from the book, which is then put +into it. After the sheets of any book come pressed and +dried from the printing office, the first step is to fold them +from the large flat sheets into book form. This is sometimes +done by hand-folders of bone or some other hard material, +but in large establishments for making books, it is +done by a folding machine. This will fold ten thousand +or more sheets in a day. The folded sheets are next +placed in piles or rows, in their numerical sequence, and +"gathered" by hand, <i>i. e.</i>: a bindery hand picks up the +sheets one by one, with great rapidity, until one whole +book is gathered and collated, and the process is repeated +so long as any sheets remain. Next, the books are thoroughly +pressed or "smashed" as it is called, in a powerful +smashing-machine, giving solidity to the book, which before +pressing was loose and spongy. Then the books are +sawed or grooved in the back by another machine, operating +a swiftly moving saw, and sewed on cords by still another +machine, at about half the cost of hand-sewing. +Next, they are cut or trimmed on the three edges in a cutting-machine. +The backs of the books are made round by +a rounding-machine, leaving the back convex and the front +concave in form, as seen in all finished books. The books +are now ready for the covers. These consist of binders' +board or mill-board, cut out of large sheets into proper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_63" id="Pg_63"></a>[<a href="./images/63.png">63</a>]</span> +size, with lightning-like rapidity, by another machine called +a rotary board-cutter. The cloth which is to form the +back and sides of the book is cut out, of proper size for the +boards, from great rolls of stamped or ribbed or embossed +muslin, by another machine. The use of cloth, now so +universal for book-binding, dates back little more than half +a century. About 1825, Mr. Leighton, of London, introduced +it as a substitute for the drab-colored paper then +used on the sides, and for the printed titles on the backs. +The boards are firmly glued to the cloth, the edges of +which are turned over the boards, and fastened on the inside +of the covers. The ornamental stamps or figures seen +on the covers, both at the back and sides are stamped in +with a heated die of brass, or other metal, worked by machinery. +The lettering of the title is done in the same +way, only that gold-leaf is applied before the die falls. +Lastly, the book is pasted by its fly leaves or end-leaves, +(sometimes with the addition of a cloth guard) to the inside +of the cloth case or cover, and the book is done, after +a final pressing. By these rapid machine methods a single +book-manufacturing house can turn out ten thousand volumes +in a day, with a rapidity which almost takes the +breath away from the beholder.</p> + +<p>There is a kind of binding which dispenses entirely with +sewing the sheets of a book. The backs are soaked with a +solution of india-rubber, and each sheet must be thoroughly +agglutinated to the backs, so as to adhere firmly to its +fellows. This requires that all the sheets shall be folded +as single leaves or folios, otherwise the inner leaves of the +sheets, having no sewing, would drop out. This method +is employed on volumes of plates, music, or any books made +up of large separate sheets.</p> + +<p>In notable contrast to these rapid methods of binding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_64" id="Pg_64"></a>[<a href="./images/64.png">64</a>]</span> +what are termed case-made books, comes the hand-made +process, where only partial use of machinery is possible.</p> + +<p>The rebinding process is divided into three branches: +preparing, forwarding, and finishing. The most vital distinction +between a machine-made and a hand-made binding, +is that the cloth or case-made book is not fastened into +its cover in a firm and permanent way, as in leather-backed +books. It is simply pasted or glued to its boards—not interlaced +by the cords or bands on which it is sewed. Hence +one can easily tear off the whole cover of a cloth-bound +book, by a slight effort, and such volumes tend to come to +pieces early, under constant wear and tear of library service.</p> + +<p>Let us now turn to the practical steps pursued in the +treatment of books for library use. In re-binding a book, +the first step is to take the book apart, or, as it is sometimes +called, to take it to pieces. This is done by first +stripping off its cover, if it has one. Cloth covers easily +come off, as their boards are not tied to the cords on which +the book is sewed, but are simply fastened by paste or glue +to the boards by a muslin guard, or else the cloth is glued +to the back of the book. If the book is leather-covered, +or half-bound, <i>i. e.</i>: with a leather back and (usually) +leather on its four corners, taking it to pieces is a somewhat +slower process. The binder's knife is used to cut the +leather at the joints or hinges of the volume, so that the +boards may be removed. The cords that tie the boards to +the volume are cut at the same time. If the book has a +loose or flexible back, the whole cover comes easily off: if +bound with a tight back, the glued leather back must be +soaked with a sponge full of water, till it is soft enough to +peel off, and let the sheets be easily separated.</p> + +<p>The book is now stripped of its former binding, and the +next step is to take it apart, signature by signature. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_65" id="Pg_65"></a>[<a href="./images/65.png">65</a>]</span> +signature is that number of leaves which make up one sheet +of the book in hand. Thus, an octavo volume, or a volume +printed in eights, as it is called, has eight leaves, or sixteen +pages to a signature; a quarto four leaves; a duodecimo, +or 12 mo. twelve leaves. The term signature (from Lat. +<i>signare</i>, a sign) is also applied to a letter or figure printed +at the foot of the first page of each sheet or section of the +book. If the letters are used, the signatures begin with +A. and follow in regular sequence of the alphabet. If the +book is a very thick one, (or more than twenty-six signatures) +then after signature Z, it is customary to duplicate +the letters—A. A.—etc., for the remaining signatures. If +figures are used instead of letters, the signatures run on to +the last, in order of numbers. These letters, indicating +signatures are an aid to the binder, in folding, "gathering," +and collating the consecutive sheets of any book, saving +constant reference to the "pagination," as it is termed, or +the paging of the volume, which would take much more +time. In many books, you find the signature repeated in +the "inset," or the inner leaves of the sheet, with a star or +a figure to mark the sequence. Many books, however, are +now printed without any signature marks whatever.</p> + +<p>To return: in taking apart the sheets or signatures, +where they are stuck together at the back by adhesive glue +or paste, the knife is first used to cut the thread in the +grooves, where the book is sewed on cords or tape. Then +the back is again soaked, the sheets are carefully separated, +and the adhering substance removed by the knife or +fingers. Care has to be taken to lay the signatures in strict +order or sequence of pages, or the book may be bound up +wrongly. The threads are next to be removed from the +inside of every sheet. The sheets being all separated, the +book is next pressed, to render all the leaves smooth, and +the book solid for binding. Formerly, books were beaten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_66" id="Pg_66"></a>[<a href="./images/66.png">66</a>]</span> +by a powerful hammer, to accomplish this, but it is much +more quickly and effectively done in most binderies by the +ordinary screw press. Every pressing of books should +leave them under pressure at least eight hours.</p> + +<p>After pressing, the next step is to sew the sheets on to +cords or twine, set vertically at proper distances in a frame, +called a "sewing bench," for this purpose. No book can +be thoroughly well bound if the sewing is slighted in any +degree. Insist upon strong, honest linen thread—if it +breaks with a slight pull it is not fit to be used in a book. +The book is prepared for the sewer by sawing several +grooves across the back with a common saw. The two end +grooves are light and narrow, the central ones wider and +deeper. Into these inner grooves, the cords fit easily, and +the book being taken, sheet by sheet, is firmly sewed +around the cords, by alternate movements of the needle +and thread, always along the middle of the sheet, the +thread making a firm knot at each end (called the "kettle-stitch") +as it is returned for sewing on the next sheet. +Sometimes the backs are not sawed at all, but the sheets of +the book are sewed around the cords, which thus project a +little from the back, and form the "bands," seen in raised +form on the backs of some books. Books should be sewed +on three to six cords, according to their size. This raised-band +sewing is reckoned by some a feature of excellent +binding. The sunken-band style is apt to give a stiff back, +while the raised bands are usually treated with a flexible +back. When sewed, the book is detached from its fellows, +which may have been sewed on the same bench, by slipping +it along the cords, then cutting them apart, so as to leave +some two inches of each cord projecting, as ends to be fastened +later to the board. In careful binding, the thread is +sewed "all along," <i>i. e.</i>: each sheet by itself, instead of +"two on," as it is called.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_67" id="Pg_67"></a>[<a href="./images/67.png">67</a>]</span>The next process is termed "lining up," and consists of +putting on the proper fly-leaves or end-leaves, at the beginning +and end of the volume. These usually consist of +four leaves of ordinary white printing paper at each end, +sometimes finished out with two leaves of colored or marbled +paper, to add a touch of beauty to the book when +opened. Marbled paper is more durable in color than the +tinted, and does not stain so easily. One of these end-leaves +is pasted down to the inside cover, while the other is +left flying—whence "fly-leaf."</p> + +<p>After this comes the cutting of the book at the edges. +This is done by screwing it firmly in a cutting-machine, +which works a sharp knife rapidly, shaving off the edges +successively of the head, front and end, or "tail" as it is +called in book-binding parlance. This trimming used to +be done by hand, with a sharp cutting knife called by binders +a "plough." Now, there are many forms of cutting +machines, some of which are called "guillotines" for an +obvious reason. In binding some books, which it is desired +to preserve with wide margins, only a mere shaving is +taken off the head, so as to leave it smooth at the top, letting +the front and tail leaves remain uncut. But in case +of re-binding much-used books, the edges are commonly so +much soiled that trimming all around may be required, in +order that they may present a decent appearance. Yet in +no case should the binder be allowed to cut any book +deeply, so as to destroy a good, fair margin. Care must +also be taken to cut the margins evenly, at right angles, +avoiding any crooked lines.</p> + +<p>After cutting the book comes "rounding," or giving the +back of the book a curved instead of its flat shape. This +process is done with the hand, by a hammer, or in a rounding +press, with a metallic roller. Before rounding, the +back of the book is glued up, that is, receives a coating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_68" id="Pg_68"></a>[<a href="./images/68.png">68</a>]</span> +of melted glue with a glueing brush, to hold the sections +together, and render the back firm, and a thorough rubbing +of the back with hot glue between the sections gives +strength to the volume.</p> + +<p>Next comes the treatment of the edges of the book, +hitherto all white, in order to protect them from showing +soil in long use. Sometimes (and this is the cheaper process) +the books are simply sprinkled at the edges with a +brush dipped in a dark fluid made of burnt umber or red +ochre, and shaken with a quick concussion near the edges +until they receive a sprinkle of color from the brush. +Other books receive what is called a solid color on the +edges, the books being screwed into a press, and the color +applied with a sponge or brush.</p> + +<p>But a marbled edge presents a far more handsome appearance, +and should harmonize in color and figure with +the marbled paper of the end leaves. Marbling, so called +from its imitation of richly veined colored marble, is staining +paper or book edges with variegated colors. The process +of marbling is highly curious, both chemically and aesthetically, +and may be briefly described. A large shallow +trough or vat is filled with prepared gum water (gum-tragacanth +being used); on the surface of this gum-water bright +colors, mixed with a little ox-gall, to be used in producing +the composite effect aimed at in the marbling are thrown +or sprinkled in liquid form. Then they are deftly stirred +or agitated on the surface of the water, with an implement +shaped to produce a certain pattern. The most commonly +used one is a long metallic comb, which is drawn across the +surface of the combined liquids, leaving its pattern impressed +upon the ductile fluid. The edges of the book to +be marbled are then touched or dipped on the top of the +water, on which the coloring matter floats, and at once +withdrawn, exhibiting on the edge the precise pattern of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_69" id="Pg_69"></a>[<a href="./images/69.png">69</a>]</span> +"combed marble" desired, since the various colors—red, +yellow, blue, white, etc., have adhered to the surface of the +book-edges. The serrated and diversified effect of most +comb-marbling is due to stroking the comb in waved lines +over the surface. The spotted effect so much admired in +other forms, is produced by throwing the colors on with a +brush, at the fancy of the skilled workman, or artist, as +you may call him. Marbled paper is made in the same +way, by dipping one surface of the white sheet, held in a +curved form, with great care on the surface of the coloring +vat. This is termed shell and wave marbling, as distinguished +from comb-marbling. The paper or the book +edges are next finished by sizing and burnishing, which +gives them a bright glistening appearance.</p> + +<p>A still more ornate effect in a book is attained by gilding +the edges. Frequently the head of a book is gilt, leaving +the front and tail of an uncut book without ornament, +and this is esteemed a very elegant style by book connoisseurs, +who are, or should be solicitous of wide margins. +The gilding of the top edge is a partial protection from +dust falling inside, to which the other edges are not so +liable. To gild a book edge, it is placed in a press, the +edges scraped or smoothed, and coated with a red-colored +fluid, which serves to heighten the effect of the gold. +Then a sizing is applied by a camel's-hair brush, being a +sticky substance, usually the white of an egg, mixed with +water (termed by binders "glaire") and the gold-leaf is laid +smoothly over it. When the sizing is dry, the gold is burnished +with a tool, tipped with an agate or blood-stone, +drawn forcibly over the edge until it assumes a glistening +appearance.</p> + +<p>After the edges have been treated by whatever process, +there follows what is termed the "backing" of the book. +The volume is pressed between iron clamps, and the back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_70" id="Pg_70"></a>[<a href="./images/70.png">70</a>]</span> +is hammered or rolled where it joins the sides, so as to form +a groove to hold the boards forming the solid portion of +the cover of every book. A backing-machine is sometimes +used for this process, making by pressure the joint or +groove for the boards. Then the "head-band" is glued on, +being a silk braid or colored muslin, fastened around a +cord, which projects a little above the head and the tail, at +the back of the book, giving it a more finished appearance. +At the same time, a book-mark for keeping the place is +sometimes inserted and fastened like the head-band. This +is often a narrow ribbon of colored silk, or satin, and helps +to give a finish to the book, as well as to furnish the reader +a trustworthy guide to keep a place—as it will not fall out +like bits of paper inserted for that purpose.</p> + +<p>Next, the mill-boards are applied, cut so as to project +about an eighth to a quarter of an inch from the edges of +the book on three sides. The book is held to the boards +by the ends of its cords being interlaced, <i>i. e.</i>: passed twice +through holes pierced in the boards, the loose ends of the +cords being then wet with paste and hammered down flat +to the surface of the boards. The best tar-boards should +be used, which are made of old rope; no board made of +straw is fit to be used on any book. Straw boards are an +abomination—a cheap expedient which costs dearly in the +end. The binder should use heavy boards on the larger +and thicker volumes, but thin ones on all duodecimos and +smaller sizes.</p> + +<p>Next, the books are subjected to a second pressing, after +which the lining of the back is in order. Good thick +brown paper is generally used for this, cut to the length of +the book, and is firmly glued to the back, and rubbed down +closely with a bone folder. A cloth "joint," or piece of +linen (termed "muslin super,") is often glued to the back, +with two narrow flaps to be pasted to the boards, on each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_71" id="Pg_71"></a>[<a href="./images/71.png">71</a>]</span> +side, thus giving greater tenacity to the covering. If the +book is to be backed so as to open freely, that is, to have a +spring back or elastic back, two thicknesses of a firm, +strong paper, or thin card-board are used, one thickness of +the paper being glued to the back of the book, while the +other—open in the middle, but fastened at the edges, is to +be glued to the leather of which the back is to be made.</p> + +<p>After this, comes putting the book in leather. If full +bound a piece of leather cut full size of the volume, with +about half an inch over, is firmly glued or pasted to the +boards and the back, the leather being turned over the +edges of the boards, and nicely glued on their inside margin. +It is of great importance that the edges of the leather +should be smoothly pared down with a sharp knife, so as to +present an even edge where the leather joins the boards, +not a protuberance—which makes an ugly and clumsy +piece of work, instead of a neat one.</p> + +<p>For half-binding, a piece of leather is taken large enough +to cover the back lengthwise, and turn in at the head and +tail, while the width should be such as to allow from one to +one and a half inches of the leather to be firmly glued to +the boards next the back. The four corners of the boards +are next to be leathered, the edges of the leather being +carefully pared down, to give a smooth surface, even with +the boards, when turned in. The leather is usually wet, +preparatory to being manipulated thus, which renders it +more flexible and ductile than in its dry state. The cloth +or marbled paper is afterwards pasted or glued to the sides +of the book, and turned neatly over the edge of the boards.</p> + +<p>It may be added, that the edges of the boards, in binding +nice books, are sometimes ground off on a swiftly revolving +emery-wheel, giving the book a beveled edge, which +is regarded as handsomer and more finished than a straight +rectangular edge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_72" id="Pg_72"></a>[<a href="./images/72.png">72</a>]</span>All the processes hitherto described are called "forwarding" +the book: we now come to what is denominated "finishing." +This includes the lettering of the title, and the +embellishing of the back and sides, with or without gilding, +as the case may be. Before this is taken in hand, the +leather of the book must be perfectly dry. For the lettering, +copper-faced types are used to set up the desired sequence +of letters and words, and care and taste should be +exercised to have (1) Types neither too large, which present +a clumsy appearance, nor too small, which are difficult +to read. (2) Proper spacing of the words and lines, +and "balancing" the component parts of the lettering on +the back, so as to present a neat and harmonious effect to +the eye. A word should never be divided or hyphenated +in lettering, when it can be avoided. In the case of quite +thin volumes, the title may be lettered lengthwise along +the back, in plain, legible type, instead of in very small +letters across the back, which are often illegible. The +method of applying gold lettering is as follows: the back +of the book where the title is to go, is first moistened with +a sticky substance, as albumen or glaire, heretofore mentioned, +laid on with a camel's hair brush. The type (or the +die as the case may be) is heated in a binder's charcoal furnace, +or gas stove, to insure the adhesion of the gold leaf. +The thin gold leaf (which comes packed in little square +"books," one sheet between every two leaves) is then cut +the proper size by the broad thin knife of the "finisher," +and carefully laid over the sized spot to receive the lettering. +Usually, two thicknesses of gold leaf are laid one +above another, which ensures a brighter and more decided +effect in the lettering. The type metal or die is then +pressed firmly and evenly down upon the gold-leaf, and the +surplus shavings of the gold carefully brushed off and husbanded, +for this leaf is worth money. The gold leaf gener<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_73" id="Pg_73"></a>[<a href="./images/73.png">73</a>]</span>ally +in use costs about $6.50 for 500 little squares or sheets. +It is almost inconceivably thin, the thickness of one gold +leaf being estimated at about 1/280000 of an inch.</p> + +<p>Besides the lettering, many books receive gold ornamentation +on the back or side of a more or less elaborate +character. Designs of great artistic beauty, and in countless +variety, have been devised for book ornaments, and +French and English book-binders have vied with each +other for generations in the production of decorative borders, +fillets, centre-pieces, rolls, and the most exquisite +gold-tooling, of which the art is capable.</p> + +<p>These varied patterns of book ornamentation are cut in +brass or steel, and applied by the embossing press with a +rapidity far exceeding that of the hand-work formerly executed +by the gilders of books. But for choice books and +select jobs, only the hands are employed, with such fillets, +stamps, pallets, rolls, and polishing irons as may aid in the +nice execution of the work. If a book is to be bound in +what is called "morocco antique," it is to be "blind-tooled," +<i>i. e.</i>: the hot iron wheels which impress the fillets or rolls, +are to be worked in blank, or without gold-leaf ornamentation. +This is a rich and tasteful binding, especially with +carefully beveled boards, and gilded edges.</p> + +<p>On some books, money has been lavished on the binding +to an amount exceeding by many fold the cost of the book +itself. Elegant book-binding has come to be reckoned as +a fine art, and why should not "the art preservative of +all other arts"—printing—be preserved in permanent and +sumptuous, if not splendid style, in its environment? +Specimens of French artistic binding from the library of +Grolier, that celebrated and munificent patron of art, who +died in 1565, have passed through the hands of many eager +connoisseurs, always at advancing prices. The Grolier +binding was notable for the elegant finish of its interlaced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_74" id="Pg_74"></a>[<a href="./images/74.png">74</a>]</span> +ornaments in gold-leaf, a delicacy of touch, and an inimitable +flowing grace, which modern binders have struggled +after in vain. At the Beckford Library sale in London, in +1884, there was a great array of fine French bindings of +early date. A book from Grolier's library, the "Toison +d'Or," 1563, brought £405, or over $2,000, and a Heptameron, +which had belonged to Louis XIV, in beautiful +brown morocco, with crown, fleur-de-lys, a stag, a cock, and +stars, as ornaments, all exquisitely worked in gold, lined +with vellum, was sold for £400. Following the Grolier +patterns, came another highly decorative style, by the +French binders, which was notable for the very delicate +gold tooling, covering the whole sides of the book with exquisite +scroll-work, and branches of laurel.</p> + +<p>The most celebrated of English book-binders was Roger +Payne, who was notable for the careful labor bestowed on +the forwarding and finishing of his books, specimens of +which are still reckoned among the <i>chefs-d'oeuvre</i> of the +art. His favorite style was a roughly-grained red morocco, +always full-bound, and he kept in view what many binders +forget, that the leather is the main thing in a finely executed +binding, not to be overlaid by too much gilding and +decoration. He charged twelve guineas each (over $60) +for binding some small volumes in his best style. Payne's +most notable successors have been Lewis, Hayday, Bedford, +and Zaehnsdorf, the latter of whom is the author of a treatise +on book-binding. At the art exhibition of 1862, a +book bound by Bedford was exhibited, which took two +months merely to finish, and the binding cost forty +guineas; and a Doré's Dante, exquisitely bound by Zaehnsdorf, +in Grolier style, cost one hundred guineas.</p> + +<p>A decorative treatment not yet mentioned is applied to +the covers of some books, which are bound in elegant full +calf. To give to this leather the elegant finish known as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_75" id="Pg_75"></a>[<a href="./images/75.png">75</a>]</span> +"tree-calf binding", it is first washed with glaire or albumen. +The boards of the book are then bent to a convex +shape, and water sprinkled over, until it runs down from +the centre in many little branches or rivulets. While running, +a solution of copperas is sprinkled on, and carried +along the branches which radiate from the central trunk, +producing the dark-mottled colored effect which resembles, +more or less nearly, a tree with its spreading branches.</p> + +<p>To make the book beautiful should be the united aim of +all who are concerned in its manufacture—the paper-maker, +the printer, and the book-binder. While utility +comes first in the art of book-making for libraries, yet neatness +and even elegance should always be united with it. +An ill-forwarded book, or a badly finished one, presents a +clumsy, unattractive look to the eye; while an evenly +made piece of work, and a careful and tasteful ornamentation +in the gilding, attract every discerning reader by their +beauty. One writer upon book-binding terms the forwarder +of the book an artizan, and the finisher an artist; +but both should have the true artist's taste, in order to produce +the work that shall commend itself by intrinsic excellence. +The form and shape of the book depend wholly, +indeed, on the forwarder.</p> + +<p>We are told that the great beauty of the Grolier bindings +lay in the lavish and tasteful adornment of the sides. +In fact, much depends upon the design, in every piece of +decorative work. The pretty scroll patterns, the interlaced +figures, the delicate tracery, the circles, rosettes, and +stars, the lovely arabesques, the flowers and leaves borrowed +from the floral kingdom, the geometric lines, the +embroidered borders, like fine lace-work,—all these lend +their separate individual charms to the finish of the varied +specimens of the binder's art. There are some books that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_76" id="Pg_76"></a>[<a href="./images/76.png">76</a>]</span> +look as brilliant as jewels in their rich, lustrous adornment, +the design sometimes powdered with gold points and stars. +Some gems of art are lined with rich colored leather in the +inside covers, which are stamped and figured in gold. This +is termed "<i>doublé</i>" by the French. Some have their edges +gilded over marbling, a refinement of beauty which adds +richness to the work, the marble design showing through +the brilliant gold, when the edge is turned. Others have +pictorial designs drawn on the edges, which are then gilded +over the pictures. This complex style of gilding, the +French term <i>gaufré</i>. It was formerly much in vogue, but +is latterly out of fashion. Many gems of binding are +adorned with fly-leaves of moire silk, or rich colored satin. +Color, interspersed with gold in the finish of a book covering, +heightens the effect. The morocco of the side-cover +is sometimes cut, and inlaid with leather of a different +color. Inlaying with morocco or kid is the richest style of +decoration which the art has yet reached. Beautiful bindings +have been in greater request during the past twenty +years than ever before. There was a renaissance of the +ancient styles of decoration in France, and the choice +Grolier and Maioli patterns were revived with the general +applause of the lovers of fine books.</p> + +<p>In vivid contrast to these lovely specimens of the binder's +art, are found innumerable bibliopegic horrors, on the +shelves of countless libraries, public and private. Among +these are to be reckoned most law books, clad in that dead +monotony of ugliness, which Charles Dickens has described +as "that <i>under-done pie-crust</i> cover, which is technically +known as law calf." There are other uncouth and +unwholesome specimens everywhere abroad, "whom Satan +hath bound", to borrow Mr. Henry Stevens's witty application +of a well-known Scripture text. Such repellant bind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_77" id="Pg_77"></a>[<a href="./images/77.png">77</a>]</span>ings +are only fit to serve as models to be avoided by the +librarian.</p> + +<p>The binding that is executed by machinery is sometimes +called "commercial binding". It is also known as "edition +binding", because the whole edition of a book is bound in +uniform style of cover. While the modern figured cloth +binding originated in England, it has had its fullest development +in the United States. Here, those ingenious +and powerful machines which execute every branch of the +folding and forwarding of a book, and even the finishing +of the covers, with almost lightning speed, were mostly +invented and applied. Very vivid is the contrast between +the quiet, humdrum air of the old-fashioned bindery hand-work, +and the ceaseless clang and roar of the machinery +which turns out thousands of volumes in a day.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Not as ours the books of old,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Things that steam can stamp and fold."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I believe that I failed to notice, among the varieties of +material for book-bindings heretofore enumerated, some of +the rarer and more singular styles. Thus, books have been +bound in enamel, (richly variegated in color) in Persian +silk, in seal-skin, in the skin of the rabbit, white-bear, +crocodile, cat, dog, mole, tiger, otter, buffalo, wolf, and +even rattle-snake. A favorite modern leather for purses +and satchels, alligator-skin, has been also applied to the +clothing of books. Many eccentric fancies have been exemplified +in book-binding, but the acme of gruesome oddity +has been reached by binding books in human skin, of +which many examples are on record. It is perhaps three +centuries old, but the first considerable instance of its use +grew out of the horrors of the French Revolution. In +England, the Bristol law library has several volumes bound +in the skin of local criminals, flayed after execution, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_78" id="Pg_78"></a>[<a href="./images/78.png">78</a>]</span> +specially tanned for the purpose. It is described as rather +darker than vellum. A Russian poet is said to have bound +his sonnets in human leather—his own skin—taken from +a broken thigh—and the book he presented to the lady of +his affections! Such ghoulish incidents as these afford +curious though repulsive glimpses of the endless vagaries +of human nature.</p> + +<p>It is said that the invention of half-binding originated +among the economists of Germany; and some wealthy +bibliophiles have stigmatized this style of dressing books +as "genteel poverty." But its utility and economy have +been demonstrated too long to admit of any doubt that +half-binding has come to stay; while, as we have seen, it +is also capable of attractive aesthetic features. Mr. William +Matthews, perhaps the foremost of American binders, +said that "a book when neatly forwarded, and cleanly +covered, is in a very satisfactory condition without any +finishing or decorating." It was this same binder who exhibited +at the New York World's Fair Exhibition of 1853, +a copy of Owen Jones's Alhambra, bound by him in full +Russia, inlaid with blue and red morocco, with gold tooling +all executed by hand, taking six months to complete, +and costing the binder no less than five hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>Book lettering, or stamping the proper title on the back +of the book, is a matter of the first importance. As the +titles of most books are much too long to go on the back, +a careful selection of the most distinctive words becomes +necessary. Here the taste and judgment of the librarian +come indispensably into play. To select the lettering of +a book should never be left to the binder, because it is not +his business, and because, in most cases, he will make a mistake +somewhere in the matter. From want of care on this +point, many libraries are filled with wrongly lettered books, +misleading titles, and blunders as ludicrous as they are dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_79" id="Pg_79"></a>[<a href="./images/79.png">79</a>]</span>tressing. +I have had to have thousands of volumes in the +Library of Congress re-lettered. A copy of Lord Bacon's +"Sylva Sylvarum", for example, was lettered "Verlum's +Sylva"—because the sapient binder read on the title-page +"By Baron Verulam", and it was not his business to find +out that this was the title of honor which Bacon bore; so, +by a compound blunder, he converted Verulam into Verlum, +and gave the book to an unknown writer. This is +perhaps an extreme case, but you will find many to match +it. Another folio, Rochefort's History of the Caribby Islands, +was lettered "Davies' Carriby Islands," because the +title bore the statement "Rendered into English by John +Davies." In another library, the great work of the naturalist, +Buffon, was actually lettered "Buffoon's Natural +History." Neither of these blunders was as bad as that +of the owner of an elegant black-letter edition of a Latin +classic, which was printed without title-page, like most +fifteenth century books, and began at the top of the first +leaf, in large letters—"HOC INCIPIT," signifying "This +begins", followed by the title or subject of the book. The +wiseacre who owned it had the book richly bound, and directed +it to be lettered on the back—"Works of Hoc Incipit, +Rome, 1490." This is a true story, and the hero of it +might perhaps, on the strength of owning so many learned +works, have passed for a philosopher, if he had not taken +the pains to advertise himself as a blockhead.</p> + +<p>Some of the commonest blunders are stamping on the +back the translator's or the editor's name, instead of that +of the author of the book; putting on adjectives instead +of substantives for titles; modernizing ancient and characteristic +spelling, found in the title, (the exact orthography +of which should always be followed); mixing up the number +and the case of Latin titles, and those in other foreign<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_80" id="Pg_80"></a>[<a href="./images/80.png">80</a>]</span> +languages; leaving off entirely the name of the writer; +and lettering periodicals by putting on the volume without +the year, or the year, without the number of the volume. +"No one but an idiot", said Mr. C. Walford to the London +Librarians' Conference, "would send his books to the +binder, without indicating the lettering he desires on the +backs." The only safe-guard is for the librarian or owner +to prescribe on a written slip in each volume, a title for +every book, before it goes to the binder, who will be only +too glad to have his own time saved—since time is money +to him. I would not underrate the book-binders, who are +a most worthy and intelligent class, numbering in their +ranks men who are scholars as well as artists; but they are +concerned chiefly with the mechanics and not with the +metaphysics of their art, and moreover, they are not bound +by that rigid rule which should govern the librarian—namely—to +have no ignoramus about the premises.</p> + +<p>In writing letterings (for I take it that no one would +be guilty of defacing his title-pages by marking them up +with directions to the binder) you should definitely write +out the parts of the title as they are to run on the back of +the book, spaced line upon line, and not "run together." +I think that the name of the author should always stand +first at the head of the lettering, because it affords the +quickest guide to the eye in finding any book, as well as +in replacing it upon the shelves. Especially useful and +time-saving is this, where classes of books are arranged in +alphabetical sequence. Is not the name of the author +commonly uppermost in the mind of the searcher? Then, +let it be uppermost on the book sought also. Follow the +name of the author by the briefest possible words selected +from the title which will suffice to characterize the subject +of the work. Thus, the title—"On the Origin of Species<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_81" id="Pg_81"></a>[<a href="./images/81.png">81</a>]</span> +by means of Natural Selection", by Charles Darwin, should +be abbreviated into</p> + +<p class="figcenter">Darwin<br /> +——————<br /> +Origin of Species.</p> + +<p>Here are no superfluous words, to consume the binder's +time and gold-leaf, and to be charged in the bill; or to +consume the time of the book-searcher, in stopping to +read a lot of surplusage on the back of the book, before +seizing it for immediate use. Books in several volumes +should have the number of each volume plainly marked in +Arabic (not Roman) numerals on the back. The old-fashioned +method of expressing numerals by letters, instead +of figures, is too cumbrous and time-consuming to be +tolerated. You want to letter, we will say, vol. 88 of +Blackwood's Magazine. If you follow the title-page of +that book, as printed, you have to write</p> + +<p>"Volume LXXXVIII," eight letters, for the number of +the volume, instead of two simple figures—thus—88.</p> + +<p>Now can any one give a valid reason for the awkward and +tedious method of notation exhibited in the Roman numerals? +If it were only the lost time of the person who writes +it, or the binder's finisher who letters it, it would be comparatively +insignificant. But think of the time wasted by +the whole world of readers, who must go through a more or +less troublesome process of notation before they get a clear +notion of what all this superfluous stuff stands for instead +of the quick intuition with which they take in the +Arabic figures; and who must moreover, by the antiquated +method, take valuable time to write out LXXXVIII, +eight figures instead of two, to say nothing of the added +liability to error, which increases in the exact ratio of the +number of figures to be written. Which of these two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_82" id="Pg_82"></a>[<a href="./images/82.png">82</a>]</span> +forms of expression is more quickly written, or stamped, +or read? By which method of notation will the library +messenger boys or girls soonest find the book? This leads +me to say what cannot be too strongly insisted upon; all +library methods should be time-saving methods, and so +devised for the benefit alike of the librarian, the assistants, +and the readers. Until one has learned the supreme value +of moments, he will not be fit for a librarian. The same +method by Arabic numerals only, should be used in all +references to books; and it would be well if the legal +fashion of citing authorities by volume and page, now +adopted in most law books, were extended to all literature—thus:</p> + +<p>"3 Macaulay's England, 481. N. Y. 1854," instead of +"Macaulay's England, N. Y. ed. 1854. vol. 3, page 481." +It is a matter of congratulation to all librarians, as well as +to the reading public, that Poole's Indexes to Periodical +Literature have wisely adopted Arabic figures only, both +for volume and page. The valuable time thus saved to all +is quite incalculable.</p> + +<p>Every book which is leather-bound has its back divided +off into panels or sections, by the band across the back or +by the gold or plain fillet or roll forming part of the finish +of the book. These panels are usually five or six in number, +the former being the more common. Now it is the +librarian's function to prescribe in which of these panels +the lettering of the book—especially where there is double +lettering—shall go. Thus</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6" summary="Lettering on backs of books"> +<tr><td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +2nd<br /> +panel +</td> +<td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +<span class="smcap">Cousin<br /></span> +----<br /> +<span class="smcap">History<br /> +of<br /> +Modern<br /> +Philosophy.</span> +</td> +<td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +4th<br /> +panel +</td> +<td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +<span class="smcap">Wight</span> +</td> +<td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +End +</td> +<td style='border-right: 1px solid black;' align='center'> +<span class="smcap">New<br /> +York,<br /> +1852.</span> +</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Many books, especially dramatic works, and the collected +works of authors require the contents of the various vol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_83" id="Pg_83"></a>[<a href="./images/83.png">83</a>]</span>umes +to be briefed on the back. Here is a Shakespeare, +for example, in 10 volumes, or a Swift in 19, or Carlyle in +33, and you want to find <i>King Lear</i>, or <i>Gulliver's Travels</i>, +or <i>Heroes and Hero Worship</i>. The other volumes concern +you not—but you want the shortest road to these. If the +name of each play is briefed by the first word upon the +different volumes of your Shakespeare, or the contents of +each volume upon the Swift and the Carlyle,—as they +should be—you find instantly what you want, with one +glance of the eye along the backs. If put to the trouble +of opening every volume to find the contents, or of hunting +it in the index, or the library catalogue, you lose precious +time, while readers wait, thus making the needless +delay cumulative, and as it must be often repeated, indefinite.</p> + +<p>Each volume should have its date and place of publication +plainly lettered at the lower end, or what binders +term the tail of the book. This often saves time, as you +may not want an edition of old date, or <i>vice versa</i>, while the +place and date enable readers' tickets to be filled out quickly +without the book. The name of the library might well be +lettered also on the back, being more obvious as a permanent +means of identification than the book-plate or inside +stamp.</p> + +<p>Books should never be used when fresh from the binder's +hands. The covers are then always damp, and warp on +exposure to air and heat. Unless pressed firmly in shelves, +or in piles, for at least two weeks, they may become incurably +warped out of shape. Many an otherwise handsomely +bound book is ruined by neglect of this caution, for +once thoroughly dried in its warped condition, there is no +remedy save the costly one of rebinding.</p> + +<p>Books are frequently lettered so carelessly that the +titles instead of aligning, or being in straight horizontal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_84" id="Pg_84"></a>[<a href="./images/84.png">84</a>]</span> +lines, run obliquely upward or downward, thus defacing +the volume. Errors in spelling words are also liable to +occur. All crooked lettering and all mistakes in spelling +should at once be rejected, and the faulty books returned +to the binder, to be corrected at his own expense. This +severe revision of all books when newly bound, before they +are placed upon the shelves, should be done by the librarian's +or owner's own eye—not entrusted to subordinates, +unless to one thoroughly skilled.</p> + +<p>One should never receive back books from a binder without +collating them, to see if all are perfect as to pages, and +if all plates or maps are in place. If deficiencies are found, +the binder, and not the library is responsible, provided the +book was known to be perfect when sent for binding.</p> + +<p>In the Congressional Library I had the periodicals which +are analyzed in Poole's Index of Periodical Literature +thoroughly compared and re-lettered, wherever necessary, +to make the series of volumes correspond with the references +in that invaluable and labor-saving index. For instance, +the Eclectic Review, as published in London, had +eight distinct and successive series (thus confusing reference +by making eight different volumes called 1, 2, 3, etc.) +each with a different numbering, "First series, 2d series," +etc., which Poole's Index very properly consolidated into +one, for convenient reference. By adding the figures as +scheduled in that work—prefixed by the words <i>Poole's Index +No.</i> —— or simply <i>Poole</i>, in small letters, followed by +the figure of the volume as given in that index, you will +find a saving of time in hunting and supplying references +that is almost incalculable. If you cannot afford to have +this re-numbering done by a binder in gilt letters, it will +many times repay the cost and time of doing it on thin +manila paper titles, written or printed by a numbering +machine and pasted on the backs of the volumes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_85" id="Pg_85"></a>[<a href="./images/85.png">85</a>]</span>In all periodicals,—magazines and serials of every kind,—the +covers and their advertisements should be bound in +their proper place, with each month or number of the +periodical, though it may interrupt the continuity of the +paging. Thus will be preserved valuable contemporary +records respecting prices, bibliographical information, etc., +which should never be destroyed, as it is illustrative +of the life and history of the period. The covers of the +magazines, too, frequently contain the table of contents of +the number, which of course must be prefixed to it, in order +to be of any use. If advertising pages are very numerous +and bulky, (as in many popular periodicals of late +years) they may well be bound at the end of the volume, or, +if so many as to make the volume excessively thick, they +might be bound in a supplementary volume. In all books, +half-titles or bastard titles, as they are called, should be +bound in, as they are a part of the book.</p> + +<p>With each lot of books to be bound, there should always +be sent a sample volume of good work as a pattern, that +the binder may have no excuse for hasty or inferior workmanship.</p> + +<p>The Grolier Club was founded in New York in 1884, +having for its objects to promote the literary study and +progress of the arts pertaining to the production of books. +It has published more than twenty books in sumptuous +style, and mostly in quarto form, the editions being limited +to 150 copies at first, since increased to 300, under the +rapidly enlarging membership of the Club. Most of these +books relate to fine binding, fine printing, or fine illustration +of books, or are intended to exemplify them, and by +their means, by lectures, and exhibitions of fine book-work, +this society has contributed much toward the diffusion of +correct taste. More care has been bestowed upon fine +binding in New York than in London itself. In fact, ele<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_86" id="Pg_86"></a>[<a href="./images/86.png">86</a>]</span>gant +book-binding is coming to be recognized as one of the +foremost of the decorative arts.</p> + +<p>The art of designing book-covers and patterns for gilding +books has engaged the talents of many artists, among +whom may be named Edwin A. Abbey, Howard Pyle, Stanford +White, and Elihu Vedder. Nor have skilful designs +been wanting among women, as witness Mrs. Whitman's +elegant tea-leaf border for the cover of Dr. O. W. Holmes's +"Over the Tea-cups," and Miss Alice Morse's arabesques +and medallions for Lafcadio Hearn's "Two Years in the +French West Indies." Miss May Morris designed many +tasteful letters for the fine bindings executed by Mr. Cobden-Sanderson +of London, and Kate Greenaway's many +exquisite little books for little people have become widely +known for their quaint and curious cover designs. A new +field thus opens for skilled cultivators of the beautiful who +have an eye for the art of drawing.</p> + +<p>Mr. William Matthews, the accomplished New York +binder, in an address before the Grolier Club in 1895, said: +"I have been astonished that so few women—in America, +I know none—are encouragers of the art; they certainly +could not bestow their taste on anything that would do +them more credit, or as a study, give them more satisfaction." +It is but fair to add that since this judgment was +put forth, its implied reproach is no longer applicable: a +number of American women have interested themselves in +the study of binding as a fine art; and some few in practical +work as binders of books.</p> + +<p>There is no question that readers take a greater interest +in books that are neatly and attractively bound, than in +volumes dressed in a mean garb. No book owner or librarian +with any knowledge of the incurable defects of calf, +sheep, or roan leather, if he has any regard for the usefulness +or the economies of his library, will use them in bind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_87" id="Pg_87"></a>[<a href="./images/87.png">87</a>]</span>ing +books that are to possess permanent value in personal +or public use. True economy lies in employing the best +description of binding in the first instance.</p> + +<p>When it is considered that the purposed object of book-binding +is to preserve in a shape at once attractive and permanent, +the best and noblest thoughts of man, it rises to a +high rank among the arts. Side by side with printing, it +strives after that perfection which shall ensure the perpetuity +of human thought. Thus a book, clothed in morocco, +is not a mere piece of mechanism, but a vehicle in +which the intellectual life of writers no longer on earth is +transmitted from age to age. And it is the art of book-binding +which renders libraries possible. What the +author, the printer, and the binder create, the library takes +charge of and preserves. It is thus that the material and +the practical link themselves indissolubly with the ideal. +And the ideal of every true librarian should be so to care +for the embodiments of intelligence entrusted to his guardianship, +that they may become in the highest degree useful +to mankind. In this sense, the care bestowed upon +thorough and enduring binding can hardly be overrated, +since the life of the book depends upon it.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_88" id="Pg_88"></a>[<a href="./images/88.png">88</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_4" id="CHAPTER_4"></a>CHAPTER 4.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Preparation for the Shelves: Book Plates, etc.</span></h3> + + +<p>When any lot of books is acquired, whether by purchase +from book-dealers or from auction, or by presentation, the +first step to be taken, after seeing that they agree with the +bill, and have been collated, in accordance with methods +elsewhere given, should be to stamp and label each volume, +as the property of the library. These two processes are +quite distinct, and may be performed by one or two persons, +according to convenience, or to the library force employed. +The stamp may be the ordinary rubber one, inked +by striking on a pad, and ink of any color may be used, +although black or blue ink has the neatest appearance. +The stamp should bear the name of the library, in clear, +legible, plain type, with year of acquisition of the book in +the centre, followed by the month and day if desired. A +more permanent kind of stamp is the embossing stamp, +which is a steel die, the letters cut in relief, but it is very +expensive and slow, requiring the leaf to be inserted between +the two parts of the stamp, though the impression, +once made, is practically indelible.</p> + +<p>The size of the stamp (which is preferably oval in shape) +should not exceed 1¼ to 1½ inches in diameter, as a large, +coarse stamp never presents a neat appearance on a book. +Indeed, many books are too small to admit any but a stamp +of very moderate dimensions. The books should be stamped +on the verso (reverse) of the title page, or if preferred, +on the widest unprinted portion of the title-page, preferably +on the right hand of the centre, or just below the centre +on the right. This, because its impression is far more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_89" id="Pg_89"></a>[<a href="./images/89.png">89</a>]</span> +legible on the plain white surface than on any part of the +printed title. In a circulating library, the stamps should +be impressed on one or more pages in the body of the book, +as well as on the last page, as a means of identification +if the book is stolen or otherwise lost; as it is very easy to +erase the impression of a rubber stamp from the title-page, +and thereby commit a fraud by appropriating or selling the +book. In such a case, the duplicate or triplicate impression +of the stamp on some subsequent page (say page 5 or +16, many books having but few pages) as fixed upon by the +librarian, is quite likely to escape notice of the thief, while +it remains a safe-guard, enabling the librarian to reclaim +the book, wherever found. The law will enforce this right +of free reclamation in favor of a public library, in the case +of stolen books, no matter in what hands found, and even +though the last holder may be an innocent purchaser. All +libraries are victimized at some time by unscrupulous or +dishonest readers, who will appropriate books, thinking +themselves safe from detection, and sometimes easing their +consciences, (if they have any) by the plea that the book is +in a measure public property.</p> + +<p>In these cases, there is no absolute safe-guard, as it is +easy to carry off a book under one's coat, and the librarian +and his few aids are far too busy to act as detectives in +watching readers. Still, a vigilant librarian will almost +always find out, by some suspicious circumstance—such as +the hiding of books away, or a certain furtive action observed +in a reader—who are the persons that should be +watched, and when it is advisable to call in the policeman.</p> + +<p>The British Museum Library, which has no circulation +or book lending, enforces a rule that no one making his +exit can have a book with him, unless checked as his own +property, all overcoats and other wraps being of course +checked at the door.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_90" id="Pg_90"></a>[<a href="./images/90.png">90</a>]</span>It is a melancholy fact, duly recorded in a Massachusetts +paper, that no less than two hundred and fifty volumes, +duly labeled and stamped as public library books, were +stolen from a single library in a single year, and sold to +second-hand booksellers.</p> + +<p>The impression of the stamp in the middle of a certain +page, known to the librarian, renders it less liable to detection +by others, while if stamped on the lower unprinted +margin, it might be cut out by a designing person.</p> + +<p>Next to the stamping, comes the labeling of the books +to be added to the library. This is a mechanical process, +and yet one of much importance. Upon its being done +neatly and properly, depends the good or bad appearance +of the library books, as labels with rough or ragged edges, +or put on askew, or trimmed irregularly at their margins, +present an ugly and unfinished aspect, offensive to the eye +of good taste, and reflecting discredit on the management. +A librarian should take pride in seeing all details of his +work carefully and neatly carried out. If he cannot have +perfection, from want of time, he should always aim at it, +at least, and then only will he come near to achieving it.</p> + +<p>The label, or book-plate (for they are one and the same +thing) should be of convenient size to go into books both +small and large; and a good size is approximately 2¼ inches +wide by 1½ inches high when trimmed. As comparatively +few libraries care to go to the expense, which is about ten +times that of printing, of an engraved label (although such +work adds to the attractiveness of the books containing it) +it should be printed in clear, not ornamental type, with +the name of the library, that of the city or town in which +it is located (unless forming a part of the title) and the +abbreviation No. for number, with such other spaces for +section marks or divisions, shelf-marks, etc., as the classification +adopted may require. The whole should be en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_91" id="Pg_91"></a>[<a href="./images/91.png">91</a>]</span>closed +in an ornamental border—not too ornate for good +taste.</p> + +<p>The labels, nicely trimmed to uniform size by a cutting +machine, (if that is not in the library equipment, any +binder will do it for you) are next to be pasted or gummed, +as preferred. This process is a nice one, requiring +patience, care, and practice. Most libraries are full of +books imperfectly labelled, pasted on in crooked fashion, or +perhaps damaging the end-leaves by an over-use of paste, +causing the leaves to adhere to the page labelled—which +should always be the inside left hand cover of the book. +This slovenly work is unworthy of a skilled librarian, who +should not suffer torn waste leaves, nor daubs of over-running +paste in any of his books. To prevent both these +blunders in library economy, it is only needful to instruct +any intelligent assistant thoroughly, by practical example +how to do it—accompanied by a counter-example how not +to do it. The way to do it is to have your paste as thin as +that used by binders in pasting their fly-leaves, or their +leather, or about the consistency of porridge or pea soup. +Then lay the label or book-plate face downward on a board +or table covered with blotting paper, dip your paste brush +(a half inch bristle brush is the best) in the paste, stroke it +(to remove too much adhering matter) on the inner side of +your paste cup, then apply it across the whole surface of +the label, with light, even strokes of the brush, until you +see that it is all moistened with paste. Next, take up the +label and lay it evenly in the middle of the left inner cover +page of the book to be labelled, and with a small piece of +paper (not with the naked fingers) laid over it, stroke it +down firmly in its place, by rubbing over a few times the +incumbent paper. This being properly done (and it is +done by an expert, once learned, very rapidly) your book-plate +will be firmly and smoothly pasted in, with no exud<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_92" id="Pg_92"></a>[<a href="./images/92.png">92</a>]</span>ing +of paste at the edges, to spoil the fly-leaves, and no +curling up of edges because insufficiently pasted down.</p> + +<p>So much for the book-plate—for the inside of the volumes; +now let us turn attention to the outside label. This +is necessarily very much smaller than the book-plate: in +fact, it should not be larger than three-quarters or seven-eighths +of an inch in diameter, and even smaller for the +thinner volumes, while in the case of the very smallest, or +thinnest of books, it becomes necessary to paste the labels +on the side, instead of on the back. This label is to contain +the section and shelf-mark of the book, marked by +plain figures, according to the plan of classification adopted. +When well done, it is an inexpressible comfort to any +librarian, because it shows at one glance of the eye, and +without opening the book at all, just where in the wide +range of the miscellaneous library it is to go. Thus the +book service of every day is incalculably aided, and the +books are both found when sought on the shelves, and replaced +there, with no trouble of opening them.</p> + +<p>This outer-label system once established, in strict correspondence +with the catalogue, the only part of the librarian's +work remaining to be prescribed in this field, concerns +the kind of label to be selected, and the method of +affixing them to the books. The adhesive gummed labels +furnished by the Library Bureau, or those manufactured +by the Dennison Company of New York have the requisite +qualities for practical use. They may be purchased in +sheets, or cut apart, as convenient handling may dictate. +Having first written in ink in plain figures, as large as the +labels will bear, the proper locality marks, take a label +moistener (a hollow tube filled with water, provided with a +bit of sponge at the end and sold by stationers) and wet +the label throughout its surface, then fix it on the back of +the book, on the smooth part of the binding near the lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_93" id="Pg_93"></a>[<a href="./images/93.png">93</a>]</span> +end, and with a piece of paper (not the fingers) press it +down firmly to its place by repeated rubbings. If thoroughly +done, the labels will not peel off nor curl up at the +edges for a long time. Under much usage of the volumes, +however, they must occasionally be renewed.</p> + +<p>When the books being prepared for the shelves have all +been duly collated, labelled and stamped, processes which +should precede cataloguing them, they are next ready for +the cataloguer. His functions having been elsewhere described, +it need only be said that the books when catalogued +and handed over to the reviser, (or whoever is to +scrutinize the titles and assign them their proper places in +the library classification) are to have the shelf-marks of +the card-titles written on the inside labels, as well as upon +the outside.</p> + +<p>When this is done, the title-cards can be withdrawn and +alphabeted in the catalogue drawers. Next, all the books +thus catalogued, labelled, and supposed to be ready for the +shelves, should be examined with reference to three points:</p> + +<p>1st. Whether any of the volumes need re-lettering.</p> + +<p>2nd. Whether any of them require re-binding.</p> + +<p>3rd. If any of the bindings are in need of repair.</p> + +<p>In any lot of books purchased or presented, are almost +always to be found some that are wrongly or imperfectly +lettered on the back. Before these are ready for the +shelves, they should be carefully gone through with, and +all errors or shortcomings corrected. It is needful to send +to the binder</p> + +<p>1st. All books which lack the name of the author on the +back. This should be stamped by the binder at the head, +if there is room—if not, in the middle panel on the back +of the book.</p> + +<p>2nd. All books lettered with mis-spelled words.</p> + +<p>3rd. All volumes in sets, embracing several distinct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_94" id="Pg_94"></a>[<a href="./images/94.png">94</a>]</span> +works—to have the name of each book in the contents +plainly stamped on the outside.</p> + +<p>4th. All books wholly without titles on the back, of +which many are published—the title being frequently +given on the side only, or in the interior alone.</p> + +<p>5th. All periodicals having the volume on the back, +without the year, to have the year lettered; and periodicals +having the year, but not the volume, are to have the number +of the volume added.</p> + +<p>If these things, all essential to good management and +prompt library service, are not done before the books go to +their shelves, the chances are that they will not be done at +all.</p> + +<p>The second requisite to be attended to is to examine +whether any of the volumes catalogued require to be bound +or re-bound. In any lot of books of considerable extent, +there will always be some (especially if from auction sales) +dilapidated and shaken, so as to unfit them for use. There +will be others so soiled in the bindings or the edges as to +be positively shabby, and they should be re-bound to render +them presentable.</p> + +<p>The third point demanding attention is to see what volumes +need repair. It very often happens that books otherwise +pretty well bound have torn corners, or rubbed or +shop-worn backs, or shabby marbled paper frayed at the +sides, or some other defect, which may be cured by mending +or furbishing up, without re-binding. This a skilful +binder is always competent to take in charge; and as in the +other cases, it should have attention immediately upon the +acquisition of the books.</p> + +<p>All books coming into a library which contain autographs, +book-plates of former owners, coats of arms, presentation +inscriptions from the author, monograms, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_95" id="Pg_95"></a>[<a href="./images/95.png">95</a>]</span> +other distinguishing features, should preserve them as of +interest to the present or the future.</p> + +<p>And all printed paper covers should be carefully preserved +by binding them inside the new cover which the +book receives, thus preserving authentic evidence of the +form in which the book was first issued to the public, and +often its original price. In like manner, when a cloth-bound +book comes to re-binding, its side and back covers +may be bound in at the end of the book, as showing the +style in which it was originally issued, frequently displaying +much artistic beauty.</p> + +<p>Whoever receives back any books which have been out in +circulation, whether it be the librarian or assistant, must +examine each volume, to see if it is in apparent good order. +If it is found (as frequently happens) that it is shaky and +loose, or if leaves are ready to drop out, or if the cover is +nearly off, it should never be allowed to go back to the +shelves, but laid aside for re-binding or repair with the +next lot sent to the binder. Only prompt vigilance on this +point, combined with the requirement of speedy return by +the binder, will save the loss or injury beyond repair of +many books. It will also save the patrons of the library +from the frequent inconvenience of having to do without +books, which should be on the shelves for their use. How +frequent this sending of books to repair should be, cannot +be settled by any arbitrary rule; but it would be wise, in +the interest of all, to do it as often as two or three dozen +damaged books are accumulated.</p> + +<p>If you find other injury to a book returned, than the +natural wear and tear that the library must assume, if a +book, for example, is blotched with ink, or soiled with +grease, or has been so far wet as to be badly stained in the +leaves, or if it is found torn in any part on a hasty inspection, +or if a plate or a map is missing, or the binding is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_96" id="Pg_96"></a>[<a href="./images/96.png">96</a>]</span> +violently broken (as sometimes happens) then the damage +should be borne by the reader, and not by the library. +This will sometimes require the purchase of a fresh copy +of the book, which no fair-minded reader can object to +pay, who is favored with the privileges of free enjoyment +of the treasures of a public library. Indeed, it will be +found in the majority of cases that honest readers themselves +call attention to such injuries as books have accidentally +received while in their possession, with voluntary +offer to make good the damage.</p> + +<p>All unbound or paper covered volumes should be reserved +from the shelves, and not supplied to readers until +bound. This rule may be relaxed (as there is almost no +rule without some valid exception) in the case of a popular +new book, issued only in paper covers, if it is desired to +give an opportunity of early perusal to readers frequenting +the library. But such books should not be permitted to +circulate, as they would soon be worn to pieces by handling. +Only books dressed in a substantial covering are fit +to be loaned out of any library. In preparing for the +bindery any new books, or old ones to be re-bound or repaired, +lists should be made of any convenient number set +apart for the purpose, prompt return should be required, +and all should be checked off on the list when returned.</p> + +<p>No shelf in a well-regulated library should be unprovided +with book-supports, in order to prevent the volumes +from sagging and straining by falling against one another, +in a long row of books. Numerous different devices are +in the market for this purpose, from the solid brick to the +light sheet-iron support; but it is important to protect the +end of every row from strain on the bindings, and the cost +of book supports is indefinitely less than that of the re-binding +entailed by neglecting to use them.</p> + +<p>Some libraries of circulation make it a rule to cover all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_97" id="Pg_97"></a>[<a href="./images/97.png">97</a>]</span> +their books with paper or thin muslin covers, before they +are placed on the shelves for use. This method has its advantages +and its drawbacks. It doubtless protects the +bindings from soiling, and where books circulate widely +and long, no one who has seen how foul with dirt they become, +can doubt the expediency of at least trying the experiment +of clean covers. They should be of the firmest +thin but tough Manila paper, and it is claimed that twenty +renewals of clean paper covers actually cost less than one +re-binding. On the other hand, it is not to be denied that +books thus covered look shabby, monotonous, and uninteresting. +In the library used for reference and reading +only, without circulation, covers are quite out of place.</p> + +<p>Book-plates having been briefly referred to above, a few +words as to their styles and uses may here be pertinent. +The name "book-plate" is a clumsy and misleading title, +suggesting to the uninitiated the illustrations or plates +which embellish the text of a book. The name <i>Ex libris</i>, +two latin words used for book-plate in all European languages, +is clearer, but still not exact, as a definition of the +thing, signifying simply "out of books." A book-plate is +the owner's or the library's distinctive mark of ownership, +pasted upon the inside cover, whether it be a simple name-label, +or an elaborately engraved heraldic or pictorial device. +The earliest known book-plates date back to the fifteenth +century, and are of German origin, though English +plates are known as early as 1700. In France, specimens +appear for the first time between 1600 and 1650.</p> + +<p>Foreign book-plates are, as a rule, heraldic in design, as +are also the early American plates, representing the coat of +arms or family crest of the owner of the books, with a +motto of some kind. The fashion of collecting these owners' +marks, as such, irrespective of the books containing +them, is a recent and very possibly a passing mania. Still,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_98" id="Pg_98"></a>[<a href="./images/98.png">98</a>]</span> +there is something of interest in early American plates, +and in those used by distinguished men, aside from the collector's +fad. Some of the first American engravers showed +their skill in these designs, and a signed and dated plate +engraved by Nathaniel Hurd, for example, of Boston, is of +some historic value as an example of early American art. +He engraved many plates about the middle of the last century, +and died in 1777. Paul Revere, who was an engraver, +designed and executed some few plates, which are +rare, and highly prized, more for his name than for his +skill, for, as generally known, he was a noted patriot of the +Revolutionary period, belonging by his acts to the heroic +age of American history.</p> + +<p>A book of George Washington's containing his book-plate +has an added interest, though the plate itself is an +armorial design, not at all well executed. Its motto is +"<i>exitus acta probat</i>"—the event justifies the deed. From +its rarity and the high price it commands, it has probably +been the only American book-plate ever counterfeited. +At an auction sale of books in Washington in 1863, this +counterfeit plate had been placed in many books to give a +fictitious value, but the fraud was discovered and announced +by the present writer, just before the books were +sold. Yet the sale was attended by many attracted to bid +upon books said to have been owned by Washington, and +among them the late Dr. W. F. Poole, then librarian of the +Boston Athenaeum, which possesses most of the library +authentically known to have been at Mount Vernon.</p> + +<p>John Adams and John Quincy Adams used book-plates, +and James Monroe and John Tyler each had a plain name-label. +These are all of our presidents known to have used +them, except General Garfield, who had a printed book-plate +of simple design, with the motto "<i>inter folia fructus</i>." +Eleven of the signers of the Declaration of Independence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_99" id="Pg_99"></a>[<a href="./images/99.png">99</a>]</span> +are known to have had these signs of gentle birth—for in +the early years of the American Colonies, it was only the +families of aristocratic connection and scholarly tastes who +indulged in what may be termed a superfluous luxury.</p> + +<p>The plates used among the Southern settlers were generally +ordered from England, and not at all American. The +Northern plates were more frequently of native design and +execution, and therefore of much greater value and interest, +though far inferior in style of workmanship and elaboration +of ornament to the best European ones.</p> + +<p>The ordinary library label is also a book-plate, and some +of the early libraries and small collections have elaborate +designs. The early Harvard College library plate was a +large and fine piece of engraving by Hurd. The Harvard +Library had some few of this fine engraved label printed +in red ink, and placed in the rarer books of the library—as +a reminder that the works containing the rubricated +book-plates were not to be drawn out by students.</p> + +<p>The learned bibliophile and librarian of Florence, Magliabecchi, +who died in 1714, devised for his library of thirty +thousand volumes, which he bequeathed to the Grand +Duke of Tuscany, a book-plate representing his own profile +on a medal surrounded with books and oak boughs, +with the inscription—"Antonius Magliabecchius Florentinus."</p> + +<p>Some book-plates embody designs of great beauty. The +late George Bancroft's, engraved on copper, represented a +winged cherub (from Raphael) gazing sun-ward, holding a +tablet with the inscription "<i>Eis phaos</i>," toward the light.</p> + +<p>Some French book-plates aim at humor or caricature. +One familiar example represents an old book-worm mounted +on a tall ladder in a library, profoundly absorbed in +reading, and utterly unconscious that the room beneath +him is on fire.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_100" id="Pg_100"></a>[<a href="./images/100.png">100</a>]</span>To those who ask of what possible utility it can be to +cultivate so unfruitful a pursuit as the devising or the collecting +of book-plates, it may be pertinent to state the +claim made in behalf of the amateurs of this art, by a connoisseur, +namely, "Book-plates foster the study of art, history, +genealogy, and human character." On this theory, +we may add, the coat of arms or family crest teaches heraldry; +the mottoes or inscriptions chosen cultivate the +taste for language and sententious literature; the engraving +appeals to the sense of the artistic; the names of early +or ancient families who are often thus commemorated +teach biography, history, or genealogy; while the great variety +of sentiments selected for the plates illustrate the +character and taste of those selecting them.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, it must be said that the coat of arms +fails to indicate individual taste or genius, and might better +be supplanted by original and characteristic designs, +especially such as relate to books, libraries, and learning.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_101" id="Pg_101"></a>[<a href="./images/101.png">101</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_5" id="CHAPTER_5"></a>CHAPTER 5.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Enemies of Books.</span></h3> + + +<p>We have seen in former chapters how the books of a +library are acquired, how they are prepared for the shelves, +or for use, and how they are or should be bound. Let us +now consider the important questions which involve the +care, the protection, and the preservation of the books.</p> + +<p>Every librarian or book owner should be something more +than a custodian of the books in his collection. He should +also exercise perpetual vigilance with regard to their safety +and condition. The books of every library are beset by +dangers and by enemies. Some of these are open and palpable; +others are secret, illusive, little suspected, and liable +to come unlooked for and without warning. Some of +these enemies are impersonal and immaterial, but none the +less deadly; others are personally human in form, but most +inhuman in their careless and brutal treatment of books. +How far and how fatally the books of many libraries have +been injured by these ever active and persistent enemies +can never be adequately told. But we may point out what +the several dangers are which beset them, and how far the +watchful care of the librarian and his assistants may fore-stall +or prevent them.</p> + +<p>One of the foremost of the inanimate enemies of books is +dust. In some libraries the atmosphere is dust-laden, to a +degree which seems incredible until you witness its results +in the deposits upon books, which soil your fingers, and +contaminate the air you breathe, as you brush or blow it +away. Peculiarly liable to dust are library rooms located +in populous towns, or in business streets, and built close to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_102" id="Pg_102"></a>[<a href="./images/102.png">102</a>]</span> +the avenues of traffic. Here, the dust is driven in at the +windows and doors by every breeze that blows. It is an +omnipresent evil, that cannot be escaped or very largely +remedied. As preventive measures, care should be taken +not to build libraries too near the street, but to have ample +front and side yards to isolate the books as far as may be +consistent with convenient access. Where the library is +already located immediately on the street, a subscription +for sprinkling the thoroughfare with water, the year +round, would be true economy.</p> + +<p>In some cities, the evils of street dust are supplemented +by the mischiefs of coal smoke, to an aggravated degree. +Wherever soft coal is burned as the principal fuel, a black, +fuliginous substance goes floating through the air, and +soils every thing it touches. It penetrates into houses and +public buildings, often intensified by their own interior use +of the same generator of dirt, and covers the books of the +library with its foul deposits. You may see, in the public +libraries of some western cities, how this perpetual curse +of coal smoke has penetrated the leaves of all the books, +resisting all efforts to keep it out, and slowly but surely deteriorating +both paper and bindings. Here, preventive +measures are impossible, unless some device for consuming +the coal smoke of chimneys and factories were made compulsory, +or the evil somewhat mitigated by using a less +dangerous fuel within the library.</p> + +<p>But, aside from these afflictions of dust, in its most aggravated +form, every library and every room in any building +is subject to its persistent visitations. Wherever carpets +or rugs cover the floors, there dust has an assured +abiding-place, and it is diffused throughout the apartment +in impalpable clouds, at every sweeping of the floors. +Hence it would be wise to adopt in public libraries a floor-covering +like linoleum, or some substance other than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_103" id="Pg_103"></a>[<a href="./images/103.png">103</a>]</span> +woolen, which would be measurably free from dust, while +soft enough to deaden the sound of feet upon the floors. +Even with this preventive precaution, there will always be +dust enough, and too much for comfort, or for the health +of the books. Only a thorough dusting, carried on if possible +daily, can prevent an accumulation of dust, at once +deleterious to the durability of the books, and to the comfort +both of librarians and readers. Dust is an insidious +foe, stealing on its march silently and unobserved, yet, +however impalpable in the atmosphere of a library, it will +settle upon the tops of every shelf of books, it will penetrate +their inner leaves, it will lodge upon the bindings, +soiling books and readers, and constituting a perpetual +annoyance.</p> + +<p>It is not enough to dust the tops of the books periodically; +a more full and radical remedy is required, to render +library books presentable. At no long intervals, there +should be a thorough library cleaning, as drastic and complete +as the house-cleaning which neat housewives institute +twice a year, with such wholesome results. The books are +to be taken down from the shelves, and subjected to a shaking-up +process, which will remove more of the dust they +have absorbed than any brush can reach. To do this effectually, +take them, if of moderate thickness, by the half-dozen +at a time from the shelf, hold them loosely on a +table, their fronts downward, backs uppermost, then with +a hand at either side of the little pile, strike them smartly +together a few times, until the dust, which will fly from +them in a very palpable cloud, ceases to fall. Then lay +them on their ends, with the tops uppermost on the table, +and repeat the concussion in that posture, when you will +eliminate a fresh crop of dust, though not so thick as the +first. After this, let each volume of the lot be brushed +over at the sides and back with a soft (never stiff) brush,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_104" id="Pg_104"></a>[<a href="./images/104.png">104</a>]</span> +or else with a piece of cotton or woolen cloth, and so restored +clean to the shelves. While this thorough method +of cleansing will take time and pains, it will pay in the long +run. It will not eliminate all the dust (which in a large +collection is a physical impossibility) but it will reduce it +to a minimum. Faithfully carried out, as a periodical supplement +to a daily dusting of the books as they stand on +the shelves, it will immensely relieve the librarian or book-owner, +who can then, (and then only) feel that he has done +his whole duty by his books.</p> + +<p>Another dangerous enemy of the library book is damp, +already briefly referred to. Books kept in any basement +room, or near any wall, absorb moisture with avidity; both +paper and bindings becoming mildewed, and often covered +with blue mould. If long left in this perilous condition, +sure destruction follows; the glue or paste which fastens +the cover softens, the leather loses its tenacity, and the +leaves slowly rot, until the worthless volumes smell to +heaven. Books thus injured may be partially recovered, +before the advanced stage of decomposition, by removal to +a dry atmosphere, and by taking the volumes apart, drying +the sheets, and rebinding—a very expensive, but necessary +remedy, provided the books are deemed worth preserving.</p> + +<p>But a true remedy is the preventive one. No library +should ever be kept, even in part, in a basement story, nor +should any books ever be located near the wall of a building. +All walls absorb, retain, and give out moisture, and +are dangerous and oft-times fatal neighbors to books. Let +the shelves be located at right angles to every wall—with +the end nearest to it at least twelve to eighteen inches removed, +and the danger will be obviated.</p> + +<p>A third enemy of the book is heat. Most libraries are +unfortunately over-heated,—sometimes from defective +means of controlling the temperature, and sometimes from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_105" id="Pg_105"></a>[<a href="./images/105.png">105</a>]</span> +carelessness or want of thought in the attendant. A high +temperature is very destructive to books. It warps their +covers, so that volumes unprotected by their fellows, or by +a book support, tend to curl up, and stay warped until they +become a nuisance. It also injures the paper of the volumes +by over-heating, and weakening the tenacity of the +leaves held together by the glue on the back, besides drying +to an extreme the leather, till it cracks or crumbles +under the heat. The upper shelves or galleries of any library +are most seriously affected by over-heating, because +the natural law causes the heat to rise toward the ceiling. +If you put your hand on some books occupying the highest +places in some library rooms, in mid-winter, when the fires +are kept at their maximum, the heat of the volume will almost +burn your fingers. If these books were sentient beings, +and could speak, would they not say—"our sufferings +are intolerable?"</p> + +<p>The remedy is of course a preventive one; never to suffer +the library to become over-heated, and to have proper +ventilation on every floor, communicating with the air outside. +Seventy degrees Fahrenheit is a safe and proper +maximum temperature for books and librarian.</p> + +<p>The mischief arising from gas exhalations is another +serious source of danger to books. In many well-lighted +libraries, the heat itself from the numerous gas-burners is +sufficient to injure them, and there is besides a sulphuric +acid escaping from the coal-gas fluid, in combustion, which +is most deleterious to bindings. The only remedy appears +to be, where libraries are open evenings, to furnish them +with electric lights. This improved mode of illumination +is now so perfected, and so widely diffused, that it may be +reckoned a positive boon to public libraries, in saving their +books from one of their worst and most destructive enemies.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_106" id="Pg_106"></a>[<a href="./images/106.png">106</a>]</span>Another of the potent enemies of books is fire. I refer, +not to over-heating the rooms they occupy, but to the risk +they continually run, in most libraries, of total destruction. +The chronicle of burned libraries would make a long and +melancholy record, on which there is no space here to enter. +Irreparable losses of manuscripts and early printed +books, and precious volumes printed in small editions, have +arisen from men's neglect of building our book-repositories +fire-proof. In all libraries not provided with iron or steel +shelves, there is perpetual danger. Books do not burn +easily, unless surrounded with combustibles, but these are +furnished in nearly all libraries, by surrounding the books +on three sides with wooden shelves, which need only to be +ignited at any point to put the whole collection in a blaze. +Then follows the usual abortive endeavor to save the library +by the aid of fire engines, which flood the building, +until the water spoils nearly all which the fire does not +consume. The incalculable losses which the cause of learning +has sustained from the burning of public, university +and ecclesiastical libraries are far greater than the cost +which the provision of fire-proof repositories would have +entailed.</p> + +<p>Of late years, there has been a partial reform in library +construction. Some have been built fire-proof throughout, +with only stone, brick, concrete and iron material, +even to the floors and window casings. Many more have +had iron shelves and iron stacks to hold the shelves constructed, +and there are now several competing manufacturers +of these invaluable safeguards to books. The first +library interior constructed wholly of iron was that of the +Library of Congress at Washington, which had been twice +consumed, first when the Capitol was burned by the British +army in 1814, and again in 1851, through a defective flue, +when only 20,000 volumes were saved from the flames, out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_107" id="Pg_107"></a>[<a href="./images/107.png">107</a>]</span> +of a total of 55,000. The example of iron construction +has been slowly followed, until now the large cities have +most of their newly-constructed libraries approximately +fire-proof, although many are exposed to fire in parts, +owing to a niggardly and false economy. The lesson that +what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and that +every neglect of security brings sooner or later irreparable +loss, is very slowly learned. Whole hecatombs of books +have been sacrificed to the spirit of commercial greed, +blind or short-sighted enough not to see that secure protection +to public property, though costlier at first, is far +cheaper in the end. You may speak of insurance against +library losses by fire, but what insurance could restore the +rare and costly Shakespearean treasures of the Birmingham +Free Library, or the unique and priceless manuscripts +that went up in flames in the city library of Strasburg, in +1870, or the many precious and irreplaceable manuscript +archives of so many of our States, burned in the conflagration +of their capitols?</p> + +<p>One would think that the civilized world had had lessons +enough, ever since that seventh century burning of the +Alexandrian library by the Caliph Omar, with that famous +but apocryphal rhetorical dilemma, put in his mouth perhaps +by some nimble-witted reporter:—"If these books +agree with the Koran, they are useless, and should be +burned: if not, they are pernicious, and must not be +spared." But the heedless world goes carelessly on, deaf +to the voice of reason, and the lessons of history, amid the +holocausts of literature and the wreck of blazing libraries, +uttering loud newspaper wails at each new instance of destruction, +forgotten in a week, then cheerfully renewing +the business of building libraries that invite the flames.</p> + +<p>Nothing here said should be interpreted as advice not to +insure any library, in all cases where it is not provided with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_108" id="Pg_108"></a>[<a href="./images/108.png">108</a>]</span> +iron cases for the books, or a fire-proof building. On the +contrary, the menaced destruction of books or manuscripts +that cannot be replaced should lead to securing means in +advance for replacing all the rest in case of loss by fire. +And the experience of the past points the wisdom of locating +every library in an isolated building, where risks of +fire from other buildings are reduced to a minimum, instead +of in a block whose buildings (as in most commercial +structures) are lined with wood.</p> + +<p>You will perhaps attach but small importance at first +thought, to the next insidious foe to library books that I +shall name—that is, wetting by rain. Yet most buildings +leak at the roof, sometime, and some old buildings are subject +to leaks all the time. Even under the roof of the Capitol +at Washington, at every melting of a heavy snow-fall, +and on occasion of violent and protracted rains, there have +been leaks pouring down water into the libraries located +in the old part of the building. Each of these saturated +and injured its quota of books, some of which could only +be restored to available use by re-binding, and even then +the leaves were left water-stained in part. See to it that +your library roof is water-tight, or the contents of your +library will be constantly exposed to damage against which +there is no insurance.</p> + +<p>Another besetting danger to the books of our libraries +arises from insects and vermin. These animated foes appear +chiefly in the form of book-worms, cockroaches, and +mice. The first-named is rare in American libraries, +though its ravages have extended far and wide among the +old European ones. This minute little insect, whose scientific +name is the <i>anobium paniceum</i>, bores through the +leaves of old volumes, making sometimes holes which deface +and mutilate the text. All our public libraries, +doubtless, have on their shelves old folios in vellum or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_109" id="Pg_109"></a>[<a href="./images/109.png">109</a>]</span> +leather bindings, which present upon opening the disagreeable +vision of leaves eaten through (usually before they +crossed the sea) by these pernicious little borers. It is +comforting to add, that I have never known of any book-worm +in the Congressional Library—except the human variety, +which is frequently in evidence. Georgetown College +library once sent me a specimen of the insect, which +was found alive in one of its volumes, but the united testimony +of librarians is that this pest is rare in the United +States. As to remedies, the preventive one of sprinkling +the shelves twice a year with a mixture of powdered camphor +and snuff, or the vapor of benzine or carbolic acid, or +other repellant chemicals, is resorted to abroad, but I have +not heard of any similar practice in this country. I may +remark in passing, that the term "book-worm" is a misnomer, +since it is not a worm at all, but an insect. A more +serious insect menace is the cockroach, a hungry, unclean +little beast, which frequents a good many libraries, and devours +bindings (especially fresh ones) to get at the paste +or savory parts of the binding. The remedy for this evil, +when once found to exist, is to scatter the most effective +roach poison that can be found, which may arrest further +ravages.</p> + +<p>Another insect pest is the Croton bug, (<i>Blatta Germanica</i>) +which eats into cloth bindings to get at the sizing or +albumen. The late eminent entomologist, Dr. C. V. Riley, +pronounced them the worst pest known in libraries, but +observed that they do not attack books bound in leather, +and confine their ravages to the outside of cloth-bound +books, never troubling the leaves. The remedy prescribed +is a powder in which pyrethrum is the chief ingredient, +sprinkled about the shelves.</p> + +<p>Among the rodents, mice are apt to be busy and mischievous +infesters of libraries. They are extremely fond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_110" id="Pg_110"></a>[<a href="./images/110.png">110</a>]</span> +of paste, and being in a chronic state of hunger, they watch +opportunities of getting at any library receptacle of it. +They will gnaw any fresh binding, whether of cloth, board, +or leather, to get at the coveted food. They will also gnaw +some books, and even pamphlets, without any apparent +temptation of a succulent nature. A good library cat or +a series of mouse traps, skilfully baited, may rid you of this +evil.</p> + +<p>The injury that comes to library books from insufficient +care in protecting them on the shelves is great and incalculable. +There are to be seen in every library, volumes all +twisted out of shape by the sagging or leaning, to which +the end-book is subjected, and which is often shared by all +its neighbors on the shelf. The inevitable result is that +the book is not only spoiled in its good looks, but (which is +vastly more important) it is injured in its binding, which +is strained and weakened just in proportion to the length +of time in which it is subjected to such risks. The plain +remedy is to take care that every volume is supported upright +upon the shelf, in some way. When the shelf is full, +the books will support one another. But when volumes +are withdrawn, or when a shelf is only partly filled with +books, the unsupported volumes tumble by force of gravitation, +and those next them sag and lean, or fall like a row +of bricks, pushing one another over. No shelf of books +can safely be left in this condition. Some one of the numerous +book-supports that have been contrived should be +always ready, to hold up the volumes which are liable to +lean and fall.</p> + +<p>We come now to the active human enemies of books, and +these are unhappily found among some of the readers who +frequent our libraries. These abuses are manifold and +far-reaching. Most of them are committed through ignorance, +and can be corrected by the courteous but firm in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_111" id="Pg_111"></a>[<a href="./images/111.png">111</a>]</span>terposition +of the librarian, instructing the delinquent +how to treat a book in hand. Others are wilful and unpardonable +offences against property rights and public +morals, even if not made penal offences by law. One of +these is book mutilation, very widely practiced, but rarely +detected until the mischief is done, and the culprit gone. +I have found whole pages torn out of translations, in the +volumes of Bohn's Classical Library, doubtless by students +wanting the translated text as a "crib" in their study of +the original tongue. Some readers will watch their opportunity, +and mutilate a book by cutting out plates or a +map, to please their fancy, or perhaps to make up a defective +copy of the same work. Those consulting bound files +of newspapers will ruthlessly despoil them by cutting out +articles or correspondence, or advertisements, and carrying +off the stolen extracts, to save themselves the trouble of +copying. Others, bolder still, if not more unscrupulous, +will deliberately carry off a library book under a coat, or +in a pocket, perhaps signing a false name to a reader's +ticket to hide the theft, or escape detection. Against +these scandalous practices, there is no absolute safeguard +in any library. Even where a police watch is kept, thefts +are perpetrated, and in most libraries where no watchman +is employed, the librarian and his assistants are commonly +far too busy to exercise close scrutiny of all readers. As +one safeguard, no rare or specially costly book should be +entrusted to a reader except under the immediate eye of +the librarian or assistant. Ordinary books can be replaced +if carried off, and by watching the rarities, risk of theft +can be reduced to a minimum.</p> + +<p>When newspapers are given out to readers, it should always +be in a part of the library where those using them are +conscious of a surveillance exercised over their movements. +The penalty of neglecting this may at any time be the mu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_112" id="Pg_112"></a>[<a href="./images/112.png">112</a>]</span>tilation +of an important file, and it must be remembered +that such damage, once done, cannot be repaired. You +can replace a mutilated book usually by buying a new one, +but a newspaper can almost never be replaced. Even in +the city of Boston, the librarian of the Athenaeum library +records the disgraceful fact, that "the temptation to avoid +the trouble of copying, by cutting out articles from newspapers +is too strong for the honesty of a considerable part +of the public." And it was recorded by the custodian of +a public library in Albany that all the plates were missing +from certain books, that the poetry and best illustrations +were cut from magazines before they had lain on the tables +a week, and strange to say, that many of these depredations +were committed by women.</p> + +<p>It is a difficult problem how to prevent such outrages to +decency, and such irreparable depredations on the books in +our libraries as destroy, in great part, their value. A +posted notice, reminding readers that mutilation of books +or periodicals is a penal offence, will warn off many, if not +all, from such acts of vandalism. If there is no law punishing +the offence, agitate until you get one. Expose +through the press such thefts and mutilations as are discovered. +Interest readers whom you know, to be watchful +of those you do not know, and to quietly report any observed +violation of rules. When a culprit is detected, push +the case to prompt legal hearing, and let the penalty of +the law be enforced. Let it be known that the public +property in books is too sacred a right to be violated with +impunity. Inculcate by every means and on every opportunity +the sentiment that readers who freely benefit by the +books supplied should themselves feel personal concern in +their cleanliness and preservation, and that the interest of +the library is really the interest of all.</p> + +<p>A daily abuse practiced by many readers in libraries,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_113" id="Pg_113"></a>[<a href="./images/113.png">113</a>]</span> +though without wrongful intent, is the piling of one book +on top of another while open. This is inexcusable ill-treatment, +for it subjects the open book thus burdened, to +injury, besides probably soiling its pages with dust. Especially +harmful is such careless treatment of large volumes +of newspapers or illustrated works.</p> + +<p>Careless use of ink is the cause of much injury to library +books. As a rule (to which the very fewest exceptions +should be made) pencils only should be allowed to readers, +who must forego the use of ink, with the inevitable risk of +dropping it upon the book to its irreparable injury. The +use of ink in fountain pens is less objectionable. Tracing +of maps or plates should not be allowed, unless with a soft +pencil. Under no circumstances should tracing with a +pen or other hard instrument be permitted to any reader. +Failure to enforce this rule may result in ruin of valuable +engravings or maps.</p> + +<p>There is one class of books which demand special and +watchful care at the hands of the librarian. These are the +fine illustrated works, mostly in large folio, which include +the engravings of the art galleries of Europe, and many +other specially rare or costly publications. These should +be carefully shelved in cases where they can lie on their +sides, not placed upright, as in some collections, to lean +over, and, sooner or later to break their backs, and necessitate +rebinding. When supplied to readers, there should +not be more than one volume at a time given out, to avoid +the risk, always threatening, of careless handling or of +opening one volume on top of another that is open. There +should also be a printed notice or label affixed to the side +cover of every illustrated work reading, "Never touch an +engraving," or an equivalent warning. This will go far, +by its plain reminder, to prevent soiling the pages by the +fingers, a practice which rapidly deteriorates fine books,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_114" id="Pg_114"></a>[<a href="./images/114.png">114</a>]</span> +and if long continued, renders them unfit to be exhibited +to clean-handed readers.</p> + +<p>All plates should be stamped at some portion of their +surface (it is often done on the back) with the embossing +stamp of the library, as a means of identification if abstracted +from the volume to which they belong.</p> + +<p>Such books should, moreover, be consulted on a large +table, or better an adjustable stand (to avoid frequent lifting +or shifting of the position of the volume when inspecting +the plates) and always under the eye of the librarian +or an assistant not far removed. These precautions will +insure far more careful treatment, and will result in handing +down to a new generation of readers many a rare and +precious volume, which would otherwise be destroyed or +irretrievably injured in a very few years. The library +treasures which cost so much to bring together should +never be permitted to suffer from want of care to preserve +them.</p> + +<p>All writing upon the margins of books should be prohibited—other +than simple pencil corrections of the text, as +to an erroneous date, name, etc., which corrections of errors +should not only be permitted, but welcomed, upon due +verification. The marking of passages for copying or citation +should be tolerated only upon the rigid condition that +every user of the book rubs out his own pencil marks before +returning it. I have seen lawyers and others thoughtless +enough of right and wrong to mark long passages in +pen and ink in books belonging to public libraries. This +is a practice to be sternly repressed, even at the cost of denying +further library privileges to the offender.</p> + +<p>Turning down leaves in a book to keep the place is one of +the easily besetting sins of too many readers. Those who +thus dogs-ear a volume should be taught that the vile practice +weakens and wears out the leaves thus folded down,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_115" id="Pg_115"></a>[<a href="./images/115.png">115</a>]</span> +and makes the book a more easy prey to dust and disintegration. +However busy I may be, I instinctively turn +back every turned-down leaf I notice in any book, before +using it, or handing it to another. A good safe-guard +would be to provide a supply of little narrow strips of +paper, in the ticket boxes at the library tables to serve as +the book-markers so frequently needed by readers. For +this purpose, no thick or smooth calendered paper should +be used, which falls out of any loosely bound book too readily—but +a thin soft paper un-sized, which will be apt to retain +its place. I have lost valuable time (which I shall +never see again) in trying to find the pages marked for me +by a searcher who had thoughtlessly inserted bits of card-board +as markers—which kept falling out by their own +weight. The book-marks should be at least two inches +long, and not more than half an inch wide; and rough +edges are better than smooth ones, for they will adhere +better to the head of the volume where placed. Better +still it is, to provide paper book-marks forked at the lower +end by slitting, then doubled so that the mark will go on +both sides of the leaf at once. This is the only sure safe-guard +against these bits of paper falling out, and thus losing +the place. Never put cards, or letters, or documents, +or any solid substance into a book. It weakens the binding, +and if continued, often breaks the back. The fact +that most of the injuries to which books are exposed are +unintentional injuries does not alter the fact that they are +none the less injuries to be guarded against. Wilful perpetration +of the many abuses referred to may be rare, but +the unconscious perpetrators should be instructed how to +use books by a vigilant librarian. And they who have thus +been taught to be careful of the books in a public library +will learn to be more careful of their own, which is a great +step in the education of any one.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_116" id="Pg_116"></a>[<a href="./images/116.png">116</a>]</span>It ought not to be needful to charge any one never to +wet the finger to turn over the leaves of a book—a childish +habit, akin to running out the tongue when writing, or +moving the lips when reading to one's self. The only +proper way to turn the leaf is at the upper right-hand corner, +and the index-finger of the right hand will always be +found competent to that duty.</p> + +<p>Still less should it be needful to insist upon the importance +to every reader of books, of coming to their perusal +clean-handed. When you reflect that nine-tenths of the +soiling and spoiling which books undergo comes from the +dirty hands of many readers, this becomes a vital point. +Fouquet, a learned book collector of France, used to keep +a pile of white gloves in the ante-room of his library, and +no visitor was allowed to cross the threshold, or to handle +a book without putting on a pair, lest he should soil the +precious volumes with naked hands. Such a refinement +of care to keep books immaculate is not to be expected in +this age of the world; and yet, a librarian who respects his +calling is often tempted to wish that there were some +means of compelling people to be more careful about books +than they are.</p> + +<p>It ought not ever to be true that an enemy to the welfare +of library books is found in the librarian himself, or in +any of his assistants, yet there have been those employed in +the care of books who have abused their positions and the +volumes entrusted to their charge, not only by neglect of +care, (which is a negative injury) but by positive and continual +ill treatment. This may arise from ignorance of +better methods, but ignorance is a poor excuse for one +credited with the intelligence of a librarian. In some libraries, +books are treated with positive indignity, and are +permanently injured by tightly wedging them together. +Never crowd books by main force into shelves too short or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_117" id="Pg_117"></a>[<a href="./images/117.png">117</a>]</span> +too small for them. It strains the backs, and seriously injures +the bindings. Every book should slip easily past its +fellows on the shelf. If a volume is too tall to go in its +place, it should be relegated to lower shelves for larger +books, never letting its head be crowded against the shelf +above it.</p> + +<p>One should never pull books out from the shelf by their +head-bands, or by pulling at the binding, but place the +finger firmly on the top of the book, next to the binding, +and press down while drawing out the volume. From failure +to observe this simple precaution, you will find in all +libraries multitudes of torn or broken bindings at the top—a +wholly needless defacement and waste.</p> + +<p>Never permit a book to be turned down on its face to +keep the place. This easily besetting habit weakens the +book, and frequently soils its leaves by contact with a dusty +table. For the same reason, one volume should not be +placed within the leaves of another to keep the place where +a book-mark of paper, so easily supplied, should always be +used. Books should not be turned down on the fore-edges +or fronts on the library tables, as practiced in most book-stores, +in order to better display the stock. The same +habit prevails in many libraries, from careless inattention. +When necessary, in order to better read the titles, they +should never be left long in such position. This treatment +weakens the back infallibly, and if long continued breaks +it. Librarians, of all persons in the world, should learn, +and should lead others to learn, never to treat a book with +indignity, and how truly the life of a book depends upon +proper treatment, as well as that of an animated being.</p> + +<p>These things, and others of my suggestions, may seem +trifles to some; but to those who consider how much success +in life depends upon attention to what are called +trifles—nay, how much both human taste and human hap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_118" id="Pg_118"></a>[<a href="./images/118.png">118</a>]</span>piness +are promoted by care regarding trifles, they will not +appear unimportant. The existence of schools to teach +library science, and of manuals devoted to similar laudable +aims, is an auspicious omen of the new reign of refined +taste in those nobler arts of life which connect themselves +with literature, and are to be hailed as authentic evidences +of the onward progress of civilization.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_119" id="Pg_119"></a>[<a href="./images/119.png">119</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_6" id="CHAPTER_6"></a>CHAPTER 6.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Restoration and Reclamation of Books.</span></h3> + + +<p>We are now to consider carefully the restoration and +the reclamation of the books of a library, whether public +or private.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more important than the means of restoring +or reclaiming library books that are lost or injured, +since every such restoration will save the funds of +the library or collector from replacing them with fresh or +newly bought copies, and will enable it to furnish its stores +with as many new books as the money thus saved represents. +The cardinal thing to be kept always in view is a +wise economy of means. An every-day prudence is the +price of successful administration. A management which +permits any of the enemies of books to destroy or damage +them, thereby wasting the substance of the library without +repair, is a fatally defective management, which should be +changed as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>This consideration assumes added importance when it +is remembered that the means of nearly all our libraries +are very limited and inadequate to the drafts upon them, +year by year. A great many libraries are compelled to let +their books needing rebinding accumulate, from the mere +want of money to pay for reclothing the nearly worn-out +volumes, thus depriving the readers for a considerable time, +of the use of many coveted books. And even with those +which have large means, I have never yet heard of a library +that had enough, either to satisfy the eager desire of +the librarian to fill up deficiencies, or to meet fully the +manifold wants of readers. So much the more important,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_120" id="Pg_120"></a>[<a href="./images/120.png">120</a>]</span> +then, is it to husband every dollar that can be saved, to +keep the books in such good condition that they will not +need frequent rebinding, and to reduce to a minimum all +the evils which beset them, menacing their safety, or injuring +their condition.</p> + +<p>To attain these great ends, the librarian who is qualified +for his responsible position, must be both a preserver and +a restorer of books. If not personally able to go through +the mechanical processes which belong to the art of restoration, +(and this is the case in all libraries except the +smallest) he should at least learn all about them, so as to +be able to teach them thoroughly and intelligently to an +assistant. It is frequently made an excuse for the soiled +and slovenly and even torn condition of books and bindings +in a much used public library, that neither the librarian +nor his aids have any time to look into the condition +of the books, much less to repair any of the numerous damages +they sustain. But it should be remembered that in +most libraries, even the busiest, there are seasons of the +day, or periods of very stormy weather, when the frequentation +of readers is quite small. Those times should +always be seized upon to take hold of volumes which have +had to be laid aside as damaged, in the hurry of business. +To arrest such damages at the threshold is the duty and +the interest of the library. A torn leaf can be quickly +mended, a slightly broken binding can be pasted or glued, +turned-down leaves can be restored where they belong, a +plate or map that is started can be fastened in, by devoting +a few minutes at the proper time, and with the proper appliances +ready at hand. Multitudes of volumes can be +so treated in the course of the year, thus saving the +heavy cost of rebinding. It is the proverbial stitch in +time that saves nine. Never wait, in such matters, for the +leisure day that never comes, but seize the golden moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_121" id="Pg_121"></a>[<a href="./images/121.png">121</a>]</span> +as it flies, when no reader is interrupting you, and clear +off at least one of the little jobs that are awaiting your attention. +No one who does not know how to use the odd +moments is qualified for the duties of a librarian. I have +seen, in country libraries, the librarian and his lady assistant +absorbed in reading newspapers, with no other readers +in the room. This is a use of valuable time never to be +indulged in during library hours. If they had given those +moments to proper care of the books under their charge, +their shelves would not have been found filled with neglected +volumes, many of which had been plainly badly +treated and injured, but not beyond reclamation by timely +and provident care.</p> + +<p>It is amazing how any one can expect long employment +as a librarian, who takes no interest in the condition of the +books under his charge. The way to build up a library, +and to establish the reputation of a librarian at the same +time, is to devote every energy and intelligence to the great +work in hand. Convince the library directors, by incessant +care of the condition of the books, that you are not +only a fit, but an indispensable custodian of them. Let +them see your methods of preserving and restoring, and +they will be induced to give you every facility of which +you stand in need. Show them how the cost of binding or +re-buying many books can be saved by timely repair within +the library, and then ask for another assistant to be always +employed on such work at very moderate cost. Library +directors and trustees are commonly intensely practical +men, and quick to see into the heart of good management. +They do not want a librarian who has a great reputation +as a linguist, or an educator, or a book-worm, but one who +knows and cares about making their funds go as far as possible, +and can show them how he has saved by restoring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_122" id="Pg_122"></a>[<a href="./images/122.png">122</a>]</span> +old books, enough money to pay for a great many new +ones.</p> + +<p>Nothing is more common in public lending libraries +than to find torn leaves in some of the books. If the leaf +is simply broken, without being absolutely detached, or if +part is torn off, and remains on hand, the volume may be +restored by a very simple process. Keep always at hand +in some drawer, a few sheets of thin "onion-skin" paper, +or the transparent adhesive paper supplied by the Library +Bureau. Paste this on either side of the torn leaf, seeing +that it laps over all the points of juncture where the tear +occurred, and that the fitting of the text or reading matter +is complete and perfect. The paper being transparent, +there will be no difficulty in reading the torn page through +it.</p> + +<p>This little piece of restoration should always be effected +immediately on discovery, both that the torn piece or fragment +may be saved, and that the volume may be restored +to use.</p> + +<p>In case of absolute loss of a leaf or a part of a page, +there are only three remedies known to me.</p> + +<p>1. The book may be condemned as imperfect, and a new +copy purchased.</p> + +<p>2. The missing part may be restored from a perfect copy +of the same work, by copying the portions of the text wanting, +and inserting them where they belong. This can be +done with a pen, and the written deficiency neatly inserted, +in fac-simile of the type, or in ordinary script hand; or +else the part wanting may be photographed or heliotyped +by the best modern process from a duplicate copy of the +book.</p> + +<p>3. If the book is of very recent issue, the publishers may +furnish a signature or sheet which would make good the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_123" id="Pg_123"></a>[<a href="./images/123.png">123</a>]</span> +deficiency, from the "imperfections" left in the bindery, +after making up the edition of the work.</p> + +<p>In most cases, the last named means of replacement will +not be found available. The first, or buying a fresh copy, +may entail a greater expense than the library authorities +would deem proper at the time, and it might be preferred +to continue the book in use, with a slight imperfection.</p> + +<p>The second method, more or less troublesome according +to circumstances, or the extent of the matter to be copied +is sometimes the most economical. Of course, it is subject +to the drawback of not being, when done, a <i>bona fide</i> +or genuine copy of the book as published. This diminishes +the commercial value of even the rarest book, although +so fully restored as to text that the reader has it all +before him, so that it supplies every requisite of a perfect +copy for the purposes of a public library, or a private +owner who is not a connoisseur in books.</p> + +<p>When the corners of a book are found to be broken (as +often happens by falling to the floor or severe handling) +the book may be restored by a treatment which will give it +new leather corners. With paste or glue well rubbed in, +apply thick brown paper on the corners, which, when dry, +will be as hard as desired, and ready to receive the leather. +Then the sides may be covered with marbled paper or +cloth, and the volume is restored.</p> + +<p>When the back of a book becomes loose, the remedy is +to take it out of the cover, re-sew it, and glue it firmly into +the former back. This will of course render the back of +the volume more rigid, but, in compensation, it will be +more durable.</p> + +<p>In these cases of loose or broken backs, the study should +be to save the leather cover and the boards or sides of the +book intact, so as to diminish by more than one-half the +cost of repair. As the volume cannot be restored to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_124" id="Pg_124"></a>[<a href="./images/124.png">124</a>]</span> +solid and safe condition without being re-sewed, it may be +carefully separated from the cover by cutting the cords or +bands at their junction with the boards, then slowly stripping +the book out of its cover, little by little, and treating +the sheets when separated as already indicated in the chapter +on rebinding.