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diff --git a/old/44406-8.txt b/old/44406-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..755de7b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44406-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19269 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third +General Meeting of the American Library Association, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association + Held at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Jul 4-10, 1901 + +Author: Various + +Editor: American Library Association + +Release Date: December 11, 2013 [EBook #44406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. Kendall and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + + PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS + + OF THE + + TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL MEETING + + OF THE + + AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION + + HELD AT + + WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN + + JULY 4-10 + + 1901 + + + PUBLISHED BY THE + + AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION + + 1901 + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + TITLE. AUTHOR. PAGE. + + Address of the President _Henry J. Carr_ 1 + + What may be done for libraries by the city _T. L. Montgomery_ 5 + + What may be done for libraries by the state _E. A. Birge_ 7 + + What may be done for libraries by the nation _Herbert Putnam_ 9 + + The trusteeship of literature--I. _George Iles_ 16 + + " " " " II. _R. T. Ely_ 22 + + Book copyright _Thorvald Solberg_ 24 + + The relationship of publishers, booksellers + and librarians _W. Millard Palmer_ 31 + + Library buildings _W. R. Eastman_ 38 + + The relationship of the architect to the + librarian _J. L. Mauran _ 43 + + The departmental library _J. T. Gerould_ 46 + + Suggestions for an annual list of American} + theses for the degree of doctor of } _W. W. Bishop_ 50 + philosophy } + + Opportunities _Gratia Countryman_ 52 + + Some principles of book and picture selection _G. E. Wire_ 54 + + Book reviews, book lists, and articles on } + children's reading: Are they of practical} _Caroline M. Hewins_ 57 + value to the children's librarian? } + + Books for children: + I. Fiction _Winifred L. Taylor_ 63 + II. Fairy tales _Abby L. Sargent_ 66 + III. Science _Ella A. Holmes_ 69 + + Bulletin work for children _Charlotte E. + Wallace_ 72 + + Reference work with children _Harriet H. Stanley_ 74 + + Vitalizing the relation between the library + and the school: + + I. The school _May L. Prentice_ 78 + II. The library _Irene Warren_ 81 + + Opening a children's room _Clara W. Hunt_ 83 + + Report on gifts and bequests, 1900-1901 _G. W. Cole_ 87 + + Report of the A. L. A. Publishing Board _J. Le Roy + Harrison_ 103 + + + Proceedings 107-141 + + First Session: Public meeting 107 + + Second Session 107-118 + Secretary's report 107 + Treasurer's report and necrology 108 + Report of Trustees of Endowment Fund 111 + Report of Co-operation Committee 113 + Report of Committee on Foreign Documents 113 + Report of Committee on Title-pages and Indexes of + Periodical Volumes 114 + Report of Committee on "International Catalogue of + Scientific Literature" 116 + Memorial to John Fiske 117 + + Third Session 118-125 + Report of Committee on Public Documents 118 + Report of Committee on Co-operation with N. E. A. 120 + Report of Committee on International Co-operation 122 + Report of Committee on Library Training 124 + Collection and cataloging of early + newspapers. _W. Beer_ 124 + Some principles of book and picture selection 124 + + Fourth Session 125-127 + Some experiences in foreign libraries. _Mary W. Plummer_ 125 + From the reader's point of view, and the era of the + placard. _J. K. Hosmer_ 127 + + Fifth Session 127-137 + Report on gifts and bequests 127 + Report of A. L. A. Publishing Board 127 + Invitation from L. A. U. K. 128 + Report of Committee on Handbook of American libraries 128 + By-laws 129 + Memorial to John Fiske 130 + Co-operative list of children's books 130 + Printed catalog cards 131 + Book copyright 131 + Trusteeship of literature 131 + Relationship of publishers, booksellers and librarians 134 + + Sixth Session 137-140 + Relationship of publishers, booksellers and + librarians, _continued_ 137 + + Seventh Session 141-142 + Election of officers 141 + Report of Committee on Resolutions 141 + + College and Reference Section 142-145 + + Catalog Section 146-162 + + Section for Children's Librarians 163-170 + + Round Table Meeting: State Library Commissions and + Traveling Libraries 171-183 + + Round Table Meeting: Work of State Library Associations + and Women's Clubs in Advancing Library Interests 183-195 + + Trustees' Section 196 + + + Round Table Meeting: Professional Instruction in + Bibliography 197-205 + + Transactions of Council and Executive Board 206-208 + + Elementary Institute 208 + + Illinois State Library School Alumni Association 208 + + The social side of the Waukesha conference + _Julia T. Rankin_ 209 + + Officers and Committees 211 + + Attendance register 212 + + Attendance summaries. _Nina E. Browne_ 218 + + + + + CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS. + + _WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN._ + + JULY 4-10, 1901. + + BEING A LIBRARIAN: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. + + BY HENRY J. CARR, _Librarian Scranton (Pa.) Public Library_. + + +In your presence, and in addressing you to-night as presiding officer, I +feel to a far greater extent than I can express in words the high honor +that has been conferred in each instance upon all who from time to time +have been chosen to serve as a president of this particular association. + +There is in this present age, to be sure, no lack of those popular and +peculiar entities termed associations--associations of many kinds, and +for almost every conceivable purpose. Throughout the entire continent +there exist few, perhaps none, whose history, objects, and work, have +warranted a more justifiable pride in being a member thereof, than is +found in being a member of the American Library Association. + +It may here be said that conditions and circumstances have been +favorable to the success of the A. L. A.; not the least of which has +been the faithful loyalty of its individual members. We realize, too, +that even time has dealt leniently with it, upon noting that of the 64 +members who attended its first meeting, held at Philadelphia twenty-five +years ago, but 18 have died, and that 20 persons are yet included in its +membership list out of the 69 who joined the association in 1876, that +initial year. Some of that original number, much to our gratification, +are present with us at this 23d general meeting. + +Considering its purely voluntary nature, the migratory holding of its +successive meetings in different parts of the land, and the notable +avoidance of fads, or any tendency towards selfish ends that might +otherwise mark its united efforts, it becomes almost a matter of +surprise that so many persons have unfalteringly kept up their +allegiance from year to year ever since the time of their joining the +association. But, as a matter of fact, the A. L. A. has at no time +fallen off in its total membership; and at this date it numbers nearly +one thousand contributing members paying dues for the current year. + +The American Library Association has now attained a period of +twenty-five years in its history--a quarter of a century. During that +time, in the addresses given at its general meetings, as well as in the +multiplicity of noteworthy and valuable papers contributed to its +Proceedings, and the sundry publications devoted to library interests, +it would appear as if there must have been presented almost every +conceivable phase of library thought and sentiment. Can anything new be +said, or old ideas placed in a new light, so as to be worthy of hearing +and attention at this time? I fear not, except as some lessons may be +drawn from the experience of one's past work, perhaps, that shall serve +to aid yet others who are to tread like paths in life. + +I beg, therefore, that you will bear with me for a short space of time +while I give expression to some thoughts drawn from the experience of +myself and others while Being a Librarian. + +Without now restricting their application to particular phases of +librarianship, let us at the outset consider them as relating to any and +all conditions of it as a vocation. "Why did you take up library work?" +is a question not infrequently asked. To that query various answer may +be given, according to the individual views of the persons replying. +Perhaps one general reason, that in a certain way has had its +unconscious influence upon many of us, is best stated in the following +characteristic passage from the "Book-hunter:" + +"To every man of our Saxon race endowed with full health and strength, +there is committed the custody of a restless demon, for which he is +doomed to find ceaseless excitement, either in honest work, or some less +profitable or more mischievous occupation. Countless have been the +projects of man to open up for this fiend fields of exertion great +enough for the absorption of its tireless energies, and none of them is +more hopeful than the great world of books, if the demon is docile +enough to be coaxed into it." + +Since Burton's day the "great world of books" has taken on many phases +of which he never dreamed. And we, as librarians, may reasonably believe +that if not entirely a part and parcel of it, we are nevertheless called +upon to deal with that "world" in almost every form, and are ourselves +more or less important factors in it. We may not be called upon to adopt +the "strenuous life," or seek to impart it to the conduct and activities +of others. But necessarily we are and must be accustomed to "doing +things"; and, by that very doing, will in some degree, each in our own +field, inspire and influence others also. + +Furthermore, do we not find _our_ "restless demon of work" more +agreeably inclined and contentedly occupied in the library field than in +other lines of life which we may have previously entered into? I, for +one, certainly think so, even though we may not have had that idea in +mind at the outset, or when making the change. And, too, that we derive +a certain feeling of encouragement akin to inspiration, that in itself +renders _us_ contented and happy, when responding to the varied demands +on our time and energy that are entailed by our positions as librarians. +That is half the battle, the rest being but a question of persistence in +the application of means and ability. + +Therefore, in the consoling words of one of Elbert Hubbard's salient +sayings: "Blessed is that man who has found his work." + +It is not the purpose of these present remarks to set forth particularly +the compensations in a librarian's work; neither the advantages or +disadvantages, the opportunities or drawbacks therein. Those factors +have all been frequently and well discussed in prior years, by some of +our well-known associates and various contributors to library +literature. I desire, rather, to suggest some features and relationships +connected with our work as a profession, from which an occasional lesson +may be taken, and possibly a word of encouragement, if such be needed. + +First of all, is librarianship a profession? Does it possess the +characteristics that make it such; and is that work more nearly +professional than otherwise, which lies at its hands to be done? Some +such queries were propounded to me by the president of a state library +association one day last fall, as we were journeying together to an +annual meeting. He, himself, had been a teacher and an educational +administrator for a number of years before becoming a librarian; and of +the recognized professional standing of his _former_ occupation there +could be no doubt. + +My first, and off-hand, answer was to the effect that librarianship +certainly has many professional features, even though its being a true +and undoubted profession in every respect might be disputed now and +then. Going further into this question of professional status, however, +it will be found that the literature of views and discussions thereon, +pro and con, is by no means small. For one of us to now express a doubt +that librarianship, as a whole, is a profession, would be almost +presumptuous; and I, for one, do not propose to do so. My thesis, so far +as it relates to the present remarks, is in affirmation of the claim; +not only that it is a profession--our profession--but really the +profession of professions! + +All other professions now depend to a considerable extent upon that of +the librarian for the custodianship of their literature, without whose +care much of it might be lost. We may not be able to transmit to future +eras such enduring records of antiquity as has been done by the +librarian of old in his collection of clay tablets (which now serve to +tell us of the affairs of mankind as transacted thousands of years ago), +but it is certain that we are doing our part towards making modern +literature available in disseminating it, and in preserving it as far as +lies in our power. + +Cotemporaneous with the organization of this association Melvil Dewey +made the following decided and well-supported assertion: "The time has +at last come when a librarian, may, without assumption, speak of his +occupation as a profession." I cite Mr. Dewey's words, not as +necessarily conclusive, but because he has ever been an active and +constant supporter of that doctrine in both his work as a librarian, as +a noted stimulator of the library movement, and as an originator of +professional instruction of other librarians. Similar enthusiastic and +persistent efforts on the part of librarians generally may do much +towards the furtherance of such features, and the consequent development +of librarianship as a profession in all its aspects. + +Let us now consider for a few moments some features of resemblance and +diversity between the library profession and others quite as well or +better known. It has been said that the library exists chiefly for the +use of its patrons, and that the librarian is necessarily and +essentially a servant. Therefore the librarian must, of equal necessity, +earn a livelihood or receive compensation of some kind for his services. +All of which, in the main, is true of the professions generally, as will +be seen from a brief statement of circumstances. + +Doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, artists, etc., are engaged by +and receive pay from their respective clients. The clergy are supported +by contributions of their church members or from denominational +resources. Teachers in the public schools are paid from public taxes, +while those of private schools, or endowed institutions, receive their +compensation from various sources. + +The clergy and teachers, as a rule, like most librarians, no matter how +willing or how well qualified, are under the further