</p> + +<p>One of the most common defacements which library +books undergo is marking up the margins with comments +or references in pencil. Of course no thoughtful reader +would be guilty of this practice, but thoughtless readers +are often in the majority, and the books they read or fancy +that they read, get such silly commentaries on the margins +as these: "beautiful," "very sad," "perfectly splendid," "I +think Becky is horrid," or, "this book ends badly." Such +vile practices or defacements are not always traceable to +the true offender, especially in a circulating library, where +the hours are so busy as to prevent the librarian from looking +through the volumes as they come in from the readers. +But if detected, as they may be after a few trials of suspected +parties, by giving them out books known to be clean +and free from pencil marks when issued to them, the +reader should be required always to rub out his own marks, +as a wholesome object-lesson for the future. The same +course should be pursued with any reader detected in scribbling +on the margin of any book which is being read within +the library. Incorrigible cases, amounting to malicious +marking up of books, should be visited by severe penalties—even +to the denial of further library privileges to the +offender.</p> + +<p>Not long ago, I bought at an auction sale a copy of the +first edition of Tennyson's "In Memoriam," which was +found on receipt to be defaced by marking dozens of verses +in the margin with black lines drawn along them, absolutely +with pen and ink! The owner of that book, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_125" id="Pg_125"></a>[<a href="./images/125.png">125</a>]</span> +did the ruthless deed, never reflected that it might fall into +hands where his indelible folly would be sharply denounced.</p> + +<p>The librarian or assistant librarian who will instinctively +rub out all pencil marks observed in a library book +deserves well of his countrymen. It is time well spent.</p> + +<p>The writing on book-margins is so common a practice, +and so destructive of the comfort and satisfaction which +readers of taste should find in their perusal of books, that +no legitimate means of arresting it or repairing it should +be neglected. In a public library in Massachusetts, a +young woman of eighteen who was detected as having +marked a library copy of "Middlemarch" with gushing effusions, +was required to read the statute prescribing fine +and imprisonment for such offenses, with very tearful effect, +and undoubtedly with a wholesome and permanent +improvement in her relations to books and libraries.</p> + +<p>In some libraries, a warning notice is posted up like this: +"Readers finding a book injured or defaced, are required to +report it at once to the librarian, otherwise they will be +held responsible for the damage done." This rule, while +its object is highly commendable, may lead in practice to +injustice to some readers. So long as the reader uses the +book inside of the library walls, he should of course report +such defects as meet his eye in reading, whether missing +pages, plates, or maps, or serious internal soiling, torn +leaves, etc. But in the case of drawing out books for home +reading, the rule might embarrass any reader, however well +disposed, if too strictly construed. A reader finding any +serious defect in a library volume used at home, should +simply place a mark or slip in the proper place with the +word "damaged," or "defective" written on it. Then, on +returning the book to the library, his simple statement of +finding it damaged or defective when he came to read it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_126" id="Pg_126"></a>[<a href="./images/126.png">126</a>]</span> +should be accepted by the librarian as exonerating him +from blame for any damage. And this gives point to the +importance of examining every book, at least by cursory +inspection, before it is handed out for use. A volume can +be run through quickly by a practiced hand, so as to show +in a moment or two any leaves started or torn, or, usually, +any other important injury. If any such is found, the +volume should under no circumstances be given out, but +at once subjected to repair or restoration. This degree of +care will not only save the books of the library from rapid +deterioration, but will also save the feelings of readers, who +might be anxious lest they be unjustly charged with damaging +while in their hands.</p> + +<p>The treatment of their imperfect books (which tend perpetually +to accumulate) is very different in different libraries. +Some libraries, where funds are ample enough to enable +them to do it, condemn any book that has so much as +a sentence torn out, and replace it on the shelves with a +new copy. The imperfect volumes are sold for waste +paper, or put into some sale of duplicate books, marked as +imperfect, with note of the damage upon a slip inserted at +the proper place in the book, and also in the catalogue, if +sold at auction or in a printed list of duplicates offered by +the library. This notice of what imperfection exists is +necessary, so that no incautious purchaser may think that +he is securing a perfect copy of the work.</p> + +<p>Other libraries not blessed with means to pursue this +course, do as best they can afford, supplying what is deficient +when possible without much cost of time or money, +or else continuing the damaged book in use "with all its +imperfections on its head."</p> + +<p>The loss of a single plate does not destroy the value of +the book for readers, however to be regretted as diminishing +the satisfaction to be derived from the volume. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_127" id="Pg_127"></a>[<a href="./images/127.png">127</a>]</span> +one can sometimes pardon the loss of a part of a page in a +mutilated book, especially when he is made aware of the +fact that the library which welcomes him to the free enjoyment +of its treasures cannot well afford to buy another.</p> + +<p>It is disheartening to read, in an annual report of a public +library of circulation in Massachusetts, that many of its +popular books are so soiled and defaced, after a few readings, +as to be unfit for further service; that books of poetry +are despoiled by the scissors to save trouble of copying +verses wanted; that plates are often abstracted, and that +many magazines "seem to be taken from the library for no +other reason than that private scrap-books may be enriched +or restless children amused." The only remedy suggested +is to examine each book before again giving it out, and, if +returned defaced, to hold the borrower responsible.</p> + +<p>The art of cleaning books that are stained or dirty, is a +matter not widely known, and in this country there are +few experts at it. Some of these keep closely guarded the +methods they use to cleanse a book. Comparatively few +libraries avail themselves of the practice of washing their +soiled volumes, as the process is too expensive for most of +them, and so they are accustomed to let the library books +remain in use and re-issue them again and again, until +they become so filthy as to be quite unfit to be seen—much +less handled by any reader.</p> + +<p>But there are often valuable or rare works which have +sustained interior injury, and which it is desired to restore +to a clean condition. The best method is to take the book +apart as the first step. When separated into sheets, those +leaves which are merely dirty should be placed in a bath +composed of about four ounces of chloride of lime, dissolved +in a quart of water. They should soak until all +stains are removed, and the paper is restored to its proper +color. Then the pages should be washed in cold water<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_128" id="Pg_128"></a>[<a href="./images/128.png">128</a>]</span>—running +water is preferable—and allowed to soak about six +hours. This removes all traces of the lime, which would +otherwise tend to rot or injure the book. After this, the +sheets are to be "sized," <i>i. e.</i>, dipped in a bath of size and +water, and laid out to dry. This process gives firmness +and consistency to the paper, which would otherwise remain +too soft to handle. The sheets should be pressed a +few hours between glazed paste-boards, as used in printing +offices. A cheap and simple size for this purpose may be +made by mixing white gelatine with water, and this may +be kept in a bottle, so as to be always conveniently at hand. +The art of restoring and rendering fit for handling books +and rare early pamphlets by sizing all the leaves is in constant +use in Europe. By this means, and by piecing out +margins, the most rotten paper, ready to drop apart in +turning the leaves, may be restored to use, if not quite to +its pristine condition.</p> + +<p>Ink-spots or mildew stains may be wholly removed, when +freshly made, by applying a solution of oxalic or citric acid, +and then washing the leaf with a wet sponge. It is more +effectual to follow the bath of oxalic acid by applying a +solution of one part hydrochloric acid to six parts of water, +after which bathe in cold water, and dry slowly. Or an +infusion of hypochlorite of potash in twice its volume of +water may be used instead of the preceding.</p> + +<p>If a leather-bound book has grease on its cover, it can be +removed by scraping French chalk or magnesia over the +place, and ironing with a warm (not hot) iron. A simpler +method is to apply benzine to the grease spots, (which dissolves +the fatty material) and then dry the spot quickly +with a fine cloth. This operation may be repeated, if not +effectual at the first trial. The same method of applying +benzine to oily spots upon plates or engravings, will remove +the stains.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_129" id="Pg_129"></a>[<a href="./images/129.png">129</a>]</span>Ink-stains may also be taken off from the leather covers +of books bound in calf or morocco by the use of oxalic acid. +Care should be taken first to try the acid on a piece of similar +leather or on a discarded book of the same color. If +the leather is discolored after removing the black spot, one +may apply, after taking out the traces of oxalic acid by +some alkali, a coloring matter similar to the tint of the +leather.</p> + +<p>Spots or stains of grease or oil are often found in books. +They may be wholly removed by applying carbonate of +magnesia on both sides of the leaf stained, backed by +paper, and pressing with a hot iron, after which the sheets +should be washed and left under pressure over night. Another +method is to dilute spirits of salts with five times its +bulk of water, then let the stained leaves lie in the liquid +four minutes, after which they are to be washed. Still another +method is to make a mixture of one pound of soap, +half a pound of clay and two ounces of lime, dissolved in +water to a proper consistency; apply it to the spots; fifteen +minutes after, dip the leaf in a bath of warm water for half +an hour, after which dry and press until smooth.</p> + +<p>Stains left by mud on the leaves of a book (a not uncommon +fate of volumes falling in a wet street) can be removed +thus: spread over the spots a jelly composed of +white soap and water, letting it remain about half an hour. +Then dip the leaf in clear water, and remove the soap with +a fine sponge dipped in warm water; all the mud stains +will disappear at the same time. To remove the last traces +of the soap, dip a second time in clear water, place the leaf +between two sheets of blotting paper, and dry slowly in a +cool and shady place.</p> + +<p>The same process, of washing in soap and water, will remove +what are doubtless the most common of all the soil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_130" id="Pg_130"></a>[<a href="./images/130.png">130</a>]</span>ings +that library books undergo, namely, the soil that +comes from the dirty hands and fingers of readers.</p> + +<p>It is sometimes necessary to color the sheets that have +been washed white, so as to correspond in tint with the +rest of the volume, which has not needed that treatment. +An infusion of cheap tobacco leaves, or a bath of brown +stout will effect this.</p> + +<p>In all these methods of removing soil from the pages of +books, it is absolutely necessary to give attention to thorough +washing after the chemicals are used. Otherwise +there will remain an element of destruction which will +sooner or later spoil the book, to restore which so much +pains may have been expended.</p> + +<p>And one can readily learn how to restore a valuable +book by these methods. He should, however, first practice +on the restoration of a volume of little worth—and venture +upon the treatment of a precious volume only after +practice has made him an expert.</p> + +<p>To restore a fresher look to volumes whose bindings are +much rubbed or "scuffed" as it is sometimes called, one +may spread over their surface a little wet starch pretty +thick, with a little alum added, applied with an old leather +glove. With this the back of the book, and the sides and +edges of the boards should be smartly rubbed, after which, +with a fine rag rub off the thicker part of the starch, and +the book will present a much brighter appearance, besides +being rid of dust and soil.</p> + +<p>There will remain on the volume a very slight deposit +of gelatine or gluten; before it dries completely, the palm +of the hand may be passed over it at all points, and the +leather, which may have assumed a dull color from the +starch, will resume a bright brown or other tint. If this +fails to appear, a bit of flannel, impregnated with a few +drops of varnish, should be rubbed over the leather, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_131" id="Pg_131"></a>[<a href="./images/131.png">131</a>]</span> +when nearly dry, rub with a white rag slightly touched +with olive oil, and a brilliant appearance will be given to +the binding.</p> + +<p>When leaves are started, or a signature becomes loose in +any volume, it should be at once withdrawn from circulation, +or the loss of an important part of the book may result. +The remedy commonly resorted to, of patching up +the book by pasting in the loose leaves, is a mere makeshift +which will not last. The cause of a loose signature +is generally to be found in a broken thread in the sewing, +and the only permanent cure is to take the book out of its +cover, and re-sew it, when it may usually be re-inserted in +the same binding. This is for cloth-bound books. When +bound in leather, it is best to take out the loose sheet, +"overcast" it, that is, secure all the leaves by sewing, then +carefully lay some paste along the outer edge or back of +the sheet, insert the sheet in its place, pressing it firmly +with a paper knife along the middle of the sheet, and the +volume will be restored ready for use after a few days drying +under weight.</p> + +<p>On occasion of a fire next to the Mercantile Library +rooms in Philadelphia, in 1877, great damage was done, +from water thrown by the fire-engines, to many thousands +of books. The library authorities tried various methods +of restoring the volumes, and among others, drying them +in ovens was resorted to. This was found, however, to dry +the books so rapidly, that the bindings cracked, and in +many cases came off, while many volumes were much +warped. The most advantageous method that was adopted +was to prepare a large number of frames on which many +wires were strung horizontally across a large room. The +wet books (many of which were soaked through) were suspended +on these wires in such a way as to dry them by de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_132" id="Pg_132"></a>[<a href="./images/132.png">132</a>]</span>grees, +the temperature of the room being raised considerably +by furnace heat.</p> + +<p>The condition in which the books were found after the +wetting varied greatly. Nearly all that were printed on +soft paper were wet through, while those next to them +printed on thick paper, and with solid leather bindings, +were scarcely damaged at all. The water stains constituted +the most serious injury to the volumes, and multitudes of +fine books that were wet will always bear the marks of the +stain. Some of the more costly books were restored by +taking them apart, washing them thoroughly, then placing +them in a heated press, and drying them, so that the water-stains +were removed. All the books, however different the +degree of damage from the water, retained their legibility, +and were put to the same uses in the library as before the +fire occurred. None were burned, the actual fire being +confined to the neighboring buildings of the block in the +midst of which the library was unfortunately located.</p> + +<p>The whole number of volumes damaged was about 55,000, +and the insurance, which was assessed by referees at +the amount of $42,000, would nearly have replaced the +books by new ones. Many of the volumes had to be rebound +as the damage by wetting the glue and paste which +are such important elements in binding securely, led to +the falling apart of the covers.</p> + +<p>There are multitudes of books restored by some one of +the processes which have been ingeniously contrived to +make an old book as good as new, or an imperfect volume +perfect. The art of reproducing in facsimile, by mere +manual dexterity with the pen, letters, words, and whole +pages, has been carried to a high degree of perfection, notably +in London. A celebrated book restorer named Harris, +gained a great reputation among book lovers and librarians +by his consummate skill in the reproduction of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_133" id="Pg_133"></a>[<a href="./images/133.png">133</a>]</span> +text of black-letter rarities and early-printed books of +every kind. To such perfection did he carry the art of +imitating an original that in many cases one could not distinguish +the original from the imitation, and even experts +have announced a Harris facsimile in a Shakespeare folio +to be the printed original. The art has even been extended +to engravings, with such success that the famous Droeshout +portrait of Shakespeare, which illustrates the title-page +of the first folio of 1623, has been multiplied in pen-made +facsimile, so as to deceive the most careful scrutiny.</p> + +<p>This nice and difficult art is not widely pursued in this +country, though there are some experts among New York +and Philadelphia book-binders, who practice it. The British +Museum Library has a corps of workers engaged in the +restoration both of books and of manuscripts (as well as engravings) +who are men of the highest training and skill.</p> + +<p>The process is necessarily quite expensive, because of the +time required and of the small number of competing artists +in this field. It is chiefly confined to the restoration +of imperfect copies of early printed and rare books, which +are so frequently found in imperfect condition, often wanting +title-pages or the final leaves, or parts of pages in any +part of the volume.</p> + +<p>So costly, indeed, is this skilful hand-restoration of imperfect +books, that it has been a great boon to the collectors +of libraries and rare works, to see the arts of photography +so developed in recent years, as to reproduce with almost +exact fidelity printed matter of any kind from the +pages of books. The cost of such facsimiles of course +varies with the locality, the work, the skill, or the competition +involved. But it may be said in general that the +average cost of book-page facsimiles by photographic process +need not exceed one dollar a page.</p> + +<p>An entire edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_134" id="Pg_134"></a>[<a href="./images/134.png">134</a>]</span> +been printed from plates made in replica from photographs +of the original text of the Edinburgh edition. The reproduction +in this case can hardly be commended, as it is trying +to the eyes to read, when compared with the original, +presenting a somewhat blurred and irregular aspect to +the eyes.</p> + +<p>It is very difficult to lay down rules which shall be effective +in checking the abuse of books which compels exercise +of the means of restoration. Writing upon margins +(already referred to) may sometimes be checked by putting +a printed slip in every library book bearing the warning—"Never +write in a library book." To this may be added—"Never +turn down leaves," an equally important injunction. +Indeed, a whole list of "Dont's" might be inserted, +but for the chance that too many warnings might operate +to warn off a reader from absorbing any of them. Thus—</p> + + +<ul class="plain"><li>"Don't soil any book</li> +<li>Don't write on margins</li> +<li>Don't turn down leaves</li> +<li>Don't lay a book on its face open</li> +<li>Don't wet fingers to turn leaves</li> +<li>Don't fail to use the book-mark</li> +<li>Don't read with unclean hands."</li> +</ul> + +<p>As a loose slip is liable to fall out, some such reminder +should be pasted into the fly-leaf of every book, next the +book-plate.</p> + +<p>A self-respecting reader will generally heed such hints, +which a moment's reflection will teach him are meant to +preserve the library book clean and presentable for his +own use, as well as for that of others. But there will always +be some rude, boorish people who will persist in their +brutal and destructive treatment of books, in the face of +whatever warnings. How to deal with such unwelcome +persons is an ever-present problem with the librarian. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_135" id="Pg_135"></a>[<a href="./images/135.png">135</a>]</span> +sustained by the other library authorities, a really effectual +remedy is to deny the further use of the library to any offender +clearly proven to have subjected library books to +damage while in his hands. Some librarians go so far as +to post the names of such offenders in the library hall, stating +that they are denied the privileges of the library by +the authorities, for mutilating books.</p> + +<p>In any case, great care must be taken to have the clearest +proof, before proceeding to fasten the offense upon a +particular individual. This involves, where the injury is +not committed in the presence of any library officer, so as +to be observed, but has been done while the book was +drawn out, an examination of each volume before giving it +out. If this rule were to be observed as to all, it would entail +an expense that few libraries could afford. In a large +circulating library in a city, it might require the entire +time of two assistants to collate the books before re-issuing +them. The circumstances of each library must determine +how to deal with this matter. Probably the majority will +limit the close examination of books before giving them +out, to cases where there is reason to suspect wilful continued +soiling, scribbling, or dog's-earing. A few such +cases once detected and dealt with will have a most salutary +restraining influence upon others, especially if re-enforced +by frequent and judicious paragraphs in the local +press, setting forth the offense and the remedy.</p> + +<p>But all in vain will be the endeavor to abate these defacements +and consequent waste of the library books, unless +it is enforced by a positive law, with penal provisions, +to punish offenders who mutilate or deface books that are +public property. A good model of such a statute is the +following, slightly abridged as to verbiage, from an act of +Congress, of which we procured the enactment in the year +1878:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_136" id="Pg_136"></a>[<a href="./images/136.png">136</a>]</span>"Any person who steals, defaces, injures, mutilates, +tears, or destroys any book, pamphlet, work of art, or manuscript, +belonging to any public library, or to the United +States, in the District of Columbia, shall be fined ten dollars +to one hundred dollars, and punished by imprisonment +from one to twelve months, for every such offense."</p> + +<p>This act will be found in the United States Statutes at +Large, Vol. 20, p. 171. It would be well if the term "periodical" +were added to the list of objects to be protected, +to avoid all risk of a failure to punish the mutilation of +newspapers and magazines, by pleading technical points, +of which lawyers are prone to avail themselves in aiding offenders +to escape conviction.</p> + +<p>It will be observed, that the word "deface," employed in +this statute, actually covers the marking of margins by any +reader, all such marking constituting a defacement within +the meaning of the law.</p> + +<p>While the great multitude of readers who frequent our +public libraries are honest and trustworthy, there are always +some who are conspicuously the reverse. It is rarely +safe in a large public library to admit readers to the +shelves, without the company or the surveillance of an attendant. +And it is not alone the uncultivated reader who +cannot be trusted; the experience of librarians is almost +uniform to the effect that literary men, and special scholars, +as well as the collectors of rare books, are among those +who watch the opportunity to purloin what they wish to +save themselves the cost of buying. Sometimes, you may +find your most valuable work on coins mutilated by the abstraction +of a plate, carried off by some student of numismatics. +Sometimes, you may discover a fine picture or +portrait abstracted from a book by some lover of art or collector +of portraits. Again, you may be horrified by finding +a whole sermon torn out of a volume of theology by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_137" id="Pg_137"></a>[<a href="./images/137.png">137</a>]</span> +theological student or even a clergyman. All these things +have happened, and are liable to happen again. No library +is safe that is not closely watched and guarded. In +the Astor library a literary man actually tore out sixty +pages of the <i>Revue de Paris</i>, and added to the theft the +fraud of plagiarism, by translating from the stolen leaves +an article which he sold to Appleton's Journal as an original +production!</p> + +<p>In this case, the culprit, though detected, could not be +punished, the law of New York requiring the posting in +the library of the statute prohibiting mutilation or other +injury to the books, and this posting had not been done. +The law has since been amended, to make the penalties absolute +and unconditional.</p> + +<p>In the Astor Library, over six hundred volumes were +discovered to have been mutilated, including art works, +Patent office reports, magazines, newspapers, and even encyclopaedias. +The books stolen from that library had been +many, until several exposures and punishment of thieves +inspired a wholesome dread of a similar fate.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the American Library Association, one +member inquired whether there was any effectual way to +prevent the abstraction of books. He was answered by +another librarian (from Cincinnati) who replied that he +knew of only one effectual method, and that was to keep a +man standing over each book with a club. Of course this +was a humorous paradox, not to be taken literally, but it +points a moral.</p> + +<p>Seriously, however, the evil may be greatly curtailed, +(though we may be hopeless of absolute prevention) by +adopting the precautions already referred to. In the Library +of the British Museum, a great library of reference, +from which no book is permitted to be taken under any circumstances, +the evil of mutilation was much reduced by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_138" id="Pg_138"></a>[<a href="./images/138.png">138</a>]</span> +prosecuting and posting the offenders publicly. After a +few years, the obnoxious practice had so far ceased, that +the placards, having an unpleasant aspect, were taken +down. But on renewal of such depredations and defacements +of books by readers, the placards were renewed, and +some of the mutilated books, suitably labelled, were posted +in the great reading room before the eyes of all. The authorities +of the British Museum are convinced of the salutary +effects of such warnings, though books are sometimes +stolen or mutilated under the liberal management which +leaves several thousand volumes open for reference, without +tickets.</p> + +<p>The late Dr. Wm. F. Poole, the Chicago librarian, recorded +his experience in dealing with some clergymen, +who, said he, seem to have as regards books, an imperfect +appreciation of the laws of <i>meum</i> and <i>tuum</i>. He had +found ministers more remiss in returning books than any +other class of men. He would by no means reflect on a +noble and sacred profession by charging the derelictions of +a few upon the many. But he had had unpleasant experiences +with men of that profession, who had absolutely purloined +books from the Public Library, removed the book-plates +and library stamp, and covered the volumes with +paper carefully pasted down inside of the covers.</p> + +<p>A librarian in Massachusetts testified that it was common +experience that clergymen and professional men gave +the most trouble. Second-hand book-dealers in Boston +had found a judge of the court purloining rare pamphlets, +and ministers making away with pamphlet sermons under +their coats. Without insisting here upon any such extenuations +of such practices as the prevalence of kleptomania, +it has been made abundantly manifest that theft and mutilation +of books are sufficiently common to demonstrate the +weakness of human nature, and the necessity of every safe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_139" id="Pg_139"></a>[<a href="./images/139.png">139</a>]</span>guard +which public libraries can provide against such +abuses of their treasures.</p> + +<p>A Boston librarian stated that the thieves or mutilators +of books included school-boys, clerks, students, teachers, +soldiers, physicians, lawyers, clergymen, etc. In only one +case was the crime committed through want or suffering. +Yet, though the offenders had been proven guilty in every +instance, only two cases were known in which the penalty +of the law had been enforced. Does not this bespeak laxity +of public morals in Boston in regard to such abuses of +library property?</p> + +<p>The Union Theological Seminary at New York recorded +its experience with ministers and theological students, to +the effect that its library had lost more than a thousand +volumes, taken and not returned. This of course included +what were charged out, but could not be recovered.</p> + +<p>A librarian in Auburn, N. Y., returning from vacation, +found that the American Architect, an important illustrated +weekly, had been mutilated in seven different volumes, +and that 130 pages in all had been stolen. Fortunately, +she was able to trace the reader who had been using +the work, and succeeded in recovering the abstracted +plates. The offender was prosecuted to conviction, and +had to pay a fine of fifty dollars.</p> + +<p>It often happens that books which disappear mysteriously +from a public library re-appear quite as mysteriously. +Those taking them, finding that the rules do not allow certain +books to leave the library, make a law unto themselves, +carry off the book wanted, keep it until read, and +then return it surreptitiously, by replacing it on some shelf +or table, when no one is looking. This is where no intention +of stealing the book exists, and the borrower wilfully +makes his own convenience override the library regulations, +in the belief that he will not be found out. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_140" id="Pg_140"></a>[<a href="./images/140.png">140</a>]</span> +Buffalo Young Men's Library reported in one year eighteen +illustrated works on the fine arts, reserved from being +taken out by its by-laws, as disappearing for weeks, but +brought back in this underhanded manner. In other +cases of such return, it is likely that the purpose was to +keep the book, but that conscience or better thoughts, or +fear of detection prevailed, and secured its return.</p> + +<p>Some instances where leniency has been exercised to +save book thieves from penalties may be instructive. One +man who had carried off and sold two volumes from the +Astor Library was traced and arrested, when he pleaded +that absolute want had driven him to the act. He had a +wife ill and starving at his home, and this on investigation +proving true, he was pardoned and saved further misery.</p> + +<p>In another case, a poor German had stolen a volume of +the classics which he pawned for a small sum to get bread +for himself, being long out of work, and in a condition +bordering closely upon starvation. He was released, the +book reclaimed, and the offender turned over to the agencies +of public charity.</p> + +<p>A librarian of New York gave it as his experience that +some ministers are not to be trusted any more than other +people. Some of them like to write their opinions on the +margins of the books. He found one of the library books +written on in thirty pages, recognized the hand-writing, +and wrote to the reverend gentleman asking an interview. +He came, admitted the fact, and said that his notes made +the book more valuable. This ingenious excuse did not +satisfy the librarian, who said, "others do not think so, sir; +so if you will get us a new book, you may keep the more +valuable one." He soon brought in a new copy, and the +matter ended.</p> + +<p>At the New York Mercantile Library, a young lady, +amply able to buy all the books she could want, was dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_141" id="Pg_141"></a>[<a href="./images/141.png">141</a>]</span>covered +going out of the library with one book in her hand +which she was entitled to, it being charged, and with five +others hidden under her cloak, without permission.</p> + +<p>Mr. Melvil Dewey has truly said that it is very hard +to tell a library thief at sight. Well-dressed, gentlemanly, +even sanctimonious looking men are among them, and the +wife of a well-known college professor, detected in purloining +books, begged so hard not to be exposed, that she +was reluctantly pardoned, and even restored to library +privileges.</p> + +<p>A prominent lawyer of Brooklyn, of distinguished appearance +and fine manners, did not steal books, but his +specialty was magazines and newspapers, which he carried +off frequently. Being caught at it one day, and accused +by the librarian, he put on an air of dignity, declared he +was insulted, and walked out. The librarian found the +periodical he had taken thrown down in the entry, and he +never after frequented that library.</p> + +<p>It is curious and instructive to know the experience of +some libraries regarding the theft or mutilation of books. +Thus, in the public library of Woburn, Mass., a case of +mutilation occurred by the cutting out of a picture from +"Drake's Historic Fields and Mansions of Middlesex +County." On discovery of the loss, a reward of $10 was offered +for information leading to detection of the culprit. +This was published in the town paper, and an article was +printed calling attention to these library thefts and abuses, +followed by citing the State law making such depredations +a penal offense. Within a week the missing plate came +back to the librarian through the mail—anonymously of +course, the person who had abstracted it finding that it +was rather an unsafe picture to keep or exhibit, and so +choosing to make his best policy honesty, though rather +tardy in coming to that wise conclusion.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_142" id="Pg_142"></a>[<a href="./images/142.png">142</a>]</span>This experience, and others here cited, may serve as a +hint what course to pursue under similar circumstances, +in the reclamation of library books.</p> + +<p>In the Library of the London Institution, continuous +thefts of valuable editions of the classics had occurred. +Putting a detective in the library, a young man of suspicious +demeanor was soon identified as the thief, and was followed +and arrested in the very act of selling a library book. +He proved to be a young man of good family, education +and previous good character; but the library had suffered +such losses from his depredations, that no mercy was +shown, and he received and underwent the sentence to two +months imprisonment.</p> + +<p>It may be added as an instance of methods availed of in +London to trace missing books, that the librarian, knowing +from the vacancies on the shelves what books had been abstracted, +printed a list of them, sent it to every second-hand +book-dealer in London, at the same time supplying +it to the police, who circulate daily a list of missing property +among all the pawn-brokers' shops in the city, and +recovered all the books within twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>The Mercantile Library of Philadelphia missed a number +of valuable books from its shelves, and on a watch +being set, a physician in the most respectable rank in society +was detected as the purloiner, and more than fifty volumes +recovered from him.</p> + +<p>A library at Lancaster, Pa., reported the almost incredible +incident of a thief having hidden under his coat, and +carried off, a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary!</p> + +<p>In most cases of detected theft or mutilation of books, +strong appeals are made by the culprit or his friends to +save exposure by public prosecution. These are commonly, +in the case of persons in very respectable circumstances +in life, not so much to avoid paying fines imposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_143" id="Pg_143"></a>[<a href="./images/143.png">143</a>]</span> +by law as to avoid the disgrace attached to publicity, and +the consequent damage done to the character of the individual. +It is probably true that in a majority of cases, +such influences have been strong enough to overcome the +determination of the librarian or library authorities to let +the law take its course. Now, while it must be admitted +that there is no rule without some valid exception that may +be made, it is nevertheless to be insisted upon that due protection +to public property in libraries demands the enforcement +of the laws enacted to that end. The consequence +of leniency to the majority of book thieves would be not +only an indirect encouragement to the culprits to continue +their depredations, but it would also lead to a lax and dangerous +notion of the obligations of readers, and the sacredness +of such property, in the public mind. Enforcement +of the penalties of wrong-doing, on the other hand, tends +unquestionably to deter others, both by the fear of publicity +which must follow detection, and by terror of the +penalty which is or may be imprisonment for a considerable +term, besides the imposing of a fine.</p> + +<p>At the Worcester, Mass., Public Library, a young man +of twenty-two was detected in stealing a book, obliged to +confess, and prosecuted. Much pressure was brought to +bear by his family and friends, very respectable people, to +save him from the penalty. The Court, however, imposed +a fine of thirty dollars, and it being represented that his +relatives would have to pay the amount, though innocent +parties, the judge suspended the sentence until the young +man should pay it in instalments from his own earnings, +one of the family giving bail. The valuable lesson was in +this way not lost, either to the offender or to the community; +the law was enforced, and the young man perhaps +saved from a life of wrong-doing, while if he had been let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_144" id="Pg_144"></a>[<a href="./images/144.png">144</a>]</span> +off scot-free, in deference to the influence exerted to that +end, he might have gone from bad to worse.</p> + +<p>At the Pratt Institute Free Library in Brooklyn, books +had been disappearing from the reference department at +intervals of about a week, and a watch was instituted. After +some weeks' fruitless watching, a young man who came +frequently to consult books was singled out as the probable +offender, and the eyes of the library staff were centered +upon him. The janitor watched his movements for some +days, from a concealed post of observation, as the young +man walked back and forth between the book stacks, and +one day caught him in the act of slipping a book into his +pocket, and arrested him as he was leaving the building. +He had stolen a dozen books from the library, all but three +of which were recovered. He claimed to be a theological +student, and that he had taken the books merely for the +purposes of study. Much sympathy was expressed for him +by people who believed that this was his motive, and that +it was some partial atonement for his offense. The grief +of his relatives at his disgrace was intense. The Court +sentenced him to eight years in the penitentiary, but suspended +the sentence in view of the fact that it was a first +offense, by a youth of twenty-one years. He was put under +police surveillance for his good behavior (equivalent to +being paroled) but the sentence becomes active upon any +further transgression of the law on his part.</p> + +<p>It may be gathered from these many cases of library +depredations, that they are very common, that perpetual +vigilance is the price of safety, that punishment in nearly +all cases is wiser than pardon, and that the few exceptions +made should be mostly confined to offenders who steal +books under desperate necessity or actual want.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_145" id="Pg_145"></a>[<a href="./images/145.png">145</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_7" id="CHAPTER_7"></a>CHAPTER 7.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Pamphlet Literature.</span></h3> + + +<p>What is a pamphlet? is a question which is by no means +capable of being scientifically answered. Yet, to the librarian +dealing continually with a mass of pamphlets, books, +and periodicals, it becomes important to define somewhere, +the boundary line between the pamphlet and the book. +The dictionaries will not aid us, for they all call the pamphlet +"a few sheets of printed paper stitched together, but not +bound." Suppose (as often happens) that you bind your +pamphlet, does it then cease to be a pamphlet, and become +a book? Again, most pamphlets now published are not +stitched at all, but stabbed and wired to fasten the leaves +together. The origin of the word "pamphlet," is in great +doubt. A plausible derivation is from two French words, +"<i>paume</i>," and "<i>feuillet</i>," literally a hand-leaf; and another +derives the word from a corruption of Latin—"<i>papyrus</i>," +paper, into <i>pampilus</i>, or <i>panfletus</i>, whence pamphlet. The +word is in Shakespeare:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Comest thou with deep premeditated lines,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">With written pamphlets studiously devised?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But we also find "pamphlets and bookys," in a work +printed by Caxton in 1490, a hundred years before Shakespeare.</p> + +<p>Whatever the origin, the common acceptation of the +word is plain, signifying a little book, though where the +pamphlet ends, and the book begins, is uncertain. The +rule of the British Museum Library calls every printed +publication of one hundred pages or less, a pamphlet. +This is arbitrary, and so would any other rule be. As<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_146" id="Pg_146"></a>[<a href="./images/146.png">146</a>]</span> +that library binds its pamphlets separately, and counts +them in its aggregate of volumes, the reason for any distinction +in the matter is not plain. Some of the government +libraries in Europe are greatly overrated numerically +by reckoning pamphlets as volumes. Thus, the Royal Library +at Munich, in Bavaria, has been ranked fourth among +the libraries of the world, claiming over a million volumes, +but as it reckons every university thesis, or discussion of +some special topic by candidates for degrees, as a volume, +and has perhaps 400,000 of this prolific class of publications, +it is actually not so large as some American libraries, +which count their pamphlets as distinct from books in +their returns.</p> + +<p>The pamphlet, or thin book, or tract (as some prefer to +call it) is reckoned by some librarians as a nuisance, and +by others as a treasure. That it forms rather a troublesome +asset in the wealth of a library cannot be doubted. +Pamphlets taken singly, will not stand upon the shelves; +they will curl up, become dogs-eared, accumulate dust, and +get in the way of the books. If kept in piles, as is most +frequent, it is very hard to get at any one that is wanted +in the mass. Then it is objected to them, that the majority +of them are worthless, that they cost altogether too +much money, and time, and pains, to catalogue them, and +that they are useless if not catalogued; that if kept bound, +they cost the library a sum out of all proportion to their +value; that they accumulate so rapidly (much faster, in +fact, than books) as to outrun the means at the disposal of +any library to deal with them; in short, that they cost more +than they come to, if bound, and if unbound, they vex the +soul of the librarian day by day.</p> + +<p>This is one side of the pamphlet question; and it may +be candidly admitted, that in most libraries, the accumulation +of uncatalogued and unbound pamphlets is one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_147" id="Pg_147"></a>[<a href="./images/147.png">147</a>]</span> +chief among those arrears which form the skeleton in the +closet of the librarian. But there is another side to the +matter. It is always possible to divide your pamphlets +into two classes—the important, and the insignificant. +Some of them have great historical, or economic, or intellectual +value; others are as nearly worthless as it is possible +for any printed matter to be. Why should you treat a +pamphlet upon Pears's soap, or a quack medicine, or advertising +the Columbia bicycle, with the same attention +which you would naturally give to an essay on international +politics by Gladstone, or a review of the Cuban +question by a prominent Spaniard, or a tract on Chinese +immigration by Minister Seward, or the pamphlet genealogy +of an American family? Take out of the mass of +pamphlets, as they come in, what appear to you the more +valuable, or the more liable to be called for; catalogue and +bind them, or file them away, according to the use which +they are likely to have: relegate the rest, assorted always +by subject-matters or classes, to marked piles, or to pamphlet +cases, according to your means; and the problem is approximately +solved.</p> + +<p>To condemn any pamphlet to "innocuous desuetude," +or to permanent banishment from among the intellectual +stores of a library, merely because it is innocent of a stiff +cover, is to despoil the temple of learning and reject the +good things of Providence. What great and influential +publications have appeared in the world in the guise of +pamphlets! Milton's immortal "Areopagitica, or Plea for +Unlicenced Printing," was a pamphlet of only forty pages; +Webster's speech for the Union, in reply to Hayne, was a +pamphlet; every play of Shakespeare, that was printed in +his life-time, was a pamphlet; Charles Sumner's discourse +on "The True Grandeur of Nations" was a pamphlet; the +"Crisis" and "Common Sense" of Thomas Paine, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_148" id="Pg_148"></a>[<a href="./images/148.png">148</a>]</span> +fired the American heart in the Revolution, were pamphlets. +Strike out of literature, ancient and modern, what +was first published in pamphlets, and you would leave it +the poorer and weaker to an incalculable degree.</p> + +<p>Pamphlets are not only vehicles of thought and opinion, +and propagandists of new ideas; they are often also store-houses +of facts, repositories of history, annals of biography, +records of genealogy, treasuries of statistics, chronicles of +invention and discovery. They sometimes throw an unexpected +light upon obscure questions where all books are +silent. Being published for the most part upon some subject +that was interesting the public mind when written, +they reflect, as in a mirror, the social, political, and religious +spirit and life of the time. As much as newspapers, +they illustrate the civilization (or want of it) of an +epoch, and multitudes of them, preserved in great libraries, +exhibit this at those early periods when no newspapers existed +as vehicles of public opinion. Many of the government +libraries of Europe have been buying up for many +years past, the rare, early-printed pamphlets of their respective +countries, paying enormous prices for what, a century +ago, they would have slighted, even as a gift.</p> + +<p>When Thomas Carlyle undertook to write the life of +Oliver Cromwell, and to resurrect from the dust-bins of +two centuries, the letters and speeches of the great Protector, +he found his richest quarry in a collection of +pamphlets in the British Museum Library. An indefatigable +patriot and bookseller, named Thomason, had carefully +gathered and kept every pamphlet, book, periodical, +or broadside that appeared from the British press, during +the whole time from A. D. 1649 to 1660, the period of the +interregnum in the English monarchy, represented by +Cromwell and the Commonwealth. This vast collection, +numbering over 20,000 pamphlets, bound in 2,000 vol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_149" id="Pg_149"></a>[<a href="./images/149.png">149</a>]</span>umes, +after escaping the perils of fire, and of both hostile +armies, was finally purchased by the King, and afterward +presented to the British Museum Library. Its completeness +is one great source of its value, furnishing, as it does, +to the historical student of that exceedingly interesting +revolution, the most precious memorials of the spirit of the +times, many of which have been utterly lost, except the +single copy preserved in this collection.</p> + +<p>Several great European libraries number as many +pamphlets as books in their collections. The printed catalogue +of the British Museum Library is widely sought by +historical students, because of the enormous amount of +pamphlet literature it contains, that is described nowhere +else. And the Librarian of the Boston Athenaeum said +that some readers found the great interest in his catalogue +of that collection lay in its early American pamphlets.</p> + +<p>As another instance of the value to the historical stores +of a public library of this ephemeral literature, it may be +noted that the great collection of printed matter, mostly +of a fugitive character, relating to the French Revolutionary +period, gathered by the late M. de La Bedoyère, +amounted to 15,000 volumes and pamphlets. Fifty years +of the life of the wealthy and enthusiastic collector, besides +a very large sum of money, were spent in amassing +this collection. With an avidity almost incredible, he ransacked +every book-store, quay, and private shelf that might +contribute a fresh morsel to his stores; and when Paris +was exhausted, had his agents and purveyors busy in executing +his orders all over Europe. Rival collectors, and +particularly M. Deschiens, who had been a contemporary +in the Revolution, and had laid aside everything that appeared +in his day, only contributed at their decease, to +swell the precious stores of M. de La Bedoyère. This vast +collection, so precious for the history of France at its most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_150" id="Pg_150"></a>[<a href="./images/150.png">150</a>]</span> +memorable period, contained several thousands of volumes +of newspapers and ephemeral journals, and was acquired +in the year 1863, for the National Library of France, +where it will ever remain a monument to the enlightened +and far-sighted spirit of its projector.</p> + +<p>In like manner, the late Peter Force, Mayor of Washington +City, and historiographer of the "American Archives," +devoted forty years to amassing an extensive collection of +<i>Americana</i>, or books, pamphlets, newspapers, manuscripts, +and maps, relating to the discovery, history, topography, +natural history, and biography of America. He carried +off at auction sales, from all competitors, six great collections +of early American pamphlets, formed by Ebenezer +Hazard, William Duane, Oliver Wolcott, etc., representing +the copious literature of all schools of political opinion. +He sedulously laid aside and preserved every pamphlet that +appeared at the capital or elsewhere, on which he could lay +hands, and his rich historical collection, purchased by the +government in 1866, thirty-three years ago, now forms an +invaluable portion of the Congressional Library.</p> + +<p>Of the multitudinous literature of pamphlets it is not +necessary to speak at length. Suffice it to say that the library +which neglects the acquisition and proper preservation +and binding of these publications is far behind its +duty, both to those of its own generation, and to those +which are to follow. The pamphlet literature of every +period often furnishes the most precious material to illustrate +the history and development of that period. The +new ideas, the critical sagacity, the political controversies, +the mechanical and industrial development, the religious +thought, and the social character of many epochs, find +their best expression in the pamphlets that swarmed from +the press while those agencies were operating. The fact<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_151" id="Pg_151"></a>[<a href="./images/151.png">151</a>]</span> +that multitudes of these productions are anonymous, does +not detract from their value as materials for students.</p> + +<p>Pamphlets, from their peculiar style of publication, and +the difficulty of preserving them, tend to disappear more +quickly than any class of publications except newspapers, +and broad-sides, and hand-bills. They are far less likely +to be preserved in the hands of private holders than even +reviews and magazines. It is the common experience of +librarians that a pamphlet is far more difficult to procure +than a book. Multitudes of pamphlets are annually lost +to the world, from the want of any preserving hand to +gather them and deposit them permanently in some library. +So much the more important is it that the custodians +of all our public libraries should form as complete +collections as possible of all pamphlets, at least, that appear +in their own city or neighborhood. How to do this +is a problem not unattended with difficulty. Pamphlets +are rarely furnished for sale in the same manner as books, +and when they are, book-sellers treat them with such indignity +that they are commonly thrust aside as waste +paper, almost as soon as they have appeared from the press. +If all the writers of pamphlets would take pains to present +them to the public libraries of the country, and especially +to those in their own neighborhood, they would at once +enrich these collections, and provide for the perpetuity of +their own thought. A vigilant librarian should invite and +collect from private libraries all the pamphlets which their +owners will part with. It would also be a wise practice to +engage the printing-offices where these fugitive leaves of +literature are put in type, to lay aside one copy of each for +the library making the collection.</p> + +<p>Our local libraries should each and all make it a settled +object to preserve not only full sets of the reports of all +societies, corporations, charity organizations, churches,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_152" id="Pg_152"></a>[<a href="./images/152.png">152</a>]</span> +railroads, etc., in their own neighborhood, but all catalogues +of educational institutions, all sermons or memorial +addresses, and in short, every fugitive publication which +helps to a knowledge of the people or the region in which +the library is situated.</p> + +<p>The binding of pamphlets is a mooted point in all libraries. +While the British Museum and the Library of Congress +treat the pamphlets as a book, binding all separately, +this is deemed in some quarters too vexatious and troublesome, +as well as needlessly expensive. It must be considered, +however, that the crowding together of a heterogenous +mass of a dozen or twenty pamphlets, by different +authors, and on various subjects, into a single cover, is just +as objectionable as binding books on unrelated subjects together. +Much time is consumed in finding the pamphlet +wanted, among the dozen or more that precede or follow +it, and, if valuable or much sought-for pamphlets are thus +bound, many readers may be kept waiting for some of +them, while one reader engrosses the volume containing +all. Besides, if separately bound, a single pamphlet can be +far more easily replaced in case of loss than can a whole +volume of them. Pamphlets may be lightly bound in +paste-board, stitched, with cloth backs, at a small cost; and +the compensating advantage of being able to classify them +like books upon the shelves, should weigh materially in the +decision of the question. If many are bound together, +they should invariably be assorted into classes, and those +only on the same general topic should be embraced in the +same cover. The long series of annual reports of societies +and institutions, corporations, annual catalogues, etc., +need not be bound separately, but should be bound in +chronological series, with five to ten years in a volume, +according to thickness. So may several pamphlets, by the +same writer, if preferred, be bound together. Libraries<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_153" id="Pg_153"></a>[<a href="./images/153.png">153</a>]</span> +which acquire many bound volumes of pamphlets should +divide them into series, and number them throughout +with strict reference to the catalogue. There will thus +be accumulated a constantly increasing series of theological, +political, agricultural, medical, educational, scientific, +and other pamphlets, while the remaining mass, which cannot +be thus classified, may be designated in a consecutive +series of volumes, as "Miscellaneous Pamphlets." When +catalogued, the title-page or beginning of each pamphlet in +the volume, should be marked by a thin slip of unsized +paper, projected above the top of the book, to <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'faciliate'">facilitate</ins> +quick reference in finding each one without turning many +leaves to get at the titles. In all cases, the contents of each +volume of pamphlets should be briefed in numerical order +upon the fly-leaf of the volume, and its corresponding number, +or sequence in the volumes written in pencil on the +title page of each pamphlet, to correspond with the figures +of this brief list. Then the catalogue of each should indicate +its exact location, thus: Wilkeson (Samuel) How our +National Debt may become a National Blessing, 21 pp. +8vo. Phila., 1863 [Miscellaneous pamphlets, v. 347:3], +meaning that this is the third pamphlet bound in vol. 347.</p> + +<p>The only objection to separate binding of each pamphlet, +is the increased expense. The advantage of distinct +treatment may or may not outweigh this, according to the +importance of the pamphlet, the circumstances of the library, +and the funds at its command. If bound substantially +in good half-leather, with leather corners, the +cost is reckoned at 1<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i> each, in London. Here, they +cost about thirty cents with cloth sides, which may be reduced +by the use of marble or Manila paper, to twenty +cents each. Black roan is perhaps the best leather for +pamphlets, as it brings out the lettering on the backs more +distinctly—always a cardinal point in a library.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_154" id="Pg_154"></a>[<a href="./images/154.png">154</a>]</span>But there is a more economical method, which dispenses +with leather entirely. As no patent is claimed for the invention, +or rather the modification of well-known methods, +it may be briefly described. The thinnest tar-board is +used for the sides, which, <i>i. e.</i>, the boards, are cut down to +nearly the size of the pamphlet to be bound. The latter is +prepared for the boards by adding two or more waste leaves +to the front and back, and backing it with a strip of common +muslin, which is firmly pasted the full length of the +back, and overlaps the sides to the width of an inch or +more. The pamphlet has to be stitched through, or +stabbed and fastened with wire, in the manner commonly +practiced with thin books; after which it is ready to receive +the boards. These are glued to a strip of book muslin, +which constitutes the ultimate back of the book, being +turned in neatly at each end, so as to form, with the +boards, a skeleton cover, into which the pamphlet is inserted, +and held in its place by the inner strip of muslin before +described, which is pasted or glued to the inside of the +boards. The boards are then covered with marbled paper, +turned in at each edge, and the waste leaves pasted +smoothly down to the boards on the inside. The only remaining +process is the lettering, which is done by printing +the titles in bronze upon glazed colored paper, which is +pasted lengthwise on the back. A small font of type, with +a hand-press, will suffice for this, and a stabbing machine, +with a small pair of binding shears, constitutes the only +other apparatus required. The cost of binding pamphlets +in this style varies from seven to twelve cents each, according +to the material employed, and the amount of labor +paid for. The advantages of the method are too obvious +to all acquainted with books to require exemplification.</p> + +<p>Two still cheaper methods of binding may be named. +What is known as the Harvard binder, employed in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_155" id="Pg_155"></a>[<a href="./images/155.png">155</a>]</span> +library at Cambridge, Mass., consists simply of thin board +sides with muslin back, and stubs also of cloth on the inside. +The pamphlet is inserted and held in place by paste +or glue. The cost of each binding is stated at six cents.</p> + +<p>The cheapest style of separate treatment for pamphlets +yet suggested is of stiff Manila paper, with cloth back, costing +about three cents each.</p> + +<p>I think that the rule of never mixing incongruous subjects +within the same cover should be adhered to. The expense, +by the cheaper method of binding referred to, is but +slightly greater than must be incurred by binding several +in a volume, in solid half morocco style. But, whenever +pamphlets are bound together, the original printed paper +covers should never be destroyed, but should be bound in.</p> + +<p>Another method of preserving pamphlets is to file them +away in selected lots, placed inside of cloth covers, of considerable +thickness. These may be had from any book-binder, +being the rejected covers in which books sent for +re-binding were originally bound. If kept in this way, +each volume, or case of pamphlets, should be firmly tied +with cord (or better with tape) fastened to the front edge +of the cloth cover. Never use rubber or elastic bands for +this, or any other purpose where time and security of fastening +are involved, because the rubber will surely rot in +a few weeks or months, and be useless as a means of holding +together any objects whatever.</p> + +<p>Still another means of assorting and keeping pamphlets +is to use Woodruff's file-holders, one of which holds from +ten to thirty pamphlets according to their thickness. +They should be arranged in classes, placing in each file case +only pamphlets on similar subjects, in order of the authors' +names, arranged alphabetically. Each pamphlet should be +plainly numbered at its head by colored pencil, with the +figure of its place in the volume, and the number of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_156" id="Pg_156"></a>[<a href="./images/156.png">156</a>]</span> +case, containing it, which should also be volumed, and assigned +to shelves containing books on related subjects. I +need not add that all these numbers should correspond +with the catalogue-title of each pamphlet. Then, when +any one pamphlet is wanted, send for the case containing +it, find it and withdraw it at once by its number, place it +in one of the Koch spring-back binders, and give it to the +reader precisely like any book that is served at the library +counter.</p> + +<p>A more economical plan still, for libraries which cannot +afford the expense of the Woodruff file-holders, is to cut +out cases for the pamphlets, of suitable size, from tough +Manila board, which need not cost more than about three +cents each case.</p> + +<p>In whatever way the unbound pamphlets are treated, +you should always mark them as such on the left-hand +margin of each catalogue-card, by the designation "ub." +(unbound) in pencil. If you decide later, to bind any of +them, this pencil-mark should be erased from the cards, +on the return of the pamphlets from the bindery.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_157" id="Pg_157"></a>[<a href="./images/157.png">157</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_8" id="CHAPTER_8"></a>CHAPTER 8.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Periodical Literature.</span></h3> + + +<p>The librarian who desires to make the management of +his library in the highest degree successful, must give +special attention to the important field of periodical literature. +More and more, as the years roll on, the periodical +becomes the successful rival of the book in the claim for +public attention. Indeed, we hear now and then, denunciations +of the ever-swelling flood of magazines and newspapers, +as tending to drive out the book. Readers, we are +told, are seduced from solid and improving reading, by the +mass of daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals which lie in +wait for them on every hand. But no indiscriminate censure +of periodicals or of their reading, can blind us to the +fact of their great value. Because some persons devote an +inordinate amount of time to them, is no reason why we +should fail to use them judiciously ourselves, or to aid +others in doing so. And because many periodicals (and +even the vast majority) are of little importance, and are +filled with trifling and ephemeral matter, that fact does +not discredit the meritorious ones. Counterfeit currency +does not diminish the value of the true coin; it is very sure +to find its own just level at last; and so the wretched or +the sensational periodical, however pretentious, will fall +into inevitable neglect and failure in the long run.</p> + +<p>It is true that the figures as to the relative issues of +books and periodicals in the publishing world are startling +enough to give us pause. It has been computed that of +the annual product of the American press, eighty-two per +cent. consists of newspapers, ten per cent. of magazines and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_158" id="Pg_158"></a>[<a href="./images/158.png">158</a>]</span> +reviews, and only eight per cent. of books. Yet this vast +redundancy of periodical literature is by no means such +a menace to our permanent literature as it appears at +first sight;—and that for three reasons: (1) a large share +of the books actually published, appear in the first instance +in the periodicals in serial or casual form; (2) the +periodicals contain very much matter of permanent value; +(3) the steady increase of carefully prepared books in the +publishing world, while it may not keep pace with the +rapid increase of periodicals, evinces a growth in the right +direction. It is no longer so easy to get a crude or a poor +book published, as it was a generation ago. The standard +of critical taste has risen, and far more readers are judges +of what constitutes a really good book than ever before. +While it is true that our periodical product has so grown, +that whereas there were twenty years ago, in 1878, only +7,958 different newspapers and magazines published in the +United States, there are now, in 1899, over 20,500 issued, +it can also be stated that the annual product of books has +increased in the same twenty years from less than two +thousand to more than five thousand volumes of new issues +in a year. Whatever may be the future of our American +literature, it can hardly be doubted that the tendency is +steadily toward the production of more books, and better +ones.</p> + +<p>Whether a public library be large or small, its value to +students will depend greatly upon the care and completeness +with which its selection of periodical works is made, +and kept up from year to year. Nothing is more common +in all libraries, public and private, than imperfect and partially +bound sets of serials, whether newspapers, reviews, +magazines or the proceedings and reports of scientific and +other societies. Nothing can be more annoying than to +find the sets of such publications broken at the very point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_159" id="Pg_159"></a>[<a href="./images/159.png">159</a>]</span> +where the reference or the wants of those consulting them +require satisfaction. In these matters, perpetual vigilance +is the price of completeness; and the librarian who is not +willing or able to devote the time and means requisite to +complete the files of periodical publications under his +charge is to be censured or commiserated, according to the +causes of the failure. The first essential in keeping up the +completeness of files of ephemeral publications, next to +vigilance on the part of their custodian, is room for the +arrangement of the various parts, and means for binding +with promptitude. Some libraries, and among them a +few of the largest, are so hampered for want of room, that +their serials are piled in heaps without order or arrangement, +and are thus comparatively useless until bound. In +the more fortunate institutions, which possess adequate +space for the orderly arrangement of all their stores, there +can be no excuse for failing to supply any periodical, +whether bound or unbound, at the moment it is called for. +It is simply necessary to devote sufficient time each day to +the systematic arrangement of all receipts: to keep each +file together in chronological order; to supply them for the +perusal of readers, with a proper check or receipt, and to +make sure of binding each new volume as fast as the publication +of titles and index enables it to be done properly. +While some libraries receive several thousands of serials, +the periodical publications taken by others amount to a +very small number; but in either case, the importance of +prompt collation and immediate supply of missing parts +or numbers is equally imperative. While deficiencies in +daily newspapers can rarely be made up after the week, and +sometimes not after the day of their appearance, the missing +parts of official and other publications, as well as of +reviews and magazines appearing at less frequent intervals, +can usually be supplied within the year, although a more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_160" id="Pg_160"></a>[<a href="./images/160.png">160</a>]</span> +prompt securing of them is often necessary. In these +publications, as in the acquisition of books for any library, +the collation of each part or number is imperative, in order +to avoid imperfections which may be irreparable.</p> + +<p>First in the ranks of these ephemeral publications, in +order of number, if not of importance, come the journals +of all classes, daily and weekly, political, illustrated, literary, +scientific, mechanical, professional, agricultural, financial, +etc. From the obscure and fugitive beginnings of +journalism in the sixteenth century to the establishment +of the first continuous newspaper—the London Weekly +News, in 1622, and Renaudot's Gazette (afterwards the +<i>Gazette de France</i>) in 1631, followed by the issue of the first +daily newspaper, the London Daily Courant, in 1702, and +the Boston Weekly News-letter in 1704, (the first American +journal)—to the wonderful fecundity of the modern +periodical press, which scatters the leaves of more than +thirty thousand different journals broadcast over the +world, there is a long and interesting history of the trials +and triumphs of a free press. In whatever respect American +libraries may fall behind those of older lands (and their +deficiencies are vast, and, in many directions permanent) +it may be said with confidence, that in the United States +the newspaper has received its widest and most complete +development. Numerically, the fullest approximate return +of the newspaper and periodical press gives a total +number of 21,500 periodical publications, regularly appearing +within the limits of the United States.</p> + +<p>While no one library, however large and comprehensive, +has either the space or the means to accumulate a tithe of +the periodicals that swarm from a productive press, there +are valid reasons why more attention should be paid by the +librarian to a careful preservation of a wise selection of the +best of all this current literature. The modern newspaper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_161" id="Pg_161"></a>[<a href="./images/161.png">161</a>]</span> +and other periodical publications afford the fullest and +truest, and on the whole, the most impartial image of the +age we live in, that can be derived from a single source. +Taken together, they afford the richest material for the +historian, or the student of politics, of society, of literature, +and of civilization in all its varied aspects. What +precious memorials of the day, even the advertisements +and brief paragraphs of the newspapers of a century ago +afford us! While in a field so vast, it is impossible for any +one library to be more than a gleaner, no such institution +can afford to neglect the collection and preservation of at +least some of the more important newspapers from year to +year. A public library is not for one generation only, but +it is for all time. Opportunities once neglected of securing +the current periodicals of any age in continuous and +complete form seldom or never recur. The principle of +selection will of course vary in different libraries and localities. +While the safest general rule is to secure the best +and most representative of all the journals, reviews, and +magazines within the limit of the funds which can be devoted +to that purpose, there is another principle which +should largely guide the selection. In each locality, it +should be one leading object of the principal library to +gather within its walls the fullest representation possible, +of the literature relating to its own State and neighborhood. +In every city and large town, the local journals and +other periodicals should form an indispensable part of a +public library collection. Where the means are wanting +to purchase these, the proprietors will frequently furnish +them free of expense, for public use; but no occasion +should be lost of securing, immediately on its issue from +the press, every publication, large or small, which relates +to the local history or interests of the place where the +library is maintained.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_162" id="Pg_162"></a>[<a href="./images/162.png">162</a>]</span>While the files of the journals of any period furnish unquestionably +the best instruments for the history of that +epoch, it is lamentable to reflect that so little care has ever +been taken to preserve a fair representation of those of any +age. The destiny of nearly all newspapers is swift destruction; +and even those which are preserved, commonly survive +in a lamentably fragmentary state. The obvious +causes of the rapid disappearance of periodical literature, +are its great volume, necessarily increasing with every year, +the difficulty of lodging the files of any long period in our +narrow apartments, and the continual demand for paper +for the uses of trade. To these must be added the great +cost of binding files of journals, increasing in the direct +ratio of the size of the volume. As so formidable an expense +can be incurred by very few private subscribers to +periodicals, so much the more important is it that the public +libraries should not neglect a duty which they owe to +their generation, as well as to those that are to follow. +These poor journals of to-day, which everybody is willing +to stigmatize as trash, not worth the room to store or the +money to bind, are the very materials which the man of the +future will search for with eagerness, and for some of +which he will be ready to pay their weight in gold. These +representatives of the commercial, industrial, inventive, +social, literary, political, moral and religious life of the +times, should be preserved and handed down to posterity +with sedulous care. No historian or other writer on any +subject who would write conscientiously or with full information, +can afford to neglect this fruitful mine of the journals, +where his richest materials are frequently to be +found.</p> + +<p>In the absence of any great library of journals, or of that +universal library which every nation should possess, it becomes +the more important to assemble in the various local<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_163" id="Pg_163"></a>[<a href="./images/163.png">163</a>]</span> +libraries all those ephemeral publications, which, if not +thus preserved contemporaneously with their issue, will +disappear utterly, and elude the search of future historical +inquirers. And that library which shall most sedulously +gather and preserve such fugitive memorials of the life of +the people among which it is situated will be found to have +best subserved its purpose to the succeeding generations of +men.</p> + +<p>Not less important than the preservation of newspapers +is that of reviews and magazines. In fact, the latter are +almost universally recognized as far more important than +the more fugitive literature of the daily and weekly press. +Though inferior to the journals as historical and statistical +materials, reviews and magazines supply the largest fund +of discussion concerning such topics of scientific, social, +literary, and religious interest as occupy the public mind +during the time in which they appear. More and more +the best thought of the times gets reflected in the pages +of this portion of the periodical press. No investigator in +any department can afford to overlook the rich stores contributed +to thought in reviews and magazines. These articles +are commonly more condensed and full of matter +than the average books of the period. While every library, +therefore, should possess for the current use and +ultimate reference of its readers a selection of the best, +as large as its means will permit, a great and comprehensive +library, in order to be representative of the national +literature, should possess them all.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The salient fact that the periodical press absorbs, year +by year, more of the talent which might otherwise be expended +upon literature of more permanent form is abundantly +obvious. This tendency has both its good and its +evil results. On the one hand, the best writing ability is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_164" id="Pg_164"></a>[<a href="./images/164.png">164</a>]</span> +often drawn out by magazines and journals, which are keen +competitors for attractive matter, and for known reputations, +and sometimes they secure both in combination. +On the other hand, it is a notable fact that writers capable +of excellent work often do great injustice to their reputations +by producing too hastily articles written to order, instead +of the well-considered, ripe fruits of their literary +skill. Whether the brief article answering the limits of +a magazine or a review is apt to be more or less superficial +than a book treating the same topic, is a question admitting +of different views. If the writer is capable of skilful +condensation, without loss of grace of composition, or of +graphic power, then the article, measured by its influence +upon the public mind, must be preferred to the more diffuse +treatise of the book. It has the immense advantage +of demanding far less of the reader's time; and whenever +its conclusions are stated in a masterly way, its impression +should be quite as lasting as that of any book treating a +similar theme. Such is doubtless the effect of the abler +articles written for periodicals, which are more condensed +and full of matter in speedily available form, than the +average book of the period. In this sense it is a misuse of +terms to call the review article ephemeral, or to treat the +periodicals containing them as perishable literary commodities, +which serve their term with the month or year that +produced them. On the contrary, the experience of librarians +shows that the most sought-for, and the most useful +contributions to any subject are frequently found, not in +the books written upon it, but in the files of current periodicals, +or in those of former years. It is especially to be +noted that the book may frequently lose its adaptation and +usefulness by lapse of time, and the onward march of science, +while the article is apt to reflect the latest light which +can help to illustrate the subject.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_165" id="Pg_165"></a>[<a href="./images/165.png">165</a>]</span>While, therefore, there is always a liability of finding +many crude and sketchy contributions in the literature of +the periodical press, its conductors are ever on the alert +to reduce to a minimum the weak or unworthy offerings, +and to secure a maximum of articles embodying mature +thought and fit expression. The pronounced tendency toward +short methods in every channel of human activity, is +reflected in the constantly multiplying series of periodical +publications.</p> + +<p>The publishing activities of the times are taking on +a certain coöperative element, which was not formerly +known. Thus, the "literary syndicate" has been developed +by degrees into one of the most far-reaching agencies for +popular entertainment. The taste for short stories, in +place of the ancient three volume novel, has been cultivated +even in conservative England, and has become so +wide-spread in the United States, that very few periodicals +which deal in fiction at all, are without their stories begun +and finished in a single issue. The talent required to produce +a fascinating and successful fiction in this narrow +compass is a peculiar one, and while there are numerous +failures, there are also a surprising number of successes. +Well written descriptive articles, too, are in demand, and +special cravings for personal gossip and lively sketches of +notable living characters are manifest. That perennial interest +which mankind and womankind evince in every individual +whose name, for whatever reason, has become +familiar, supplies a basis for an inexhaustible series of light +paragraphic articles. Another fruitful field for the syndicate +composition is brief essays upon any topic of the times, +the fashions, notable events, or new inventions, public +charities, education, governmental doings, current political +movements, etc. These appear almost simultaneously, +in many different periodicals, scattered throughout the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_166" id="Pg_166"></a>[<a href="./images/166.png">166</a>]</span> +country, under the copyright <i>imprimatur</i>, which warns off +all journals from republishing, which have not subscribed +to the special "syndicate" engaging them. Thus each +periodical secures, at extremely moderate rates, contributions +which are frequently written by the most noted and +popular living writers, who, in their turn, are much better +remunerated for their work than they would be for the +same amount of writing if published in book form. +Whether this now popular method of attaining a wide and +remunerative circulation for their productions will prove +permanent, is less certain than that many authors now find +it the surest road to profitable employment of their pens. +The fact that it rarely serves to introduce unknown writers +of talent to the reading world, may be laid to the account +of the eagerness of the syndicates to secure names that already +enjoy notoriety.</p> + +<p>The best method for filing newspapers for current reading +is a vexed question in libraries. In the large ones, +where room enough exists, large reading-stands with sloping +sides furnish the most convenient access, provided with +movable metal rods to keep the papers in place. Where +no room exists for these stands, some of the numerous portable +newspaper-file inventions, or racks, may be substituted, +allowing one to each paper received at the library.</p> + +<p>For filing current magazines, reviews, and the smaller +newspapers, like the literary and technical journals, various +plans are in use. All of these have advantages, while +none is free from objection. Some libraries use the ordinary +pamphlet case, in which the successive numbers are +kept until a volume is accumulated for binding. This requires +a separate case for each periodical, and where many +are taken, is expensive, though by this method the magazines +are kept neat and in order. Others use small newspaper +files or tapes for periodicals. Others still arrange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_167" id="Pg_167"></a>[<a href="./images/167.png">167</a>]</span> +them alphabetically on shelves, in which case the latest issues +are found on top, if the chronology is preserved. In +serving periodicals to readers, tickets should be required +(as for books) with title and date, as a precaution against +loss, or careless leaving upon tables.</p> + +<p>Whether current periodicals are ever allowed to be +drawn out, must depend upon several weighty considerations. +When only one copy is taken, no circulation should +be permitted, so that the magazines and journals may be +always in, at the service of readers frequenting the library. +But in some large public libraries, where several copies of +each of the more popular serials are subscribed to, it is the +custom to keep one copy (sometimes two) always in, and to +allow the duplicate copies to be drawn out. This circulation +should be limited to a period much shorter than is allowed +for keeping books.</p> + +<p>In no case, should the bound volumes of magazines, reviews, +and journals of whatever kind be allowed to leave +the library. This is a rule which should be enforced for +the common benefit of all the readers, since to lend to one +reader any periodical or work of general reference is to deprive +all the rest of its use just so long as it is out of the +library. This has become all the more important since the +publication of Poole's Indexes to periodical literature has +put the whole reading community on the quest for information +to be found only (in condensed form, or in the +latest treatment) in the volumes of the periodical press. +And it is really no hardship to any quick, intelligent +reader, to require that these valuable serials should be used +within the library only. An article is not like a book;—a +long and perhaps serious study, requiring many hours or +days to master it. The magazine or review article, whatever +other virtues it may lack, has the supreme merit of +brevity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_168" id="Pg_168"></a>[<a href="./images/168.png">168</a>]</span>The only valid exception which will justify loaning the +serial volumes of periodicals outside the library, is when +there are duplicate sets of any of them. Some large libraries +having a wide popular circulation are able to buy two +or more sets of the magazines most in demand, and so to +lend one out, while another is kept constantly in for use +and reference. And even a library of small means might +secure for its shelves duplicate sets of many periodicals, by +simply making known that it would be glad to receive from +any families or other owners, all the numbers of their +magazines, etc., which they no longer need for use. This +would bring in, in any large town or city, a copious supply +of periodicals which house-keepers, tired of keeping, storing +and dusting such unsightly property, would be glad to +bestow where they would do the most good.</p> + +<p>Whatever periodicals are taken, it is essential to watch +over their completeness by keeping a faithfully revised +check-list. This should be ruled to furnish blank spaces +for each issue of all serials taken, whether quarterly, +monthly, weekly, or daily, and no week should elapse without +complete scrutiny of the list, and ordering all missing +numbers from the publishers. Mail failures are common, +and unceasing vigilance is the price that must be paid for +completeness. The same check-list, by other spaces, +should show the time of expiration of subscriptions, and +the price paid per year. And where a large number of +periodicals are received, covering many parts of the country, +they should be listed, not only by an alphabet of titles, +but by another alphabet of places where published, as well.</p> + +<p>If a new library is to be formed, having no sets of periodicals +on which to build, effort should be made to secure full +sets from the beginning of as many of the prominent magazines +and reviews, American and foreign, as the funds will +permit. It is expedient to wait a little, rather than to take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_169" id="Pg_169"></a>[<a href="./images/169.png">169</a>]</span> +up with incomplete sets, as full ones are pretty sure to turn +up, and competition between the many dealers should +bring down prices to a fair medium. In fact, many old +sets of magazines are offered surprisingly cheap, and usually +well-bound. But vigilant care must be exercised +to secure perfect sets, as numbers are often mutilated, or +deficient in some pages or illustrations. This object can +only be secured by collation of every volume, page by page, +with due attention to the list of illustrations, if any are +published.</p> + +<p>In the absence of British bibliographical enterprise (a +want much to be deplored) it has fallen to the lot of American +librarians to produce the only general index of subjects +to English periodical literature which exists. Poole's +Index to Periodical Literature is called by the name of its +senior editor, the late Dr. Wm. F. Poole, and was contributed +to by many librarians on a coöperative division of +labor, in indexing, under direction of Mr. Wm. I. Fletcher, +librarian of Amherst College. This index to leading periodicals +is literally invaluable, and indispensable as an aid +to research. Its first volume indexes in one alphabet the +periodicals embraced, from their first issues up to 1882. +The second volume runs from 1882 to 1887, and the third +covers the period from 1887 to 1891, while a fourth volume +indexes the periodicals from 1892 to 1896, inclusive. +For 1897, and each year after, an annual index to the publications +of the year is issued.</p> + +<p>Besides this, the <i>Review of Reviews</i> publishes monthly an +index to one month's leading periodicals, and also an annual +index, very full, in a single alphabet. And the +"Cumulative Index," issued both monthly and quarterly, +by W. H. Brett, the Cleveland, Ohio, librarian, is an admirably +full means of keeping our keys to periodical literature +up to date. There are other indexes to periodicals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_170" id="Pg_170"></a>[<a href="./images/170.png">170</a>]</span> +published monthly or quarterly, too numerous to be noticed +here. The annual <i>New York Tribune</i> Index (the +only daily journal, except the <i>London Times</i>, which prints +an index) is highly useful, and may be used for other newspapers +as well, for the most important events or discussions, +enabling one to search the dailies for himself, the +date once being fixed by aid of the index.</p> + +<p>Mention should also be made here of the admirably comprehensive +annual "<i>Rowell's Newspaper Directory</i>," which +should rather be called the "American Periodical Directory," +since it has a classified catalogue of all periodicals +published in the United States and Canada.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_171" id="Pg_171"></a>[<a href="./images/171.png">171</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_9" id="CHAPTER_9"></a>CHAPTER 9.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Art of Reading.</span></h3> + + +<p>"The true University of these days," says a great scholar +of our century, Thomas Carlyle, "is a collection of books, +and all education is to teach us how to read."</p> + +<p>If there were any volume, out of the multitude of books +about books that have been written, which could illuminate +the pathway of the unskilled reader, so as to guide him into +all knowledge by the shortest road, what a boon that book +would be!</p> + +<p>When we survey the vast and rapidly growing product of +the modern press,—when we see these hosts of poets without +imagination, historians without accuracy, critics without +discernment, and novelists without invention or style, +in short, the whole prolific brood of writers who do not +know how to write,—we are tempted to echo the sentiment +of Wordsworth:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The intellectual power, through words and things,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">Goes sounding on a dim and perilous way."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The most that any one can hope to do for others is to +suggest to them a clue which, however feeble, has helped +to guide his uncertain footsteps through the labyrinthian +maze of folly and wisdom which we call literature.</p> + +<p>The knowledge acquired by a Librarian, while it may be +very wide and very varied, runs much risk of being as +superficial as it is diversified. There is a very prevalent, +but very erroneous notion which conceives of a librarian +as a kind of animated encyclopaedia, who, if you tap him +in any direction, from A to Z, will straightway pour forth a +flood of knowledge upon any subject in history, science, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_172" id="Pg_172"></a>[<a href="./images/172.png">172</a>]</span> +literature. This popular ideal, however fine in theory, has +to undergo what commercial men call a heavy discount +when reduced to practice. The librarian is a constant +and busy worker in far other fields than exploring the contents +of books. His day is filled with cataloguing, arranging +and classifying them, searching catalogues, selecting +new books, correspondence, directing assistants, keeping +library records, adjusting accounts, etc., in the midst of +which he is constantly at the call of the public for books +and information. What time has he, wearied by the day's +multifarious and exacting labors, for any thorough study +of books? So, when anyone begins an inquiry with, "You +know everything; can you tell me,"—I say: "Stop a moment; +omniscience is not a human quality; I really know +very few things, and am not quite sure of some of them." +There are many men, and women, too, in almost every +community, whose range of knowledge is more extended +than that of most librarians.</p> + +<p>The idea, then, that because one lives perpetually among +books, he absorbs all the learning that they contain, must +be abandoned as a popular delusion. To know a little +upon many subjects is quite compatible with not knowing +much about any one. "Beware of the man of one book," +is an ancient proverb, pregnant with meaning. The man +of one book, if it is wisely chosen, and if he knows it all, +can sometimes confound a whole assembly of scholars. An +American poet once declared to me that all leisure time is +lost that is not spent in reading Shakespeare. And we remember +Emerson's panegyric upon Plato's writings, borrowing +from the Caliph Omar his famous (but apocryphal) +sentence against all books but the Koran: "Burn all the +libraries, for their value is in this book." So Sheffield, +duke of Buckingham:</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_173" id="Pg_173"></a>[<a href="./images/173.png">173</a>]</span></p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Read Homer once, and you can read no more,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">For all books else appear so tame, so poor,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">Verse will seem prose, but still persist to read,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">And Homer will be all the books you need."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of course I am far from designing to say anything +against the widest study, which great libraries exist to +supply and to encourage; and all utterances of a half-truth, +like the maxim I have quoted, are exaggerations. +But the saying points a moral—and that is, the supreme +importance of thoroughness in all that we undertake. The +poetical wiseacre who endowed the world with the maxim, +"A little learning is a dangerous thing," does not appear +to have reflected upon the logical sequence of the dictum, +namely: that if a little learning upon any subject is dangerous, +then less must be still more dangerous.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The art of reading to the best advantage implies the +command of adequate time to read. The art of having +time to read depends upon knowing how to make the best +use of our days. Days are short, and time is fleeting, but +no one's day ever holds less than 24 hours. Engrossing +as one's occupation may be, it need never consume all +the time remaining from sleep, refreshment and social intercourse. +The half hour before breakfast, the fifteen +minutes waiting for dinner, given to the book you wish to +read, will soon finish it, and make room for another. The +busiest men I have known have often been the most intelligent, +and the widest readers. The idle person never +knows how to make use of odd moments; the busy one +always knows how. Yet the vast majority of people go +through life without ever learning the great lesson of the +supreme value of moments.</p> + +<p>Let us suppose that you determine to devote two hours +every day to reading. That is equivalent to more than +seven hundred hours a year, or to three months of work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_174" id="Pg_174"></a>[<a href="./images/174.png">174</a>]</span>ing +time of eight hours a day. What could you not do in +three months, if you had all the time to yourself? You +could almost learn a new language, or master a new science; +yet this two hours a day, which would give you three +months of free time every year, is frittered away, you +scarcely know how, in aimless matters that lead to nothing.</p> + +<p>A famous writer of our century, some of whose books +you have read,—Edward Bulwer Lytton,—devoted only +four hours a day to writing; yet he produced more than +sixty volumes of fiction, poetry, drama and criticism, of +singular literary merit. The great naturalist, Darwin, a +chronic sufferer from a depressing malady, counted two +hours a fortunate day's work for him; yet he accomplished +results in the world of science which render his name immortal.</p> + +<p>Be not over particular as to hours, or the time of day, +and you will soon find that all hours are good for the muse. +Have a purpose, and adhere to it with good-humored pertinacity. +Be independent of the advice and opinions of +others; the world of books, like the world of nature, was +made for you; possess it in your own way. If you find no +good in ancient history or in metaphysics, let them alone +and read books of art, or poetry, or biography, or voyages +and travels. The wide domain of knowledge and the +world of books are so related, that all roads cross and converge, +like the paths that carry us over the surface of the +globe on which we live. Many a reader has learned more +of past times from good biographies, than from any formal +history; and it is a fact that many owe to the plays of +Shakespeare and the novels of Walter Scott nearly all the +knowledge which they possess of the history of England +and Scotland.</p> + +<p>It is unhappily true that books do not teach the use of +books. The art of extracting what is important or in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_175" id="Pg_175"></a>[<a href="./images/175.png">175</a>]</span>structive +in any book, from the mass of verbiage that commonly +overlays it, cannot be learned by theory. Invaluable +as the art of reading is, as a means of enlightenment, +its highest uses can only be obtained by a certain method +of reading, which will separate the wheat from the chaff. +Different readers will, of course, possess different capacities +for doing this. Young or undisciplined minds can read +only in one way,—and that way is, to mentally pronounce +every word, and dwell equally upon all the parts of every +sentence. This comes naturally in the first instance, from +the mere method of learning to read, in which every word +is a spoken symbol, and has to be sounded, whether it is essential +to the sense, or not. This habit of reading, which +may be termed the literal method, goes with most persons +through life. Once learned, it is very hard to unlearn. +There are multitudes who cannot read a newspaper, even, +without dwelling upon every word, and coming to a full +stop at the end of every sentence. Now this method of +reading, while it may be indispensable to all readers at +some time, and to some readers at all times, is too slow and +fruitless for the student who aims to absorb the largest +amount of knowledge in the briefest space of time. Life +is too short to be wasted over the rhetoric or the periods +of an author whose knowledge we want as all that concerns +us.</p> + +<p>Doubtless there are classes of literature in which form +or expression predominates, and we cannot read poetry, +for example, or the drama, or even the higher class of fiction, +without lingering upon the finer passages, to get the +full impression of their beauty. In reading works of the +imagination, we read not for ideas alone, but for expression +also, and to enjoy the rhythm and melody of the verse, +if it be poetry, or, if prose, the finished rhetoric, and the +pleasing cadence of the style. It is here that the literary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_176" id="Pg_176"></a>[<a href="./images/176.png">176</a>]</span> +skill of an accomplished writer, and all that we understand +by rhetoric, becomes important, while in reading for information +only, we may either ignore words and phrases +entirely, or subordinate them to the ideas which they convey. +In reading any book for the knowledge it contains, +I should as soon think of spelling out all the words, as of +reading out all the sentences. Just as, in listening to a +slow speaker, you divine the whole meaning of what he is +about to say, before he has got half through his sentence, +so, in reading, you can gather the full sense of the ideas +which any sentence contains, without stopping to accentuate +the words.</p> + +<p>Leaving aside the purely literary works, in which form +or style is a predominant element, let us come to books of +science, history, biography, voyages, travels, etc. In these, +the primal aim is to convey information, and thus the style +of expression is little or nothing—the thought or the fact +is all. Yet most writers envelop the thought or the fact +in so much verbiage, complicate it with so many episodes, +beat it out thin, by so much iteration and reiteration, that +the student must needs learn the art of skipping, in self-defense. +To one in zealous pursuit of knowledge, to read +most books through is paying them too extravagant a compliment. +He has to read between the lines, as it were, to +note down a fact here, or a thought there, or an illustration +elsewhere, and leaves alone all that contributes nothing +to his special purpose. As the quick, practiced eye +glances over the visible signs of thought, page after page +is rapidly absorbed, and a book which would occupy an +ordinary reader many days in reading, is mastered in a few +hours.</p> + +<p>The habit of reading which I have outlined, and which +may be termed the intuitive method, or, if you prefer it, +the short-hand method, will more than double the working<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_177" id="Pg_177"></a>[<a href="./images/177.png">177</a>]</span> +power of the reader. It is not difficult to practice, especially +to a busy man, who does with all his might what he +has got to do. But it should be learned early in life, when +the faculties are fresh, the mind full of zeal for knowledge, +and the mental habits are ductile, not fixed. With +it one's capacity for acquiring knowledge, and consequently +his accomplishment, whether as writer, teacher, +librarian, or private student, will be immeasureably increased.</p> + +<p>Doubtless it is true that some native or intuitive gifts +must be conjoined with much mental discipline and perseverance, +in order to reach the highest result, in this +method of reading, as in any other study. "<i>Non omnia +possumus omnes</i>," Virgil says; and there are intellects who +could no more master such a method, than they could understand +the binomial theorem, or calculate the orbit of +Uranus. If it be true, as has been epigramatically said, +that "a great book is a great evil," let it be reduced to a +small one by the skilful use of the art of skipping. Then, +"he that runs may read" as he runs—while, without this +refuge, he that reads will often assuredly be tempted to +run.</p> + +<p>What I said, just now, in deprecation of set courses of +reading, was designed for private students only, who so +often find a stereotyped sequence of books barren or uninteresting. +It was not intended to discourage the pursuit +of a special course of study in the school, or the society, or +the reading class. This is, in fact, one of the best means +of intellectual progress. Here, there is the opportunity +to discuss the style, the merits, and the characteristics of +the author in hand, and by the attrition of mind with +mind, to inform and entertain the whole circle of readers. +In an association of this kind, embracing one or two acute +minds, the excellent practice of reading aloud finds its best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_178" id="Pg_178"></a>[<a href="./images/178.png">178</a>]</span> +results. Here, too, the art of expression becomes important, +how to adapt the sound to the sense, by a just emphasis, +intonation, and modulation of the voice. In short, the +value of a book thus read and discussed, in an appreciative +circle, may be more than doubled to each reader.</p> + +<p>It is almost literally true that no book, undertaken +merely as task work, ever helped the reader to knowledge +of permanent or material value. How many persons, +struck by Mr. Emerson's exalted praise of the writings of +Plato, have undertaken to go through the Dialogues. +Alas! for the vain ambition to be or to seem learned! After +trying to understand the Phaedo, or falling asleep over +the Gorgias, the book has been dropped as hastily as it was +taken up. It was not perceived that in order to enjoy or +comprehend a philosopher, one must have a capacity for +ideas. It requires almost as much intelligence to appreciate +an idea as to conceive one. One will bring nothing +home from the most persistent cruise after knowledge, unless +he carries something out. In the realm of learning, +we recognize the full meaning of that Scripture, that to +him that hath, shall be given; and he that hath not, +though never so anxious to read and understand Plato, will +quickly return to the perusal of his daily newspaper.</p> + +<p>It were easier, perhaps, in one sense, to tell what not +to read, than to recommend what is best worth reading. +In the publishing world, this is the age of compilation, +not of creation. If we seek for great original works, if +we must go to the wholesale merchants to buy knowledge, +since retail geniuses are worth but little, one must go +back many years for his main selection of books. It would +not be a bad rule for those who can read but little, to read +no book until it has been published at least a year or two. +This fever for the newest books is not a wholesome condition +of the mind. And since a selection must indispensa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_179" id="Pg_179"></a>[<a href="./images/179.png">179</a>]</span>bly +be made, and that selection must be, for the great mass +of readers, so rigid and so small, why should precious time +be wasted upon the ephemeral productions of the hour? +What business, for example, has one to be reading Rider +Haggard, or Amélie Rives, or Ian Maclaren, who has never +read Homer, or Dante, or even so much as half-a-dozen +plays of Shakespeare?</p> + +<p>One hears with dismay that about three-fourths of the +books drawn from our popular libraries are novels. Now, +while such aimless reading, merely to be amused, is doubtless +better than no reading at all, it is unquestionably true +that over-much reading of fiction, especially at an early +age, enervates the mind, weakens the will, makes dreamers +instead of thinkers and workers, and fills the imagination +with morbid and unreal views of life. Yet the vast consumption +of novels is due more to the cheapness and wide +diffusion of such works, and the want of wise direction in +other fields, than to any original tendency on the part of +the young. People will always read the most, that which +is most put before them, if only the style be attractive. +The mischief that is done by improper books is literally +immeasureable. The superabundance of cheap fictions in +the markets creates and supplies an appetite which should +be directed by wise guidance into more improving fields. +A two-fold evil follows upon the reading of every unworthy +book; in the first place, it absorbs the time which +should be bestowed upon a worthy one; and secondly, it +leaves the mind and heart unimproved, instead of conducing +to the benefit of both. As there are few books more +elevating than a really good novel, so there are none more +fruitful of evil than a bad one.</p> + +<p>And what of the newspaper? it may be asked. When I +consider for how much really good literature we are beholden +to the daily and weekly press, how indispensable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_180" id="Pg_180"></a>[<a href="./images/180.png">180</a>]</span> +is its function as purveyor of the news of the world, how +widely it has been improved in recent years, I cannot advise +quarreling with the bridge that brings so many across +the gulf of ignorance. Yet the newspaper, like the book, +is to be read sparingly, and with judgment. It is to be +used, not abused. I call that an abuse which squanders +the precious and unreturning hours over long chronicles +of depravity. The murders, the suicides, the executions, +the divorces, the criminal trials, are each and all so like +one another that it is only a wanton waste of time to read +them. The morbid style in which social disorders of all +kinds are written up in the sensational press, with staring +headlines to attract attention, ought to warn off every +healthy mind from their perusal. Every scandal in society +that can be brought to the surface is eagerly caught +up and paraded, while the millions of people who lead +blameless lives of course go unnoticed and unchronicled. +Such journals thus inculcate the vilest pessimism, instead +of a wholesome and honest belief in the average decency +of human nature. The prolixity of the narrative, +too, is always in monstrous disproportion to its importance. +"Does not the burning of a metropolitan theatre," says a +great writer, "take above a million times as much telling as +the creation of a world?" Here is where the art of skipping +is to be rigorously applied. Read the newspaper by +headlines only,—skipping all the murders, all the fires, all +the executions, all the crimes, all the news, except the most +important and immediately interesting,—and you will +spend perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes upon what would +otherwise occupy hours. It is no exaggeration to say that +most persons have spent time enough over the newspapers, +to have given them a liberal education.</p> + +<p>As all readers cannot have the same gifts, so all cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_181" id="Pg_181"></a>[<a href="./images/181.png">181</a>]</span> +enjoy the same books. There are those who can see no +greatness in Shakespeare, but who think Tupper's Proverbial +Philosophy sublime. Some will eagerly devour +every novel of Miss Braddon's, or "The Duchess," or the +woman calling herself "Ouida," but they cannot appreciate +the masterly fictions of Thackeray. I have known very +good people who could not, for the life of them, find any +humor in Dickens, but who actually enjoyed the strained +wit of Mrs. Partington and Bill Nye. Readers who could +not get through a volume of Gibbon will read with admiration +a so-called History of Napoleon by Abbott. And I +fear that you will find many a young lady of to-day, who is +content to be ignorant of Homer and Shakespeare, but who +is ravished by the charms of "Trilby" or the "Heavenly +Twins." But taste in literature, as in art, or in anything +else, can be cultivated. Lay down the rule, and adhere +to it, to read none but the best books, and you will soon +lose all relish for the poor ones. You can educate readers +into good judges, in no long time, by feeding them on the +masterpieces of English prose and poetry. Surely, we all +have cause to deprecate the remorseless flood of fictitious +literature in which better books are drowned.</p> + +<p>Be not dismayed at the vast multitude of books, nor fear +that, with your small leisure, you will never be able to +master any appreciable share of them. Few and far between +are the great books of the world. The works which +it is necessary to know, may be comprised in a comparatively +small compass. The rest are to be preserved in the +great literary conservatories, some as records of the past, +others as chronicles of the times, and not a few as models +to be avoided. The Congressional Library at Washington +is our great National conservatory of books. As the library +of the government—that is, of the whole people,—it +is inclusive of all the literature which the country pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_182" id="Pg_182"></a>[<a href="./images/182.png">182</a>]</span>duces, +while all the other libraries are and must be more +or less exclusive. No National Library can ever be too +large. In order that the completeness of the collection +shall not fail, and to preserve the whole of our literature, +it is put into the Statute of Copyright, as a condition precedent +of the exclusive right to multiply copies of any book, +that it shall be deposited in the Library of Congress. Apprehension +is sometimes expressed that our National Library +will become overloaded with trash, and so fail of its +usefulness. 'Tis a lost fear. There is no act of Congress +requiring all the books to be read. The public sense is +continually winnowing and sifting the literature of every +period, and to books and their authors, every day is the day +of judgment. Nowhere in the world is the inexorable law +of the survival of the fittest more rigidly applied than in +the world of books. The works which are the most frequently +re-printed in successive ages are the ones which it +is safe to stand by.</p> + +<p>Books may be divided into three classes: 1st, acquaintances; +2d, friends; and 3d, intimates.</p> + +<p>It is well enough to have an acquaintance with a multitude +of books, as with many people; though in either case +much time should not be given to merely pleasant intercourse, +that leads to no result. With our literary friends, +we can spend more time, for they awaken keen interest, +and are to be read with zest, and consequently with profit. +But for our chosen intimates, our heart-companions, we +reserve our highest regard, and our best hours. Choice +and sacred is the book that makes an era in the life of the +reader; the book which first rouses his higher nature, and +awakens the reason or the imagination. Such a volume +will many a one remember; the book which first excited +his own thought, made him conscious of untried powers, +and opened to his charmed vision a new world.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_183" id="Pg_183"></a>[<a href="./images/183.png">183</a>]</span>Such a book has Carlyle's Sartor Resartus been to many; +or the play of Hamlet, read for the first time; or the Faust +of Goethe; or the Confessions of St. Augustine; or an essay +of Emerson; or John Ruskin; or the Divine Comedy of +Dante; or even an exquisite work of fiction, like John Halifax, +or Henry Esmond. What the book is that works such +miracles is never of so much importance as the epoch in +the mind of the reader which it signalizes. It were vain +to single out any one writer, and say to all readers—"Here +is the book that must indispensably be read;" for the same +book will have totally different effects upon different +minds, or even upon the same mind, at different stages of +development.</p> + +<p>When I have been asked to contribute to the once popular +<i>symposia</i> upon "Books which have helped me,"—I have +declined, for such catalogues of intellectual aids are liable +to be very misleading. Thus, if I were to name the book +which did more than most others for my own mind, I +should say that it was the Emile of Rousseau, read at about +the age of seventeen. This work, written with that marvellous +eloquence which characterises all the best productions +of Jean Jacques, first brought me acquainted with +those advanced ideas of education which have penetrated +the whole modern world. Yet the Emile would probably +appear to most of my readers trite and common-place, as +it would now to me, for the reason that we have long +passed the period of development when its ideas were new +to us.</p> + +<p>But the formative power of books can never be over-rated: +their subtle mastery to stimulate all the germs of intellectual +and moral life that lie enfolded in the mind. As +the poet sings—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Books are not seldom talismans and spells."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Why should they not be so? They furnish us the means,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_184" id="Pg_184"></a>[<a href="./images/184.png">184</a>]</span> +and the only means, whereby we may hold communion +with the master-spirits of all ages. They bring us acquainted +with the best thoughts which the human mind +has produced, expressed in the noblest language. Books +create for us the many-sided world, carry us abroad, out +of our narrow provincial horizons, and reveal to us new +scenery, new men, new languages, and new modes of life. +As we read, the mind expands with the horizon, and becomes +broad as the blue heaven above us. With Homer, +we breathe the fresh air of the pristine world, when the +light of poetry gilded every mountain top, and peopled the +earth with heroes and demigods. With Plutarch, we walk +in company with sages, warriors, and statesmen, and kindle +with admiration of their virtues, or are roused to indignation +at their crimes. With Sophocles, we sound the depths +of human passion, and learn the sublime lesson of endurance. +We are charmed with an ode of Horace, perfect in +rhythm, perfect in sentiment, perfect in diction, and perfect +in moral; the condensed essence of volumes in a single +page. We walk with Dante through the nether world, +awed by the tremendous power with which he depicts for +us the secrets of the prison house. With Milton, we +mount heaven-ward, and in the immortal verse of his minor +poems, finer even than the stately march of Paradise Lost, +we hear celestial music, and breathe diviner air. With +that sovereign artist, Shakespeare, full equally of delight +and of majesty, we sweep the horizon of this complex human +life, and become comprehensive scholars and citizens +of the world. The masters of fiction enthrall us with +their fascinating pages, one moment shaking us with uncontrollable +laughter, and the next, dissolving us in tears. +In the presence of all these emanations of genius, the wise +reader may feed on nectar and ambrosia, and forget the +petty cares and vexations of to-day.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_185" id="Pg_185"></a>[<a href="./images/185.png">185</a>]</span>There are some books that charm us by their wit or their +sweetness, others that surprise and captivate us by their +strength: books that refresh us when weary: books that +comfort us when afflicted: books that stimulate us by their +robust health: books that exalt and refine our natures, as +it were, to a finer mould: books that rouse us like the sound +of a trumpet: books that illumine the darkest hours, and +fill all our day with delight.</p> + +<p>It is books that record the advance and the decline of +nations, the experience of the world, the achievements and +the possibilities of mankind. It is books that reveal to us +ideas and images almost above ourselves, and go far to open +for us the gates of the invisible. "A river of thought," +says Emerson, "is continually flowing out of the invisible +world into the mind of man:" and we may add that books +contain the most fruitful and permanent of the currents +of that mighty river.</p> + +<p>I am not disposed to celebrate the praises of all books, +nor to recommend to readers of any age a habit of indiscriminate +reading: but for the books which are true helpers +and teachers, the thoughts of the best poets, historians, +publicists, philosophers, orators,—if their value is not real, +then there are no realities in the world.</p> + +<p>Very true is it, nevertheless, that the many-sided man +cannot be cultivated by books alone. One may learn by +heart whole libraries, and yet be profoundly unacquainted +with the face of nature, or the life of man. The pale student +who gives himself wholly to books pays the penalty by +losing that robust energy of character, that sympathy with +his kind, that keen sense of the charms of earth and sky, +that are essential to complete development. "The world's +great men," says Oliver Wendell Holmes, "have not commonly +been great scholars, nor its scholars great men." +To know what other men have said about things is not al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_186" id="Pg_186"></a>[<a href="./images/186.png">186</a>]</span>ways +the most important part of knowledge. There is +nothing that can dispense us from the independent use of +our own faculties. Meditation and observation are more +valuable than mere absorption; and knowledge itself is not +wisdom. The true way to use books is to make them our +servants—not our masters. Very helpful, cheering, and +profitable will they become, when they fall naturally into +our daily life and growth—when they tally with the moods +of the mind.</p> + +<p>The habits and methods of readers are as various as those +of authors. Thus, there are some readers who gobble a +book, as Boswell tells us Dr. Johnson used to gobble his +dinner—eagerly, and with a furious appetite, suggestive of +dyspepsia, and the non-assimilation of food. Then there +are slow readers, who plod along through a book, sentence +by sentence, putting in a mark conscientiously where they +left off to-day, so as to begin at the self-same spot to-morrow; +fast readers, who gallop through a book, as you would +ride a flying bicycle on a race; drowsy readers, to whom a +book is only a covert apology for a nap, and who pretend +to be reading Macaulay or Herbert Spencer only to dream +between the leaves; sensitive readers, who cannot abide the +least noise or interruption when reading, and to whose +nerves a foot-fall or a conversation is an exquisite torture; +absorbed readers, who are so pre-occupied with their pursuit +that they forget all their surroundings—the time of +day, the presence or the voices of others, the hour for dinner, +and even their own existence; credulous readers, who +believe everything they read because it is printed in a +book, and swallow without winking the most colossal lying; +critical and captious readers, who quarrel with the +blunders or the beliefs of their author, and who cannot refrain +from calling him an idiot or an ass—and perhaps +even writing him down so on his own pages; admiring and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_187" id="Pg_187"></a>[<a href="./images/187.png">187</a>]</span> +receptive readers, who find fresh beauties in a favorite +author every time they peruse him, and even discover beautiful +swans in the stupidest geese that ever cackled along +the flowery meads of literature; reverent readers, who treat +a book as they would treat a great and good man, considerately +and politely, carefully brushing the dust from a beloved +volume with the sleeve, or tenderly lifting a book +fallen to the floor, as if they thought it suffered, or felt +harm; careless and rough readers, who will turn down +books on their faces to keep the place, tumble them over +in heaps, cram them into shelves never meant for them, +scribble upon the margins, dogs-ear the leaves, or even cut +them with their fingers—all brutal and intolerable practices, +totally unworthy of any one pretending to civilization.</p> + +<p>To those who have well learned the art of reading, what +inexhaustible delights does the world of books contain! +With Milton, "to behold the bright countenance of truth, +in the quiet and still air of delightful studies;" to journey +through far countries with Marco Polo; to steer across an +unknown sea with Columbus, or to brave the dangers of +the frozen ocean with Nansen or Dr. Kane; to study the +manners of ancient nations with Herodotus; to live over +again the life of Greece and Rome with Plutarch's heroes; +to trace the decline of empires with Gibbon and Mommsen; +to pursue the story of the modern world in the pages of +Hume, Macaulay, Thiers and Sismondi, and our own Prescott, +Motley, and Bancroft; to enjoy afresh the eloquence +of Demosthenes, and the polished and splendid diction of +Cicero; to drink in the wisdom of philosophers, and to +walk with Socrates, Plato and the stoics through the +groves of Academia; to be kindled by the saintly utterances +of prophets and apostles, St. Paul's high reasoning of +immortality, or the seraphic visions of St. John; to study<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_188" id="Pg_188"></a>[<a href="./images/188.png">188</a>]</span> +the laws that govern communities with the great publicists, +or the economy of nations with Adam Smith and +Stuart Mill; with the naturalists, to sound the depths of +the argument as to the origin of species and the genesis of +man; with the astronomers, to leave the narrow bounds of +earth, and explore the illimitable spaces of the universe, +in which our solar system is but a speck; with the mathematicians, +to quit the uncertain realm of speculation and +assumption, and plant our feet firmly on the rock of exact +science:—to come back anon to lighter themes, and to +revel in the grotesque humor of Dickens, the philosophic +page of Bulwer, the chivalric romances of Walter Scott, +the ideal creations of Hawthorne, the finished life-pictures +of George Eliot, the powerful imagination of Victor Hugo, +and the masterly delineations of Thackeray; to hang over +the absorbing biographies of Dr. Franklin, Walter Scott +and Dr. Johnson; to peruse with fresh delight the masterpieces +of Irving and Goldsmith, and the best essays of Hazlitt, +De Quincey, Charles Lamb, and Montaigne; to feel +the inspiration of the great poets of all ages, from Homer +down to Tennyson; to read Shakespeare—a book that is in +itself almost a university:—is not all this satisfaction +enough for human appetite, however craving, solace +enough for trouble, however bitter, occupation enough for +life, however long?</p> + +<p>There are pleasures that perish in the using; but the +pleasure which the art of reading carries with it is perennial. +He who can feast on the intellectual spoils of centuries +need fear neither poverty nor hunger. In the society +of those immortals who still rule our spirits from +their urns, we become assured that though heaven and +earth may pass away, no true thought shall ever pass away.</p> + +<p>The great orator, on whose lips once hung multitudes, +dies and is forgotten; the great actor passes swiftly off the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_189" id="Pg_189"></a>[<a href="./images/189.png">189</a>]</span> +stage, and is seen no more; the great singer, whose voice +charmed listening crowds by its melody, is hushed in the +grave; the great preacher survives but a single generation +in the memory of men; all we who now live and act must +be, in a little while, with yesterday's seven thousand years:—but +the book of the great writer lives on and on, inspiring +age after age of readers, and has in it more of the seeds +of immortality than anything upon earth.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_190" id="Pg_190"></a>[<a href="./images/190.png">190</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a>CHAPTER 10.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Aids to Readers.</span></h3> + + +<p>There is one venerable Latin proverb which deserves a +wider recognition than it has yet received. It is to the +effect that "the best part of learning is to know where to +find things." From lack of this knowledge, an unskilled +reader will often spend hours in vainly searching for what +a skilled reader can find in less than five minutes. Now, +librarians are presumed to be skilled readers, although it +would not be quite safe to apply this designation to all of +that profession, since there are those among librarians, or +their assistants, who are mere novices in the art of reading +to advantage. Manifestly, one cannot teach what he does +not know: and so the librarian who has not previously travelled +the same road, will not be able to guide the inquiring +reader who asks him to point out the way. But if the way +has once been found, the librarian, with only a fairly good +memory, kept in constant exercise by his vocation, can find +it again. Still more surely, if he has been through it many +times, will he know it intuitively, the moment any question +is asked about it.</p> + +<p>It is true of the great majority of readers resorting to +a library, that they have a most imperfect idea, both of +what they want, and of the proper way to find it. The +world of knowledge, they know, is vast, and they are quite +bewildered by the many paths that lead to some part or +other of it, crossing each other in all directions. And +among the would-be readers may be found every shade of +intelligence, and every degree of ignorance. There is the +timid variety, too modest or diffident to ask for any help at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_191" id="Pg_191"></a>[<a href="./images/191.png">191</a>]</span> +all, and so feeling about among the catalogues or other +reference-books in a baffled search for information. There +is the sciolist variety, who knows it all, or imagines that +he does, and who asks for proof of impossible facts, with +an assurance born of the profoundest ignorance. Then, +too, there is the half-informed reader, who is in search of +a book he once read, but has clean forgotten, which had a +remarkable description of a tornado in the West, or a +storm and ship-wreck at sea, or a wonderful tropical garden, +or a thrilling escape from prison, or a descent into the +bowels of the earth, or a tremendous snow-storm, or a +swarming flight of migratory birds, or a mausoleum of departed +kings, or a haunted chamber hung with tapestry, +or the fatal caving-in of a coal-mine, or a widely destructive +flood, or a hair-breadth escape from cannibals, or a +race for life, pursued by wolves, or a wondrous sub-marine +grotto, or a terrible forest fire, or any one of a hundred +scenes or descriptions, all of which the librarian is presumed, +not only to have read, but to have retained in his +memory the author, the title, and the very chapter of the +book which contained it.</p> + +<p>To give some idea of the extent and variety of information +which a librarian is supposed to possess, I have been +asked, almost at the same time, to refer a reader to the +origin of Candlemas day, to define the Pragmatic Sanction, +to give, out of hand, the aggregate wealth of Great +Britain, compared with that of half-a-dozen other nations, +to define the limits of neutrality or belligerent rights, to +explain what is meant by the Gresham law, to tell what ship +has made the quickest voyage to Europe, when she made +it, and what the time was, to elucidate the meaning of the +Carolina doctrine, to explain the character and objects of +the Knights of the Golden Circle, to tell how large are the +endowments of the British Universities, to give the origin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_192" id="Pg_192"></a>[<a href="./images/192.png">192</a>]</span> +of the custom of egg-rolling, to tell the meaning of the +cipher dispatches, to explain who was "Extra Billy Smith," +to tell the aggregate number killed on all sides during the +Napoleonic wars, to certify who wrote the "Vestiges of +Creation," or, finally, to give the author of one of those +innumerable ancient proverbs, which float about the world +without a father.</p> + +<p>The great number and variety of such inquiries as are +propounded by readers should not appal one. Nor should +one too readily take refuge from a troublesome reader by +the plea, however convenient, that the library contains +nothing on that subject. While this may unquestionably +be true, especially as regards a small public library, it +should never be put forward as a certainty, until one has +looked. Most inquiring readers are very patient, and +being fully sensible how much they owe to the free enjoyment +of the library treasures, and to the aid of the superintendent +of them, they are willing to wait for information. +However busy you may be at the moment, the reader +can be asked to wait, or to call at a less busy time, when +you will be prepared with a more satisfactory answer than +can be given on the spur of the moment. What cannot +be done to-day, may often be done to-morrow. Remember +always, that readers are entitled to the best and most careful +service, for a librarian is not only the keeper, but the +interpreter of the intellectual stores of the library. It +is a good and a safe rule to let no opportunity of aiding a +reader escape. One should be particularly careful to +volunteer help to those who are too new or too timid to +ask: and it is they who will be most grateful for any assistance. +The librarian has only to put himself in their +place—(the golden rule for a librarian, as for all the world +besides), and to consider how often, in his own searches in +libraries, in the continual, never-ending quest of knowl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_193" id="Pg_193"></a>[<a href="./images/193.png">193</a>]</span>edge, +he would have been thankful for a hint from some +one who knew, or had been over the ground of his search +before; and then he will feel the full value to the novice, +of such knowledge as he can impart.</p> + +<p>He is not to forget that his superior opportunities for +learning all about things, with a whole library at command, +and within elbow-reach every hour of the day, +should impose upon him a higher standard of attainment +than most readers are supposed to have reached. In the +intervals of library work, I am accustomed to consider the +looking up of subjects or authorities as one of my very +best recreations. It is as interesting as a game of whist, +and much more profitable. It is more welcome than routine +labor, for it rests or diverts the mind, by its very +variety, while, to note the different views or expressions of +writers on the same subject, affords almost endless entertainment. +In tracing down a quotation also, or the half-remembered +line of some verse in poetry, you encounter a +host of parallel poetic images or expressions, which contribute +to aid the memory, or to feed the imagination. Or, +in pursuing a sought-for fact in history, through many +volumes, you learn collaterally much that may never have +met your eye before. Full, as all libraries are, of what +we call trash, there is almost no book which will not give +us something,—even though it be only the negative virtue +of a model to be avoided. One may not, indeed, always +find what he seeks, because it may not exist at all, +or it may not be found in the limited range of his small +library, but he is almost sure to find something which +gives food for thought, or for memory to note. And this +is one of the foremost attractions, let me add, of the librarian's +calling; it is more full of intellectual variety, of wide-open +avenues to knowledge, than any other vocation whatever. +His daily quests in pursuit of information to lay be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_194" id="Pg_194"></a>[<a href="./images/194.png">194</a>]</span>fore +others, bring him acquainted with passages that are +full of endless suggestion for himself. He may not be able +to pursue any of these avenues at the moment; but he +should make a mental or a written note of them, for future +benefit. His daily business being learning, why should he +not in time, become learned? There are, of course, among +the infinitude of questions, that come before the librarian, +some that are really insoluble problems. One of these is +to be found among the topics of inquiry I just now suggested; +namely: what is the aggregate wealth of Great +Britain, or that of other nations? This is a question frequently +asked by inquiring Congressmen, who imagine that +an answer may readily be had from one of those gifted +librarians who is invested with that apocryphal attribute, +commonly called omniscience. But the inquirer is suddenly +confronted by the fact (and a very stubborn fact it +is) that not a single foreign nation has ever taken any +census of wealth whatever. In Great Britain (about which +country inquiry as to the national resources more largely +centres) the government wisely lets alone the attempt to +tabulate the value of private wealth, knowing that such an +object is utterly impracticable.</p> + +<p>But, while the British census makes no attempt at estimating +the property of the people, the independent estimates +of statistical writers vary hopelessly and irreconcilably. +Mr. J. R. McCulloch, one of the foremost accredited +writers on economic science, lays it down as a +dictum, that "sixty years is the shortest time in which the +capital of an old and densely-peopled country can be expected +to be doubled." Yet Joseph Lowe assumes the +wealth of the United Kingdom to have doubled in eighteen +years, from 1823 to 1841; while George R. Porter, +in his widely-accredited book on the "Progress of the Nation," +and Leoni Levi, a publicist of high reputation, make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_195" id="Pg_195"></a>[<a href="./images/195.png">195</a>]</span> +out, (by combining their estimates) that the private wealth +of England increased fifty per cent. in seventeen years, at +which rate it would double in about twenty-nine years, instead +of sixty, as laid down by Mr. McCulloch. Mr. Levi +calculates the aggregate private wealth of Great Britain in +1858, at $29,178,000,000, being a fraction less than the +guesses of the census enumerators at the national wealth of +the United States, twelve years later, in 1870. Can one +guess be said to be any nearer the fact than the other? +May we not be pardoned for treating all estimates as utterly +fallacious that are not based upon known facts and figures? +Why do we hear so much of the "approximate correctness" +of so many statistical tables, when, in point of +fact, the primary data are incapable of proof, and the averages +and conclusions built upon them are all assumed? +"Statisticians," says one of the fraternity, "are generally +held to be eminently practical people; on the contrary, +they are more given to theorizing than any other class of +writers; and are generally less expert in it."</p> + +<p>In the presence of such gross discrepancies as these, by +statisticians of the highest repute, and among such a +practical people as the English, what value can be attached +to the mere estimates of wealth which have been attempted +in the census of the United States? The careful Superintendent +of the Census of 1870 and 1880, the late Francis +A. Walker, writes concerning it:</p> + +<p>"At the best, these figures represent but the opinion of +one man, or of a body of men, in the collection of material, +and in the calculation of the several elements of the public +wealth." And in the last Census Report for 1890, the +results of the so-called "census of wealth," are cautiously +submitted, "as showing in a general way a continuous increase +in the wealth of the nation, the exact proportions +of which cannot be measured."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_196" id="Pg_196"></a>[<a href="./images/196.png">196</a>]</span>Now, what are we to conclude regarding the attempt to +elevate to a rank in statistical science, mere estimates of +private wealth, for a large portion of which, by the statements +of those who make them, no actual statistical data +exist? And when this is confessedly the case in our own +country, the only one attempting the impossible task of +tabulating the wealth of the people, what shall we say of +the demand that is made upon our credulity of accepting +the guesses of Mr. Giffen, or Mr. Mulhall, as to British +wealth? Are we not justified in applying the old Latin +maxim—"<i>De non apparentibus, et de non existentibus, +eadem est ratio</i>," and replying to those who demand of us +to know how much any nation is worth, that it is sometimes +an important part of knowledge to know that nothing +can be known?</p> + +<p>Among the literally innumerable inquiries liable to be +made of a librarian, here is one which may give him more +than a moment's pause, unless he is uncommonly well +versed in American political history—namely, "What was +the Ostend Manifesto?" To a mind not previously instructed +these two words "Ostend Manifesto", convey +absolutely no meaning. You turn to the standard encyclopaedias, +Appleton's, Johnson's Universal, and the Britannica, +and you find an account of Ostend, a little Belgian +city, its locality, commerce, and population, but absolutely +nothing about an Ostend manifesto. But in J. N. +Larned's "History for Ready Reference", a useful book +in five volumes, arranged in alphabetical order, you get +a clue. It refers you from Ostend, under letter O, to +Cuba, where you learn that this formidable Ostend manifesto +was nothing more nor less than a paper drawn up and +signed by Messrs. Buchanan, Mason, and Slidell, Ministers +of the United States to Great Britain, France, and +Spain, respectively, when at the watering-place of Ostend,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_197" id="Pg_197"></a>[<a href="./images/197.png">197</a>]</span> +in 1854, importing that the island of Cuba ought to, and +under certain circumstances, must belong to the United +States. Looking a little farther, as the manifesto is not +published in Larned, you find the text of the document itself +in Cluskey's "Political Text-Book", of 1860, and in +some of the American newspapers of 1854. This is a case +of pursuing a once notorious, but more recently obscure +topic, through many works of reference until found.</p> + +<p>In many searches for names of persons, it becomes +highly important to know before-hand where to look, and +equally important where not to look, for certain biographies. +Thus, if you seek for the name of any living character, +it is necessary to know that it would be useless to +look in the Encyclopædia Britannica, because the rule of +compilation of that work purposely confined its sketches +of notable persons to those who were already deceased +when its volumes appeared. So you save the time of hunting +in at least one conspicuous work of reference, before +you begin, by simply knowing its plan.</p> + +<p>In like manner, you should know that it is useless to +search for two classes of names in the "Dictionary of National +Biography," the most copious biographical dictionary +of British personages ever published, begun in 1885, +under Leslie Stephen, and reaching its sixty-first volume, +and letter W in 1899, under the editorship of Sidney Lee. +These two classes of names are first, all persons not British, +that is, not either English, Scottish or Irish; and secondly, +names of British persons now living. This is because +this great work, like the Britannica, purposely confines +itself to the names of notables deceased; and, unlike +the Britannica, it further limits its biographies to persons +connected by birth or long residence with the British +kingdom. Knowing this fact before-hand, will save any +time wasted in searching the Dictionary of National Biog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_198" id="Pg_198"></a>[<a href="./images/198.png">198</a>]</span>raphy +for any persons now living, or for any American or +European names.</p> + +<p>Another caveat may properly be interposed as regards +searches for information in that most widely advertised +and circulated of all works of reference,—the Encyclopaedia +Britannica. The plan of that work was to furnish +the reading public with the very best treatises upon leading +topics in science, history, and literature, by eminent +scholars and specialists in various fields. Pursuant to this +general scheme, each great subject has a most elaborate, +and sometimes almost exhaustive article—as, for example, +chemistry, geology, etc., while the minor divisions of each +topic do not appear in the alphabet at all, or appear only +by cross-reference to the generic name under which they +are treated. It results, that while you find, for example, +a most extensive article upon "Anatomy", filling a large +part of a volume of the Britannica, you look in vain in +the alphabet for such subjects as "blood, brain, cartilage, +sinew, tissue," etc., which are described only in the article +"Anatomy." This method has to be well comprehended in +order for any reader to make use of this great Cyclopaedia +understandingly. Even by the aid of the English index +to the work, issued by its foreign publishers, the reader +who is in hasty quest of information in the Britannica, +will most frequently be baffled by not finding any minor +subject in the index. The English nation, judged by most +of the productions of its literary and scientific men in that +field, has small genius for indexing. It was reserved to +an American to prepare and print a thorough index, at +once alphabetical and analytical, to this great English +thesaurus of information—an index ten times more copious, +and therefore more useful to the student, than the +meagre one issued in England. This index fills 3,900 +closely printed columns, forming the whole of volume 25<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_199" id="Pg_199"></a>[<a href="./images/199.png">199</a>]</span> +of the Philadelphia edition of the work. By its aid, every +name and every topic, treated anywhere in this vast repository +of human knowledge can be traced out and appropriated; +while without it, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, +with all its great merits, must remain very much in +the nature of a sealed book to the reader who stands in +need of immediate use and reference. We have to take +it for what it is—a collection of masterly treatises, rather +than a handy dictionary of knowledge.</p> + +<p>The usefulness and success of any library will depend +very largely upon the sympathy, so to speak, between the +readers and the librarian. When this is well established, +the rest is very easy. The librarian should not seclude +himself so as to be practically inaccessible to readers, nor +trust wholly to assistants to answer their inquiries. This +may be necessary in some large libraries, where great and +diversified interests connected with the building up of the +collection, the catalogue system, and the library management +and administration are all concerned. In the British +Museum Library, no one ever sees the Principal Librarian; +even the next officer, who is called the keeper of the +printed books, is not usually visible in the reading-room at +all.</p> + +<p>A librarian who is really desirous of doing the greatest +good to the greatest number of people, will be not only +willing, but anxious to answer inquiries, even though they +may appear to him trivial and unimportant. Still, he +should also economise time by cultivating the habit of +putting his answers into the fewest and plainest words.</p> + +<p>How far the librarian should place himself in direct +communication with readers, must depend largely upon +the extent of the library, the labor required in managing +its various departments, the amount and value of assistance +at his command, and upon various other circum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_200" id="Pg_200"></a>[<a href="./images/200.png">200</a>]</span>stances, +depending upon the different conditions with different +librarians. But it may be laid down as a safe general +rule, that the librarian should hold himself perpetually +as a public servant, ready and anxious to answer in +some way, all inquiries that may come to him. Thus, +and thus only, can he make himself, and the collection of +books under his charge, useful in the highest degree to +the public. He will not indeed, in any extensive library, +find it convenient, or even possible, to answer all inquiries +in person; but he should always be ready to enable his +assistants to answer them, by his superior knowledge as to +the best sources of information, whenever they fail to trace +out what is wanted. In any small library, he should be +always accessible, at or near the place where people are +accustomed to have their wants for books or information +supplied: and the public resorting to the library will thus +come not only to rely upon him for aid in their intellectual +researches, but to appreciate and respect him for the wide +extent of his knowledge, and to consider him, in time, an +indispensable guide, if not leader, in the community. His +reputation, in fact, will depend upon the extent to which +he has been able to help others, as well as upon the number +of people whom he has thus aided.</p> + +<p>In a very high sense, the true librarian is an educator; +his school is as large as the town in which his library is +situated. Very few people in that town know what he is +always presumed to know,—namely—to what books to go +to get answers to the questions they want answered. In +supplying continually the means of answering these countless +questions, the library becomes actually a popular university, +in which the librarian is the professor, the tuition +is free, and the course is optional, both as to study and as +to time.</p> + +<p>Most persons who come to make any investigation in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_201" id="Pg_201"></a>[<a href="./images/201.png">201</a>]</span> +public library require a good deal of assistance. For example, +a reader is in need of the latest information as to +the amount of steel and iron made in this country, and +what State produces these important manufactures. He +has not the faintest idea where to look for the information, +except that it may be in the census, but the census is nine +years old, and he wants recent facts. It is vain to turn +him over to the cyclopaedias, for there is not one whose +information upon such statistics comes anywhere near up +to date. You have to put before him a pamphlet annual, +published by the American Iron and Steel Association, +which contains exactly what he wants; and no other source +of information does contain it.</p> + +<p>Another inquirer seeks to know how to treat some disease. +In such cases, of course, the librarian should not +go farther than to put before the reader a work on domestic +medicine, for it is not his function to deal in recommendations +of this, that, or the other method of treatment, +any more than it is to give legal opinions, if asked—although +he may have studied law. So, if the reader +wants to know about the religious tenets of the Presbyterians, +or the Mormons, or the Buddhists, or the doctrines +of the Catholic Church, and asks the librarian's opinion +about any controverted question of belief, he is to be +answered only by the statement that the library is there +to supply information, not opinions, and then pointed to +the religious cyclopaedias, which give full summaries of all +the sects.</p> + +<p>He may frequently be asked for information on a subject +which he knows nothing about; and I have heard a +librarian declare, that he often found himself able to give +fuller and better information on a subject of which he was +previously ignorant, than upon one he had long been +familiar with. The reason was that in the one case he had +freshly looked up all the authorities, and put them before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_202" id="Pg_202"></a>[<a href="./images/202.png">202</a>]</span> +the reader, while in the other, giving the references from +a memory, more or less imperfect, he had overlooked some +of the most important means of information.</p> + +<p>The constant exercise of the habit of supplying helps +to readers is a splendid intellectual school for the librarian +himself. Through it, his memory is quickened and consequently +improved, (as every faculty is by use) his habits +of mental classification and analysis are formed or +strengthened, and his mind is kept on the alert to utilize +the whole arsenal of the knowledge he has already acquired, +or to acquire new knowledge.</p> + +<p>Another very important benefit derived by the librarian +from his constantly recurring attention to the calls of +readers for aid, is the suggestion thereby furnished of the +deficiencies in the collection in his charge. This will be +a continual reminder to him, of what he most needs, +namely, how to equip the library with the best and most +recent sources of information in every field of inquiry. +Whether the library be a large or a small one, its deficiencies +in some directions are sure to be very considerable: +and these gaps are more <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'conspiciously'">conspicuously</ins> revealed in trying +to supply readers with the means of making what may be +termed an exhaustive research upon a given subject, than +in any other way. You find, for example, in looking up +your authorities in what has come to be called Egyptology, +that while you have Wilkinson's Ancient Egypt, and Lane's +Modern Egyptians, both of which are very valuable works, +you have not the more modern books of Brugsch-Bey, or +of A. H. Sayce, or of Maspero. You may also find out, by +mingling freely with a good part of the readers, what subjects +are most frequently looked into or inquired about, +and you can thus secure valuable information as to the +directions in which the library most needs strengthening. +Thus, in a community largely made up of people connected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_203" id="Pg_203"></a>[<a href="./images/203.png">203</a>]</span> +with manufacturing interests, the inquiries are liable to be +much concerned with the mechanic arts; and you would +therefore naturally seek to acquire a liberal selection of +the best and latest works in technical science, or the useful +arts. If you have, on the other hand, very few inquiries, +indeed, for theological works, you take it as some +evidence that that department of the collection needs little +enlargement, and you may devote your funds in other directions. +Then too, the great value of popularising the +library by the hearty interest shown by the librarian in +the wants of the people can hardly be over-rated. This +interest, being a perennial one, and continued through a +series of years, the number of citizens and their families +assisted will be constantly on the increase, and the public +opinion of the town will come in time, to regard the library +as a great popular necessity. Hence, if it is an institution +supported in whole or in part by town or municipal funds, +its claims to liberal consideration will be immeasurably +strengthened. If an enlargement of room for the books, +or even a new library building comes to be needed, its +chances for securing the funds requisite will be excellent. +If a more liberal supply of new books, or an extended range +of older ones of great value is reported by the librarian +as wanted to increase the usefulness of the library, the +authorities will more cheerfully consider the claim. And +if it is proposed that additional and competent assistance +shall be given to the librarian, or that he should be more +liberally compensated for his highly useful and important +labors, that, too, may be accomplished—especially if it has +come to be recognized that by his wide knowledge, and +skilful management, and helpful devotion to the service of +the reading public, he has rendered himself indispensable.</p> + +<p>In the supply of information desired by readers, it is better +to leave them to their own search, once you have put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_204" id="Pg_204"></a>[<a href="./images/204.png">204</a>]</span> +before them the proper authorities, than to spend your +time in turning for them to the volume and page. This, +for two reasons—first, it leaves your own time free to help +other readers, or to attend to the ever-waiting library +work; and, secondly, it induces habits of research and +self-help on the part of the reader. It is enough for the +librarian to act as an intelligent guide-post, to point the +way; to travel the road is the business of the reader himself. +Therefore, let the visitor in quest of a quotation, +look it out in the index of the volumes you put before him. +If he fails to find it, it will then be time for you to intervene, +and lend the aid of your more practiced eye, and +superior knowledge of how to search; or else, let the +reader look for it in some more copious anthology, which +you may put before him. There are multitudes of inquiries +for the authors of poems, which are in no sense +"familiar quotations," nor even select quotations, but +which are merely common-place sentiments expressed in +language quite unpoetic,—and not the work of any notable +writer at all. They are either the production of some +utterly obscure author of a volume of verse, quite unknown +to fame, or, still more probably, the half-remembered +verses of some anonymous contributor to the poet's corner +of the newspaper or magazine. In such cases, where you +see no poetic beauty or imaginative power in the lines, it +is well to inform the inquirer at once that you do not +think them the production of any noted writer, and thus +end the fruitless search for memorizing what is not at all +memorable. What may strike uncultivated readers as +beautiful, may be set down as trash, by a mind that has +been fed upon the masterpieces of poetry. Not that the +librarian is to assume the air of an oracle or a censor, +(something to be in all circumstances avoided) or to pronounce +positive judgment upon what is submitted: he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_205" id="Pg_205"></a>[<a href="./images/205.png">205</a>]</span> +should inform any admiring reader of a passage not +referred to in any of the anthologies, and not possessing +apparent poetic merit, that he believes the author is unknown +to fame. That should be sufficient for any reasonably +disposed reader, who, after search duly completed, +will go away answered, if not satisfied.</p> + +<p>I gave some instances of the singular variety of questions +asked of a librarian. Let me add one, reported by +Mr. Robert Harrison, of the London Library, as asked of +him by William M. Thackeray. The distinguished author +of Esmond and The Virginians wanted a book that would +tell of General Wolfe, the hero of Quebec. "I don't want to +know about his battles", said the novelist. "I can get +all that from the histories. I want something that will +tell me the color of the breeches he wore." After due +search, the librarian was obliged to confess that there was +no such book.</p> + +<p>A librarian is likely to be constantly in a position to aid +the uninformed reader how to use the books of reference +which every public library contains. The young person +who is new to the habit of investigation, or the adult who +has never learned the method of finding things, needs to +be shown how to use even so simple a thing as an index. +Do not be impatient with his ignorance, although you may +find him fumbling over the pages in the body of the book +in vain, to find what you, with your acquired knowledge +of indexes and their use, can find in half a minute or less. +Practice alone can make one perfect in the art of search +and speedy finding. The tyro who tries your patience this +year, will very likely become an expert reader the next. +Wide as is the domain of ignorance, there are few among +those intelligent enough to resort to a library at all, who +cannot learn. You will find some who come to the library +so unskilled, that they will turn over the leaves even of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_206" id="Pg_206"></a>[<a href="./images/206.png">206</a>]</span> +an index, in a blind, hap-hazard way, evidently at a loss +how to use it. These must be instructed first, that the index +is arranged just like a dictionary, in the alphabetical +order of the names or subjects treated, and secondly, that +after finding the word they seek in it, they must turn to +the page indicated by the figure attached to that word. +This is the very primer of learning in the use of a library, +but the library in any town, used as it is by many boys +and girls of all ages, has to be a primary school for beginners, +as well as a university for advanced students. +Despise not the day of small things, however you may find +it more agreeable to be occupied with great ones.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, you will find at the other extreme +of intelligence, among your clientage of readers, those who +are completely familiar with books and their uses. There +are some readers frequenting public libraries, who not only +do not need assistance themselves, but who are fully competent +to instruct the librarian. In meeting the calls of +such skilled readers, who always know what they require, +it is never good policy to obtrude advice or suggestion, +but simply to supply what they call for. You will readily +recognize and discriminate such experts from the mass of +readers, if you have good discernment. Sometimes they +are quite as sensitive as they are intelligent, and it may +annoy them to have offered them books they do not want, +in the absence of what they require. An officious, or +super-serviceable librarian or assistant, may sometimes +prejudice such a reader by proffering help which he does +not want, instead of waiting for his own call or occasion.</p> + +<p>Let us look at a few examples of the numerous calls at +a popular library. For example, a reader asks to see a +book, giving an account of the marriage of the Adriatic. +You know that this concerns the history of Venice and its +Doges, and you turn to various books on Venice, and its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_207" id="Pg_207"></a>[<a href="./images/207.png">207</a>]</span> +history, until you find a description of the strange festival. +It may be, and probably is the case, that the books, like +most descriptive works and narratives of travellers, are +without index. This is a disability in the use of books +which you must continually encounter, since multitudes +of volumes, old and new, are sent out without a vestige of +an index to their contents. Some writers have urged that +a law should be made refusing copyright to the author of +any book who failed to provide it with an index; a requirement +highly desirable, but also highly impracticable. +Yet you will find in most books, a division of the contents +into chapters, and in the beginning of the volume a table +of the contents of each chapter, giving its leading topics. +This is a substitute for an index, although (not being arranged +in alphabetical order) it is far less useful than that +time-saving aid to research. But you have to learn to +take advantage of even poor and inferior helps, when you +cannot have the best, (as a poor guide is better than no +guide at all, unless it misguides,) and so you run your eye +quickly through the table of contents to find what you +seek. In the case supposed, of the ceremony at Venice, +you will be aided in the search by having in mind that +the catch-words involved are "Adriatic," and "Doge," and +as these begin with capital letters, which stand out, as it +were, from the monotonous "lower case" type (as printers +call all the letters that are not capitals) your search will +be much abridged by omitting to read through all the +sentences of your table of contents, and seizing only the +passage or passages where "Doge," or "Adriatic," may +occur.</p> + +<p>This remark will apply as well to numerous other +searches which you will have to make in books. The table +of contents will commonly take note of all the more salient +topics that are treated in the book, whether of persons, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_208" id="Pg_208"></a>[<a href="./images/208.png">208</a>]</span> +places, of notable scenes, historic events, etc., and so will +aid you in finding what you seek. In the last resort only, +in the books whose table of contents fails you, will you +have to turn the leaves page by page, which, while not +equivalent to reading the book through, is a time-consuming +business.</p> + +<p>Of course no librarian can devote hours of his precious +time to searches in such detail for readers. They are to +be supplied with the books likely to contain what they are +in search of, and left to seek it in their own way, with +such hints and cautions as to saving time by taking the +shortest road, as the experience of the librarian enables +him to supply. The suggestions here given are not needed +by scholarly readers, but are the fruits of long experience +in searching books for what they contain.</p> + +<p>Again, let us take the case of a call by a reader who happens +to be a decorative painter, for patterns which may +furnish him hints in finishing an interior of a house. Of +course he wants color—that is, not theory only, but illustration, +or practical examples. So you put before him +Owen Jones's Grammar of Ornament, or Racinet's <i>L'Ornement +polychrome</i>, both illustrated with many beautiful designs +in color, which he is delighted to find.</p> + +<p>Another reader is anxious to see a picture of "St. George +and the Dragon." If you have the "Museum of Painting +and Sculpture," in 17 volumes, or Champlin's "Cyclopaedia +of Painters and Painting," a dictionary of art in four volumes, +you find it in either work, in the alphabet, under +"St. George," and his want is satisfied.</p> + +<p>A youngster wants to know how to build a boat, and +you find him Folkard on Boats, or Frazar's Sail-boats, +which describe and figure various styles of water-craft.</p> + +<p>Perhaps an inquisitive reader wants to find out all about +the families of the various languages, and what is known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_209" id="Pg_209"></a>[<a href="./images/209.png">209</a>]</span> +of their origin, and you supply him with W. D. Whitney's +"Life and Growth of Language," or Max Müller's "Science +of Language," either of which furnishes full information.</p> + +<p>Another inquirer seeks for information about the aggregate +debts of nations. You give him the great quarto +volume of the last Census on Wealth and Indebtedness, or +for still later information the Statesman's Year Book for +1899, or the Almanach de Gotha for the current year, both +of which contain the comparative debts of nations at the +latest dates.</p> + +<p>The inquirer who seeks to know the rates of wages paid +for all kinds of labor in a series of several years, can be +supplied with the elaborate Report on Labor and Wages +for fifty-two years, published by the U. S. Government in +1893, in four volumes.</p> + +<p>Another reader wishes, we will suppose, to hunt up the +drawings of all patents that have been issued on type-writers, +and type-writing inventions. You put before +him the many indexes to the Patent Specifications and +Patent Office Gazette; he makes out from these his list of +volumes wanted, which are at once supplied, and he falls +to work on his long, but to him interesting job.</p> + +<p>A reader who has seen in the library or elsewhere a book +he would much like to own, but cannot find a copy in town, +wants to know what it will cost: you turn to your American +or foreign catalogue, covering the year of publication, +and give him not only the price, but the publisher's name +from whom he can order it, and he goes on his way rejoicing.</p> + +<p>An artist engaged upon a painting in which he wishes +to introduce a deer, or a group of rabbits, or an American +eagle, or a peacock, asks for an accurate picture of the +bird or animal wanted. You put before him J. S. Kings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_210" id="Pg_210"></a>[<a href="./images/210.png">210</a>]</span>ley's +Riverside Natural History, in six volumes, and his desire +is satisfied.</p> + +<p>In dealing with books of reference, there will often be +found very important discrepancies of statement, different +works giving different dates, for example, for the same +event in history or biography.</p> + +<p>Next to a bible and a dictionary of language, there is no +book, perhaps, more common than a biographical dictionary. +Our interest in our fellow-men is perennial; and we +seek to know not only their characteristics, and the distinguishing +events of their lives, but also the time of their +birth into the world and their exit from it. This is a +species of statistics upon which one naturally expects certainty, +since no person eminent enough to be recorded at +all is likely to have the epoch of his death, at least, unremarked. +Yet the seeker after exact information in the +biographical dictionaries will find, if he extends his quest +among various authorities, that he is afloat on a sea of uncertainties. +Not only can he not find out the date of decease +of some famous navigators, like Sir John Franklin +and La Perouse, who sailed into unexplored regions of the +globe, and were never heard of more, but the men who +died at home, in the midst of friends and families, are frequently +recorded as deceased at dates so discrepant that no +ingenuity can reconcile them.</p> + +<p>In Haydn's Dictionary of Dates, Sir Henry Havelock was +said to have died November 25th, 1857, while Maunder's +Treasury of Biography gives November 21st, the London +Almanac, November 27th, and the Life of Havelock, by +his brother-in-law, November 24th. Here are four distinct +dates of death given, by authorities apparently equally +accredited, to a celebrated general, who died within +forty years of our own time. Of the death of the notorious +Robespierre, guillotined in 1794, we find in Chalmers'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_211" id="Pg_211"></a>[<a href="./images/211.png">211</a>]</span> +Biographical Dictionary that he died July 10th, in Rees's +Cyclopaedia, July 28th, and in Alison's History of Europe, +July 29th. Doubtless it is some comfort to reflect, in +view of his many crimes, that the bloody tyrant of the +Jacobins is really dead, irrespective of the date, about +which biographers may dispute. Of the English mechanician +Joseph Bramah, inventor of the Bramah lock, we +learn from the English Cyclopaedia, that he died in 1814, +and from Rose's Biographical Dictionary, that he died in +1815.</p> + +<p>Now, although a large share of the errors and discrepancies +that abound in biographical dictionaries and other +books of reference may be accounted for by misprints, +others by reckoning old style instead of new, and many +more by carelessness of writers and transcribers, it is plain +that all the variations cannot be thus accounted for. +Nothing is more common in printing offices than to find a +figure 6 inverted serving as a 9, a 5 for a 3, or a 3 for an +8, while 8, 9, and O, are frequently interchanged. In such +cases, a keen-eyed proof-reader may not always be present +to prevent the falsification of history; and it is a fact, not +sufficiently recognized, that to the untiring vigilance, intelligence, +and hard, conscientious labors of proof-readers, +the world owes a deeper debt of gratitude than it does to +many a famous maker of books. It is easy enough to make +books, Heaven knows, but to make them correct, "<i>Hic +labor, hoc opus est</i>."</p> + +<p>A high authority in encyclopaedical lore tells us that +the best accredited authorities are at odds with regard to +the birth or death of individuals in the enormous ratio of +from twenty to twenty-five per cent. of the whole number +in the biographical dictionaries. The Portuguese poet +Camoens is said by some authorities to have been born in +1517, and by others in 1525; a discrepancy of eight years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_212" id="Pg_212"></a>[<a href="./images/212.png">212</a>]</span> +Chateaubriand is declared by the English Cyclopaedia to +have been born September 4th, 1768; September 14th, +1768, by the Nouvelle Biographie générale of Dr. Hoefer; +and September 4th, 1769, by the Conversations-Lexicon. +Of course it is clear that all these authorities cannot be +right; but which of the three is so, is matter of extreme +doubt, leaving the student of facts perplexed and uncertain +at the very point where certainty is not only most +important, but most confidently expected.</p> + +<p>Of another kind are the errors that sometimes creep +into works of reference of high credit, by accepting too +confidently statements publicly made. In one edition of +the Dictionary of Congress a certain honorable member +from Pennsylvania, in uncommonly robust health, was +astonished to find himself recorded as having died of the +National Hotel disease, contracted at Washington in 1856. +In this case, the editor of the work was a victim of too +much confidence in the newspapers. In the Congressional +Directory, where brief biographies of Congressmen are +given, one distinguished member was printed as having +been elected to Congress at a time which, taken in connection +with his birth-date in the same paragraph, made him +precisely one year old when he took his seat in Congress.</p> + +<p>Even in reporting the contents of public and private +libraries, exaggeration holds sway. The library of George +the Fourth, inherited by that graceless ignoramus from a +book-collecting father, and presented to the British nation +with ostentatious liberality only after he had failed to sell +it to Russia, was said in the publications of those times to +contain about 120,000 volumes. But an actual enumeration +when the books were lodged in the King's library at +the British Museum, where they have ever since remained, +showed that there were only 65,250 volumes, being but +little more than half the reported number. Many libra<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_213" id="Pg_213"></a>[<a href="./images/213.png">213</a>]</span>ries, +public and private, are equally over-estimated. It is +so much easier to guess than to count, and the stern test +of arithmetic is too seldom applied, notwithstanding the +fact that 100,000 volumes can easily be counted in a day +by a single person, and so on in the same proportion. +Here, as in the statistics of population, the same proverb +holds good, that the unknown is always the magnificent, +and on the surface of the globe we inhabit, the unexplored +country is always the most marvellous, since the world began.</p> + +<p>These discrepancies in authorities, and exaggerations of +writers, are not referred to for the purpose of casting doubt +upon all published history, but only to point out that we +cannot trust implicitly to what we find in books. Bearing +in mind always, that accuracy is perhaps the rarest of +human qualities, we should hold our judgment in reserve +upon controverted statements, trusting no writer implicitly, +unless sustained by original authorities. When asked +to recommend the best book upon any subject, do not too +confidently assert the merits of the one you may think the +best, but say simply that it is well accredited, or very +popular. It is not always safe to recommend books, and +the librarian does well to speak with proper reservations as +to most of them, and to recommend only what are well +known to him to be good, by his own intimate acquaintance +with them, or, which is the surest test of all, by the +verdicts of critical reviews, or by the constant reprinting +of them in many successive years.</p> + +<p>It was the well-nigh unanimous report at a Conference +of American librarians, upon the subject of "aids to readers", +that "nothing can take the place of an intelligent and +obliging assistant at the desk." This was after a thorough +canvass of the relative merits of the various reference books +and helps to readers in book form. Not only the casual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_214" id="Pg_214"></a>[<a href="./images/214.png">214</a>]</span> +reader, and the reader with a purpose may be constantly +aided by the librarian's knowledge, and larger experience +in the art of finding things, but teachers in the schools, +clergymen preparing discourses, and every one seeking to +know anything, should find the librarian a living catalogue. +There is nothing so effective in the world as individual +effort.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_215" id="Pg_215"></a>[<a href="./images/215.png">215</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a>CHAPTER 11.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Access to Library Shelves.</span></h3> + + +<p>The matter of free or unrestricted access to the books +on the shelves is a vexed question in libraries. Open and +unprotected shelves, either in alcoves or the main reading +room, while they appear to be a boon to readers, who can +thus browse at will through the literary pastures, and turn +over volumes at their pleasure, furnish by no means good +security for the books. Some of the smaller public libraries +protect their books from access by glass doors in front +of the shelves, which form also a partial protection against +dust. Others again, use wire screen doors, opened, like +the others, by lock and key when books are wanted. Both +of these arrangements give to readers the advantage of +reading the titles on the backs of most of the books in the +library, while protecting them from being handled, disarranged, +or removed. But they are also open to the objection +that they obstruct the prompt service of the books, +by just the amount of time it takes to open the doors or +screens, and close them again. This trouble and delay +may overbalance the supposed advantages. Certainly they +must do so in all large libraries, where the frequentation +is great, and where every moment's delay in the book service +works disadvantage to numerous readers. While private +libraries, or quite small public ones, can indulge in +the luxury of glass cases, no extensive collection can be +managed with the requisite promptitude under their obstructions.</p> + +<p>But how to avoid the indiscriminate and usually careless +handling of the books on shelves, by the people fre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_216" id="Pg_216"></a>[<a href="./images/216.png">216</a>]</span>quenting +the library, and still extend to readers prompt +and full service of all the books they wish to consult on any +subject, is a problem. In a few of the great libraries, +where that modern improvement, the stack system, prevails, +the difficulty is solved by the storing of the books in +the outside repositories, or iron book-stacks to which readers +are not admitted. In this case the reading room is +only for books in use by those frequenting it, or is supplied +with a selection of reference books simply, the stacks being +drawn upon for all the rest. This of course secures the +books both from misplacement and from pillage.</p> + +<p>In smaller libraries which have no stack system (and +this includes by far the greater number) a variety of treatment +prevails. Most of them are unprovided with any effective +means of guarding the books on the shelves from +handling. The result is great insecurity, and inevitable +misplacement of books, amounting often to confusion and +chaos on the shelves, unless corrected by much daily re-arrangement +by the librarian or assistants. This consumes +much valuable time, which ought to be devoted to +other pressing duties.</p> + +<p>One remedy is to guard the shelves by a railing of some +kind, which cannot be passed, except at the gates or passage-ways +provided for the attendants. This simple provision +will protect the orderly arrangement as well as the +safety of the library—two objects both of cardinal importance. +Absolutely free access to all the shelves means, +sooner or later, loss to the library. And the books most +certain to be taken or mutilated are those which it is costly, +or difficult, or in some cases, impossible to replace. +The chances of abstracting engravings from books are +much greater in the shadow of the shelves, than in the +open reading-room, under the eyes of many. In any library +but the smaller ones, the difficulties and dangers of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_217" id="Pg_217"></a>[<a href="./images/217.png">217</a>]</span> +unrestricted handling of all the books by the public will +be developed in the direct ratio of the size of the library. +Nor will it do to admit one class of readers to the shelves, +and exclude others. It often happens that persons claiming +to have special literary or scientific objects, and who +profess that they cannot get along at all by having books +brought to them, are favored in their wish to go to the +shelves, while others are disfavored. This raises at once +the just complaint that invidious distinctions are made. +The only safe rule to follow is that of universal free access, +or impartial and uniform exclusion from the shelves. In +the latter case, no one can complain, especially when made +aware that he can have all the works on a given subject +brought to his seat in a brief time, and can work upon +them to much greater comfort and advantage, seated where +there is good light and ample room, than if standing up in +the shadow of the shelves to pursue his researches.</p> + +<p>It is also to be considered that such disarrangement of +books as inevitably follows free admission to the shelves +deprives the very persons who claim this privilege, of finding +what they seek, until a complete replacement takes +place, throughout the library, and this is necessarily a work +of time. That it involves much more time and consequent +delay than is occasioned by the re-shelving of books used +in a day, is apparent when we consider that in the latter +case, only the number of volumes actually withdrawn from +shelves by the library attendants have to be replaced, and +that these are in conveniently assorted piles all ready to go +to their respective shelves; while in the other case, the displacement +is made by many hands, most of them careless +of any convenience but their own, and moreover, the disarranged +books are, or are liable to be, scattered on the +wrong shelves, thus throwing the entire library into dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_218" id="Pg_218"></a>[<a href="./images/218.png">218</a>]</span>order, +requiring great pains, knowledge, and time to repair.</p> + +<p>In any well-regulated library, the absence of any book +from its place can almost always be accounted for. Thus +it is either—1. In the reading room, in use; or 2. Charged +out to a borrower; or 3. Sent to the binder for rebinding, +or repair; or 4. Reserved for some reader's use; or 5. In +temporary use by a cataloguer, or some other library assistant; +or 6. Among the books not yet re-shelved from +recent use.</p> + +<p>Now each of these is a legitimate reason for the absence +of any book not found in its place. By search under each +of these heads, <i>seriatim</i>, aided by the memory of librarian +and assistants, the missing volume should be readily located, +and soon availed of for use.</p> + +<p>But in the case of books misplaced by readers, no such +tracing out of the whereabouts of any volume is effectual, +for the reason that the book may have been (and probably +is) put on some shelf where it does not belong. And the +question, where in an extensive collection, a book-hunter +admitted to freely range over all the shelves, and a +stranger to the minute classification of books, has misplaced +the missing volumes, is an insoluble problem, except +by hunting over or handling the entire library.</p> + +<p>In this close practical view of the case we have to add to +the long list of the enemies of books, formerly enumerated, +those who demand a right to browse (as they term it) +among the shelves of a public library, and who displace the +books they take down to gratify, it may be, only an idle +curiosity. Their offence consists, not in being anxious to +see the books, but in preventing others from seeing them, +by segregating them where neither librarian nor assistants +may be able to find them, when called for. The whole +question is summed up in the statement that the ability to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_219" id="Pg_219"></a>[<a href="./images/219.png">219</a>]</span> +produce library books when called for, depends strictly +upon keeping them in their proper place: and this is quite +incompatible with promiscuous handling upon the shelves.</p> + +<p>The preservation of order is alike in the interest of the +reading public, of the librarian and his assistants, and of +the very persons who complain of it as depriving them of +library facilities. If library facilities consist in rendering +the books in it unfindable, and therefore unavailable to +any reader, then the argument for free range of the shelves +arrives at a <i>reductio ad absurdum</i>. The true library facilities +consist in a classification and a catalogue which arrange +the books in systematic order, and keep them there, +save when called into use. Thus, and thus only, can those +who resort to a public library for actual research, be assured +of finding what they want, just when they want it. +The time saved to all readers by the sure and steady preservation +of an orderly arrangement of the books, is simply +incalculable. Multiply the number of volumes out of +place by the number of readers who call for them, and you +have some idea of the mischief that may be done through +the carelessness of a few favored readers, to the whole community +of scholars. Of course the considerations here set +forth pre-suppose an active and intelligent librarian, and +zealous and willing attendants, all ever ready to aid the +researches of readers by the most prompt and helpful suggestions, +and by dispatch in placing before them what they +most need. The one cardinal design of a library—to supply +the largest amount of information in the shortest time, +is subverted by any disorganizing scheme. If the library +be administered on the just principle of "the greatest good +to the greatest number," then such individual favoritism +should never be allowed.</p> + +<p>It may, indeed, be claimed that there is no rule without +some valid exceptions; but these exceptions should never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_220" id="Pg_220"></a>[<a href="./images/220.png">220</a>]</span> +be permitted to defeat the cardinal object of the rule—which +is to keep every book strictly in its own place. Let +the exception be confined to allowing an occasional inspection +of the shelves in the company of a library attendant, +and there will be no trouble.</p> + +<p>But there is another danger, aside from the misplacement +of books. Experience has shown that thefts or +mutilations of books have been numerous, in direct proportion +to the extension of freedom and opportunity to +those frequenting the library. Literary men and book-lovers +are frequently book-collectors also; and the temptation +to take what is often too loosely considered public +property is sometimes yielded to by persons whose character +and standing may render them the least suspected. +In one of the largest lending libraries in this country, the +purloining of books had been carried so far, that the authorities +had to provide a wire fence all around the reading +room, to keep the readers from access to the shelves. +The result was soon seen in the reduction of the number +of books stolen from 700 volumes to 300 volumes a year.</p> + +<p>After several years' experience of the Astor Library in +opening its alcoves to readers (amounting to practical free +admission to the shelves to all calling themselves special +students) the losses and mutilations of books became so +serious, that alcove admissions have been greatly curtailed.</p> + +<p>At the Conference of Librarians in London, in 1877, +the subject of admission or non-admission to the shelves +was discussed with the result that opinions were preponderantly +adverse to the free range of the library by readers. +It was pointed out that libraries are established and maintained +at great cost for serious purposes of reading and +study, and that these ends are best subserved by systematic +service at a common centre—not by letting the readers +scatter themselves about the library shelves. To one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_221" id="Pg_221"></a>[<a href="./images/221.png">221</a>]</span> +speaker who held that every one in a free public library +had the right to go to the shelves, and choose his books for +himself, it was answered that this was equivalent to saying +that it is the idler's right to stroll about in every place +devoted to a special business, and interrupt that business +at his pleasure.</p> + +<p>At the International Conference of 1897, an able defence +of open shelves was presented, claiming that it saves +much librarians' time in finding books, if readers are allowed +to find them for themselves; that thefts and mutilations +are inconsiderable; that it makes an appeal to the +honor of people to respect the books; that the open shelf +system does better educational work; that it is economical +by requiring fewer library attendants; that it has grown +steadily in favor in America, and that it gives the people +the same right in the library which is their own, as the +individual has in his own.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, it was urged that the arguments for +open shelves were all arguments for anarchy; that the +readers who want to rummage about for what they want +lack proper discipline of the mind; that the number of +books lost under it has been very large; that librarians are +custodians and conservers, as well as dispensers of books; +that all books misplaced are practically lost to the library +for the time being; that the open shelf system requires far +more space, and is more expensive; and that, however desirable, +its general adoption is utterly impracticable.</p> + +<p>The practice of libraries in this particular of administration +differs widely, as do the opinions of librarians regarding +it. In most colleges and universities free access +is allowed; and in some public free libraries, both east and +west, the readers are allowed to handle the books on the +shelves. This is comparatively safe in the smaller town +libraries, where the books are in compact shape, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_222" id="Pg_222"></a>[<a href="./images/222.png">222</a>]</span> +unavoidable misplacement can be corrected daily in no +long time. The experience of "open shelves" in such collections +has been so favorable that their librarians have +testified that the losses were insignificant when compared +with the great public convenience resulting. But the difficulty +and confusion arising from free handling of the +books on shelves increases in the direct ratio of the size of +the library, until, in an extensive collection, it reaches an +intolerable result.</p> + +<p>What is encountered continually in enforcing the rule +of exclusion from shelves is the almost universal conceit +that some reader is entitled to exemption from such a rule. +Explain to him never so courteously that experience has +proved that a library is thrown into confusion by such admission; +that while he may be careful to replace every book +handled in the same spot, nearly all readers are careless, +and he will insist that he is the exception, and that he is +always careful. That is human nature, the world over—to +believe that one can do things better than any one else. +But if such importunities prevail, the chances are that +books will be misplaced by the very literary expert who +has solemnly asserted his infallibility.</p> + +<p>On the whole, open shelves may be viewed as an open +question. It may be best for small libraries, as to all the +books, and for all libraries as to some classes of books. +But make it general, and order and arrangement are at an +end, while chaos takes the place of cosmos. The real student +is better served by the knowledge and aid of the librarian, +thus saving his time for study, than he can be by +ranging about dark shelves to find, among multitudes of +books he does not want, the ones that he actually does +want. The business of the librarian, and his highest use, +is to bring the resources of the library to the reader. If +this takes a hundred or more volumes a day, he is to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_223" id="Pg_223"></a>[<a href="./images/223.png">223</a>]</span> +them; but to give him the right to throw a library into +confusion by "browsing around," is to sacrifice the rights +of the public to prompt service, to the whim of one man. +Those who think that "browsing" is an education should +reflect that it is like any other wandering employment, +fatal to fixity of purpose. Like desultory reading of infinite +periodicals, it tends rather to dissipate the time and +the attention than to inform and strengthen the mind.</p> + +<p>In libraries of wide circulation in America, many have +open shelves, and many more free access to certain classes +of books. The Newark Free Library opens all departments +except fiction; others open fiction and current literature +only. Some libraries, notably in England, have a +"safe-guarded" open-shelf system, by which the public are +given free range inside the library, while the librarians +take post at the outside railing, to charge books drawn, +and check off depredations. This method may be styled +"every one his own librarian," and is claimed by its originators +to work well.</p> + +<p>At the Conference of the American Library Association +in 1899, after discussion, votes were taken, showing 50 librarians +in favor of free access to shelves for small libraries, +as against only 10 for unrestricted access in large +libraries.</p> + +<p>The debate brought out curious and instructive facts as +to losses of books where free range is allowed. The Denver +Public Library lost in one year 955 volumes; the Buffalo +Public Library 700 books in seventeen months; the Minneapolis, +300 in a year; and the St. Louis Public Library +1,062 volumes in two years, out of "a very limited open +shelf collection." One librarian, estimating the loss of +books at $1,000 worth in two years, said the library board +were perfectly satisfied, and that "unless we lose $2,500 +worth of books a year, the open-shelf system pays in its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_224" id="Pg_224"></a>[<a href="./images/224.png">224</a>]</span> +saving of the expenses of attendance." It does not appear +to have occurred to them that a public library owes anything +to the public morality, nor that a library losing its +books by the thousand, to save the cost of proper management, +may be holding out a premium to wholesale robbery.</p> + +<p>There is another precaution essential to be observed regarding +the more costly and rare possessions of the library. +Such books should not be placed upon the shelves with the +ordinary books of the collection, but provided for in a repository +under lock and key. In a large library, where +many hundred volumes of books of especial rarity and +value are to be found, a separate room should always exist +for this class of books. They will properly include (1) Incunabula, +or early printed books; (2) Manuscripts, or +unique specimens, such as collections of autographs of notable +people; (3) Illuminated books, usually written on +vellum, or printed in color; (4) Early and rare Americana, +or books of American discovery, history, etc., which are +scarce and difficult to replace; (5) Any books known to be +out of print; and (6) Many costly illustrated works which +should be kept apart for only occasional inspection by readers. +Where no separate room exists for safe custody of +such treasures, they should be provided with a locked book-case +or cases, according to their number. When any of +these reserved books are called for, they should be supplied +to readers under special injunctions of careful handling. +Neglect of precaution may at any time be the means +of losing to the library a precious volume. It is easy for +an unknown reader who calls for such a rare or costly +work, to sign his ticket with a false name, and slip the book +under his coat when unobserved, and so leave the library +unchallenged. But the librarian or assistant who supplies +the book, if put on his guard by having to fetch it from a +locked repository, should keep the reader under observa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_225" id="Pg_225"></a>[<a href="./images/225.png">225</a>]</span>tion, +unless well known, until the volume is safely returned. +Designing and dishonest persons are ever hovering +about public libraries, and some of the most dangerous +among them are men who know the value of books.</p> + +<p>This class of reserved books should not be given out in +circulation, under any circumstances. Not only are they +subject to injury by being handled in households where +there are children or careless persons, who soil or deface +them, but they are exposed to the continual peril of fire, +and consequent loss to the library. There are often books +among these rarities, which money cannot replace, because +no copies can be found when wanted. In the Library of +Congress, there is a very salutary safe-guard thrown +around the most valuable books in the form of a library +regulation which provides that no manuscript whatever, +and no printed book of special rarity and value shall be +taken out of the library by any person. This restriction +of course applies to Members of Congress, as well as to +those officials who have the legal right to draw books from +the library.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_226" id="Pg_226"></a>[<a href="./images/226.png">226</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a>CHAPTER 12.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Faculty of Memory.</span></h3> + + +<p>To every reader nothing can be more important than +that faculty of the mind which we call memory. The +retentive memory instinctively stores up the facts, ideas, +imagery, and often the very language found in books, so +clearly that they become available at any moment in after +life. The tenacity of this hold upon the intellectual +treasures which books contain depends largely upon the +strength of the impression made upon the mind when +reading. And this, in turn, depends much upon the force, +clearness and beauty of the author's style or expression. +A crude, or feeble, or wordy, redundant statement makes +little impression, while a terse, clear, well-balanced sentence +fixes the attention, and so fastens itself in the +memory. Hence the books which are best remembered +will be those which are the best written. Great as is the +power of thought, we are often obliged to confess that +the power of expression is greater still. When the substance +and the style of any writing concur to make a harmonious +and strong impression on the reader's mind, the +writer has achieved success. All our study of literature +tends to confirm the conviction of the supreme importance +of an effective style.</p> + +<p>We must set down a good memory as a cardinal qualification +of the librarian. This faculty of the mind, in fact, +is more important to him than to the members of any +other profession whatever, because it is more incessantly +drawn upon. Every hour in the day, and sometimes every +minute in the hour, he has to recall the names of certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_227" id="Pg_227"></a>[<a href="./images/227.png">227</a>]</span> +books, the authors of the same, including both their surnames +and Christian or forenames, the subjects principally +treated in them, the words of some proverb or quotation, +or elegant extract in poetry or prose, the period of time +of an author or other noted person, the standard measurements +and weights in use, with their equivalents, the +moneys of foreign nations and their American values, the +time of certain notable events in history, whether foreign +or American, ancient or modern, the names and succession +of rulers, the prices of many books, the rules observed in +the catalogue, both of authors and subjects, the names +and schools of great artists, with their period, the meaning +in various foreign languages of certain words, the geographical +location of any place on the earth's surface, the +region of the library in which any book is located—and, +in short, an infinitude of items of information which he +wants to know out of hand, for his own use, or in aid of +Library readers or assistants. The immense variety of +these drafts upon his memory seldom perplexes one who is +well endowed with a natural gift in that direction. In +fact, it seems actually true of such minds, that the more +numerous the calls upon the memory, the more ready is +the response.</p> + +<p>The metaphysicians have spent many words in attempting +to define the various qualities of the mind, +and to account for a strong or a weak memory; but after +all is said, we find that the surprising difference between +different memories is unaccounted for; as unaccountable, +indeed, as what differences the man of genius from the +mere plodder. The principle of association of ideas is +doubtless the leading element in a memory which is not +merely verbal. We associate in our minds, almost instinctively, +ideas of time, or space, or persons, or events, +and these connect or compare one with another, so that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_228" id="Pg_228"></a>[<a href="./images/228.png">228</a>]</span> +what we want is called up or recalled in memory, by a train +of endless suggestion. We all have this kind of memory, +which may be termed the rational or ideal, as distinguished +from the verbal and the local memory. The verbal memory +is that which retains in the mind, and reproduces at +will what has been said in our hearing by others, or what +we have read which has made a marked impression upon +us. Thus, some persons can repeat with almost exact +accuracy, every word of a long conversation held with +another. Others can repeat whole poems, or long passages +in prose from favorite authors, after reading them over +two or three times, and can retain them perfectly in memory +for half a century or more. There have even been +persons to whom one single reading of any production was +sufficient to enable them to repeat it <i>verbatim</i>. These instances +of a great verbal memory are by no means rare, +although some of them appear almost incredible. John +Locke tells us of the French philosopher Pascal, that he +never forgot anything of what he had done, said, or +thought, in any part of his natural life. And the same +thing is recorded of that great scholar of Holland, Hugo +Grotius.</p> + +<p>The mathematician Euler could repeat the Aeneid of +Virgil from beginning to end, containing nearly nine +thousand lines. Mozart, upon hearing the <i>Miserere</i> of +Allegri played in the Sistine Chapel at Rome, only once, +went to his hotel, and wrote it all down from memory, note +for note.</p> + +<p>Cardinal Mezzofanti both wrote and spoke thirty languages, +and was quite familiar with more than a hundred. +He said that if he once heard the meaning of a word in any +language, he never forgot it. Yet he was of the opinion, +that although he had twenty words for one idea, it was +better to have twenty ideas for one word; which is no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_229" id="Pg_229"></a>[<a href="./images/229.png">229</a>]</span> +doubt true, so far as real intellectual culture is concerned. +Lord Macaulay, who had a phenomenal memory, said that +if all the copies of Milton's Paradise Lost were to be destroyed, +he could reproduce the book complete, from memory. +In early life he was a great admirer of Walter Scott's +poetry, and especially the "Lay of the Last Minstrel", and +could repeat the whole of that long poem, more than six +hundred lines, from memory. And at the age of fifty-seven +he records—"I walked in the portico, and learned +by heart the noble fourth act of the Merchant of Venice. +There are four hundred lines. I made myself perfect master +of the whole in two hours." It was said of him that +every incident he heard of, and every page he read, "assumed +in his mind a concrete spectral form."</p> + +<p>But the memory for names and words has been sometimes +called the lowest form of memory. Persons of defective +or impaired intellect frequently have strong and +retentive verbal memories. Mrs. Somerville records the +case of an idiot who could repeat a whole sermon <i>verbatim</i>, +after once hearing it, but who was stupid and ignorant as +to every thing else. And there are many instances in the +books to the same effect.</p> + +<p>Another kind of memory may be called, for want of a +better name, the local memory. A person who has this +strongly developed, if he once goes to a place, whether a +room, or a street in a city, or a road in any part of the +country, knows the way again, and can find it by instinct +ever after. In the same way any one gifted with this +almost unerring sense of locality, can find any book on any +shelf in any part of a library where he has once been. He +knows, in like manner, on which side of the page he saw +any given passage in a book, which impressed him at the +time, although he may never have had the volume in his +hand more than once. He may not remember the num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_230" id="Pg_230"></a>[<a href="./images/230.png">230</a>]</span>ber +of the page, but he is sure of his recollection that it +was the left or the right hand one, as the case may be, and +this knowledge will abridge his labor and time in finding +it again by just one half. This local memory is invaluable +to a librarian or an assistant in shortening the labor of +finding things. If you have a good local memory, you can, +in no long time, come to dispense with the catalogue and +its shelf-marks or classification marks, almost entirely, +in finding your books. Although this special gift of memory—the +sense of locality—is unquestionably a lower +faculty of the mind than some others named, and although +there are illiterate persons who can readily find and produce +any books in a library which have often passed +through their hands, yet it is a faculty by no means to be +despised. It is one of the labor-saving, time-saving gifts, +which should be welcomed by every librarian. The time +saved from searching the catalogues for location-marks +of the outside of books, will enable him to make many a research +in their inside. This faculty, of course, is indefinitely +strengthened and improved by use—and the same is +true of the other branches of the sense which we call memory. +The oftener you have been to any place, the better +you know the way. The more frequently you have found +and produced a given book from its proper receptacle, the +easier and the quicker will be your finding it again.</p> + +<p>Another faculty or phase of memory is found in the +ability to call up the impression made by any object once +seen by the eye, so as to reproduce it accurately in speech +or writing. This may be termed the intuitive memory. +There are many applications or illustrations of this faculty. +Thus, for example, you see a book on some shelf in your +library. You take in its size, its binding, both the material +and the color, and its title as lettered on the back. +All this you absorb with one glance of the eye. You re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_231" id="Pg_231"></a>[<a href="./images/231.png">231</a>]</span>member +it by the principle of association—that is, you +associate with that particular book, in connection with +its title, a certain dimension, color, and style of binding. +Now, when you have occasion to look up that special volume +again, you not only go, aided by your memory of locality, +to the very section and shelf of the library where it belongs, +but you take with you instinctively, your memory or +mental image of the book's appearance. Thus, you perhaps +distinctly remember (1) that it was an octavo, and +your eye in glancing along the shelf where it belongs, rejects +intuitively all the duodecimos or books of lesser size, +to come to the octavos. (2) Then you also remember that +it was bound in leather, consequently you pass quickly by +all the cloth bound volumes on the shelf. (3) in the third +place you know that its color was red; and you pay no attention +whatever to books of any other color, but quickly +seize your red leather-bound octavo, and bear it off to the +reading-room in triumph. Of course there are circumstances +where this quick operation of the faculties of memory +and intuition combined, would not be so easy. For +example, all the books (or nearly all) on a given shelf might +be octavos; or they might all be leather-bound; or a majority +of them with red backs; and the presence of one or +more of these conditions would eliminate one or more of +the facilities for most rapidly picking out the book wanted. +But take a pile of books, we will say returned by many +readers, on the library counter. You are searching among +them for a particular volume that is again wanted. There +is no order or arrangement of the volumes, but you distinctly +remember, from having handled it, its size both as +to height and thickness, its color, and how it was bound. +You know it was a thin 12mo. in green cloth binding. Do +you, in your search, take up every book in that mass, to +scrutinize its title, and see if it is the one you seek? By no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_232" id="Pg_232"></a>[<a href="./images/232.png">232</a>]</span> +means. You quickly thrust aside, one by one, or by the +half-dozen, all the volumes which are not green, cloth-bound, +thin duodecimos, without so much as glancing at +them. Your special volume is quickly found among hundreds +of volumes, and your faculty of memory and intuition +has saved you perhaps a quarter of an hour of valuable +time, which, without that faculty, might have been +wasted in search.</p> + +<p>Again, another circumstance which might intervene to +diminish the frequency of application of the memory referred +to, as to the physical features or appearance of a +book sought for, is where the shelf-arrangement is alphabetical, +by authors' names, or by the names of the subjects +of the books, if it is an alphabet of biographies. +Here, the surest and the quickest guide to the book is of +course the alphabetical order, in which it must necessarily +be found.</p> + +<p>This memory of the aspect of any object once looked at, +is further well illustrated in the very varied facilities for +the spelling of words found in different persons. Thus, +there are people who, when they once see any word (we +will say a proper name) written or printed, can always +afterwards spell that word unerringly, no matter how uncommon +it may be. The mental retina, so to speak, receives +so clear and exact an impression of the form of that +word from the eye, that it retains and reproduces it at +will.</p> + +<p>But there are others, (and among them persons of much +learning in some directions) upon whom the form or orthography +of a word makes little or no impression, however +frequently it meets the eye in reading. I have known +several fine scholars, and among them the head of an institution +of learning, who could not for the life of them +spell correctly; and this infirmity extended even to some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_233" id="Pg_233"></a>[<a href="./images/233.png">233</a>]</span> +of the commonest words in the language. Why this inaptitude +on the part of many, and this extraordinary +facility on the part of others, in the memorizing faculty, +is a phenomenon which may be noted down, but not solved. +That vivid mental picture which is seen by the inward eye +of the person favored with a good memory, is wholly wanting, +or seen only dimly and rarely in the case of one who +easily forgets.</p> + +<p>So vital and important is memory, that it has been justly +denominated by the German philosopher, Kant, "the most +wonderful of our faculties." Without it, the words of a +book would be unintelligible to us, since it is memory alone +which furnishes us with the several meanings to be attached +to them.</p> + +<p>Some writers on the science of mind assert that there +is no such thing with any of us as absolutely forgetting +anything that has once been in the mind. All mental +activities, all knowledge which ever existed, persists. We +never wholly lose them, but they become faint and obscure. +One mental image effaces another. But those which have +thus disappeared may be recalled by an act of reminiscence. +While it may sometimes be impossible to recover one of +them at the moment when wanted, by an act of voluntary +recollection, some association may bring it unexpectedly +and vividly before us. Memory plays us many strange +tricks, both when we wake and when we dream. It revives, +by an involuntary process, an infinite variety of past +scenes, faces, events, ideas, emotions, passions, conversations, +and written or printed pages, all of which we may +have fancied had passed forever from our consciousness.</p> + +<p>The aids to memory supposed to be furnished by the +various mnemonic systems may now be briefly considered. +These methods of supplying the defects of a naturally weak +memory, or of strengthening a fairly good one, are one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_234" id="Pg_234"></a>[<a href="./images/234.png">234</a>]</span> +and all artificial. This might not be a conclusive objection +to them, were they really effective and permanent +helps, enabling one who has learned them to recall with +certainty ideas, names, dates, and events which he is unable +to recall by other means. Theory apart, it is conceded +that a system of memorizing which had proved +widely or generally successful in making a good memory +out of a poor one, would deserve much credit. But experience +with these systems has as yet failed to show, by the +stern test of practical utility, that they can give substantial +(and still less permanent) aid in curing the defects +of memory. Most of the systems of mnemonics that have +been invented are constructed on the principle of locality, +or of utilizing objects which appeal to the sight. There +is nothing new in these methods, for the principle is as +old as Simonides, who lived in the fifth century before +Christ, and who devised a system of memorizing by locality. +One of the most prevalent systems now taught is to +select a number of rooms in a house (in the mind's eye, +of course) and divide the walls and the floors of each room +into nine equal parts or squares, three in a row. Then</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"On the front wall—that opposite the entrance of the +first room—are the units, on the right-hand wall the tens, +on the left hand the twenties, on the fourth wall the thirties, +and on the floor the forties. Numbers 10, 20, 30, and +40, each find a place on the roof above their respective +walls. One room will thus furnish 50 places, and ten +rooms as many as 500, while 50 occupies the centre of the +roof. Having fixed these clearly in the mind, so as to be +able readily and at once to tell the exact position of each +place or number, it is then necessary to associate with each +of them some familiar object (or symbol) so that the object +being suggested, its place may be instantly remembered, +or when the place is before the mind, its object may immediately +spring up. When this has been done thoroughly, +the objects can be run over in any order from beginning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_235" id="Pg_235"></a>[<a href="./images/235.png">235</a>]</span> +to end, or from end to beginning, or the place of any particular +one can at once be given. All that is further necessary +is to associate the ideas we wish to remember with the +objects in the various places, by which means they are readily +remembered, and can be gone over in any order. In +this way, one may learn to repeat several hundred disconnected +words or ideas in any order, after hearing them only +once."</p></div> + +<p>This rather complicated machinery for aiding the memory +is quite too mechanical to commend itself to any one +accustomed to reflect or to take note of his own mental processes. +Such an elaborate system crowds the mind with +a lot of useless furniture, and hinders rather than helps a +rational and straightforward habit of memorizing. It too +much resembles the feat of trying to jump over a wall by +running back a hundred or more yards to acquire a good +start or momentum. The very complication of the system +is fitted to puzzle rather than to aid the memory. It +is based on mechanical or arithmetical associations—not +founded on nature, and is of very small practical utility. +It does not strengthen or improve the habit of memorizing, +which should always be based upon close attention, and a +logical method of classifying, associating, and analyzing +facts or ideas.</p> + +<p>Lord Bacon, more than two centuries ago, wisely characterized +mnemonic systems as "barren and useless." He +wrote, "For immediately to repeat a multitude of names +or words once repeated before, I esteem no more than rope-dancing, +antic postures, and feats of activity; and, indeed, +they are nearly the same thing, the one being the abuse of +the bodily, as the other is of mental powers; and though +they may cause admiration, they cannot be highly esteemed."</p> + +<p>In fact, these mnemonical systems are only a kind of +crutches, sometimes useful to people who cannot walk, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_236" id="Pg_236"></a>[<a href="./images/236.png">236</a>]</span> +actual impediments to those having the use of their limbs, +and who by proper exercise can maintain their healthy and +natural use indefinitely.</p> + +<p>I have given you an account of one of these artificial +systems of memory, or systems of artificial memory, as you +may choose to call them. There have been invented more +than one hundred different systems of mnemonics, all professing +to be invaluable, and some claiming to be infallible. +It appears to be a fatal objection to these memory-systems +that they substitute a wholly artificial association of ideas +for a natural one. The habit of looking for accidental or +arbitrary relations of names and things is cultivated, and +the power of logical, spontaneous thought is injured by +neglecting essential for unessential relations. These artificial +associations of ideas work endless mischief by crowding +out the natural ones.</p> + +<p>How then, you may ask, is a weak memory to be strengthened, +or a fairly good memory to be cultivated into a better +one? The answer is, by constant practice, and for this +the vocation of a librarian furnishes far more opportunities +than any other. At the basis of this practice of the +memory, lies the habit of attention. All memory depends +upon the strength or vividness of the impression made +upon the mind, by the object, the name, the word, the date, +which is sought to be remembered. And this, in turn, depends +on the degree of attention with which it was first regarded. +If the attention was so fixed that a clear mental +image was formed, there will be no difficulty in remembering +it again. If, on the other hand, you were inattentive, +or listless, or pre-occupied with other thoughts, when you +encountered the object, your impression of it would be +hazy and indistinct, and no effort of memory would be likely +to recall it.</p> + +<p>Attention has been defined as the fixing of the mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_237" id="Pg_237"></a>[<a href="./images/237.png">237</a>]</span> +intently upon one particular object, to the exclusion for a +time, of all other objects soliciting notice. It is essential +to those who would have a good memory, to cultivate assiduously +the habit of concentration of thought. As the scattering +shot hits no mark, so the scattering and random +thoughts that sweep through an unoccupied brain lead to +no memorable result, simply from want of attention or of +fixation upon some one mental vision or idea. With your +attention fastened upon any subject or object, you see it +more clearly, and it impresses itself more vividly in the +memory, as a natural consequence. Not only so, but its +related objects or ideas are brought up by the principle of +association, and they too make a deeper impression and are +more closely remembered. In fact, one thing carefully +observed and memorized, leads almost insensibly to another +that is related to it, and thus the faculty of association is +strengthened, the memory is stimulated, and the seeds of +knowledge are deeply planted in that complex organism +which we call the mind. This power of attention, of keeping +an object or a subject steadily in view until it is absorbed +or mastered, is held by some to be the most distinctive +element in genius. Most people have not this habit +of concentration of the mind, but allow it to wander aimlessly +on, flitting from subject to subject, without mastering +any; but then, most people are not geniuses. The +habit to be cultivated is that of thinking persistently of +only one thing at a time, sternly preventing the attention +from wandering.</p> + +<p>It may be laid down as an axiom that the two corner-stones +of memory are attention and association. And both +of these must act in harmony, the habit of fixed attention +being formed or guided by the will, before a normal or retentive +memory becomes possible. What is called cultivating +the memory, therefore, does not mean anything more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_238" id="Pg_238"></a>[<a href="./images/238.png">238</a>]</span> +than close attention to whatever we wish to remember, +with whatever associations naturally cling to it, until it is +actually mastered. If one has not an instinctive or naturally +strong memory, he should not rest satisfied with letting +the days go by until he has improved it. The way to +improve it, is to begin at the foundation, and by the constant +exercise of the will-power, to take up every subject +with fixed attention, and one at a time, excluding every +other for the time being. There is no doubt whatever that +the memory is capable of indefinite improvement; and +though one's first efforts in that direction may prove a +disappointment, because only partially successful, he should +try, and try again, until he is rewarded with the full fruits +of earnest intellectual effort, in whatever field. He may +have, at the start, instead of a fine memory, what a learned +professor called, "a fine forgettery," but let him persevere +to the end. None of us were made to sit down in despair +because we are not endowed with an all-embracing memory, +or because we cannot "speak with the tongues of men and +of angels," and do not know "all mysteries and all knowledge." +It rather becomes us to make the best and highest +use, day by day, of the talents that are bestowed upon us, +remembering that however short of perfection they may +be, we are yet far more gifted than myriads of our fellow-creatures +in this very imperfect world.</p> + +<p>There is no question that the proper cultivation of the +memory is, or ought to be, the chief aim of education. All +else is so dependent upon this, that it may be truly affirmed +that, without memory, knowledge itself would be impossible. +By giving up oneself with fixed attention to what +one seeks to remember, and trusting the memory, though +it may often fail, any person can increase his powers of +memory and consequently of learning, to an indefinite degree. +To improve and strengthen the memory, it must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_239" id="Pg_239"></a>[<a href="./images/239.png">239</a>]</span> +constantly exercised. Let it be supplied with new knowledge +frequently, and called on daily to reproduce it. If +remembered only imperfectly or in part, refresh it by reference +to the source whence the knowledge came; and repeat +this carefully and thoroughly, until memory becomes +actually the store-house of what you know on that subject. +If there are certain kinds of facts and ideas which you +more easily forget than others, it is a good way to practice +upon them, taking up a few daily, and adding to them by +degrees. Dr. W. T. Harris, the United States Commissioner +of Education, gave his personal experience to the +effect that he always found it hard to remember dates. He +resolved to improve a feeble memory in this respect by +learning the succession of English Kings, from William +the Conqueror, down to Victoria. With his characteristic +thoroughness, he began by learning three or four dates of +accession only, the first day; two new ones were added +the second day; then one new king added the third day; +and thereafter even less frequency was observed in learning +the chronology. By this method he had the whole +table of thirty-six sovereigns learned, and made familiar by +constant review. It had to be learned anew one year after, +and once again after years of neglect. But his memory for +dates steadily grew, and without conscious effort, dates and +numbers soon came to be seized with a firmer grasp than +before. This kind of memory, he adds, now improves or +increases with him from year to year. Here is an instance +of cultivation of memory by a notable scholar, who adds a +monition to learners with weak memories, not to undertake +to memorize too much at once. Learning a succession of +fifty names slowly, he says, will so discipline the memory +for names, as to partially or even permanently remove all +embarrassment from that source. I may add that a long +table of names or dates, or any prolonged extract in verse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_240" id="Pg_240"></a>[<a href="./images/240.png">240</a>]</span> +or prose, if learned by repeating it over and over as a +whole, will be less tenaciously retained in memory, than if +committed in parts.</p> + +<p>The highest form of memory is actually unconscious, +<i>i. e.</i>, that in which what we would recall comes to us spontaneously, +without effort or lapse of time in thinking about +it. It is this kind of memory that has been possessed by +all the notable persons who have been credited with knowing +everything, or with never forgetting anything. It is +not to be reckoned to their credit, so much as to their good +fortune. What merit is there in having a good memory, +when one cannot help remembering?</p> + +<p>There is one caution to be given to those who are learning +to improve a memory naturally weak. When such a +one tries to recall a date, or name, or place, or idea, or +book, it frequently happens that the endeavor fails utterly. +The more he tries, the more obstinately the desired object +fails to respond. As the poet Pope wrote about the witless +author:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"You beat your pate, and fancy wit will come;<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">Knock as you please, there's nobody at home."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In these cases, no attempt to force the memory should be +made, nor should the attention be kept long on the subject, +for this course only injures the faculty, and leads to confusion +of mind. To persist in a constantly baffled effort +to recover a word, or other forgotten link in memory, is a +laborious attempt which is itself likely to cause failure, and +induce a distrust of the memory which is far from rational. +The forgotten object will probably recur in no long time +after, when least expected.</p> + +<p>Much discursive reading is not only injurious to the +faculty of memory, but may be positively destructive of it. +The vast extent of our modern world of reviews, magazines +and newspapers, with their immense variety of subjects,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_241" id="Pg_241"></a>[<a href="./images/241.png">241</a>]</span> +dissipates the attention instead of concentrating it, and +becomes fatal to systematic thought, tenacious memory, +and the acquirement of real knowledge. The mind that is +fed upon a diet of morning and evening newspapers, mainly +or solely, will become flabby, uncertain, illogical, frivolous, +and, in fact, little better than a scatterbrains. As one who +listens to an endless dribble of small talk lays up nothing +out of all the palaver, which, to use a common phrase, +"goes in at one ear, and out at the other," so the reader +who continuously absorbs all the stuff which the daily +press, under the pretext of "printing the news," inflicts +upon us, is nothing benefited in intellectual gifts or permanent +knowledge. What does he learn by his assiduous +pursuit of these ephemeral will o' the wisps, that only +"lead to bewilder, and dazzle to blind?" He absorbs an incredible +amount of empty gossip, doubtful assertions, +trifling descriptions, apocryphal news, and some useful, +but more useless knowledge. The only visible object of +spending valuable time over these papers appears to be to +satisfy a momentary curiosity, and then the mass of material +read passes almost wholly out of the mind, and is +never more thought of. Says Coleridge, one of the foremost +of English thinkers: "I believe the habit of perusing +periodical works may be properly added to the catalogue +of anti-mnemonics, or weakeners of the memory."</p> + +<p>If read sparingly, and for actual events, newspapers have +a value which is all their own; but to spend hours upon +them, as many do, is mere mental dissipation.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_242" id="Pg_242"></a>[<a href="./images/242.png">242</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a>CHAPTER 13.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Qualifications of a Librarian.</span></h3> + + +<p>In directing attention to some of the more important +elements which should enter into the character and acquirements +of a librarian, I shall perhaps not treat them +in the order of their relative importance. Thus, some +persons might consider the foremost qualification for one +aspiring to the position of a librarian to be wide knowledge +in literature and science: others would say that the +possession of sound common sense is above all things +essential; others an excellent and retentive memory; still +others might insist that business habits and administrative +faculty are all-important; and others again, a zeal for +learning and for communicating it to others.</p> + +<p>I shall not venture to pronounce what, among the multitude +of talents that are requisite to constitute a good +librarian is the most requisite. Suffice it to say, that all +of them which I shall notice are important, and that the +order of their treatment determines nothing as to which +are more and which are less important. So much is expected +of librarians that it actually appears as if a large +portion of the public were of the opinion that it is the +duty of him who has a library in charge to possess himself, +in some occult or mysterious way, unknown to the common +mind, of all the knowledge which all the books combine.</p> + +<p>The Librarian of the British Museum, speaking to a +conference of librarians in London, quoted a remark of +Pattison, in his "Life of Casaubon," that "the librarian +who reads is lost." This was certainly true of that great +scholar Casaubon, who in his love for the contents of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_243" id="Pg_243"></a>[<a href="./images/243.png">243</a>]</span> +books under his charge, forgot his duties as a librarian. +And it is to a large degree true of librarians in general, +that those who pursue their own personal reading or study +during library hours do it at the expense of their usefulness +as librarians. They must be content with such +snatches of reading as come in the definite pursuit of some +object of research incident to their library work, supplemented +by such reading time as unoccupied evenings, Sundays, +and annual vacations may give them.</p> + +<p>Yet nothing is more common than for applicants for the +position of librarians or assistant librarians to base their +aspiration upon the foolish plea that they are "so fond of +reading", or that they "have always been in love with +books." So far from this being a qualification, it may become +a disqualification. Unless combined with habits of +practical, serious, unremitting application to labor, the +taste for reading may seduce its possessor into spending +the minutes and the hours which belong to the public, in +his own private gratification. The conscientious, the useful +librarian, living amid the rich intellectual treasures of +centuries, the vast majority of which he has never read, +must be content daily to enact the part of Tantalus, in the +presence of a tempting and appetizing banquet which is +virtually beyond his reach.</p> + +<p>But he may console himself by the reflection that comparatively +few of the books upon his shelves are so far +worth reading as to be essential. "If I had read as many +books as other men," said Hobbes of Malmesbury, "I +should have been as ignorant as they."</p> + +<p>If the librarian, in the precious time which is indisputably +his, reads a wise selection of the best books, the masterpieces +of the literature of all lands, which have been consecrated +by time and the suffrages of successive generations +of readers, he can well afford to apply to the rest, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_244" id="Pg_244"></a>[<a href="./images/244.png">244</a>]</span> +short-hand method recommended in a former chapter, and +skim them in the intervals of his daily work, instead of +reading them. Thus he will become sufficiently familiar +with the new books of the day (together with the information +about their contents and merits furnished by the literary +reviews, which he must read, however sparingly, in +order to keep up with his profession) to be able to furnish +readers with some word of comment as to most books coming +into the Library. This course, or as close an approximation +to it as his multifarious duties will permit, will go +far to solve the problem that confronts every librarian who +is expected to be an exponent of universal knowledge. +Always refraining from unqualified praise of books (especially +of new ones) always maintaining that impartial attitude +toward men and opinions which becomes the librarian, +he should act the part of a liberal, eclectic, catholic +guide to inquirers of every kind.</p> + +<p>And here let me emphasize the great importance to every +librarian or assistant of early learning to make the most +of his working faculties. He cannot afford to plod along +through a book, sentence by sentence, like an ordinary +reader. He must learn to read a sentence at a glance. +The moment his eye lights upon a title-page he should be +able to take it all in by a comprehensive and intuitive +mental process. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the +every-day habit or method of reading. It makes all the +difference between time saved, and time wasted; between +efficiency and inefficiency; between rapid progress and +standing still, in one's daily work. No pains should be +spared, before entering upon the all-engrossing work of a +library, to acquire the habit of rapid reading. An eminent +librarian of one of the largest libraries was asked whether +he did not find a great deal of time to read? His reply +was—"I wish that I could ever get as much as one hour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_245" id="Pg_245"></a>[<a href="./images/245.png">245</a>]</span> +a day for reading—but I have never been able to do it." +Of course every librarian must spend much time in special +researches; and in this way a good deal of some of his days +will be spent in acquainting himself with the resources of +his library; but this is incidental and not systematic reading.</p> + +<p>In viewing the essential qualifications of a librarian, it +is necessary to say at the outset that a library is no place +for uneducated people. The requirements of the position +are such as to demand not only native talent above the +average, but also intellectual acquirements above the average. +The more a librarian knows, the more he is worth, +and the converse of the proposition is equally true, that the +less he knows the less he is worth. Before undertaking +the arduous task of guiding others in their intellectual pursuits, +one should make sure that he is himself so well-grounded +in learning that he can find the way in which to +guide them. To do this, he must indispensably have something +more than a smattering of the knowledge that lies at +the foundation of his profession. He must be, if not widely +read, at least carefully grounded in history, science, literature, +and art. While he may not, like Lord Bacon, take +all knowledge to be his province, because he is not a Lord +Bacon, nor if he were, could he begin to grasp the illimitable +domain of books of science and literature which have +been added to human knowledge in the two centuries and +a half since Bacon wrote, he can at least, by wise selection, +master enough of the leading works in each field, to make +him a well-informed scholar. That great treasury of information +on the whole circle of the sciences, and the +entire range of literature, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, +judiciously studied, will alone give what would appear to +the average mind, a very liberal education.</p> + +<p>One of the most common and most inconsiderate ques<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_246" id="Pg_246"></a>[<a href="./images/246.png">246</a>]</span>tions +propounded to a librarian is this: "Do you ever expect +to read all these books through?" and it is well answered +by propounding another question, namely—"Did +<i>you</i> ever read your dictionary through?" A great library +is the scholar's dictionary—not to be read through, but to +enable him to put his finger on the fact he wants, just +when it is wanted.</p> + +<p>A knowledge of some at least of the foreign languages +is indispensable to the skilled librarian. In fact, any one +aspiring to become an assistant in any large library, or the +head of any small one, should first acquire at least an elementary +knowledge of French and Latin. Aside from +books in other languages than English which necessarily +form part of every considerable library, there are innumerable +quotations or words in foreign tongues scattered +through books and periodicals in English, which a librarian, +appealed to by readers who are not scholars, would be mortified +if found unable to interpret them. The librarian +who does not understand several languages will be continually +at a loss in his daily work. A great many important +catalogues, and bibliographies, essential parts of +the equipment of a library, will be lost to him as aids, and +he can neither select foreign books intelligently nor catalogue +them properly. If he depends upon the aid of +others more expert, his position will be far from agreeable +or satisfactory. How many and what foreign languages +should be learned may be matter for wide difference of +opinion. But so far-reaching is the prevalence of the +Latin, as one of the principal sources of our own language, +and of other modern tongues, that a knowledge of it is +most important. And so rich is the literature of France, +to say nothing of the vast number of French words constantly +found in current English and American books and +periodicals, that at least a fairly thorough mastery of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_247" id="Pg_247"></a>[<a href="./images/247.png">247</a>]</span> +language should be acquired. The same may be said of +the German, which is even more important in some parts +of the United States, and which has a literature most +copious and valuable in every varied department of knowledge. +With these three tongues once familiar, the Italian, +Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages +may be, through the aid of dictionaries, so far utilized as +to enable one to read titles and catalogue books in any of +them, although a knowledge of all, so as to be able to read +books in them, is highly desirable.</p> + +<p>In the Boston Public Library, the assistants are required +to possess an adequate knowledge of Latin, French, +and German. And all candidates for positions in the +reading-room of the British Museum Library must undergo +a thorough test examination as to their knowledge of +the Latin language. Opportunities for acquiring foreign +languages are now so abundant that there is small excuse +for any one who wants to know French, Latin or German, +and yet goes through life without learning them. There +are even ways of learning these languages with sufficient +thoroughness for reading purposes without a teacher, and +sometimes without a text-book. Two assistant librarians +taught themselves French and German in their evenings, +by setting out to read familiar works of English fiction +in translations into those languages, and soon acquired a +good working knowledge of both, so as to be able to read +any work in either, with only occasional aid from the dictionary +for the less common words. It is surprising how +soon one can acquire a sufficient vocabulary in any language, +by reading any of its great writers. A good way +for a beginner to learn French without a master is to take +a French New Testament, and read the four Gospels +through. After doing this three or four times, almost any +one who is at all familiar with the Scriptures, will be able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_248" id="Pg_248"></a>[<a href="./images/248.png">248</a>]</span> +to read most books in the French language with facility. +In the great art of learning, all doors are easily unlocked—by +those who have the key.