necessity of +obtaining a "call," or position, as a prerequisite to the exercise of +their professional faculties. In that respect they are at a disadvantage +in comparison with those practitioners in the other professions, already +named, who can go to any locality, solicit clients and seek business +opportunities, with reasonable assurance of obtaining both according to +place and the circumstances of supply and demand. + +In some of the professions, both the so-called "learned" and the +practical ones, there have been developed certain well recognized +differentiations and specializations of professional work. Those lines +have usually been taken up in response to what has seemed a reasonable +demand for them; and in their exercise have not unfrequently brought +both reputation and corresponding remuneration to the specialists. + +Possibly the time has arrived for doing much more of that nature in the +library profession than has yet been customary. And there are those +among us, possessing a due amount of working experience coupled with +knowledge of other and allied affairs, who might now do well to devote +themselves to some special features of library enterprise as a matter of +desirable business opportunity. Some from the library schools, and a few +others, have gone out as "organizers," and found more or less of a field +for the exercise of their limited special qualifications. The field +ought to be a growing one, it would seem, if recourse to incompetent aid +is carefully avoided. + +But the offices of "consulting librarianship," while possessing many +desirable and much needed features, do not appear to be practised as a +specific function. Something of the kind has been urged in past years, +to be sure, and several well-known librarians did undertake at different +times to supply such services. Sooner or later, however, each one was +persuaded into a more certain, or better compensated, and permanent, +position of local librarianship, and thereupon abandoned that special +line of work. + +In this era of the establishment of so many new libraries, small and +great, and of the gift of hundreds of buildings for such purposes, there +is a decided need for the effective services which a consulting +librarian might render; and this to a greater extent than is yet fully +understood or appreciated. Lacking such, some librarians and more +library trustees work too often at a disadvantage. Many more, too, are +burdened with repeated calls for information which more properly ought +to be obtained from an independent expert; one so situated as to take an +unbiased view of circumstances and equally able to give advice best +suited to the particular case in hand. Serious mistakes are sometimes +made in the preliminary details of new library enterprises that might +be just as easily avoided by the employment of a competent and paid +professional adviser. + +Turning now to another side of our subject, and considering the relation +of the individual librarians rather than of the profession as a class, a +few words upon personal actions may not be out of place. A librarian's +position is usually of a public or semi-public nature; ability for its +duties is implied; and the compensation received is for present services +as a rule, rather than as a reward of merit. In order that the library +shall perform all that is expected of it, not only in being to some +extent an ever-running machine but equally in respect to its recognized +higher functions, there must be the application of watchful care, +constant attention, foresight, and unremitting work. The direction of +all of which, and perhaps much of its actual execution, must depend upon +the person placed in charge of the institution as its librarian. + +It is true that, having a well-trained body of assistants, a library may +be able to run on for a time in the prolonged absence of, or when +lacking, a chief; because impetus and the effects of past direction are +not lost at once, provided that no demoralization has taken place. But +it is not a safe policy to allow a library, or other working institution +that depends largely upon the work of trained employees for its +effectiveness, to go long at a time without the presence and oversight +of an actual and capable head. + +Yet it does not follow that the working hours of chief librarians should +be absorbed in attending to innumerable and trivial items of detail +which might be delegated to and done quite as well, or better, by their +assistants. Not only is "genius a capacity for evading hard work," as +has been said, but one of the proper duties of the executive of a +library is to obtain the best results possible from the respective +capacities of those through whom the library does its work. All of which +should imply the exercise of a kindly and broad-minded disposition +towards one's assistants, just as truly as of respect and obedience to +one's superiors, or of courtesy and suavity in dealing with customers +and the public. It may be only human for one to desire to be