</p> + +<p>It should go without saying that the librarian should +possess a wide knowledge of books. This knowledge should +include (1) an acquaintance with ancient and modern literature, +so as to be able to characterize the notable writers +in each of the leading languages of the world; (2) a knowledge +of history extensive enough to enable him to locate +all the great characters, including authors, in their proper +century and country; (3) a knowledge of editions, so as to +discriminate between the old and the new, the full and +the abridged, the best edited, best printed, etc.; (4) an +acquaintance with the intrinsic value or the subject and +scope of most of the great books of the world; (5) a knowledge +of commercial values, so as to be able to bid or to buy +understandingly, and with proper economy; (6) a familiarity +with what constitutes condition in library books, and +with binding and repairing processes, for the restoration +of imperfect volumes for use.</p> + +<p>The librarian should be one who has had the benefit of +thorough preliminary training, for no novice is qualified to +undertake the role of an expert, and any attempt to do so +can result only in disappointment and failure. No one +who has read little or nothing but novels since leaving +school need ever hope to succeed.</p> + +<p>No librarian can know too much, since his work brings +him into relation with the boundless domain of human +knowledge. He should not be a specialist in science (except +in the one science of bibliography) but must be content +with knowing a little about a great many things, rather +than knowing everything about one thing. Much converse +with books must fill him with a sense of his own ignorance. +The more he comes to know, the wider will open before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_249" id="Pg_249"></a>[<a href="./images/249.png">249</a>]</span> +him the illimitable realm of what is yet to be known. In +the lowest deep which research the most profound can +reach, there is a lower deep still unattained—perhaps, even, +unattainable. But the fact that he cannot by any possibility +master all human knowledge should not deter the +student from making ever advancing inroads upon that domain. +The vast extent of the world of books only emphasizes +the need of making a wise selection from the mass. +We are brought inevitably back to that precept by every +excursion that we make into whatever field of literature.</p> + +<p>The librarian should possess, besides a wide acquaintance +with books, a faculty of administration, and this rests +upon careful business habits. He should have a system in +all the library work. Every assistant should have a prescribed +task, and be required to learn and to practice all +the methods peculiar to library economy, including the +economy of time. Each day's business should be so organized +as to show an advance at the end. The library must +of course have rules, and every rule should be so simple +and so reasonable that it will commend itself to every considerate +reader or library assistant. All questions of doubt +or dispute as to the observance of any regulation, should +be decided at once, courteously but firmly, and in a few +words. Nothing can be more unseemly than a wrangle +in a public library over some rule or its application, disturbing +readers who are entitled to silence, and consuming +time that should be given to the service of the public.</p> + +<p>When Thomas Carlyle, one of the great scholars of modern +times, testified in 1848 before a Parliamentary Commission +upon the British Museum Library, he thus spoke +of the qualifications of a librarian:</p> + +<p>"All must depend upon the kind of management you get +within the library itself. You must get a good pilot to +steer the ship, or you will never get into the harbor. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_250" id="Pg_250"></a>[<a href="./images/250.png">250</a>]</span> +must have a man to direct who knows well what the duty +is that he has to do, and who is determined to go through +that, in spite of all clamor raised against him; and who +is not anxious to obtain approbation, but is satisfied that +he will obtain it by and by, provided he acts ingenuously +and faithfully."</p> + +<p>Another quality most important in a librarian is an even +temper. He should be always and unfailingly courteous, +not only to scholars and visitors of high consideration, but +to every reader, however humble or ignorant, and to every +employee, however subordinate in position. There is +nothing which more detracts from one's usefulness than +a querulous temper. Its possessor is seldom happy himself, +and is the frequent cause of unhappiness in others. +Visitors and questions should never be met with a clouded +brow. A cheerful "good-morning" goes a great way oftentimes. +Many library visitors come in a complaining mood—it +may be from long waiting to be served, or from mistake +in supplying them with the wrong books, or from +errors in charging their accounts, or from some fancied +neglect or slight, or from any other cause. The way to +meet such ill-humored or offended readers is to gently +explain the matter, with that "soft answer which turneth +away wrath." Many a foolish and useless altercation may +thus be avoided, and the complainant restored to cheerfulness, +if not to courtesy; whereas, if the librarian were to +meet the case with a sharp or haughty answer, it would +probably end without satisfaction on either side. Whatever +you do, never permit yourself to be irritable, and resolve +never to be irritated. It will make you unhappy, +and will breed irritation in others. Cheerfulness under +all circumstances, however difficult, is the duty and the +interest of the librarian. Thus he will cultivate successfully +an obliging disposition, which is a prime requisite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_251" id="Pg_251"></a>[<a href="./images/251.png">251</a>]</span> +to his success with the public and his usefulness as a librarian.</p> + +<p>It ought not to be requisite to insist upon good health +as a condition precedent for any one aspiring to be a librarian. +So very much depends upon this, that it should +form a part of the conscientious duty of every one to +acquire and maintain a sound condition of physical health, +as a most important adjunct of a thoroughly sound and +healthy condition of the mind. This is easier than most +persons are aware. If we except inherited constitutional +weaknesses, or maladies of a serious character, there is +almost no one who is not able by proper diet, regimen, and +daily exercise, to maintain a degree of health which will +enable him to use his brain to its full working capacity. +It demands an intelligent and watchful care of the daily +regimen, so that only simple and wholesome food and drink +may be taken into the system, and what is equally important, +adequate sleep, and habitual moderate exercise. No +one can maintain perfect health without breathing good +unadulterated air, and exercising in it with great frequency. +One's walks to and from the library may be sufficient +to give this, and it is well to have the motive of such +a walk, since exercise taken for the mere purpose of it is of +far less value. The habit of taking drugs, or going to a +doctor for every little malady, is most pernicious. Every +one, and especially a librarian, who is supposed (however +erroneously) to know everything, should know more of his +own constitution than any physician. With a few judicious +experiments in daily regimen, and a little abstinence +now and then, he can subdue head-aches, catarrhs and digestive +troubles, and by exercising an intelligent will, can +generally prevent their recurrence. If one finds himself +in the morning in a state of languor and lassitude, be sure +he has abused some physical function, and apply a remedy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_252" id="Pg_252"></a>[<a href="./images/252.png">252</a>]</span> +An invalid will make a poorly equipped librarian. How +can a dyspeptic who dwells in the darkness of a disease, be +a guiding light to the multitudes who beset him every +hour? There are few callings demanding as much mental +and physical soundness and alertness as the care of a public +library.</p> + +<p>Sound common sense is as essential to the librarian +as sound health. He should always take the practical +straightforward view of every item of library business and +management, remembering that the straight road is always +the shortest way between two points. While he may be full +of ideas, he should be neither an idealist nor a dreamer. +In library methods, the cardinal requisites to be aimed +at, are utility and convenience. A person of the most perfect +education, and the highest literary attainments, but +destitute of common sense, will not succeed in the conduct +of a library. That intuitive judgment, which sees the +reason of everything at a glance, and applies the proper +agencies to the case in hand, is wanting in his composition. +Multitudes of emergencies arise in library service, +where the prompt and practical sense of the librarian is +required to settle a dispute, adjust a difficulty, or to direct +what is to be done in some arrangement or re-arrangement +of books, or some library appliance or repair. In such +cases, the unpractical or impracticable man will be very +likely to decide wrongly, choosing the inconvenient method +instead of the convenient, the more costly instead of the +more economical, the laborious in place of the obvious and +easy; in short, some way of doing the work or settling the +difficulty which will not permit it to stay settled, or will +require the work to be done over again. The man of +common-sense methods, on the other hand, will at once +see the end from the beginning, anticipate every difficulty, +and decide upon the proper course without trouble or hesi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_253" id="Pg_253"></a>[<a href="./images/253.png">253</a>]</span>tation, +finding his judgment fully vindicated by the result.</p> + +<p>The librarian in whom the quality of common sense is +well developed will be ever ready to devise or to accept +improvements in library methods. Never a slave to "red +tape," he will promptly cut it wherever and whenever it +stands in the way of the readiest service of books and information +to all comers.</p> + +<p>Another quality which every librarian or assistant in a +library should possess is a thorough love of his work. He +should cherish a noble enthusiasm for the success and usefulness +of the institution with which he has chosen to be +associated. Nor should this spirit be by any means limited +to the literary and scientific aid which he is enabled to +extend to others, nor to the acquisition of the knowledge +requisite to meet the endless inquiries that are made of +him. He should take as much interest in restoring a +broken binding, or in seeing that a torn leaf is repaired, +as in informing a great scholar what the library contains +upon any subject.</p> + +<p>No one who is listless or indifferent in the discharge of +daily duties is fit for a place in a public library. There +should be an <i>esprit de corps</i>, a zeal for his profession, which +will lead him to make almost any sacrifice of outside interests +to become proficient in it. Thus only will he render +himself indispensable in his place, and do the greatest +amount of service to the greatest number of readers. I +have seen employees in libraries so utterly careless of what +belongs to their vocation, as to let books, totally unfit for +use, ragged or broken, or with plates loosened, ready to +drop out and disappear, go back to the shelves unrepaired, +to pursue the downward road toward destruction. And I +have been in many libraries in which the books upon the +shelves exhibited such utter want of care, such disarrangement, +such tumbling about and upside-down chaos, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_254" id="Pg_254"></a>[<a href="./images/254.png">254</a>]</span> +such want of cleanliness, as fairly to make one's heart +ache. In some cases this may have been due in great part +to unwise free admission of the public to the shelves, and +consequent inevitable disorder; in others, it may be partially +excused by the librarian's absolute want of the needful +help or time, to keep the library in order; but in others, +it was too apparent that the librarian in charge took no interest +in the condition of the books. Too many librarians +(at least of the past, however it may now be) have been of +the class described by Dr. Poole, the Chicago librarian. +He said that library trustees too often appeared to think +that anybody almost would do for a librarian; men who +have failed in everything else, broken-down clergymen, or +unsuccessful teachers, and the like.</p> + +<p>Passing now to other needful qualifications of librarians +and library assistants, let me say that one of the foremost +is accuracy. Perhaps I have before this remarked that +exact accuracy is one of the rarest of human qualities. +Even an approximation to it is rare, and absolute accuracy +is still rarer. Beware of the person who is sure of every +thing—who retails to you a conversation he has heard, +affecting to give the exact words of a third person, or who +quotes passages in verse or in prose, with glib assurance, +as the production of some well-known writer. The chances +are ten to one that the conversation is mainly manufactured +in the brain of the narrator, and that the quotation +is either not written by the author to whom it is attributed, +or else is a travesty of his real language. It is Lord Byron +who tells of that numerous class of sciolists whom one finds +everywhere—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With just enough of learning to misquote."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The books one reads abound in erroneous dates, mistaken +names, garbled extracts, and blundering quotations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_255" id="Pg_255"></a>[<a href="./images/255.png">255</a>]</span> +So much the more important is it to the librarian, who is +so continually drawn upon for correct information upon +every subject, to make sure of his facts, before communicating +them. When (as frequently happens) he has no +way of verifying them, he should report them, not as his +own conclusions, but on the authority of the book or periodical +where found. This will relieve him of all responsibility, +if they turn out to be erroneous. Whenever I +find a wrong date or name in a printed book, or an erroneous +reference in the index, or a mis-spelled word, I always +pencil the correct date, or name, or page of reference in +the margin. This I do as a matter of instinct, as well as +of duty, for the benefit of future inquirers, so that they +may not be misled. I speak here of errors which are palpable, +or of the inaccuracy of which I have positive knowledge; +if in doubt, I either let the matter go entirely, +or write a query in pencil at the place, with the presumed +correct substitute appended.</p> + +<p>Never be too sure of what you find in books; but prove +all things and hold fast to those only which you find to be +beyond dispute. Thus will you save yourself from falling +into many errors, and from recanting many opinions. It +is the method of ordinary education to take everything for +granted; it is the method of science to take nothing for +granted.</p> + +<p>I may refer here to another rule always to be observed, +and pertaining to the theme of strict accuracy in your daily +work. That is, the necessity of carefully examining every +piece of work you may have done, before it leaves your +hands, for the purpose of correcting errors. All of us are +not only liable to make mistakes, but all of us do make +them; and if any one has a conceit of his own accuracy, the +surest way to take it out of him is to let him serve an ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_256" id="Pg_256"></a>[<a href="./images/256.png">256</a>]</span>prenticeship +in some library, where there is competent revision +of all the labor performed. There are multitudes of +assistants in libraries who cannot write a letter, even, +without making one or more errors. How often do +you leave out a word in your writing experience, which +may change the meaning of a whole sentence? So, in +writing titles, whether for the catalogue, or for a library +order, or for the information of some inquirer, you +are liable to make errors of date, or edition, or place of +publication, or size, or to misplace or omit or substitute +some word in the description of the book. There is nothing +in the world quite so easy as to be mistaken: and +the only remedy (and it is an all-essential one) is to go +over every line and every word of what you have written, +before it leaves your hands. As second thoughts are proverbially +best, so a second careful glance over a piece +of writing will almost always reveal some error or omission +to be corrected. Think of the mortification you +must feel at finding an unverified piece of work returned +upon your hands, with several glaring mistakes marked +by the reviser! Think, on the other hand, of the inward +satisfaction experienced when you have done your +best, written and revised your own work, and found it always +passed as perfect. I have tried many persons by +many tests, and while I have found a great number who +were industrious, intelligent, zealous, conscientious, good-tempered, +and expeditious, I have found scarcely one who +was always accurate. One of the rarest things in a library +is to find an assistant who has an unerring sense of the +French accents. This knowledge, to one expert in that +language, even if he does not speak it, should be as intuitive +as the art of spelling correctly, either in English +or French. He should write the proper accent over a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_257" id="Pg_257"></a>[<a href="./images/257.png">257</a>]</span> +letter just as infallibly as he writes the proper letters in a +word. But, strange to say, it is very common, even with +good French scholars (in the book-sense or literary sense +of scholarship) to find them putting the acute accent for +the grave over a vowel, or the grave instead of the acute, +or omitting the circumflex accent entirely, and so on.</p> + +<p>Every one commits errors, but the wise man is he who +learns by his mistakes, and applies the remedy. The best +remedy (as I said in the case of memory in another chapter,) +is to cultivate a habit of trained attention in whatever +we do. Yet many people (and I am afraid we must +say most people) go on through life, making the same +blunders, and repeating them. It appears as if the habit +of inaccuracy were innate in the human race, and only to +be reformed by the utmost painstaking, and even with the +aid of that, only by a few. I have had to observe and +correct such numberless errors in the work of well-educated, +adult, and otherwise accomplished persons, as +filled me with despair. Yet there is no more doubt of the +improvability of the average mind, however inaccurate +at the start, than of the power of the will to correct other +bad habits into which people unconsciously fall.</p> + +<p>One of the requisites of a successful librarian is a faculty +of order and system, applied throughout all the details of +library administration. Without these, the work will be +performed in a hap-hazard, slovenly manner, and the library +itself will tend to become a chaos. Bear in mind the +great extent and variety of the objects which come under +the care of the librarian, all of which are to be classified +and reduced to order. These include not only books upon +every earthly subject (and very many upon unearthly ones) +but a possibly wide range of newspapers and periodicals, a +great mass of miscellaneous pamphlets, sometimes of maps +and charts, of manuscripts and broadsides, and frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_258" id="Pg_258"></a>[<a href="./images/258.png">258</a>]</span> +collections of engravings, photographs, and other pictures, +all of which come in to form a part of most libraries. This +great complexity of material, too, exhibits only the physical +aspect of the librarian's labors. There are, besides, the +preparation, arrangement and continuation of the catalogue, +in its three or more forms, the charging and crediting +of the books in circulation, the searching of many book +lists for purchases, the library bills and accounts, the supervision +and revision of the work of assistants, the library +correspondence, often requiring wide researches to answer +inquiries, the continual aid to readers, and a multitude of +minor objects of attention quite too numerous to name. +Is it any over-statement of the case to say that the librarian +who has to organize and provide for all this physical and +intellectual labor, should be systematic and orderly in a +high degree?</p> + +<p>That portion of his <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'responsibile'">responsible</ins> task which pertains to +the arrangement and classification of books has been elsewhere +treated. But there is required in addition, a faculty +of arranging his time, so as to meet seasonably the +multifarious drafts upon it. He should early learn not +only the supreme value of moments, but how to make all +the library hours fruitful of results. To this end the time +should be apportioned with careful reference to each department +of library service. One hour may be set for revising +one kind of work of assistants; another for a different +one; another for perusing sale catalogues, and marking +<i>desiderata</i> to be looked up in the library catalogue; another +for researches in aid of readers or correspondents; still another +for answering letters on the many subjects about +which librarians are constantly addressed; and still another +for a survey of all the varied interests of the library and its +frequenters, to see what features of the service need +strengthening, what improvements can be made, what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_259" id="Pg_259"></a>[<a href="./images/259.png">259</a>]</span> +errors corrected, and how its general usefulness can be increased. +So to apportion one's time as to get out of the +day (which is all too short for what is to be done in it) the +utmost of accomplishment is a problem requiring much +skill, as well as the ability to profit by experience. One has +always to be subject to interruptions—and these must be +allowed for, and in some way made up for. Remember, +when you have lost valuable time with some visitor whose +claims to your attention are paramount, that when to-morrow +comes one should take up early the arrears of work +postponed, and make progress with them, even though unable +to finish them.</p> + +<p>Another suggestion; proper system in the management +and control of one's time demands that none of it be absorbed +by trifles or triflers; and so every librarian must indispensably +know how to get rid of bores. One may almost +always manage to effect this without giving offense, +and at the same time without wasting any time upon them, +which is the one thing needful. The bore is commonly one +who, having little or nothing to do, inflicts himself upon +the busy persons of his acquaintance, and especially upon +the ones whom he credits with knowing the most—to wit, +the librarians. Receive him courteously, but keep on +steadily at the work you are doing when he enters. If you +are skilful, you can easily do two things at once, for example, +answer your idler friend or your bore, and revise title-cards, +or mark a catalogue, or collate a book, or look up a +quotation, or write a letter, at the same time. Never lose +your good humor, never say that your time is valuable, or +that you are very busy; never hint at his going away; but +never quit your work, answer questions cheerfully, and +keep on, allowing nothing to take your eyes off your business. +By and by he will take the hint, if not wholly +pachydermatous, and go away of his own accord. By pur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_260" id="Pg_260"></a>[<a href="./images/260.png">260</a>]</span>suing +this course I have saved infinite time, and got rid of +infinite bores, by one and the same process.</p> + +<p>The faculty of organizing one's work is essential, in order +to efficiency and accomplishment. If you do not have +a plan and adhere to it, if you let this, that, and the other +person interrupt you with trifling gossip, or unnecessary +requests, you will never get ahead of your work; on the +contrary, your work will always get ahead of you. The +same result will follow if you interrupt yourself, by yielding +to the temptation of reading just a page or a paragraph +of something that attracts your eye while at work. This +dissipation of time, to say nothing of its unfair appropriation +of what belongs to the library, defeats the prompt accomplishment +of the work in hand, and fosters the evil +habit of scattering your forces, in idleness and procrastination.</p> + +<p>It ought not to be needful to urge habits of neatness and +the love of order upon candidates for places in libraries. +How much a neat and carefully arranged shelf of books appeals +to one's taste, I need not say, nor urge the point how +much an orderly and neatly kept room, or desk, or table +adds to one's comfort. The librarian who has the proper +spirit of his calling should take pains to make the whole +library look neat and attractive, to have a place for everything, +and everything in its place. This, with adequate +space existing, will be found easier than to have the books +and other material scattered about in confusion, thus requiring +much more time to find them when wanted. A +slovenly-kept library is certain to provoke public criticism, +and this always tells to the disadvantage of the librarian; +while a neatly kept, carefully arranged collection of books +is not only pleasing to the eye, but elicits favorable judgment +from all visitors.</p> + +<p>Among the qualities that should enter into the compo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_261" id="Pg_261"></a>[<a href="./images/261.png">261</a>]</span>sition +of a successful librarian must be reckoned an inexhaustible +patience. He will be sorely tried in his endeavors +to satisfy his own ideals, and sometimes still more +sorely in his efforts to satisfy the public. Against the +mistakes and short-comings of assistants, the ignorance of +many readers, and the unreasonable expectations of others, +the hamperings of library authorities, and the frequently +unfounded criticisms of the press, he should arm himself +with a patience and equanimity that are unfailing. When +he knows he is right, he should never be disturbed at complaint, +nor suffer a too sensitive mood to ruffle his feelings. +When there is any foundation for censure, however slight, +he should learn by it and apply the remedy. The many +and varied characters who come within the comprehensive +sphere of the librarian necessarily include people of all +tempers and dispositions, as well as of every degree of culture. +To be gracious and courteous to all is his interest +as well as his duty. With the ignorant he will often have +to exercise a vast amount of patience, but he should never +betray a supercilious air, as though looking down upon +them from the height of his own superior intelligence. To +be always amiable toward inferiors, superiors, and equals, +is to conciliate the regard of all. Courtesy costs so little, +and makes so large a return in proportion to the investment, +that it is surprising not to find it universal. Yet +it is so far from being so that we hear people praising one +whose manners are always affable, as if he were deserving +of special credit for it, as an exception to the general rule. +It is frequently observed that a person of brusque address +or crusty speech begets crustiness in others. There are +subtle currents of feeling in human intercourse, not easy +to define, but none the less potent in effect. A person of +marked suavity of speech and bearing radiates about him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_262" id="Pg_262"></a>[<a href="./images/262.png">262</a>]</span> +an atmosphere of good humor, which insensibly influences +the manners and the speech of others.</p> + +<p>There will often come into a public library a man whose +whole manner is aggressive and over-bearing, who acts and +talks as if he had a right to the whole place, including the +librarian. No doubt, being a citizen, he has every right, except +the right to violate the rules—or to make himself disagreeable. +The way to meet him is to be neither aggressive, +nor submissive and deferential, but with a cool and +pleasant courtesy, ignoring any idea of unpleasant feeling +on your part. You will thus at least teach a lesson in good +manners, which may or may not be learned, according to +circumstances and the hopeful or hopeless character of the +pupil.</p> + +<p>Closely allied to the virtue of patience, is that of unfailing +tact. This will be found an important adjunct in the +administration of a public library. How to meet the innumerable +inquiries made of him with just the proper answer, +saying neither too much, nor too little, to be civil to +all, without needless multiplication of words, this requires +one to hold his faculties well in hand, never to forget himself, +and to show that no demand whatever can vex or fluster +him. The librarian should know how, or learn how to +adapt himself to all readers, and how to aid their researches +without devoting much time to each. This requires a fine +quality of tact, of adapting one's self quickly to the varied +circumstances of the case in hand. One who has it well +developed will go through the manifold labors and interviews +and annoyances of the day without friction, while +one who is without tact will be worried and fretted until +life seems to him a burden.</p> + +<p>Need I mention, after all that has been said of the exacting +labors that continually wait upon the librarian, that +he should be possessed both of energy and untiring indus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_263" id="Pg_263"></a>[<a href="./images/263.png">263</a>]</span>try? +By the very nature of the calling to which he is dedicated, +he is pledged to earnest and thorough work in it. +He cannot afford to be a trifler or a loiterer on the way, but +must push on continually. He should find time for play, +it is true, and for reading for his own recreation and instruction, +but that time should be out of library hours. +And a vigilant and determined economy of time in library +hours will be found a prime necessity. I have dwelt elsewhere +upon the importance of choosing the shortest methods +in every piece of work to be accomplished. Equally +important is it to cultivate economy of speech, or the habit +of condensing instructions to assistants, and answers to inquiries +into the fewest words. A library should never be +a circumlocution office. The faculty of condensed expression, +though somewhat rare, can be cultivated.</p> + +<p>In the relations existing between librarian and assistants +there should be mutual confidence and support. All are +equally interested in the credit and success of the institution +which engages their services, and all should labor harmoniously +to that end. Loyalty to one's employers is both +the duty and the interest of the employed: and the reciprocal +duty of faithfulness to those employed, and interest +in their improvement and success should mark the intercourse +of the librarian with his assistants. He should +never be too old nor too wise to learn, and should welcome +suggestions from every intelligent aid. I have suggested +the importance of an even temper in the relations between +librarians and readers; and it is equally important as between +all those associated in the administration of a library. +Every one has faults and weaknesses; and those +encountered in others will be viewed with the most charity +by those who are duly conscious of their own. Every one +makes mistakes, and these are often provoking or irritating +to one who knows better; but a mild and pleasant ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_264" id="Pg_264"></a>[<a href="./images/264.png">264</a>]</span>planation +of the error is far more likely to lead to amendment, +than a sharp reproof, leaving hard feeling or bitterness +behind. Under no circumstances is peevishness or +passion justifiable. Library assistants in their bearing toward +each other, should suppress all feelings of censoriousness, +fault-finding or jealousy, if they have them, in favor +of civility and good manners, if not of good fellowship. +They are all public servants engaged in a common cause, +aiming at the enlightenment and improvement of the community; +they should cherish a just pride in being selected +for this great service, and to help one another in every step +of the work, should be their golden rule. Everything +should be done for the success and usefulness of the library, +and all personal considerations should be merged in +public ones.</p> + +<p>Turning now to what remains of suggestion regarding +the qualities which should enter into the character, or form +a part of the equipment of a librarian, let me urge the importance +of his possessing a truly liberal and impartial +mind. It is due to all who frequent a public library to +find all those in charge ready and willing to aid their researches +in whatever direction they may lie. Their attitude +should be one of constant and sincere open-mindedness. +They are to remember that it is the function of the +library to supply the writings of all kinds of authors, on all +sides of all questions. In doing this, it is no part of a +librarian's function to interpose any judgments of his own +upon the authors asked for. He has no right as a librarian +to be an advocate of any theories, or a propagandist of any +opinions. His attitude should be one of strict and absolute +impartiality. A public library is the one common +property of all, the one neutral ground where all varieties +of character, and all schools of opinion meet and mingle. +Within its hallowed precincts, sacred to literature and sci<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_265" id="Pg_265"></a>[<a href="./images/265.png">265</a>]</span>ence, +the voice of controversy should be hushed. While +the librarian may and should hold his own private opinions +with firmness and entire independence, he should keep +them private—as regards the frequenters of the library. +He may, for example, be profoundly convinced of the truth +of the Christian religion; and he is called on, we will suppose, +for books attacking Christianity, like Thomas Paine's +"Age of Reason," or Robert G. Ingersoll's lectures on "Myth +and Miracle." It is his simple duty to supply the writers +asked for, without comment, for in a public library, Christian +and Jew, Mahometan and Agnostic, stand on the same +level of absolute equality. The library has the Koran, and +the Book of Mormon, as well as the Scriptures of the Old +and New Testament, and one is to be as freely supplied as +the other. A library is an institution of universal range—of +encyclopaedic knowledge, which gathers in and dispenses +to all comers, the various and conflicting opinions +of all writers upon religion, science, politics, philosophy, +and sociology. The librarian may chance to be an ardent +Republican or a zealous Democrat; but in either case, he +should show as much alacrity in furnishing readers with +W. J. Bryan's book "The First Battle," as with McKinley's +speeches, or the Republican Hand-Book. A library is no +place for dogmatism; the librarian is pledged, by the very +nature of his profession, which is that of a dispenser of all +knowledge—not of a part of it—to entire liberality, and +absolute impartiality. Remembering the axiom that all +errors may be safely tolerated, while reason is left free +to combat them, he should be ever ready to furnish out of +the intellectual arsenal under his charge, the best and +strongest weapons to either side in any conflict of opinion.</p> + +<p>It will have been gathered from what has gone before, +in recapitulation of the duties and responsibilities of the +librarian's calling, that it is one demanding a high order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_266" id="Pg_266"></a>[<a href="./images/266.png">266</a>]</span> +of talent. The business of successfully conducting a public +library is complex and difficult. It is full of never-ending +detail, and the work accomplished does not show +for what it is really worth, except in the eyes of the more +thoughtful and discerning observers.</p> + +<p>I may here bring into view some of the drawbacks and +discouragements incident to the librarian's vocation, together +with an outline of the advantages which belong +to it.</p> + +<p>In the first place, there is little money in it. No one +who looks upon the acquisition of money as one of the chief +aims of life, should think for a moment of entering on a +librarian's career. The prizes in the profession are few—so +few indeed, as to be quite out of the question for most +aspirants. The salaries paid in subordinate positions are +very low in most libraries, and even those of head-librarians +are not such that one can lay up money on them. A lady +assistant librarian in one city said she had found that one +of a librarian's proper qualifications was to be able to live +on two meals a day. This doubtless was a humorous exaggeration, +but it is true that the average salaries hitherto +paid in our public libraries, with few exceptions, do not +quite come up to those of public school teachers, taking the +various grades into account. Most of the newly formed libraries +are poor, and have to be economical. But there is +some reason to hope that as libraries multiply and their +unspeakable advantages become more fully appreciated, +the standard of compensation for all skilled librarians will +rise. I say skilled, because training and experience are the +leading elements which command the better salaries, in +this, as in other professions.</p> + +<p>Another drawback to be recognized in the librarian's +calling, is that there are peculiar trials and vexations connected +with it. There are almost no limits to the demands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_267" id="Pg_267"></a>[<a href="./images/267.png">267</a>]</span> +made upon the knowledge and the time of the librarian. +In other professions, teaching for example, there are prescribed +and well-defined routines of the instruction to be +given, and the teacher who thoroughly masters this course, +and brings the pupils through it creditably, has nothing to +do beyond. The librarian, on the other hand, must be, as +it were, a teacher of all sciences and literatures at once. +The field to be covered by the wants of readers, and the +inquiries that he is expected to answer, are literally illimitable. +He cannot rest satisfied with what he has already +learned, however expert or learned he may have become; +but he must keep on learning forevermore. The new +books that are continually flooding him, the new sciences +or new developments of old ones that arise, must be so far +assimilated that he can give some account of the scope of +all of them to inquiring readers.</p> + +<p>In the third place, there are special annoyances in the +service of a public, which includes always some inconsiderate +and many ignorant persons, and these will frequently +try one's patience, however angelic and forbearing. So, +too, the short-comings of library assistants or associates +may often annoy him, but as all these trials have been before +referred to, it may be added that they are not peculiar +to library service, but are liable to occur in the profession +of teaching or in any other.</p> + +<p>In the next place, the peculiar variety and great number +of the calls incessantly made upon the librarian's knowledge, +constitute a formidable draft upon any but the +strongest brain. There is no escape from these continual +drafts upon his nervous energy for one who has deliberately +chosen to serve in a public library. And he will +sometimes find, wearied as he often must be with many +cares and a perfect flood of questions, that the most welcome +hour of the day is the hour of closing the library.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_268" id="Pg_268"></a>[<a href="./images/268.png">268</a>]</span>Another of the librarian's vexations is frequently the +interference with his proper work by the library authorities. +Committees or trustees to oversee the management +and supervise expenditures are necessary to any public library. +Sometimes they are quick-sighted and intelligent +persons, and recognize the importance of letting the librarian +work out everything in his own way, when once +satisfied that they have got a competent head in charge. +But there are sometimes men on a board of library control +who are self-conceited and pragmatical, thinking that they +know everything about how a library should be managed, +when in fact, they are profoundly ignorant of the first +rudiments of library science. Such men will sometimes +overbear their fellows, who may be more intelligent, but not +so self-asserting, and so manage as to overrule the best +and wisest plans, or the most expedient methods, and vex +the very soul of the librarian. In such cases the only +remedy is patience and tact. Some day, what has been +decided wrongly may be reversed, or what has been denied +the librarian may be granted, through the conversion of a +minority of the trustees into a majority, by the gentle +suasion and skilful reasoning of the librarian.</p> + +<p>There are other drawbacks and discomforts in the course +of a librarian's duties which have been referred to in dealing +with the daily work under his charge. There remains +the fact that the profession is no bed of roses, but a laborious +and exacting calling, the price of success in which +is an unremitting industry, and energy inexhaustible. +But these will not appear very formidable requisites to +those who have a native love of work, and it is a fact not to +be doubted that work of some kind is the only salvation +of every human creature.</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, if the calling of the librarian involves +many trials and vexations, it has also many notable com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_269" id="Pg_269"></a>[<a href="./images/269.png">269</a>]</span>pensations. +Foremost among these is to be reckoned the +fact that it opens more and wider avenues to intellectual +culture than any other profession whatever. This comes +in a two-fold way: first, through the stimulus to research +given by the incessant inquiries of readers, and by the very +necessity of his being, as a librarian; and secondly, by the +rare facilities for investigation and improvement supplied +by the ample and varied stores of the library always immediately +at hand. Other scholars can commonly command +but few books, unless able to possess a large private library: +their <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'reasearches'">researches</ins> in the public one are hampered by the +rule that no works of reference can be withdrawn, and +that constitutes a very large and essential class, constantly +needed by every scholar and writer. The librarian, on the +other hand, has them all at his elbow.</p> + +<p>In the next place, there are few professions which are +in themselves so attractive as librarianship. Its tendency +is both to absorb and to satisfy the intellectual faculties. +No where else is the sense of continual growth so palpable; +in no other field of labor is such an enlargement of the +bounds of one's horizon likely to be found. Compare it +with the profession of teaching. In that, the mind is +chained down to a rigorous course of imparting instruction +in a narrow and limited field. One must perforce go on +rehearsing the same rudiments of learning, grinding over +the same Latin gerunds, hearing the same monotonous recitations, +month after month, and year after year. This +continual threshing over of old straw has its uses, but to an +ardent and active mind, it is liable to become very depressing. +Such a mind would rather be kept on the <i>qui vive</i> +of activity by a volley of questions fired at him every hour +in a library, than to grind forever in an intellectual tread-mill, +with no hope of change and very little of relief. The +very variety of the employments which fill up the library<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_270" id="Pg_270"></a>[<a href="./images/270.png">270</a>]</span> +hours, the versatility required in the service, contributes +to it a certain zest which other professions lack.</p> + +<p>Again, the labors of the librarian bring him into an intimate +knowledge of a wide range of books, or at least an +acquaintance with authors and titles far more extensive +than can be acquired by most persons. The reading of +book catalogues is a great and never-ending fascination to +one who has a love for books. The information thus acquired +of the mighty range of the world's literature and +science is of inestimable value. Most of it, if retained in +a retentive memory, will enable its possessor to answer +multitudes of the questions continually put to the librarian.</p> + +<p>Then, too, the service of a public library is a valuable +school for the study of human nature. One comes in contact +with scholars, men of business, authors, bright young +people, journalists, professional men and cultured women, +to an extent unequaled by the opportunities of any other +calling. This variety of intercourse tends to broaden one's +sympathies, to strengthen his powers of observation, to cultivate +habits of courtesy, to develop the faculty of adapting +himself to all persons—qualities which contribute much +to social interest and success. The discipline of such an +intercourse may sometimes make out of a silent and bashful +recluse, a ready and engaging adept in conversation, +able to command the attention and conciliate the regard +of all. Farther than this, one brought into so wide a +circle of communication with others, cannot fail to learn +something from at least some among them, and so to receive +knowledge as well as to impart it. The curious and +diverse elements of character brought out in such intercourse +will make their impress, and may have their value. +All these many facilities for intellectual intercourse both +with books and with men, contribute directly to keep the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_271" id="Pg_271"></a>[<a href="./images/271.png">271</a>]</span> +librarian in contact with all the great objects of human interest. +They supply an unfailing stimulus to his intellectual +and moral nature. They give any active-minded person +rare facilities, not only for the acquisition, but for +the communication of ideas. And there is one avenue for +such communication that is peculiarly open to one whose +mind is stored with the ripe fruits of reading and observation. +I mean the field of authorship—not necessarily the +authorship of books, but of writing in the form of essays, +reviews, lectures, stories or contributions to the periodical +press. There are in every community literary societies, +clubs, and evening gatherings, where such contributions +are always in demand, and always welcomed, in exact proportion +to their inherent interest and value. Such avenues +for the communication of one's thought are of great and +sometimes permanent advantage. The knowledge which +we acquire is comparatively barren, until it is shared with +others. And whether this be in an appreciative circle of listeners, +or in the press, it gives a certain stimulus and reward +to the thinker and writer, which nothing else can impart. +To convey one's best thought to the world is one of +the purest and highest of intellectual pleasures.</p> + +<p>Let me add that there are two sides to the question of +authorship, as concerns librarians. On the one hand, their +advantages for entering that field are undoubtedly superior, +both from the ready command of the most abundant +material, and from experience in its use. On the other +hand, while authorship may be said to be the most besetting +temptation of the librarian, it is one that should be +steadily resisted whenever it encroaches on the time and +attention due to library duties. If he makes it a rule to +write nothing and to study nothing for his own objects +during library hours, he is safe. Some years since it was +a common subject of reproach regarding the librarians of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_272" id="Pg_272"></a>[<a href="./images/272.png">272</a>]</span> +several university libraries in England that they were so +engaged in writing books, that no scholar could get at them +for aid in his literary researches. The librarians and assistants +employed in the British Museum Library, where +the hours of service are short, have found time to produce +numerous contributions to literature. Witness the works, +as authors and editors, of Sir Henry Ellis, Antonio Panizzi, +Dr. Richard Garnett, Edward Edwards, J. Winter +Jones, Thomas Watts, George Smith, and others. And +in America, the late Justin Winsor was one of the most +prolific and versatile of authors, while John Fiske, once +assistant librarian at Harvard, Reuben A. Guild, William +F. Poole, George H. Moore, J. N. Larned, Frederick Saunders +and others have been copious contributors to the +press.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>In a retrospective view of what has been said in respect +to the qualifications of a librarian, it may appear that I +have insisted upon too high a standard, and have claimed +that he should be possessed of every virtue under heaven. +I freely admit that I have aimed to paint the portrait of +the ideal librarian; and I have done it in order to show +what might be accomplished, rather than what has been +accomplished. To set one's mark high—higher even than +we are likely to reach, is the surest way to attain real excellence +in any vocation. It is very true that it is not +given to mortals to achieve perfection: but it is none the +less our business to aim at it, and the higher the ideal, the +nearer we are likely to come to a notable success in the +work we have chosen.</p> + +<p>Librarianship furnishes one of the widest fields for the +most eminent attainments. The librarian, more than any +other person whatever, is brought into contact with those +who are hungering and thirsting after knowledge. He +should be able to satisfy those longings, to lead inquirers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_273" id="Pg_273"></a>[<a href="./images/273.png">273</a>]</span> +in the way they should go, and to be to all who seek his +assistance a guide, philosopher and friend. Of all the +pleasures which a generous mind is capable of enjoying, +that of aiding and enlightening others is one of the finest +and most delightful. To learn continually for one's self +is a noble ambition, but to learn for the sake of communicating +to others, is a far nobler one. In fact, the librarian +becomes most widely useful by effacing himself, as it were, +in seeking to promote the intelligence of the community in +which he lives. One of the best librarians in the country +said that such were the privileges and opportunities of the +profession, that one might well afford to live on bread and +water for the sake of being a librarian, provided one had +no family to support.</p> + +<p>There is a new and signally marked advance in recent +years, in the public idea of what constitutes a librarian. +The old idea of a librarian was that of a guardian or keeper +of books—not a diffuser of knowledge, but a mere custodian +of it. This idea had its origin in ages when books +were few, were printed chiefly in dead languages, and rendered +still more dead by being chained to the shelves or +tables of the library. The librarian might be a monk, or a +professor, or a priest, or a doctor of law, or theology, or +medicine, but in any case his function was to guard the +books, and not to dispense them. Those who resorted to +the library were kept at arm's length, as it were, and the +fewer there were who came, the better the grim or studious +custodian was pleased. Every inquiry which broke the +profound silence of the cloistered library was a kind of +rude interruption, and when it was answered, the perfunctory +librarian resumed his reading or his studies. The institution +appeared to exist, not for the benefit of the people, +but for that of the librarian; or for the benefit, besides, +of a few sequestered scholars, like himself, and any wide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_274" id="Pg_274"></a>[<a href="./images/274.png">274</a>]</span> +popular use of it would have been viewed as a kind of profanation.</p> + +<p>We have changed all that in the modern world, and library +service is now one of the busiest occupations in the +whole range of human enterprise. One cannot succeed in +the profession, if his main idea is that a public library is a +nice and easy place where one may do one's own reading +and writing to the best advantage. A library is an intellectual +and material work-shop, in which there is no room +for fossils nor for drones. My only conception of a useful +library is a library that is used—and the same of a librarian. +He should be a lover of books—but not a book-worm. If +his tendencies toward idealism are strong, he should hold +them in check by addicting himself to steady, practical, +every-day work. While careful of all details, he should not +be mastered by them. If I have sometimes seemed to +dwell upon trifling or obvious suggestions as to temper, or +conduct, or methods, let it be remembered that trifles +make up perfection, and that perfection is no trifle.</p> + +<p>I once quoted the saying that "the librarian who reads +is lost"; but it would be far truer to say that the librarian +who does not read is lost; only he should read wisely and +with a purpose. He should make his reading helpful in +giving him a wide knowledge of facts, of thoughts, and of +illustrations, which will come perpetually in play in his +daily intercourse with an inquiring public.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_275" id="Pg_275"></a>[<a href="./images/275.png">275</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a>CHAPTER 14.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Some of the Uses of Libraries.</span></h3> + + +<p>Let us now consider the subject of the uses of public libraries +to schools and those connected with them. Most +town and city libraries are supported, like the free schools, +by the public money, drawn from the tax-payers, and supposed +to be expended for the common benefit of all the +people. It results that one leading object of the library +should be to acquire such a collection of books as will be in +the highest degree useful to all. And especially should +the wants of the younger generation be cared for, since +they are always not only nearly one half of the community, +but they are also to become the future citizens of +the republic. What we learn in youth is likely to make a +more marked and lasting impression than what we may +acquire in later years. And the public library should be +viewed as the most important and necessary adjunct of the +school, in the instruction and improvement of the young. +Each is adapted to supply what the other lacks. The +school supplies oral instruction and public exercises in various +departments of learning; but it has few or no books, +beyond the class text-books which are used in these instructions. +The library, on the other hand, is a silent +school of learning, free to all, and supplying a wide range +of information, in books adapted to every age. It thus +supplements, and in proportion to the extent and judicious +choice of its collections, helps to complete that education, +which the school falls short of. In this view, we see the +great importance of making sure that the public library has +not only a full supply of the best books in every field, avoid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_276" id="Pg_276"></a>[<a href="./images/276.png">276</a>]</span>ing +(as previously urged) the bad or the inferior ones, but +also that it has the best juvenile and elementary literature +in ample supply. This subject of reading for the young has +of late years come into unprecedented prominence. Formerly, +and even up to the middle of our century, very +slight attention was paid to it, either by authors or readers. +Whole generations had been brought up on the New England +Primer, with its grotesque wood-cuts, and antique +theology in prose and verse, with a few moral narratives +in addition, as solemn as a meeting-house, like the "Dairyman's +Daughter," the "History of Sandford and Merton," +or "The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain." Very dreary and +melancholy do such books appear to the frequenters of our +modern libraries, filled as they now are with thousands +of volumes of lively and entertaining juvenile books.</p> + +<p>The transition from the old to the new in this class of +literature was through the Sunday-school and religious +tract society books, professedly adapted to the young. +While some of these had enough of interest to be fairly +readable, if one had no other resource, the mass were irredeemably +stale and poor. The mawkishness of the sentiment +was only surpassed by the feebleness of the style. +At last, weary of the goody-goody and artificial school of +juvenile books, which had been produced for generations, +until a surfeit of it led to something like a nausea in the +public mind, there came a new type of writers for the +young, who at least began to speak the language of reason. +The dry bones took on some semblance of life and of human +nature, and boys and girls were painted as real boys +and genuine girls, instead of lifeless dolls and manikins. +The reformation went on, until we now have a world of +books for the young to choose from, very many of which +are fresh and entertaining.</p> + +<p>But the very wealth and redundancy of such literature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_277" id="Pg_277"></a>[<a href="./images/277.png">277</a>]</span> +is a new embarrassment to the librarian, who must indispensably +make a selection, since no library can have or +ought to have it all. Recurring to the function of the +public library as the coadjutor of the school, let us see what +classes of books should form essential parts of its stores.</p> + +<p>1. As geography, or an account of the earth on which +we live, is a fundamental part of education, the library +should possess a liberal selection of the best books in that +science. The latest general gazetteer of the world, the best +modern and a good ancient atlas, one or more of the great +general collections of voyages, a set of Baedeker's admirable +and inexpensive guide books, and descriptive works +or travels in nearly all countries—those in America and +Europe predominating—should be secured. The scholars +of all grades will thus be able to supplement their studies +by ready reference, and every part of the globe will lie open +before them, as it were, by the aid of the library.</p> + +<p>2. The best and latest text-books in all the sciences, as +geology, chemistry, natural history, physics, botany, agriculture, +mechanic arts, mathematics, mental and moral +science, architecture, fine arts, music, sociology, political +science, etc., should be accessible.</p> + +<p>3. Every important history, with all the latest manuals +or elementary books in general and national history should +be found.</p> + +<p>4. The great collections of biography, with separate +lives of all noted characters, should be provided.</p> + +<p>5. Dictionaries, cyclopaedias, statistical annuals, and +other books of reference will be needed in abundance.</p> + +<p>6. A small but select number of approved works in law, +medicine, and theology should be embraced in the library.</p> + +<p>7. I need not add that the poets and novelists should be +well represented, as that goes without saying in all popular +libraries.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_278" id="Pg_278"></a>[<a href="./images/278.png">278</a>]</span>And special attention should be paid to building up a +collection of the best books for juvenile readers, such as +have passed the ordeal of good critical judgment among +the librarians, as eminently fit to be read. There are several +useful catalogues of such reading, as: Caroline M. Hewins' +"Books for the Young," G. E. Hardy's "Five Hundred +Books for the Young," and the admirable "List of Books +for Girls and Women" by Augusta H. Leypoldt and Geo. +Iles, contributed to by many experts, and copiously supplied +with notes describing the scope and quality of the +books. The last two are published by the Library Bureau.</p> + +<p>With this broad equipment of the best books in every +field, and vigilance in constant exercise to add fresh stores +from the constantly appearing and often improved text-books +in every science, the library will be a treasury of +knowledge both for teachers and pupils in the schools. +And the fact should not be overlooked, that there will be +found as much growth for teachers as for scholars in such +a collection of books. Very few teachers, save those of +well-furnished minds and of much careful reading, are +competent to guide their scholars into the highways and +byways of knowledge, as the librarian should be able to do.</p> + +<p>To establish a relation of confidence and aid with teachers +is the preliminary step to be taken in order to make the +library at once practically useful to them and to their +scholars. In case there are several public schools in +charge of a general superintendent, that officer should be +first consulted, and tendered the free aid of the library and +its librarian for himself and the teachers. In some public +libraries, the school superintendent is made an <i>ex officio</i> +member of the library board. Then suitable regulations +should be mutually agreed upon, fixing the number of +books to be drawn on account of the schools at any one +time, and the period of return to the library. It is most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_279" id="Pg_279"></a>[<a href="./images/279.png">279</a>]</span> +usual to charge such books on teachers' cards, or account, +to fix responsibility, although the teachers loan them to the +scholars at their option.</p> + +<p>In places where there are no school libraries proper, the +public library will need to provide a goodly number of duplicates, +in order to meet the special school demand. +This, however, will usually be of low-priced rather than +costly books, as the elementary text-books do not draw +heavily upon library funds.</p> + +<p>A very attractive feature in providing books for the +young is the large number of illustrated books now available +to all libraries. All the kingdoms of nature are depicted +in these introductory manuals of science, rendering +its pursuit more interesting, and cultivating the habits of +observation of form and of proportion, in the minds of the +young. Pupils who have never accomplished anything in +school have been roused by interest in illustrated natural +histories to take an eager interest in learning all about +birds and animals. This always leads on and up to other +study, since the mind that is once awakened to observation +and to thought, needs only a slight guidance to develop an +unappeasable hunger for finding out all about things.</p> + +<p>The ancient maxim that "it is only the first step that +costs" is especially true in the great art of education. It +matters little what it is that first awakens the intellect—the +great fact is that it is awakened, and sleeps no more +thenceforward. A mottled bird's egg, found on the way to +school, excites the little finder to ascertain the name of the +bird that laid it. The school or the teacher supplies no +means of finding out, but the public library has books upon +birds, with colored plates of their eggs, and an eager search +ensues, until the young student is rewarded by finding the +very bird, with its name, plumage, habits, size, and season, +all described. That child has taken an enormous step for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_280" id="Pg_280"></a>[<a href="./images/280.png">280</a>]</span>ward +on the road to knowledge, which will never be forgotten.</p> + +<p>Instances might be multiplied indefinitely of such valuable +aids to research, afforded by libraries, all along the innumerable +roads travelled by students of every age in +search of information. One of the most profitable of +school exercises is to take up successively the great men +and notable women of the past, and, by the effective and +practical aid of the libraries, to find out what is best +worth knowing about Columbus, Franklin, Walter Scott, +Irving, Prescott, Bancroft, Longfellow, Hawthorne, Whittier, +Emerson, Lowell, Victor Hugo, or others too numerous +to name. Reading Longfellow's Evangeline will lead +one to search out the history and geography of Acadia, +and so fix indelibly the practical facts concerned, as well +as the imagery of a fine poem. So in the notable events +of history, if a study is made of the English Commonwealth, +or the French Revolution, or the war between the +United States and England in 1812-15, the library will +supply the student with copious materials for illustration.</p> + +<p>Not alone in the fields of science, history, and biography, +but in the attractive fields of literature, also, can the libraries +aid and supplement the teachings of the school. A +fine poem, or a simple, humorous, or pathetic story, told +with artless grace or notable literary skill, when read +aloud by a teacher in school, awakens a desire in many to +have the same book at home to read, re-read, and perhaps +commit to memory the finer passages. What more inspiring +or pleasing reading than some of Longfellow's poems, +or the Vicar of Wakefield, or Milton's L'Allegro and Il +Penseroso, or Saintine's Picciola, or selections from the +poems of Holmes, Whittier, Kipling, or Lowell? For all +these and similar wants, the library has an unfailing supply.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_281" id="Pg_281"></a>[<a href="./images/281.png">281</a>]</span>As a practical illustration of the extensive, use of books +by schools in some advanced communities, I may note that +Librarian Green, of the Worcester (Mass.) Public Library, +said in 1891 that his average daily account of the books +loaned to schools in two busy winter months showed over +1,600 volumes thus in daily use. This too, was in addition +to all that were drawn out by pupils on their own independent +cards as borrowers. Such a record speaks volumes.</p> + +<p>In the same city, where the Massachusetts State Normal +School is located, sixty-four per cent. of the scholars visited +the library to look up subjects connected with their +studies.</p> + +<p>A forcible argument for librarians taking an interest in +reading for schools is that both parents and teachers often +neglect to see that the young get only proper books to read. +The children are themselves quite ignorant what to choose, +and if left to themselves, are likely to choose unwisely, and +to read story papers or quite unimproving books. Their +parents, busied as they are, commonly give no thought to +the matter, and are quite destitute of that knowledge of the +various classes of books which it is the province of the librarian +to know and to discriminate. Teachers themselves +do not possess this special knowledge, except in rare +instances, and have to become far more conversant with +libraries than is usual, in order to acquire it.</p> + +<p>That the very young, left to themselves, will choose +many bad or worthless books is shown in the account of a +principal of a school in San Francisco, who found that +sixty per cent. of the books drawn from the public library +by pupils had been dime novels, or other worthless literature. +The wide prevalence of the dime novel evil appeared +in the report of the reading of 1,000 boys in a western +New York city. Out of this number, 472 (or nearly +one-half) were in the habit of devouring this pernicious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_282" id="Pg_282"></a>[<a href="./images/282.png">282</a>]</span> +trash, procured in most cases by purchase at the news +stands. The matter was taken up by teachers, and, by wise +direction and by aid of the public library, the reading of +these youthful candidates for citizenship was led into more +improving fields. To lead a mind in the formative stage +from the low to the high, from tales of wild adventure to +the best stories for the young, is by no means difficult. +Take a book that you know is wholesome and entertaining, +and it will be eagerly read by almost every one. There is +an endless variety of good books adapted to the most rudimentary +capacity. Even young minds can become interested +in the works of standard writers, if the proper selection +is made. Wonderful is the stimulus which the reading +of a purely written, fascinating book gives to the young +mind. It opens the way for more books and for infinite +growth. All that is needed is to set the youth in the right +direction, and he will go forward with rapid strides of his +own accord. This teaching how to read is really the most +profitable part of any education. To recite endless lessons +is not education: and one book eagerly read through, has +often proved more valuable than all the text-books that +ever were printed.</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Uses of the Library to the University.</span></h4> + +<p>Closely allied to the benefits derived from the library by +the teachers and scholars in public schools are its uses to all +those engaged in the pursuit of higher education. For our +colleges and universities and their researches, the library +must have all that we have suggested as important for the +schools, and a great deal more. The term university implies +an education as broad as the whole world of books +can supply: yet we must here meet with limitations that +are inevitable. In this country we have to regret the application +of the word "university" to institutions where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_283" id="Pg_283"></a>[<a href="./images/283.png">283</a>]</span> +the training is only academical, or at the highest, collegiate. +The university, properly speaking, is an institution for the +most advanced scholars or graduates of our colleges. Just +as the college takes up and carries forward the training of +those who have been through the academy, the seminary, or +the high school, so it is the function of the university to +carry forward (we will not say complete) the education of +the graduate of the college. No education is ever completed: +the doctor who has received the highest honors at +the university has only begun his education—for that is +to go on through life—and who knows how far beyond?</p> + +<p>Now the aid which a well equipped library can furnish +to all these higher institutions of learning, the academy, +the seminary, the college, and the university, is quite incalculable. +Their students are constantly engaged upon +themes which not only demand the text-books they study, +but collateral illustrations almost without number. The +professors, too, who impart instruction, perpetually need +to be instructed themselves, with fuller knowledge upon +the themes they are daily called upon to elucidate. There +is no text-book that can teach all, or anywhere near all +there is upon the subject it professes to cover. So the library, +which has many books upon that subject, comes in +to supply its deficiencies. And the librarian is useful to +the professors and students just in proportion as he knows, +not the contents, but the range of books upon each subject +sought to be investigated. Here is where the subject catalogue, +or the dictionary catalogue, combining the subjects +and the authors under a single alphabet, comes into play. +But, as no catalogue of subjects was ever yet up to date in +any considerable library, the librarian should be able to +supplement the catalogue by his own knowledge of later +works in any line of inquiry.</p> + +<p>The most profitable studies carried on in libraries are,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_284" id="Pg_284"></a>[<a href="./images/284.png">284</a>]</span> +beyond all question, what we may term topical researches. +To pursue one subject though many authorities is the true +way to arrive at comprehensive knowledge. And in this +kind of research, the librarian ought to be better equipped +than any who frequent his library. Why? Simply because +his business is bibliography; which is not the business +of learned professors, or other scholars who visit the +library.</p> + +<p>The late Librarian Winsor said that he considered the +librarian's instruction far more valuable than that of the +specialist. And this may be owing largely to the point of +view, as well as to the training, of each. The specialist, +perhaps, is an enthusiast or a devotee to his science, and so +apt to give undue importance to the details of it, or to +magnify some one feature: the librarian, on the other +hand, who is nothing if not comprehensive, takes the larger +view of the wide field of literature on each subject, and his +suggestions concerning sources of information are correspondingly +valuable.</p> + +<p>In those constantly arising questions which form the +subjects of essays or discussions in all institutions of learning, +the well-furnished library is an unfailing resource. +The student who finds his unaided mind almost a blank +upon the topic given out for treatment, resorts at once to +the public library, searches catalogues, questions the librarian, +and surrounds himself with books and periodicals +which may throw light upon it. He is soon master of facts +and reasonings which enable him to start upon a train of +thought that bears fruit in an essay or discourse. In fact, +it may be laid down as an axiom, that nearly every new +book that is written is indebted to the library for most of +its ideas, its facts, or its illustrations, so that libraries actually +beget libraries.</p> + +<p>Some of the endlessly diversified uses of a well-equipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_285" id="Pg_285"></a>[<a href="./images/285.png">285</a>]</span> +library, not only to scholars but to the general public, may +here be referred to. Among the most sought for sources +of information, the periodical press, both of the past and +the current time, holds a prominent rank. When it is +considered how far-reaching are the fields embraced in the +wide range of these periodicals, literary, religious, scientific, +political, technical, philosophical, social, medical, +legal, educational, agricultural, bibliographical, commercial, +financial, historical, mechanical, nautical, military, artistic, +musical, dramatic, typographical, sanitary, sporting, +economic, and miscellaneous, is it any wonder that specialists +and writers for the press seek and find ready aid therein +for their many-sided labors?</p> + +<p>To the skeptical mind, accustomed to undervalue what +does not happen to come within the range of his pet idols +or pursuits, the observation of a single day's multifold research +in a great library might be in the nature of a revelation. +Hither flock the ever-present searchers into family +history, laying under contribution all the genealogies and +town and county histories which the country has produced. +Here one finds an industrious compiler intent upon the +history of American duels, for which the many files of +Northern and Southern newspapers, reaching back to the +beginning of the century, afford copious material. At another +table sits a deputation from a government department, +commissioned to make a record of all notable strikes +and labor troubles for a series of years, to be gleaned from +the columns of the journals of leading cities.</p> + +<p>An absorbed reader of French romances sits side by side +with a clergyman perusing homilies, or endeavoring to +elucidate, through a mass of commentators, a special text. +Here are to be found ladies in pursuit of costumes of every +age; artists turning over the great folio galleries of Europe +for models or suggestions; lawyers seeking precedents or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_286" id="Pg_286"></a>[<a href="./images/286.png">286</a>]</span> +leading cases; journalists verifying dates, speeches, conventions, +or other forgotten facts; engineers studying the +literature of railways or machinery; actors or amateurs in +search of plays or works on the dramatic art; physicians +looking up biographies of their profession or the history +of epidemics; students of heraldry after coats of arms; inventors +searching the specifications and drawings of patents; +historical students pursuing some special field in +American or foreign annals; scientists verifying facts or +citations by original authorities; searchers tracing personal +residences or deaths in old directories or newspapers; querists +seeking for the words of some half-remembered passage +in poetry or prose, or the original author of one of the +myriad proverbs which have no father; architects or builders +of houses comparing hundreds of designs and models; +teachers perusing works on education or comparing text-books +new or old; readers absorbing the great poems of the +world; writers in pursuit of new or curious themes among +books of antiquities or folk-lore; students of all the questions +of finance and economic science; naturalists seeking +to trace through many volumes descriptions of species; +pursuers of military or naval history or science; enthusiasts +venturing into the occult domains of spiritualism or +thaumaturgy; explorers of voyages and travels in every +region of the globe; fair readers, with dreamy eyes, devouring +the last psychological novel; devotees of musical +art perusing the lives or the scores of great composers; college +and high-school students intent upon "booking up" +on themes of study or composition or debate; and a host +of other seekers after suggestion or information in a library +of encyclopedic range.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_287" id="Pg_287"></a>[<a href="./images/287.png">287</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a>CHAPTER 15.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The History of Libraries.</span></h3> + +<p>The Library, from very early times, has enlisted the +enthusiasm of the learned, and the encomiums of the wise. +The actual origin of the earliest collection of books (or +rather of manuscripts) is lost in the mists of remote +antiquity. Notwithstanding professed descriptions of several +libraries found in Aulus Gellius, Athenaeus, and +others, who wrote centuries after the alleged collections +were made, we lack the convincing evidence of eye-witnesses +and contemporaries. But so far as critical research +has run, the earliest monuments of man which approached +collections of written records are found not in Europe, but +in Africa and Asia.</p> + +<p>That land of wonders, Egypt, abounds in hieroglyphic +inscriptions, going back, as is agreed by modern scholars, +to the year 2000 before the Christian era. A Papyrus +manuscript, too, exists, which is assigned to about 1600 B. +C. And the earliest recorded collection of books in the +world, though perhaps not the first that existed, was that +of the Egyptian king Ramses I.—B. C. 1400, near Thebes, +which Diodorus Siculus says bore the inscription "Dispensary +of the soul." Thus early were books regarded as +remedial agents of great force and virtue.</p> + +<p>But before the library of Ramses the Egyptian king, +there existed in Babylonia collections of books, written not +on parchment, nor on the more perishable papyrus, but on +clay. Whole poems, fables, laws, and hymns of the gods +have been found, stamped in small characters upon baked +bricks. These clay tablets or books were arranged in nu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_288" id="Pg_288"></a>[<a href="./images/288.png">288</a>]</span>merical +order, and the library at Agane, which existed +about 2000 B. C. even had a catalogue, in which each piece +of literature was numbered, so that readers had only to +write down the number of the tablet wanted, and the librarian +would hand it over. Two of these curious poems +in clay have been found intact, one on the deluge, the other +on the descent of Istar into Hades.</p> + +<p>The next ancient library in point of time yet known to +us was gathered in Asia by an Assyrian King, and this +collection has actually come down to us, <i>in propria persona</i>. +Buried beneath the earth for centuries, the archaeologist +Layard discovered in 1850 at Nineveh, an extensive collection +of tablets or tiles of clay, covered with cuneiform characters, +and representing some ten thousand distinct works +or documents. The Assyrian monarch Sardanapalus, a +great patron of letters, was the collector of this primitive +and curious library of clay. He flourished about 1650 +B. C.</p> + +<p>In Greece, where a copious and magnificent literature +had grown up centuries before Christ, Pisistratus collected +a library at Athens, and died B. C. 527. When Xerxes +captured Athens, this collection, which represents the +earliest record of a library dedicated to the public, was +carried off to Persia, but restored two centuries later. +The renowned philosopher Aristotle gathered one of the +largest Greek libraries, about 350 B. C. said to have embraced +about 1400 volumes, or rather, rolls. Plato called +Aristotle's residence "the house of the reader." This library, +also, was carried off to Scepsis, and later by the +victorious Sulla to Rome. History shows that the Greek +collections were the earliest "travelling libraries" on record, +though they went as the spoils of war, and not to +spread abroad learning by the arts of peace.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_289" id="Pg_289"></a>[<a href="./images/289.png">289</a>]</span>Rome having conquered Athens, we hear no more of the +Athenian libraries, but the seat of ancient learning was +transferred to Alexandria, where were gathered under the +liberal sway of the Ptolemies, more books than had ever +been assembled together in any part of the world. Marc +Antony presented to Cleopatra the library of the Kings +of Pergamus, said to have contained 200,000 rolls. There +is no space to sketch the ancient libraries, so scantily +commemorated, of Greece. Through Aristotle's enthusiasm +for learning, as it is believed, the Ptolemies were +fired with the zeal of book-collecting, and their capital +of Alexandria became the seat of extensive libraries, +stored in the Brucheion and the Serapeum. Here, according +to general belief, occurred the burning of the famous +Alexandrian library of 700,000 volumes, by the Saracens +under Omar, A. D. 640. If any one would have an object +lesson in the uncertainties of history and of human testimony, +let him read the various conflicting accounts of the +writers who have treated upon this subject. The number +of volumes varies from 700,000, as stated by Aulus Gellius, +to 100,000 by Eusebius. The fact that in ancient times +each book or division of an author's work written on a roll +of papyrus was reckoned as a volume, may account for the +exaggeration, since the nine books of Herodotus would +thus make nine volumes, and the twenty-four of Homer's +Iliad, twenty-four volumes, instead of one. So, by an arbitrary +application of averages, the size of the Alexandrian +Library might be brought within reasonable dimensions, +though there is nothing more misleading than the doctrine +of averages, unless indeed it be a false analogy. But that +any library eight hundred years before the invention of +printing contained 700,000 volumes in the modern sense +of the word, when the largest collection in the world, three +centuries after books began to be multiplied by types, held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_290" id="Pg_290"></a>[<a href="./images/290.png">290</a>]</span> +less than 100,000 volumes, is one of the wildest fictions +which writers have imposed upon the credulity of ages.</p> + +<p>I cannot even touch upon the libraries of the Romans, +though we have very attractive accounts, among others, +of the literary riches of Lucullus, of Atticus, and of Cicero. +The first library in Rome was founded 167 B. C. and in the +Augustan age they multiplied, until there were twenty-nine +public libraries in Hadrian's time, 120 A. D. The +emperor Julian, in the fourth century, was a founder of +libraries, and is said to have placed over the doors this +inscription: "<i>Alii quidem equos amant, alii oves, alii +feros; mihi vero a puerulo mirandum acquirendi et possidendi +libros insedit desiderium.</i>"</p> + +<p>The libraries of the middle ages were neither large nor +numerous. The neglect of learning and of literature was +wide-spread; only in the monasteries of Europe were to be +found scholars who kept alive the sacred flame. In these +were renewed those fruitful labors of the <i>scriptorium</i> which +had preserved and multiplied so many precious books in +classic times among the Romans. The monks, indeed, +were not seldom creators as well as copyists, though the +works which they composed were mainly theological (as +became their sacred profession and ascetic life). The +Latin, however, being the almost universal language for so +many centuries, the love of learning conspired to widen +the field of monastic study. Many zealous ecclesiastics +were found who revived the classic authors, and copies of +the works of poets, historians, philosophers and rhetoricians +were multiplied. Then were gradually formed those +monastic libraries to which so many thousands of mediaeval +scholars owed a debt of gratitude. The order of Benedictines +took a leading and effective part in this revival +of learning. Taxes were levied on the inmates of monasteries +expressly for furnishing the library with books, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_291" id="Pg_291"></a>[<a href="./images/291.png">291</a>]</span> +the novices in many houses must contribute writing materials +upon entering, and books at the close of their novitiate, +for the enrichment of the library. Among notably +valuable libraries, several of which still survive, were those +of Monte Cassino in Italy, the Abbey of Fleury in France, +St. Gall in Switzerland, and that of the illustrious congregation +of St. Maur in France. The latter had at one time +no less than one hundred and seven writers engaged in +multiplying books.</p> + +<p>The first library in England is recorded (in the Canterbury +Chartulary) to have been given by Pope Gregory the +Great, and brought by St. Augustine, first Archbishop of +Canterbury, on his mission to England about A. D. 600. It +consisted of nine precious volumes on vellum, being copies +of parts of the Scriptures, with commentaries, and a volume +of Lives of the Martyrs. The library of the Benedictine +Monastery at Canterbury had grown in the 13th century +to 3000 titles, being very rich in theology, but with +many books also in history, poetry and science. At York +had been founded, in the 8th century, a noble library by +Archbishop Egbert, and the great scholar Alcuin here acquired, +amidst that "infinite number of excellent books," +his life-long devotion to literature. When he removed to +Tours, in France, he lamented the loss of the literary treasures +of York, in a poem composed of excellent hexameters. +He begged of Charlemagne to send into Britain to procure +books, "that the garden of paradise may not be confined +to York."</p> + +<p>Fine libraries were also gathered at the monasteries of +Durham, of Glastonbury, and of Croyland, and at the Abbeys +of Whitby and Peterborough.</p> + +<p>Nor were the orders of Franciscans and Dominicans far +behind as book-collectors, though they commonly preferred +to buy rather than to transcribe manuscripts, like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_292" id="Pg_292"></a>[<a href="./images/292.png">292</a>]</span> +the Benedictines. "In every convent of friars," wrote +Fitzralph to the Pope, in 1350, "there is a large and noble +library." And Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, and +Chancellor of England in 1334, whose "Philobiblon" is the +most eloquent treatise in praise of books ever written, said, +when visiting places where the mendicants had convents; +"there amid the deepest poverty, we found the most precious +riches stored up." The Pope, it appears, relaxed for +these orders the rigor of their vows of poverty, in favor +of amassing books—mindful, doubtless, of that saying of +Solomon the wise—"Therefore get wisdom, because it is +better than gold."</p> + +<p>Richard de Bury, the enthusiast of learning, wrote thus:</p> + +<p>"The library, therefore, of wisdom is more precious than +all riches, and nothing that can be wished for is worthy to +be compared with it. Whosoever, therefore, acknowledges +himself to be a zealous follower of the truth, of happiness, +of wisdom, of science, or even of the faith, must of necessity +make himself a lover of books."</p> + +<p>And said Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich—"I can wonder +at nothing more than how a man can be idle—but of +all others a scholar; in so many improvements of reason, +in such sweetness of knowledge, in such variety of studies, +in such importunity of thoughts. To find wit in poetry; +in philosophy profoundness; in history wonder of events; +in oratory, sweet eloquence; in divinity, supernatural light +and holy devotion—whom would it not ravish with delight?"</p> + +<p>Charles the Fifth of France amassed a fine library, afterwards +sold to an English nobleman. Lorenzo de Medici, of +Hungary, and Frederic Duke of Urbino, each gathered in +the 15th century a magnificent collection of books. All of +these became widely dispersed in later years, though the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_293" id="Pg_293"></a>[<a href="./images/293.png">293</a>]</span> +manuscripts of the Duke of Urbino's collection are preserved +in the library of the Vatican.</p> + +<p>I may here note a very few of the most extensive library +collections now existing in Europe and America.</p> + +<p>1. Of the great public libraries of Europe, which owe +much of their riches to the government privilege of the +copy-tax, the national library of France is the oldest and +the largest, now numbering two million six hundred thousand +volumes. Founded in the 15th century, it has had +four hundred years of opportunity for steady and large increase. +Paris abounds in other public libraries also, in +which respect it is far superior to London.</p> + +<p>2. Next to the Bibliothèque nationale of France, comes +the Library of the British Museum, with 2,000,000 volumes, +very rich both in manuscripts and in printed +books in all languages. A liberal Parliamentary grant of +$60,000 a year for purchase of books and manuscripts +keeps this great collection well up to date as to all important +new works, besides enabling it constantly to fill up +deficiencies in the literature of the past. Following this, +among the great libraries having over half a million books, +come in numerical order</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Numbers of books"> +<tr><td align='right'> </td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>Volumes.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>3.</td><td align='left'>Russian Imperial Library, St. Petersburg,</td><td align='right'>1,200,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>4.</td><td align='left'>Royal Library of Prussia, Berlin,</td><td align='right'>1,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>5.</td><td align='left'>Royal Library of Bavaria, Munich,</td><td align='right'>980,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>6.</td><td align='left'>Library of Congress, Washington City,</td><td align='right'>840,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>7.</td><td align='left'>Boston Public Library,</td><td align='right'>734,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>8.</td><td align='left'>University Library, Strasburg, Germany,</td><td align='right'>700,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>9.</td><td align='left'>Imperial Public Library, Vienna,</td><td align='right'>575,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>10.</td><td align='left'>Bodleian Library, Oxford</td><td align='right'>530,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>It is a notable fact that among the richest monuments of +learning that have been gathered by mankind, the Uni<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_294" id="Pg_294"></a>[<a href="./images/294.png">294</a>]</span>versity +libraries hold a very high rank. Reckoned in number +of volumes, there are many of them which far outrank +the government libraries, except in six instances. Out of +174 libraries, all exceeding 100,000 volumes, as reported +in the annual <i>Minerva</i>, in October, 1898, no less than 72 +are the libraries of universities. Strasburg heads the list, +with a noble collection of 700,000 volumes; then Oxford +university, whose Bodleian library numbers 530,000; Leipzig +university, 504,000; Cambridge university, England, +Göttingen university, and Harvard university, 500,000 +each; the university of Vienna, 475,000; the universities of +Heidelberg and of Munich, 400,000 each; Ghent and Würzburg +universities, 350,000 each; Christiania, Norway, +university, and Tübingen, each 340,000; University of Chicago, +330,000; Copenhagen university, 305,000; Breslau, +Cracow, Rostock and Upsala, 300,000 each; Yale university, +New Haven, 280,000; St. Petersburg, 257,000; +Bologna, 255,000; Freiburg and Bonn universities, 250,000 +each; Prague, 245,000; Trinity, Dublin, 232,000; Königsberg, +231,000; Kiel, 229,000; Naples, 224,000; and Buda-Pest, +210,000. I need not detain you by enumerating +those that fall below 200,000 volumes, but will say that +the whole number of volumes in the 72 university libraries +embraced in my table is more than fifteen millions, which +would be much enlarged if smaller libraries were included. +A noble exhibit is this, which the institutions of the highest +education hold up before us.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>We may now consider, somewhat more in detail as to +particulars, the origin and growth of the libraries of the +United States. The record will show an amazingly rapid +development, chiefly accomplished during the last quarter +of a century, contrasted with the lamentably slow growth +of earlier years.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_295" id="Pg_295"></a>[<a href="./images/295.png">295</a>]</span>Thirty years ago the present year, I was invited to give +to the American Social Science Association, then meeting +at New York, a discourse upon Public Libraries in the +United States. On recurring to this address, I have been +agreeably surprised to find how completely its facts and +figures belong to the domain of ancient history. For, +while it may excite a smile to allude to anything belonging +to a period only thirty years back as ancient history, yet, +so rapid has been the accumulation, not only of books, but +of libraries themselves in that brief period of three decades, +as almost to justify the term employed.</p> + +<p>Antiquarians must ever regard with interest the first +efforts for the establishment of public libraries in the New +World. The first record of books dedicated to a public +purpose in that part of this country now occupied by the +English-speaking race is, I believe, to be found in the following +entry in the Records of the Virginia Company of +London:</p> + +<p>"November 15, 1620.—After the Acts of the former +Courte were read, a straunger stept in presentinge a Mapp +of S<sup>r</sup> Walter Rawlighes contayinge a Descripcon of Guiana, +and with the same fower great books as the Guifte of one +unto the Company that desyred his name might not be +made knowne, whereof one booke was a treatise of St. +Augustine of the Citty of God translated into English, the +other three greate Volumes wer the works of Mr. Perkins' +newlie corrected and amended, wch books the Donor desyred +they might be sent to the Colledge in Virginia there +to remayne in saftie to the use of the collegiates thereafter, +and not suffered at any time to be sent abroade or used in +the meane while. For wch so worthy a guifte my Lord of +Southampton desyred the p'tie that presented them to re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_296" id="Pg_296"></a>[<a href="./images/296.png">296</a>]</span>turne +deserued thanks from himselfe and the rest of the +Company to him that had so kindly bestowed them."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>The college here referred to was the first ever founded +in America, and was seated at Henrico, at the confluence +of the James River with the Chickahominy. It was designed +not only for the education of the Virginia settlers, +but to teach science and Christianity to the Indians. +Large contributions were raised in England by Sir Edwin +Sandys, and others of the Virginia Company, for its support. +But this Virginia college and its incipient library +were doomed to a speedy extinction. Like so many other +brilliant "prospects for planting arts and learning in +America," it did not survive the perils of the colonial +epoch. It was brought to a period by the bloody Indian +massacre of March 22, 1622, when three hundred and +forty-seven of the Virginia settlers were slaughtered in a +day, the new settlement broken up, and the expanding +lines of civilization contracted to the neighborhood of +Jamestown.</p> + +<p>Harvard University Library was founded in 1638 by the +endowment of John Harvard, who bequeathed to the new +college his library and half of his estate. Soon afterwards +enriched by the zealous contributions of English Puritans +and philosophers, of Berkeley, and Baxter, and Lightfoot, +and Sir Kenelm Digby, the first university library in +America, after a century and a quarter of usefulness, was +totally destroyed with the college edifice in the year 1764 +by fire. When we contemplate the ravages of this element, +which has consumed so many noble libraries, destroying +not only printed books of priceless value, but often +precious manuscripts which are unique and irreplaceable,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_297" id="Pg_297"></a>[<a href="./images/297.png">297</a>]</span> +a lively sense of regret comes over us that these creations +of the intellect, which should be imperishable, are even yet +at the mercy of an accident in all the libraries of the world +save a very few. The destruction of books in private +hands is natural and inevitable enough, and goes on continually. +Whole editions of books, now sought with avidity +as the rarest volumes known to literature, have been +gradually destroyed in innumerable fires, worn out in the +hands of readers, used for waste paper by grocers and petty +tradesmen, swallowed up in the sack of towns, or consumed +by dampness, mould, or, in rare instances, by the +remorseless tooth of time. Yet there have always existed +public libraries enough, had they been fire-proof, to have +preserved many copies of every book bequeathed to the +world, both before the invention of printing and since. +But, when your insurance office is bankrupt, what becomes +of the insured? When nearly all our public libraries are +so constructed as to become an easy prey to the flames, the +loss of so many books which have completely perished from +the earth ceases to be wonderful.</p> + +<p>The growth of Harvard University library, from its +second foundation a century ago, has been steady, though +at no time rapid. Select and valuable in its principal contents, +it has received numerous benefactions from the +friends of learning, and promises to become the best, as it +already is much the largest, among the university libraries +of the country. Its present strength is about 500,000 +volumes.</p> + +<p>The year 1700 witnessed the birth of the first New York +library open to public use. The Rev. John Sharp, then +chaplain of His Majesty's forces in that city (it was in the +days of good King William of Orange), bequeathed his +private collection of books to found a "public library" in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_298" id="Pg_298"></a>[<a href="./images/298.png">298</a>]</span> +New York. The library thus organized was placed in +charge of the corporation of the city, but the first city +library of New York languished with little or no increase +until 1754, when a society of gentlemen undertook to +found a public library by subscription, and succeeded so +well that the city authorities turned over to them what remained +of the Public City Library. This was the beginning +of the New York Society Library, one of the largest +of the proprietary libraries of the country. It was then, +and for a long time afterwards, commonly known as "The +City Library." The Continental Congress profited by its +stores, there being no other library open to their use; and +the First Congress under the Constitution, which met in +New York in 1789, received the free use of the books it +contained. The library is conducted on the share system, +the payment of twenty-five dollars, and an annual assessment +of six dollars, giving any one the privilege of membership. +It now contains about 100,000 volumes.</p> + +<p>The same year, 1700, in which the New York Library +was founded, ten Connecticut ministers met together at +Lyme, each bringing a number of books, and saying, +"I give these books for the founding of a college in this +colony." Such was the foundation of Yale University, an +institution that has done inestimable service to the cause +of letters, having been fruitful of writers of books, as well +as of living contributions to the ranks of every learned +profession. Thirty years later, we find the good Bishop +Berkeley pausing from the lofty speculations which absorbed +him, to send over to Yale College what was called +"the finest collection of books that ever came together at +one time into America." For a century and a half the +growth of this library was very slow, the college being oppressed +with poverty. In 1869, the number of volumes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_299" id="Pg_299"></a>[<a href="./images/299.png">299</a>]</span> +had risen only to 50,000, but it is cheering to relate that +the last thirty years have witnessed a growth so rapid that +in 1899 Yale University Library had 285,000 volumes.</p> + +<p>The fourth considerable library founded in the United +States was due in a large degree to the industry and zeal +for knowledge of the illustrous Franklin. As unquestionably +the first established proprietary library in America, +the Library Company of Philadelphia merits especial notice. +Let us reverently take a leaf out of the autobiography +of the printer-statesman of Pennsylvania:</p> + +<p>"And now I set on foot my first project of a public nature, +that for a subscription library. I drew up the proposals, +got them put into form by our great scrivener, +Brockden, and by the help of my friends in the Junto [the +Junto was a club for mutual improvement, founded by +Franklin] procured fifty subscribers at forty shillings each +to begin with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years, the +term our company was to continue. We afterwards obtained +a charter, the company being increased to one hundred; +this was the mother of all the North American subscription +libraries now so numerous. It is become a great +thing itself, and continually increasing. These libraries +have improved the general conversation of the Americans, +made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as +most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps have +contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made +throughout the colonies in defence of their privileges."</p> + +<p>When this Philadelphia Library was founded, in 1731, +not a single city or town in England possessed a subscription +library. Even the library of the British Museum, +since become the greatest collection of books in the world, +save one, was not opened until 1759, more than a quarter +of a century afterwards. Although not designed as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_300" id="Pg_300"></a>[<a href="./images/300.png">300</a>]</span> +public library of circulation, save to its own subscribers, +the Philadelphia Library has been kept free to all for reference +and consultation. The record of the gradual increase +of the first Philadelphia Library from its first few +hundred volumes, when Franklin was but twenty-five years +of age, to its present rank as the largest proprietary library +in America, with 195,000 volumes of books, is highly interesting. +Its history, in fact, is to a large extent the history +of intellectual culture in Philadelphia, which remained, +until the second decade in the present century, the +foremost city of the Union in population, and, from 1791 +to 1800, the seat of government of the United States.</p> + +<p>The Philadelphia Library Company, in 1774, voted that +"the gentlemen who were to meet in Congress" in that city +should be furnished with such books as they might have +occasion for; and the same privilege was exercised on the +return of the Government to that city, in 1791, and until +the removal of Congress to Washington in 1800. During +the nine months' occupation of Philadelphia by the British +army, it is refreshing to read that the conquerors lifted no +spear against the Muses' bower, but that "the officers, without +exception, left deposits, and paid hire for the books +borrowed by them." The collection, in respect of early +printed books, is one of the largest and most valuable in +America, embracing some books and files of newspapers +which are to be found in no other public library. The selection +of new books has been kept unusually free from the +masses of novels and other ephemeral publications which +overload most of our popular libraries, and the collection, +although limited in extent in every field, and purposely +leaving special topics, such as the medical and natural sciences, +to the scientific libraries which abound in Philadelphia, +affords to the man of letters a good working library.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_301" id="Pg_301"></a>[<a href="./images/301.png">301</a>]</span> +The shares in the library cost forty dollars, with an annual +assessment of four dollars to each stockholder.</p> + +<p>In 1869, the great bequest of Doctor James Rush to the +Philadelphia Library of his whole property, valued at over +$1,000,000, was accepted by its stockholders, by the bare +majority of five votes in a poll of over five hundred. This +lack of harmony is attributable to the fact that the bequest, +so generous in itself, was hampered by the donor +with numerous conditions, deemed by many friends of the +library to be highly onerous and vexatious. Not the least +among these was the following, which is cited from the +will itself:</p> + +<p>"Let the library not keep cushioned seats for time-wasting +and lounging readers, nor places for every-day novels, +mind-tainting reviews, controversial politics, scribblings +of poetry and prose, biographies of unknown names, nor +for those teachers of disjointed thinking, the daily newspapers."</p> + +<p>Here is one more melancholy instance of a broad and +liberal bequest narrowly bestowed. The spirit which animated +the respectable testator in attempting to exclude +the larger part of modern literature from the library which +his money was to benefit may have been unexceptionable +enough. Doubtless there are evils connected with a public +supply of frivolous and trifling literature; and perhaps our +periodicals may be justly chargeable with devoting an undue +proportion of their columns to topics of merely ephemeral +interest. But it should never be forgotten that the +literature of any period is and must be largely occupied +with the questions of the day. Thus, and thus only, it becomes +a representative literature, and it is precious to posterity +in proportion as it accurately reflects the spirit, the +prejudices, and the personalities of a time which has passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_302" id="Pg_302"></a>[<a href="./images/302.png">302</a>]</span> +into history, leaving behind it no living representatives. +If we admit that the development of the human intellect +at any particular period is worth studying, then all books +are, or may become, useful. It is amazing that a person +with any pretensions to discernment should denounce +newspapers as unfitted to form a part of a public library. +The best newspapers of the time are sometimes the best +books of the time. A first-class daily journal is an epitome +of the world, recording the life and the deeds of men, +their laws and their literature, their politics and religion, +their social and criminal statistics, the progress of invention +and of art, the revolutions of empires, and the latest +results of science. Grant that newspapers are prejudiced, +superficial, unfair; so also are books. Grant that the +journals often give place to things scurrilous and base; but +can there be anything baser or more scurrilous than are +suffered to run riot in books? There is to be found hidden +away in the pages of some books such filth as no man +would dare to print in a newspaper, from fear of the instant +wrath of the passers-by.</p> + +<p>When I consider the debt which libraries and literature +alike owe to the daily and weekly press, it is difficult to +characterize with patience the Parthian arrow flung at +it from the grave of a querulous millionaire, who will owe +to these very newspapers the greater part of his success +and his reputation. The father of the respectable testator, +Doctor Benjamin Rush, has left on record many +learned speculations concerning the signs and evidences +of lunacy. We may now add to the number the vagaries +of the author of a ponderous work on the human intellect, +who gravely proposed to hand over to posterity an expurgated +copy of the nineteenth century, with all its newspapers +left out.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_303" id="Pg_303"></a>[<a href="./images/303.png">303</a>]</span>The Library of Congress, or, as it was called in its first +general catalogue in 1815, "The Library of the United +States," was founded in 1800, by the purchase of five thousand +dollars' worth of books by act of Congress, upon the +removal of the government to Washington. By the act of +January 26, 1802, entitled "An act concerning the Library +for the use of both Houses of Congress," this +library was placed in charge of a joint committee of +both Houses of Congress, consisting of three Senators and +three Representatives, and a Librarian, to be appointed by +the President of the United States. It had grown to the +number of only 3,000 volumes in 1814, when the British +army made a bonfire of our national Capitol, and the library +was consumed in the ruins. The first library of +Congress being thus destroyed, ex-President Jefferson, +then living, involved in debt, and in his old age, at Monticello, +offered his fine private library of 6,700 volumes to +Congress, through friends in that body, the terms of payment +to be made convenient to the public, and the price +to be fixed by a committee. The proposition met with +able advocacy and also with some warm opposition. It is +illustrative of the crude conceptions regarding the uses of +books which prevailed in the minds of some members, that +the library was objected to on the somewhat incongruous +grounds of embracing too many editions of the Bible, +and a number of the French writers in skeptical philosophy. +It was gravely proposed to pack up this portion of +the library, and return it to the illustrious owner at Monticello, +paying him for the remainder. More enlightened +counsels, however, prevailed, and the nation became possessed, +for about $23,000, of a good basis for a public library +which might become worthy of the country. The +collection thus formed grew by slow accretion until, in +1851, it had accumulated 55,000 volumes. On the 24th<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_304" id="Pg_304"></a>[<a href="./images/304.png">304</a>]</span> +of December in that year, a defective flue in the Capitol +set fire to the wood-work with which the whole library was +surrounded, and the result was a conflagration, from which +20,000 volumes only were saved. Congress at once appropriated, +with praiseworthy liberality, $75,000 for the purchase +of new books, and $92,500 for rebuilding the library +room in solid iron; the first instance of the employment of +that safe and permanent material, so capable of the lightest +and most beautiful architectural effects, in the entire +interior structure of any public building. The appropriation +of $75,000 was principally expended in the purchase +of standard English literature, including complete sets of +many important periodicals, and a selection of the more +costly works in science and the fine arts. In 1866, two +wings, each as large as the central library, and constructed +of the same fire-proof material, were added to it, and quickly +filled by the accession, the same year and the following, +of two large libraries, that of the Smithsonian Institution, +and the historical library of Peter Force, of Washington. +The latter was the largest private library ever then +brought together in the United States, but its chief value +consisted in its possession of a very great proportion of the +books relating to the settlement, history, topography, and +politics of America, its 45,000 pamphlets, its files of early +newspapers of the Revolution, its early printed books, and +its rich assemblage of maps and manuscripts, many of the +latter being original autographs of the highest historical +interest, including military letters and papers of the period +of the American Revolution. The Smithsonian library, +the custody of which was accepted by Congress as a trust, +is rich in scientific works in all the languages of Europe, +and forms an extensive and appropriate supplement to the +Library of Congress, the chief strength of which lies in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_305" id="Pg_305"></a>[<a href="./images/305.png">305</a>]</span> +jurisprudence, political science, history, and books relating +to America. Yet no department of literature or science +has been left unrepresented in its formation, and the fact +has been kept steadily in view that the Library of the +Government must become, sooner or later, a universal +one. As the only library which is entitled to the benefit +of the copyright law, by which copies of each publication +for which the Government grants an exclusive right must +be deposited in the National Library, this collection must +become annually more important as an exponent of the +growth of American literature. This wise provision of +law prevents the dispersion or destruction of books that +tend continually to disappear; a benefit to the cause of +letters, the full value of which it requires slight reflection +to estimate.</p> + +<p>This National Library now embraces 840,000 volumes, +besides about 250,000 pamphlets. It is freely open, as a +library of reference and reading, to the whole people; but +the books are not permitted to be drawn out, except by +Senators and Representatives and a few officials for use at +the seat of government. Its new, commodious and beautiful +building, which may fitly be called the book-palace of +the American people, open day and evening to all comers, +is a delight to the eye, and to the mind.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The library of the Boston Athenaeum originated, in the +year 1806, with a society of gentlemen of literary tastes, +who aimed at creating a reading-room for the best foreign +and American periodicals, together with a library of books. +To this a gallery of art was subsequently added. The undertaking +proved at once successful, leaving us to wonder +why cultivated Boston, though abounding in special and +parish libraries, should so long have done without a good +general library; New York having anticipated her by fifty-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_306" id="Pg_306"></a>[<a href="./images/306.png">306</a>]</span>two +years, and Philadelphia by three-quarters of a century. +The Athenaeum Library is peculiarly rich in files +of American newspapers, both old and new, and its collection +of early pamphlets is one of the largest in the country. +In literature and science it embraces a heavy proportion of +the best books, its total number of volumes being reckoned +at 190,000. Its collection of books, pamphlets, and newspapers +relating to the recent civil war is among the completest +known. The price of a share in the Athenaeum is +three hundred dollars, a large sum when compared with +that of other proprietary libraries; but it involves much +more valuable property-rights than any other. The annual +assessment is five dollars to shareholders, who alone +possess the right to draw books. The proprietors have +also the power to grant free admission to others, and the +library and reading-room are thus thrown open for reference +to a wide range of readers.</p> + +<p>The history of the Astor Library, opened in 1854, has +been made too familiar by repeated publication to need +repetition here. The generous founder gave two per cent. +out of his fortune of $20,000,000 to create a free public +library for the city which had given him all his wealth. +The gift was a splendid one, greater than had ever before +been given in money to found a library. Moreover, the +$400,000 of Mr. Astor, half a century ago, appeared to be, +and perhaps was, a larger sum relatively than four millions +in New York of to-day. Yet it remains true that the bequest +was but one-fiftieth part of the fortune of the donor, +and that the growth and even the proper accommodation +of the library must have stopped, but for the spontaneous +supplementary gifts of the principal inheritors of his vast +wealth.</p> + +<p>The growth of the Astor library has been very slow, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_307" id="Pg_307"></a>[<a href="./images/307.png">307</a>]</span> +annual income from what was left of Mr. Astor's $400,000 +bequest, after defraying the cost of the library building, +and the $100,000 expended for books at its foundation in +1848, having been so small as to necessitate a pinching +economy, both in salaries of the library staff, and in the +annual purchase of books. It was an example of a generous +act performed in a niggardly way. But after the lapse +of half a century, enlightened public policy, building upon +the Astor foundation, and on the Lenox and Tilden bequests +for founding public libraries in New York city, is +about to equip that long neglected city with a library +worthy of the name. There has already been gathered +from these three united benefactions, a collection of no +less than 450,000 volumes, making the New York Public +Library take rank as the fourth, numerically, in the United +States.</p> + +<p>While no library in America has yet reached one million +volumes, there are five libraries in Europe, which have +passed the million mark. Some of these, it is true, are +repositories of ancient and mediaeval literature, chiefly, +with a considerable representation of the books of the last +century, and but few accessions from the more modern +press. Such, for the most part, are the numerous libraries +of Italy, while others, like the Library of the British +Museum, in London, and the National Library, at Paris, +are about equally rich in ancient and modern literature. +The one great advantage which European libraries possess +over American consists in the stores of ancient literature +which the accumulations of the past have given them. +This advantage, so far as manuscripts and early printed +books are concerned, can never be overcome. With one +or two hundred thousand volumes as a basis, what but utter +neglect can prevent a library from becoming a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_308" id="Pg_308"></a>[<a href="./images/308.png">308</a>]</span> +and useful institution? The most moderate share of discrimination, +applied to the selection of current literature, +will keep up the character of the collection as a progressive +one. But with nothing at all as a basis, as most of +our large American libraries have started, it will take generations +for us to overtake some of the vast collections of +Europe—even numerically.</p> + +<p>In the "American Almanac" for 1837 was published the +earliest statistical account of American libraries which I +have found. It is confined to a statement of the numerical +contents of twenty public and university libraries, being +all the American libraries which then (sixty years +since) contained over 10,000 volumes each. The largest +library in the United States at that date was that of the +Philadelphia Library Company, which embraced 44,000 +volumes. The first organized effort to collect the full statistics +of libraries in the United States was made in 1849, +by Professor C. C. Jewett, then librarian of the Smithsonian +Institution, and the results were published in 1851, under +the auspices of that institution, in a volume of 207 +pages. It contains interesting notices of numerous libraries, +only forty of which, however, contained as many as +10,000 volumes each. In 1859, Mr. W. J. Rhees, of the +Smithsonian Institution, published "A Manual of Public +Libraries, Institutions, and Societies in the United States," +a large volume of 687 pages, filled with statistical information +in great detail, and recording the number of volumes +in 1338 libraries. This work was an expansion of that of +Professor Jewett. The next publication of the statistics +of American Libraries, of an official character, was published +in "The National Almanac," Philadelphia, for the +year 1864, pp. 58-62, and was prepared by the present +writer. It gave the statistics of 104 libraries, each num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_309" id="Pg_309"></a>[<a href="./images/309.png">309</a>]</span>bering +10,000 volumes or upwards, exhibiting a gratifying +progress in all the larger collections, and commemorating +the more advanced and vigorous of the new libraries which +had sprung into life.</p> + +<p>The work of collecting and publishing the statistics of +American Libraries has for years past been admirably performed +by the United States Bureau of Education. Begun +in 1875, that institution has issued four tabular statements +of all libraries responding to its circulars of inquiry, +and having (as last reported in 1897) one thousand volumes +or upwards. Besides these invaluable reports, costing +much careful labor and great expense, the Bureau of +Education published, in 1876, an extensive work wholly +devoted to the subject of libraries, bearing the title "Special +Report on Public Libraries in the United States." +This publication (now wholly out of print) consisted of +1222 pages, replete with information upon the history, +management, and condition of American Libraries, under +the editorship of S. R. Warren and S. N. Clark, of the +Bureau of Education. It embraced many original contributions +upon topics connected with library science, by experienced +librarians, <i>viz.</i>: Messrs. W. F. Poole, Justin +Winsor, C. A. Cutter, J. S. Billings, Theo. Gill, Melvil +Dewey, O. H. Robinson, W. I. Fletcher, F. B. Perkins, H. +A. Homes, A. R. Spofford, and others.</p> + +<p>I have prepared a table of the numerical contents of the +thirty-four largest libraries in this country in 1897, being +all those having 100,000 volumes each or upwards:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Libraries and numbers of books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Library of Congress, Washington,</td><td align='left'>840,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Boston Public Library, Boston,</td><td align='left'>730,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Harvard University Library, Cambridge,</td><td align='left'>510,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New York Public Library, New York City,</td><td align='left'>450,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>University of Chicago Library,</td><td align='left'>335,000<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_310" id="Pg_310"></a>[<a href="./images/310.png">310</a>]</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New York State Library, Albany,</td><td align='left'>320,710</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Yale University Library, New Haven,</td><td align='left'>285,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New York Mercantile Library, New York,</td><td align='left'>270,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Columbia University Library, New York,</td><td align='left'>260,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chicago Public Library,</td><td align='left'>235,385</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cincinnati Public Library,</td><td align='left'>223,043</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cornell University Library, Ithaca, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>220,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sutro Library, San Francisco,</td><td align='left'>206,300</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Newberry Library, Chicago,</td><td align='left'>203,108</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Philadelphia Library Company,</td><td align='left'>200,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Philadelphia Mercantile Library,</td><td align='left'>190,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Boston Athenaeum Library,</td><td align='left'>190,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore,</td><td align='left'>185,902</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Philadelphia Mercantile Library,</td><td align='left'>183,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Mich.,</td><td align='left'>148,198</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>University of Pennsylvania Library, Phila.,</td><td align='left'>140,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Princeton University Library, Princeton, N. J.,</td><td align='left'>135,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg,</td><td align='left'>134,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peabody Institute Library, Baltimore,</td><td align='left'>130,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, O.,</td><td align='left'>129,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>St. Louis Public Library,</td><td align='left'>125,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mechanics and Tradesmen's Library, New York,</td><td align='left'>115,185</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Free Public Library, Worcester, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>115,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>San Francisco Public Library,</td><td align='left'>108,066</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Philadelphia Free Library,</td><td align='left'>105,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>American Antiquarian Society Library, Worcester, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>105,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>California State Library, Sacramento,</td><td align='left'>100,032</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Massachusetts State Library, Boston,</td><td align='left'>100,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New York Society Library, New York,</td><td align='left'>100,000</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p>Public libraries endowed by private munificence form already +a large class, and these are constantly increasing. Of +the public libraries founded by individual bequest, some of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_311" id="Pg_311"></a>[<a href="./images/311.png">311</a>]</span> +the principal are the Public Library of New York, the Watkinson +Library, at Hartford, the Peabody Institute Libraries, +of Baltimore, and at Danvers and Peabody, Mass., the +Newberry Library and the John Crerar Library at Chicago, +the Sutro Library, San Francisco, the Enoch Pratt +Library, Baltimore, and the Carnegie Libraries at Pittsburgh +and Allegheny City, Pa. Nearly all of them are +the growth of the last quarter of a century. The more +prominent, in point of well equipped buildings or collections +of books, are here named, including all which number +ten thousand volumes each, or upwards, among the +public libraries associated with the founder's name.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Libraries and numbers of books"> +<tr><td align='left'>New York Public Library (Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations),</td><td align='left'>450,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Newberry Library, Chicago,</td><td align='left'>203,100</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sutro Library, San Francisco,</td><td align='left'>206,300</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore,</td><td align='left'>185,900</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peabody Institute Library, Baltimore,</td><td align='left'>130,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Davenport Library, Bath, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>90,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury, Conn.,</td><td align='left'>52,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>51,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Watkinson Library, Hartford, Conn.,</td><td align='left'>47,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sage Library, New Brunswick, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>43,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Case Library, Cleveland, Ohio,</td><td align='left'>40,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Grosvenor Library, Buffalo, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>39,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Forbes Library, Northampton, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>36,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cooper Union Library, New York,</td><td align='left'>34,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fisk Free Public Library, New Orleans,</td><td align='left'>33,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peabody Institute Library, Peabody, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>33,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reynolds Library, Rochester, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>33,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Carnegie Free Library, Allegheny, Pa.,</td><td align='left'>30,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vt.,</td><td align='left'>30,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Howard Memorial Library, New Orleans,</td><td align='left'>26,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, Pa.,</td><td align='left'>25,000<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_312" id="Pg_312"></a>[<a href="./images/312.png">312</a>]</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sage Public Library, West Bay City, Mich.,</td><td align='left'>25,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hoyt Public Library, Saginaw, Mich.,</td><td align='left'>24,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Osterhout Free Library, Wilkesbarre, Pa.,</td><td align='left'>24,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Seymour Library, Auburn, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>24,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hackley Public Library, Muskegon, Mich.,</td><td align='left'>22,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Willard Library, Evansville, Ind.,</td><td align='left'>22,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Otis Library, Norwich, Conn.,</td><td align='left'>21,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Morrison-Reeves Library, Richmond, Ind.,</td><td align='left'>21,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Baxter Memorial Library, Rutland, Vt.,</td><td align='left'>20,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cornell Library Association, Ithaca, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>20,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>19,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dimmick Library, Mauch Chunk, Pa.,</td><td align='left'>18,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, Ill.,</td><td align='left'>17,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>17,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tufts Library, Weymouth, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>17,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Warder Public Library, Springfield, Ohio,</td><td align='left'>17,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Withers Public Library, Bloomington, Ill.,</td><td align='left'>15,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cary Library, Lexington, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>15,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fritz Public Library, Chelsea, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>15,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Turner Free Library, Randolph, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>15,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ames Free Library, North Easton, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bigelow Free Library, Clinton, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Clarke Public Library, Coldwater, Mich.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Harris Institute Library, Woonsocket, R. I.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Merrick Public Library, Brookfield, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Robbins Library, Arlington, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>14,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sturgis Library, Barnstable, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>13,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birchard Library, Fremont, Ohio,</td><td align='left'>12,500</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>James Prendergast Library, Jamestown, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>12,500</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rogers Free Library, Bristol, R. I.,</td><td align='left'>12,300</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Abbott Public Library, Marblehead, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>12,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Armour Institute, Chicago, Ill.,</td><td align='left'>12,000<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_313" id="Pg_313"></a>[<a href="./images/313.png">313</a>]</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beebe Town Library, Wakefield, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>12,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Carnegie Free Library, Braddock, Pa.,</td><td align='left'>12,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Goodnow Library, South Sudbury, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>12,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Millicent Library, Fairhaven, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>12,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Thayer Public Library, South Braintree, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>11,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dyer Library, Saco, Maine,</td><td align='left'>10,500</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cossit Library, Memphis, Tenn.,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gloucester (Mass.) Sawyer Free Library,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ferguson Library, Stamford, Conn.,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Parlin Memorial Library, Everett, Mass.,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jennie D. Haynes Library, Alton, Ill.,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hornell Free Library, Hornellsville, N. Y.,</td><td align='left'>10,000</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p>Besides the preceding list, purposely confined to free +libraries chiefly founded by individuals, which have reached +the ten thousand volume mark, there are a multitude of +others, too numerous to be named, having a less number of +volumes. In fact, the public spirit which gives freely of +private wealth to enlarge the intelligence of the community +may be said to grow by emulation. Many men who +have made fortunes have endowed their native places with +libraries. It is yearly becoming more and more widely +recognized that a man can build no monument to himself +so honorable or so lasting as a free public library. Its +influence is well nigh universal, and its benefits are perennial.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>We now come to consider the city or town libraries, created +or maintained by voluntary taxation. These, like +the class of libraries founded by private munificence, are +purely a modern growth. While the earliest movement +in this direction in Great Britain dates back only to 1850, +New Hampshire has the honor of adopting the first free +public library law, in America, in the year 1849. Massachusetts +followed in 1851, and the example was emulated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_314" id="Pg_314"></a>[<a href="./images/314.png">314</a>]</span> +by other States at various intervals, until there now remain +but fifteen out of our forty-five States which have +no public library law. The general provisions of these +laws authorize any town or city to collect taxes by vote of +the citizens for maintaining a public library, to be managed +by trustees elected or appointed for the purpose.</p> + +<p>But a more far-reaching provision for supplying the people +with public libraries was adopted by New Hampshire +(again the pioneer State), in 1895. This was nothing +less than the passage of a State law making it compulsory +on every town in New Hampshire to assess annually the +sum of thirty dollars for every dollar of public taxes apportioned +to such town, the amount to be appropriated to +establish and maintain a free public library. Library +trustees are to be elected, and in towns where no public +library exists, the money is to be held by them, and to accumulate +until the town is ready to establish a library.</p> + +<p>This New Hampshire statute, making obligatory the +supply of public information through books and periodicals +in free libraries in every town, may fairly be termed +the high-water mark of modern means for the diffusion of +knowledge. This system of creating libraries proceeds +upon the principle that intellectual enlightenment is as +much a concern of the local government as sanitary regulations +or public morality. Society has an interest that is +common to all classes in the means that are provided for +the education of the people. Among these means free +town or city libraries are one of the most potent and useful. +New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in nearly all of +their towns and cities, have recognized the principle that +public books are just as important to the general welfare +as public lamps. What are everywhere needed are libraries +open to the people as a matter of right, and not as +a matter of favor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_315" id="Pg_315"></a>[<a href="./images/315.png">315</a>]</span>The largest library in the country, save one (that at +Washington), owes its origin and success to this principle, +combined with some private munificence. The Boston +Public Library is unquestionably one of the most widely +useful collections of books open to the public in this country. +Of all the greater collections, it is the only one which +lends out books free of charge to all citizens. Instituted +in 1852, its career has been one of rapid progress and ever +widening usefulness. I shall not dwell upon it at length, +as the facts regarding it have been more widely published +than those relating to any other library.</p> + +<p>Under the permissive library laws of thirty States, there +had been formed up to 1896, when the last comprehensive +statistics were gathered, about 1,200 free public libraries, +supported by taxation, in the United States.</p> + +<p>A still more widely successful means of securing a library +foundation that shall be permanent is found in uniting +private benefactions with public money to found or to +maintain a library. Many public-spirited citizens, fortunately +endowed with large means, have offered to erect library +buildings in certain places, on condition that the +local authorities would provide the books, and the means +of maintaining a free library. Such generous offers, +whether coupled with the condition of perpetuating the +donor's name with that of the library, or leaving the gift +unhampered, so that the library may bear the name of the +town or city of its location, have generally been accepted +by municipal bodies, or by popular vote. This secures, in +most cases, a good working library of choice reading, as +well as its steady annual growth and management, free of +the heavy expense of building, of which the tax-payers are +relieved. The many munificent gifts of library buildings by +Mr. Andrew Carnegie, to American towns and cities, and +to some in his native Scotland, are worthy of special note.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_316" id="Pg_316"></a>[<a href="./images/316.png">316</a>]</span> +And the reader will see from the long list heretofore given +of the more considerable public libraries to be credited +wholly or in part to private munificence, that American +men of wealth have not been wanting as public benefactors.</p> + +<p>In some cases, whole libraries have been given to a town +or village where a public library already existed, or liberal +gifts or bequests of money, to be expended in the enrichment +of such libraries, have been bestowed. Very interesting +lists of benefactions for the benefit of libraries may +be found in the volumes of the Library Journal, New York. +It is with regret that candor requires me to add, that +several proffers of fine library buildings to certain places, +coupled with the condition that the municipal authorities +would establish and maintain a free library, have remained +without acceptance, thus forfeiting a liberal endowment. +Where public education has been so neglected +as to render possible such a niggardly, penny-wise and +pound-foolish policy, there is manifestly signal need of +every means of enlightenment.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>We now come to the various State libraries founded at +the public charge, and designed primarily for the use +of the respective legislatures of the States. The earliest +of these is the New Hampshire State Library, established +in 1790, and the largest is the New York State Library, +at Albany, founded in 1818, now embracing 325,000 volumes, +and distinguished alike by the value of its stores and +the liberality of its management. The reason for being +of a State library is obviously and primarily to furnish the +legislative body and State courts with such ample books +of reference in jurisprudence, history, science, etc., as will +aid them in the intelligent discharge of their duties as +law-makers and judges of the law. The library thus existing +at each State capital may well be opened to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_317" id="Pg_317"></a>[<a href="./images/317.png">317</a>]</span> +public for reading and reference, thus greatly enlarging +its usefulness.</p> + +<p>Every State in the Union has now at least a legislative +library, although the most of them consist chiefly of laws +and legislative documents, with a few works of reference +superadded; and their direct usefulness to the public is +therefore very circumscribed. The New York State Library +is a model of what a great public library should be +in the capital of a State. In it are gathered a great proportion +of the best books in each department of literature +and science, while indefatigable efforts have been made to +enrich it in whatever relates to American history and polity. +Its reading-room is freely opened to the public during +many hours daily. But a State library should never be +made a library of circulation, since its utility as a reference +library, having its books always in for those who seek them, +would thereby be destroyed. Even under the existing system, +with the privilege of drawing books out confined to +the Legislature, some of the State libraries have been depleted +and despoiled of many of their most valuable books, +through loaning them freely on the orders of members. +The sense of responsibility is far less in the case of borrowed +books which are government property, than in other +cases. The only safe rule for keeping a government library +from being scattered, is strict refusal of orders for +loaning to any one not legally entitled to draw books, and +short terms of withdrawal to legislators, with enforcement +of a rule of replacement, at their expense, as to all books +not returned at the end of each session.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There is one class of libraries not yet touched upon, +namely, school district libraries. These originated for the +first time in a legally organized system, through an act of +the New York State Legislature in 1835, authorizing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_318" id="Pg_318"></a>[<a href="./images/318.png">318</a>]</span> +voters in each school district to levy a tax of twenty dollars +with which to start a library, and ten dollars a year +for adding to the same. These were not to be for the +schools alone, but for all the people living in the district +where the school was located. This was supplemented in +1838 by a State appropriation of $55,000 a year, from New +York's share of the surplus revenue fund distributed by +Congress to the States in 1837, and the income of which +was devoted by New York to enlarging the school district +libraries. After spending nearly two millions of dollars +on these libraries in forty years, the system was found to +have been so far a failure that the volumes in the libraries +had decreased from 1,600,000 to 700,000 volumes.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary and deplorable result was attributed +to several distinct causes. 1st. No proper responsibility +as to the use and return of books was enforced. 2d. The +insignificance of the sum raised by taxation in each district +prevented any considerable supply of books from being +acquired. 3d. The funds were largely devoted to buying +the same books in each school district, instead of being +expended in building up a large and varied collection. +Thus the system produced innumerable petty libraries of +duplicates, enriching publishers and booksellers, while impoverishing +the community. The school district library +system, in short, while promising much in theory, in the +way of public intelligence, broke down completely in practice. +The people quickly lost interest in libraries which +gave them so little variety in books, either of instruction +or of recreation.</p> + +<p>Although widely introduced in other States besides New +York, from 1837 to 1877, it proved an admitted failure +in all. Much public money, raised by taxation of the people, +was squandered upon sets of books, selected by State<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_319" id="Pg_319"></a>[<a href="./images/319.png">319</a>]</span> +authority, and often of inferior interest and utility. Finally, +it was recognized that school district libraries were +an evanescent dream, and that town libraries must take +their place. This instructive chapter in Library history +shows an experience by which much was learned, though +the lesson was a costly one.</p> + +<p>The Historical libraries of the country are numerous, +and some of the larger ones are rich in printed Americana, +and in historical manuscripts. The oldest is that of the +Massachusetts Historical Society, founded in 1791, and +among the most extensive are those of the New York Historical +Society, American Antiquarian Society, the Historical +Society of Pennsylvania, the New England Historic-genealogical +Society, and the Wisconsin State Historical +Society. There are no less than 230 historical societies +in the U. S., some forty of which are State associations.</p> + +<p>The Mercantile libraries are properly a branch of the +proprietary, though depending mostly upon annual subscriptions. +The earliest of these was the Boston Mercantile +Library, founded in 1820, and followed closely by the +New York Mercantile the same year, the Philadelphia in +1821, and the Cincinnati Mercantile in 1835.</p> + +<p>Next we have the professional libraries, law, medical, +scientific, and, in several cities, theological. These supply +a want of each of these professions seldom met by the public +collections, and are proportionately valuable.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The most recent plan for the wide diffusion of popular +books is the travelling library. This originated in New +York in 1893, when the Legislature empowered the Regents +of the State University (a body of trustees having +charge of all library interests in that State) to send out +selections of books to any community without a library, on +request of 25 resident taxpayers. The results were most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_320" id="Pg_320"></a>[<a href="./images/320.png">320</a>]</span> +beneficial, the sole expense being five dollars for each +library.</p> + +<p>Travelling libraries, (mostly of fifty volumes each) have +been set on foot in Massachusetts, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, +Pennsylvania, and other States, and, as the system +appears capable of indefinite expansion, great results are +anticipated in the direction of the public intelligence. It +is pointed out that while the State, by its free school system, +trains all the people to read, it should not leave the +quality of their reading to chance or to utter neglect, when +a few cents <i>per capita</i> annually would help them to an education +of inestimable value in after life.</p> + +<p>Some objections, on the other hand, have been urged to +the system, as introducing features of paternalism into +State government, and taking out of the hands of individual +generosity and local effort and enterprise what belongs +properly to such agencies. The vexed question of +the proper function and limitations of State control in the +domain of education cannot here be entered upon.</p> + +<p>In the volume last published of statistics of American +libraries, that of 1897, great progress was shown in the five +years since 1891. The record of libraries reported in +1896 embraced 4,026 collections, being all which contained +over 1,000 volumes each. The increase in volumes in the +five years was a little over seven millions, the aggregate +of the 4,026 libraries being 33,051,872 volumes. This increase +was over 27 per cent. in only five years.</p> + +<p>If the good work so splendidly begun, in New England, +New York, Pennsylvania, and some of the Western States, +in establishing libraries through public taxation and private +munificence, can only be extended in the Southern +and Middle States, the century now about to dawn will +witness an advance quite as remarkable as we have seen +in the latter years of the century about to close.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="tsc">Footnotes:</p> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> MS. Records of the Virginia Company, in the Library of +Congress.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_321" id="Pg_321"></a>[<a href="./images/321.png">321</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a>CHAPTER 16.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Library Buildings and Furnishings.</span></h3> + + +<p>Proceeding now to the subject of library buildings, reading-rooms, +and furnishings, it must be remarked at the +outset that very few rules can be laid down which are of +universal application. The architectural plans, exterior +and interior, of such great institutions as the Library of +Congress, or the Boston Public Library, with their costly +marbles, splendid mural decorations, and electric book-serving +machinery, afford no model for the library building +in the country village. Where the government of a +nation or a wealthy city has millions to devote for providing +a magnificent book-palace for its library, the smaller +cities or towns have only a few thousands. So much the +more important is it, that a thoroughly well-considered +plan for building should be marked out before beginning +to build, that no dollars should be wasted, or costly alterations +required, in order to fit the interior for all the uses +of a library.</p> + +<p>The need of this caution will be abundantly evident, in +the light of the unfit and inconvenient constructions seen +in so many public libraries, all over the country. So general +has been the want of carefully planned and well-executed +structures for books, that it may fairly be said that +mistakes have been the rule, and fit adaptation the exception. +For twenty years past, at every meeting of the +American Library Association, the reports upon library +buildings have deplored the waste of money in well-meant +edifices designed to accommodate the library service, but +successful only in obstructing it. Even in so recent a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_322" id="Pg_322"></a>[<a href="./images/322.png">322</a>]</span> +construction as the Boston Public Library building, so +many defects and inconveniences were found after it was +supposed to have been finished, that rooms had to be torn +out and re-constructed on three floors, while the pneumatic +tube system had been found so noisy as to be a public +nuisance, and had to be replaced by a later improved construction.</p> + +<p>One leading cause for the mistakes which are so patent +in our library buildings is that they are not planned by +librarians but mainly by architects. The library authorities +commonly take it for granted that the able architect +is master of his profession, and entrust him with the whole +design, leaving out of account the librarian, as a mere subordinate, +entitled only to secondary consideration. The +result is a plan which exhibits, in its prominent features, +the architect's skill in effective pilasters, pillars, architraves, +cornices, and balustrades, while the library apartments +which these features ornament are planned, not for +convenient and rapid book-service, but mainly for show. +It is the interest of architects to magnify their profession: +and as none of them has ever been, or ever will be a librarian, +they cannot be expected to carry into effect unaided, +what they have never learned; namely, the interior +arrangements which will best meet the utilities of the library +service. Here is where the librarian's practical experience, +or his observation of the successes or failures in +the reading-room and delivery service of other libraries, +should imperatively be called in. Let him demonstrate to +the governing board that he knows what is needed for +prompt and economical administration, and they will heed +his judgment, if they are reasonable men. While it belongs +to the architect to plan, according to his own ideas, +the outside of the building, the inside should be planned +by the architect in direct concert with the librarian, in +all save merely ornamental or finishing work.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_323" id="Pg_323"></a>[<a href="./images/323.png">323</a>]</span>We do not erect a building and then determine whether +it is to be a school house or a church: it is planned from +the start with strict reference to the utilities involved; and +so should it always be with a library.</p> + +<p>In treating this subject, I shall not occupy space in outlining +the proper scheme of building and interior arrangement +for a great library, with its many distinct departments, +for such institutions are the exceptions, while most +libraries come within the rule of very moderate size, and +comparatively inexpensive equipment. The first requisite +for a public library, then, is a good location. It is important +that this should be central, but it is equally important +that the building should be isolated—that is, with proper +open space on all sides, and not located in a block with +other buildings. Many libraries have been destroyed or +seriously damaged by fire originating in neighboring buildings, +or in other apartments in the same building; while +fires in separate library buildings have been extremely +rare. It would be a wise provision to secure a library lot +sufficiently large in area to admit of further additions to +the building, both in the rear and at the side; and with +slight addition to the cost, the walls and their supports may +be so planned as to admit of this. Committees are seldom +willing to incur the expense of an edifice large enough to +provide for very prolonged growth of their collection; and +the result is that the country is full of overcrowded libraries, +without money to build, and prevented from expanding +on the spot because no foresight was exercised in +the original construction or land purchase, to provide for +ready increase of space by widening out, and removing an +outer wall so as to connect the old building with the new +addition. If a library has 10,000 volumes, it would be +very short-sighted policy to plan an edifice to contain less +than 40,000, which it is likely to reach in from ten to forty +years.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_324" id="Pg_324"></a>[<a href="./images/324.png">324</a>]</span>The next requisite to a central and sufficient site is that +the location must be dry and airy. Any low site, especially +in river towns, will be damp, and among the enemies of +books, moisture holds a foremost place. Next, the site +should afford light on all sides, and if necessary to place it +near any thoroughfare, it should be set back so as to afford +ample light and ventilation in front.</p> + +<p>It need hardly be said that every library building should +be fire-proof, after the many costly lessons we have had of +the burning of public libraries at home and abroad. The +material for the outside walls may be brick or stone, according +to taste or relative cost. Brick is good enough, +and if of the best quality, and treated with stone trimmings, +is capable of sufficiently ornate effects, and is quite +as durable as any granite or marble. No temptation of +cheapness should ever be allowed to introduce wood in any +part of the construction: walls, floors, and roof should be +only of brick, stone, iron, or slate. A wooden roof is nothing +but a tinder-box that invites the flames.</p> + +<p>In general, two stories is a sufficient height for library +buildings, except in those of the largest class, and the +upper floors may be amply lighted by sky-lights. The +side-lights can hardly be too numerous: yet I have seen library +buildings running back from a street fifty to seventy-five +feet, without a single window in either of the side +walls. The result was to throw all the books on shelves +into a gloomy shade for many hours of each day.</p> + +<p>The interior construction should be so managed as to +effect the finding and delivery of books to readers with the +greatest possible economy of time and space. No shelves +should be placed higher than can be reached by hand without +mounting upon any steps or ladders; <i>i. e.</i>, seven to +seven and a half feet. The system of shelving should all +be constructed of iron or steel, instead of surrounding the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_325" id="Pg_325"></a>[<a href="./images/325.png">325</a>]</span> +books on three sides with combustible wood, as is done in +most libraries. Shelves of oxidized metal will be found +smooth enough to prevent any abrasion of bindings. +Shelves should be easily adjustable to any height, to accommodate +the various sizes of books.</p> + +<p>In calculating shelf capacity, one and a half inches thickness +a volume is a fair average, so that each hundred volumes +would require about thirteen feet of linear shelf +measurement. The space between uprights, that is, the +length of each shelf, should not exceed two and a half feet. +All spaces between shelves should be 10½ or 11 inches high, +to accommodate large octavos indiscriminately with smaller +sizes; and a base shelf for quartos and folios, at a proper +height from the floor, will restrict the number of shelves +to six in each tier.</p> + +<p>In the arrangement of the cases or book-stacks, the most +economical method is to place book-cases of double face, +not less than three feet apart, approached by aisles on +either side, so as to afford free passage for two persons +meeting or passing one another. The cases may be about +ten feet each in length. There should be electric lights +between all cases, to be turned on only when books are +sought. The cases should be set at right angles to the +wall, two or three feet from it, with the light from abundant +windows coming in between them. The width of +shelves may be from 16 to 18 inches in these double cases, +thus giving about eight to nine inches depth to each side. +No partition is required between the two sides.</p> + +<p>It should be stated that the light obtained from windows, +when thrown more than twenty feet, among cases of +books on shelves, becomes too feeble for effective use in +finding books. This fact should be considered in advance, +while plans of construction, lighting, and interior arrangement +are being made. All experience has shown that too +much light cannot be had in any public library.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_326" id="Pg_326"></a>[<a href="./images/326.png">326</a>]</span>Railings and stair-cases for the second or upper floors +should be of perforated iron.</p> + +<p>The reading-room should be distinct from the book delivery +or charging-room, to secure quiet for readers at all +hours, avoiding the pressure, hurry and noise of conversation +inevitable in a lending library or department. In +the reading-room should be shelved a liberal supply of +books of reference, and bibliographies, open without tickets +to the readers. Next the central desk there should be +shelves for the deposit of books reserved day by day for the +use of readers. The library chairs, of whatever pattern +may be preferred, should always combine the two requisites +of strength and lightness. The floor should be covered +with linoleum, or some similar floor covering, to deaden +sound. Woolen carpets, those perennial breeders of dust, +are an abomination.</p> + +<p>In a library reading-room of any considerable size, each +reader should be provided with table or desk room, not flat +but sloping at a moderate angle, and allowing about three +feet of space for each reader. These appliances for study +need not be single pieces of furniture, but made in sections +to accommodate from three to six readers at each. About +thirty inches from the floor is a proper height.</p> + +<p>For large dictionaries, atlases, or other bulky volumes, +the adjustable revolving case, mounted on a pedestal, +should be used.</p> + +<p>For moving any large number of volumes about the library, +book-trucks or barrows, with noiseless rubber +wheels, are required.</p> + +<p>Every library will need one or more catalogue cases to +hold the alphabetical card catalogue. These are made +with a maximum of skill by the Library Bureau, Boston.</p> + +<p>The location of the issue-counter or desk is of cardinal +importance. It should be located near the centre of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_327" id="Pg_327"></a>[<a href="./images/327.png">327</a>]</span> +system of book-cases, or near the entrance to the stack, so +as to minimize the time consumed in collecting the books +wanted. It should also have a full supply of light, and +this may be secured by a location directly in front of a +large side window. Readers are impatient of delay, and +the farther the books are from the issue-counter the longer +they will have to wait for them.</p> + +<p>Among modern designs for libraries, that of Dr. W. F. +Poole, adapted for the Newberry Library, Chicago, is notable +for dividing the library into many departments or separate +rooms, the book shelves occupying one half the +height of each, or 7½ feet out of 15, the remaining space +being occupied by windows. This construction, of course, +does not furnish as compact storage for books as the stack +system. It is claimed to possess the advantage of extraordinarily +good light, and of aiding the researches of readers. +But it has the disadvantage of requiring readers to +visit widely separated rooms to pursue studies involving +several subjects, and of mounting in elevators to reach +some departments. A system which brings the books to +the reader, instead of the readers travelling after the +books, would appear to be more practically useful to the +public, with whom time is of cardinal importance.</p> + +<p>In all libraries, there should be a receiving or packing +room, where boxes and parcels of books are opened and +books mended, collated, and prepared for the shelves. +This room may well be in a dry and well lighted basement. +Two small cloak-rooms for wraps will be needed, one for +each sex. Two toilet rooms or lavatories should be provided. +A room for the library directors or trustees, and +one for the librarian, are essential in libraries of much extent. +A janitor's room or sleeping quarters sometimes +needs to be provided. A storage room for blanks, stationery, +catalogues, etc., will be necessary in libraries of much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_328" id="Pg_328"></a>[<a href="./images/328.png">328</a>]</span> +extent. A periodical room is sometimes provided, distinct +from the reading-room or the delivery department. In +this case, if several hundred periodicals are taken, an attendant +should be always present to serve them to readers, +from the shelves or cases where they should be kept in +alphabetical order. Without this, and a ticket system to +keep track of what are in use, no one can readily find what +is needed, nor ascertain whether it is in a reader's hands +when sought for. System and the alphabet alone will +solve all difficulties.</p> + +<p>As to the space required for readers in a periodical +room, it may be assumed that about five hundred square +feet will accommodate twenty-five readers, and the same +proportion for a larger number at one time. A room +twenty-five by forty would seat fifty readers, while one +twenty-five by twenty would accommodate twenty-five +readers, with proper space for tables, &c. The files for +newspapers are referred to in another chapter on periodicals.</p> + +<p>In a library building, the heating and ventilation are of +prime importance. Upon their proper regulation largely +depends the health and consequently the efficiency of all +employed, as well as the comfort of the reading public. +There is no space to enter upon specific descriptions, for +which the many conflicting systems, with experience of +their practical working, should be examined. Suffice it to +say in general, that a temperature not far below nor above +70 degrees Fahrenheit should be aimed at; that the furnace, +with its attendant nuisances of noise, dust, and odors, +should be outside the library building—not under it; and +that electric lighting alone should be used, gas being +highly injurious to the welfare of books.</p> + +<p>In calculating the space required for books shelved as +has been heretofore suggested, it may be approximately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_329" id="Pg_329"></a>[<a href="./images/329.png">329</a>]</span> +stated that every one thousand volumes will require at least +eighty to one hundred square feet of floor measurement. +Thus, a library of 10,000 volumes would occupy an area of +nearly one thousand square feet. But it is necessary to +provide also for the continual growth of the collection. +To do this, experience shows that in any flourishing public +library, space should be reserved for three or four times +the number of volumes in actual possession. If rooms are +hired for the books, because of inability to build, the library +should be so arranged as to leave each alternate +shelf vacant for additions, or, in the more rapidly growing +divisions, a still greater space. This will permit accessions +to be shelved with their related books, without the trouble +of frequently moving and re-arranging large divisions of +the library. This latter is a very laborious process, and +should be resorted to only under compulsion. The preventive +remedy, of making sure of space in advance, by +leaving a sufficiency of unoccupied shelves in every division +of the library, is the true one.</p> + +<p>In some libraries, a separate reading-room for ladies is +provided. Mr. W. F. Poole records that in Cincinnati +such a room was opened at the instance of the library directors. +The result was that the ladies made it a kind of +social rendezvous, where they talked over society matters, +and exhibited the bargains made in their shopping excursions. +Ladies who came to study preferred the general +reading room, where they found every comfort among well +conducted gentlemen, and the "ladies' reading-room" was +abandoned, as not fulfilling its object. The same experiment +in the Chicago Public Library had the same result.</p> + +<p>Some libraries in the larger towns provide a special reading-room +for children; and this accomplishes a two-fold +object, namely, to keep the public reading-room free from +flocks of little people in pursuit of books under difficulties,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_330" id="Pg_330"></a>[<a href="./images/330.png">330</a>]</span> +and to furnish the boys and girls with accommodations of +their own. It may be suggested as an objection, that the +dividing line as to age is difficult to be drawn: but let each +applicant be questioned, and if falling below twelve, or +fifteen, or whatever the age limit may be, directed to the +juvenile reading-room, and there need be no trouble. Of +course there will be some quite young readers who are +gifted with intelligence beyond their years, and who may +dislike to be reckoned as children; but library rules are +not made to suit exceptions, but for the average; and as no +book need be refused to any applicant in the juvenile department, +no just cause of complaint can arise.</p> + +<p>In some libraries, and those usually of the larger size, an +art room is provided, where students of works on painting, +sculpture, and the decorative arts can go, and have about +them whatever treasures the library may contain in that +attractive field. The advantages of this provision are, +first, to save the necessity of handling and carrying so +many heavy volumes of galleries of art and illustrated +books to the general reading-room, and back again, and +secondly, to enable those in charge of the art department +to exercise more strict supervision in enforcing careful and +cleanly treatment of the finest books in the library, than +can be maintained in the miscellaneous crowd of readers +in the main reading-room. The objections to it concern +the general want of room to set apart for this purpose, and +the desirability of concentrating the use of books in one +main hall or reading-room. Circumstances and experience +should determine the question for each library.</p> + +<p>Some public libraries, and especially those constructed +in recent years, are provided with a lecture-hall, or a large +room for public meetings, concerts, or occasionally, even +an opera-house, in the same building with the library. +There are some excellent arguments in favor of this; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_331" id="Pg_331"></a>[<a href="./images/331.png">331</a>]</span> +especially where a public benefactor donates to a city a +building which combines both uses. The building given +by Mr. Andrew Carnegie to the Public Library of Washington +will be provided with a small hall suited to meetings, +&c. But in all cases, such a public hall should be +so isolated from the library reading-room as not to annoy +readers, to whom quiet is essential. This end can be effected +by having the intervening walls and floors so constructed +as completely to deaden sound. A wholly distinct +entrance should also be provided, not communicating +with the doors and passages leading to the library.</p> + +<p>Comparisons are sometimes made as to the relative cost +of library buildings to the number of volumes they are designed +to accommodate; but such estimates are misleading. +The cost of an edifice in which architectural beauty and +interior decoration concur to make it a permanent ornament +to a city or town, need not be charged up at so much +per volume. Buildings for libraries have cost all the way +from twenty-five cents up to $4. for each volume stored. +The Library of Congress, which cost six million dollars, and +will ultimately accommodate 4,500,000 volumes, cost about +$1.36 per volume. But it contains besides books, some +half a million musical compositions, works of graphic art, +maps and charts, etc.</p> + +<p>The comparative cost of some library buildings erected +in recent years, with ultimate capacity of each, may be of +interest. Kansas City Public Library, 132<span class="lf">+</span>144, 125,000 +vols., $200,000. Newark, N. J. Free Library, 138<span class="lf">+</span>216, +400,000 vols., $188,000. Forbes Library, Northampton, +Mass. (granite), 107<span class="lf">+</span>137, 250,000 vols., $134,000. Fall +River, Ms. Library, 80<span class="lf">+</span>130, 250,000 vols., $100,000. +Peoria, Ill. Public Library (brick), 76<span class="lf">+</span>135, $70,000. Smiley +Memorial Library, Redlands, Cal. (brick), 96<span class="lf">+</span>100, +$50,000. Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, Mass. (brick),<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_332" id="Pg_332"></a>[<a href="./images/332.png">332</a>]</span> +50<span class="lf">+</span>57, 25,000 vols., $25,000. Rogers Memorial Library, +Southworth, N. Y. 70<span class="lf">+</span>100, 20,000 vols., $20,000. Belfast +(Me.) Free Library (granite), 27<span class="lf">+</span>54, $10,000. Gail-Borden +Public Library, Elgin, Ill. (brick), 28<span class="lf">+</span>52, $9,000. +Warwick, Mass. Public Library (wood), 45<span class="lf">+</span>60, 5,000 vols., +$5,000.</p> + +<p>The largely increased number of public library buildings +erected in recent years is a most cheering sign of the +times. Since 1895, eleven extensive new library buildings +have been opened: namely, the Library of Congress, the +Boston Public Library, the Pratt Institute Library, Brooklyn, +the Columbia University Library, New York, the +Princeton, N. J. University Library, the Hart Memorial +Library, of Troy, N. Y., the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, +the Chicago Public Library, the Peoria, Ill. Public Library, +the Kansas City, Mo. Public Library, and the +Omaha, Neb. Public Library.</p> + +<p>And there are provided for eight more public library +buildings, costing more than $100,000 each; namely, the +Providence, R. I. Public Library, the Lynn, Mass. Public +Library, the Fall River, Mass. Public Library, the Newark, +N. J. Free Public Library, the Milwaukee, Wis. Public Library +and Museum, the Wisconsin State Historical Society +Library, Madison, the New York Public Library, and the +Jersey City Public Library.</p> + +<p>To these will be added within the year 1900, as is confidently +expected, the Washington City Public Library, the +gift of Andrew Carnegie, to cost $300,000.</p> + +<p>No philanthropist can ever find a nobler object for his +fortune, or a more enduring monument to his memory, +than the founding of a free public library. The year 1899 +has witnessed a new gift by Mr. Carnegie of a one hundred +thousand dollar library to Atlanta, the Capital of Georgia, +on condition that the city will provide a site, and $5,000<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_333" id="Pg_333"></a>[<a href="./images/333.png">333</a>]</span> +a year for the maintenance of the library. Cities in the +east are emulating one another in providing public library +buildings of greater or less cost. If the town library cannot +have magnificence, it need not have meanness. A competition +among architects selected to submit plans is becoming +the favorite method of preparing to build. Five +of the more extensive libraries have secured competitive +plans of late from which to select—namely, the New York +Public Library, the Jersey City Public Library, the Newark +Free Public Library, the Lynn Public Library, and the +Phoebe Hearst building for the University of California, +which is to be planned for a library of 750,000 volumes. +It is gratifying to add that in several recent provisions +made for erecting large and important structures, the librarian +was made a member of the building committee—<i>i. e.</i>, +in the New York Public Library, the Newark Free +Public Library, and the Lynn Public Library.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a>CHAPTER 17.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Library Managers or Trustees.</span></h3> + + +<p>We now come to consider the management of libraries +as entrusted to boards of directors, trustees or library managers. +These relations have a most intimate bearing upon +the foundation, the progress and the consequent success of +any library. Where a liberal intelligence and a hearty +coöperation are found in those constituting the library +board, the affairs of the institution will be managed with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_334" id="Pg_334"></a>[<a href="./images/334.png">334</a>]</span> +the best results. Where a narrow-minded and dictatorial +spirit is manifested, even by a portion of those supervising +a public library, it will require a large endowment both of +patience and of tact in the librarian, to accomplish those +aims which involve the highest usefulness.</p> + +<p>Boards of library trustees vary in number, usually from +three to nine or more. A board of three or five is found in +practice more active and efficient than a larger number. +The zeal and responsibility felt is apt to diminish in direct +proportion to the increased numbers of the board. An +odd number is preferable, to avoid an equal division of +opinion upon any question to be determined.</p> + +<p>In town or city libraries, the mode of selection of library +trustees varies much. Sometimes the mayor appoints the +library board, sometimes they are chosen by the city council, +and sometimes elected by the people, at the annual +selection of school or municipal officers. The term of service +(most usually three years) should be so arranged that +retirement of any members should always leave two at +least who have had experience on the board. Library +trustees serve without salary, the high honor of so serving +the public counting for much.</p> + +<p>The librarian is often made secretary of the trustees, and +then he keeps the record of their transactions. He should +never be made treasurer of the library funds, which would +involve labor and responsibility incompatible with the +manifold duties of the superintendent of a library. In case +of a library supported by municipal taxation, the town +treasurer may well serve as library treasurer also, or the +trustees can choose one from their own board. The librarian, +however, should be empowered to collect book fines +or other dues, to be deposited with the treasurer at regular +intervals, and he should have a small fund at disposal for +such petty library expenses as constantly arise. All bills<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_335" id="Pg_335"></a>[<a href="./images/335.png">335</a>]</span> +for books and other purchases, and all salaries of persons +employed in the library should be paid by the treasurer.</p> + +<p>The meetings of the trustees should be attended by the +librarian, who must always be ready to supply all information +as to the workings of the library, the needs for books, +etc. Frequently the trustees divide up the business before +them, appointing sub-committees on book selections, +on library finances, on administration, furnishings, &c., +with a view to prompt action.</p> + +<p>If a library receives endowments, money gifts or legacies, +they are held and administered by the trustees as a +body corporate, the same as the funds annually appropriated +for library maintenance and increase. Their annual +report to the council, or municipal authorities, should exhibit +the amount of money received from all sources in detail, +and the amount expended for all purposes, in detail; +also, the number of books purchased in the year, the aggregate +of volumes in the library, the number of readers, +and other facts of general interest.</p> + +<p>All accounts against the library are first audited by the +proper sub-committee, and payment ordered by the full +board, by order on the treasurer. The accounts for all +these expenditures should be kept by the treasurer, who +should inform the librarian periodically as to balances.</p> + +<p>The selection of books for a public library is a delicate +and responsible duty, involving wider literary and scientific +knowledge than falls to the lot of most trustees of +libraries. There are sometimes specially qualified professional +men or widely read scholars on such boards, whose +services in recruiting the library are of great value. More +frequently there are one or more men with hobbies, who +would spend the library funds much too freely upon a +class of books of no general interest. Thus, one trustee +who plays golf may urge the purchase of all the various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_336" id="Pg_336"></a>[<a href="./images/336.png">336</a>]</span> +books upon that game, when one or at most two of the best +should supply all needful demands. Another may want +to add to the library about all the published books on the +horse; another, who is a physician, may recommend adding +a lot of medical books to the collection, utterly useless +to the general reader. Beware of the man who has a +hobby, either as librarian or as library trustee; he will aim +to expend too much money on books which suit his own +taste, but which have little general utility. Two mischiefs +result from such a course: the library gets books +which very few people read, and its funds are diverted +from buying many books that may be of prime importance.</p> + +<p>Trustees, although usually, (at least the majority of +them) persons of culture and intelligence, cannot be expected +to be bibliographers, nor to be familiar with the +great range of new books that continually pour from the +press. They have their own business or profession to engage +them, and are commonly far too busy to study catalogues, +or to follow the journals of the publishing world. +So these busy men, charged with the oversight of the library +interests, call to their aid an expert, and that expert +is the librarian. It is his interest and his business +to know far more than they do both of what the library +already contains, and what it most needs. It is his to +peruse the critical journals and reviews, as well as the literary +notices of the select daily press, and to be prepared +to recommend what works to purchase. He must always +accompany his lists of wants with the prices, or at least the +approximate cost of each, and the aggregate amount. If +the trustees or book committee think the sum too large to +be voted at any one time from the fund at their disposal, +the librarian must know what can best be postponed, as +well as what is most indispensable for the immediate wants +of the library. If they object to any works on the list, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_337" id="Pg_337"></a>[<a href="./images/337.png">337</a>]</span> +should be prepared to explain the quality and character of +those called in question, and why the library, in his judgment, +should possess them. If the list is largely cut down, +and he considers himself hardly used, he should meet the +disappointment with entire good humor, and try again +when the members of the committee are in better mood, or +funds in better supply.</p> + +<p>It is very customary for boards of library officers to assume +the charge of the administration so far as regards +the library staff, and to make appointments, promotions +or removals at their own pleasure. In most libraries, however, +this power is exercised mainly on the advice or selection +of the librarian, his action being confirmed when +there is no serious objection. In still other cases, the librarian +is left wholly free to choose the assistants. This +is perhaps the course most likely to secure efficient service, +since his judgment, if he is a person of tried capacity and +mature experience, will lead to the selection of the fittest +candidates, for the work which he alone thoroughly knows. +No library trustee can put himself fully in the place of a +librarian, and see for himself the multitude of occasions +arising in the daily work of the library, where promptness, +tact, and wide knowledge of books will make a success, and +the want of any of these qualities a failure. Still less can +he judge the competency or incompetency of one who is +to be employed in the difficult and exact work of cataloguing +books. Besides, there is always the hazard that trustees, +or some of them, may have personal favorites or relatives +to prefer, and will use their influence to secure the +appointment or promotion of utterly uninstructed persons, +in place of such candidates as are known to the librarian +to be best qualified. In no case should any person be employed +without full examination as to fitness for library +work, conducted either by the librarian, or by a committee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_338" id="Pg_338"></a>[<a href="./images/338.png">338</a>]</span> +of which the librarian is a member or chief examiner. A +probationary trial should also follow before final appointment.</p> + +<p>The power of patronage, if unchecked by this safeguard, +will result in filling any library with incompetents, to the +serious detriment of the service on which its usefulness depends. +The librarian cannot keep a training school for +inexperts: he has no time for this, and he indispensably +needs and should have assistants who are competent to +their duties, from their first entrance upon them. As he +is held responsible for all results, in the conduct of the +library, both by the trustees and by the public, he should +have the power, or at least the approximate power, to select +the means by which those results are to be attained.</p> + +<p>In the Boston Public Library, all appointments are +made by the trustees upon nomination by the librarian, +after an examination somewhat similar to that of the civil +service, but by a board of library experts. In the British +Museum Library, the selection and promotion of members +of the staff are passed upon by the trustees, having the +recommendation of the principal librarian before them. +In the Library of Congress, appointments are made directly +by the librarian after a probationary trial, with previous +examination as to education, former experience or employments, +attainments, and fitness for library service.</p> + +<p>In smaller libraries, both in this country and abroad, a +great diversity of usage prevails. Instances are rare in +which the librarian has the uncontrolled power of appointment, +promotion and removal. The requirement of examinations +to test the fitness of candidates is extending, +and since the establishment of five or six permanent +schools of library science in the United States, with their +graduates well equipped for library work, there is no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_339" id="Pg_339"></a>[<a href="./images/339.png">339</a>]</span> +longer any excuse for putting novices in charge of libraries—institutions +where wide knowledge and thorough training +are more indispensable than in any other profession +whatever.</p> + +<p>In State libraries, no uniformity prevails as to control. +In some States, the governor has the appointment of the +librarian, while in others, he is an elective officer, the State +Legislature being the electors. As governors rarely continue +in office longer than two or three years, the tenure +of a librarian under them is precarious, and a most valuable +officer may at any time be superseded by another who +would have to learn all that the other knows. The result +is rarely favorable to the efficient administration of the +library. In a business absolutely demanding the very +largest compass of literary and scientific knowledge, frequent +rotation in office is clearly out of place. In a public +or State library, every added year of experience adds incalculably +to the value of a librarian's services, provided +he is of active habits, and full of zeal to make his acquired +knowledge constantly useful to those who use the library. +Partizan politics, with their frequent changes, if suffered +to displace a tried librarian and staff, will be sure to defeat +the highest usefulness of any library. What can a political +appointee, a man totally without either library training +or library experience, do with the tools of which he has +never learned the use? It will take him years to learn, +and by the time he has learned, some other political party +coming uppermost will probably displace him, to make +room for another novice, on the principle that "to the +victors belong the spoils" of office. Meanwhile, "the hungry +sheep look up and are not fed," as Milton sings—that +is, readers are deprived of expert and intelligent guidance.</p> + +<p>This bane of political jobbery has not been confined to +the libraries of States, but has invaded the management<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_340" id="Pg_340"></a>[<a href="./images/340.png">340</a>]</span> +of many city and town libraries also. We have yet to +learn of any benefit resulting to those who use the libraries.</p> + +<p>In the case of a few of the State libraries, trustees or +library commissioners or boards of control have been provided +by law, but in others, a joint library committee, composed +of members of both houses of the Legislature, has +charge of the library interests. This is also the case in +the Library of Congress at Washington, where three Senators +and three Representatives constitute the Joint Committee +of both Houses of Congress on the Library. The +membership of this committee, as of all others in Congress, +is subject to change biennially. It has been proposed to +secure a more permanent and careful supervision of this +National Library by adding to the Joint Committee of +Congress three or more trustees of eminent qualifications, +elected by Congress, as the Regents of the Smithsonian +Institution now are, for a longer term of years. The trustees +of the British Museum are appointed by the Crown, +their tenure of office being for life.</p> + +<p>In several States the librarian is appointed by the supreme +court, as the State libraries are composed more +largely of law books, than of miscellaneous literature, and +special knowledge of case law, and the principles of jurisprudence, +is demanded of the librarian.</p> + +<p>Where the trustees of a public library are elected by the +people, they have in their own hands the power of choosing +men who are far above party considerations, and they +should exercise it. In no department of life is the maxim—"the +tools to the hands that can use them," more important +than in the case of librarians and boards of managers +of libraries. The value of skilled labor over the unskilled +is everywhere recognized in the business of the +world, by more certain employment and larger compensation: +and why should it not be so in libraries?</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_341" id="Pg_341"></a>[<a href="./images/341.png">341</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a>CHAPTER 18.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Library Regulations.</span></h3> + + +<p>No feature in library administration is more important +than the regulations under which the service of the library +is conducted. Upon their propriety and regular enforcement +depends very much of the utility of the collection.</p> + +<p>Rules are of two kinds, those which concern the librarian +and assistants, and those which concern the public +resorting to the library. Of the first class are the regulations +as to hours, division of labor, leaves or vacations of +employees, &c. The larger the library, and consequently +the force employed, the more important is a careful adjustment +of relative duties, and of the times and seasons to be +devoted to them. The assignment of work to the various +assistants will naturally depend upon their respective qualifications. +Those who know Latin, and two or more of the +modern languages, would probably be employed upon the +catalogue. Those who are familiar with the range of +books published, in literature and science, will be best +qualified for the service of the reading-room, which involves +the supply of books and information. In direct +proportion to the breadth of information possessed by any +one, will be his usefulness in promptly supplying the wants +of readers. Nothing is so satisfactory to students in libraries, +or to the casual seekers of information of any kind, as +to find their wants immediately supplied. The reader +whom an intelligent librarian or assistant answers at once +is grateful to the whole establishment; while the reader +who is required to wait ten to twenty minutes for what he +wants, becomes impatient and sometimes querulous, or +leaves the library unsatisfied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_342" id="Pg_342"></a>[<a href="./images/342.png">342</a>]</span>One rule of service at the library desk or counter should +be that every assistant there employed should deem it his +duty to aid immediately any one who is waiting, no matter +what other concerns may engage his attention. In other +words, the one primary rule of a public library should be +that the service of the public is always paramount. All +other considerations should be subordinate to that.</p> + +<p>It is desirable that assistants in every library should +learn all departments of library work, cataloguing, supplying +books and information, preparing books for the +shelves, etc. This will enable each assistant to take the +place of another in case of absence, a most important point. +It will also help to qualify the more expert for promotion.</p> + +<p>A second rule for internal <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'adminstration'">administration</ins> in any library +should be that all books are to be distributed, or replaced +upon their shelves, daily. If this is not systematically +done, the library will tend to fall into chaos. And even a +small number of volumes not in their places will embarrass +the attendants seeking them, and often deprive readers of +their use—a thing to be always sedulously avoided.</p> + +<p>In the Library of Congress, the replacement of books +upon the shelves is carried out much more frequently than +once daily. As fast as books come in at the central desk +by the returns of readers, they are sent back through the +book-carriers, to the proper floors, where the outside label-numbers +indicate that they belong, and replaced by the +attendant there on their proper shelves. These mechanical +book-carriers run all day, by electric power, supplied +by a dynamo in the basement, and, with their endless chain +and attached boxes constantly revolving, they furnish a +near approach to perpetual motion. Thus I have seen a +set of Macaulay's England, called for by ticket from the +reading-room, arrive in three minutes from the outlying +book-repository or iron stack, several hundreds of feet dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_343" id="Pg_343"></a>[<a href="./images/343.png">343</a>]</span>tant +on an upper floor, placed on the reader's table, referred +to, and returned at once, then placed in the book-carrier +by the desk attendant, received back on its proper +floor, and distributed to its own shelf by the attendant +there, all within half an hour after the reader's application. +Another rule to be observed by the reading-room attendants +is to examine all call-slips, or readers' tickets, remaining +uncalled for at the close of each day's business, and see +if the books on them are present in the library. This precaution +is demanded by the security of the collection, as +well as by the good order and arrangement of the library. +Neglect of it may lead to losses or misplacements, which +might be prevented by careful and unremitting observance +of this rule.</p> + +<p>Another rule of eminent propriety is that librarians or +assistants are not to read newspapers during library hours. +When there happen to be no readers waiting to be helped, +the time should be constantly occupied with other library +work. There is no library large enough to be worthy of +the name, that does not have arrears of work incessantly +waiting to be done. And while this is the case, no library +time should be wasted upon periodicals, which should be +perused only outside of library hours. If one person employed +in a library reads the newspaper or magazine, the +bad example is likely to be followed by others. Thus serious +inattention to the wants of readers, as well as neglect +of library work postponed, will be sure to follow.</p> + +<p>A fourth rule, resting upon the same reason, should prevent +any long sustained gossip or conversation during library +hours. That time belongs explicitly to the public +or to the work of the library. The rule of silence which +is enforced upon the public in the interest of readers +should not be broken by the library managers themselves. +Such brief question and answer as emergency or the need<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_344" id="Pg_344"></a>[<a href="./images/344.png">344</a>]</span>ful +business of the library requires should be conducted in +a low tone, and soon ended. Library administration is a +business, and must be conducted in a business way. No +library can properly be turned into a place of conversation.</p> + +<p>All differences or disputes between attendants as to the +work to be done by each, or methods, or any other question +leading to dissension, should be promptly and decisively +settled by the librarian, and of course cheerfully submitted +to by all. Good order and discipline require that there +should be only one final authority in any library. Controversies +are not only unseemly in themselves, but they +are time-consuming, and are liable to be overheard by +readers, to the prejudice of those who engage in them.</p> + +<p>Another rule to be observed is to examine all books returned, +as carefully as a glance through the volume will +permit, to detect any missing or started leaves, or injury +to bindings. No volume bearing marks of dilapidation of +any kind should be permitted to go back to the shelves, or +be given to readers, but placed in a bindery reserve for +needful repairs.</p> + +<p>It should hardly be necessary to say that all those connected +with a public library should be carefully observant +of hours, and be always in their places, unless excused. +The discipline of every library should be firm in this respect, +and dilatory or tardy assistants brought to regard +the rule of prompt and regular service. "No absence without +leave" should be mentally posted in the consciousness +and the conscience of every one.</p> + +<p>Another rule should limit the time for mid-day refreshment, +and so arrange it that the various persons employed +go at different hours. As to time employed, half-an-hour +for lunch, as allowed in the Washington departments, is +long enough in any library.</p> + +<p>Furloughs or vacations should be regulated to suit the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_345" id="Pg_345"></a>[<a href="./images/345.png">345</a>]</span> +library service, and not allow several to be absent at the +same time. As to length of vacation time, few libraries +can afford the very liberal fashion of twelve months wages +for eleven months work, as prevalent in the Washington +Departments. The average vacation time of business +houses—about two weeks—more nearly corresponds to that +allowed in the smaller public libraries. Out of 173 libraries +reporting in 1893, 61 allowed four weeks or more vacation, +27 three weeks, 54 two weeks, and 31 none. But in +cases of actual illness, the rule of liberality should be followed, +and no deduction of wages should follow temporary +disability.</p> + +<p>Where many library attendants are employed, all should +be required to enter on a daily record sheet or book, the +hour of beginning work. Then the rule of no absence +without special leave should be enforced as to all during +the day.</p> + +<p>We now come to such rules of library administration +as concern the readers, or the public. The rule of silence, +or total abstinence from loud talking, should be laid down +and enforced. This is essential for the protection of every +reader from annoyance or interruption in his pursuits. +The rule should be printed on all readers' tickets, and it is +well also to post the word <span class="smcap">silence</span>, in large letters, in two +or more conspicuous places in the reading-room. This +will give a continual reminder to all of what is expected, +and will usually prevent any loud conversation. While +absolute silence is impossible in any public library, the inquiries +and answers at the desk can always be made in a +low and even tone, which need attract no attention from +any readers, if removed only a few feet distant. As there +are always persons among readers who will talk, notwithstanding +rules, they should be checked by a courteous reminder +from the librarian, rather than from any subor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_346" id="Pg_346"></a>[<a href="./images/346.png">346</a>]</span>dinate. +This—for the obvious reason that admonition +from the highest authority carries the greatest weight.</p> + +<p>Another rule, which should always be printed on the +call-slips, or readers' tickets, is the requirement to return +books and receive back their tickets always before leaving +the library. This duty is very commonly neglected, from +the utter carelessness of many readers, who do not realize +that signing their ticket for any book holds them responsible +for it until it is returned. Many are unwilling to +spend a moment's time in waiting for a ticket to be returned +to them. Many will leave their books on tables or +seats where they were reading, and go away without reclaiming +their receipts. While complete observance of +this rule is of course hopeless of attainment in a country +where free and easy manners prevail, every librarian should +endeavor to secure at least an approximate compliance with +a rule adopted alike for the security and good order of the +library, and the efficient service of the reader.</p> + +<p>All readers should be privileged to reserve books from +day to day which they have not completed the use of, and +instructed always to give notice of such reservation before +leaving the library. This saves much time, both to the +reader and to the librarian in sending repeatedly for books +put away needlessly.</p> + +<p>In a circulating library, a fixed rule limiting the time +for which a book may be kept, is essential. This may be +from three days to two weeks, according to the demand +for the book, but it should not exceed the latter period. +Still, a renewal term may be conceded, provided the book +is not otherwise called for. A small fine of so much a day +for each volume kept out beyond the time prescribed by +the rule, will often secure prompt return, and is the usage +in most libraries where books are lent out. In the Boston +Public Library no renewals are allowed. A rule requiring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_347" id="Pg_347"></a>[<a href="./images/347.png">347</a>]</span> +the replacement or repair of books damaged while in the +hands of a reader should be printed and enforced. It may +properly be waived where the damage is slight or unavoidable.</p> + +<p>In public circulating libraries, a rule of registration is +required, and in some libraries of reference also; but in the +Library of Congress all readers over sixteen are admitted +without any formality or registration whatever.</p> + +<p>In popular libraries, the need of a registry list of those +entitled to borrow books, is obvious, to prevent the issue +to improper or unauthorized persons; as, for example, +residents of another town, or persons under the prescribed +age of admission to library privileges. A printed library +card should be issued to each person privileged to draw +books; corresponding in number to the page or index-card +of the library record. Each card should bear the full +name and address of the applicant, and be signed with an +obligation to obey the rules of the library. On this card +all books drawn may be entered, always with month and +day date, and credited with date of return, the parallel entries +being at the same time made in the library charging +record.</p> + +<p>Library cards of registration should be issued for a limited +period, say twelve months, in order to bring all persons +to a systematic review of their privilege, and should +be renewed annually, so long as the holder is entitled to +registration. No books should be issued except to those +presenting registration cards, together with a call-slip or +ticket for the book wanted.</p> + +<p>Another rule should fix a limit to the number of volumes +to be drawn by any reader. Two volumes out at any +one time would be a fair limit. If made more to all readers, +there is likely to be sometimes a scarcity of books to +be drawn upon; and if a few readers are permitted to draw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_348" id="Pg_348"></a>[<a href="./images/348.png">348</a>]</span> +more than others, the charge of undue favoritism will be +justified.</p> + +<p>Another rule should be that any incivility or neglect on +the part of any library attendant should be reported to +the librarian. In such cases, the attendant should always +be heard, before any admonition or censure is bestowed.</p> + +<p>An almost necessary rule in most libraries is that no +book should be taken from the shelves by any person not +employed in the library. The exceptions are of course, +the books provided expressly for the free and open reference +of the readers.</p> + +<p>Another essential rule is that no writing or marks may +be made in any library book or periodical; nor is any turning +down of leaves permitted. A printed warning is important +to the effect that any cutting or defacing of library +books or periodicals is a penal offense, and will be prosecuted +according to law.</p> + +<p>The regulations for admission to library privileges are +important. In this country the age limitation is more +liberal than in Europe. The Boston Public Library, for +example, is free to all persons over twelve years of age. +In the Library of Congress, the age limit is sixteen years +or upward, to entitle one to the privileges of a reader. +In the Astor Library, none are admitted under nineteen, +and in the British Museum Library none below twenty-one +years.</p> + +<p>The hours during which the library is open should be +printed as part of the regulations.</p> + +<p>All the library rules should be printed and furnished to +the public. The most essential of them, if carefully expressed +in few words, can be grouped in a single small +sheet, of 16mo. size or less, and pasted in the inside cover +of every book belonging to the library. Better still, (and +it will save expense in printing) let the few simple rules, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_349" id="Pg_349"></a>[<a href="./images/349.png">349</a>]</span> +small but legible type, form a part of the book plate, or library +label, which goes on the left-hand inner cover of +each volume. Thus every reader will have before him, in +daily prominence, the regulations which he is to observe, +and no excuse can be pleaded of ignorance of the rules.</p> + +<p>As no law is ever long respected unless it is enforced, so +no regulations are likely to be observed unless adhered to +in every library. Rules are a most essential part of library +administration, and it should be a primary object of every +librarian or assistant to see that they are observed by all.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a>CHAPTER 19.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Library Reports and Advertising.</span></h3> + + +<p>We now come to consider the annual reports of librarians. +These should be made to the trustees or board of +library control, by whatever name it may be known, and +should be addressed to the chairman, as the organ of the +board. In the preparation of such reports, two conditions +are equally essential—conciseness and comprehensiveness. +Every item in the administration, frequentation, and increase +of the library should be separately treated, but each +should be condensed into the smallest compass consistent +with clear statement. Very long reports are costly to publish, +and moreover, have small chance of being read. In +fact, the wide perusal of any report is in direct proportion +to its brevity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_350" id="Pg_350"></a>[<a href="./images/350.png">350</a>]</span>This being premised, let us see what topics the librarian's +report should deal with.</p> + +<p>1. The progress of the library during the year must be +viewed as most important. A statistical statement of accessions, +giving volumes of books, and number of pamphlets +separately, added during the year, should be followed +by a statement of the aggregate of volumes and pamphlets +in the collection. This is ascertained by actual count of +the books upon the shelves, adding the number of volumes +charged out, or in the bindery, or in readers' hands at the +time of the enumeration. This count is far from a difficult +or time-consuming affair, as there is a short-hand +method of counting by which one person can easily arrive +at the aggregate of a library of 100,000 volumes, in a single +day of eight to ten hours. This is done by counting +by twos or threes the rows of books as they stand +on the shelves, passing the finger rapidly along the backs, +from left to right and from top to bottom of the shelves. +As fast as one hundred volumes are counted, simply write +down a figure one; then, at the end of the second hundred, +a figure two, and so on, always jotting down one figure the +more for each hundred books counted. The last figure in +the counter's memorandum will represent the number of +hundreds of volumes the library contains. Thus, if the +last figure is 92, the library has just 9,200 volumes. This +rapid, and at the same time accurate method, by which any +one of average quickness can easily count two hundred +volumes a minute, saves all counting up by tallies of five +or ten, and also all slow additions of figures, since one +figure at the end multiplied by one hundred, expresses the +whole.</p> + +<p>2. Any specially noteworthy additions to the library +should be briefly specified.</p> + +<p>3. A list of donors of books during the year, with num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_351" id="Pg_351"></a>[<a href="./images/351.png">351</a>]</span>ber +of volumes given by each, should form part of the report. +This may properly come at the end as an appendix.</p> + +<p>4. A brief of the money income of the year, with sources +whence derived, and of all expenditures, for books, salaries, +contingent expenses, etc., should form a part of the report, +unless reported separately by a treasurer of the library +funds.</p> + +<p>5. The statistics of a librarian's report, if of a lending +library, should give the aggregate number of volumes circulated +during the year, also the number of borrowers recorded +who have used and who have not used the privilege +of borrowing. The number of volumes used by readers in +the reference or reading-room department should be given, +as well as the aggregate of readers. It is usual in some +library reports to classify the books used by readers, as, so +many in history, poetry, travels, natural science, etc., but +this involves labor and time quite out of proportion to its +utility. Still, a comparative statement of the aggregate +volumes of fiction read or drawn out, as against all other +books, may be highly useful as an object lesson, if embodied +in the library report.</p> + +<p>6. A statement of the actual condition of the library, as +to books, shelving accommodations, furniture, etc., with +any needful suggestions for improvement, should be included +in the annual report.</p> + +<p>7. A well-considered suggestion of the value of contributions +to the library in books or funds to enrich the collection, +should not be overlooked.</p> + +<p>8. The librarian should not forget a word of praise for +his assistants, in the great and useful work of carrying on +the library. This will tend to excite added zeal to excel, +when the subordinates feel that their services are appreciated +by their head, as well as by the public.</p> + +<p>The preparation of an annual report affords some test<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_352" id="Pg_352"></a>[<a href="./images/352.png">352</a>]</span> +of the librarian's skill and judgment. It should aim at +plain and careful statement, and all rhetoric should be dispensed +with. Divided into proper heads, a condensed +statement of facts or suggestions under each should be +made, and all repetition avoided.</p> + +<p>Such a library report should never fail to set forth the +great benefit to the community which a free use of its +treasures implies, while urging the importance of building +up the collection, through liberal gifts of books, periodicals, +or money, thus enabling it to answer the wants +of readers more fully, year by year. It will sometimes be +a wise suggestion to be made in a librarian's report, that +the library still lacks some specially important work, such +as Larned's "History for Ready Reference," or the extensive +"Dictionary of National Biography," or Brunet's +<i>Manuel du Libraire</i>, or a set of Congressional Debates from +the beginning; and such a suggestion may often bear fruit +in leading some public-spirited citizen to supply the want +by a timely contribution.</p> + +<p>Of course, the annual report of every public library +should be printed, and as pamphlets are seldom read, and +tend rapidly to disappear, its publication in the newspapers +is vastly more important than in any other form. +While a pamphlet report may reach a few people, the newspaper +reaches nearly all; and as a means of diffusing information +in any community, it stands absolutely without +rival. Whether the library reports shall be printed in +pamphlet form or not is a matter of expediency, to be determined +by the managing board. Funds are rarely ample +enough, in the smaller town libraries, to justify the +expense, in view of the small circulation which such reports +receive, and it is much better to put the money into +printing library catalogues, which every body needs and +will use, than into library reports, which comparatively<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_353" id="Pg_353"></a>[<a href="./images/353.png">353</a>]</span> +few will make any use of. A judicious compromise may +be usefully made, by inducing some newspaper, which +would print a liberal share of the report free of charge, as +news, for public information, to put the whole in type and +strike off a few hundred copies in sheet form or pages, at a +moderate charge.</p> + +<p>This would enable the library officers to distribute a +goodly number, and to keep copies of each annual report +for reference, without the expense of a pamphlet edition.</p> + +<p>In some of the larger and more enterprising of city libraries, +reports are made quarterly or monthly by the librarian. +These of course are much more nearly up to date, +and if they publish lists of books added to the library, they +are correspondingly useful. Frequently they contain special +bibliographies of books on certain subjects. Among +these, the monthly bulletins of the Boston Public Library, +Harvard University Library, New York Public Library, +Salem, Mass., Public Library, and the Providence Public +Library are specially numerous and important.</p> + +<p>The relations of a public library to the local press of +the city or town where it is situated will now be noticed. +It is the interest of the librarian to extend the usefulness +of the library by every means; and the most effective means +is to make it widely known. In every place are found +many who are quite ignorant of the stores of knowledge +which lie at their doors in the free library. And among +those who do know it and resort to it, are many who need +to have their interest and attention aroused by frequent +notices as to its progress, recent additions to its stores, etc. +The more often the library is brought before the public by +the press, the more interest will be taken in it by the community +for whose information it exists.</p> + +<p>It is of the utmost importance that the library conductors +should have the active good will of all the newspaper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_354" id="Pg_354"></a>[<a href="./images/354.png">354</a>]</span> +editors in its vicinity. This will be acquired both by aiding +them in all researches which the daily or frequent +wants of their profession render necessary; and also, by +giving them freely and often items of intelligence about +the library for publication. Enterprising journals are +perpetually on the hunt for new and varied matter to fill +their columns. They send their reporters to the library +to make "a story," as it is called, out of something in it +or about it. These reporters are very seldom persons +versed in books, or able to write understandingly or attractively +about them. Left to themselves to construct +"a story" out of a half hour's conversation with the librarian, +the chances are that an article will be produced which +contains nearly as many errors as matters of fact, with the +names of authors or the titles of their books mis-spelled or +altered, and with matters manufactured out of the reporter's +fancy which formed no part of the interview, while +what did form important features in it are perhaps omitted. +The remedy, or rather the preventive of such inadequate +reports of what the librarian would say to the +public is to become his own reporter. The papers will +willingly take for publication short "library notes," as +they may be called, containing information about the library +or its books, carefully type-written. This course at +once secures accurate and authentic statements, and saves +the time of the press reporters for other work.</p> + +<p>Bear in mind always that the main object of such library +notices is to attract attention, and encourage people to use +the library. Thus there should be sought frequent opportunities +of advertising the library by this best of all possible +means, because it is the one which reaches the largest +number. To do it well requires some skill and practice, +and to do it often is quite as essential as to do it well. +Keep the library continually before the public. What are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_355" id="Pg_355"></a>[<a href="./images/355.png">355</a>]</span> +the business houses which are most thronged with customers? +They are those that advertise most persistently +and attractively. So with the library; it will be more and +more resorted to, in proportion as it keeps its name and its +riches before the public eye.</p> + +<p>A certain timeliness in these library notices should be +cultivated. The papers are eager to get anything that illustrates +what is uppermost in the public mind. If a local +fair is in progress or preparing, give them a list of the best +books the library has in that field; the history of the Philadelphia +Exposition, the Chicago World's Fair, the Paris +Expositions, &c. On another day, set forth the books on +manufactures, horses, cattle, domestic animals, decorative +art, &c. If there is a poultry exhibition, or a dog show, +call public attention to the books on poultry or dogs. If +an art exhibition, bring forward the titles of books on +painting, sculpture, drawing, and the history of art, ancient +and modern.</p> + +<p>If some great man has died, as Bismarck or Gladstone, +give the titles of any biographies or books about him, adding +even references to notable magazine articles that have +appeared. When the summer vacation is coming around, +advertise your best books of travel, of summer resorts, of +ocean voyages, of yachting, camping, fishing and shooting, +golf and other out-door games, etc. If there is a Presidential +campaign raging, make known the library's riches in +political science, the history of administrations, and of +nominating conventions, lives of the Presidents, books on +elections, etc. If an international dispute or complication +is on foot, publish the titles of your books on international +law, and those on the history or resources of the country or +countries involved; and when a war is in progress, books +on military science, campaigns, battles, sieges, and the history +of the contending nations will be timely and interesting.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_356" id="Pg_356"></a>[<a href="./images/356.png">356</a>]</span>Whatever you do in this direction, make it short and attractive. +Organize your material, describe a specially interesting +work by a reference to its style, or its illustrations, +or its reputation, etc. Distribute your library notes +impartially; that is, if several papers are published, be careful +not to slight any of them. Find out the proper days +to suit their want of matter, and never send in your notes +when the paper is overcrowded. Always read a proof-slip +of each article; time spent in going to a newspaper office +to correct proof is well spent, for misprints always await +the unwary who trusts to the accuracy of types.</p> + +<p>If the library acquires any extensive or notable book, +whether old or new, do not fail to make it known through +the press. If any citizen gives a number of volumes to the +library, let his good deeds have an appreciative notice, that +others may go and do likewise.</p> + +<p>Another feature of library advertising is the publication +in the press of the titles of new books added to the library. +As this is merely catalogue printing, however abbreviated +in form the titles may be, it will usually (and very properly) +be charged for by the newspapers. But it will pay, +in the direction of inducing a much larger use of the library, +and as the sole object of the institution is to contribute +to public intelligence, it becomes library managers +not to spare any expense so conducive to that result.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_357" id="Pg_357"></a>[<a href="./images/357.png">357</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a>CHAPTER 20.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Formation of Libraries.</span></h3> + + +<p>In the widely extended and growing public interest in +libraries for the people, and in the ever increasing gatherings +of books by private collectors, I may be pardoned for +some suggestions pertaining specially to the formation of +libraries. I do not refer to the selection of books, which +is treated in the first chapter, nor to the housing and care +of libraries, but to some important points involved in organizing +the foundation, so to speak, of a library.</p> + +<p>The problem, of course, is a widely different one for the +private collector of an individual or family library, and +for the organizers of a public one. But in either case, it +is important, first of all, to have a clearly defined and well +considered plan. Without this, costly mistakes are apt +to be made, and time, energy and money wasted, all of +which might be saved by seeing the end from the beginning, +and planning accordingly.</p> + +<p>Let us suppose that a resident in a community which +has never enjoyed the benefit of a circulating library conceives +the idea of using every means to secure one. The +first question that arises is, what are those means? If the +State in which his residence lies has a Library law, empowering +any town or city to raise money by taxation for +founding and maintaining a free library, the way is apparently +easy, at first sight. But here comes in the problem—can +the requisite authority to lay the tax be secured? +This may involve difficulties unforeseen at first. If there +is a city charter, does it empower the municipal authorities +(city council or aldermen) to levy such a tax? If not,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_358" id="Pg_358"></a>[<a href="./images/358.png">358</a>]</span> +then appeal must be made to a popular vote, at some election +of municipal officers, at which the ballots for or against +a Library tax should determine the question. This will at +once involve a campaign of education, in which should be +enlisted (1) The editors of all the local papers. (2) The +local clergymen, lawyers and physicians. (3) All literary +men and citizens of wealth or influence in the community. +(4) All teachers in the public schools and other institutions +of learning. (5) The members of the city or town +government. These last will be apt to feel any impulse of +public sentiment more keenly than their own individual +opinions on the subject. In any case, the public-spirited +man who originates the movement should enlist as many +able coadjutors as he can. If he is not himself gifted +with a ready tongue, he should persuade some others who +are ready and eloquent talkers to take up the cause, and +should inspire them with his own zeal. A public meeting +should be called, after a goodly number of well-known and +influential people are enlisted (not before) and addresses +should be made, setting forth the great advantage of a free +library to every family. Its value to educate the people, +to furnish entertainment that will go far to supplant idleness +and intemperance, to help on the work of the public +schools, and to elevate the taste, improve the morals, +quicken the intellect and employ the leisure hours of all, +should be set forth.</p> + +<p>With all these means of persuasion constantly in exercise, +and unremitting diligence in pushing the good cause +through the press and by every private opportunity, up to +the very day of the election, the chances are heavily in +favor of passing the library measure by a good majority. +It must be a truly Bœotian community, far gone in stupidity +or something worse, which would so stand in its +own light as to vote down a measure conducing in the high<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_359" id="Pg_359"></a>[<a href="./images/359.png">359</a>]</span>est +degree to the public intelligence. But even should it +be defeated, its advocates should never be discouraged. +Like all other reforms or improvements, its progress may +be slow at first, but it is none the less sure to win in the +end. One defeat has often led to a more complete victory +when the conflict is renewed. The beaten party gathers +wisdom by experience, finds out any weakness existing in +its ranks or its management, and becomes sensible where +its greatest strength should be put forth in a renewal of +the contest. The promoters of the measure should at once +begin a fresh agitation. They should pledge every friend +of the library scheme to stand by it himself, and to secure +at least one new convert to the cause. And the chances +are that it will be carried triumphantly through at the +next trial, or, if not then, at least within no long time.</p> + +<p>But we should consider also the case of those communities +where no State Library law exists. These are unhappily +not a few; and it is a remarkable fact that even so old, +and rich, and well-developed a State as Pennsylvania had +no such provision for public enlightenment until within +three years. In the absence of a law empowering local +governments or voters to lay a tax for such a purpose, the +most obvious way of founding a library is by local subscription. +This is of course a less desirable method than +one by which all citizens should contribute to the object +in proportion to their means. But it is better to avail of +the means that exist in any place than to wait an indefinite +period for a State Legislature to be educated up +to the point of passing measures which would render the +formation of libraries easy in all places.</p> + +<p>Let the experiment be tried of founding a library by +individual effort and concert. With only two or three +zealous and active promoters, even such a plan can be carried +into successful operation in almost any community.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_360" id="Pg_360"></a>[<a href="./images/360.png">360</a>]</span> +A canvass should be made from house to house, with a +short prospectus or agreement drawn up, pledging the +subscribers to give a certain sum toward the foundation +of a library. If a few residents with large property can +be induced to head the list with liberal subscriptions, it +will aid much in securing confidence in the success of the +movement, and inducing others to subscribe. No contributions, +however small, should fail to be welcomed, since +they stand for a wider interest in the object. After a +thorough canvass of the residents of the place, a meeting of +those subscribing should be called, and a statement put before +them of the amount subscribed. Then an executive +committee, say of three or five members, should be chosen +to take charge of the enterprise. This committee should +appoint a chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, the latter +to receive and disburse the funds subscribed. The chairman +should call and preside at meetings of the committee, +of which the secretary should record the proceedings in a +book kept for the purpose.</p> + +<p>The first business of the Library committee should be +to confer and determine upon the ways and means of +organizing the library. This involves a selection of books +suitable for a beginning, a place of deposit for them, and +a custodian or librarian to catalogue them and keep the +record of the books drawn out and returned. Usually, a +room can be had for library purposes in some public building +or private house, centrally located, without other expense +than that of warming and lighting. The services of +a librarian, too, can often be secured by competent volunteer +aid, there being usually highly intelligent persons with +sufficient leisure to give their time for the common benefit, +or to share that duty with others, thus saving all the funds +for books to enrich the library.</p> + +<p>The chief trouble likely to be encountered by a Library<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_361" id="Pg_361"></a>[<a href="./images/361.png">361</a>]</span> +committee will lie in the selection of books to form the +nucleus or starting point of the collection. Without repeating +anything heretofore suggested, it may be said that +great care should be taken to have books known to be +excellent, both interesting in substance and attractive in +style. To so apportion the moderate amount of money at +disposal as to give variety and interest to the collection, +and attract readers from the start, is a problem requiring +good judgment for its solution. Much depends upon the +extent of the fund, but even with so small a sum as two or +three hundred dollars, a collection of the very best historians, +poets, essayists, travellers and voyagers, scientists, +and novelists can be brought together, which will furnish +a range of entertaining and instructive reading for several +hundred borrowers. The costlier encyclopaedias and +works of reference might be waited for until funds are +recruited by a library fair, or lectures, or amateur concerts, +plays, or other evening entertainments.</p> + +<p>Another way of recruiting the library which has often +proved fruitful is to solicit contributions of books and +magazines from families and individuals in the vicinity. +This should be undertaken systematically some time after +the subscriptions in money have been gathered in. It is +not good policy to aim at such donations at the outset, +since many might make them an excuse for not subscribing +to the fund for founding the library, which it is to the +interest of all to make as large as possible. But when +once successfully established, appeals for books and periodicals +will surely add largely to the collection, and although +many of such accessions may be duplicates, they +will none the less enlarge the facilities for supplying the +demands of readers. Families who have read through all +or nearly all the books they possess will gladly bestow +them for so useful a purpose, especially when assured of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_362" id="Pg_362"></a>[<a href="./images/362.png">362</a>]</span> +reaping reciprocal benefit by the opportunity of freely +perusing a great variety of choice books, new and old, +which they have never read. Sometimes, too, a public-spirited +citizen, when advised of the lack of a good cyclopaedia, +or of the latest extensive dictionary, or collective +biography, in the library, will be happy to supply it, thereby +winning the gratitude and good will of all who frequent +the library. All donations should have inserted in them a +neat book-plate, with the name of the donor inscribed, in +connection with the name of the Library.</p> + +<p>Many a useful library of circulation has been started +with a beginning of fifty to a hundred volumes, and the +little acorn of learning thus planted has grown up in the +course of years to a great tree, full of fruitful and wide-spreading +branches.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_21" id="CHAPTER_21"></a>CHAPTER 21.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Classification.</span></h3> + + +<p>If there is any subject which, more than all others, divides +opinion and provokes endless controversy among librarians +and scholars, it is the proper classification of +books. From the beginning of literature this has been a +well-nigh insoluble problem. Treatise after treatise has +been written upon it, system has been piled upon system, +learned men have theorised and wrangled about it all their +lives, and successive generations have dropped into their +graves, leaving the vexed question as unsettled as ever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_363" id="Pg_363"></a>[<a href="./images/363.png">363</a>]</span> +Every now and then a body of <i>savans</i> or a convention of +librarians wrestles with it, and perhaps votes upon it,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And by decision more embroils the fray"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>since the dissatisfied minority, nearly as numerous and +quite as obstinate as the majority, always refuses to be +bound by it. No sooner does some sapient librarian, with +the sublime confidence of conviction, get his classification +house of cards constructed to his mind, and stands rapt +in admiration before it, when there comes along some wise +man of the east, and demolishes the fair edifice at a blow, +while the architect stands by with a melancholy smile, and +sees all his household gods lying shivered around him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, systems of classification keep on growing, +until, instead of the thirty-two systems so elaborately described +in Edwards's Memoirs of Libraries, we have almost +as many as there are libraries, if the endless modifications +of them are taken into account. In fact, one begins to +realise that the schemes for the classification of knowledge +are becoming so numerous, that a classification of the systems +themselves has fairly become a desideratum. The +youthful neophyte, who is struggling after an education in +library science, and thinks perhaps that it is or should be +an exact science, is bewildered by the multitude of counsellors, +gets a head-ache over their conflicting systems, and +adds to it a heart-ache, perhaps, over the animosities and +sarcasms which divide the warring schools of opinion.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there would be less trouble about classification, +if the system-mongers would consent to admit at the outset +that no infallible system is possible, and would endeavor, +amid all their other learning, to learn a little of the saving +grace of modesty. A writer upon this subject has well +observed that there is no man who can work out a scheme +of classification that will satisfy permanently even himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_364" id="Pg_364"></a>[<a href="./images/364.png">364</a>]</span> +Much less should he expect that others, all having their +favorite ideas and systems, should be satisfied with his. As +there is no royal road to learning, so there can be none to +classification; and we democratic republicans, who stand +upon the threshold of the twentieth century, may rest satisfied +that in the Republic of Letters no autocrat can be +allowed.</p> + +<p>The chief difficulty with most systems for distributing +the books in a library appears to lie in the attempt to apply +scientific minuteness in a region where it is largely inapplicable. +One can divide and sub-divide the literature of +any science indefinitely, in a list of subjects, but such exhaustive +sub-divisions can never be made among the books +on the shelves. Here, for example, is a "Treatise on diseases +of the heart and lungs." This falls naturally into its +two places in the subject catalogue, the one under "Heart," +and the second under "Lungs;" but the attempt to classify +it on the shelves must fail, as regards half its contents. +You cannot tear the book to pieces to satisfy logical classification. +Thousands of similar cases will occur, where the +same book treats of several subjects. Nearly all periodicals +and transactions of societies of every kind refuse to be +classified, though they can be catalogued perfectly on paper +by analysing their contents. To bring all the resources of +the library on any subject together on the shelves is clearly +impossible. They must be assembled for readers from +various sections of the library, where the rule of analogy or +of superior convenience has placed them.</p> + +<p>What is termed close classification, it will be found, fails +by attempting too much. One of the chief obstacles to its +general use is that it involves a too complicated notation. +The many letters and figures that indicate position on the +shelves are difficult to remember in the direct ratio of their +number. The more minute the classification, the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_365" id="Pg_365"></a>[<a href="./images/365.png">365</a>]</span> +signs of location are required. When they become very +numerous, in any system of classification, the system +breaks down by its own weight. Library attendants consume +an undue amount of time in learning it, and library +cataloguers and classifiers in affixing the requisite +signs of designation to the labels, the shelves, and the +catalogues. Memory, too, is unduly taxed to apply the +system. While a superior memory may be found equal to +any task imposed upon it, average memories are not so fortunate. +The expert librarian, in whose accomplished head +the whole world of science and literature lies coördinated, +so that he can apply his classification unerringly to all the +books in a vast library, must not presume that unskilled assistants +can do the same.</p> + +<p>One of the mistakes made by the positivists in classification +is the claim that their favorite system can be applied +to all libraries alike. That this is a fallacy may be seen +in an example or two. Take the case of a large and comprehensive +Botanical library, in which an exact scientific +distribution of the books may and should be made. It is +classified not only in the grand divisions, such as scientific +and economic botany, etc., but a close analytical treatment +is extended over the whole vegetable kingdom. Books +treating of every plant are relegated to their appropriate +classes, genera, and species, until the whole library is organised +on a strictly scientific basis. But in the case, even +of what are called large libraries, so minute a classification +would be not only unnecessary, but even obstructive to +prompt service of the books. And the average town library, +containing only a shelf or two of botanical works, +clearly has no use for such a classification. The attempt +to impose a universal law upon library arrangement, +while the conditions of the collections are endlessly varied, +is foredoomed to failure.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_366" id="Pg_366"></a>[<a href="./images/366.png">366</a>]</span>The object of classification is to bring order out of confusion, +and to arrange the great mass of books in science +and literature of which every library is composed, so that +those on related subjects should be as nearly as possible +brought together. Let us suppose a collection of some +hundred thousand volumes, in all branches of human +knowledge, thrown together without any classification or +catalogue, on the tables, the shelves, and the floor of an +extensive reading-room. Suppose also an assemblage of +scholars and other readers, ready and anxious to avail +themselves of these literary treasures, this immense library +without a key. Each wants some certain book, by some +author whose name he knows, or upon some subject upon +which he seeks to inform himself. But how vain and hopeless +the effort to go through all this chaos of learning, to +find the one volume which he needs! This illustration +points the prime necessity of classification of some kind, +before a collection of books can be used in an available way.</p> + +<p>Then comes in the skilled bibliographer, to convert this +chaos into a cosmos, to illumine this darkness with the light +of science. He distributes the whole mass, volume by +volume, into a few great distinct classes; he creates families +or sub-divisions in every class; he assembles together in +groups all that treat of the same subject, or any of its +branches; and thus the entire scattered multitude of volumes +is at length coördinated into a clear and systematic +collection, ready for use in every department. A great library +is like a great army: when unorganized, your army +is a mere undisciplined mob: but divide and sub-divide it +into army corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, and companies, +and you can put your finger upon every man.</p> + +<p>To make this complete organization of a library successful, +one must have an organising mind, a wide acquaintance +with literature, history, and the outlines, at least, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_367" id="Pg_367"></a>[<a href="./images/367.png">367</a>]</span> +all the sciences; a knowledge of the ancient and of various +modern languages; a quick intuition, a ripe judgment, a +cultivated taste, a retentive memory, and a patience and +perseverance that are inexhaustible.</p> + +<p>Even were all these qualities possessed, there will be in +the arrangement elements of discord and of a failure. A +multitude of uncertain points in classification, and many +exceptions will arise; and these must of necessity be settled +arbitrarily. The more conversant one becomes with systems +of classification, when reduced to practice, the more +he becomes assured that a perfect bibliographical system is +impossible.</p> + +<p>Every system of classification must find its application +fraught with doubts, complications, and difficulties; but +the wise bibliographer will not pause in his work to resolve +all these insoluble problems; he will classify the book in +hand according to his best judgment at the moment it +comes before him. He can no more afford to spend time +over intricate questions of the preponderance of this, that, +or the other subject in a book, than a man about to walk +to a certain place can afford to debate whether he shall put +his right foot forward or his left. The one thing needful +is to go forward.</p> + +<p>Referring to the chapter on bibliography for other details, +I may here say that the French claim to have reached +a highly practical system of classification in that set forth +in J. C. Brunet's <i>Manuel du Libraire</i>. This is now generally +used in the arrangement of collections of books in +France, with some modifications, and the book trade find +it so well adapted to their wants, that classified sale and +auction catalogues are mostly arranged on that system. +It has only five grand divisions: Theology, Law, Arts +and Sciences, Belles-lettres, and History. Each of these +classes has numerous sub-divisions. For example, geog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_368" id="Pg_368"></a>[<a href="./images/368.png">368</a>]</span>raphy +and voyages and travels form a division of history, +between the philosophy of history and chronology, etc.</p> + +<p>The classification in use in the <i>Bibliothèque nationale</i> of +France places Theology first, followed by Law, History, +Philosophy and Belles-lettres. The grand division of Philosophy +includes all which is classified under Arts and Sciences +in the system of Brunet.</p> + +<p>In the Library of the British Museum the classification +starts with Theology, followed by 2. Jurisprudence; 3. +Natural History (including Botany, Geology, Zoölogy, +and Medicine); 4. Art (including Archaeology, Fine Arts, +Architecture, Music, and Useful Arts); 5. Philosophy (including +Politics, Economics, Sociology, Education, Ethics, +Metaphysics, Mathematics, Military and Naval Science, +and Chemistry); 6. History (including Heraldry and Genealogy); +7. Geography (including Ethnology); 8. Biography +(including Epistles); 9. Belles-lettres (including Poetry, +Drama, Rhetoric, Criticism, Bibliography, Collected +Works, Encyclopaedias, Speeches, Proverbs, Anecdotes, +Satirical and facetious works, Essays, Folklore and Fiction); +10. Philology.</p> + +<p>Sub-divisions by countries are introduced in nearly all +the classes.</p> + +<p>In the Library of Congress the classification was originally +based upon Lord Bacon's scheme for the division of +knowledge into three great classes, according to the faculty +of the mind employed in each. 1. History (based upon +memory); 2. Philosophy (based upon reason); 3. Poetry +(based upon imagination). This scheme was much better +adapted to a classification of ideas than of books. Its failure +to answer the ends of a practical classification of the +library led to radical modifications of the plan, as applied +to the books on the shelves, for reasons of logical arrange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_369" id="Pg_369"></a>[<a href="./images/369.png">369</a>]</span>ment, +as well as of convenience. A more thorough and +systematic re-arrangement is now in progress.</p> + +<p>Mr. C. A. Cutter has devised a system of "Expansive +classification," now widely used in American libraries. In +this, the classes are each indicated by a single letter, followed +by numbers representing divisions by countries, and +these in turn by letters indicating sub-divisions by subjects, +etc. It is claimed that this method is not a rigid unchangeable +system, but adaptable in a high degree, and capable of +modification to suit the special wants of any library. In +it the whole range of literature and science is divided into +several grand classes, which, with their sub-classes, are indicated +by the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Thus +Class A embraces Generalia; B to D, Spiritual sciences (including +philosophy and religion); E to G, Historical sciences +(including, besides history and biography, geography +and travels); H to K, Social sciences (including law and political +science and economics); L to P, Natural sciences; +Q, Medicine; and R to Z, Arts (including not only mechanical, +recreative and fine arts, but music, languages, literature, +and bibliography).</p> + +<p>The sub-divisions of these principal classes are arranged +with progressive fullness, to suit smaller or larger libraries. +Thus, the first classification provides only eleven classes, +suited to very small libraries: the second is expanded to +fifteen classes, the third to thirty classes, and so on up to +the seventh or final one, designed to provide for the arrangement +of the very largest libraries.</p> + +<p>This is the most elaborate and far-reaching library classification +yet put forth, claiming superior clearness, flexibility, +brevity of notation, logical coördination, etc., while +objections have been freely made to it on the score of +over-refinement and aiming at the unattainable.</p> + +<p>What is known as the decimal or the Dewey system of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_370" id="Pg_370"></a>[<a href="./images/370.png">370</a>]</span> +classification was originally suggested by Mr. N. B. Shurtleff's +"Decimal system for the arrangement and administration +of libraries," published at Boston in 1856. But in its +present form it has been developed by Mr. Melvil Dewey +into a most ingenious scheme for distributing the whole +vast range of human knowledge into ten classes, marked +from 0 to 9, each of which sub-divides into exactly ten sub-classes, +all divisible in their turn into ten minor divisions, +and so on until the material in hand, or the ingenuity of +the classifier is exhausted. The notation of the books on +the shelves corresponds to these divisions and sub-divisions. +The claims of this system, which has been quite extensively +followed in the smaller American libraries, and in many +European ones, are economy, simplicity, brevity of notation, +expansibility, unchanging call-numbers, etc. It has +been criticised as too mechanical, as illogical in arrangement +of classes, as presenting many incongruities in its +divisions, as procrustean, as wholly inadequate in its classification +of jurisprudence, etc. It is partially used by +librarians who have had to introduce radical changes in +portions of the classification, and in fact it is understood +that the classification has been very largely made over both +in Amherst College library and in that of Columbia University, +N. Y., where it was fully established.</p> + +<p>This only adds to the cumulative proofs that library +classification cannot be made an exact science, but is in its +nature indefinitely progressive and improvable. Its main +object is not to classify knowledge, but books. There being +multitudes of books that do not belong absolutely to +any one class, all classification of them is necessarily a compromise. +Nearly all the classification schemers have made +over their schemes—some of them many times. I am not +arguing against classification, which is essential to the +practical utility of any library. An imperfect classifica<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_371" id="Pg_371"></a>[<a href="./images/371.png">371</a>]</span>tion +is much better than none: but the tendency to erect +classification into a fetish, and to lay down cast-iron rules +for it, should be guarded against. In any library, reasons +of convenience must often prevail over logical arrangement; +and he who spends time due to prompt library service +in worrying over errors in a catalogue, or vexing his +soul at a faulty classification, is as mistaken as those fussy +individuals who fancy that they are personally responsible +for the obliquity of the earth's axis.</p> + +<p>It may be added that in the American Library Association's +Catalogue of 5,000 books for a popular library, Washington, +1893, the classification is given both on the Dewey +(Decimal) system, and on the Cutter expansive system, so +that all may take their choice.</p> + +<p>The fixed location system of arrangement, by which +every book is assigned by its number to one definite shelf, +is objectionable as preventing accessions from being placed +with their cognate books. This is of such cardinal importance +in every library, that a more elastic system of some +kind should be adopted, to save continual re-numbering. +No system which makes mere arithmetical progression a +substitute for intrinsic qualities can long prove satisfactory.</p> + +<p>The relative or movable location on shelves is now more +generally adopted than the old plan of numbering every +shelf and assigning a fixed location to every volume on +that shelf. The book-marks, if designating simply the +relative order of the volumes, permit the books to be +moved along, as accessions come in, from shelf to shelf, as +the latter become crowded. This does not derange the +numbers, since the order of succession is observed.</p> + +<p>For small town libraries no elaborate system of classification +can properly be attempted. Here, the most convenient +grouping is apt to prove the best, because books<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_372" id="Pg_372"></a>[<a href="./images/372.png">372</a>]</span> +are most readily found by it. Mr. W. I. Fletcher has outlined +a scheme for libraries of 10,000 volumes or less, as +follows:</p> + +<p>A. Fiction (appended, J. Juvenile books); B. English and +American literature; C. History; D. Biography; E. Travels; +F. Science; G. Useful arts; H. Fine and recreative arts; +I. Political and social science; K. Philosophy and religion; +L. Works on language and in foreign languages; R. Reference +books.</p> + +<p>Numerous sub-divisions would be required to make such +a scheme (or indeed any other) fit any collection of books.</p> + +<p>In arranging the main classes, care should be taken to +bring those most drawn upon near to the delivery desk, or +charging system of the library.</p> + +<p>The alphabet is usefully applied in the arrangement of +several of the great classes of books, and in many sub-divisions +of other classes. Thus, all English and American +fiction may be arranged in a single alphabet of authors, including +English translations of foreign works. All collected +works, or polygraphy, may form an alphabet, as +well as poetry, dramatic works, collections of letters, and +miscellanea, arranged by authors' names. In any of these +classes, sub-divisions by languages may be made, if desired.</p> + +<p>The class biography may best be arranged in an alphabet +of the subjects of the biographies, rather than of writers, +for obvious reasons of convenience in finding at once +the books about each person.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_373" id="Pg_373"></a>[<a href="./images/373.png">373</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_22" id="CHAPTER_22"></a>CHAPTER 22.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Catalogues.</span></h3> + + +<p>Catalogues of libraries are useful to readers in direct +proportion to their fulfilment of three conditions: (1) +Quick and ready reference. (2) Arranging all authors' +names in an alphabet, followed by titles of their works. +(3) Subjects or titles in their alphabetical order in the +same alphabet as the authors. This is what is known as a +"Dictionary catalogue"; but why is it preferable to any +other? Because it answers more questions in less time +than any other.</p> + +<p>The more prevalent styles of catalogues have been, 1. A +list of authors, with titles of their works under each. 2. +A catalogue of subjects, in a classified topical or alphabetical +order, the authors and their works being grouped under +each head. 3. A catalogue attempting to combine +these two, by appending to the author-catalogue a classed +list of subjects, with a brief of authors under each, referring +to the page on which the titles of their works may be +found; or else, 4. Appending to the subject-catalogue an +alphabet of authors, with similar references to pages under +subjects.</p> + +<p>Each of these methods of catalogue-making, while very +useful, contrives to miss the highest utility, which lies in +enabling the reader to put his finger on the book he wants, +at one glance of the eye. The catalogue of authors will +not help him to subjects, nor will the catalogue of subjects, +as a rule, give the authors and titles with the fullness +that may be needed. In either case, a double reference +becomes necessary, consuming just twice the time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_374" id="Pg_374"></a>[<a href="./images/374.png">374</a>]</span> +and in a two-column catalogue, three times the time required +in a dictionary catalogue.</p> + +<p>The reader who wants Darwin's "Origin of Species" finds +it readily enough by the author-catalogue; but he wants, +at the same time, to find other works on the same subject, +and all the author-catalogues in the world will not help +him to them. But give him a dictionary catalogue, and +he has, in the same alphabet with his Darwin, (if the +library is large) dozens of books discussing the theory of +that great naturalist, under species, evolution, Darwinism, +etc.</p> + +<p>Thus he finds that there is no key which so quickly unlocks +the stores of knowledge which a library contains, as +a dictionary catalogue.</p> + +<p>The objections to it are chiefly brought by minds schooled +in systems, who look askance on all innovations, and instinctively +prefer round-about methods to short-hand ones.</p> + +<p>Ask such an objector if he would prefer his dictionary +of the English language arranged, not alphabetically, but +subjectively, so that all medical terms should be defined +only under medicine, all species of fish described only under +fishes, etc., and he will probably say that there is no +analogy in the case. But the analogy becomes apparent +when we find, in what are called systematic catalogues, no +two systems alike, and the finding of books complicated by +endless varieties of classification, with no common alphabet +to simplify the search. The authors of systems doubtless +understand them themselves, but no one else does, until +he devotes time to learn the key to them; and even +when learned, the knowledge is not worth the time lost in +acquiring it, since the field covered in any one catalogue +is so small. Alphabetical arrangement, on the other hand, +strictly adhered to, is a universal key to the authors and +subjects and titles of all the books contained in the library<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_375" id="Pg_375"></a>[<a href="./images/375.png">375</a>]</span> +it represents. The devotee of a bibliographical system +may be as mistaken as the slave of a scientific terminology. +He forgets that bibliography is not a school for teaching +all departments of knowledge, but a brief and handy index +to books that may contain that knowledge. A student +who has once made a thorough comparative test of the +merits, as aids to wide and rapid research, of the old-fashioned +bibliographies and the best modern dictionary catalogues, +will no more deny the superiority of the latter, +than he will contest the maxim that a straight line is the +nearest road between two points. Meantime, "while doctors +disagree, disciples are free;" and the disciples who +would follow the latest guides in the art "how to make and +use a catalogue," must get rid of many formulas.</p> + +<p>The reader will find in the chapter on bibliography, +notes on some classes of catalogues, with the more notable +examples of them. We are here concerned with the true +method of preparing catalogues, and such plain rules as +brevity will permit to be given, will be equally adapted to +private or public libraries. For more ample treatment, +with reasons for and against many rules laid down, reference +is made to the able and acute work, "Rules for a Dictionary +Catalogue," by C. A. Cutter, published by the U. +S. Bureau of Education, 3d ed. 1891.</p> + +<p class="center">CONDENSED RULES FOR AN AUTHOR AND TITLE CATALOGUE.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Prepared by the Co-operation Committee of the American Library +Association.</i></p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">entry.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Books are to be entered under the:</p> + +<p>Surnames of authors when ascertained, the abbreviation +"<i>Anon.</i>" being added to the titles of anonymous works.</p> + +<p>Initials of authors' names when these only are known, +the last initial being put first.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_376" id="Pg_376"></a>[<a href="./images/376.png">376</a>]</span>Pseudonyms of the writers when the real names are not +ascertained.</p> + +<p>Names of editors of collections, each separate item to be at +the same time sufficiently catalogued under its own heading.</p> + +<p>Names of countries, cities, societies, or other bodies which +are responsible for their publication.</p> + +<p>First word (not an article or serial number) of the titles +of periodicals and of anonymous books, the names of whose +authors are not known. And a motto or the designation of a +series may be neglected when it begins a title, and the entry +may be made under the first word of the real title following.</p> + +<p>Commentaries accompanying a text, and translations, are +to be entered under the heading of the original work; but +commentaries without the text under the name of the commentator. +A book entitled "Commentary on ...." and containing +the text, should be put under both.</p> + +<p>The Bible, or any part of it (including the Apocrypha), in +any language, is to be entered under the word Bible.</p> + +<p>The Talmud and Koran (and parts of them) are to be entered +under those words; the sacred books of other religions +are to be entered under the names by which they are generally +known; references to be given from the names of +editors, translators, etc.</p> + +<p>The respondent or defender of an academical thesis is to be +considered as the author, unless the work unequivocally appears +to be the work of the <i>praeses</i>.</p> + +<p>Books having more than one author to be entered under +the one first named in the title, with a reference from each +of the others.</p> + +<p>Reports of civil actions are to be entered under the name +of the party to the suit which stands first on the title page. +Reports of crown and criminal proceedings are to be entered +under the name of the defendant. Admiralty proceedings +relating to vessels are to be put under the name of the vessel.</p> + +<p>Noblemen are to be entered under their titles, unless the +family name is decidedly better known.</p> + +<p>Ecclesiastical dignitaries, unless popes or sovereigns, are +to be entered under their surnames.</p> + +<p>Sovereigns (other than Greek or Roman), ruling princes, +Oriental writers, popes, friars, persons canonized, and all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_377" id="Pg_377"></a>[<a href="./images/377.png">377</a>]</span> +other persons known <i>only</i> by their first name, are to be entered +under this first name.</p> + +<p>Married women, and other persons who have changed their +names, are to be put under the last well-known form.</p> + +<p>A pseudonym may be used instead of the surname (and +only a reference to the pseudonym made under the surname) +when an author is much more known by his false than by his +real name. In case of doubt, use the real name.</p> + +<p>A society is to be entered under the first word, not an +article, of its corporate name, with references from any other +name by which it is known, especially from the name of the +place where its headquarters are established, if it is often +called by that name.</p></div> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">References.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>When an author has been known by more than one name, +references should be inserted from the name or names not +to be used as headings to the one used.</p> + +<p>References are also to be made to the headings chosen:</p> + +<ul class="plain"><li>from the titles of all novels and plays, and of poems likely +to be asked for by their titles;</li> + +<li>from other striking titles;</li> + +<li>from noticeable words in anonymous titles, especially from +the names of subjects of anonymous biographies;</li> + +<li>from the names of editors of periodicals, when the periodicals +are generally called by the editor's name;</li> + +<li>from the names of important translators (especially poetic +translators) and commentators;</li> + +<li>from the title of an ecclesiastical dignitary, when that, and +not the family name, is used in the book catalogued;</li> + +<li>and in other cases where a reference is needed to insure the +ready finding of the book.</li> +</ul> +</div> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Headings.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In the heading of titles, the names of authors are to be +given in full, and in their vernacular form, except that the +Latin form may be used when it is more generally known, +the vernacular form being added in parentheses; except, +also, that sovereigns and popes may be given in the English +form.</p> + +<p>English and French surnames beginning with a prefix (except +the French de and d') are to be recorded under the +prefix; in other languages under the word following.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_378" id="Pg_378"></a>[<a href="./images/378.png">378</a>]</span>English compound surnames are to be entered under the +last part of the name; foreign ones under the first part.</p> + +<p>Designations are to be added to distinguish writers of +the same name from each other.</p> + +<p>Prefixes indicating the rank or profession of writers may +be added in the heading, when they are part of the usual +designation of the writers.</p> + +<p>Names of places to be given in the English form. When +both an English and a vernacular form are used in English +works, prefer the vernacular.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Titles.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The title is to be an exact transcript of the title-page, +neither amended, translated, nor in any way altered, except +that mottos, titles of authors, repetitions, and matter of +any kind not essential, are to be omitted. Where great accuracy +is desirable, omissions are to be indicated by three +dots (...). The titles of books especially valuable for antiquity +or rarity may be given in full, with all practicable +precision. The phraseology and spelling, but not necessarily +the punctuation, of the title are to be exactly copied.</p> + +<p>Any additions needed to make the title clear are to be supplied, +and inclosed by brackets.</p> + +<p>Initial capitals are to be given in English:</p> + +<ul class="plain"><li>to proper names of persons and personifications, places, +bodies, noted events, and periods (each separate word not +an article, conjunction, or preposition, may be capitalized +in these cases);</li> + +<li>to adjectives and other derivatives from proper names when +they have a direct reference to the person, place, etc., from +which they are derived;</li> + +<li>to the first word of every sentence and of every quoted title;</li> + +<li>to titles of honor when standing instead of a proper name +(<i>e. g.</i>, the Earl of Derby, but John Stanley, earl of Derby);</li> + +<li>In foreign languages, according to the local usage;</li> + +<li>In doubtful cases capitals are to be avoided.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Foreign languages.—Titles in foreign characters may be +transliterated. The languages in which a book is written are +to be stated when there are several, and the fact is not apparent +from the title.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_379" id="Pg_379"></a>[<a href="./images/379.png">379</a>]</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Imprints.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After the title are to be given, in the following order, those +in [ ] being optional:</p> + +<ul class="plain"><li>the edition;</li> + +<li>the place of publication;</li> + +<li>[and the publisher's name] (these three in the language of +the title);</li> + +<li>the year as given on the title-page, but in Arabic figures;</li> + +<li>[the year of copyright or actual publication, if known to be +different in brackets, and preceded by c. or p. as the case +may be];</li> + +<li>the number of volumes, or of pages if there is only one +volume;</li> + +<li>[the number of maps, portraits, or illustrations not included +in the text];</li> + +<li>and either the approximate size designated by letter, or the +exact size in centimeters;</li> + +<li>the name of the series to which the book belongs is to be +given in parentheses after the other imprint entries.</li> +</ul> + +<p>After the place of publication, the place of printing may +be given if different. This is desirable only in rare and old +books.</p> + +<p>The number of pages is to be indicated by giving the last +number of each paging, connecting the numbers by the sign +<span class="lf">+</span>; the addition of unpaged matter may be shown by a <span class="lf">+</span>, +or the number of pages ascertained by counting may be +given in brackets. When there are more than three pagings, +it is better to add them together and give the sum in brackets.</p> + +<p>These imprint entries are to give the facts, whether ascertained +from the book or from other sources; those which +are usually taken from the title (edition, place, publisher's +name, and series) should be in the language of the title, corrections +and additions being inclosed in brackets. It is better +to give the words, "maps," "portraits," etc., and the +abbreviations for "volumes" and "pages," in English.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Contents, Notes.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Notes (in English) and contents of volumes are to be given +when necessary to properly describe the works. Both notes +and lists of contents to be in a smaller type.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_380" id="Pg_380"></a>[<a href="./images/380.png">380</a>]</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Miscellaneous.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A single dash or indent indicates the omission of the preceding +heading; a subsequent dash or indent indicates the +omission of a subordinate heading, or of a title.</p> + +<p>A dash connecting numbers signifies to and including; following +a number it signifies continuation.</p> + +<p>A ? following a word or entry signifies probably.</p> + +<p>Brackets inclose words added to titles or imprints, or +changed in form.</p> + +<p>Arabic figures are to be used rather than Roman; but small +capitals may be used after the names of sovereigns, princes, +and popes.</p> + +<p>A list of abbreviations to be used was given in the Library +journal, Vol. 3: 16-20.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Arrangement.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The surname when used alone precedes the same name +used with forenames; where the initials only of the forenames +are given, they are to precede fully written forenames +beginning with the same initials (<i>e. g.</i>, Brown, Brown, J.; +Brown, J. L.; Brown, James).</p> + +<p>The prefixes M and Mc, S., St., Ste., Messrs., Mr., and Mrs., +are to be arranged as if written in full, Mac, Sanctus, Saint, +Sainte, Messieurs, Mister, and Mistress.</p> + +<p>The works of an author are to be arranged in the following +order:</p> + +<ul class="plain"><li>1. Collected works.</li> + +<li>2. Partial collections.</li> + +<li>3. Single works, alphabetically, by the first word of the title.</li> +</ul> +<p>The order of alphabeting is to be that of the English alphabet.</p> + +<p>The German ae, oe, ue, are always to be written as ä, ö, ü, +and arranged as a, o, u.</p> + +<p>Names of persons are to precede similar names of places, +which in turn precede similar first words of titles.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<p>A few desirable modifications or additions to these rules +may be suggested.</p> + +<p>1. In title-entries, let the year of publication stand last, +instead of the indication of size.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_381" id="Pg_381"></a>[<a href="./images/381.png">381</a>]</span>2. Noblemen to be entered under their family names, +with reference from their titles.</p> + +<p>3. Instead of designations of title, profession, residence, +or family, to distinguish authors, let every name be followed +by the chronology, as—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">James (Henry) 1811-82.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">James (Henry) 1843-<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is highly desirable to give this information as to the +author's period in every title-heading, without exception, +when ascertainable. If unknown, the approximate period +to be given, with a query.</p> + +<p>4. All titles to be written in small letters, and printed +in lower case, whether in English, German, or any other +language, avoiding capitals except in cases named in the +rule.</p> + +<p>5. Works without date, when the exact date is not +found, are to be described conjecturally, thus:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[1690?] or [about 1840.]<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>6. In expressing collations, use commas rather than the +sign <span class="lf">+</span> between the pagings, as—xvi, 452, vii pp.—not +xvi<span class="lf">+</span>452<span class="lf">+</span>vii pp.</p> + +<p>7. Forenames should be separated from the surnames +which precede them by parenthesis rather than commas, +as a clearer discrimination: as—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Alembert (Jean Baptiste le Rond d')—not<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alembert, Jean Baptiste le Rond d'.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The printed catalogue of the British Museum Library +follows this method, as well as that in the preceding paragraph.</p> + +<p>8. All books of history, travels, or voyages to have the +period covered by them inserted in brackets, when not expressed +in the title-page.</p> + +<p>9. All collected works of authors, and all libraries or +collections of different works to be analysed by giving the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_382" id="Pg_382"></a>[<a href="./images/382.png">382</a>]</span> +contents of each volume, either in order of volumes, or +alphabetically by authors' names.</p> + +<p>Of course there are multitudes of points in catalogue +practice not provided for in the necessarily brief summary +preceding: and, as books on the art abound, the writer +gives only such space to it as justice to the wide range of +library topics here treated permits.</p> + +<p>Probably the most important question in preparing catalogue +titles, is what space to give to the author's frequently +long-drawn-out verbiage in his title-page. There are +two extremes to be considered: (1) Copying the title literally +and in full, however prolix; and (2) reducing all title-pages, +by a Procrustean rule, to what we may call "one-line +titles." Take an example:</p> + +<p>"Jones (Richard T.) A theoretical and practical treatise +on the benefits of agriculture to mankind. With an appendix +containing many useful reflections derived from practical +experience. iv, 389 pp. 8°. London, MDCCXLIV." +As abridged to a short title, this would read: "Jones +(Richard T.) Benefits of agriculture, iv, 389 pp. 8°. Lond. +1744." Who will say that the last form of title does +not convey substantially all that is significant of the book, +stripped of superfluous verbiage? But we need not insist +upon titles crowded into a single line of the catalogue, +whether written or printed. This would do violence to +the actual scope of many books, by suppressing some significant +or important part of their titles. The rule should +be to give in the briefest words selected out of the title +(never imported into it) the essential character of the +book, so far as the author has expressed it. Take another +example:</p> + +<p>"Bowman (Thomas) A new, easy, and complete Hebrew +course; containing a Hebrew grammar, with copious Hebrew +and English exercises, strictly graduated: also, a He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_383" id="Pg_383"></a>[<a href="./images/383.png">383</a>]</span>brew-English +and English-Hebrew lexicon. In two parts. +Part I. Regular verbs. Edinburgh, 1879."</p> + +<p>This might be usefully condensed thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Bowman, (Thomas) Hebrew course: grammar, exercises, +lexicon, [&c.] Part I. Regular verbs. Edinburgh, 1879.</p></div> + +<p>One objection brought against the dictionary catalogue +is that it widely separates subjects that belong together. +In the Boston Athenaeum catalogue, for example, the +topic Banks is found in Vol. 1, while Money is in Vol. 3; +and for Wages, one must go to Vol. 5, while Labor is in +Vol. 3. But there are two valid reasons for this. First, +the reader who wants to know about banks or wages may +care nothing about the larger topics of money or of labor; +and secondly, if he does want them, he is sent to them at +once by cross-reference, where they belong in the alphabet; +whereas, if they were grouped under Political Economy, as +in classed catalogues, he must hunt for them through a +maze of unrelated books, without any alphabet at all.</p> + +<p>It is often forgotten by the advocates of systematic subject +catalogues rather than alphabetical ones, that catalogues +are for those who do not know, more than for those +who do. The order of the alphabet is settled and familiar; +but no classification by subjects is either familiar or settled. +Catalogues should aim at the greatest convenience +of the greatest number of readers.</p> + +<p>It is noteworthy that the English Catalogue (the one +national bibliography of the current literature of that +country) has adopted, since 1891, the dictionary form of +recording authors, titles and subjects in one alphabet, distinguishing +authors' names by antique type. It is hoped +that the American Catalogue, an indispensable work in +all libraries, will adopt in its annual and quinquennial issues +the time-saving method of a single alphabet.</p> + +<p>It is not claimed that the dictionary catalogue possesses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_384" id="Pg_384"></a>[<a href="./images/384.png">384</a>]</span> +fully all the advantages in educating readers that the best +classed catalogues embody. But the chief end of catalogues +being to find books promptly, rather than to educate +readers, the fact that the dictionary catalogue, though +far from perfect, comes nearer to the true object than any +other system, weighs heavily in its favor. Edward Edwards +said—"Many a reader has spent whole days in book-hunting +[in catalogues] which ought to have been spent +in book-reading." It is to save this wasted time that +catalogues should aim.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be easier than to make a poor catalogue, +while nothing is more difficult than to make a good one. +The most expert French bibliographers who have distinguished +themselves by compiling catalogues have been +most severely criticised by writers who no doubt would +have been victimized in their turn if they had undertaken +similar work. Byron says</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A man must serve his time to every trade,<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">Save censure;—critics all are ready made."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When De Bure and Van Praet, most accomplished bibliographers, +published the catalogue of the precious library +of the duke de La Vallière, the abbé Rive boasted that he +had discovered a blunder in every one of the five thousand +titles of their catalogue. Barbier and Brunet have both +been criticised for swarms of errors in the earlier editions +of their famous catalogues. The task of the exact cataloguer +is full of difficulty, constantly renewed, and demanding +almost encyclopaedic knowledge, and incessant +care of minute particulars.</p> + +<p>The liability to error is so great in a kind of work which, +more than almost any other, demands the most scrupulous +accuracy, lest a catalogue should record a book with +such mistakes as to completely mislead a reader, that rules +are imperatively necessary. And whatever rules are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_385" id="Pg_385"></a>[<a href="./images/385.png">385</a>]</span> +adopted, a rigid adherence to them is no less essential, to +avoid misapprehension and confusion. A singular instance +of imperfect and misleading catalogue work was unwittingly +furnished by Mr. J. Payne Collier, a noted English +critic, author, and librarian, who criticised the slow +progress of the British Museum catalogue, saying that he +could himself do "twenty-five titles an hour without trouble." +His twenty-five titles when examined, were found +to contain almost every possible error that can be made in +cataloguing books. These included using names of translators +or editors as headings, when the author's name was +on the title-page; omitting christian names of authors; +omitting to specify the edition; using English instead of +foreign words to give the titles of foreign books; adopting +titled instead of family names for authors (which would +separate Stanhope's "England under Queen Anne" from +the same writer's "History of England," published when +he was Lord Mahon); errors in grammar, etc. These +ridiculous blunders of a twenty-five-title-an-hour man exemplify +the maxim "the more haste, the worse speed," in +catalogue-making.</p> + +<p>That our British brethren are neither adapted nor inclined +to pose as exemplars in the fine art of cataloguing, +we need only cite their own self-criticisms to prove. Here +are two confessions found in two authors of books on catalogue-making, +both Englishmen. Says one: "We are deficient +in good bibliographies. It is a standing disgrace +to the country that we have no complete bibliography of +English authors, much less of English literature generally." +Says another: "The English are a supremely illogical +people. The disposition to irregularity has made +English bibliography, or work on catalogues, a by-word +among those who give attention to these matters."</p> + +<p>An American may well add, "They do these things bet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_386" id="Pg_386"></a>[<a href="./images/386.png">386</a>]</span>ter +in France and Germany," while declining to claim the +meed of superiority for the United States.</p> + +<p>Too much prominence should not be given to place-numbers +in library catalogues. The tendency to substitute +mere numerical signs for authors and subjects has +been carried so far in some libraries, that books are called +for and charged by class-numbers only, instead of their +distinctive names. An English librarian testifies that assistants +trained in such libraries are generally the most +ignorant of literature. When mechanical or mnemonical +signs are wholly substituted for ideas and for authors, is it +any wonder that persons incessantly using them become +mechanical? Let catalogue and classification go hand in +hand in bringing all related books together, and library +assistants will not stunt their intellects by becoming bond-slaves +to the nine digits, nor lose the power of thought +and reflection by never growing out of their <i>a b c's</i>.</p> + +<p>There are two forms of catalogue not here discussed, +which are adjuncts to the library catalogue proper. The +accession catalogue, kept in a large volume, records the +particulars regarding every volume, on its receipt by the +library. It gives author, title, date, size, binding, whence +acquired, cost, etc., and assigns it an accession number, +which it ever after retains. The shelf catalogue (or shelf-list) +is a portable one divided into sections representing +the cases of shelves in the library. It gives the shelf classification +number, author, brief title and number of volumes +of each book, as arranged on the shelves; thus constituting +an inventory of each case, or stack, throughout the +library.</p> + +<p>To check a library over is to take an account of stock +of all the books it should contain. This is done annually +in some libraries, and the deficiencies reported. All libraries +lose some books, however few, and these losses will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_387" id="Pg_387"></a>[<a href="./images/387.png">387</a>]</span> +small or great according to the care exercised and the safe-guards +provided. The method is to take one division of +the library at a time, and check off all books on the shelves +by their numbers on the shelf-list, supplemented by careful +examination of all numbers drawn out, or at bindery, +or in other parts of the library. Not a volume should be +absent unaccounted for. Those found missing after a certain +time should be noted on the shelf-list and accession +book, and replaced, if important, after the loss is definitely +assured.</p> + +<p>The reason for writing and printing all catalogue titles +in small letters, without capitals (except for proper names) +is two-fold. First, there can be no standard prescribing +what words should or should not be capitalized, and the +cataloguer will be constantly at a loss, or will use capitals +in the most unprincipled way. He will write one day, +perhaps, "The Dangers of great Cities," and the next, +"The dangers of Great cities"—with no controlling reason +for either form. Secondly, the symmetry of a title or a +sentence, whether written or printed, is best attained by +the uniform exclusion of capitals. That this should be +applied to all languages, notwithstanding the habit of +most German typographers of printing all nouns with +capitals, is borne out by no less an authority than the new +Grimm's <i>Deutsches Wörterbuch</i>, which prints all words in +"lower case" type except proper names. Nothing can be +more unsightly than the constant breaking up of the harmony +of a line by the capricious use of capitals.</p> + +<p>To discriminate carefully the various editions of each +work is part of the necessary duty of the cataloguer. Many +books have passed through several editions, and as these +are by no means always specified on the title-page, one +should establish the sequence, if possible, by other means. +The first edition is one which includes all copies printed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_388" id="Pg_388"></a>[<a href="./images/388.png">388</a>]</span> +from the plates or the type as first set; the second, one +which is reprinted, with or without changes in the text +or the title. First editions often acquire a greatly enhanced +value, in the case of a noted author, by reason of +changes made in the text in later issues of the work. For +though the latest revision may and should be the author's +best improved expression, his earliest furnishes food for +the hunters of literary curiosities. Every catalogue should +distinguish first editions thus [1st ed.] in brackets.</p> + +<p>In the arrangement of titles in catalogues, either of the +various works of the same writer, or of many books on the +same subject, some compilers follow the alphabetical order, +while others prefer the chronological—or the order +of years of publication of the various works. The latter +has the advantage of showing the reader the earlier as distinguished +from the recent literature, but in a long sequence +of authors (in a subject-catalogue) it is more difficult +to find a given writer's work, or to detect its absence.</p> + +<p>The task of accurately distributing the titles in a catalogue +of subjects would be much simplified, if the books +were all properly named. But it is an unhappy failing +of many writers to give fanciful or far-fetched titles to +their books, so that, instead of a descriptive name, they +have names that describe nothing. This adds indefinitely +to the labor of the cataloguer, who must spend time to +analyse to some extent the contents of the book, before +he can classify it. This must be done to avoid what may +be gross errors in the catalogue. Familiar examples are +Ruskin's Notes on Sheep-folds (an ecclesiastical criticism) +classified under Agriculture; and Edgeworth's Irish Bulls +under Domestic animals.</p> + +<p>The work of alphabeting a large number of title-cards +is much simplified and abbreviated by observing certain +obvious rules in the distribution. (1) Gather in the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_389" id="Pg_389"></a>[<a href="./images/389.png">389</a>]</span> +pile all the cards in the first letter of the alphabet, A, followed +in successive parallel rows by all the B's, and so on, +to the letter Z. (2) Next, pursue the same course with all +the titles, arranging under the second letter of the alphabet, +Aa, Ab, Ac, etc., and so with all the cards under B. C. +&c. for all the letters. (3) If there still remain a great +many titles to distribute into a closer alphabetic sequence, +the third operation will consist in arranging under the +third letter of the alphabet, <i>e. g.</i>, Abb, Abc, Abd, etc. The +same method is pursued throughout the entire alphabet, +until all the title-cards are arranged in strict order.</p> + +<p>Too much care cannot be taken to distinguish between +books written by different authors, but bearing the same +name. Many catalogues are full of errors in this respect, +attributing, for example, works written by Jonathan Edwards, +the younger, (1745-1801) to Jonathan Edwards the +elder, (1703-58); or cataloguing under Henry James, Jr., +the works of his father, Henry James. The abundant +means of identification which exist should cause such +errors to be avoided; and when the true authorship is +fixed, every author's chronology should appear next after +his name on every card-title: <i>e. g.</i> James (Henry, 1811-82) +Moralism and Christianity, New York, 1850. James +(Henry, 1843- ) Daisy Miller, N. Y. 1879.</p> + +<p>The designation of book sizes is a vexed question in catalogues. +The generally used descriptions of size, from folio +down to 48mo. signify no accurate measurement whatever, +the same book being described by different catalogues +as 12mo. 8vo, crown 8vo. &c., according to fancy; while +the same cataloguer who describes a volume as octavo to-day, +is very likely to call it a duodecimo to-morrow. Library +catalogues are full of these heterogeneous descriptions, +and the size-notation is the <i>bête noir</i> of the veteran +bibliographer, and the despair of the infant librarian. Yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_390" id="Pg_390"></a>[<a href="./images/390.png">390</a>]</span> +it is probable that the question has excited a discussion +out of all proportion to its importance. Of what consequence +is the size of a book to any one, except to the +searcher who has to find it on the shelves? While the +matter has been much exaggerated, some concert or uniformity +in describing the sizes of books is highly desirable.</p> + +<p>A Committee of the American Library Association +agreed to a size-notation, figured below, adopting the metric +system as the standard, to which we add the approximate +equivalents in inches.</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Sizes of Books"> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Sizes.</i></td><td align='center'><i>  Size abbreviations.  </i></td><td align='center'><i>Centimetres<br /> outside height.</i></td><td align='center'>  <i>Inches.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Folio, F°.</td><td align='center'>F</td><td align='left'>40</td><td align='right'>16</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Quarto, 4°.</td><td align='center'>Q</td><td align='left'>30</td><td align='right'>12</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Octavo, 8°.</td><td align='center'>O</td><td align='left'>25</td><td align='right'>10</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Duodecimo, 12°.</td><td align='center'>D</td><td align='left'>20</td><td align='right'>8</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sixteen mo., 16°.</td><td align='center'>S</td><td align='left'>17.5</td><td align='right'>7</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Twenty-four mo., 24°.</td><td align='center'>T</td><td align='left'>15</td><td align='right'>6</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Thirty-two mo., 32°.</td><td align='center'>Tt</td><td align='left'>12.3</td><td align='right'>5</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Forty-eight mo., 48°.</td><td align='center'>Fe</td><td align='left'>10</td><td align='right'>4</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>It will be understood that the figure against each size +indicated represents the maximum measure: <i>e. g.</i> a volume +is octavo when above 20 and below 25 centimetres (8 to +10 inches high).</p> + +<p>As this question of sizes concerns publishers and booksellers, +as well as librarians, and the metric system, though +established in continental Europe, is in little use in the +United States and England, it remains doubtful if any +general adherence to this system of notation can be reached—or, +indeed, to any other. The Publishers' Weekly +(N. Y.) the organ of the book trade, has adopted it for the +titles of new books actually in hand, but follows the publishers' +descriptions of sizes as to others. Librarian J. +Winter Jones, of the British Museum, recommended classing +all books above twelve inches in height as folios, those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_391" id="Pg_391"></a>[<a href="./images/391.png">391</a>]</span> +between ten and twelve inches as quartos, those from seven +to ten inches as octavos, and all measuring seven inches +or under as 12mos. Mr. H. B. Wheatley, in his work, +"How to Catalogue a Library," 1889, proposed to call all +books small octavos which measure below the ordinary +octavo size. As all sizes "run into each other," and the +former classification by the fold of the sheets is quite obsolete, +people appear to be left to their own devices in describing +the sizes of books. While the metric notation +would be exact, if the size of every book were expressed in +centimetres, the size-notation in the table given is wholly +wanting in precision, and has no more claim to be adopted +than any other arbitrary plan. Still, it will serve ordinary +wants, and the fact that we cannot reach an exact standard +is no reason for refusing to be as nearly exact as we can.</p> + +<p>And while we are upon the subject of notation may be +added a brief explanation of the method adopted in earlier +ages, (and especially the years reckoned from the Christian +era) to express numbers by Roman numerals. The one +simple principle was, that each letter placed after a figure +of greater equal value adds to it just the value which itself +has; and, on the other hand, a letter of less value placed +before (or on the left of) a larger figure, diminishes the +value of that figure in the same proportion. For example:</p> + +<p>These letters—VI represent six; which is the same as +saying V<span class="lf">+</span>I. On the contrary, these same letters reversed +represent four; thus—IV: that is V<span class="lf">-</span>I<span class="lf">=</span>4. Nine is represented +by IX, <i>i. e.</i>, X<span class="lf">-</span>I, ten minus one. On the same +principle, LX represents 60—or L<span class="lf">+</span>N: whereas XL means +40—being L<span class="lf">-</span>X. Proceeding on the same basis, we find +that LXX<span class="lf">=</span>L<span class="lf">+</span>XX<span class="lf">=</span>70; and LXXX or L<span class="lf">+</span>XXX is 80. +But when we come to ninety, instead of adding four X's +to the L, they took a shorter method, and expressed it in +two figures instead of five, thus, XC, <i>i. e.</i> 100 or C<span class="lf">-</span>X<span class="lf">=</span>90.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_392" id="Pg_392"></a>[<a href="./images/392.png">392</a>]</span>The remarkable thing about this Roman notation is that +only six letters sufficed to express all numbers up to one +thousand, and even beyond, by skilful and simple combinations: +namely the I, the V, the X, the L, the C, and +the M, and by adding or <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'substracting'">subtracting</ins> some of these letters, +when placed before or after another letter, they had a +whole succession of numbers done to their hand—thus:</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Roman Numerals"> +<tr><td align='right'>I,</td><td align='right'>1</td><td align='right'>XX,</td><td align='right'>20</td><td align='right'>CC,</td><td align='right'>200</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II,</td><td align='right'>2</td><td align='right'>XXX,</td><td align='right'>30</td><td align='right'>CCC,</td><td align='right'>300</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III,</td><td align='right'>3</td><td align='right'>XL,</td><td align='right'>40</td><td align='right'>CCCC,</td><td align='right'>400</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV,</td><td align='right'>4</td><td align='right'>L,</td><td align='right'>50</td><td align='right'>D,</td><td align='right'>500</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V,</td><td align='right'>5</td><td align='right'>LX,</td><td align='right'>60</td><td align='right'>DC,</td><td align='right'>600</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI,</td><td align='right'>6</td><td align='right'>LXX,</td><td align='right'>70</td><td align='right'>DCC,</td><td align='right'>700</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII,</td><td align='right'>7</td><td align='right'>LXXX,</td><td align='right'>80</td><td align='right'>DCCC,</td><td align='right'>800</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII,</td><td align='right'>8</td><td align='right'>XC,</td><td align='right'>90</td><td align='right'>CM,</td><td align='right'>900</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX,</td><td align='right'>9</td><td align='right'> C (centum),</td><td align='right'>100</td><td align='right'> M, (mille),</td><td align='right'>1,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X,</td><td align='right'>10</td><td align='right'> </td><td align='right'> </td><td align='right'> </td><td align='right'> </td></tr> +</table></div> +<p>Now, when the early printers came to apply dates of +publication to the books they issued, (and here is where +their methods of notation become most important to librarians) +they used precisely these methods. For example, +to express the year 1695, they printed it thus: MDCVC, +that is—1000<span class="lf">+</span>500<span class="lf">+</span>100<span class="lf">+</span>100<span class="lf">-</span>5. But the printers of +the 15th century and later, often used complications of +letters, dictated by caprice rather than by any fixed principles, +so that it is sometimes difficult to interpret certain +dates in the colophons or title-pages of books, without collateral +aid of some kind, usually supplied to the librarian +by bibliographies. One of the simpler methods of departure +from the regular notation as above explained, was to +substitute for the letter D (500) two letters, thus—IƆ, an I +and a C inverted, supposed to resemble the letter D in outline. +Another fancy was to replace the M, standing for +1,000, by the symbols CIƆ—which present a faint approach +to the outline of the letter M, for which they stand. Thus, +to express the year 1610, we have this combination—CIƆ +IƆ CX, which would be indecipherable to a modern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_393" id="Pg_393"></a>[<a href="./images/393.png">393</a>]</span> +reader, uninstructed in the numerical signs anciently used, +and their values. In like manner, 1548 is expressed thus: +MDXLIIX, meaning 1000<span class="lf">+</span>500<span class="lf">+</span>40<span class="lf">+</span>10<span class="lf">-</span>2. And for +1626, we have CIƆ IƆ C XXVI.</p> + +<p>As every considerable library has early printed books, +a librarian must know these peculiarities of notation, in +order to catalogue them properly, without mistake as to +their dates. In some books, where a capricious combination +of Roman numerals leaves him without a precedent to +guide him to the true date, reference must be had to +the bibliographies of the older literature, (as Hain, Panzer, +etc.), which will commonly solve the doubt.</p> + +<p>As to the mechanics of catalogue-making, widely different +usages and materials prevail. In America, the card or +title-slip system is well nigh <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'univeral'">universal</ins>, while in England it +is but slowly gaining ground, as against the ledger or blank +book catalogue. Its obvious advantage lies in affording +the only possible means of maintaining a strict alphabetical +sequence in titles, whether of authors or subjects. The +title-cards should be always of uniform size, and the measure +most in vogue is five inches in length by three inches +in breadth. They should not be too stiff, though of sufficient +thickness, whether of paper or of thin card board, +to stand upright without doubling at the edges. They +may be ruled or plain, at pleasure, and kept in drawers, +trays, or (in case of a small catalogue) in such paste-board +boxes as letter envelopes come in.</p> + +<p>The many advantages of the card system, both for catalogues +and indexes, should not lead us to overlook its palpable +defects. These are (1) It obliges readers to manipulate +many cards, to arrive at all the works of an author, +or all the books on any subject, instead of having them +under his eye at once, as in printed catalogues. (2) It +can be used only in the library, and in only one place in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_394" id="Pg_394"></a>[<a href="./images/394.png">394</a>]</span> +the library, and by only one person at a time in the same +spot, while a printed catalogue can be freely used anywhere, +and by any numbers, copies being multiplied. (3) +It entails frequent crowding of readers around the catalogue +drawers, who need to consult the same subjects or +authors at the same time. (4) It requires immeasurably +more room than a printed catalogue, and in fact, exacts +space which in some libraries can be ill afforded. (5) +It obliges readers to search the title-cards at inconvenient +angles of vision, and often with inadequate light. (6) It +is cumbersome in itself, and doubly cumbersome to searchers, +who must stand up instead of sitting to consult it, and +travel from drawer to drawer, interfering with other +searchers almost constantly, or losing time in waiting. +(7) To this is added the inconvenience of constant insertion +of new title-cards by members of the library staff, and +the time-consuming process of working the rods which +keep the cards in place, if they are used, and if not used, +the risk of loss of titles, or misplacement equivalent to +loss for a time.</p> + +<p>Says Mr. H. B. Wheatley: "I can scarcely imagine anything +more maddening than a frequent reference to cards +in a drawer." But it is to be considered that all systems +have defects, and the problem of choosing the least defective +is ever before us. Most of the suggested defects +of the card catalogue, as concerns the readers, can be obviated +by making a two-fold catalogue, the type-written +titles being manifolded, and one set arranged in card-drawers +for the use of the library staff, while another is +mounted on large sheets in bound volumes for use of the +public. This would secure the advantages of a printed +catalogue, with no more expense than the manuscript +titles would cost. If desired, a number of copies could be +bound up for reading-room use. Accessions of new books<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_395" id="Pg_395"></a>[<a href="./images/395.png">395</a>]</span> +could be incorporated from month to month, by leaving +the right-hand pages blank for that purpose. This would +be near enough to alphabetical order for most readers, +with the immense advantage of opening at one glance before +the eye, any author or subject. It would go far to +solve the problem how to unite the flexibility and perfect +alphabeting of the card system, with the superior comfort, +safety, and ease of reference of the book. It would also +be a safe-guard against the loss or displacement of titles, +a danger inherent in the card system, as they could be +replaced by copying missing titles from the catalogue volumes.</p> + +<p>While the undoubted merits of the card system have +been much overrated, it would be as unwise to dispense +with it as the complete official catalogue of the library, as +it would be to tie down the public to its use, when there is +a more excellent way, saving time and patience, and contributing +to the comfort of all.</p> + +<p>To print or not to print? is a vital question for libraries, +and it is in most cases decided to forego or to postpone +printing, because of its great expense. Yet so manifest +are the advantages of a printed catalogue, that all public +libraries should make every effort to endow their readers +with its benefits. These advantages are (1) Greater facility +of reading titles. (2) Much more rapid turning from +letter to letter of the catalogue alphabet. (3) Ability to +consult it outside of the library. (4) Unlimited command +of the catalogue by many readers at once, from the number +of copies at hand, whereas card catalogues or manuscript +volumes involve loss of time in waiting, or interfering +with the researches of others. A part of these advantages +may be realized by printing type-written copies of all +titles in duplicate, or by carbon paper in manifold, thus +furnishing the library with several copies of its catalogue:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_396" id="Pg_396"></a>[<a href="./images/396.png">396</a>]</span> +but why not extend this by multiplying copies through the +ingenious processes now in use, by which the printing of +titles can be effected far more cheaply than in any printing +office? Might not every library become its own printer, +thus saving it from the inconvenience and risk of sending +its titles outside, or the great expense of copying them +for the printer?</p> + +<p>The titles thus manifolded could be combined into volumes, +by cutting away all superfluous margins and mounting +the thin title-slips alphabetically on paper of uniform +size, which, when bound, would be readily handled. All +the titles of an author's works would be under the eye +at a glance, instead of only one at a time, as in the card +catalogue. And the titles of books on every subject would +lie open, without slowly manipulating an infinite series +of cards, one after another, to reveal them to the eye. The +classification marks could be readily placed against each +title, or even printed as a part of the manifold card titles.</p> + +<p>Not that the card catalogue system would be abolished: +it would remain as the only complete catalogue of the library, +always up to date, in a single alphabet. Daily accessions +inserted in it would render it the standard of +appeal as to all that the library contained, and it would +thus supplement the printed catalogue.</p> + +<p>Of course, large and increasing accessions would require +to be combined in occasional supplementary volumes of +the catalogue; and in no long number of years the whole +might be re-combined in a single alphabet, furnishing a +printed dictionary catalogue up to its date.</p> + +<p>The experience of the great British Museum Library in +this matter of catalogues is an instructive one. After +printing various incomplete author-catalogues in the years +from 1787 to 1841, the attempt to print came to a full +stop. The extensive collection grew apace, and the man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_397" id="Pg_397"></a>[<a href="./images/397.png">397</a>]</span>agement +got along somehow with a manuscript catalogue, +the titles of which (written in script with approximate +fullness) were pasted in a series of unwieldy but alphabetically +arranged volumes. To incorporate the accessions, +these volumes had continually to be taken apart by +the binder, and the new titles combined in alphabetical +order, entailing a literally endless labor of transcribing, +shifting, relaying and rebinding, to secure even an imperfect +alphabetical sequence. In 1875, the catalogue had +grown to over two thousand thick folio volumes, and it was +foreseen, by a simple computation of the rate of growth of +the library, that in a very few years its catalogue could no +longer be contained in the reading-room. The bulky +manuscript catalogue system broke down by its own +weight, and the management was compelled to resort to +printing in self defence. Before the printing had reached +any where near the concluding letters of the alphabet, the +MS. catalogue had grown to three thousand volumes, and +was a daily and hourly incubus to librarians and readers.</p> + +<p>This printed catalogue of the largest library in the +world, save one, is strictly a catalogue of authors, giving +in alphabetical order the names, followed by the titles of +all works by each writer which that library possesses. In +addition, it refers in the case of biographies or comments +upon any writer found in the index, to the authors of such +works; and also from translators or editors to the authors +of the translated or edited work. The titles of accessions +to the library (between thirty and forty thousand volumes +a year) were incorporated year by year as the printing +went on. All claim to minute accuracy had to be ignored, +and the titles greatly abridged by omitting superfluous +words, otherwise its cost would have been prohibitory. +The work was prosecuted with great energy and +diligence by the staff of able scholars in the service of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_398" id="Pg_398"></a>[<a href="./images/398.png">398</a>]</span> +Museum Library. As the catalogue embraces far more +titles of books, pamphlets, and periodicals than any other +ever printed, it is a great public boon, the aid it affords +to all investigators being incalculable. And any library +possessing it may find, with many titles of rare and unattainable +works, multitudes of books now available by purchase +in the market, to enrich its own collection. It is +said to contain about 3,500,000 titles and cross-references. +It is printed in large, clear type, double columns, well +spaced, and its open page is a comfort to the eye. Issued +in paper covers, the thin folios can be bound in volumes +of any thickness desired by the possessor.</p> + +<p>It has several capital defects: (1) It fails to discriminate +authors of the same name by printing the years or +period of each; instead of which it gives designations like +"the elder", "the younger", or the residence, or occupation, +or title of the author. The years during which any +writer flourished would have been easily added to the name +in most cases, and the value of such information would +have been great, solving at once many doubts as to many +writers. (2) The catalogue fails to print the collations +of all works, except as to a portion of those published +since 1882, or in the newer portions issued. This omission +leaves a reader uncertain whether the book recorded +is a pamphlet or an extensive work. (3) The letters I and +J and U and V are run together in the alphabet, after the +ancient fashion, thus placing Josephus before Irving, and +Utah after Virginia; an arrangement highly perplexing, +not to say exasperating, to every searcher. To follow an +obsolete usage may be defended on the plea that it is a good +one, but when it is bad as well as outworn, no excuse for +it can satisfy a modern reader. (4) No analysis is given +of the collected works of authors, nor of many libraries +made up of monographs. One cannot find in it the con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_399" id="Pg_399"></a>[<a href="./images/399.png">399</a>]</span>tents +of the volumes of any of Swift's Works, nor even of +Milton's Prose Writings. (5) It fails to record the names +of publishers, except in the case of some early or rare +books.</p> + +<p>The printing of this monumental catalogue began in +1881, the volumes of MS. catalogue being set up by the +printer without transcription, which would have delayed +the work indefinitely, and it is now substantially +completed. Its total cost will be not far from £50,000. +There are about 374 volumes or parts in all. Only 250 +copies were printed, part of which were presented to large +libraries, and others were offered for sale at £3.10 per +annum, payable as issued, so that a complete set costs about +£70. One learns with surprise that only about forty +copies have been subscribed for. This furnishes another +evidence of the low estate of bibliography in England, +where, in a nation full of rich book-collectors and owners +of fine libraries, almost no buyers are found for the most +extensive bibliography ever published, a national work, +furnishing so copious and useful a key to the literature of +the world in every department of human knowledge.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_400" id="Pg_400"></a>[<a href="./images/400.png">400</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_23" id="CHAPTER_23"></a>CHAPTER 23.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Copyright and Libraries.</span></h3> + + +<p>The preservation of literature through public libraries +has been and will ever be one of the most signal benefits +which civilization has brought to mankind. When we +consider the multitude of books which have perished +from the earth, from the want of a preserving hand, a lively +sense of regret comes over us that so few libraries have +been charged with the duty of acquiring and keeping +every publication that comes from the press. Yet we owe +an immeasurable debt to the wisdom and far-sightedness +of those who, centuries ago, provided by this means for +the perpetuity of literature.</p> + +<p>The earliest step taken in this direction appears to +have been in France. By an ordinance proclaimed +in 1537, regulating the printing of books, it was required +that a copy of each work issued from the press should be +deposited in the royal library. And it was distinctly +affirmed that the ground of this exaction was to preserve +to posterity the literature of the time, which might otherwise +disappear.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> This edict of three centuries and a half +ago was the seed-grain from which has grown the largest +library yet gathered in the world—the <i>Bibliothèque Nationale</i> +of France. It antedated by more than two hundred +years, any similar provision in England for the preservation +of the national literature.</p> + +<p>It is a notable fact that the United States of America<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_401" id="Pg_401"></a>[<a href="./images/401.png">401</a>]</span> +was the first nation that ever embodied the principle of +protection to the rights of authors in its fundamental +law. "The Congress shall have power to promote the +progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited +times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their +respective writings and discoveries." Thus anchored in +the Constitution itself, this principle has been further +recognized by repeated acts of Congress, aimed in all cases +at giving it full practical effect.</p> + +<p>If it is asked why the authors of the Constitution gave +to Congress no plenary power, which might have authorized +a grant of copyright in perpetuity, the answer is, +that in this, British precedent had a great, if not a controlling +influence. Copyright in England, by virtue of +the statute of Anne, passed in 1710 (the first British copyright +act), was limited to fourteen years, with right of renewal, +by a living author, of only fourteen years more; +and this was in full force in 1787, when our Constitution +was framed. Prior to the British statute of 1710, authors +had only what is called a common law right to their writings; +and however good such a right might be, so long +as they held them in manuscript, the protection to printed +books was extremely uncertain and precarious.</p> + +<p>It has been held, indeed, that all copyright laws, so far +from maintaining an exclusive property right to authors, +do in effect deny it (at least in the sense of a natural +right), by explicitly limiting the term of exclusive ownership, +which might otherwise be held (as in other property) +to be perpetual. But there is a radical distinction +between the products of the brain, when put in the concrete +form of books and multiplied by the art of printing, +and the land or other property which is held by common +law tenure. Society views the absolute or exclusive property +in books or inventions as a monopoly. While a mon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_402" id="Pg_402"></a>[<a href="./images/402.png">402</a>]</span>opoly +may be justified for a reasonable number of years, +on the obvious ground of securing to their originators the +pecuniary benefit of their own ideas, a perpetual monopoly +is generally regarded as odious and unjust. Hence +society says to the author or inventor: "Put your ideas +into material form, and we will guarantee you the exclusive +right to multiply and sell your books or your inventions +for a term long enough to secure a fair reward to +you and to your family; after that period we want your +monopoly, with its individual benefits, to cease in favor +of the greatest good of all." If this appears unfair to +authors, who contribute so greatly to the instruction and +the advancement of mankind, it is to be considered that a +perpetual copyright would (1) largely increase the cost +of books, which should be most widely diffused for the +public benefit, prolonging the enhanced cost indefinitely +beyond the author's lifetime; (2) it would benefit by a +special privilege, prolonged without limit, a class of book +manufacturers or publishers who act as middle-men +between the author and the public, and who own, in most +cases, the entire property in the works of authors deceased, +and which they did not originate; (3) it would +amount in a few centuries to so vast a sum, taxed upon +the community who buy books, that the publishers of +Shakespeare's works, for example, who under perpetual +copyright could alone print the poet's writings, might +have reaped colossal fortunes, perhaps unequalled by any +private wealth yet amassed in the world.</p> + +<p>If it is said that copyright, thus limited, is a purely +arbitrary right, it may be answered that all legal provisions +are arbitrary. That which is an absolute or natural +right, so long as held in idea or in manuscript, becomes, +when given to the world in multiplied copies, the +creature of law. The most that authors can fairly claim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_403" id="Pg_403"></a>[<a href="./images/403.png">403</a>]</span> +is a sufficiently prolonged exclusive right to guarantee +them for a lifetime the just reward of their labors, with +a reversion for their immediate heirs. That such exclusive +rights should run to their remotest posterity, or, <i>a +fortiori</i>, to mere merchants or artificers who had no hand +whatever in the creation of the intellectual work thus protected, +would be manifestly unjust. The judicial tribunals, +both in England and America, have held that +copyright laws do not affirm an existing right, but create +a right, with special privileges not before existing, and +also with special limitations.</p> + +<p>The earliest copyright enactment of 1790 granted the +exclusive privilege of printing his work to the author or +his assigns for 14 <span class="lf">+</span> 14, or twenty-eight years in all.</p> + +<p>The act further required entry of the title, before publication, +in the office of the Clerk of the United States +District Court in the State where the author or proprietor +resided.</p> + +<p>This remained the law, with slight amendment, until +1831, when a new copyright act extended the duration +of copyright from fourteen to twenty-eight years for the +original, or first term, with right of renewal to the author +(now first extended to his widow or children, in case +of his decease) for fourteen additional years, making forty-two +years in all.</p> + +<p>By the same act the privilege of copyright was extended +to cover musical compositions, as it had been earlier extended +(in 1802) to include designs, engravings, and etchings. +Copyright was further extended in 1856 to dramatic +compositions, and in 1865 to photographs and negatives +thereof. In 1870 a new copyright code, to take the +place of all existing and scattered statutes, was enacted, +and there were added to the lawful subjects of copyright, +paintings, drawings, chromos, statues, statuary, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_404" id="Pg_404"></a>[<a href="./images/404.png">404</a>]</span> +models or designs intended to be perfected as works of +the fine arts. And finally, by act of March 3, 1891, the +benefits of copyright were extended so as to embrace foreign +authors. In 1897, Congress created the office of +Register of Copyrights, but continued the Copyright +office, with its records, in the Library of Congress.</p> + +<p>In 1846, the first enactment entitling the Library of +the United States Government to a copy of every work +protected by copyright was passed. This act, to establish +the Smithsonian Institution, required that one copy of +each copyright publication be deposited therein, and one +copy in the Library of Congress. No penalties were provided, +and in 1859, on complaint of the authorities of the +Smithsonian Institution that the law brought in much +trash in the shape of articles which were not books, the +law was repealed, with the apparent concurrence of those +in charge of the Congressional Library.</p> + +<p>This <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ieft'">left</ins> that Library without any accessions of copyright +books until 1865, when, at the instance of the present +writer, the Library Committee recommended, and Congress +passed an act restoring the privilege to the Library +of Congress. But it was found to require, in order to its +enforcement, frequent visits to the records of the clerks +of United States District Courts in many cities, with +costly transcripts of records in more than thirty other +offices, in order to ascertain what books had actually been +copyrighted. To this was added the necessity of issuing +demands upon delinquent authors or publishers for books +not sent to the Library; no residence of the delinquents, +however, being found in any of the records, which simply +recorded those claiming copyright as "of the said District."</p> + +<p>It resulted that no complete, nor even approximate +compliance with the law was secured, and after five years'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_405" id="Pg_405"></a>[<a href="./images/405.png">405</a>]</span> +trial, the Librarian was obliged to bring before the committees +of Congress the plan of a copyright registry at the +seat of government, as had been the requirement in the +case of Patents from the beginning.</p> + +<p>The law of copyright, as codified by act of July 8, 1870, +made an epoch in the copyright system of the United +States. It transferred the entire registry of books and +other publications, under copyright law, to the city of +Washington, and made the Librarian of Congress sole +register of copyrights, instead of the clerks of the District +Courts of the United States. Manifold reasons existed for +this radical change, and those which were most influential +with Congress in making it were the following:</p> + +<p>1. The transfer of the copyright records to Washington +it was foreseen would concentrate and simplify the business, +and this was a cardinal point. Prior to 1870 there +were between forty and fifty separate and distinct authorities +for issuing copyrights. The American people +were put to much trouble to find out where to apply, in +the complicated system of District Courts, several of them +frequently in a single State, to enter titles for publication. +They were required to make entry in the district +where the applicant resided, and this was frequently a +matter of doubt. Moreover, they were required to go to +the expense and trouble of transmitting a copy of the work, +after publication, to the District clerk, and another copy +to the Library of Congress. Were both copies mailed to +Washington (post-free by law) this duty would be diminished +by one-half.</p> + +<p>2. A copyright work is not an invention nor a patent; it +is a contribution to literature. It is not material, but intellectual, +and has no natural relation to a department which +is charged with the care of the mechanic arts; and it belongs +rather to a national library system than to any other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_406" id="Pg_406"></a>[<a href="./images/406.png">406</a>]</span> +department of the civil service. The responsibility of caring +for it would be an incident to the similar labors already +devolved upon the Librarian of Congress; and the receipts +from copyright certificates would much more than pay its +expense, thus leaving the treasury the gainer by the +change.</p> + +<p>3. The advantage of securing to our national library a +complete collection of all American copyright publications +can scarcely be over-estimated. If such a law as that enacted +in 1870 had been enforced since the beginning of the +government, we should now have in the Library of Congress +a complete representation of the product of the +American mind in every department of science and literature. +Many publications which are printed in small editions, +or which become "out of print" from the many accidents +which continually destroy books, would owe to such +a library their sole chance of preservation. We ought to +have one comprehensive library in the country, and that +belonging to the nation, whose aim it should be to preserve +the books which other libraries have not the room nor the +means to procure.</p> + +<p>4. This consideration assumes additional weight when it +is remembered that the Library of Congress is freely open +to the public day and evening throughout the year, and is +rapidly becoming the great reference library of the country, +resorted to not only by Congress and the residents of +Washington, but by students and writers from all parts of +the Union, in search of references and authorities not elsewhere +to be found. The advantage of having all American +publications accessible upon inquiry would be to build +up at Washington a truly national library, approximately +complete and available to all the people.</p> + +<p>These considerations prevailed with Congress to effect +the amendment in copyright registration referred to.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_407" id="Pg_407"></a>[<a href="./images/407.png">407</a>]</span>By enactment of the statute of 1870 all the defects in +the methods of registration and deposit of copies were obviated. +The original records of copyright in all the States +were thenceforward kept in the office of the Librarian of +Congress. All questions as to literary property, involving +a search of records to determine points of validity, +such as priority of entry, names and residence of actual +owners, transfers or assignments, timely deposit of the +required copies, etc., could be determined upon inquiry at +a single office of record. These inquiries are extremely +numerous, and obviously very important, involving frequently +large interests in valuable publications in which +litigation to establish the rights of authors, publishers or +infringers has been commenced or threatened. By the +full records of copyright entries thus preserved, moreover, +the Library of Congress (which is the property of the +nation) has been enabled to secure what was before unattainable, +namely, an approximately complete collection of +all American books, etc., protected by copyright, since the +legislation referred to went into effect. The system has +been found in practice to give general satisfaction; the +manner of securing copyright has been made plain and +easy to all, the office of record being now a matter of public +notoriety; and the test of experience during thirty +years has established the system so thoroughly that none +would be found to favor a return to the former methods.</p> + +<p>The Act of 1870 provided for the removal of the collection +of copyright books and other publications from the +over-crowded Patent Office to the Library of Congress. +These publications were the accumulations of about eighty +years, received from the United States District Clerks' +offices under the old law. By request of the Commissioner +of Patents all the law books and a large number of +technical works were reserved at the Department of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_408" id="Pg_408"></a>[<a href="./images/408.png">408</a>]</span> +Interior. The residue, when removed to the Capitol, were +found to number 23,070 volumes, a much smaller number +than had been anticipated, in view of the length of +time during which the copy tax had been in operation. +But the observance of the acts requiring deposits of copyright +publications with the Clerks of the United States +District Courts had been very defective (no penalty being +provided for non-compliance), and, moreover, the Patent +Office had failed to receive from the offices of original deposit +large numbers of publications which should have +been sent to Washington. From one of the oldest States +in the Union not a single book had been sent in evidence +of copyright. The books, however, which were added to +the Congressional Library, although consisting largely of +school books and the minor literature of the last half century, +comprised many valuable additions to the collection +of American books, which it should be the aim of a National +Library to render complete. Among them were +the earliest editions of the works of many well-known writers, +now out of print and scarce.</p> + +<p>The first book ever entered for copyright privileges +under the laws of the United States was "The Philadelphia +Spelling Book," which was registered in the Clerk's +Office of the District of Pennsylvania, June 9, 1790, by +John Barry as author. The spelling book was a fit introduction +to the long series of books since produced to further +the diffusion of knowledge among men. The second +book entered was "The American Geography," by Jedediah +Morse, entered in the District of Massachusetts on +July 10, 1790, a copy of which is preserved in the Library +of Congress. The earliest book entered in the State of +New York was on the 30th of April, 1791, and it was entitled +"The Young Gentleman's and Lady's Assistant, by +Donald Fraser, Schoolmaster."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_409" id="Pg_409"></a>[<a href="./images/409.png">409</a>]</span>Objection has occasionally, though rarely, been made to +what is known as the copy-tax, by which two copies of each +publication must be deposited in the National Library. +This requirement rests upon two valid grounds: (1) The +preservation of copies of everything protected by copyright +is necessary in the interest of authors and publishers, +in evidence of copyright, and in aid of identification +in connection with the record of title; (2) the library of +the government (which is that of the whole people) should +possess and permanently preserve a complete collection of +the products of the American press, so far as secured by +copyright. The government makes no unreasonable exaction +in saying to authors and publishers: "The nation +gives you exclusive right to make and sell your publication, +without limit as to quantity, for forty-two years; give +the nation in return two copies, one for the use and reference +of Congress and the public in the National Library, +the other for preservation in the copyright archives, in +perpetual evidence of your right."</p> + +<p>In view of the valuable monopoly conceded by the public, +does not the government in effect give far more than +a <i>quid pro quo</i> for the copy-tax? Of course it would not +be equitable to exact even one copy of publications not secured +by copyright, in which case the government gives +nothing and gets nothing; but the exaction of actually +protected publications, while it is almost unfelt by publishers, +is so clearly in the interest of the public intelligence, +as well as of authors and publishers themselves, that no +valid objection to it appears to exist. In Great Britain +five copies of every book protected by copyright are required +for five different libraries, which appears somewhat +unreasonable.</p> + +<p>Regarding the right of renewal of the term of copyright, +it is a significant fact that it is availed of in comparatively<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_410" id="Pg_410"></a>[<a href="./images/410.png">410</a>]</span> +few instances, compared with the whole body of publications. +Multitudes of books are published which not only +never reach a second edition, but the sale of which does +not exhaust more than a small part of the copies printed +of the first. In these cases the right of renewal is waived +and suffered to lapse, from defect of commercial value in +the work protected. In many other cases the right of renewal +expires before the author or his assigns bethink +them of the privilege secured to them under the law. It +results that more than nine-tenths, probably, of all books +published are free to any one to print, without reward or +royalty to their authors, after a very few years have elapsed. +On the other hand, the exclusive right in some publications +of considerable commercial value is kept alive far beyond +the forty-two years included in the original and the +renewal term, by entry of new editions of the work, and +securing copyright on the same. While this method may +not protect any of the original work from republication by +others, it enables the publishers of the copyright edition +to advertise such unauthorized reprints as imperfect, and +without the author's or editor's latest revision or additions.</p> + +<p>The whole number of entries of copyright in the United +States since we became a nation considerably exceeds a +million and a half. It may be of interest to give the aggregate +number of titles of publications entered for copyright +in each year since the transfer of the entire records +to Washington in 1870.</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Copyrights Registered in the US 1870-1899"> +<tr><th align='center' colspan='6'><span class="smcap">Copyrights Registered in the United States</span>, 1870-1899.</th></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1870</td><td align='right'>5,600</td><td align='right'>1874</td><td align='right'>16,283</td><td align='right'>1878</td><td align='right'>15,798</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1871</td><td align='right'>12,688</td><td align='right'>1875</td><td align='right'>14,364</td><td align='right'>1879</td><td align='right'>18,125</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1872</td><td align='right'>14,164</td><td align='right'>1876</td><td align='right'>14,882</td><td align='right'>1880</td><td align='right'>20,686</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1873</td><td align='right'>15,352</td><td align='right'>1877</td><td align='right'>15,758</td><td align='right'>1881</td><td align='right'>21,075<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_411" id="Pg_411"></a>[<a href="./images/411.png">411</a>]</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1882</td><td align='right'>22,918</td><td align='right'>1888</td><td align='right'>38,225</td><td align='right'>1894</td><td align='right'>62,762</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1883</td><td align='right'>25,273</td><td align='right'>1889</td><td align='right'>40,777</td><td align='right'>1895</td><td align='right'>67,572</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1884</td><td align='right'>26,893</td><td align='right'>1890</td><td align='right'>42,758</td><td align='right'>1896</td><td align='right'>72,470</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1885</td><td align='right'>28,410</td><td align='right'>1891</td><td align='right'>48,908</td><td align='right'>1897</td><td align='right'>74,321</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1886</td><td align='right'>31,241</td><td align='right'>1892</td><td align='right'>54,735</td><td align='right'>1898</td><td align='right'>76,874</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>1887</td><td align='right'>35,083</td><td align='right'>1893</td><td align='right'>58,936</td><td align='right'>1899</td><td align='right'>86,492</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='5'>Total, 30 years,</td><td align='right'>1,079,445</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>It will readily be seen that this great number of copyrights +does not represent books alone. Many thousands +of entries are daily and weekly periodicals claiming copyright +protection, in which case they are required by law +to make entry of every separate issue. These include a +multitude of journals, literary, political, scientific, religious, +pictorial, technical, commercial, agricultural, sporting, +dramatic, etc., among which are a number in foreign +languages. These entries also embrace all the leading +monthly and quarterly magazines and reviews, with many +devoted to specialties—as metaphysics, sociology, law, theology, +art, finance, education, and the arts and sciences +generally. Another large class of copyright entries (and +the largest next to books and periodicals) is musical compositions, +numbering recently some 20,000 publications +yearly. Much of this property is valuable, and it is +nearly all protected by entry of copyright, coming from all +parts of the Union. There is also a large and constantly +increasing number of works of graphic art, comprising +engravings, photographs, photogravures, chromos, lithographs, +etchings, prints, and drawings, for which copyright +is entered. The steady accumulation of hundreds of +thousands of these various pictorial illustrations will enable +the government at no distant day, without a dollar +of expense, to make an exhibit of the progress of the arts +of design in America, which will be highly interesting and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_412" id="Pg_412"></a>[<a href="./images/412.png">412</a>]</span> +instructive. An art gallery of ample dimensions for this +purpose is provided in the new National Library building.</p> + +<p>It remains to consider briefly the principles and practice +of what is known as international copyright.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there is no argument for copyright at all in the +productions of the intellect which is not good for its extension +to all countries. The basis of copyright is that all +useful labor is worthy of a recompense; but since all human +thought when put into material or merchantable +form becomes, in a certain sense, public property, the laws +of all countries recognize and protect the original owners, +or their assigns to whom they may convey the right, in an +exclusive privilege for limited terms only. Literary property +therefore is not a natural right, but a conventional +one. The author's right to his manuscript is, indeed, absolute, +and the law will protect him in it as fully as it will +guard any other property. But when once put in type and +multiplied through the printing-press, his claim to an exclusive +right has to be guarded by a special statute, otherwise +it is held to be abandoned (like the articles in a +newspaper) to the public. This special protection is furnished +in nearly all civilized countries by copyright law.</p> + +<p>What we call "copyright" is an exclusive right to multiply +copies of any publication for sale. Domestic copyright, +which is all we formerly had in this country, is +limited to the United States. International copyright, +which has now been enacted, extends the right of American +authors to foreign countries, and recognizes a parallel +right of foreign authors in our own. There is nothing in +the constitutional provision which restrains Congress from +granting copyright to other than American citizens. +Patent right, coming under the same clause of the Constitution, +has been extended to foreigners. Out of over 20,000 +patents annually issued, about 2,500 (or 12 per cent.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_413" id="Pg_413"></a>[<a href="./images/413.png">413</a>]</span> +are issued to foreigners, while American patents are similarly +protected abroad. If we have international patent +right, why not international copyright? The grant of +power is the same; both patent right and copyright are +for a limited time; both rights during this time are exclusive; +and both rest upon the broad ground of the promotion +of science and the useful arts. If copyright is +justifiable at all, if authors are to be secured a reward for +their labors, they claim that all who use them should contribute +equally to this result. The principle of copyright +once admitted, it cannot logically be confined to State +lines or national boundaries. There appears to be no +middle ground between the doctrine of common property +in all productions of the intellect—which leads us to communism +by the shortest road—and the admission that +copyright is due, while its limited term lasts, from all who +use the works of an author, wherever found.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, international copyright has become the +policy of nearly all civilized nations. The term of copyright +is longer in most countries than in the United +States, ranging from the life of the author and seven years +beyond, in England, to a life term and fifty years additional +in France and Russia. Copyright is thus made a +life tenure and something more in all countries except our +own, where its utmost limit is forty-two years. This may +perhaps be held to represent a fair average lifetime, reckoned +from the age of intellectual maturity. There have +not been wanting advocates for a perpetual copyright, to +run to the author and his heirs and assigns forever. This +was urged before the British Copyright Commission in +1878 by leading British publishers, but the term of copyright +is hitherto, in all nations, limited by law.</p> + +<p>Only brief allusion can be made to the most recent (and +in some respects most important) advance step which has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_414" id="Pg_414"></a>[<a href="./images/414.png">414</a>]</span> +been taken in copyright legislation in the United States. +This act of Congress is aimed at securing reciprocal protection +to American and foreign authors in the respective +countries which may comply with its provisions. There +is here no room to sketch the hitherto vain attempt to secure +to authors, here and abroad, an international protection +to their writings. Suffice it to say that a union of +interests was at last effected, whereby authors, publishers +and manufacturers are supposed to have secured some +measure of protection to their varied interests. The +measure is largely experimental, and the satisfaction felt +over its passage into law is tempered by doubt in various +quarters as to the justice, or liberality, or actual benefit +to authors of its provisions. What is to be said of a +statute which was denounced by some Senators as a long +step backward toward barbarism, and hailed by others as +a great landmark in the progress of civilization?</p> + +<p>The main features added to the existing law of copyright +by this act, which took effect July 1, 1891, are these:</p> + +<p>1. All limitation of the privilege of copyright to citizens +and residents of the United States is repealed.</p> + +<p>2. Foreigners applying for copyright are to pay fees of +$1 for record, or $1.50 for certificate of copyright.</p> + +<p>3. Importation of books, photographs, chromos or lithographs +entered here for copyright is prohibited, except two +copies of any book for use and not for sale.</p> + +<p>4. The two copies of books, photographs, chromos or +lithographs deposited with the Librarian of Congress +must be printed from type set, or plates, etc., made in the +United States. It follows that all foreign works protected +by American copyright must be wholly manufactured +in this country.</p> + +<p>5. The copyright privilege is restricted to citizens or +subjects of nations permitting the benefit of copyright to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_415" id="Pg_415"></a>[<a href="./images/415.png">415</a>]</span> +Americans on substantially the same terms as their own +citizens, or of nations who have international agreements +providing for reciprocity in the grant of copyright, to +which the United States may at its pleasure become a +party.</p> + +<p>6. The benefit of copyright in the United States is not +to take effect as to any foreigner until the actual existence +of either of the conditions just recited, in the case of the +nation to which he belongs, shall have been made known +by a proclamation of the President of the United States.</p> + +<p>One very material benefit has been secured through international +copyright. Under it, authors are assured the +control of their own text, both as to correctness and completeness. +Formerly, republication was conducted on a +"scramble" system, by which books were hastened through +the press, to secure the earliest market, with little or no +regard to a correct re-production. Moreover, it was in +the power of the American publisher of an English book, +or of a British publisher of an American one, to alter or +omit passages in any work reprinted, at his pleasure. This +license was formerly exercised, and imperfect, garbled, +or truncated editions of an author's writings were issued +without his consent, an outrage against which international +copyright furnishes the only preventive.</p> + +<p>Another benefit of copyright between nations has been +to check the relentless flood of cheap, unpaid-for fiction, +which formerly poured from the press, submerging the +better literature. The Seaside and other libraries, with +their miserable type, flimsy paper, and ugly form, were +an injury alike to the eyesight, to the taste, and in many +cases, to the morals of the community. More than ninety +per cent. of these wretched "Libraries" were foreign +novels. An avalanche of English and translated French +novels of the "bigamy school" of fiction swept over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_416" id="Pg_416"></a>[<a href="./images/416.png">416</a>]</span> +land, until the cut-throat competition of publishers, after +exhausting the stock of unwholesome foreign literature, +led to the failure of many houses, and piled high the counters +of book and other stores with bankrupt stock. Having +at last got rid of this unclean brood, (it is hoped +forever) we now have better books, produced on good +paper and type, and worth preserving, at prices not much +above those of the trash formerly offered us.</p> + +<p>At the same time, standard works of science and literature +are being published in England at prices which tend +steadily toward increased popular circulation. Even conservative +publishers are reversing the rule of small editions +at high prices, for larger editions at low prices. The old +three-volume novel is nearly supplanted by the one volume, +well-printed and bound book at five or six shillings. +Many more reductions would follow in the higher class of +books, were not the measure of reciprocal copyright thus +far secured handicapped by the necessity of re-printing on +this side at double cost, if a large American circulation +is in view.</p> + +<p>The writers of America, with the steady and rapid +progress of the art of making books, have come more and +more to appreciate the value of their preservation, in complete +and unbroken series, in the library of the government, +the appropriate conservator of the nation's literature. +Inclusive and not exclusive, as this library is wisely +made by law, so far as copyright works are concerned, it +preserves with impartial care the illustrious and the obscure. +In its archives all sciences and all schools of +opinion stand on equal ground. In the beautiful and +ample repository, now erected and dedicated to literature +and art through the liberal action of Congress, the intellectual +wealth of the past and the present age will be +handed down to the ages that are to follow.</p> +<div class="footnotes"><p class="tsc">Footnotes:</p> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> G. H. Putnam, "Books and their makers in the Middle +Ages," N. Y. 1897, vol. 2, p. 447.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_417" id="Pg_417"></a>[<a href="./images/417.png">417</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_24" id="CHAPTER_24"></a>CHAPTER 24.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Poetry of the Library.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Librarian's Dream.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i14">1.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He sat at night by his lonely bed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With an open book before him;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And slowly nodded his weary head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As slumber came stealing o'er him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">2.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he saw in his dream a mighty host<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the writers gone before,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the shadowy form of many a ghost<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glided in at the open door.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">3.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Great Homer came first in a snow-white shroud,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Virgil sang sweet by his side;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Cicero thundered in accents loud,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Caesar most gravely replied.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">4.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Anacreon, too, from his rhythmical lips<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The honey of Hybla distilled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Herodotus suffered a partial eclipse,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Horace with music was filled.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">5.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The procession of ancients was brilliant and long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aristotle and Plato were there,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thucydides, too, and Tacitus strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Plutarch, and Sappho the fair.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">6.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aristophanes elbowed gay Ovid's white ghost,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Euripides Xenophon led,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Propertius laughed loud at Juvenal's jokes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Sophocles rose from the dead.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_418" id="Pg_418"></a>[<a href="./images/418.png">418</a>]</span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">7.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then followed a throng to memory dear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of writers more modern in age,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cervantes and Shakespeare, who died the same year,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Chaucer, and Bacon the sage.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">8.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Immortal the laurels that decked the fair throng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Dante moved by with his lyre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Montaigne and Pascal stood rapt by his song,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Boccaccio paused to admire.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">9.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sweet Spenser and Calderon moved arm in arm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Milton and Sidney were there,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pope, Dryden, and Molière added their charm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Bunyan, and Marlowe so rare.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">10.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then Gibbon stalked by in classical guise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Hume, and Macaulay, and Froude,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Darwin, and Huxley, and Tyndall looked wise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Humboldt and Comte near them stood.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">11.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dean Swift looked sardonic on Addison's face,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Johnson tipped Boswell a wink,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Walter Scott and Jane Austen hobnobbed o'er a glass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Goethe himself deigned to drink.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">12.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Robert Burns followed next with Thomas Carlyle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Jean Paul paired with Coleridge, too,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While De Foe elbowed Goldsmith, the master of style,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Fielding and Schiller made two.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">13.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rousseau with his eloquent, marvellous style,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Voltaire, with his keen, witty pen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Victor Hugo so grand, though repellent the while,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Dumas and Balzac again.<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_419" id="Pg_419"></a>[<a href="./images/419.png">419</a>]</span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">14.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dear Thackeray came in his happiest mood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And stayed until midnight was done,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bulwer-Lytton, and Reade, and Kingsley and Hood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Dickens, the master of fun.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">15.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">George Eliot, too, with her matter-full page,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Byron, and Browning, and Keats,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Shelley and Tennyson joined youth and age,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Wordsworth the circle completes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">16.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then followed a group of America's best,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With Irving, and Bryant, and Holmes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Bancroft and Motley unite with the rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Thoreau with Whittier comes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">17.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With his Raven in hand dreamed on Edgar Poe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Longfellow sweet and serene,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While Prescott, and Ticknor, and Emerson too,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Hawthorne and Lowell were seen.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">18.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While thus the assembly of witty and wise<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rejoiced the librarian's sight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ere the wonderful vision had fled from his eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From above shone a heavenly light:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i13">19.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And solemn and sweet came a voice from the skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"All battles and conflicts are done,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The temple of Knowledge shall open all eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And law, faith, and reason are one!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When the radiant dawn of the morning broke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From his glorious dream the librarian woke.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_420" id="Pg_420"></a>[<a href="./images/420.png">420</a>]</span></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Library.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">That place that does contain my books,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My books, the best companions, is to me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A glorious court, where hourly I converse<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the old sages and philosophers;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sometimes, for variety I confer<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Beaumont and Fletcher.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The bard of every age and clime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of genius fruitful and of soul sublime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who from the glowing mint of fancy pours<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No spurious metal, fused from common ores,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But gold to matchless purity refined,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And stamped with all the Godhead in his mind.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Juvenal.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Books, we know,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are a substantial world, both pure and good;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our pastime and our happiness will grow.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Wordsworth.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Quaint Lines on a Book-worm.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Bokeworme sitteth in his celle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He studyethe all alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And burnethe oute the oile,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Till ye midnight hour is gone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then gethe he downe upon his bedde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne mo watch will he a-keepe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He layethe his heade on ye pillowe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And eke he tryes to sleepe.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then swyfte there cometh a vision grimme,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And greetythe him sleepynge fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And straighte he dreameth of grislie dreames,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And dreades fellowne and rayre.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wherefore, if cravest life to eld<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne rede longe uppe at night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But go to bed at Curfew bell<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ryse wythe mornynge's lyte.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_421" id="Pg_421"></a>[<a href="./images/421.png">421</a>]</span></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Ballade of the Book-hunter.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">In torrid heats of late July,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In March, beneath the bitter <i>bise</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He book-hunts while the loungers fly,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He book-hunts, though December freeze;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In breeches baggy at the knees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And heedless of the public jeers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For these, for these, he hoards his fees,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">No dismal stall escapes his eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He turns o'er tomes of low degrees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There soiled romanticists may lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Restoration comedies;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each tract that flutters in the breeze<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For him is charged with hopes and fears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In mouldy novels fancy sees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With restless eyes that peer and spy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sad eyes that heed not skies nor trees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In dismal nooks he loves to pry,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose motto evermore is <i>Spes</i>!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But ah! the fabled treasure flees;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grown rarer with the fleeting years,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In rich men's shelves they take their ease,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Prince, all the things that tease and please,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fame, hope, wealth, kisses, jeers and tears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What are they but such toys as these—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs?<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Andrew Lang.</span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Tis in books the chief<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of all perfections to be plain and brief.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Samuel Butler.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Of all those arts in which the wise excel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nature's chief master-piece is writing well.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Buckingham.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Books should to one of these four ends conduce:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For wisdom, piety, delight, or use.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Sir John Denham.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_422" id="Pg_422"></a>[<a href="./images/422.png">422</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>My Books.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, happy he who, weary of the sound<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of throbbing life, can shut his study door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like Heinsius, on it all, to find a store<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of peace that otherwise is never found!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such happiness is mine, when all around<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My dear dumb friends in groups of three or four<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Command my soul to linger on the shore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of those fair realms where they reign monarchs crowned.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To-day the strivings of the world are naught,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For I am in a land that glows with God,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I am in a path by angels trod.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dost ask what book creates such heavenly thought?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then know that I with Dante soar afar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till earth shrinks slowly to a tiny star.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">J. Williams.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Thoughts in a Library.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Speak low! tread softly through these halls;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here genius lives enshrined;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here reign in silent majesty<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The monarchs of the mind.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A mighty spirit host they come<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From every age and clime;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Above the buried wrecks of years<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They breast the tide of time.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Here shall the poets chant for thee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their sweetest, loftiest lays,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And prophets wait to guide thy steps<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Wisdom's pleasant ways.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come, with these God-anointed kings<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be thou companion here;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in the mighty realm of mind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou shalt go forth a peer!<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Anne C. Lynch Botta.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_423" id="Pg_423"></a>[<a href="./images/423.png">423</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Verses in a Library.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Give me that book whose power is such<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I forget the north wind's touch.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Give me that book that brings to me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Forgetfulness of what I be.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Give me that book that takes my life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In seeming far from all its strife.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Give me that book wherein each page<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Destroys my sense of creeping age.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">John Kendrick Bangs.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>A Book by the Brook.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Give me a nook and a book,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let the proud world spin round;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let it scramble by hook or by crook<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For wealth or a name with a sound.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You are welcome to amble your ways,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aspirers to place or to glory;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May big bells jangle your praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And golden pens blazon your story;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For me, let me dwell in my nook,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here by the curve of this brook,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That croons to the tune of my book:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose melody wafts me forever<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the waves of an unseen river.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">William Freeland.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the sweet serenity of books.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">H. W. Longfellow.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh for a booke and a shady nooke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eyther in door or out,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the greene leaves whispering overhead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or the streete cryes all about:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where I maie reade all at my ease<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Both of the newe and olde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a jollie goode booke whereon to looke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is better to me than golde!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_424" id="Pg_424"></a>[<a href="./images/424.png">424</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>To Daniel Elzevir.</b><br /></span> +  (<i>From the Latin of Ménage.</i>)<br /> +<span class="i0">What do I see! Oh! gods divine<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Goddesses—this Book of mine—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This child of many hopes and fears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is published by the Elzevirs!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh Perfect publishers complete!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh dainty volume, new and neat!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Paper doth outshine the snow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Print is blacker than the crow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Title-page, with crimson bright,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The vellum cover smooth and white,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All sorts of readers to invite;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ay, and will keep them reading still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Against their will, or with their will!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus what of grace the Rhymes may lack<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Publisher has given them back,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As Milliners adorn the fair<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose charms are something skimp and spare.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh dulce decus, Elzevirs!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The pride of dead and dawning years,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How can a poet best repay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The debt he owes your House to-day?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May this round world, while aught endures,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Applaud, and buy, these books of yours.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May purchasers incessant pop,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My Elzevirs, within your shop,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And learned bards salute, with cheers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The volumes of the Elzevirs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till your renown fills earth and sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till men forget the Stephani,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all that Aldus wrought, and all<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Turnebus sold in shop or stall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While still may Fate's (and Binders') shears<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Respect, and spare, the Elzevirs!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Blessings be with them, and eternal praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who gave us nobler loves and nobler cares!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Poets, who on earth have made us heirs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Wordsworth.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_425" id="Pg_425"></a>[<a href="./images/425.png">425</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Companions.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">But books, old friends that are always new,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of all good things that we know are best;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They never forsake us, as others do,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And never disturb our inward rest.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here is truth in a world of lies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all that in man is great and wise!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Better than men and women, friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That are dust, though dear in our joy and pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are the books their cunning hands have penned,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For they depart, but the books remain.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Richard Henry Stoddard.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Paradox of Books.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm strange contradictions; I'm new and I'm old,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm often in tatters, and oft decked with gold.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though I never could read, yet lettered I'm found;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though blind, I enlighten; though loose, I am bound.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm always in black, and I'm always in white;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I am grave and I'm gay, I am heavy and light.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In form too I differ,—I'm thick and I'm thin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I've no flesh and no bone, yet I'm covered with skin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I've more points than the compass, more stops than the flute;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I sing without voice, without speaking confute;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm English, I'm German, I'm French, and I'm Dutch;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some love me too fondly, some slight me too much;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I often die soon, though I sometimes live ages,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And no monarch alive has so many pages.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Hannah More.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I love my books as drinkers love their wine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The more I drink, the more they seem divine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With joy elate my soul in love runs o'er,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And each fresh draught is sweeter than before:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Books bring me friends where'er on earth I be,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Solace of solitude, bonds of society.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I love my books! they are companions dear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sterling in worth, in friendship most sincere;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here talk I with the wise in ages gone,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_426" id="Pg_426"></a>[<a href="./images/426.png">426</a>]<br /></span></span> +<span class="i0">And with the nobly gifted in our own:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If love, joy, laughter, sorrow please my mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love, joy, grief, laughter in my books I find.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Francis Bennoch.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>My Library.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">All round the room my silent servants wait,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My friends in every season, bright and dim<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Angels and seraphim<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come down and murmur to me, sweet and low,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spirits of the skies all come and go<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Early and late;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the old world's divine and distant date,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the sublimer few,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Down to the poet who but yester-eve<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sang sweet and made us grieve,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All come, assembling here in order due.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And here I dwell with Poesy, my mate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With Erato and all her vernal sighs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Great Clio with her victories elate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or pale Urania's deep and starry eyes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh friends, whom chance or change can never harm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whom Death the tyrant cannot doom to die,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Within whose folding soft eternal charm<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I love to lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And meditate upon your verse that flows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fertilizes wheresoe'er it goes.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Bryan Waller Procter.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Rational Madness.</b><br /></span> + <i>A Song, for the Lover of Curious and Rare Books.</i><br /> +<span class="i0">Come, boys, fill your glasses, and fill to the brim,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here's the essence of humor, the soul, too, of whim!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Attend and receive (and sure 'tis no vapour)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A "hap' worth of wit on a pennyworth of paper."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Those joys which the Bibliomania affords<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are felt and acknowledged by Dukes and by Lords!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the finest estate would be offer'd in vain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For an exemplar bound by the famed Roger Payne!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_427" id="Pg_427"></a>[<a href="./images/427.png">427</a>]<br /></span></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To a proverb goes madness with love hand in hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But our senses we yield to a double command;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The dear frenzy in both is first rous'd by fair looks,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here's our sweethearts, my boys! not forgetting our books!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thus our time may we pass with rare books and rare friends,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Growing wiser and better, till life itself ends:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And may those who delight not in black-letter lore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By some obsolete act be sent from our shore!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Ballade of True Wisdom.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">While others are asking for beauty or fame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or praying to know that for which they should pray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or courting Queen Venus, that affable dame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or chasing the Muses the weary and grey,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sage has found out a more excellent way—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Pan and to Pallas his incense he showers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his humble petition puts up day by day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Inventors may bow to the God that is lame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And crave from the fire on his stithy a ray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Philosophers kneel to the God without name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like the people of Athens, agnostics are they;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The hunter a fawn to Diana will slay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The maiden wild roses will wreathe for the Hours;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the wise man will ask, ere libation he pay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh grant me a life without pleasure or blame<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(As mortals count pleasure who rush through their day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With a speed to which that of the tempest is tame)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O grant me a house by the beach of a bay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the waves can be surly in winter, and play<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the sea-weed in summer, ye bountiful powers!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I'd leave all the hurry, the noise, and the fray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Envoy.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gods, grant or withhold it; your "yea" and your "nay"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are immutable, heedless of outcry of ours:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_428" id="Pg_428"></a>[<a href="./images/428.png">428</a>]<br /></span></span> +<span class="i0">But life is worth living, and here we would stay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Andrew Lang.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Library.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">They soothe the grieved, the stubborn they chastise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fools they admonish, and confirm the wise:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their aid they yield to all: they never shun<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The man of sorrow, nor the wretch undone:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unlike the hard, the selfish, and the proud,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They fly not sullen from the suppliant crowd;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor tell to various people various things,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But show to subjects, what they show to kings.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Blest be the gracious Power, who taught mankind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To stamp a lasting image of the mind!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With awe, around these silent walks I tread;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">These are the lasting mansions of the dead:—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"The dead!" methinks a thousand tongues reply;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"These are the tombs of such as cannot die!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Crown'd with eternal fame, they sit sublime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And laugh at all the little strife of time."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lo, all in silence, all in order stand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mighty folios first, a lordly band;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then quartos their well-order'd ranks maintain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And light octavos fill a spacious plain:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">See yonder, rangèd in more frequent rows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A humbler band of duodecimos;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While undistinguished trifles swell the scene,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The last new play and fritter'd magazine.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Here all the rage of controversy ends,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rival zealots rest like bosom friends:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An Athanasian here, in deep repose,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sleeps with the fiercest of his Arian foes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Socinians here with Calvinists abide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thin partitions angry chiefs divide;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here wily Jesuits simple Quakers meet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Bellarmine has rest at Luther's feet.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">George Crabbe.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_429" id="Pg_429"></a>[<a href="./images/429.png">429</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Eternity of Poetry.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">For deeds doe die, however noblie donne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thoughts do as themselves decay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But wise words, taught in numbers for to runne<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Recorded by the Muses, live for ay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne may with storming showers be washt away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne bitter breathing windes with harmful blast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor age, nor envie, shall them ever wast.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Spenser.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Old Books.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The old books, the old books, the books of long ago!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who ever felt Miss Austen tame, or called Sir Walter slow?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We did not care the worst to hear of human sty or den;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We liked to love a little bit, and trust our fellow-men.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The old books, the old books, as pure as summer breeze!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We read them under garden boughs, by fire-light on our knees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They did not teach, they did not preach, or scold us into good;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A noble spirit from them breathed, the rest was understood.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The old books, the old books, the mother loves them best;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They leave no bitter taste behind to haunt the youthful breast:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They bid us hope, they bid us fill our hearts with visions fair;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They do not paralyze the will with problems of despair.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And as they lift from sloth and sense to follow loftier planes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And stir the blood of indolence to bubble in the veins:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Inheritors of mighty things, who own a lineage high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We feel within us budding wings that long to reach the sky:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To rise above the commonplace, and through the cloud to soar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And join the loftier company of grander souls of yore.<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">The Spectator.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_430" id="Pg_430"></a>[<a href="./images/430.png">430</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_25" id="CHAPTER_25"></a>CHAPTER 25.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Humors of the Library.</span><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Some Thoughts on Classification.</b><br /></span> +<i> By Librarian F. M. Crunden.</i><br /> +<span class="i0">Classification is vexation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shelf-numbering is as bad;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The rule of D<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Doth puzzle me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mnemonics drives me mad.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<i> Air—The Lord Chancellor's Song.</i> +<span class="i0">When first I became a librarian,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll learn all their systems as fast as I can,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Cutter, the Dewey, the Schwartz, and the Poole,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The alphabet, numeral, mnemonic rule,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The old, and the new, and the eclectic school,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Class-numbers, shelf-numbers, book-numbers, too,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll study them all, and I'll learn them clear thro',<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll find what is good, and what's better and best,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I'll put two or three to a practical test;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And then—if I've time—I'll take a short rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But art it is long and time it doth fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And three or four years have already passed by,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yet on those systems I'm not at all clear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While new combinations forever appear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To master them all is a life-work, I fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Says I to myself, says I.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_431" id="Pg_431"></a>[<a href="./images/431.png">431</a>]</span></p> +<p>Classification in a Library in Western New York: Gail +Hamilton's "Woolgathering," under Agriculture.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Book asked for. "An attack philosopher in Paris."</p> + +<p>A changed title. A young woman went into a library the +other day and asked for the novel entitled "She combeth not +her head," but she finally concluded to take "He cometh not, +she said."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Labor-saving devices. The economical catalogue-maker who +thus set down two titles—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mill on the Floss<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: removed extraneous quotation mark">,</ins><br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">do. Political economy."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>has a sister who keeps a universal scrap-book into which +everything goes, but which is carefully indexed. She, too, has +a mind for saving, as witness:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Patti, Adelina.<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">do. Oyster."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>From a New York auction catalogue:</p> + +<p>"267. Junius Stat Nominis Umbrii, with numerous splendid +portraits."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>At the New York Free Circulating Library, a youth of +twenty said Shakespeare made him tired. "Why couldn't he +write English instead of indulging in that <i>thee</i> and <i>thou</i> business?" +Miss Braddon he pronounced "a daisy". A pretty little +blue-eyed fellow "liked American history best of all," but +found the first volume of Justin Winsor's history too much +for him. "The French and German and Hebrew in it are all +right, but there's Spanish and Italian and Latin, and I don't +know those."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A gentleman in Paris sent to the bookbinder two volumes +of the French edition of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The title in +French is "L'Oncle Tom," and the two volumes were returned +to him marked on their backs:</p> + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Uncle Tom Volumes"> +<tr><td align='left'>L'Oncle,</td><td align='left'>L'Oncle,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tome I.</td><td align='left'>Tome II.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_432" id="Pg_432"></a>[<a href="./images/432.png">432</a>]</span></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>How a Bibliomaniac Binds His Books.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'd like my favorite books to bind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So that their outward dress<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To every bibliomaniac's mind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their contents should express.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Napoleon's life should glare in red,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">John Calvin's life in blue;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus they would typify bloodshed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sour religion's hue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Popes in scarlet well may go;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In jealous green, Othello;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In gray, Old Age of Cicero,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And London Cries in yellow.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">My Walton should his gentle art<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In salmon best express,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Penn and Fox the friendly heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In quiet drab confess.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Crimea's warlike facts and dates<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of fragrant Russia smell;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The subjugated Barbary States<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In crushed Morocco dwell.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But oh! that one I hold so dear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Should be arrayed so cheap<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gives me a qualm; I sadly fear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My Lamb must be half-sheep!<br /></span> +<span class="i10"><span class="smcap">Irving Browne.<br /></span></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In a Wisconsin library, a young lady asked for the "Life of +National Harthorne" and the "Autograph on the breakfast +table."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"Have you a poem on the Victor of Manengo, by Anon?"</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Library inquiry—"I want the catalogue of temporary literature."</p> + +<p>Query—What did she want?</p> + +<p>A friend proposes to put Owen's "Footfalls on the Boundaries +of Another World" in Travels. Shall we let him?</p> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_433" id="Pg_433"></a>[<a href="./images/433.png">433</a>]</span></p> + +<p>A poet, in Boston, filled out an application for a volume +of Pope's works, an edition reserved from circulation, in the +following tuneful manner:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"You ask me, dear sir, to a reason define<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why you should for a fortnight this volume resign<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To my care.—<i>I am also a son of the nine.</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A worthy Deutscher, confident in his mastery of the English +tongue, sent the following quaint document across the sea:</p> + +<p>"I send you with the Post six numbers, of our Allgemeine +Militär-Zeitung, which is published in the next year to the +fifty times. Excuse my bath english I learned in the school +and I forgot so much. If you have interest to german Antiquariatskataloge +I will send to you some. I remain however +yours truly servant."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A gentlemanly stranger once asked the delivery clerk for +"a genealogy." "What one?" she asked. "Oh! any," he said. +"Well—Savage's?" "No; white men."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Said Melvil Dewey: "To my thinking, a great librarian +must have a clear head, a strong hand, and, above all, a great +heart. Such shall be greatest among librarians; and, when I +look into the future, I am inclined to think that most of the +men who will achieve this greatness will be women."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>A Library Hymn.</b><br /></span> +<i> By an Assistant Librarian.</i><br /> +<span class="ihalf">I have endeavored to clothe the dull prose of the usual Library +Rules with the mantle of poetry, that they may be +more attractive, and more easily remembered by the great +public whom we serve.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gently, reader, gently moving,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wipe your feet beside the door;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hush your voice to whispers soothing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take your hat off, I implore!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mark your number, plainly, rightly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the catalogue you see;<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_434" id="Pg_434"></a>[<a href="./images/434.png">434</a>]</span> +<span class="i0">With the card projecting slightly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then your book bring unto me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quickly working,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With no shirking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Soon another there will be.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If above two weeks you've left me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Just two cents a day I'll take,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, unless my mind's bereft me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Payment you must straightway make.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Treat your books as if to-morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gabriel's trump would surely sound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all scribbling, to your sorrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Gainst your credit would be found.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore tear not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spot and wear not<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All these books so neatly bound.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">These few simple rules abiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We shall always on you smile:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There will be no room for chiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No one's temper will you rile.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when Heaven's golden portals<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For you on their hinges turn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the books for all immortals,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There will be no rules to learn.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore heed them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Often read them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lest your future weal you spurn.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Titles of Books Asked for by written Slips in a Popular Library.</span></h4> + +<ul><li>Aristopholus translated by Buckley.</li> +<li>Alfreri Tragedus.</li> +<li>Bertall Lavie Hors De Ches Soi.</li> +<li>Cooke M. C. M. A. L. L. D. their nature and uses. Edited by Rev. J. M. Berkeley M. A. F. R. S. (Fungi.)</li> +<li>Caralus Note Book (A Cavalier's).</li> +<li>Gobden Club-Essays.</li> +<li>Specie the origin of Darwin.</li> +<li>An Epistropal Prayer Book.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_435" id="Pg_435"></a>[<a href="./images/435.png">435</a>]</span></p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Blunders in Cataloguing.</span></h4> + +<ul><li>Gasparin. The uprising of a great many people.</li> +<li>Hughes, Tom. The scouring of the White House.</li> +<li>Mayhew. The pheasant boy.</li> +<li>Wind in the lower animals (Mind.)</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Recent Calls for Books at a Western Library.</span></h4> + +<ul><li>Account of Monte Cristo.</li> +<li>Acrost the Kontinent by Boles.</li> +<li>Bula.</li> +<li>Count of Corpus Cristy.</li> +<li>Dant's Infernal comedy.</li> +<li>Darwin's Descent on man.</li> +<li>Feminine Cooper's works.</li> +<li>Infeleese.</li> +<li>Less Miserable.</li> +<li>Some of Macbeth's writings.</li> +<li>Something in the way of friction.</li> +<li>Squeal to a book.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In Vol. 3 of Laporte's "Bibliographie contemporaine," Dibdin's +famous book is entered thus: "Bibliomania, or boock, +madnss: a bibliographical romance...ilustrated with cats."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A well-known librarian writes:</p> + +<p>"The Catalogue of the Indiana State Library for the year +1859 has long been my wonder and admiration. "Bank's History +of the Popes" appears under the letter B. Strong in the +historical department, it offers a choice between the "Life +of John Tyler, by Harper & Brothers," "Memoirs of Moses +Henderson, by Jewish Philosophers," "Memoirs and Correspondence +of Viscount Castlereach, by the Marquis of Londonderry," +and "Memoirs of Benvenuto, by Gellini." In fiction, +you may find "Tales of My Landlord by Cleishbotham," and +"The Pilot, by the Author of the Pioneers;" while, if your passion +for plural authorship is otherwise unappeasable—if +Beaumont and Fletcher or Erckman-Chatrian seem to you too +feeble a combination of talents—you may well be captivated +by the title "Small Arms, by the United States Army."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_436" id="Pg_436"></a>[<a href="./images/436.png">436</a>]</span>"The State of Indiana has undoubtedly learned a good +many things since 1859; but whosoever its present librarian +may be, it is hardly probable that its highest flight in bibliography +has surpassed the catalogue from which the above +are quoted."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Books demanded at a certain public library:</p> + + +<ul><li>"The Stuck-up Minister"—(Stickit Minister.)</li> +<li>"From Jessie to Ernest" (Jest to Earnest).</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A country order for books called for "The Thrown of +David," "Echo of Hummo" (Ecce Homo) and "Echo of Deas" +(Ecce Deus).</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The Nation mentions as an instance of "the havoc which +types can make with the titles of books, that a single catalogue +gives us 'Clara Reeve's Old English Barn,' 'Swinburne's +Century of Scoundrels,' and 'Una and her Papuse.' But this +is outdone by the bookseller who offered for sale "Balvatzky, +Mrs. Izis unveiled." Another goddess is offended in "Transits +of Venice, by R. A. Proctor."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In a certain city, an examination of applicants for employment +in the public library was held. The following is an exact +copy of the answer to a question, asking for the +title of a work written by each of the authors named: "John +Ruskin, 'The Bread Winners;' William H. Prescott, 'The +Frozen Pirate;' Charles Darwin, 'The Missing Link;' Thomas +Carlyle, 'Caesar's Column.'" The same man is responsible for +saying that "B. C." stands for the Creation, and "A. D." for +the Deluge.</p> + +<p>Who wants this bright young man?</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>A Story About Stories.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">"When A Man's Single," all "Vanity Fair"<br /></span> +<span class="ihalf">Courts his favor and smiles,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And feminine "Moths" "In Silk Attire"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Try on him "A Woman's Wiles."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_437" id="Pg_437"></a>[<a href="./images/437.png">437</a>]</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The World, the Flesh and the Devil"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were "Wormwood" and gall to me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weary and sick of "The Passing Show,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No "Woman's Face" was "Fair to See."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I fled away to "The Mill on the Floss"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Two Years Ago," "In an Evil Hour,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For "The Miller's Daughter" there I met,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who "Cometh Up as a Flower."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She was a simple "Rose in June,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I was "An Average Man;"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"We Two" were "Far From the Madding Crowd"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When our "Love and Life" began.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It was but "A Modern Instance"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of true "Love's Random Shot,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I, "The Heir of Redclyffe"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was "Kidnapped": and "Why Not"?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We cannot escape the hand of "Fate,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And few are "Fated to be Free,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But beware of "A Social Departure"—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You'll live "Under the Ban," like me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I tried to force the "Gates Ajar"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For my "Queen of Curds and Cream,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But "The Pillars of Society"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shook with horror at my "Dream."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am no more "A Happy Man,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though blessed with "Heavenly Twins,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because "The Wicked World" maintains<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"A Low Marriage" the worst of sins.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Pride and Prejudice" rule the world,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"A Marriage for Love" is "A Capital Crime,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beware of "A Country Neighborhood"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And shun "Mad Love" in time.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Says the Nation:</p> + +<p>A Philadelphia catalogue, whose compiler must have been +more interested in current events than in his task, offers for +sale "Intrigues of the Queen of Spain with McKinley, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_438" id="Pg_438"></a>[<a href="./images/438.png">438</a>]</span> +Prince of Peace, Boston, 1809." How Godoy should become +McKinley, or McKinley should become the Prince of Peace, +is a problem for psychologists.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Confusion of Knowledge.</span></h4> + +<p>The following are some specimens of answers to Examinations +of candidates for Library employment, given within +the past five years:</p> + +<p>"A sonnet is a poem which is adapted to music, as Petrarch's +sonnets"; "a sonnet is a short poem sometimes and sometimes +a long one and generally a reflection, or thoughts upon some +inanimate thing, as Young's 'Night thoughts.'" "An epic is a +critical writing, as 'Criticism on man'"; "an epic is a literary +form written in verse, and which teaches us some lesson not +necessarily of a moral nature"; "an epic is a dramatic poem."</p> + +<p>Epigrammatic writing is very clearly defined as "critical +in a grammatical way." "Allegory is writing highly +colored, as Pope's works"; "allegory is writing of something +that never happened, but it is purely imaginary, often a wandering +from the main point." A common mistake regarding +the meaning of the word bibliography results in such answers +as "bibliography—a study of the Bible;" or "gives the +lives of the people in the Bible." An encyclopaedia +was aptly defined as "a storehouse of knowledge for the enlightenment +of the public," while another answer reads "Book +of Books, giving the life of famous persons, life and habits +of animals and plants, and some medical knowledge." A collection +of works of any author is termed "an anthropology." +"Anthology is the study of insects." Folklore is defined as +"giving to animals and things human sense"; an elegy means +"a eulogy," oratory, "the deliverance of words." Belles-lettres +is to one applicant "beautiful ideas," to another "the title +of a book," to another "short stories"; again "are the letters +of French writers," and still another writes "French for +prominent literature and light literature." A concordance "is +the explication or definition of something told in a simpler +form," is the extremely lucid answer to one question, which +was answered by another candidate as "a table of reference at +back of book."</p> + +<p>The titles of books are too seldom associated with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_439" id="Pg_439"></a>[<a href="./images/439.png">439</a>]</span> +authors' names, resulting in such answers as "Homer is the +author of the Aeneid"; "Lalla Rookh" was written by James +Blackmore; "Children of the Abbey," by Walter Besant (while +another attributed it to Jane Porter); "Bow of orange Ribbon," +by George Meredith; "Hon. Peter Stirling," by Fielding; +"Quo Vadis," by Browning; "Pamela," by Frank Stockton +(according to another by Marie Edgworth); "Love's Labour's +Lost," by Bryant (another gives Thomas Reade as the author, +while still another guesses Schiller); "Descent of Man," by +Alexander Pope (another gives Dryden); "The Essay on +Man," by Francis Bacon.</p> + +<p>One candidate believes "Hudibras" to be an early Saxon +poem; another that "Victor Hugo's best known work is William +Tell"; another that "Aesop's Fables is a famous allegory." +Charlotte Brontë is described as an "American—nineteenth +century—children's book." Cicero was "known for +Latin poetry." "Dante is an exceedingly bitter writer; he +takes you into hell and describes Satan and his angels. He +wrote his play for the stage." Another's idea of the Divine +Comedy is "a play which could be acted by the priests on +the steps of a church for the benefit of the poorer class."</p> + +<p>Civil service in the mind of one young woman was "the service +done by the government in a country, domesticly."</p> + +<p>A Christian socialist is "an advocate of Christian science." +"A limited monarchy is a kingdom whose ruler is under the +ruler of another country." Legal tender is "the legal rate of +interest"; another considers it "Paper money." In economics, +some of the answers were "profit-sharing, a term used in socialism, +the rich to divide among the poor." "Monopolies is +the money gained by selling church properties"; while "a +trust is usually a place where a person puts some money +where it will be safe to keep it."</p> + +<p>About noted personages and historic events and places the +answers are equally startling. "Molière was a French essayist +and critic" (also "a French writer of the nineteenth century,") +Cecil Rhodes, "the founder of Bryn Mawr College"; +"Seth Low—England, eighteenth century;" Attila "a woman +mentioned in the Bible for her great cruelty to her child;" +Warren Hastings "was a German soldier" (also "was a discoverer; +died about 1870"); "Nero was a Roman emperor B. C.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_440" id="Pg_440"></a>[<a href="./images/440.png">440</a>]</span> +450." Perhaps the most unique guess in this line was "Richard +Wagner invented the Wagner cars;" Abbotsford is "the +title of a book by Sir Walter Scott;" "Vassar College is a +dream, high-up and unattainable;" "Tammany Hall is a political +meeting place in London;" "the Parthenon, an art +gallery in Athens."</p> + +<p>Pedagogy seemed one of the most perplexing of words. It +was defined by one as "the science of religion," by another as +"learned pomposity;" but the most remarkable of all was +"pedagogy is the study of feet."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>Song of Some Library School Scholars.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i6">Three little maids from school are we,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Filled to the brim with economy—<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Not of the house but library,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Learnt in the Library School<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: added period">.</ins><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>1st Maid</i>—I range my books from number one.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>2nd Maid</i>—Alphabetically I've begun.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>3rd Maid</i>—In regular classes mine do run.<br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>All</i>—Three maids from the Library School.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i1"><i>All</i>—Three little maidens all unwary,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Each in charge of a library,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Each with a system quite contrary<br /></span> +<span class="i10">To every other school.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">Our catalogues, we quite agree,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">From faults and errors must be free,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">If only we our way can see<br /></span> +<span class="i10">To find the proper rule.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Boy's remark on returning a certain juvenile book to the +library: "I don't want any more of them books. The girls +is all too holy."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"Half the books in this library are not worth reading," said +a sour-visaged, hypercritical, novel-satiated woman.—"Read +the other half, then," advised a bystander.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_441" id="Pg_441"></a>[<a href="./images/441.png">441</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="smcap">   <b>The Woes of a Librarian.</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let us give a brief rehearsal<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the learning universal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which men expect to find<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Librarians to their mind.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must undergo probation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before he gets a situation;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Must begin at the creation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the world was in formation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And come down to its cremation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the final consummation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the old world's final spasm:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He must study protoplasm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bridge over every chasm<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the origin of species,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ere the monkey wore the breeches,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or the Simian tribe began<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To ascend from ape to man.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must master the cosmology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And know all about <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'pyschology'">psychology</ins>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the wonders of biology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And be deep in ornithology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And develop ideology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the aid of craniology.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He must learn to teach zoölogy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And be skilled in etymology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the science of philology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And calculate chronology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While he digs into geology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And treats of entomology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And hunts up old mythology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And dips into theology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And grows wise in sociology,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And expert in anthropology.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must also know geography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the best works on photography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the science of stenography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And be well up on cosmography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the secrets of cryptography.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Must interpret blind chirography,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_442" id="Pg_442"></a>[<a href="./images/442.png">442</a>]</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Know by heart all mens' biography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the black art of typography,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every book in bibliography.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">These things are all essential<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And highly consequential.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If he's haunted by ambition<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a library position,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And esteems it a high mission,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To aspire to erudition;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He will find some politician<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of an envious disposition,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Getting up a coalition<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To secure his non-admission,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And send him to perdition,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before he's reached fruition.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If he gets the situation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And is full of proud elation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And of fond anticipation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And has in contemplation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To enlighten half the nation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He may write a dissertation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the public information<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the laws of observation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the art of conversation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must know each famed oration,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And poetical quotation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And master derivation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the science of translation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And complex pagination,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And perfect punctuation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And binomial equation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And accurate computation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And boundless permutation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And infinite gradation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the craft of divination,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Scripture revelation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the secret of salvation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must know the population<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of every separate nation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_443" id="Pg_443"></a>[<a href="./images/443.png">443</a>]</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The amount of immigration,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And be wise in arbitration,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the art of navigation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And colonial annexation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And problems Australasian.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He must take his daily ration<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of catalogue vexation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And endless botheration<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With ceaseless complication<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of decimal notation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Cutter combination.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To complete his education,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He must know the valuation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of all the publications<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of many generations,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With their endless variations,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And true interpretations.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When he's spent a life in learning,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If his lamp continues burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When he's mastered all philosophy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the science of theosophy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grown as learned as Mezzofanti,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As poetical as Dante,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As wise as Magliabecchi<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: added comma">,</ins><br /></span> +<span class="i0">As profound as Mr. Lecky—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has absorbed more kinds of knowledge<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than are found in any college;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He may take his full degree<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Ph. or LL. D.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And prepare to pass the portal<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That leads to life immortal.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="tsc">Footnotes:</p> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Mostly from the Library Journal, New York.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_444" id="Pg_444"></a>[<a href="./images/444.png">444</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_26" id="CHAPTER_26"></a>CHAPTER 26.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Rare Books.</span></h3> + + +<p>There is perhaps no field of inquiry concerning literature +in which so large an amount of actual mis-information +or of ignorance exists as that of the rarity of many books. +The makers of second-hand catalogues are responsible for +much of this, in describing the books which they wish to +sell as "rare," "very scarce," etc., but more of it proceeds +from absolute ignorance of the book-markets of the world. +I have had multitudes of volumes offered for sale whose +commercial value was hardly as many cents as was demanded +in dollars by their ill-informed owners, who fancied +the commonest book valuable because they "had never +seen another copy." No one's ideas of the money value of +any book are worth anything, unless he has had long experimental +knowledge of the market for books both in +America and in Europe.</p> + +<p>What constitutes rarity in books is a question that involves +many particulars. Thus, a given book may be rare +in the United States which is abundant in London; or rare +in London, when common enough in Germany. So books +may be rare in one age which were easily found in another: +and again, books on certain subjects may be so absorbed +by public demand when events excite interest in that subject, +as to take up most of the copies in market, and enhance +the price of the remainder. Thus, Napoleon's conquering +career in Egypt created a great demand for all +books on Egypt and Africa. The scheme for founding a +great French colony in Louisiana raised the price of all +books and pamphlets on that region, which soon after fell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_445" id="Pg_445"></a>[<a href="./images/445.png">445</a>]</span> +into the possession of the United States. President Lincoln's +assassination caused a demand for all accounts of the +murder of the heads of nations. Latterly, all books on +Cuba, the West Indies, and the Philippines have been in +unprecedented demand, and dealers have raised the prices, +which will again decline after the recent public interest in +them has been supplanted by future events.</p> + +<p>There is a broad distinction to be drawn between books +which are absolutely rare, and those which are only relatively +scarce, or which become temporarily rare, as just explained. +Thus, a large share of the books published in +the infancy of printing are <i>rare</i>; nearly all which appeared +in the quarter century after printing began are <i>very</i> rare; +and several among these last are <i>superlatively</i> rare. I may +instance the Mazarin Bible of Gutenberg and Schoeffer +(1455?) of which only twenty-four copies are known, +nearly all in public libraries, where they ought to be; the +Mentz Psalter of the same printers, 1457, the first book +ever printed with a date; and the first edition of Livy, +Rome [1469] the only copy of which printed on vellum +is in the British Museum Library.</p> + +<p>One reason of the scarcity of books emanating from the +presses of the fifteenth century is that of many of them +the editions consisted of only two hundred to three hundred +copies, of which the large number absorbed in public +libraries, or destroyed by use, fire or decay, left very few in +the hands of booksellers or private persons. Still, it is a +great mistake to infer that all books printed before A. D. +1500 are rare. The editions of many were large, especially +after about 1480, many were reprinted in several editions, +and of such incunabula copies can even now be picked up +on the continent at very low prices.</p> + +<p>Contrary to a wide-spread belief, mere age adds very +little to the value of any book, and oft-times nothing at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_446" id="Pg_446"></a>[<a href="./images/446.png">446</a>]</span> +all. All librarians are pestered to buy "hundred year old" +treatises on theology or philosophy, as dry as the desert of +Sahara, on the ground that they are both old and rare, +whereas such books, two hundred and even three hundred +years old, swarm in unsalable masses on the shelves of London +and provincial booksellers at a few pence per volume. +The reason that they are comparatively rare in this country +is that nobody wants them, and so they do not get imported.</p> + +<p>A rare book is, strictly speaking, only one which is found +with difficulty, taking into view all the principal book +markets of various countries. Very few books printed +since 1650 have any peculiar value on account of their age. +Of many books, both old and new, the reason of scarcity is +that only a few copies actually remain, outside of public +libraries, and these last, of course, are not for sale. This +scarcity of copies is produced by a great variety of causes, +most of which are here noted.</p> + +<p>(1) The small number of the books originally printed +leads to rarity. This is by no means peculiar to early impressions +of the press: on the contrary, of some books +printed only last year not one tenth as many exist +as of a multitude of books printed four centuries ago. +Not only privately printed books, not designed for publication, +but some family or personal memoirs, or original +works circulated only among friends, and many other publications +belong to this class of rarities. The books printed +at private presses are mostly rare. Horace Walpole's +Strawberry Hill press produced some thirty works from +1757 to 1789, in editions varying from fifty to six hundred +copies. The Lee Priory press of Sir E. Brydges printed +many literary curiosities, none of which had more than +one hundred impressions. Most of the editions of the +Shakespearean and other critical essays of J. O. Halliwell-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_447" id="Pg_447"></a>[<a href="./images/447.png">447</a>]</span>Phillipps +were limited to forty copies, or even less. The +genealogical and heraldic imprints of Sir Thomas Phillipps, +at the Middle Hill press, 1819-59, numbering some +hundreds of different works, were mostly confined to twenty +copies each, and some to only six copies. Some of them +are as rare as many manuscripts, of which several copies +have been made, and sell at prices dictated by their scarcity. +Most of them are in the Library of Congress. The +Kelmscott press of William Morris printed in sumptuous +style, improved upon the finest models of antique typography, +a number of literary works, which now bring enhanced +prices. Of the many historical and literary publications of +the Roxburghe Club, the Percy Society, the Maitland, the +Abbotsford, and the Bannatyne Clubs abroad, only thirty +to one hundred copies were printed. Of those of the Prince +Society, the Grolier Club, and others in America, only +from 150 to 300 copies were printed, being for subscribers +only. Rarity and enhanced prices necessarily result in all +these cases. Of some books, only five to ten copies have +been printed, or else, out of fifty or more printed, +all but a very few have been ruthlessly destroyed, in order +to give a fanciful value to the remainder. In these extreme +instances, the rarity commonly constitutes almost +the sole value of the work.</p> + +<p>(2) Even where many copies have been printed, the destruction +of the greater part of the edition has rendered +the book very rare. Printing offices and book binderies +are peculiarly subject to fires, and many editions have thus +been consumed before more than a few copies have been +issued. The great theological libraries edited by the Abbé +J. P. Migne, the <i>Patrologie Grecque, et Latine</i>, owe their +scarcity and advanced prices to a fire which consumed the +entire remainder of the edition. All the copies of a large +edition of "Twenty years among our savage Indians," by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_448" id="Pg_448"></a>[<a href="./images/448.png">448</a>]</span> +J. L. Humfreville, were destroyed by fire in a Hartford +printing office in 1899, except two, which had been deposited +in the Library of Congress, to secure the copyright. +The whole edition of the <i>Machina coelestis</i> of Hevelius was +burned, except the few copies which the author had presented +to friends before the fire occurred. The earlier +issues in Spanish of the Mexican and Peruvian presses +prior to 1600 are exceedingly rare. And editions of books +printed at places in the United States where no books are +now published are sought for their imprint alone and +seldom found.</p> + +<p>(3) Many books have become rare because proscribed +and in part destroyed by governmental or ecclesiastical +authority. This applies more especially to the ages that +succeeded the application of printing to the art of multiplying +books. The freedom of many writers upon <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'polittics'">politics</ins> +and popular rights led to the suppression of their +books by kings, emperors or parliaments. At the same +time, books of church history or doctrinal theology which +departed, in however slight a degree, from the standard of +faith proclaimed by the church, were put in the Index +Expurgatorius, or list of works condemned in whole or in +part as heretical and unlawful to be read. A long and melancholy +record of such proscriptions, civil and ecclesiastical, +is found in Gabriel Peignot's two volumes—<i>Dictionnaire +des livres condamnés au feu, supprimés, ou censurés</i>, +etc. Works of writers of genius and versatile ability were +thus proscribed, until it gave rise to the sarcasm among the +scholars of Europe, that if one wanted to find what were +the books best worth reading, he should look in the Index +Expurgatorius. It appears to have been quite forgotten +by those in authority that persecution commonly helps +the cause persecuted, and that the best way to promote the +circulation of a book is to undertake to suppress it. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_449" id="Pg_449"></a>[<a href="./images/449.png">449</a>]</span> +age finds itself endowed with so many heretics that it is no +longer possible to find purchasers at high prices for books +once deemed unholy. Suppressed passages in later editions +lead to a demand for the uncastrated copies which adds +an element of enhanced cost in the market.</p> + +<p>(4) Another source of rarity is the great extent and cost +of many works, outrunning the ability of most collectors +to buy or to accommodate them on their shelves. These +costly possessions have been commonly printed in limited +numbers for subscribers, or for distribution by governments +under whose patronage they were produced. Such +are some of the notable collections of early voyages, the +great folios of many illustrated scientific works on natural +history, local geography, etc. That great scholar, Baron +von Humboldt, used jocosely to say that he could not afford +to own a set of his own works, most of which are folios +sumptuously printed, with finely engraved illustrations. +The collection known as the "<i>Grands et petits Voyages</i>" of +De Bry, the former in 13 volumes, relating to America, and +finely illustrated with copper-plates produced in the +highest style of that art, are among the rarest sets of books +to find complete. The collection of voyages by Hulsius is +equally difficult to procure. A really perfect set of Piranesi's +great illustrated work on the art and architecture of +ancient Rome is very difficult to acquire. The <i>Acta Sanctorum</i>, +in the original edition, is very seldom found. But +there is no room to multiply examples.</p> + +<p>(5) What adds to the rarity and cost of certain books +is the peculiarly expensive style or condition in which they +are produced or preserved. Some few copies of an edition, +for example, are printed on vellum, or on China or India +or other choice paper, in colored ink or bronze, on colored +paper, (rose-tinted, or green, blue or yellow,) on large +paper, with broad margins, etc. Uncut copies always fetch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_450" id="Pg_450"></a>[<a href="./images/450.png">450</a>]</span> +a higher price than those whose edges are trimmed down +in binding. To some book-collecting amateurs cut edges +are an abomination. They will pay more for a book "in +sheets," which they can bind after their own taste, than for +the finest copy in calf or morocco with gilt edges. Some +books, also, are exceptionally costly because bound in a +style of superior elegance and beauty, or as having belonged +to a crowned head or a noble person, ("books with a +pedigree") or an eminent author, or having autographs of +notable characters on the fly-leaves or title-pages, or original +letters inserted in the volume. Others still are "extra-illustrated" +works, in which one volume is swelled to several +by the insertion of a multitude of portraits, autographs, +and engravings, more or less illustrative of the contents +of the book. This is called "Grangerising," from +its origin in the practice of thus illustrating Granger's Biographical +History of England. Book amateurs of expensive +tastes are by no means rare, especially in England, +France, and America, and the great commercial value +placed upon uncut and rarely beautiful books, on which +the highest arts of the printer and book-binder have been +lavished, evinces the fact.</p> + +<p>(6) The books emanating from the presses of famous +printers are more sought for by collectors and libraries +than other publications, because of their superior excellence. +Sometimes this is found in the beauty of the type, +or the clear and elegant press-work; sometimes in the +printers' marks, monograms, engraved initial letters, head +and tail-pieces, or other illustrations; and sometimes in the +fine quality of the choice paper on which the books are +printed. Thus, the productions of the presses of Aldus, +Giunta, Bodoni, Etienne, Elzevir, Froben, Gutenberg, +Fust and Schoeffer, Plantin, Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde, +Bulmer, Didot, Baskerville, Pickering, Whittingham, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_451" id="Pg_451"></a>[<a href="./images/451.png">451</a>]</span> +others, are always in demand, and some of the choicer +specimens of their art, if in fine condition, bring great +prices in the second-hand book-shops, or the auction room. +An example of Caxton's press is now almost unattainable, +except in fragmentary copies. There are known to be only +about 560 examples of Caxtons in the world, four-fifths +of which are in England, and thirty-one of these are +unique. His "King Arthur" (1485) brought £1950 at +auction in 1885, and the Polychronicon (1482) was sold at +the Ives sale (N. Y.) in 1891, for $1,500.</p> + +<p>(7) In the case of all finely illustrated works, the earlier +impressions taken, both of text and plates, are more rare, +and hence more valuable, than the bulk of the edition. +Thus, copies with "proofs before letters" of the steel engravings +or etchings, sometimes command more than +double the price of copies having only the ordinary plates. +Each added impression deteriorates a little the sharp, +clear outlines and brilliant impressions which are peculiar +to the first copies printed.</p> + +<p>(8) Of some books, certain volumes only are rare, and +very costly in consequence. Thus, Burk's History of Virginia +is common enough in three volumes, but volume 4 +of the set, by Jones and Girardin, (1816,) is exceedingly +rare, and seldom found with the others. The fifth and last +volume of Bunsen's Egypt's Place in Universal History +is very scarce, while the others are readily procured. Of +De Bry's Voyages, the 13th or final part of the American +voyages is so rare as to be quite unattainable, unless after +long years of search, and at an unconscionable price.</p> + +<p>(9) The condition of any book is an unfailing factor in +its price. Many, if not most books offered by second-hand +dealers are shop-worn, soiled, or with broken bindings, or +some other defect. A pure, clean copy, in handsome condition +without and within, commands invariably an extra<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_452" id="Pg_452"></a>[<a href="./images/452.png">452</a>]</span> +price. Thus the noted Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493, a +huge portly folio, with 2,250 wood-cuts in the text, many +of them by Albert Dürer or other early artists, is priced +in London catalogues all the way from £7.15 up to £35, for +identically the same edition. The difference is dependent +wholly on the condition of the copies offered. Here is part +of a description of the best copy: "Nuremberg Chronicle, +by Schedel, printed by Koberger, first edition, 1493, royal +folio, with fine original impressions of the 2,250 large wood-cuts +of towns, historical events, portraits, etc., very tall +copy, measuring 18½ inches by 12½, beautifully bound in +morocco super extra, full gilt edges, by Riviere, £35. All +the cuts are brilliant impressions, large and spirited. The +book is genuine and perfect throughout; <i>no washed leaves</i>, +and all the large capitals filled in by the rubricator by +different colored inks: it has the six additional leaves at +end, which Brunet says are nearly always wanting."</p> + +<p>(10) The first editions printed of many books always +command high prices. Not only is this true of the <i>editio +princeps</i> of Homer, Virgil, Tacitus and other Greek and +Roman writers, published in the infancy of printing, but +of every noted author, of ancient or modern date. The +edition printed during the life of the writer has had his +own oversight and correction. And when more than one +issue of his book has thus appeared, one sees how his maturer +judgment has altered the substance or the style of +his work. First editions of any very successful work always +tend to become scarce, since the number printed is +smaller, as a rule, and a large part of the issue is absorbed +by public libraries. The earliest published writings of +Tennyson, now found with difficulty, show how much of +emendation and omission this great poet thought proper +to make in his poems in after years. A first edition of +Ivanhoe, 3 vols., 1820, brings £7 or more, in the original<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_453" id="Pg_453"></a>[<a href="./images/453.png">453</a>]</span> +boards, but if rebound in any style, the first Waverley +novels can be had at much less, though collectors are many.</p> + +<p>(11) Another class of rare books is found in many local +histories, both among the county histories of Great +Britain, and those of towns and counties in the United +States. Jay Gould's History of Delaware County, N. Y., +published in 1856, and sought after in later times because +of his note as a financier, is seldom found. Of family genealogies, +too, printed in small editions, there are many +which cannot be had at all, and many more which have +risen to double or even quadruple price. The market +value of these books, always dependent on demand, is enhanced +by the wants of public libraries which are making +or completing collections of these much sought sources of +information.</p> + +<p>(12) There is a class of books rarely found in any reputable +book shop, and which ought to be much rarer than +they are—namely, those that belong to the domain of indecent +literature. Booksellers who deal in such wares +often put them in catalogues under the head of <i>facetiae</i>, +thus making a vile use of what should be characteristic only +of books of wit or humor. Men of prurient tastes become +collectors of such books, many of which are not without +some literary merit, while many more are neither fit to be +written, nor printed, nor read.</p> + +<p>(13) There is a large variety of books that are sought +mainly on account, not of their authors, nor for their value +as literature, but for their illustrators. Many eminent +artists (in fact most of those of any period) have made +designs for certain books of their day. The reputation of +an artist sometimes rests more upon his work given to the +public in engravings, etchings, wood-cuts, etc., that illustrate +books, than upon his works on canvas or in marble. +Many finely illustrated works bear prices enhanced by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_454" id="Pg_454"></a>[<a href="./images/454.png">454</a>]</span> +eagerness of collectors, who are bent upon possessing the +designs of some favorite artist, while some amateurs covet +a collection of far wider scope. This demand, although +fitful, and sometimes evanescent, (though more frequently +recurrent,) lessens the supply of illustrated books, and with +the constant drafts of new libraries, raises prices. Turner's +exquisite pictures in Rogers's Italy and Poems (1830-34) +have floated into fame books of verse which find very +few readers. Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz") designed those +immortal Wellers in Pickwick, which have delighted two +whole generations of readers. The "Cruikshankiana" are +sought with avidity, in whatever numerous volumes they +adorn. Books illustrated with the designs of Bartolozzi, +Marillier, Eisen, Gravelot, Moreau, Johannot, Grandville, +Rowlandson, Bewick, William Blake, Stothard, Stanfield, +Harvey, Martin, Cattermole, Birket Foster, Mulready, +Tenniel, Maclise, Gilbert, Dalziel, Leighton, Holman +Hunt, Doyle, Leech, Millais, Rossetti, Linton, Du +Maurier, Sambourne, Caldecott, Walter Crane, Kate Greenaway, +Haden, Hamerton, Whistler, Doré, Anderson, Darley, +Matt Morgan, Thos. Nast, Vedder, and others, are in +constant demand, especially for the early impressions of +books in which their designs appear.</p> + +<p>(14) Finally, that extensive class of books known as +early <i>Americana</i> have been steadily growing rarer, and +rising in commercial value, since about the middle of the +nineteenth century. Books and pamphlets relating to +any part of the American continent or islands, the first +voyages, discoveries, narratives or histories of those regions, +which were hardly noted or cared for a century ago, +are now eagerly sought by collectors for libraries both +public and private. In this field, the keen competition +of American Historical Societies, and of several great libraries, +besides the ever increasing number of private col<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_455" id="Pg_455"></a>[<a href="./images/455.png">455</a>]</span>lectors +with large means, has notably enhanced the prices +of all desirable and rare books. Nor do the many reprints +which have appeared much affect the market value of the +originals, or first editions.</p> + +<p>This rise in prices, while far from uniform, and furnishing +many examples of isolated extravagance, has been +marked. Witness some examples. The "Bay Psalm +Book," Cambridge, Mass., A. D. 1640, is the Caxton of +New England, so rare that no perfect copy has been found +for many years. In 1855, Henry Stevens had the singular +good fortune to find this typographical gem sandwiched +in an odd bundle of old hymn books, unknown to the auctioneers +or catalogue, at a London book sale. Keeping his +own counsel, he bid off the lot at nine shillings, completed +an imperfection in the book, from another imperfect copy, +had it bound in Bedford's best, and sold it to Mr. Lenox's +library at £80. In 1868, Stevens sold another copy to +George Brinley for 150 guineas, which was bought for +$1,200 in 1878, by C. Vanderbilt, at the Brinley sale.</p> + +<p>John Smith's folio "Historie of Virginia," 1st ed., 1624, +large paper, was sold to Brinley in 1874 at $1,275, and re-sold +in 1878 for $1,800 to Mr. Lenox. In 1884 a copy on +large paper brought £605 at the Hamilton Library sale in +London. In 1899, a perfect copy of the large paper edition +was presented to the Library of Congress by Gen. W. +B. Franklin. Perfect copies of Smith's Virginia of 1624 +on small paper have sold for $1,000, and those wanting +some maps at $70 to $150.</p> + +<p>The earlier English tracts relating to Virginia and New +England, printed between 1608 and 1700, command large +prices: <i>e. g.</i>, Lescarbot's New France, [Canada,] 1609, $50 +to $150; Wood's New England's Prospect, 1635, $50 to +$320; Hubbard's Present State of New England, Boston, +1677, $180 to $316.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_456" id="Pg_456"></a>[<a href="./images/456.png">456</a>]</span>It is curious to note, in contrast, the following record +of prices at the sale of Dr. Bernard's Library in London, +in 1686:</p> + +<p>T. Morton's New England, 1615, eight pence; Lescarbot's +New France, 1609, ten pence; Wood's New +England's Prospect, 1635, and three others, 5 s. 8 d.; nine +Eliot Tracts, &c., 5 s. 2 d.; Hubbard's Present State of +New England, 1677, 1 s.; Smith's Historie of Virginia, +1624, 4 s. 2 d.</p> + +<p>The numerous and now rare works of Increase and Cotton +Mather, printed from 1667 to 1728, though mostly +sermons, are collected by a sufficient number of libraries +to maintain prices at from $4 to $25 each, according to +condition. They number over 470 volumes.</p> + +<p>Several collections have been attempted of Frankliniana, +or works printed at Benjamin Franklin's press, and +of the many editions of his writings, with all books concerning +the illustrious printer-statesman of America. His +"Poor Richard's Almanacs," printed by him from 1733 to +1758, and by successors to 1798, are so rare that Mr. P. L. +Ford found a visit to three cities requisite to see all of +them. The Library of Congress possesses thirty-five years +of these issues.</p> + +<p>A word may be added as to early newspapers, of some +special numbers of which prices that are literally "fabulous" +are recorded. There are many reprints afloat of the +first American newspaper, and most librarians have frequent +offers of the Ulster County, (N. Y.) Gazette of Jan. +10, 1800, in mourning for the death of Washington, a genuine +copy of which is worth money, but the many spurious +reprints (which include all those offered) are worth nothing.</p> + +<p>Of many rare early books reprints or facsimiles are rife +in the market, especially of those having but few leaves;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_457" id="Pg_457"></a>[<a href="./images/457.png">457</a>]</span> +these, however, are easily detected by an expert eye, and +need deceive no one.</p> + +<p>Of some scarce books, it may be said that they are as rare +as the individuals who want them: and of a very few, that +they are as rare as the extinct dodo. In fact, volumes have +been written concerning extinct books, not without interest +to the bibliomaniac who is fired with the passion for +possessing something which no one else has got. Some +books are quite <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'at'">as</ins> worthless as they are rare. But books +deemed worthless by the common or even by the enlightened +mind are cherished as treasures by many collectors. +The cook-book, entitled <i>Le Pastissier françois</i>, an Elzevir +of 1655, is so rare as to have brought several times its +weight in gold. Nearly all the copies of some books have +been worn to rags by anglers, devout women, cooks, or +children.</p> + +<p>When a book is sold at a great price as "very rare," it +often happens that several copies come into the market +soon after, and, there being no demand, the commercial +value is correspondingly depressed. The books +most sure of maintaining full prices are first editions +of master-pieces in literature. Fitzgerald's version of +Omar Khayyam was bought by nobody when Quaritch +first published it in 1859. After eight years, he put the +remainder of the edition,—a paper-covered volume—down +to a penny each. When the book had grown into +fame, and the many variations in later issues were discovered, +this first edition, no longer procurable, rose to £21, +the price actually paid by Mr. Quaritch himself at a book +auction in 1898!</p> + +<p>Auction sales of libraries having many rare books have +been frequent in London and Paris. The largest price yet +obtained for any library was reached in 1882-3, when that +of Mr. Wm. Beckford brought £73,551, being an average of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_458" id="Pg_458"></a>[<a href="./images/458.png">458</a>]</span> +nearly $40 a volume. But W. C. Hazlitt says of this sale, +"the Beckford books realized perfectly insane prices, and +were afterwards re-sold for a sixth or even tenth of the +amount, to the serious loss of somebody, when the barometer +had fallen."</p> + +<p>The second-hand bookseller, having the whole range of +printed literature for his field, has a great advantage in +dealing with book collectors over the average dealer, who +has to offer only new books, or such as are "in print."</p> + +<p>It may be owned that the love of rare books is chiefly +sentimental. He who delights to spend his days or his +nights in the contemplation of black-letter volumes, quaint +title-pages, fine old bindings, and curious early illustrations, +may not add to the knowledge or the happiness of +mankind, but he makes sure of his own.</p> + +<p>The passion for rare books, merely because of their +rarity, is a low order of the taste for books. But the desire +to possess and read wise old books which have been touched +by the hoar frost of time is of a higher mood. The first +impression of Paradise Lost (1667) with its quarto page +and antique orthography, is it not more redolent of the +author's age than the elegant Pickering edition, or the one +illustrated by John Martin or Gustave Doré? When +you hold in your hand Shakespeare's "Midsommer +Night's Dream" (A. D. 1600) and read with fresh +admiration and delight the exquisite speeches of +Oberon and Titania, may not the thought that perhaps +that very copy may once have been held in the immortal +bard's own hand send a thrill through your own?</p> + +<p>When you turn over the classic pages of Homer illustrated +by Flaxman, that "dear sculptor of eternity," as +William Blake called him, or drink in the beauty of those +delicious landscapes of Turner, that astonishing man, who +shall wonder at your desire to possess them?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_459" id="Pg_459"></a>[<a href="./images/459.png">459</a>]</span>The genuine book lover is he who reads books; who +values them for what they contain, not for their rarity, nor +for the preposterous prices which have been paid for them. +To him, book-hunting is an ever-enduring delight. Of all +the pleasures tasted here below, that of the book lover in +finding a precious and long sought volume is one of the +purest and most innocent. In books, he becomes master +of all the kingdoms of the world.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_27" id="CHAPTER_27"></a>CHAPTER 27.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Bibliography.</span></h3> + + +<p>To the book collector and the Librarian, books of bibliography +are the tools of the profession. Without them +he would be lost in a maze of literature without a clue. +With them, his path is plain, and, in exact proportion to +his acquaintance with them, will his knowledge and usefulness +extend. Bibliography may be defined as the +science which treats of books, of their authors, subjects, +history, classification, cataloguing, typography, materials +(including paper, printing and binding) dates, editions, +etc. This compound word, derived from two Greek roots, +<i>Biblion</i>, book, and <i>graphein</i>, to write, has many analogous +words, some of which, ignorantly used to express a +bibliographer, may be set down for distinction: as, for +example—Bibliopole—a seller of books, often erroneously +applied to a librarian, who buys but never sells: +Bibliophile, a lover of books, a title which he should always +exemplify: Bibliopegist, a book-binder: Biblio<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_460" id="Pg_460"></a>[<a href="./images/460.png">460</a>]</span>later, +a worshipper of books: Bibliophobe, a hater of +books: Bibliotaph, a burier of books—one who hides or +conceals them: Bibliomaniac, or bibliomane, one who has +a mania or passion for collecting books. (Bibliomania, +some one has said, is a disease: Bibliophily is a science: +The first is a parody of the second.) Bibliophage, or bibliophagist, +a book-eater, or devourer of books. Bibliognost, +one versed in the science of books. Biblioklept, a +book thief. (This, you perceive, is from the same Greek +root as kleptomaniac.) Bibliogist, one learned about +books, (the same nearly as bibliographer); and finally, +Bibliothecary, a librarian.</p> + +<p>This brings me to say, in supplementing this elementary +list (needless for some readers) that <i>Bibliotheca</i> is +Latin for a library; <i>Bibliothèque</i> is French for the same; +<i>Bibliothécaire</i> is French for Librarian, while the French +word <i>Libraire</i> means book seller or publisher, though +often mistaken by otherwise intelligent persons, for librarian, +or library.</p> + +<p>The word "bibliotechny" is not found in any English +dictionary known to me, although long in use in its equivalent +forms in France and Germany. It means all that +belongs to the knowledge of the book, to its handling, +cataloguing, and its arrangement upon the shelves of a +library. It is also applied to the science of the formation +of libraries, and their complete organization. It is +employed in the widest and most extended sense of what +may be termed material or physical bibliography. Bibliotechny +applies, that is to say, to the technics of the librarian's +work—to the outside of the books rather than +the inside—to the mechanics, not the metaphysics of the +profession. The French word "<i>Bibliothéconomie</i>," much +in use of late years, signifies much the same thing as +<i>Bibliotechnie</i>, and we translate it, not into one word, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_461" id="Pg_461"></a>[<a href="./images/461.png">461</a>]</span> +two, calling it "library economy." This word "economy" +is not used in the most current sense—as significant of +saving—but in the broad, modern sense of systematic +order, or arrangement.</p> + +<p>There are two other words which have found their way +into Murray's Oxford Dictionary, the most copious repository +of English words, with illustrations of their +origin and history, ever published, namely, Biblioclast—a +destroyer of books (from the same final root as iconoclast) +and Bibliogony, the production of books. I will add +that out of the fifteen or more words cited as analogous +to Bibliography, only three are found used earlier than +the last quarter century, the first use of most having been +this side of 1880. This is a striking instance of the phenomenal +growth of new words in our already rich and +flexible English tongue. Carlyle even has the word +"Bibliopoesy," the making of books,—from <i>Biblion</i>, and +<i>poiein</i>—to make.</p> + +<p>Public libraries are useful to readers in proportion to +the extent and ready supply of the helps they furnish to +facilitate researches of every kind. Among these helps +a wisely selected collection of books of reference stands +foremost. Considering the vast extent and opulence of +the world of letters, and the want of experience of the +majority of readers in exploring this almost boundless +field, the importance of every key which can unlock its +hidden stores becomes apparent. The printed catalogue +of no single library is at all adequate to supply full references, +even to its own stores of knowledge; while these +catalogues are, of course, comparatively useless as to other +stores of information, elsewhere existing. Even the completest +and most extensive catalogue in the world, that +of the British Museum Library, although now extended +to more than 370 folio volumes in print, representing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_462" id="Pg_462"></a>[<a href="./images/462.png">462</a>]</span> +3,000 volumes in manuscript, is not completed so as to +embrace the entire contents of that rich repository of +knowledge.</p> + +<p>From lack of information of the aid furnished by adequate +books of reference in a special field, many a reader +goes groping in pursuit of references or information +which might be found in some one of the many volumes +which may be designated as works of bibliography. The +diffidence and reserve of many students in libraries, and +the mistaken fear of giving trouble to librarians, frequently +deprives them of even those aids which a few +words of inquiry might bring forth from the ready knowledge +of the custodians in charge.</p> + +<p>That is the best library, and he is the most useful librarian, +by whose aid every reader is enabled to put his +finger on the fact he wants, just when it is wanted. In +attaining this end it is essential that the more recent, +important, and valuable aids to research in general +science, as well as in special departments of each, should +form a part of the library. In order to make a fit selection +of books (and all libraries are practically reduced +to a selection, from want of means to possess the whole) +it is indispensable to know the relative value of the books +concerned. Many works of reference of great fame, and +once of great value, have become almost obsolete, through +the issue of more extensive and carefully edited works +in the same field. While a great and comprehensive library +should possess every work of reference, old or new, +which has aided or may aid the researches of scholars, +(not forgetting even the earlier editions of works often +reprinted), the smaller libraries, on the other hand, are +compelled to exercise a close economy of selection. The +most valuable works of reference, among which the more +copious and extensive bibliographies stand first, are fre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_463" id="Pg_463"></a>[<a href="./images/463.png">463</a>]</span>quently +expensive treasures, and it is important to the +librarian furnishing a limited and select library to know +what books he can best afford to do without. If he cannot +buy both the <i>Manuel du libraire</i> by Brunet, in five +volumes, and the <i>Trésor des livres rares et précieux</i> of +Graesse, seven volumes, both of which are dictionaries of +the choicer portions of literature, it is important to know +that Brunet is the more indispensable of the two. From +the 20,000 reference books lying open to the consultation +of all readers in the great rotunda of the British Museum +reading room, to the small and select case of dictionaries, +catalogues, cyclopaedias, and other works of reference +in a town or subscription library, the interval is wide indeed. +But where we cannot have all, it becomes the more +important to have the best; and the reader who has at +hand for ready reference the latest and most copious dictionary +of each of the leading languages of the world, two +or three of the best general bibliographies, the most +copious catalogue raisonné of the literature in each great +department of science, the best biographical dictionaries, +and the latest and most copious encyclopaedias issued +from the press, is tolerably well equipped for the prosecution +of his researches.</p> + +<p>Next in importance to the possession in any library of +a good selection of the most useful books of reference, is +the convenient accessibility of these works to the reading +public. Just in proportion to the indispensability and +frequency of use of any work should be the facility to the +reader of availing himself of its aid. The leading encyclopaedias, +bibliographies, dictionaries, annuals, and +other books of reference should never be locked up in +cases, nor placed on high or remote shelves. There should +be in every library what may be termed a central bureau +of reference. Here should be assembled, whether on cir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_464" id="Pg_464"></a>[<a href="./images/464.png">464</a>]</span>cular +cases made to revolve on a pivot, or on a rectangular +case, with volumes covering both sides, or in a central +alcove forming a portion of the shelves of the main library, +all those books of reference, and volumes incessantly +needed by students in pursuit of their various inquiries. +It is important that the custodians of all libraries +should remember that this ready and convenient supply +of the reference books most constantly wanted, serves the +double object of economizing the time of the librarian +and assistants for other labor, and of accommodating in +the highest degree the readers, whose time is also economized. +The misplacement of volumes which will thus +occur is easily rectified, while the possibility of loss +through abstraction is so extremely small that it should +not be permitted to weigh for a moment in comparison +with the great advantages resulting from the rule of liberality +in aiding the wants of readers.</p> + +<p>Bibliography, in its most intimate sense, is the proper +science of the librarian. To many it is a study—to some, +it is a passion. While the best works in bibliography have +not always been written by librarians, but by scholars +enamored of the science of books, and devotees of learning, +it is safe to say that the great catalogues which afford +such inestimable aid to research, have nearly all been +prepared in libraries, and not one of the books worthy +of the name of bibliography, could have been written +without their aid.</p> + +<p>In viewing the extensive field of bibliographies, regard +for systematic treatment requires that they be divided +into classes. Beginning first with general bibliographies, +or those claiming to be universal, we should afterwards +consider the numerous bibliographies of countries, or +those devoted to national literature; following that by +the still more numerous special bibliographies, or those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_465" id="Pg_465"></a>[<a href="./images/465.png">465</a>]</span> +embracing works on specially designated subjects. The +two classes last named are by far the most numerous.</p> + +<p>Although what may be termed a "universal catalogue" +has been the dream of scholars for many ages, it is as far +as ever from being realized—and in fact much farther +than ever before, since each year that is added to the +long roll of the past increases enormously the number of +books to be dealt with, and consequently the difficulties +of the problem. We may set down the publication of a +work which should contain the titles of all books ever +printed, as a practical impossibility. The world's literature +is too vast and complex to be completely catalogued, +whether on the coöperative plan, or any other. Meanwhile +the many thousands of volumes, each of which has +been devoted to some portion of the vast and ever-increasing +stores of literature and science which human brains +have put in print, will serve to aid the researches of the +student, when rightly guided by an intelligent librarian.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the hopeless nature of the quest, it +is true that some men of learning have essayed what have +been termed universal bibliographies. The earliest attempt +in this direction was published at Zürich in 1545, +under the title of "Bibliotheca Universalis," by Conrad +Gesner, a Swiss scholar whose acquisition of knowledge +was so extensive that he was styled "a miracle of learning." +This great work gave the titles of all books of +which its author could find trace, and was illustrated by +a mass of bibliographical notes and criticism. It long +held a high place in the world of letters, though it is now +seldom referred to in the plethora of more modern works +of bibliography. In 1625, the bookseller B. Ostern put +forth at Frankfort, his <i>Bibliothèque Universelle</i>, a catalogue +of all books from 1500 to 1624. In 1742, Th. Georgi issued +in eleven folio volumes, his <i>Allgemeines Europäisches</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_466" id="Pg_466"></a>[<a href="./images/466.png">466</a>]</span> +<i>Bücher-lexikon</i>, claiming to represent the works of nearly +all writers from 1500 down to 1739. This formidable catalogue +may perhaps be said to embrace more forgotten +books than any other in the literary history of the world.</p> + +<p>Almost equally formidable, however, is the bibliography +of that erudite scholar, Christian G. Jöcher, who put forth +in 1750, at Leipzig, his <i>Allgemeines Gelehrten-lexicon</i>, in +which, says the title page, "the learned men of all classes +who have lived from the beginning of the world up to +the present time, are described." This book, with its +supplement, by Adelung and Rotermund, (completed only +to letter R), makes ten ponderous quarto volumes, and +may fairly be styled a thesaurus of the birth and death +of ancient scholars and their works. It is still largely +used in great libraries, to identify the period and the full +names of many obscure writers of books, who are not commemorated +in the catalogues of universal bibliography, +compiled on a more restrictive plan.</p> + +<p>We come now to the notable catalogues of early-printed +books, which aim to cover all the issues of the press from +the first invention of printing, up to a certain period. +One of the most carefully edited and most readily useful +of these is Hain, (L.) <i>Repertorium Bibliographicum</i>, in +four small and portable octavo volumes, published at +Stuttgart in 1826-38. This gives, in an alphabet of authors, +all the publications found printed (with their variations +and new editions), from A. D. 1450 to A. D. 1500.</p> + +<p>More extensive is the great catalogue of G. W. Panzer, +entitled <i>Annales Typographici</i>, in eleven quarto volumes, +published at Nuremberg from 1793 to 1803. This work, +which covers the period from 1457 (the period of the first +book ever printed with a date) up to A. D. 1536, is not +arranged alphabetically (as in Hain's Repertorium) by +the names of authors, but in the order of the cities or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_467" id="Pg_467"></a>[<a href="./images/467.png">467</a>]</span> +places where the books catalogued were printed. The +bibliography thus brings together in one view, the typographical +product of each city or town for about eighty +years after the earliest dated issues of the press, arranged +in chronological order of the years when printed. This +system has undeniable advantages, but equally obvious +defects, which are sought to be remedied by many copious +indexes of authors and printers.</p> + +<p>Next in importance comes M. Maittaire's <i>Annales Typographici, +ab artis inventae origine ad annum 1664</i>, printed +at The Hague (Hagae Comitum) and completed at London, +from 1722-89, in eleven volumes, quarto, often bound +in five volumes. There is besides, devoted to the early +printed literature of the world, the useful three volume +bibliography by La Serna de Santander, published at +Brussels in 1805, entitled <i>Dictionnaire bibliographique +choisie du quinzième siècle</i>, Bruxelles, 1803, embracing a +selection of what its compiler deemed the more important +books published from the beginning of printing up to A. +D. 1500. All the four works last named contain the titles +and descriptions of what are known as <i>incunabula</i>, or +cradle-books (from Latin <i>cunabula</i>, a cradle) a term applied +to all works produced in the infancy of printing, and +most commonly to those appearing before 1500. These +books are also sometimes called fifteeners, or 15th century +books.</p> + +<p>Of general bibliographies of later date, only a few of +the most useful and important can here be named. At +the head of these stands, deservedly, the great work of +J. C. Brunet, entitled <i>Manuel du Libraire et de l'amateur +des livres</i>, the last or 5th edition of which appeared at +Paris in 1860-64, in five thick octavo volumes. The first +edition of Brunet appeared in 1810, and every issue since +has exhibited not only an extensive enlargement, but great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_468" id="Pg_468"></a>[<a href="./images/468.png">468</a>]</span> +improvement in careful, critical editorship. It embraces +most of the choicest books that have appeared in the principal +languages of Europe, and a supplement in two volumes, +by P. Deschamps and G. Brunet, appeared in 1878.</p> + +<p>Next to Brunet in importance to the librarian, is J. +G. T. Graesse's <i>Trésor des Livres rares et précieux</i>, which is +more full than Brunet in works in the Teutonic languages, +and was published at Dresden in six quarto volumes, with +a supplement, in 1861-69. Both of these bibliographies +aim at a universal range, though they make a selection of +the best authors and editions, ancient and modern, omitting +however, the most recent writers. The arrangement +of both is strictly alphabetical, or a dictionary of authors' +names, while Brunet gives in a final volume a classification +by subjects. Both catalogues are rendered additionally +valuable by the citation of prices at which many of +the works catalogued have been sold at book auctions in +the present century.</p> + +<p>In 1857 was published at Paris a kind of universal +bibliography, on the plan of a <i>catalogue raisonné</i>, or dictionary +of subjects, by Messrs. F. Denis, Pinçon, and De +Martonne, two of whom were librarians by profession. +This work of over 700 pages, though printed in almost +microscopic type, and now about forty years in arrears, +has much value as a ready key to the best books then +known on nearly every subject in science and literature. +It is arranged in a complete index of topics, the books +under each being described in chronological order, instead +of the alphabetical. The preponderance is given to the +French in the works cited on most subjects, but the literature +of other nations is by no means neglected. It is +entitled <i>Nouveau Manuel de Bibliographie universelle</i>, and +being a subjective index, while Brunet and Graesse are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_469" id="Pg_469"></a>[<a href="./images/469.png">469</a>]</span> +arranged by authors' names, it may be used to advantage +in connection with these standard bibliographies.</p> + +<p>While on this subject, let me name the books specially +devoted to lists of bibliographical works—general and +special. These may be termed the catalogues of catalogues,—and +are highly useful aids, indeed indispensable +to the librarian, who seeks to know what lists of books +have appeared that are devoted to the titles of publications +covering any period, or country, or special subject +in the whole circle of sciences or literatures. The first +notably important book of reference in this field, was the +work of that most industrious bibliographer, Gabriel Peignot, +who published at Paris, in 1812, his <i>Repertoire bibliographique +universelle</i>, in one volume. This work contains +the titles of most special bibliographies, of whatever subject +or country, published up to 1812, and of many works +bibliographical in character, devoted to literary history.</p> + +<p>Dr. Julius Petzholdt, one of the most learned and laborious +of librarians, issued at Leipzig in 1866, a <i>Bibliotheca +bibliographica</i>, the fuller title of which was "a critical catalogue, +exhibiting in systematic order, the entire field of +bibliography covering the literature of Germany and other +countries." The rather ambitious promise of this title is +well redeemed in the contents: for very few catalogues +of importance issued before 1866, are omitted in this +elaborate book of 931 closely printed pages. Most titles +of the bibliographies given are followed by critical and +explanatory notes, of much value to the unskilled reader. +These notes are in German, while all the titles cited are in +the language of the books themselves. After giving full +titles of all the books in general bibliography, he takes +up the national bibliographies by countries, citing both +systematic catalogues and periodicals devoted to the +literature of each in any period. This is followed by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_470" id="Pg_470"></a>[<a href="./images/470.png">470</a>]</span> +distributive list of scientific bibliographies, so full as to +leave little to be desired, except for later issues of the +press. One of the curiosities of this work is its catalogue +of all the issues of the "Index Librorum Prohibitorum", or +books forbidden to be read, including 185 separate catalogues, +from A. D. 1510 to A. D. 1862.</p> + +<p>The next bibliographical work claiming to cover this +field was in the French language, being the <i>Bibliographie +des bibliographies</i> of Léon Vallée, published in 1883 at +Paris. This book, though beautifully printed, is so full +of errors, and still fuller of omissions, that it is regarded +by competent scholars as a failure, though still having +its uses to the librarian. It is amazing that any writer +should put forth a book seventeen years after the great +and successful work of Petzholdt, purporting to be a catalogue +of bibliographies, and yet fail to record such a +multitude of printed contributions to the science of +sciences as Vallée has overlooked.</p> + +<p>Some ten years later, or in 1897, there came from the +French press, a far better bibliographical work, covering +the modern issues of books of bibliography more especially, +with greater fullness and superior plan. This is the +<i>Manuel de Bibliographie générale</i>, by Henri Stein. <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Thus'">This</ins> +work contains, in 915 well-printed pages, 1st. a list of +universal bibliographies: 2d. a catalogue of national bibliographies, +in alphabetical order of countries: 3d. a list of +classified bibliographies of subjects, divided into seventeen +classes, namely, religious sciences, philosophical +sciences, juridical, economic, social, and educational +sciences, pure and applied sciences, medical sciences, philology +and belles lettres, geographical and historical sciences, +sciences auxiliary to history, archaeology and fine arts, +music, and biography. Besides these extremely useful categories +of bibliographical aids, in which the freshest publi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_471" id="Pg_471"></a>[<a href="./images/471.png">471</a>]</span>cations +of catalogues and lists of books in each field are set +forth, M. Stein gives us a complete geographical bibliography +of printing, on a new plan. This he entitles "<i>Géographie +bibliographique</i>," or systematic lists of localities in +every part of the world which possessed a printing press +prior to the 19th century. It gives, after the modern or +current name of each place, the Latin, or ancient name, the +country in which located, the year in which the first printed +publication appeared in each place, and finally, the +authority for the statement. This handy-list of information +alone, is worth the cost of the work, since it will +save much time of the inquirer, in hunting over many +volumes of Panzer, Maittaire, Hain, Dibdin, Thomas, or +other authors on printing, to find the origin of the art, +or early name of the place where it was introduced. The +work contains, in addition, a general table of the periodicals +of all countries, (of course not exhaustive) divided +into classes, and filling seventy-five pages. It closes with +a "repertory of the principal libraries of the entire world," +and with an index to the whole work, in which the early +names in Latin, of all places where books were printed, +are interspersed in the alphabet, distinguished by italic +type, and with the modern name of each town or city +affixed. This admirable feature will render unnecessary +any reference to the <i>Orbis Latinus</i> of Graesse, or to any +other <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'vocabularly'">vocabulary</ins> of geography, to identify the place in +which early-printed books appeared. Stein is by no means +free from errors, and some surprising omissions. One cardinal +defect is the absence of any full index of authors +whose books are cited.</p> + +<p>There are also quite brief catalogues of works on bibliography +in J. Power's Handy Book about Books, London, +1870, and in J. Sabin's Bibliography: a handy book about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_472" id="Pg_472"></a>[<a href="./images/472.png">472</a>]</span> +books which relate to books, N. Y., 1877. The latter +work is an expansion of the first-named.</p> + +<p>We come now to the second class of our bibliographies, +<i>viz.</i>: those of various countries. Here the reader must be +on his guard not to be misled into too general an interpretation +of geographical terms. Thus, he will find many +books and pamphlets ambitiously styled "<i>Catalogue Américaine</i>", +which are so far from being general bibliographies +of books relating to America, that they are merely +lists of a few books for sale by some book-dealer, which +have something American in their subject. To know +what catalogues are comprehensive, and what period they +cover, as well as the limitations of nearly all of them, is +a necessary part of the training of a bibliographer, and is +essential to the librarian who would economize his time +and enlarge his usefulness.</p> + +<p>Let us begin with our own country. Here we are met +at the outset by the great paucity of general catalogues +of American literature, and the utter impossibility of finding +any really comprehensive lists of the books published +in the United States, during certain periods. We can get +along tolerably well for the publications within the last +thirty years, which nearly represent the time since systematic +weekly bibliographical journals have been published, +containing lists of the current issues of books. But +for the period just before the Civil War, back to the year +1775, or for very nearly a century, we are without any +systematic bibliography of the product of the American +press. The fragmentary attempts which have been made +toward supplying an account of what books have been +published in the United States from the beginning, will +hereafter be briefly noted. At the outset, you are to observe +the wide distinction that exists between books treating +of America, or any part of it, and books printed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_473" id="Pg_473"></a>[<a href="./images/473.png">473</a>]</span> +America. The former may have been printed anywhere, +at any time since 1492, and in any language: and to +such books, the broad significant term "<i>Americana</i>" may +properly be applied, as implying books relating to America. +But this class of works is wholly different from that +of books written or produced by Americans, or printed in +America. It is these latter that we mean when we lament +the want of a comprehensive American catalogue. There +have been published in the United States alone (to go no +farther into America at present) thousands of books, whose +titles are not found anywhere, except widely scattered in +the catalogues of libraries, public and private, in which +they exist. Nay, there are multitudes of publications +which have been issued in this country during the last two +hundred years, whose titles cannot be found anywhere in +print. This is not, generally, because the books have +perished utterly,—though this is unquestionably true of +some, but because multitudes of books that have appeared, +and do appear, wholly escape the eye of the literary, or +critical, or bibliographical chronicler. It is, beyond doubt +true even now, that what are commonly accepted as complete +catalogues of the issues of the press of any year, are +wofully incomplete, and that too, through no fault of their +compilers. Many works are printed in obscure towns, or +in newspaper offices, which never reach the great eastern +cities, where our principal bibliographies, both periodical +and permanent, are prepared. Many books, too, are "privately +printed," to gratify the pride or the taste of their +authors, and a few copies distributed to friends, or sometimes +to selected libraries, or public men. In these cases, +not only are the public chroniclers of new issues of the +press in ignorance of the printing of many books, but they +are purposely kept in ignorance. Charles Lamb, of +humorous and perhaps immortal memory, used to com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_474" id="Pg_474"></a>[<a href="./images/474.png">474</a>]</span>plain +of the multitudes of books which are no books; and +we of to-day may complain, if we choose, of the vast number +of publications that are not published.</p> + +<p>Take a single example of the failure of even large and +imposing volumes to be included in the "American Catalogue," +for whose aid, librarians are so immeasurably indebted +to the enterprise of its publishers. A single publishing +house west of New York, printed and circulated in +about four years time, no less than thirty-two elaborate +and costly histories, of western counties and towns, not +one of which was ever recorded by title in our only comprehensive +American bibliography. Why was this? Simply +because the works referred to were published only as +subscription books, circulated by agents, carefully kept out +of booksellers' hands, and never sent to the Eastern press +for notice or review. When circumstances like these exist +as to even very recent American publications (and they are +continually happening) is it any wonder that our bibliographies +are incomplete?</p> + +<p>Perhaps some will suggest that there must be one record +of American publications which is complete, namely, the +office of Copyright at Washington. It is true that the +titles of all copyright publications are required by law to +be there registered, and copies deposited as soon as printed. +It is also true that a weekly catalogue of all books and +other copyright publications is printed, and distributed by +the Treasury, to all our custom-houses, to intercept piratical +re-prints which might be imported. But the books +just referred to were not entered for copyright at all, the +publishers apparently preferring the risk of any rival's reprinting +them, rather than to incur the cost of the small +copyright fee, and the deposit of copies. In such cases, +there is no law requiring publishers to furnish copies of +their books. The government guarantees no monopoly of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_475" id="Pg_475"></a>[<a href="./images/475.png">475</a>]</span> +publication, and so cannot exact a <i>quid pro quo.</i>, however +much it might inure to the interest of publisher and author +to have the work seen and noticed, and preserved beyond +risk of perishing (unless printed on wood-pulp paper) in +the Library of the United States.</p> + +<p>If such extensive omissions of the titles of books sometimes +important, can now continually occur in our accepted +standards of national bibliography, what shall we say +of times when we had no critical journals, no publishers' +trade organs, and no weekly, nor annual, nor quinquennial +catalogues of American books issued? Must we not allow, +in the absence of any catalogues worthy of the name, to +represent such periods, that all our reference books are +from the very necessity of the case deplorably incomplete? +Only by the most devoted, indefatigable and unrewarded +industry have we got such aids to research as to the existence +of American publications, as Haven's Catalogue of +American publications prior to 1776, Sabin's Bibliotheca +Americana, and the American Catalogues of Leypoldt, +Bowker, and their coadjutors.</p> + +<p>These illustrations are cited to guard against the too +common error of supposing that we have in the numerous +American catalogues that exist, even putting them all together, +any full bibliography of the titles of American +books. While it cannot be said that the <i>lacunae</i> or omissions +approach the actual entries in number, it must be +allowed that books are turning up every day, both new and +old, whose titles are not found in any catalogue. The +most important books—those which deserve a name as +literature, are found recorded somewhere—although even +as to many of these, one has to search many alphabets, in +a large number of volumes, before tracing them, or some +editions of them.</p> + +<p>One principal source of the great number of titles of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_476" id="Pg_476"></a>[<a href="./images/476.png">476</a>]</span> +books found wanting in American catalogues, is that many +books were printed at places remote from the great cities, +and were never announced in the columns of the press at +all. This is especially true as to books printed toward the +close of the 18th century, and during the first quarter of +the 19th. Not only have we no bibliography whatever of +American issues of the press, specially devoted to covering +the long period between 1775 and 1820, but multitudes of +books printed during that neglected half-century, have +failed to get into the printed catalogues of our libraries. +As illustrations we might give a long catalogue of places +where book-publication was long carried on, and many +books of more or less importance printed or reprinted, but +in which towns not a book has been produced for more +than three-quarters of a century past. One of these towns +was Winchester, and another Williamsburg, in Virginia; +another was Exeter, New Hampshire, and a fourth was +Carlisle, Pa. In the last-named place, one Archibald Loudon +printed many books, between A. D. 1798, and 1813, +which have nearly all escaped the chroniclers of American +book-titles. Notable among the productions of his press, +was his own book, A History of Indian Wars, or as he +styled it in the title page, "A selection of some of the most +interesting narratives of outrages committed by the Indians +in their wars with the white people." This history +appeared in two volumes from the press of A. Loudon, Carlisle, +Pa., in 1808 and 1811. It is so rare that I have failed +to find its title anywhere except in Sabin's Bibliotheca +Americana, Field's Indian Bibliography, and the Catalogue +of the Library of Congress. Not even the British Museum +Library, so rich in Americana, has a copy. Sabin states +that only six copies are known, and Field styles it, "this +rarest of books on America," adding that he could learn of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_477" id="Pg_477"></a>[<a href="./images/477.png">477</a>]</span> +only three perfect copies in the world. A Harrisburg reprint +of 1888 (100 copies to subscribers) is also quite rare.</p> + +<p>Continuing the subject of American bibliography, and +still lamenting the want of any comprehensive or finished +work in that field which is worthy of the name, let us see +what catalogues do exist, even approximating completeness +for any period. The earlier years of the production of +American books have been partially covered by the "Catalogue +of publications in what is now the United States, +prior to 1776." This list was compiled by an indefatigable +librarian, the late Samuel F. Haven, who was at the +head of the Library of the American Antiquarian Society, +at Worcester, Mass. It gives all titles by sequence of years +of publication, instead of alphabetical order, from 1639 +(the epoch of the earliest printing in the United States) +to the end of 1775. The titles of books and pamphlets are +described with provoking brevity, being generally limited +to a single line for each, and usually without publishers' +names, (though the places of publication and sometimes +the number of pages are given) so that it leaves much to +be desired. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Haven's catalogue +is an invaluable aid to the searcher after titles of the +early printed literature of our country. It appeared at Albany, +N. Y., in 1874, as an appendix [in Vol 2] to a new +(or second) edition of Isaiah Thomas's History of Printing +in America, which was first published in 1810. In using +it, the librarian will find no difficulty, if he knows the year +when the publication he looks for appeared, as all books +of each year are arranged in alphabetical order. But if +he knows only the author's name, he may have a long +search to trace the title, there being no general alphabet +or index of authors. This chronological arrangement has +certain advantages to the literary inquirer or historian, +while for ready reference, its disadvantages are obvious.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_478" id="Pg_478"></a>[<a href="./images/478.png">478</a>]</span>While there were several earlier undertakings of an +American bibliography than Haven's catalogue of publications +before the American revolution, yet the long period +which that list covers, and its importance, entitled it to +first mention here. There had, however, appeared, as +early as the year 1804, in Boston, "A Catalogue of all +books, printed in the United States, with the prices, and +places where published, annexed." This large promise +is hardly redeemed by the contents of this thin pamphlet +of 91 pages, all told. Yet the editor goes on to assure us—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This Catalogue is intended to include all books of general +sale printed in the United States, whether original, or reprinted; +that the public may see the rapid progress of book-printing +in a country, where, twenty years since, scarcely a +book was published. Local and occasional tracts are generally +omitted. Some of the books in the Catalogue are now +out of print, and others are scarce. It is contemplated to +publish a new edition of this Catalogue, every two years, and +to make the necessary additions and corrections; and it is +hoped the time is not far distant, when useful Libraries may +be formed of American editions of Books, well printed, and +handsomely bound.</p> + +<p>Printed at Boston, for the Book sellers, Jan., 1804."</p></div> + +<p>The really remarkable thing about this catalogue is that +it was the very first bibliographical attempt at a general +catalogue, in separate form, in America. It is quite interesting +as an early booksellers' list of American publications, +as well as for its classification, which is as follows: +"Law, Physic, Divinity, Bibles, Miscellanies, School Books, +Singing Books, Omissions."</p> + +<p>The fact that no subsequent issues of the catalogue appeared, +evinces the very small interest taken in bibliographic +knowledge in those early days.</p> + +<p>This curiosity of early American bibliography gives the +titles of 1338 books, all of American publication, with +prices in 1804. Here are samples: Bingham's <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Columbiau'">Columbian</ins> +Orator, 75 cts.: Burney's Cecilia, 3 vols. $3: Memoirs of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_479" id="Pg_479"></a>[<a href="./images/479.png">479</a>]</span> +Pious Women, $1.12: Belknap's New Hampshire, 3 vols. +$5: Mrs. Coghlan's Memoirs, 62½ cts.: Brockden Brown's +Wieland, $1: Federalist, 2 vols. $4.50: Dilworth's Spelling +Book, 12½ cts.: Pike's Arithmetic, $2.25.</p> + +<p>The number of out-of-the-way places in which books +were published in those days is remarkable. Thus, in Connecticut, +we have as issuing books, Litchfield, New London +and Fairhaven: in Massachusetts, Leominster, Dedham, +Greenfield, Brookfield, and Wrentham<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads ';'">:</ins> in New Hampshire, +Dover, Walpole, Portsmouth, and Exeter: in Pennsylvania, +Washington, Carlisle, and Chambersburg: in New Jersey, +Morristown, Elizabethtown, and Burlington. At Alexandria, +Va., eight books are recorded as published.</p> + +<p>This historical nugget of the Boston bookmongers of a +century ago is so rare, that only two copies are known in +public libraries, namely, in the Library of Congress, and +in that of the Massachusetts Historical Society. It was reprinted +in 1898, for the Dibdin Club of New York, by Mr. +A. Growoll, of the Publishers' Weekly, to whose curious +and valuable notes on "Booktrade Bibliography in the +United States in the 19th century," it forms a supplement.</p> + +<p>The next catalogue of note claiming to be an American +catalogue, or of books published in America, was put forth +in 1847, at Claremont, N. H., by Alexander V. Blake. +This was entitled, "The American Bookseller's complete +reference trade-list, and alphabetical catalogue of books, +published in this country, with the publishers' and +authors' names, and prices." This quarto volume, making +351 pages (with its supplement issued in 1848) was the +precursor of the now current "Trade List Annual," containing +the lists of books published by all publishers whose +lists could be secured. The titles are very brief, and are +arranged in the catalogue under the names of the respective +publishers, with an alphabetical index of authors and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_480" id="Pg_480"></a>[<a href="./images/480.png">480</a>]</span> +of anonymous titles at the end. It served well its purpose +of a book-trade catalogue fifty years ago, being the +pioneer in that important field. It is now, like the catalogue +of 1804, just noticed, chiefly interesting as a bibliographical +curiosity, although both lists do contain the +titles of some books not elsewhere found.</p> + +<p>Mr. Orville A. Roorbach, a New York bookseller, was +the next compiler of an American bibliography. His first +issue of 1849 was enlarged and published in 1852, under +this title: "Bibliotheca Americana: a catalogue of American +publications, including reprints and original works, +from 1820 to 1852, inclusive." This octavo volume of 663 +pages, in large, clear type, closely abbreviates nearly all +titles, though giving in one comprehensive alphabet, the +authors' names, and the titles of the books under the first +word, with year and place of publication, publisher's name, +and price at which issued. No collation of the books is +given, but the catalogue supplies sufficient portions of each +title to identify the book. It is followed in an appendix +by a catalogue of law books, in a separate alphabet, and a +list of periodicals published in the United States in 1852.</p> + +<p>Roorbach continued his catalogue to the year 1861, by +the issue of three successive supplements: (1) covering the +American publications of 1853 to 1855: (2) from 1855 to +1858: (3) from 1858 to 1861. These four catalogues, aiming +to cover, in four different alphabets, the issues of the +American press for forty years, or from 1820 to 1861, are +extremely useful lists to the librarian, as finding lists, although +the rigorously abbreviated titles leave very much +to be desired by the bibliographer, and the omissions +are exceedingly numerous of books published within the +years named, but whose titles escaped the compiler.</p> + +<p>Following close upon Roorbach's Bibliotheca Americana +in chronological order, we have next two bibliographies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_481" id="Pg_481"></a>[<a href="./images/481.png">481</a>]</span> +covering American book issues from 1861 to 1871. These +were compiled by a New York book dealer named James +Kelly, and were entitled The American Catalogue of +Books, (original and reprint) published in the United +States from Jan., 1861, to Jan., 1866, [and from Jan., +1866, to Jan., 1871] with date of publication, size, price, +and publisher's name. The first volume contained a supplement, +with list of pamphlets on the civil war, and also +a list of the publications of learned societies. These very +useful and important catalogues cover ten years of American +publishing activity, adding also to their own period +many titles omitted by Roorbach in earlier years. Kelly's +catalogues number 307 and 444 pages respectively, and, +like Roorbach's, they give both author and title in a single +alphabet. Names of publishers are given, with place and +year of publication, and retail price, but without number +of pages, and with no alphabet of subjects.</p> + +<p>Next after Kelly's catalogue came the first issue of the +"American Catalogue," which, with its successive volumes +(all published in quarto form) ably represents the bibliography +of our country during the past twenty-five years. +The title of the first volume, issued in 1880, reads "American +Catalogue of books in print and for sale (including reprints +and importations) July 1, 1876. Compiled under +direction of F. Leypoldt, by L. E. Jones." This copious +repository of book-titles was in two parts: (1) Authors, +and (2) Subject-index. Both are of course in alphabetical +order, and the titles of books are given with considerable +abbreviation. The fact that its plan includes many titles +of books imported from Great Britain, (as supplying information +to book-dealers and book-buyers) prevents it +from being considered as a bibliography of strictly American +publications. Still, it is the only <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'approxmiately'">approximately</ins> full +American bibliography of the publications current twenty-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_482" id="Pg_482"></a>[<a href="./images/482.png">482</a>]</span>five +years ago. As such, its volumes are indispensable +in every library, and should be in its earliest purchase of +works of reference. The limitation of the catalogue to +books still in print—<i>i. e.</i>, to be had of the publishers at +the time of its issue, of course precludes it from being +ranked as a universal American bibliography.</p> + +<p>The first issue in 1880 was followed, in 1885, by the +"American Catalogue, 1876-1884: books recorded (including +reprints and importations<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: added closing parenthesis">)</ins>, under editorial direction of +R. R. Bowker, by Miss A. I. Appleton." This appeared in +one volume, but with two alphabets; one being authors +and titles, and the other an alphabet of subjects. As this +volume included eight years issues of the American press, +the next bibliography published covered the next ensuing +six years, and included the books recorded from July, 1884 +to July, 1890. This appeared in 1891, edited with care +by Miss Appleton and others.</p> + +<p>In 1896 appeared its successor, the "American Catalogue, +1890-95. Compiled under the editorial direction +of R. R. Bowker." This catalogue records in its first +volume, or alphabet of authors: (1) author; (2) size of +book; (3) year of issue; (4) price; (5) publisher's name. +The names of places where published are not given with +the title, being rendered unnecessary by the full alphabetical +list of publishers which precedes, and fixes the city or +town where each published his books. This same usage is +followed in succeeding issues of the American Catalogue.</p> + +<p>This indispensable bibliography of recent American +books, in addition to its regular alphabets of authors and +titles (the latter under first words and in the same alphabet +with the authors) and the succeeding alphabet of subjects, +prints a full list of the publications of the United States +government, arranged by departments and bureaus; also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_483" id="Pg_483"></a>[<a href="./images/483.png">483</a>]</span> +a list of the publications of State governments, of Societies, +and of books published in series.</p> + +<p>This last issue has 939 pages. Its only defects (aside +from its inevitable omissions of many unrecorded books) +are the double alphabet, and the want of collation, or an +indication of the number of pages in each work, which +should follow every title. Its cost in bound form is $15, +at which the two preceding American catalogues 1876-84, +and 1884 to 1890 can also be had, while the catalogue of +books in print in 1876, published in 1880, is quite out of +print, though a copy turns up occasionally from some +book-dealer's stock.</p> + +<p>The American Catalogue has now become a quinquennial +issue, gathering the publications of five years into one +alphabet; and it is supplemented at the end of every year +by the "Annual American Catalogue," started in 1886, +which gives, in about 400 pages, in its first alphabet, collations +of the books of the year (a most important feature, +unfortunately absent from the quinquennial American +Catalogue.) Its second alphabet gives authors, titles, and +sometimes subject-matters, but without the distribution +into subject-divisions found in the quinquennial catalogue; +and the titles are greatly abridged from the full record of +its first alphabet. Its price is $3.50 each year.</p> + +<p>And this annual, in turn, is made up from the catalogues +of titles of all publications, which appear in the <i>Publishers' +Weekly</i>, the carefully edited organ of the book publishing +interests in the United States. This periodical, which will +be found a prime necessity in every library, originated in +New York, in 1855, as the "American Publishers' Circular," +and has developed into the recognized authority in +American publications, under the able management of R. +R. Bowker and A. Growoll. For three dollars a year, it +supplies weekly and monthly alphabetical lists of whatever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_484" id="Pg_484"></a>[<a href="./images/484.png">484</a>]</span> +comes from the press, in book form, as completely as the +titles can be gathered from every source. It gives valuable +notes after most titles, defining the scope and idea of the +work, with collations, features which are copied into the +Annual American Catalogue.</p> + +<p>I must not omit to mention among American bibliographies, +although published in London, and edited by a +foreigner, Mr. N. Trübner's "Bibliographical Guide to +American literature: a classed list of books published in +the United States during the last forty years." This book +appeared in 1859, and is a carefully edited bibliography, +arranged systematically in thirty-two divisions of subjects, +filling 714 pages octavo. It gives under each topic, an +alphabet of authors, followed by titles of the works, given +with approximate fullness, followed by place and year of +publication, but without publishers' names. The number +of pages is also given where ascertained, and the price of +the work quoted in sterling English money. This work, +by a competent German-English book-publisher of London, +is preceded by a brief history of American literature, +and closes with a full index of authors whose works are +catalogued in it.</p> + +<p>We come now to by far the most comprehensive and +ambitious attempt to cover not only the wide field of +American publications, but the still more extensive field +of books relating to America, which has ever yet been +made. I refer to the "Bibliotheca Americana; a dictionary +of books relating to America," by Joseph Sabin, +begun more than thirty years ago, in 1868, and still unfinished, +its indefatigable compiler having died in 1881, +at the age of sixty. This vast bibliographical undertaking +was originated by a variously-gifted and most energetic +man, not a scholar, but a bookseller and auctioneer, +born in England. Mr. Sabin is said to have compiled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_485" id="Pg_485"></a>[<a href="./images/485.png">485</a>]</span> +more catalogues of private libraries that have been +brought to the auctioneer's hammer, than any man who +ever lived in America. He bought and sold, during nearly +twenty years, old and rare books, in a shop in Nassau street, +New York, which was the resort of book collectors and +bibliophiles without number. He made a specialty of +Americana, and of early printed books in English literature, +crossing the Atlantic twenty-five times to gather +fresh stores with which to feed his hungry American +customers. During all these years, he worked steadily at +his <i>magnum opus</i>, the bibliography of America, carrying +with him in his many journeys and voyages, in cars or +on ocean steamships, copy and proofs of some part of the +work. There have been completed about ninety parts, +or eighteen thick volumes of nearly 600 pages each; and +since his death the catalogue has been brought down to +the letter S, mainly by Mr. Wilberforce Eames, librarian +of the Lenox Library, New York. Though its ultimate +completion must be regarded as uncertain, the great value +to all librarians, and students of American bibliography +or history, of the work so far as issued, can hardly be over-estimated. +Mr. Sabin had the benefit in revising the +proofs of most of the work, of the critical knowledge and +large experience of Mr. Charles A. Cutter, the librarian +of the Boston Athenaeum Library, whose catalogue of the +books in that institution, in five goodly volumes, is a +monument of bibliographical learning and industry. +Sabin's Dictionary is well printed, in large, clear type, +the titles being frequently annotated, and prices at auction +sales of the rarer and earlier books noted. Every +known edition of each work is given, and the initials of +public libraries in the United States, to the number of +thirteen, in which the more important works are found, +are appended. In not a few cases, where no copy was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_486" id="Pg_486"></a>[<a href="./images/486.png">486</a>]</span> +known to the compiler in a public collection, but was +found in a private library, the initials of its owner were +given instead.</p> + +<p>This extensive bibliography was published solely by +subscription, only 635 copies being printed at $2.50 a +part, so that its cost to those subscribing was about $225 +unbound, up to the time of its suspension. The first part +appeared January 1, 1867, although Vol. I. bears date +New York, 1868. It records most important titles in full, +with (usually) marks denoting omissions where such are +made. In the case of many rare books relating to America +(and especially those published prior to the 18th century) +the collations are printed so as to show what each line +of the original title embraces, <i>i. e.</i> with vertical marks or +dashes between the matter of the respective lines. This +careful description is invaluable to the bibliographical +student, frequently enabling him to identify editions, or to +solve doubts as to the genuineness of a book-title in hand. +The collation by number of pages is given in all cases +where the book has been seen, or reported fully to the +editor. The order of description as to each title is as +follows: (1) Place of publication (2) publisher (3) year +(4) collation and size of book. Notes in a smaller type +frequently convey information of other editions, of +prices in various sales, of minor works by the same +writer, etc.</p> + +<p>The fullness which has been aimed at in Sabin's +American bibliography is seen in the great number of sermons +and other specimens of pamphlet literature which +it chronicles. It gives also the titles of most early +American magazines, reviews, and other periodicals, except +newspapers, which are generally omitted, as are maps +also. As an example of the often minute cataloguing of +the work, I may mention that no less than eight pages are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_487" id="Pg_487"></a>[<a href="./images/487.png">487</a>]</span> +occupied with a list of the various publications and editions +of books by Dr. Jedediah Morse, an author of whom +few of the present generation of Americans have ever +heard. He was the earliest American geographer who +published any comprehensive books upon the subject, and +his numerous Gazetteers and Geographies, published +from 1784 to 1826, were constantly reprinted, until supplanted +by more full, if not more accurate works.</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, Sabin's great work, although so far +from being finished, is invaluable as containing immeasurably +more and fuller titles than any other American bibliography. +It is also the only extensive work on the subject +which covers all periods, although the books of the +last thirty years must chiefly be excepted as not represented. +As a work of reference, while its cost and scarcity +may prevent the smaller public libraries from possessing +it, it is always accessible in the libraries of the larger +cities, where it is among the foremost works to be consulted +in any research involving American publications, +or books of any period or country relating to America, or +its numerous sub-divisions.</p> + +<p>I may now mention, much more cursorily, some other +bibliographies pertaining to our country. The late Henry +Stevens, who died in 1886, compiled a "Catalogue of the +American Books in the Library of the British Museum." +This was printed by the Museum authorities in 1856, and +fills 754 octavo pages. Its editor was a highly accomplished +bibliographer and book-merchant, born in Vermont, +but during the last forty years of his life resided +in London, where he devoted himself to his profession +with great learning and assiduity. He published many +catalogues of various stocks of books collected by +him, under such titles as "Bibliotheca historica," +"Bibliotheca Americana," etc., in which the books were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_488" id="Pg_488"></a>[<a href="./images/488.png">488</a>]</span> +carefully described, often with notes illustrating their history +or their value. He became an authority upon rare +books and early editions, and made a valuable catalogue +of the Bibles in the Caxton exhibition at London, in 1877, +with bibliographical commentary. He was for years chief +purveyor of the British Museum Library for its American +book purchases, and aided the late James Lenox in building +up that rich collection of Americana and editions of +the Scriptures which is now a part of the New York Public +Library. His catalogue of the American books in the +British Museum, though now over forty years old, and +supplanted by the full alphabetical catalogue of that entire +library since published, is a valuable contribution to +American bibliography.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stevens was one of the most acute and learned bibliographers +I have known. He was a man of marked individuality +and independent views; with a spice of eccentricity +and humor, which crept into all his catalogues, +and made his notes highly entertaining reading. Besides +his services to the British Museum Library, in building +up its noble collection of Americana, and in whose rooms +he labored for many years, with the aid of Panizzi and +his successors, whom he aided in return, Stevens collected +multitudes of the books which now form the choice +treasures of the Lenox library, the Carter Brown library, +at Providence, the Library of Congress, and many more +American collections. To go with him through any lot +of Americana, in one of his enterprising visits to New +York, where he sometimes came to market his overflowing +stores picked up in London and on the continent, was a +rare treat. Every book, almost, brought out some verbal +criticism, anecdote or reminiscence of his book-hunting +experiences, which began in America, and extended all +over Europe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_489" id="Pg_489"></a>[<a href="./images/489.png">489</a>]</span>He was not only an indefatigable collector, but a most +industrious and accurate bibliographer, doing more work +in that field, probably, than any other American. He +wrote a singularly careful, though rapid hand, as plain +and condensed as print, and in days before modern devices +for manifolding writing were known, he copied out his +invoices in duplicate or triplicate in his own hand, with +titles in full, and frequent descriptive notes attached. +His many catalogues are notable for the varied learning +embodied. He was a most intelligent and vigilant book +collector for more than forty years, his early labors embracing +towns in New York and New England, as purveyor +for material for Peter Force, of Washington, whose +American Archives were then in course of preparation. +Among the library collectors who absorbed large portions +of his gathered treasures, were James Lenox, Jared +Sparks, George Livermore, John Carter Brown, Henry C. +Murphy, George Brinley, the American Geographical Society, +and many historical societies. He was an authority +on all the early voyages, and wrote much upon them. No +one knew more about early Bibles than Henry Stevens.</p> + +<p>His enterprise and ambition for success led him to bold +and sometimes extensive purchases. He bought about +1865, the library of Baron von Humboldt, and this and +other large ventures embarrassed him much in later years. +He became the owner of the Franklin manuscripts, left +in London by the great man's grandson, and collected +during many years a library of Frankliniana, which came +to the Library of Congress when the Franklin manuscripts +were purchased for the State Department in 1881.</p> + +<p>He was proud of his country and his State, always signing +himself "Henry Stevens, of Vermont." His book-plate +had engraved beneath his name, the titles, "G. M. B.: +F. S. A." The last, of course, designated him as Fellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_490" id="Pg_490"></a>[<a href="./images/490.png">490</a>]</span> +of the Society of Antiquaries of London, but the first +puzzled even his friends, until it was interpreted as signifying +"Green Mountain Boy." His brother used jocosely +to assure me that it really meant "Grubber of Musty +Books."</p> + +<p>As to his prices for books, while some collectors complained +of them as "very stiff," they appear, when compared +with recent sales of Americana, at auction and in +sale catalogues, to be quite moderate. The late historian +Motley told me that Mr. Stevens charged more than any +one for Dutch books relating to America; but Mr. Motley's +measure of values was <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'guaged'">gauged</ins> by the low prices of +Dutch booksellers which prevailed during his residence +in the Netherlands, for years before the keen demand from +America had rendered the numerous Dutch tracts of the +West India Company, etc., more scarce and of greater +commercial value than they bore at the middle of this +century.</p> + +<p>As treating of books by American authors, though not +so much a complete bibliography of their works, as a +critical history, with specimens selected from each writer, +<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Duyckincks'">Duyckinck's</ins> "Cyclopaedia of American Literature" deserves +special mention. The last edition appeared at +Philadelphia, in 1875, in two large quarto volumes. +Equally worthy of note is the compilation by E. C. Stedman +and Ellen M. Hutchinson, in eleven volumes, entitled +"Library of American Literature," New York, 1887-90. +A most convenient hand-book of bibliographical reference +is Oscar F. Adams's "Dictionary of American Authors," +Boston, 1897, which gives in a compact duodecimo volume, +the name and period of nearly every American writer, +with a brief list of his principal works, and their date of +publication, in one alphabet.</p> + +<p>Of notable catalogues of books relating to America,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_491" id="Pg_491"></a>[<a href="./images/491.png">491</a>]</span> +rather than of American publications, should be named +White Kennet's "Bibliotheca Americana primordia," the +earliest known catalogue devoted to American bibliography, +London, 1713; O. Rich, Catalogue of Books relating +to America, 1500-1700, London, 1832; Rich, "Bibliotheca +Americana nova," books printed between 1700 and 1844, +two volumes, London, 1835-46; H. Harrisse, "Bibliotheca +Americana vetustissima," New York, 1866, and its supplement, +Paris, 1872, both embracing rare early Americana, +published from 1492 to 1551. This is a critically edited +bibliography of the rarest books concerning America that +appeared in the first half century after its discovery.</p> + +<p>The important field of American local history has given +birth to many bibliographies. The earliest to be noted is +H. E. Ludewig's "Literature of American Local History," +New York, 1846. Thirty years later came F. B. Perkins's +"Check List for American Local History," Boston, 1876; +followed by A. P. C. Griffin's "Index of articles upon +American Local History in historical collections," Boston, +1889, and by his "Index of the literature of American +local history in collections published in 1890-95," Boston, +1896. Closely allied to the catalogues of city, town, and +county histories, come the bibliographies of genealogies +and family histories, of which the last or 4th edition +of D. S. Durrie's "Bibliographia genealogica Americana; +an alphabetical index to American genealogies in county +and town histories, printed genealogies, and kindred +works," Albany, 1895, is the most comprehensive and indispensable. +This work gives us an alphabet of family +names, under each of which are grouped the titles of books +in which that special name is treated, with citation of the +page. It also gives the name and date of publication of +the special family genealogies which are separately +printed, whether book or pamphlet, with number of pages<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_492" id="Pg_492"></a>[<a href="./images/492.png">492</a>]</span> +in each. The work is by a librarian, to whose laborious +diligence Americans are deeply indebted.</p> + +<p>Among other bibliographies of genealogy are Munsell's +"American Genealogist: a catalogue of family histories," +Albany, 1897. This work aims to give the titles of all +separately printed American genealogies, in an alphabet +of family names, giving titles in full, with place and year +of publication, name of publisher, and collation, or number +of pages.</p> + +<p>For the multitudinous public documents of the United +States, consult B. P. Poore's "Descriptive catalogue of the +government publications of the United States, 1775-1881," +Washington, 1885, and F. A. Crandall, Check list of public +documents, debates and proceedings from 1st to 53d Congress +(1789-1895), Washington, 1895; also,</p> + +<p>Comprehensive index to the publications of the United +States government, 1889-1893. The same—United States +Catalogue of Public Documents, 1893 to 1895, Washington, +1896. Several biennial or annual lists of United +States Documents have followed.</p> + +<p>As supplementing these extensive catalogues, we have +in the Appendix to the "American Catalogue" of 1885 a +List of United States Government publications from 1880 +to 1884; in that of 1891 a List from 1884 to 1890; and +in that of 1896 a List covering the years 1891 to 1895.</p> + +<p>A most important recent bibliography is found in H. C. +Bolton's "Catalogue of Scientific and Technical Periodicals, +1665-1895," Washington, 1897.</p> + +<p>There are also many sale catalogues of American books, +with prices, some of which may be noted, <i>e. g.</i> J. R. Smith, +Bibliotheca Americana, London, 1865; F. Müller, Catalogue +of books and pamphlets relating to America, Amsterdam, +1877, and later years. Ternaux-Compans, "Bibliothèque +Américaine;" books printed before 1700, Paris,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_493" id="Pg_493"></a>[<a href="./images/493.png">493</a>]</span> +1837: P. Trömel, "Bibliothèque Américaine," Leipzig, +1861: D. B. Warden, "Bibliothèque Américaine," Paris, +1840: R. Clarke & Co., "Bibliotheca Americana," Cincinnati, +1874, 1878, 1887, 1891, and 1893.</p> + +<p>There are, besides, important catalogues of some private +libraries, devoted wholly or chiefly to books relating to +America. Among these, the most extensive and costly is +John R. Bartlett's catalogue of the library of J. Carter +Brown, of Providence, in four sumptuous volumes, with +fac-similes of early title-pages, of which bibliography only +fifty copies were printed. It is entitled, "Bibliotheca +Americana: a catalogue of books relating to North and +South America," 1482-1800, 4 vols. large 8vo., Providence, +1870-82. The Carter Brown Library is now the richest +collection of Americana in any private library in the +world.</p> + +<p>Among catalogues of libraries sold by auction, and +composed largely of American books, are those of John +A. Rice, New York, 1870: W. <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Meuzies'">Menzies</ins>, New York, 1875: +George Brinley, in five volumes, sold 1878 to 1886: Henry +C. Murphy, New York, 1884: S. L. M. Barlow, New York, +1889: and Brayton Ives, New York, 1891.</p> + +<p>The wide field of bibliography of English literature has +given birth to many books. Only the more comprehensive +can here be noted.</p> + +<p>R. Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, in four quarto +volumes, Edinburgh, 1824, although now old, is still an +indispensable work of reference, giving multitudes of titles +of English books and pamphlets not found in any other +bibliography. It of course abounds in errors, most of +which have been copied in Allibone's Dictionary of English +literature. This extensive work is a monument of +labor, to which the industrious compiler devoted many +years, dying of too intense study, at Glasgow, at the early<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_494" id="Pg_494"></a>[<a href="./images/494.png">494</a>]</span> +age of forty-five, in the year 1819. The issue of the work +in 1824, being thus posthumous, its errors and omissions +are largely accounted for by the author's inability to correct +the press. The plan of the work is unique. Vols. <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'I'">1</ins> +and 2 contain the alphabet of authors and titles, with +dates and publishers' prices when known. Vols. 3 and +4 contain an alphabet of subjects, in which the titles re-appear, +with a key alphabet in italic letters attached to +each title, by which reference is made to the author-catalogue, +at a fixed place, where all the works of the author +are recorded.</p> + +<p>The work is printed in small type, with two crowded +columns on a page, thus containing an enormous amount +of matter. The key is quickly learned, and by its aid, and +the alphabet of subjects, the librarian can find out the +authors of many anonymous books. Watt is the only +general bibliography of English literature which gives +most of the obscure writers and their works.</p> + +<p>Lowndes' Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature, +in its second edition, enlarged by H. G. Bohn, is a most +indispensable bibliography. This work is arranged alphabetically +by authors' names, and aims to record all important +books published in Great Britain, from the earliest +times to about A. D. 1834. It is in eleven parts, or +6 vols. 16 mo. of very portable size, Lond., 1857-65. While +it gives collations of the more important works, with publishers +and dates, it fails to record many editions of the +same work. Its quoted prices represent the original publisher's +price, with very frequent additions of the sale +prices obtained at book auctions. The chief defect of +Lowndes' Manual is its total lack of any index of subjects.</p> + +<p>S. Austin Allibone's "Critical Dictionary of English literature," +Philadelphia, 1858-71, 3 volumes, with sup<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_495" id="Pg_495"></a>[<a href="./images/495.png">495</a>]</span>plement +by John F. Kirk, in 2 vols., Philadelphia, 1891, +is a copious reference book, which, in spite of its many +errors and crudities, should be in all libraries. It contains +in abbreviated form most of the titles in Watt and +Lowndes, with the addition of American authors, and of +British books published since the period covered by +Lowndes. The three volumes of Allibone accompany +the titles of works by noted authors with many critical +remarks, copied mostly from reviews and literary journals. +This feature of the book, which makes it rather a work of +literary history and criticism than a bibliography pure +and simple, has been dropped in Mr. Kirk's supplement, +which thus becomes properly a bibliography. The publications +of England and America, from about 1850 to 1890, +are more fully chronicled in this work of Kirk than in any +other bibliography.</p> + +<p>The important "English Catalogue of Books," from A. +D. 1835 to 1897, in 5 vols., with its valuable Index of Subjects, +in 4 vols., from 1857 up to 1889, is so constantly +useful as to be almost indispensable in a public library<ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads ','">.</ins> +It records, in provokingly brief one-line titles, with publisher's +name, year of issue, and price, all books published +in Great Britain whose titles could be secured. It thus +subserves the same purpose for English publications, +which the American Catalogue fulfills for those of the +United States. Both are in effect greatly condensed bibliographies, +enabling the librarian to locate most of the +published literature in the English language for many +years back. The English catalogue, from 1897 to date, is +supplemented by its annual issues, entitled "the English +Catalogue of Books for 1898," etc.</p> + +<p>I have said that accuracy should be one of the cardinal +aims of the librarian: and this because in that profession +it is peculiarly important. Bibliography is a study which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_496" id="Pg_496"></a>[<a href="./images/496.png">496</a>]</span> +approaches very nearly to the rank of an exact science; +and the practice of it, in application to the daily work of +the librarian, is at once a school of accuracy, and a test +of ability. A habit of analytical methods should be assiduously +cultivated, without which much time will be lost +in fruitless searches in the wrong books to find what one +wants. As a single illustration of this need of method, +suppose that you want to find the title of a certain book +with its full description, a want likely to occur every hour +in the day, and sometimes many times an hour. The book +is perhaps Sir Walter Scott's Life of Napoleon,—9 vols., +London, 1827, and your object is to trace its title, published +price, etc., among the numerous bibliographies of +literature. You begin by a simple act of analysis—thus. +This is a London, not an American book—hence it is useless +to look in any American catalogue. It is written in +English, so you are dispensed from looking for it in any +French or other foreign bibliography. Its date is 1827, +London. Therefore among the three leading English reference +books in bibliography, which are Watt's Bibliotheca +Britannica, Lowndes' Bibliographer's Manual, and the +English Catalogue, you at once eliminate the former as +not containing the book. Why do you do this? Because +Watt's great work, in four huge quartos, though invaluable +for the early English literature, stops with books published +before the date of its issue, 1824. Your book is +published in 1827, and of course could not appear in a +catalogue of 1824. Shall you refer then to the English +Catalogue for its title? No, because the five volumes of +that useful work (though some imperfect book lists were +published earlier), begin with the year 1835, and the book +you seek bears date of 1827. You are then reduced, by +this simple process of analyzing in your mind the various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_497" id="Pg_497"></a>[<a href="./images/497.png">497</a>]</span> +sources of information, and rejecting all except one, namely +Lowndes' Bibliographer's Manual, to a search in a single +catalogue for your title. This simplifies matters +greatly, and saves all the time which might otherwise have +been lost in hunting fruitlessly through several works of +reference. Lowndes' invaluable Manual was published in +1834, and though a second edition, edited by Bohn, appeared +thirty years later, it does not contain books <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'pubished'">published</ins> +after that date, unless they are later editions of +works issued earlier. You find in it your Scott's Napoleon, +date 1827, with its published price, £4. 14. 6, and an +account of other later editions of the book. Of +course you will observe that it is necessary to know +what period of years is covered by the various bibliographies, +and to carry those dates perpetually in your +memory, in order thus to simplify searches, and save time. +Once learned, you will have the comfort of knowing where +to turn for light upon any book, and the faculty of accurate +memory will reward the pains taken to acquire it.</p> + +<p>I must not omit to include, in noting the more useful +and important English bibliographies, the very copious +list of works appended to each biography of British +writers, in the new "Dictionary of National Biography," +Lond., 1885-1900. This extensive work is nearly finished +in about 65 volumes, and constitutes a rich thesaurus +of information about all British authors, except living +ones.</p> + +<p>Living characters, considered notable, and brief note of +their books, are recorded in "Men and Women of the +Time," 15th ed. London, 1899—but this book, although +highly useful, is far from being a bibliography.</p> + +<p>I should not omit to mention among useful librarians' +aids, the "Book Prices Current; record of prices at which +books have been sold at auction." This London publica<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_498" id="Pg_498"></a>[<a href="./images/498.png">498</a>]</span>tion +began with the year 1887. No sales are reported +of books bringing less than one pound sterling. The +book-sales of 1898 were reported in 1899 of this issue, +and the book is published in each case the next year. The +similar catalogue entitled "American Book Prices Current" +was begun with 1895, being compiled from the sale +catalogues of American auctioneers, for that year, and +the prices brought at auction in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, +and Chicago, are recorded for all notable books, +but limited to works bringing as much as $3 or upward. +Five years' reports, in as many volumes, have now been +issued, and the publication is to be continued. Its utility +of course consists in informing librarians or collectors of +the most recent auction values of books. At the same +time, a word of caution is required, since it is not safe to +judge of average commercial values, from any isolated bid +at an auction sale.</p> + +<p>A very useful classed catalogue, published by the British +Museum library, and edited by G. K. Fortescue, an assistant +librarian, is the so-called "Subject-index to modern +works," of which three volumes have appeared, beginning +with the accessions of 1880-85, each covering five years +additions of new works, in all European languages, to that +library. The third volume embraces the years 1890 to +1895, and appeared in 1896. As this is not confined to +works in English, it should be classed with universal +bibliography. As containing most of the latest books of +any note, all three volumes are important aids to research. +They are printed in large type, in which it is a refreshment +to the eye to read titles, after the small and obscure print +of Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, and the but little better +type of Lowndes' Manual, and of the English Catalogue. +A collation of pages is also added in most cases, and the +importance of this can hardly be overrated. These cata<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_499" id="Pg_499"></a>[<a href="./images/499.png">499</a>]</span>logues +of the British Museum Library abound in pamphlets, +English, French, German, Italian, etc., evincing how +large a share of attention is given to the minor literature +coming from the press in the more recent years.</p> + +<p>W. H. D. Adams's "Dictionary of English Literature," +London, 1880, and later, in a compact volume, gives authors +and titles of the more important English and American +books. Also, in the same alphabet, an index to the +titles, as well as authors, by the first word, and to many +sayings or quotations, with their original sources. It is +a highly useful book, although its small bulk leaves it +far from being a comprehensive one.</p> + +<p>Chambers' Cyclopaedia of English Literature, in 2 vols., +London, 1876, has an account of the most notable British +writers, with specimens of their works, and forms what +may be termed an essential part of the equipment of every +public library.</p> + +<p>The Library Association of the United Kingdom, since +1888, the date of its organization, has published Transactions +and Proceedings; also, since 1889, "The Library," a +periodical with bibliographical information.</p> + +<p>It may be noted, without undue expression of pride, +that America first set the example of an organized national +association of Librarians (founded in 1876) followed +the same year by a journal devoted to Library interests. +That extremely useful periodical, the <i>Library Journal</i>, is +now in its twenty-fourth volume. Its successive issues +have contained lists of nearly all new bibliographical works +and catalogues published, in whatever language.</p> + +<p>The London Publisher's Circular, first established in +1838, is a weekly organ of the book-publishing trade, aiming +to record the titles of all British publications as they +appear from the press. It gives, in an alphabet by authors' +names, the titles in much abbreviated form, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_500" id="Pg_500"></a>[<a href="./images/500.png">500</a>]</span> +publisher, size in inches, collation, price, and date, with +a fairly good index of titles or subjects, in the same alphabet. +Covering much the same ground, as a publishers' +periodical, is "The Bookseller," issued monthly since 1858, +with lists of the new issues of the British press, and critical +notices. In addition to the English catalogue, there +is the extensive Whitaker's "Reference catalogue of current +literature," published every year, which now makes +two large volumes, and embraces the trade catalogues of +English publishers, bound up in alphabetical order, with +a copious index, by authors and titles, in one alphabet, +prefixed.</p> + +<p>While on English bibliographies, I must note the important +work on local history, by J. P. Anderson, "Book +of British Topography," London, 1881. This gives, in +an alphabet of counties, titles of all county histories or +descriptive works of England, Scotland, Ireland, and +Wales, followed in each county by a list of town histories +or topographical works. The arrangement under each +town is chronological. Its only want is a collation of the +books. British genealogy, or the history of families, is +treated bibliographically in G. W. Marshall's "The Genealogist's +Guide," London, 1893, which gives an alphabet +of family names, with references in great detail to county +and town histories, pedigrees, heralds' visitations, genealogies, +etc., all over Great Britain, in which any family is +treated.</p> + +<p>The wide field of foreign bibliography, by countries, cannot +here be entered upon, nor can I now treat of the still +more extensive range of works devoted to the bibliography +of various subjects.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_501" id="Pg_501"></a>[<a href="./images/501.png">501</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + + + +<ul><li>Access to shelves, <a href="#Pg_215">215</a>-<a href="#Pg_225">225</a></li> +<li>Accuracy, rarity of, <a href="#Pg_254">254</a>-<a href="#Pg_257">257</a></li> +<li>Adams (O. F.) Dictionary of American authors, <a href="#Pg_490">490</a></li> +<li>Adams (W. H. D.) Dictionary of English literature, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li>Administration, faculty of, <a href="#Pg_249">249</a></li> +<li>Advertising, library, <a href="#Pg_353">353</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a></li> +<li>Aids to readers, <a href="#Pg_190">190</a>-<a href="#Pg_214">214</a></li> +<li>Alexandrian library, <a href="#Pg_107">107</a>, <a href="#Pg_289">289</a></li> +<li>Allibone (S. A.) Critical dictionary of English literature, <a href="#Pg_494">494</a>-<a href="#Pg_495">495</a></li> +<li>Alphabeting titles, <a href="#Pg_380">380</a>, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a>-<a href="#Pg_389">389</a></li> +<li>American book prices, current, 1895-99, <a href="#Pg_498">498</a></li> +<li>American catalogue, 1876-1899, <a href="#Pg_481">481</a>-<a href="#Pg_484">484</a></li> +<li>American Library Association<ul> +<li> catalogue of <a href="#Pg_5">5</a>,000 books, <a href="#Pg_25">25</a>, <a href="#Pg_371">371</a></li> +<li> foundation of, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li> list of novelists, <a href="#Pg_22">22</a></li> +<li> on open shelves, <a href="#Pg_223">223</a></li> +<li> on size-notation, <a href="#Pg_390">390</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Americana,<ul> +<li> bibliographies of, <a href="#Pg_472">472</a>-<a href="#Pg_493">493</a></li> +<li> rare, <a href="#Pg_454">454</a>-<a href="#Pg_456">456</a></li> +<li> what are, <a href="#Pg_473">473</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Anderson (J. P.) book of British topography, <a href="#Pg_500">500</a></li> +<li>Arabic figures, <a href="#Pg_81">81</a></li> +<li>Art of reading, <a href="#Pg_171">171</a>-<a href="#Pg_189">189</a></li> +<li>Art, lesson from, <a href="#Pg_24">24</a></li> +<li>Assistants in libraries<ul> +<li> appointment of, <a href="#Pg_337">337</a>-<a href="#Pg_339">339</a></li> +<li> qualifications of, <a href="#Pg_242">242</a>-<a href="#Pg_274">274</a></li> +<li> regulations for, <a href="#Pg_341">341</a>-<a href="#Pg_345">345</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Astor library, N. Y., <a href="#Pg_35">35</a>, <a href="#Pg_306">306</a><ul> +<li> mutilation in, <a href="#Pg_137">137</a>, <a href="#Pg_140">140</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Auction sales, <a href="#Pg_38">38</a>-<a href="#Pg_40">40</a>, <a href="#Pg_45">45</a>-<a href="#Pg_47">47</a>, <a href="#Pg_457">457</a></li> +<li>Authorship, <a href="#Pg_271">271</a>-<a href="#Pg_2">2</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Bad books, <a href="#Pg_20">20</a>-<a href="#Pg_24">24</a>, <a href="#Pg_281">281</a>-<a href="#Pg_2">2</a></li> +<li>Bartlett (J. R.) catalogue of J. Carter Brown library, <a href="#Pg_493">493</a></li> +<li>Bay Psalm book, <a href="#Pg_455">455</a></li> +<li>Beckford library sale, <a href="#Pg_74">74</a>, <a href="#Pg_457">457</a>-<a href="#Pg_8">8</a></li> +<li>Beecher (H. W.) on books, <a href="#Pg_15">15</a></li> +<li>Bibliography, <a href="#Pg_459">459</a>-<a href="#Pg_500">500</a><ul> +<li> accessibility of, <a href="#Pg_463">463</a>-<a href="#Pg_464">464</a></li> +<li> bibliographies of, <a href="#Pg_469">469</a>-<a href="#Pg_471">471</a></li> +<li> classification of, <a href="#Pg_464">464</a>-<a href="#Pg_5">5</a></li> +<li> definition of, <a href="#Pg_459">459</a></li> +<li> earliest American, <a href="#Pg_478">478</a></li> +<li> early works in, <a href="#Pg_465">465</a></li> +<li> no full American, <a href="#Pg_475">475</a></li> +<li> of American publications, <a href="#Pg_472">472</a>-<a href="#Pg_493">493</a></li> +<li> selection of works in, <a href="#Pg_462">462</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Binding of books, <a href="#Pg_50">50</a>-<a href="#Pg_87">87</a>, <a href="#Pg_93">93</a>-<a href="#Pg_94">94</a><ul> +<li> colors in, <a href="#Pg_57">57</a></li> +<li> desiderata in, <a href="#Pg_52">52</a></li> +<li> how a bibliomaniac binds, <a href="#Pg_432">432</a></li> +<li> importance of, <a href="#Pg_87">87</a></li> +<li> lettering titles, <a href="#Pg_72">72</a>, <a href="#Pg_78">78</a>-<a href="#Pg_83">83</a></li> +<li> machine methods, <a href="#Pg_62">62</a>-<a href="#Pg_3">3</a></li> +<li> marbling and gilding, <a href="#Pg_68">68</a>-<a href="#Pg_69">69</a>, <a href="#Pg_73">73</a></li> +<li> materials for, <a href="#Pg_53">53</a></li> +<li> rebinding methods, <a href="#Pg_64">64</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Biography, <a href="#Pg_4">4</a>-<a href="#Pg_7">7</a>, <a href="#Pg_17">17</a><ul> +<li> discrepancies in, <a href="#Pg_210">210</a>-<a href="#Pg_212">212</a></li> +<li> living characters, <a href="#Pg_197">197</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Blake (A. V.) American booksellers' trade-list catalogue, <a href="#Pg_479">479</a></li> +<li>Boccaccio of 1471, sale of, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a></li> +<li>Bolton (H. C.) catalogue of scientific and technical periodicals, <a href="#Pg_492">492</a></li> +<li>Book binding, <a href="#Pg_50">50</a>-<a href="#Pg_87">87</a>, <a href="#Pg_93">93</a>-<a href="#Pg_94">94</a></li> +<li>Book buying, <a href="#Pg_33">33</a>-<a href="#Pg_49">49</a></li> +<li>Book covering, <a href="#Pg_97">97</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_502" id="Pg_502"></a>[<a href="./images/502.png">502</a>]</span></li> +<li>Book-marks, <a href="#Pg_115">115</a></li> +<li>Book plates, <a href="#Pg_90">90</a>-<a href="#Pg_93">93</a>, <a href="#Pg_97">97</a>-<a href="#Pg_100">100</a></li> +<li>Book prices<ul> +<li> current, 1887-99, <a href="#Pg_497">497</a>-<a href="#Pg_498">498</a></li> +<li> American, 1895-99, <a href="#Pg_498">498</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Book shops, second hand, <a href="#Pg_42">42</a>-<a href="#Pg_45">45</a>, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a></li> +<li>Book supports, <a href="#Pg_96">96</a>, <a href="#Pg_110">110</a></li> +<li>Book worms, <a href="#Pg_108">108</a></li> +<li>Books, cheap and poor editions of, <a href="#Pg_30">30</a></li> +<li>Books, choice of, <a href="#Pg_3">3</a>-<a href="#Pg_32">32</a></li> +<li>Books for public libraries, selection of, <a href="#Pg_15">15</a>-<a href="#Pg_32">32</a>, <a href="#Pg_361">361</a></li> +<li>Books of reference, <a href="#Pg_16">16</a>, <a href="#Pg_462">462</a>-<a href="#Pg_463">463</a></li> +<li>Books, three classes of, <a href="#Pg_182">182</a></li> +<li>Books which have helped me, <a href="#Pg_183">183</a></li> +<li>Books,—<i>see</i> Reading</li> +<li>Bores, how to treat, <a href="#Pg_259">259</a></li> +<li>Boston Athenaeum library, <a href="#Pg_305">305</a>, <a href="#Pg_485">485</a><ul> +<li> early pamphlets in, <a href="#Pg_149">149</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Boston public library, <a href="#Pg_315">315</a><ul> +<li> appointments in, <a href="#Pg_338">338</a></li> +<li> languages demanded, <a href="#Pg_247">247</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Bowker (R. R.)<ul> +<li> American catalogue, <a href="#Pg_482">482</a>-<a href="#Pg_483">483</a></li> +<li> Publishers' weekly, <a href="#Pg_483">483</a></li></ul></li> +<li>British Museum library<ul> +<li> appointments in, <a href="#Pg_338">338</a></li> +<li> catalogue of, <a href="#Pg_396">396</a>-<a href="#Pg_399">399</a>, <a href="#Pg_498">498</a><ul> +<li> its defects, <a href="#Pg_398">398</a></li></ul></li> +<li> classification, <a href="#Pg_367">367</a></li> +<li> mutilation in, <a href="#Pg_137">137</a>-<a href="#Pg_138">138</a></li> +<li> trustees of, <a href="#Pg_340">340</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Brown (J. Carter) library of Americana, <a href="#Pg_493">493</a></li> +<li>Brunet (J. C.) Manuel du libraire, <a href="#Pg_467">467</a></li> +<li>Bry (De) Voyages, <a href="#Pg_449">449</a>, <a href="#Pg_451">451</a></li> +<li>Buildings, library, <a href="#Pg_321">321</a>-<a href="#Pg_333">333</a><ul> +<li> cost of, <a href="#Pg_331">331</a></li> +<li> light in, <a href="#Pg_325">325</a></li> +<li> location of, <a href="#Pg_323">323</a>-<a href="#Pg_324">324</a></li> +<li> many mistakes in, <a href="#Pg_321">321</a></li> +<li> materials for, <a href="#Pg_324">324</a></li> +<li> periodical room, <a href="#Pg_328">328</a></li> +<li> shelving, <a href="#Pg_325">325</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Bulwer-Lytton (E. L.) writings of, <a href="#Pg_23">23</a>, <a href="#Pg_174">174</a></li> +<li>Burnham (T. O. H. P.), <a href="#Pg_44">44</a></li> +<li>Bury, Richard de, <a href="#Pg_292">292</a></li> +<li>Buying of books, <a href="#Pg_33">33</a>-<a href="#Pg_49">49</a><ul> +<li> methods of, <a href="#Pg_36">36</a>-<a href="#Pg_37">37</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Calf binding, <a href="#Pg_55">55</a></li> +<li>Campbell (John), <a href="#Pg_45">45</a></li> +<li>Capitals, how to be used in catalogues, <a href="#Pg_378">378</a>, <a href="#Pg_387">387</a></li> +<li>Card catalogue system, <a href="#Pg_393">393</a><ul> +<li> its defects, <a href="#Pg_393">393</a>-<a href="#Pg_394">394</a></li> +<li> how obviated, <a href="#Pg_394">394</a>-<a href="#Pg_396">396</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Cards, for catalogues, <a href="#Pg_393">393</a></li> +<li>Carlyle (Thomas)<ul> +<li> life of Cromwell, <a href="#Pg_148">148</a></li> +<li> on librarians, <a href="#Pg_249">249</a></li> +<li> on reading, <a href="#Pg_171">171</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Carnegie (Andrew) gifts to libraries, <a href="#Pg_315">315</a></li> +<li>Catalogue of all books printed in the U. S. 1804, <a href="#Pg_478">478</a>-<a href="#Pg_479">479</a></li> +<li>Catalogues, <a href="#Pg_373">373</a>-<a href="#Pg_399">399</a><ul> +<li> abridging titles, <a href="#Pg_382">382</a>-<a href="#Pg_383">383</a></li> +<li> accession, <a href="#Pg_386">386</a></li> +<li> auction, <a href="#Pg_38">38</a>-<a href="#Pg_39">39</a></li> +<li> card system for, <a href="#Pg_393">393</a></li> +<li> chronology of authors, <a href="#Pg_381">381</a>, <a href="#Pg_389">389</a>, <a href="#Pg_398">398</a></li> +<li> classed, <a href="#Pg_374">374</a>-<a href="#Pg_5">5</a>, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a></li> +<li> collations in, <a href="#Pg_379">379</a></li> +<li> cross references, <a href="#Pg_377">377</a></li> +<li> Cutter's rules for, <a href="#Pg_375">375</a></li> +<li> deficiencies of American, <a href="#Pg_473">473</a>-<a href="#Pg_476">476</a></li> +<li> dictionary, <a href="#Pg_373">373</a>-<a href="#Pg_5">5</a>, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a>-<a href="#Pg_384">384</a></li> +<li> English, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a>, <a href="#Pg_495">495</a></li> +<li> errors in, <a href="#Pg_384">384</a>-<a href="#Pg_385">385</a>, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a></li> +<li> imprints, how given, <a href="#Pg_379">379</a></li> +<li> kinds of, <a href="#Pg_373">373</a></li> +<li> of British Museum library, <a href="#Pg_396">396</a>-<a href="#Pg_399">399</a>, <a href="#Pg_498">498</a></li> +<li> printing, advantages of, <a href="#Pg_395">395</a>-<a href="#Pg_396">396</a></li> +<li> rules for, <a href="#Pg_375">375</a>-<a href="#Pg_381">381</a></li> +<li> sale, value of, <a href="#Pg_33">33</a>-<a href="#Pg_34">34</a>, <a href="#Pg_37">37</a></li> +<li> shelf, <a href="#Pg_386">386</a></li> +<li> size-notation in, <a href="#Pg_389">389</a>-<a href="#Pg_391">391</a></li> +<li> use of capitals in, <a href="#Pg_378">378</a>, <a href="#Pg_387">387</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_503" id="Pg_503"></a>[<a href="./images/503.png">503</a>]</span></li></ul></li> +<li>Caxton's press, books, <a href="#Pg_451">451</a></li> +<li>Census of wealth, futility of, <a href="#Pg_194">194</a>-<a href="#Pg_196">196</a></li> +<li>Chambers' Cyclopaedia of English literature, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li>Children's books, <a href="#Pg_276">276</a>, <a href="#Pg_278">278</a><ul> +<li> reading-rooms, <a href="#Pg_329">329</a>-<a href="#Pg_330">330</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Choice of books, <a href="#Pg_3">3</a>-<a href="#Pg_32">32</a>, <a href="#Pg_277">277</a>, <a href="#Pg_335">335</a></li> +<li>Chronology of authors, <a href="#Pg_381">381</a>, <a href="#Pg_398">398</a></li> +<li>Classic authors, <a href="#Pg_30">30</a></li> +<li>Classification of books, <a href="#Pg_362">362</a>-<a href="#Pg_372">372</a><ul> +<li> application of, <a href="#Pg_366">366</a></li> +<li> Bibliothèque nationale, system of, <a href="#Pg_368">368</a></li> +<li> British museum, system of, <a href="#Pg_368">368</a></li> +<li> Brunet's system of, <a href="#Pg_367">367</a></li> +<li> close classification, <a href="#Pg_364">364</a>-<a href="#Pg_365">365</a></li> +<li> conflict of systems, <a href="#Pg_362">362</a>-<a href="#Pg_363">363</a></li> +<li> Crunden's verses on, <a href="#Pg_430">430</a></li> +<li> Cutter, system of, <a href="#Pg_369">369</a></li> +<li> Dewey, system of, <a href="#Pg_370">370</a></li> +<li> Fletcher, system of, <a href="#Pg_372">372</a></li> +<li> fixed shelf location, <a href="#Pg_371">371</a></li> +<li> Library of Congress, system of, <a href="#Pg_368">368</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Cleaning books, <a href="#Pg_103">103</a>-<a href="#Pg_104">104</a>, <a href="#Pg_127">127</a>-<a href="#Pg_130">130</a></li> +<li>Clergymen, some book-abusing, <a href="#Pg_138">138</a>, <a href="#Pg_140">140</a></li> +<li>Cleveland public library<ul> +<li> fiction experience, <a href="#Pg_27">27</a></li> +<li> methods of selections, <a href="#Pg_31">31</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Cogswell (J. G.), <a href="#Pg_35">35</a></li> +<li>Collation, <a href="#Pg_61">61</a>, <a href="#Pg_379">379</a></li> +<li>Collier, J. Payne, as a cataloguer, <a href="#Pg_385">385</a></li> +<li>Congressional library—<i>see</i> Library of Congress</li> +<li>Copy tax,<ul> +<li> origin of, <a href="#Pg_400">400</a></li> +<li> rationale of, <a href="#Pg_406">406</a>, <a href="#Pg_409">409</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Copyright<ul> +<li> and libraries, <a href="#Pg_400">400</a>-<a href="#Pg_416">416</a></li> +<li> aggregate copyrights entered, <a href="#Pg_410">410</a></li> +<li> and Library of Congress, <a href="#Pg_404">404</a>-<a href="#Pg_411">411</a></li> +<li> books not entered, <a href="#Pg_474">474</a></li> +<li> duration of, <a href="#Pg_413">413</a></li> +<li> foundation of, <a href="#Pg_402">402</a>, <a href="#Pg_412">412</a></li> +<li> history of, <a href="#Pg_403">403</a></li> +<li> in the Constitution, <a href="#Pg_401">401</a></li> +<li> international, why, <a href="#Pg_412">412</a>-<a href="#Pg_413">413</a></li> +<li> origin of, <a href="#Pg_401">401</a></li> +<li> perpetual, <a href="#Pg_402">402</a>, <a href="#Pg_413">413</a></li> +<li> provisions of, <a href="#Pg_414">414</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Counting a library, <a href="#Pg_350">350</a>, <a href="#Pg_386">386</a></li> +<li>Courtesy, in libraries, <a href="#Pg_250">250</a>, <a href="#Pg_261">261</a></li> +<li>Croton bug, <a href="#Pg_109">109</a></li> +<li>Crowding of books on shelves, <a href="#Pg_116">116</a>-<a href="#Pg_117">117</a></li> +<li>Crunden (F. M.) verses on classification, <a href="#Pg_430">430</a></li> +<li>Cutter (C. A.) Boston Athenaeum catalogue, <a href="#Pg_485">485</a><ul> +<li> classification, <a href="#Pg_430">430</a></li> +<li> rules for catalogue, <a href="#Pg_375">375</a></li> +<li> Sabin's Bibliotheca Americana, <a href="#Pg_485">485</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Cutting edges, <a href="#Pg_60">60</a>-<a href="#Pg_61">61</a>, <a href="#Pg_67">67</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Damage to books, <i>see</i> Injuries</li> +<li>Damp, an enemy of books, <a href="#Pg_104">104</a></li> +<li>Dates, errors in, <a href="#Pg_210">210</a>-<a href="#Pg_212">212</a></li> +<li>Dates of books, ancient expression of, <a href="#Pg_391">391</a>-<a href="#Pg_393">393</a></li> +<li>Decimal system, <a href="#Pg_370">370</a>, <a href="#Pg_390">390</a></li> +<li>Denis (F.) Nouveau manuel de bibliographie, <a href="#Pg_468">468</a>-<a href="#Pg_469">469</a></li> +<li>Dewey (Melvil)<ul> +<li> classification, <a href="#Pg_370">370</a></li> +<li> remark by, <a href="#Pg_433">433</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Dictionary catalogues, <a href="#Pg_373">373</a>-<a href="#Pg_375">375</a>, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a>-<a href="#Pg_384">384</a></li> +<li>Dictionary of national biography, <a href="#Pg_197">197</a>, <a href="#Pg_497">497</a></li> +<li>Dime novels, <a href="#Pg_21">21</a>, <a href="#Pg_281">281</a></li> +<li>Documents (U. S. public) catalogues, <a href="#Pg_492">492</a></li> +<li>Dogs-earing books, <a href="#Pg_114">114</a></li> +<li>"Dont's," list of proper warnings, <a href="#Pg_134">134</a></li> +<li>Duplicates in libraries, <a href="#Pg_31">31</a>, <a href="#Pg_167">167</a>-<a href="#Pg_168">168</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_504" id="Pg_504"></a>[<a href="./images/504.png">504</a>]</span></li> +<li>Durrie (D. S.) Bibliographia genealogica Americana, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a></li> +<li>Dust,<ul> +<li> in libraries, <a href="#Pg_101">101</a>-<a href="#Pg_103">103</a></li> +<li> to remove from books, <a href="#Pg_103">103</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Duyckink's Cyclopaedia of American literature, <a href="#Pg_490">490</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Eames (W.) continuation of Sabin's Bibliotheca Americana, <a href="#Pg_485">485</a></li> +<li>Editions,<ul> +<li> to be always noted, <a href="#Pg_387">387</a></li> +<li> first, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a>, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a>, <a href="#Pg_452">452</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Education, <a href="#Pg_245">245</a>, <a href="#Pg_282">282</a>-<a href="#Pg_283">283</a></li> +<li>Egypt, libraries of, <a href="#Pg_287">287</a>-<a href="#Pg_289">289</a></li> +<li>Elzevirs, <a href="#Pg_424">424</a>, <a href="#Pg_457">457</a></li> +<li>Emerson (R. W.) cited, <a href="#Pg_172">172</a>, <a href="#Pg_185">185</a></li> +<li>Encyclopaedia Britannica, scope and limitations of, <a href="#Pg_14">14</a>, <a href="#Pg_197">197</a>-<a href="#Pg_199">199</a>, <a href="#Pg_245">245</a></li> +<li>Enemies of books, <a href="#Pg_101">101</a>-<a href="#Pg_118">118</a></li> +<li>English catalogue,<ul> +<li> 1835-1899, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a>, <a href="#Pg_495">495</a></li> +<li> uses dictionary form, <a href="#Pg_383">383</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Errors<ul> +<li> in books, <a href="#Pg_210">210</a>-<a href="#Pg_212">212</a>, <a href="#Pg_255">255</a></li> +<li> in librarians, <a href="#Pg_256">256</a>-<a href="#Pg_257">257</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Essays, <a href="#Pg_9">9</a>, <a href="#Pg_17">17</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Facsimile reproduction, <a href="#Pg_132">132</a>-<a href="#Pg_134">134</a></li> +<li>Fiction, <a href="#Pg_12">12</a>, <a href="#Pg_18">18</a>-<a href="#Pg_28">28</a>, <a href="#Pg_179">179</a></li> +<li>Fires,<ul> +<li> in libraries, <a href="#Pg_106">106</a>-<a href="#Pg_108">108</a>, <a href="#Pg_131">131</a>, <a href="#Pg_297">297</a></li> +<li> destruction of books by, <a href="#Pg_448">448</a>-<a href="#Pg_449">449</a></li></ul></li> +<li>First editions, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a>, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a>, <a href="#Pg_452">452</a></li> +<li>Fletcher (W. I.),<ul> +<li> classification, <a href="#Pg_372">372</a></li> +<li> index to periodicals, <a href="#Pg_169">169</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Force (Peter) historical library of, <a href="#Pg_304">304</a><ul> +<li> rich in pamphlets, <a href="#Pg_150">150</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Formation of libraries, <a href="#Pg_357">357</a>-<a href="#Pg_362">362</a></li> +<li>Franklin (B.)<ul> +<li> collections of Frankliniana, <a href="#Pg_456">456</a></li> +<li> his manuscripts, <a href="#Pg_489">489</a></li> +<li> on Philadelphia library, <a href="#Pg_299">299</a></li></ul></li> +<li>French language, need of, <a href="#Pg_246">246</a>-<a href="#Pg_248">248</a>, <a href="#Pg_257">257</a></li> +<li>Furnishings of libraries, <a href="#Pg_326">326</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Gas, an enemy of books, <a href="#Pg_105">105</a></li> +<li>Genealogy, bibliographies of, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a>-<a href="#Pg_492">492</a>, <a href="#Pg_500">500</a></li> +<li>George IV, library of, <a href="#Pg_212">212</a></li> +<li>Georgi (T.) <ins class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Allgemeinas'">Allgemeines</ins> Europäisches bücher-lexikon, <a href="#Pg_465">465</a></li> +<li>Gesner (C.) Bibliotheca universalis, <a href="#Pg_465">465</a></li> +<li>Gould (Jay) History of Delaware county, N. Y., <a href="#Pg_453">453</a></li> +<li>Gowans (William), <a href="#Pg_43">43</a></li> +<li>Graesse, Trésor des livres rares et précieux, <a href="#Pg_468">468</a></li> +<li>Grangerising, <a href="#Pg_450">450</a></li> +<li>Greece, libraries of, <a href="#Pg_288">288</a>-<a href="#Pg_289">289</a></li> +<li>Griffin (A. P. C.) indexes of American local history, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a></li> +<li>Grolier bindings, <a href="#Pg_73">73</a>, <a href="#Pg_75">75</a></li> +<li>Grolier club, N. Y., <a href="#Pg_85">85</a>, <a href="#Pg_447">447</a></li> +<li>Growoll (A.)<ul> +<li> Book trade bibliography in the U. S., <a href="#Pg_479">479</a></li> +<li> Publishers' weekly, <a href="#Pg_483">483</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Hain (L.) Repertorium bibliographicum, <a href="#Pg_466">466</a></li> +<li>Halliwell-Phillipps (J. O.), privately printed books, <a href="#Pg_446">446</a></li> +<li>Harris (W. T.) experience with memory, <a href="#Pg_239">239</a></li> +<li>Harrisse (H.) Bibliotheca Americana, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a></li> +<li>Harvard university library, <a href="#Pg_296">296</a></li> +<li>Haven (S. F.) Catalogue of American publications, 1639-1775, <a href="#Pg_477">477</a></li> +<li>Heat, an enemy of books, <a href="#Pg_104">104</a></li> +<li>Heber library, <a href="#Pg_34">34</a></li> +<li>Helps to readers, <a href="#Pg_191">191</a>-<a href="#Pg_214">214</a></li> +<li>History, <a href="#Pg_7">7</a>-<a href="#Pg_8">8</a>, <a href="#Pg_17">17</a><ul> +<li> of libraries, <a href="#Pg_287">287</a>-<a href="#Pg_320">320</a></li> +<li> (local) bibliography, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a>, <a href="#Pg_500">500</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Homer, <a href="#Pg_173">173</a>, <a href="#Pg_184">184</a>, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_505" id="Pg_505"></a>[<a href="./images/505.png">505</a>]</span></li> +<li>Horace, perfection of his odes, <a href="#Pg_184">184</a></li> +<li>Humboldt (Baron von), <a href="#Pg_449">449</a></li> +<li>Humors of the library, <a href="#Pg_430">430</a>-<a href="#Pg_443">443</a></li> +<li>Hurst (J. F.) on choice books, <a href="#Pg_15">15</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Illustrated books, <a href="#Pg_279">279</a>, <a href="#Pg_450">450</a>, <a href="#Pg_451">451</a>, <a href="#Pg_453">453</a>-<a href="#Pg_454">454</a></li> +<li>Immoral books, <a href="#Pg_20">20</a>, <a href="#Pg_22">22</a>, <a href="#Pg_453">453</a></li> +<li>Index expurgatorius, <a href="#Pg_448">448</a>, <a href="#Pg_470">470</a></li> +<li>Indexes,<ul> +<li> use of, <a href="#Pg_205">205</a>-<a href="#Pg_206">206</a></li> +<li> how to make, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a>-<a href="#Pg_389">389</a></li> +<li> substitutes for, <a href="#Pg_207">207</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Injuries to books, <i>See</i> Crowding, Cutting, Dogs-earing, Enemies, Ink, Margins, Mutilations, Soiling, Tracing, Torn leaves</li> +<li>Ink,<ul> +<li> use of, <a href="#Pg_113">113</a></li> +<li> how removed, <a href="#Pg_128">128</a>-<a href="#Pg_129">129</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Inquiries, innumerable, <a href="#Pg_191">191</a>-<a href="#Pg_201">201</a></li> +<li>International copyright, <a href="#Pg_412">412</a>-<a href="#Pg_416">416</a></li> +<li>Iron construction, <a href="#Pg_106">106</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Jöcher (C. G.) Allgemeines gelehrten-lexikon, <a href="#Pg_466">466</a></li> +<li>Juvenile books, <a href="#Pg_276">276</a>, <a href="#Pg_278">278</a>, <a href="#Pg_279">279</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Kelly (J.) American catalogue, 1861-1871, <a href="#Pg_481">481</a></li> +<li>Khayyam (Omar), <a href="#Pg_457">457</a></li> +<li>Kirk (J. F.) Supplement to Allibone, 1850-1890, <a href="#Pg_495">495</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>La Bedoyère, French revolution collection, <a href="#Pg_149">149</a></li> +<li>Labelling books, <a href="#Pg_90">90</a>-<a href="#Pg_93">93</a></li> +<li>Ladies' reading-rooms, <a href="#Pg_329">329</a></li> +<li>Languages, foreign, <a href="#Pg_246">246</a>-<a href="#Pg_248">248</a></li> +<li>La Serna de Santander, Dictionnaire bibliographique, <a href="#Pg_467">467</a></li> +<li>Law books, binding, <a href="#Pg_76">76</a></li> +<li>Letters, <a href="#Pg_8">8</a>-<a href="#Pg_9">9</a></li> +<li>Leypoldt (F.) Books of all time, <a href="#Pg_481">481</a></li> +<li>Librarian<ul> +<li> a constant aid, <a href="#Pg_200">200</a></li> +<li> ancient idea of, <a href="#Pg_273">273</a></li> +<li> as an author, <a href="#Pg_271">271</a>-<a href="#Pg_272">272</a></li> +<li> as preserver and restorer of books, <a href="#Pg_120">120</a>-<a href="#Pg_121">121</a></li> +<li> benefits to, of inquiries, <a href="#Pg_202">202</a></li> +<li> high standard for, <a href="#Pg_272">272</a></li> +<li> indispensable, how to become, <a href="#Pg_200">200</a>, <a href="#Pg_203">203</a></li> +<li> intercourse with readers, <a href="#Pg_199">199</a></li> +<li> librarian's dream, <a href="#Pg_417">417</a></li> +<li> qualifications of, <a href="#Pg_242">242</a>-<a href="#Pg_274">274</a><ul> +<li> accuracy, <a href="#Pg_254">254</a></li> +<li> business habits, <a href="#Pg_249">249</a>, <a href="#Pg_258">258</a></li> +<li> courtesy, <a href="#Pg_250">250</a>, <a href="#Pg_261">261</a></li> +<li> energy and industry, <a href="#Pg_262">262</a></li> +<li> foreign languages, <a href="#Pg_246">246</a>-<a href="#Pg_248">248</a></li> +<li> good temper, <a href="#Pg_250">250</a></li> +<li> habits of order, <a href="#Pg_257">257</a>-<a href="#Pg_260">260</a></li> +<li> health, <a href="#Pg_251">251</a></li> +<li> impartial liberality, <a href="#Pg_264">264</a>-<a href="#Pg_265">265</a></li> +<li> knowledge of books, <a href="#Pg_248">248</a></li> +<li> love of his work, <a href="#Pg_253">253</a></li> +<li> patience inexhaustible, <a href="#Pg_261">261</a></li> +<li> sound common sense, <a href="#Pg_252">252</a></li> +<li> tact unfailing, <a href="#Pg_262">262</a></li></ul></li> +<li> reserve in recommending books, <a href="#Pg_213">213</a></li> +<li> "who reads is lost," <a href="#Pg_242">242</a>, <a href="#Pg_274">274</a></li> +<li> woes of a, <a href="#Pg_441">441</a>-<a href="#Pg_443">443</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Librarianship,<ul> +<li> attractions of, <a href="#Pg_193">193</a>, <a href="#Pg_268">268</a>-<a href="#Pg_271">271</a></li> +<li> drawbacks attending, <a href="#Pg_266">266</a>-<a href="#Pg_268">268</a></li> +<li> opens avenues to growth, <a href="#Pg_269">269</a></li> +<li> school of human nature, <a href="#Pg_270">270</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Libraries,<ul> +<li> ancient, of clay, <a href="#Pg_287">287</a>-<a href="#Pg_288">288</a></li> +<li> and copyright, <a href="#Pg_400">400</a>-<a href="#Pg_416">416</a></li> +<li> and schools, <a href="#Pg_275">275</a>, <a href="#Pg_282">282</a></li> +<li> and universities, <a href="#Pg_282">282</a>, <a href="#Pg_293">293</a></li> +<li> annual reports of, <a href="#Pg_349">349</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a></li> +<li> catalogues of, <a href="#Pg_373">373</a>-<a href="#Pg_399">399</a></li> +<li> classification of, <a href="#Pg_362">362</a>-<a href="#Pg_372">372</a></li> +<li> exaggeration of volumes in, <a href="#Pg_212">212</a>-<a href="#Pg_213">213</a></li> +<li> formation of, <a href="#Pg_357">357</a>-<a href="#Pg_362">362</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_506" id="Pg_506"></a>[<a href="./images/506.png">506</a>]</span></li> +<li> founded by individual gift, <a href="#Pg_311">311</a>-<a href="#Pg_313">313</a></li> +<li> history of, <a href="#Pg_287">287</a>-<a href="#Pg_320">320</a></li> +<li> historical, <a href="#Pg_319">319</a></li> +<li> list of, over <a href="#Pg_100">100</a>,000 vols., <a href="#Pg_309">309</a>-<a href="#Pg_310">310</a></li> +<li> mercantile, <a href="#Pg_319">319</a></li> +<li> monastic, <a href="#Pg_290">290</a>-<a href="#Pg_292">292</a></li> +<li> picture of ancient, <a href="#Pg_273">273</a></li> +<li> poetry of, <a href="#Pg_417">417</a>-<a href="#Pg_430">430</a></li> +<li> professional, <a href="#Pg_319">319</a></li> +<li> prompt service in, <a href="#Pg_341">341</a>-<a href="#Pg_342">342</a></li> +<li> readers in, <a href="#Pg_186">186</a>, <a href="#Pg_285">285</a>-<a href="#Pg_286">286</a></li> +<li> special report on, 1876, <a href="#Pg_309">309</a></li> +<li> state libraries, <a href="#Pg_316">316</a>-<a href="#Pg_317">317</a></li> +<li> statistics of American, <a href="#Pg_308">308</a></li> +<li> subscription libraries, <a href="#Pg_360">360</a></li> +<li> ten largest, <a href="#Pg_293">293</a></li> +<li> travelling libraries, <a href="#Pg_319">319</a>-<a href="#Pg_320">320</a></li> +<li> uses of, <a href="#Pg_275">275</a>-<a href="#Pg_286">286</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Library, how to count a, <a href="#Pg_350">350</a>, <a href="#Pg_386">386</a></li> +<li>Library, humors of the, <a href="#Pg_430">430</a></li> +<li>Library, poetry of the, <a href="#Pg_417">417</a></li> +<li>Library advertising, <a href="#Pg_353">353</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a></li> +<li>Library association of United Kingdom, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li>Library buildings and furnishings, <a href="#Pg_321">321</a>-<a href="#Pg_333">333</a><ul> +<li> <i>See</i> Buildings</li></ul></li> +<li>Library bulletins, <a href="#Pg_353">353</a></li> +<li>Library commissioners, <a href="#Pg_345">345</a></li> +<li>Library committees, <a href="#Pg_333">333</a>-<a href="#Pg_340">340</a>, <a href="#Pg_360">360</a></li> +<li>Library donations, <a href="#Pg_361">361</a></li> +<li>Library Journal, N. Y., 1876-99, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li>Library laws (State), <a href="#Pg_357">357</a>, <a href="#Pg_359">359</a></li> +<li>Library of Congress<ul> +<li> and copyright books, <a href="#Pg_404">404</a>-<a href="#Pg_411">411</a>, <a href="#Pg_416">416</a></li> +<li> appointments in, <a href="#Pg_338">338</a></li> +<li> joint committee on, <a href="#Pg_340">340</a></li> +<li> our national conservatory of books, <a href="#Pg_181">181</a>-<a href="#Pg_182">182</a></li> +<li> restriction of MSS. and rare books, <a href="#Pg_225">225</a></li> +<li> sketch of its history, <a href="#Pg_303">303</a>-<a href="#Pg_305">305</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Library regulations, <a href="#Pg_341">341</a>-<a href="#Pg_349">349</a>, <a href="#Pg_433">433</a>-<a href="#Pg_434">434</a></li> +<li>Library reports, <a href="#Pg_349">349</a></li> +<li>Library science schools, <a href="#Pg_338">338</a></li> +<li>Library trustees or boards of managers, <a href="#Pg_333">333</a>-<a href="#Pg_340">340</a></li> +<li>Literature, history of, <a href="#Pg_12">12</a>-<a href="#Pg_14">14</a></li> +<li>Loudon (A.) History of Indian wars, <a href="#Pg_476">476</a></li> +<li>Lowndes (W. T.) Bibliographer's Manual, <a href="#Pg_494">494</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Macaulay (T. B.) memory, <a href="#Pg_229">229</a></li> +<li>Maittaire (M.) Annales typographici, <a href="#Pg_467">467</a></li> +<li>Marbling, <a href="#Pg_68">68</a></li> +<li>Margins, writing or marking on, <a href="#Pg_114">114</a>, <a href="#Pg_124">124</a>-<a href="#Pg_125">125</a>, <a href="#Pg_136">136</a></li> +<li>Mazarin Bible, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a>, <a href="#Pg_445">445</a></li> +<li>Memory,<ul> +<li> the faculty of, <a href="#Pg_226">226</a>-<a href="#Pg_241">241</a></li> +<li> attention and association, its corner-stones, <a href="#Pg_236">236</a>-<a href="#Pg_237">237</a></li> +<li> cardinal qualification of a librarian, <a href="#Pg_226">226</a>-<a href="#Pg_227">227</a></li> +<li> discursive reading impairs it, <a href="#Pg_240">240</a>-<a href="#Pg_241">241</a></li> +<li> improvement of, <a href="#Pg_236">236</a>-<a href="#Pg_240">240</a></li> +<li> intuitive memory, <a href="#Pg_230">230</a></li> +<li> local memory, <a href="#Pg_229">229</a></li> +<li> verbal memory, <a href="#Pg_228">228</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Migne (J. P. <i>abbé</i>) Patrologie, <a href="#Pg_447">447</a></li> +<li>Milton, <a href="#Pg_11">11</a>, <a href="#Pg_147">147</a>, <a href="#Pg_184">184</a>, <a href="#Pg_187">187</a>, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a></li> +<li>Mnemonic systems, <a href="#Pg_234">234</a>-<a href="#Pg_236">236</a></li> +<li>Morocco binding, <a href="#Pg_56">56</a></li> +<li>Morris (William) Kelmscott press, <a href="#Pg_447">447</a></li> +<li>Mutilation of books, <a href="#Pg_111">111</a>, <a href="#Pg_124">124</a>-<a href="#Pg_126">126</a><ul> +<li> penal laws for, <a href="#Pg_135">135</a>-<a href="#Pg_136">136</a></li> +<li> posting offenders, <a href="#Pg_138">138</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>New Hampshire library law, <a href="#Pg_314">314</a></li> +<li>Newspapers, <i>see</i> Periodicals</li> +<li>New York Mercantile Library, selections for, <a href="#Pg_32">32</a></li> +<li>New York Public library, <a href="#Pg_307">307</a></li> +<li>Notation<ul> +<li> of book sizes, <a href="#Pg_390">390</a></li> +<li> of book dates, <a href="#Pg_381">381</a>, <a href="#Pg_391">391</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Novels, <i>see</i> Fiction</li> +<li>Nuremberg chronicle, <a href="#Pg_452">452</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul> +<li>Omar (Caliph) sentence imputed to, <a href="#Pg_107">107</a>, <a href="#Pg_171">171</a>, <a href="#Pg_289">289</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_507" id="Pg_507"></a>[<a href="./images/507.png">507</a>]</span></li> +<li>Omniscience, no human, <a href="#Pg_172">172</a></li> +<li>Open shelves, <a href="#Pg_215">215</a>-<a href="#Pg_225">225</a><ul> +<li> American library association on, <a href="#Pg_223">223</a></li> +<li> an open question, <a href="#Pg_222">222</a></li> +<li> benefits of, <a href="#Pg_215">215</a>-<a href="#Pg_222">222</a>, <a href="#Pg_224">224</a></li> +<li> evils of, <a href="#Pg_216">216</a>-<a href="#Pg_224">224</a></li> +<li> international library conference on, <a href="#Pg_220">220</a>-<a href="#Pg_221">221</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Opinions on books, <a href="#Pg_27">27</a></li> +<li>Ostend manifesto, <a href="#Pg_196">196</a>-<a href="#Pg_197">197</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Pamphlets,<ul> +<li> literature of, <a href="#Pg_145">145</a>-<a href="#Pg_156">156</a></li> +<li> binding of, <a href="#Pg_153">153</a>-<a href="#Pg_155">155</a></li> +<li> British museum, wealth in, <a href="#Pg_149">149</a>, <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li> classification of, <a href="#Pg_152">152</a>, <a href="#Pg_155">155</a></li> +<li> definitions of, <a href="#Pg_145">145</a></li> +<li> dignity and power of, <a href="#Pg_148">148</a></li> +<li> embarrassments of, <a href="#Pg_146">146</a></li> +<li> great works printed as, <a href="#Pg_147">147</a></li> +<li> how to acquire, <a href="#Pg_151">151</a></li> +<li> La Bedoyère collection of, <a href="#Pg_149">149</a></li> +<li> Peter Force, collection of, <a href="#Pg_150">150</a></li> +<li> swift disappearance of, <a href="#Pg_151">151</a></li> +<li> Thomason collection of, <a href="#Pg_148">148</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Panzer (G. W.) Annales typographici, <a href="#Pg_466">466</a></li> +<li>Parchment, <a href="#Pg_54">54</a></li> +<li>Peignot (G.)<ul> +<li> Repertoire bibliographique universelle, <a href="#Pg_469">469</a></li> +<li> Dictionnaire des livres condamnés, <a href="#Pg_448">448</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Periodicals,<ul> +<li> literature of, <a href="#Pg_157">157</a>-<a href="#Pg_170">170</a></li> +<li> binding of, <a href="#Pg_84">84</a>-<a href="#Pg_85">85</a></li> +<li> cardinal importance of, <a href="#Pg_153">153</a>-<a href="#Pg_154">154</a>, <a href="#Pg_157">157</a>, <a href="#Pg_161">161</a>, <a href="#Pg_285">285</a></li> +<li> check list for, <a href="#Pg_168">168</a></li> +<li> compared with books, <a href="#Pg_164">164</a></li> +<li> completeness of, <a href="#Pg_158">158</a>-<a href="#Pg_159">159</a></li> +<li> continuous reading of impairs the memory, <a href="#Pg_241">241</a></li> +<li> indexes to, <a href="#Pg_169">169</a>-<a href="#Pg_170">170</a></li> +<li> lettering by Poole index, <a href="#Pg_84">84</a></li> +<li> limited library circulation, <a href="#Pg_167">167</a>-<a href="#Pg_168">168</a></li> +<li> newspapers<ul> +<li> abuses of, <a href="#Pg_180">180</a></li> +<li> destruction of, <a href="#Pg_62">62</a></li> +<li> filing for readers' use, <a href="#Pg_166">166</a></li> +<li> library notices in, <a href="#Pg_353">353</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a></li> +<li> mutilation of, <a href="#Pg_112">112</a></li> +<li> number of, <a href="#Pg_157">157</a>, <a href="#Pg_160">160</a></li> +<li> over-reading of, <a href="#Pg_180">180</a>, <a href="#Pg_241">241</a></li> +<li> percentage of, to books, <a href="#Pg_157">157</a></li> +<li> syndicate publication, <a href="#Pg_165">165</a></li> +<li> value of, <a href="#Pg_301">301</a>-<a href="#Pg_302">302</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> +<li>Perkins (F. B.) check-list for American local history, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a></li> +<li>Petzholdt (J.) Bibliotheca bibliographica, <a href="#Pg_469">469</a></li> +<li>Philadelphia library company's library, <a href="#Pg_299">299</a>-<a href="#Pg_302">302</a></li> +<li>Philadelphia Mercantile Library fire, <a href="#Pg_131">131</a>-<a href="#Pg_132">132</a></li> +<li>Phillipps (Sir T.) privately printed books, <a href="#Pg_447">447</a></li> +<li>Plato, reading of, <a href="#Pg_172">172</a>, <a href="#Pg_178">178</a></li> +<li>Plutarch's lives, <a href="#Pg_3">3</a>, <a href="#Pg_184">184</a></li> +<li>Poetical quotations, <a href="#Pg_193">193</a>, <a href="#Pg_204">204</a>-<a href="#Pg_205">205</a></li> +<li>Poetry, <a href="#Pg_9">9</a>-<a href="#Pg_11">11</a>, <a href="#Pg_18">18</a></li> +<li>Poetry of the library, <a href="#Pg_417">417</a>-<a href="#Pg_429">429</a></li> +<li>Politics in libraries, <a href="#Pg_265">265</a></li> +<li>Poole (W. F.)<ul> +<li> plan of library building, <a href="#Pg_327">327</a></li> +<li> on ladies' reading-rooms, <a href="#Pg_329">329</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Poole's indexes to periodical literature, <a href="#Pg_169">169</a></li> +<li>Poor Richard's almanac, <a href="#Pg_456">456</a></li> +<li>Pratt Institute library, thefts in, <a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li> +<li>Preparation for the shelves, <a href="#Pg_88">88</a>-<a href="#Pg_97">97</a></li> +<li>Press, the, and the library, <a href="#Pg_353">353</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_508" id="Pg_508"></a>[<a href="./images/508.png">508</a>]</span></li> +<li>Prices of books, <a href="#Pg_36">36</a>, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a>-<a href="#Pg_48">48</a>, <a href="#Pg_444">444</a>-<a href="#Pg_451">451</a>, <a href="#Pg_455">455</a>-<a href="#Pg_456">456</a>, <a href="#Pg_497">497</a>-<a href="#Pg_498">498</a></li> +<li>Privately printed books, <a href="#Pg_446">446</a>-<a href="#Pg_447">447</a>, <a href="#Pg_473">473</a></li> +<li>Problems, insoluble, <a href="#Pg_194">194</a>-<a href="#Pg_196">196</a></li> +<li>Pseudonyms, <a href="#Pg_376">376</a>-<a href="#Pg_377">377</a></li> +<li>Publishers' Circular (London), <a href="#Pg_499">499</a></li> +<li>Publishers' Weekly, N. Y., <a href="#Pg_483">483</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Qualifications of librarians, <a href="#Pg_242">242</a>-<a href="#Pg_274">274</a></li> +<li>Questions asked, innumerable, <a href="#Pg_191">191</a>, <a href="#Pg_204">204</a>, <a href="#Pg_206">206</a>-<a href="#Pg_209">209</a></li> +<li>Quotations, search for, <a href="#Pg_193">193</a>, <a href="#Pg_204">204</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Rare books, <a href="#Pg_113">113</a>, <a href="#Pg_114">114</a>, <a href="#Pg_224">224</a>, <a href="#Pg_444">444</a>-<a href="#Pg_459">459</a><ul> +<li> causes of rarity, <a href="#Pg_445">445</a>-<a href="#Pg_457">457</a></li> +<li> mere age not a cause, <a href="#Pg_446">446</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Readers,<ul> +<li> aids to, <a href="#Pg_190">190</a>-<a href="#Pg_214">214</a></li> +<li> classification of, <a href="#Pg_186">186</a>-<a href="#Pg_187">187</a>, <a href="#Pg_190">190</a>-<a href="#Pg_191">191</a>, <a href="#Pg_206">206</a>, <a href="#Pg_285">285</a>-<a href="#Pg_286">286</a></li> +<li> favoritism among, <a href="#Pg_217">217</a></li> +<li> limitations of aid, <a href="#Pg_204">204</a>, <a href="#Pg_208">208</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Reading,<ul> +<li> art of, <a href="#Pg_171">171</a>-<a href="#Pg_189">189</a></li> +<li> best, not the latest, <a href="#Pg_178">178</a>-<a href="#Pg_179">179</a></li> +<li> choice of, <a href="#Pg_3">3</a>-<a href="#Pg_32">32</a>, <a href="#Pg_181">181</a>-<a href="#Pg_2">2</a>, <a href="#Pg_277">277</a>-<a href="#Pg_278">278</a></li> +<li> formative power of, <a href="#Pg_183">183</a>-<a href="#Pg_185">185</a></li> +<li> passion for, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a>-<a href="#Pg_459">459</a></li> +<li> inspiration of, <a href="#Pg_183">183</a>-<a href="#Pg_185">185</a></li> +<li> librarian's, <a href="#Pg_121">121</a>, <a href="#Pg_243">243</a>-<a href="#Pg_244">244</a>, <a href="#Pg_248">248</a></li> +<li> methods of, <a href="#Pg_175">175</a>-<a href="#Pg_178">178</a>, <a href="#Pg_186">186</a>-<a href="#Pg_187">187</a><ul> +<li> the literal, <a href="#Pg_175">175</a></li> +<li> the intuitive, <a href="#Pg_176">176</a></li></ul></li> +<li> novel reading, <a href="#Pg_179">179</a></li> +<li> over-much reading of newspapers, <a href="#Pg_180">180</a>, <a href="#Pg_241">241</a></li> +<li> perils of too great absorption in, <a href="#Pg_185">185</a>-<a href="#Pg_186">186</a></li> +<li> pleasures of, <a href="#Pg_182">182</a>-<a href="#Pg_189">189</a></li> +<li> reading aloud, <a href="#Pg_177">177</a>-<a href="#Pg_178">178</a>, <a href="#Pg_280">280</a></li> +<li> taste in, <a href="#Pg_181">181</a></li> +<li> time to read, <a href="#Pg_173">173</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Reading rooms, <a href="#Pg_326">326</a></li> +<li>Reclamation of books, <a href="#Pg_119">119</a>-<a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li> +<li>Recommending books, <a href="#Pg_32">32</a><ul> +<li> to be done sparingly, <a href="#Pg_213">213</a>, <a href="#Pg_244">244</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Reference, books of, <a href="#Pg_16">16</a>, <a href="#Pg_461">461</a>-<a href="#Pg_463">463</a></li> +<li>Religion, questions about, <a href="#Pg_201">201</a>, <a href="#Pg_265">265</a></li> +<li>Reports, librarians', <a href="#Pg_349">349</a>-<a href="#Pg_356">356</a><ul> +<li> comprehensive, <a href="#Pg_349">349</a></li> +<li> printing of, <a href="#Pg_352">352</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Reserved books, <a href="#Pg_224">224</a>-<a href="#Pg_245">245</a></li> +<li>Restoration and reclamation of books, <a href="#Pg_119">119</a>-<a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li> +<li>Rich (O.) Bibliotheca Americana, <a href="#Pg_491">491</a></li> +<li>Roman libraries, <a href="#Pg_290">290</a></li> +<li>Roman numerals, <a href="#Pg_81">81</a>, <a href="#Pg_391">391</a>-<a href="#Pg_392">392</a></li> +<li>Roorbach (O. A.) Bibliotheca Americana, 1820-1861, <a href="#Pg_480">480</a></li> +<li>Rubber bands, untrustworthy, <a href="#Pg_155">155</a></li> +<li>Rules, library, <a href="#Pg_341">341</a>-<a href="#Pg_349">349</a><ul> +<li> call slips or tickets, <a href="#Pg_346">346</a></li> +<li> circulation, limit, <a href="#Pg_346">346</a>-<a href="#Pg_347">347</a></li> +<li> done into verse, <a href="#Pg_433">433</a>-<a href="#Pg_434">434</a></li> +<li> hours, <a href="#Pg_344">344</a></li> +<li> prompt service, <a href="#Pg_341">341</a>-<a href="#Pg_342">342</a></li> +<li> registration, <a href="#Pg_347">347</a></li> +<li> vacations, <a href="#Pg_345">345</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Rush (James) bequest to Philadelphia Library Co., <a href="#Pg_301">301</a>-<a href="#Pg_302">302</a></li> +<li>Ruskin on collecting books, <a href="#Pg_14">14</a></li> +<li>Russia binding, <a href="#Pg_56">56</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Sabin (J.) Bibliotheca Americana, <a href="#Pg_484">484</a>-<a href="#Pg_487">487</a></li> +<li>School district libraries a failure, <a href="#Pg_317">317</a>-<a href="#Pg_319">319</a></li> +<li>Schools and libraries, <a href="#Pg_275">275</a>-<a href="#Pg_282">282</a></li> +<li>Science, books of, <a href="#Pg_11">11</a>, <a href="#Pg_18">18</a></li> +<li>Scott's Napoleon, bibliographical object-lesson, <a href="#Pg_496">496</a>-<a href="#Pg_497">497</a></li> +<li>Second-hand book shops, <a href="#Pg_42">42</a>-<a href="#Pg_45">45</a></li> +<li>Selection of books, <a href="#Pg_3">3</a>-<a href="#Pg_32">32</a>, <a href="#Pg_277">277</a><ul> +<li> <i>See</i> Choice of books</li></ul></li> +<li>Shakespeare, <a href="#Pg_10">10</a>, <a href="#Pg_46">46</a>, <a href="#Pg_184">184</a>, <a href="#Pg_188">188</a>, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a></li> +<li>Sheep binding, <a href="#Pg_55">55</a></li> +<li>Shelves, library, <a href="#Pg_325">325</a><ul> +<li> access to, <a href="#Pg_215">215</a></li> +<li> preparation of books for, <a href="#Pg_88">88</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Shelves, open, <a href="#Pg_215">215</a>-<a href="#Pg_225">225</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_509" id="Pg_509"></a>[<a href="./images/509.png">509</a>]</span></li> +<li>Signatures, <a href="#Pg_65">65</a></li> +<li>Size-notation of books, <a href="#Pg_389">389</a>-<a href="#Pg_391">391</a></li> +<li>Sizing paper, <a href="#Pg_128">128</a></li> +<li>Smith's Historie of Virginia, <a href="#Pg_455">455</a></li> +<li>Smithsonian Institution<ul> +<li> collection in Library of Congress, <a href="#Pg_304">304</a></li> +<li> copyright privilege of, <a href="#Pg_404">404</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Soiling of books, <a href="#Pg_116">116</a><ul> +<li> how removed, <a href="#Pg_127">127</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Spelling, facility in, <a href="#Pg_232">232</a></li> +<li>Stack system, <a href="#Pg_216">216</a>, <a href="#Pg_325">325</a></li> +<li>Stamps in books, <a href="#Pg_88">88</a>-<a href="#Pg_90">90</a>, <a href="#Pg_114">114</a></li> +<li>State libraries, <a href="#Pg_316">316</a>-<a href="#Pg_317">317</a><ul> +<li> appointments in, <a href="#Pg_339">339</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Stealing of books, <a href="#Pg_111">111</a><ul> +<li> <i>See</i> thefts</li></ul></li> +<li>Stedman (E. C.) Library of American literature, <a href="#Pg_490">490</a></li> +<li>Stein (H.) Manuel de bibliographie, <a href="#Pg_470">470</a>-<a href="#Pg_471">471</a></li> +<li>Stevens (Henry) characteristics of, <a href="#Pg_487">487</a>, <a href="#Pg_489">489</a></li> +<li>Story (A) about stories, <a href="#Pg_436">436</a>-<a href="#Pg_437">437</a></li> +<li>Style,<ul> +<li> importance of, <a href="#Pg_175">175</a>-<a href="#Pg_176">176</a>, <a href="#Pg_226">226</a></li> +<li> sample of prose run mad, <a href="#Pg_26">26</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Sunday-school books, <a href="#Pg_276">276</a></li> +<li>Syndicate publishing, <a href="#Pg_165">165</a>-<a href="#Pg_166">166</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Teaching, <a href="#Pg_269">269</a></li> +<li>Tennyson (Alfred) early editions of poems, <a href="#Pg_452">452</a></li> +<li>Thackeray (W. M.) curious question of, <a href="#Pg_205">205</a></li> +<li>Thefts,<ul> +<li> book, <a href="#Pg_111">111</a>, <a href="#Pg_136">136</a>-<a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li> +<li> leniency in case of, <a href="#Pg_142">142</a>-<a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li> +<li> methods of reclamation, <a href="#Pg_141">141</a>-<a href="#Pg_144">144</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Time, use of, <a href="#Pg_173">173</a>-<a href="#Pg_174">174</a>, <a href="#Pg_258">258</a>-<a href="#Pg_259">259</a></li> +<li>Titles,<ul> +<li> abridgment of, <a href="#Pg_382">382</a>-<a href="#Pg_383">383</a></li> +<li> alphabeting of, <a href="#Pg_388">388</a>-<a href="#Pg_389">389</a></li> +<li> entry of, in catalogues, <a href="#Pg_375">375</a>-<a href="#Pg_377">377</a></li> +<li> headings of, <a href="#Pg_377">377</a></li> +<li> lettering of, <a href="#Pg_72">72</a>-<a href="#Pg_73">73</a>, <a href="#Pg_78">78</a>-<a href="#Pg_83">83</a></li> +<li> use of capitals in, <a href="#Pg_378">378</a>, <a href="#Pg_381">381</a>, <a href="#Pg_387">387</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Titles of novels, done into verse, <a href="#Pg_436">436</a>-<a href="#Pg_437">437</a></li> +<li>Torn leaves, how repaired, <a href="#Pg_122">122</a></li> +<li>Tracing of maps or plates, <a href="#Pg_113">113</a></li> +<li>Travels, <a href="#Pg_11">11</a>, <a href="#Pg_18">18</a></li> +<li>Tree calf binding, <a href="#Pg_74">74</a></li> +<li>Trübner (N.) Bibliographical guide to American literature, <a href="#Pg_484">484</a></li> +<li>Trustees, boards of library, <a href="#Pg_268">268</a>, <a href="#Pg_333">333</a>-<a href="#Pg_340">340</a></li> +<li>Turner's illustrations, <a href="#Pg_454">454</a>, <a href="#Pg_458">458</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Ulster Co. Gazette, 1800, <a href="#Pg_456">456</a></li> +<li>Universal catalogue, <a href="#Pg_465">465</a></li> +<li>Universities, use of the library to, <a href="#Pg_282">282</a>-<a href="#Pg_285">285</a></li> +<li>University libraries, <a href="#Pg_294">294</a></li> +<li>Uses of libraries, <a href="#Pg_275">275</a>-<a href="#Pg_286">286</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Vallée (L.) Bibliographie des bibliographies, <a href="#Pg_470">470</a></li> +<li>Vellum binding, <a href="#Pg_54">54</a></li> +<li>Voyages, <a href="#Pg_11">11</a>, <a href="#Pg_18">18</a></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Walpole (Horace) Strawberry hill press, <a href="#Pg_446">446</a></li> +<li>Washing soiled books, <a href="#Pg_127">127</a>, <a href="#Pg_129">129</a></li> +<li>Watt (R.) Bibliotheca Britannica, <a href="#Pg_493">493</a>-<a href="#Pg_494">494</a></li> +<li>Wealth, all estimates of, futile, <a href="#Pg_194">194</a>-<a href="#Pg_196">196</a></li> +<li>Winsor (Justin)<ul> +<li> a prolific author, <a href="#Pg_272">272</a></li> +<li> on librarians' instructions, <a href="#Pg_284">284</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Woes of a librarian, <a href="#Pg_441">441</a>-<a href="#Pg_443">443</a></li> +<li>Worcester, Massachusetts, public library<ul> +<li> methods of selection, <a href="#Pg_31">31</a></li> +<li> theft in, <a href="#Pg_143">143</a></li> +<li> use of by schools, <a href="#Pg_281">281</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + +<ul><li>Yale university library, <a href="#Pg_298">298</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_510" id="Pg_510"></a>[<a href="./images/510.png">510</a>]</span></p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="boxtext"> +<p> </p> +<h2>Books for Authors</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Authors and Publishers</span></h3> + +<p class="center">A MANUAL OF SUGGESTIONS FOR BEGINNERS IN LITERATURE</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Comprising a description of publishing methods +and arrangements, directions for the +preparation of MSS. for the press, explanations +of the details of book-manufacturing, +instructions for proof-reading, specimens of +typography, the text of the United States +Copyright Law, and information concerning +International Copyrights, together with +general hints for authors. By G. H. P. and +J. B. P.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Seventh Edition, re-written with additional material.</i></p></div> + +<h5><i>8°, gilt top</i>               <i>net, $1.75</i></h5> + +<p class="center">CHIEF CONTENTS</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  <span class="smcap">Part I.</span>—Publishing arrangements—Books published at +the risk and expense of the publisher—Books published for +the account of the author, <i>i. e.</i>, at the author's risk and +expense, or in which he assumes a portion of the investment—Publishing +arrangements for productions first printed +in periodicals or cyclopædias—The literary agent—Authors' +associations—Advertising—On securing copyright.</p> + +<p>  <span class="smcap">Part II.</span>—The Making of Books—Composition—Electrotyping—Presswork—Bookbinding—Illustrations.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  "Full of valuable information for authors and writers. . . . A +most instructive and excellent manual."—<span class="smcap">George Wm. Curtis</span> in +<i>Harper's Magazine</i>.</p> + +<p>  "This handy and useful book is written with perfect fairness and +abounds in hints which writers will do well to 'make a note of.' +. . . There is a host of other matters treated succinctly and lucidly +which it behoves beginners in literature to know, and we can recommend +it most heartily to them."—<i>London Spectator.</i></p></div> +<hr class="short" /> +<p class="center">G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, <span class="smcap">New York and London</span></p> +<p> </p> +</div></div> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_511" id="Pg_511"></a>[<a href="./images/511.png">511</a>]</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="boxtext"> +<p> </p> +<h2>BY GEO. HAVEN PUTNAM</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>AUTHORS AND THEIR PUBLIC IN ANCIENT TIMES</h3> + +<h4>A Sketch of Literary Conditions and of the Relations with the<br /> +Public of Literary Producers, from the Earliest Times<br /> +to the Fall of the Roman Empire.</h4> + +<h4>Second edition, revised, 12°, gilt top, $1.50.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  The book abounds in information, is written in a delightfully succinct and +agreeable manner, with apt comparisons that are often humorous, and with +scrupulous exactness to statement, and without a sign of partiality either from +an author's or a publisher's point of view.—<i>New York Times.</i></p></div> + + +<h3>BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES</h3> + + +<h4>A Study of the Conditions of the Production and Distribution of<br /> +Literature from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the<br /> +Close of the Seventeenth Century.</h4> + +<h4>In two volumes, 8°, cloth extra (sold separately), each $2.50<br /> +Vol. I., 476-1600—Vol. II., 1500-1709.</h4> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  It is seldom that such wide learning, such historical grasp and insight, have +been employed in their service.—<i>Atlantic Monthly.</i></p> + +<p>It is a book to be studied rather than merely praised. . . . That its +literary style is perfect is acceptable as a matter of course, and equally of +course is it that the information it contains bears the stamp of historical verification.—<i>N. +Y. Sun.</i></p></div> + +<h3>THE QUESTION OF COPYRIGHT</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  Comprising the text of the Copyright Law of the United States, +and a summary of the Copyright laws at present in force in +the chief countries of the world; together with a report of the +legislation now pending in Great Britain, a sketch of the contest +in the United States, 1837-1891, in behalf of International +Copyright, and certain papers on the development of +the conception of literary property and on the results of the +American law of 1891.</p> + +<p>Second edition, revised, with additions, and with the record of +legislation brought down to March, 1896. 8°, gilt top, $1.75. +</p> + +<p>A perfect arsenal of facts and arguments, carefully elaborated and very effectively +presented. . . . Altogether it constitutes an extremely valuable +history of the development of a very intricate right of property, and it is as +interesting as it is valuable.—<i>N. Y. Nation.</i></p></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + + +<h5>G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS</h5> +<h5><span class="smcap">New York</span>: 27 West 23rd Street.          <span class="smcap">London</span>: 24 Bedford St., Strand.</h5> + +<p> </p> +</div> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_512" id="Pg_512"></a>[<a href="./images/512.png">512</a>]</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="boxtext"> +<p> </p> + +<h3>BY MOSES COIT TYLER</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h2>A HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE DURING THE COLONIAL TIME</h2> + +<h3>New Edition, revised, in two volumes.<br /> +Volume I.—1607-1676. Volume II.—1676-1765. Each $2.50.<br /> +Agawam edition, 2 vols. in one. 8°, half leather, $3.00.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  "In the execution of his work thus far, Professor Tyler has evinced a skill in +the arrangement of his materials, and a masterly power of combination, +which will at once place it in a very eminent rank among American historical +compositions. It is not so much the history of a special development of literature, +as a series of profound and brilliant studies on the character and genius +of a people of whom that literature was the natural product. The work betrays +acute philosophical insight, a rare power of historical research, and a cultivated +literary habit, which was perhaps no less essential than the two former conditions, +to its successful accomplishment. The style of the author is marked +by vigor, originality, comprehensiveness, and a curious instinct in the selection +of words. In this latter respect, though not in the moulding of sentences, +the reader may perhaps be reminded of the choice and fragrant vocabulary of +Washington Irving, whose words alone often leave an exquisite odor like the +perfume of sweet-brier and arbutus."—<span class="smcap">George Ripley</span>, in <i>The Tribune</i>.</p></div> + + +<h2>THE LITERARY HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION</h2> + +<h3>1763-1783</h3> + +<h4>Two volumes, large octavo. Sold separately.<br /> +Volume I.—1763-1776. Volume II.—1776-1783. Each $3.00.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  This work is the result of an altogether new and original treatment of the +American Revolution. The outward history of that period has been many +times written, and is now, by a new school of American historians, being +freshly re-written in the light of larger evidence, and after a more disinterested +and judicial method. In the present work, for the first time in a systematic +and complete way, is set forth the inward history of our Revolution,—the history +of its ideas, its spiritual moods, its passions, as these uttered themselves at the +time in the writings of the two parties of Americans who either promoted or +resisted that great movement.</p></div> + + +<h2>THREE MEN OF LETTERS</h2> + +<h4>Chapters in Literary Biography and Criticism devoted to<br /> +George Berkeley, Timothy Dwight, and Joel Barlow.</h4> + +<h4>12°, gilt top, $1.25.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  "Though more lengthy than most of the sketches in Professor Tyler's well-known +'History,' these monographs have much of the brevity of their original +purpose; and they are marked by the same picturesqueness of treatment, the +same vivacity of expression, and the same felicity of statement, that characterize +the author's larger volumes."—<i>The Nation.</i></p></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h5>G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, <span class="smcap">New York and London.</span></h5> +<p> </p> +</div> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Pg_513" id="Pg_513"></a>[<a href="./images/513.png">513</a>]</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="boxtext"> +<p> </p> + +<h2>LANGUAGE.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>SOME COMMON ERRORS OF SPEECH.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  Suggestions for the Avoiding of Certain Classes of Errors, together with +Examples of Bad and of Good Usage. By <span class="smcap">Alfred G. Compton</span>, +Professor in College of the City of New York. 12°  $ .75</p> + +<p>  "The book calls up many interesting, not to say fascinating, lapses from strict +grammar, and is very valuable. In its index expurgatorius will be found many surprises +by the self-supposed learned."—<i>Chicago Times-Herald.</i></p></div> + +<h3>A SIMPLE GRAMMAR OF ENGLISH NOW IN USE.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  By <span class="smcap">John Earle</span>, A.M., LL.D., Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University +of Oxford, author of "English Prose: Its Elements, History, and +Usage." 12°  $1.50</p> + +<p>  "The book is a clear, careful, and scholarly treatise on the English Language and +its use, rather than a work of science. It is a book that will be valuable to teachers +and to students of language everywhere."—<i>Washington Times.</i></p></div> + +<h3>THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH GRAMMAR.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  An Historical Study of the Sources, Development, and Analogies of the +Language, and of the Principles Covering its Usages. Illustrated +by Copious Examples by Writers of all Periods. By <span class="smcap">Samuel +Ramsey</span>. 8°  $2.00</p> + +<p>  "Mr. Ramsey's work will appeal especially to those that desire to know something +more about the history and philology, the growth and mistakes of their native tongue +than is given in the ordinary text-books."—<i>Baltimore Sun.</i></p></div> + +<h3>ORTHOMETRY.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  A Treatise on the Art of Versification and the Technicalities of Poetry, +with a New and Complete Rhyming Dictionary. By <span class="smcap">R. F. Brewer</span>, +B.A. 12°, pp. xv. <span class="lf">+</span> 376  $2.00</p> + +<p>  "It is a good book for its purpose, lucid, compact, and well arranged. It lays bare, +we believe, the complete anatomy of poetry. It affords interesting quotations, in the +way of example, and interesting comments by distinguished critics upon certain passages +from the distinguished poets."—<i>N. Y. Sun.</i></p></div> + +<h3>MANUAL OF LINGUISTICS.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  An Account of General and English Phonology. By <span class="smcap">John Clark</span>, A.M. +8°, pp. lxiii. <span class="lf">+</span> 314  $2.00 +</p> + +<p>  "Mr. Clark has traced the English language back to its foundations in his work +'Manual of Linguistics.' It is an interesting theme, and his book will prove very useful +for reference, for he has culled from many sources and gone over a wide territory."—<i>Detroit +Free Press.</i></p></div> + +<h3>COMPOSITION IN THE SCHOOL-ROOM.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>  A Practical Treatise. By <span class="smcap">E. Galbraith.</span> 16°, cloth  $1.00 +</p> + +<p>  "The author has drawn fully from the best writers on the subject, and her book is an +epitome of the best thought of all."—<i>Boston Transcript.</i></p></div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h5>G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, <span class="smcap">New York and London</span>.</h5> +<p> </p> +</div> +</div> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> + +<p>1. Punctuation for abbreviations such as per cent., viz. has been standardised.</p> + +<p>2. There are spelling inconsistencies in proper and place names +as well as within accented characters and hyphenated words. These have been left as printed.</p> + +<p>3. The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under +the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins class="err" +title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Book for All Readers, by Ainsworth Rand Spofford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOOK FOR ALL READERS *** + +***** This file should be named 22608-h.htm or 22608-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/6/0/22608/ + +Produced by Michael Ciesielski and the booksmiths at +http://www.eBookForge.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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