that "king +of his world," of whom Carlyle speaks; but any policy which reduces the +assistants to mere machines is not a true professional one, since it +tends to rob the library world of talent which is needed and, except for +such repression, might be developed and brought forward. + +On the other hand I might plead no less for corresponding loyalty and +fidelity on the part of all library workers, both to their respective +chiefs and the institutions that employ them. As a matter of fact, +however, action of that kind is the prevailing practice in this country, +with hardly an exception, and that phase needs no extended discussion. A +chief is, of course, entitled to credit for acts done by subordinates at +his direction and for which he is responsible. But chiefs, in turn, can +well afford to give recognition to the ability and deeds of their +assistants, and will seldom, if ever, lose by doing so. + +There are one or two other features of librarianship which merit passing +mention. Among them are what may be termed library succession, or the +librarian's duty to his successor. Some few librarians "die in the +harness"; while quite as many more change from one place to another at +times. Occasionally they are succeeded by those who come new into the +work; and, gaining experience, become a credit to the profession. +Advancement of those trained in smaller libraries to places in larger +ones, or from the position of assistant in a library to the head +thereof, has also brought forward quite as many more of those whose +progress we watch with cordial interest. + +Although conscious of those facts, and of the inevitable changes and +successions that must occur from year to year, do we recognize our duty +to our successor? I have asked the question, but its consideration must +be left to some future time and opportunity. + +Impartiality in enforcing rules, and in dispensing the privileges of the +library to all comers, should be deemed an important feature of +librarianship, quite as essential to the welfare of the institution as +to the professional success of the librarian. And this suggests a query, +which has before now been raised, as to how far librarians should go in +aiding persons who expect to use information obtained at the library, +solely for the furtherance of personal interests or for purposes of +pecuniary profit. Impartial and confidential treatment of all readers +and seekers, who come to the library after information, would appear to +be the only safe practice and criterion, regardless of their particular +motives. Care should be taken, of course, to assist them in gaining the +desired information by means of their own study, and in their own way, +rather than through the efforts of library employees applied to +searching out the exact and final facts for them. + +In conclusion, I would direct your attention very briefly to yet another +side of librarianship which ought to have an occasional bearing so far +as ethical principles may apply. + +Since we regard librarianship as a profession it would seem that there +must needs be some recognized principles of an ethical nature relating +to it. Like many of our working methods, however, they must probably +exist chiefly as "unwritten laws." It is always a difficult matter to +put our ideals into words. They may be quite real to the sensibilities +and yet hardly admit of being formulated. And, too, the evident contrast +between the ideals aimed at, and the results attained, is often so great +that one hesitates to say in so many words just what is his ideal. + +Still there have been developed in the other leading professions, those +that are regarded as the most reputable and noteworthy, certain +recognized principles which serve to guide their members in many ways. +The full comprehension of such principles as an authoritative guide +tends to a correct measurement of the real value of one's professional +work. Likewise, while supplying certain ideals at the outset, they may +aid in determining the lines of effort and action which will tend to +elevate the profession itself and to the attainment of individual +success in its pursuits. + +Perhaps it is too soon in the history of so young a profession to expect +very much in the nature of such formulations. To properly enumerate and +determine the essential principles must call for the attention of many +minds, working each in their own channel but aimed in the same general +direction, until the final outcome shall be a fully developed and +rounded code of library ethics which will thus be entitled to and gain +well deserved recognition and observance. + +If, in the views and various thoughts, which I have presumed to set +forth at this time, such ideas as have a bearing on this last named +topic shall serve as hints to spur on some abler and more +philosophically versed person or persons to undertake the task, or serve +as a ground upon which to build a foundation code, I shall be greatly +pleased. + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE CITY. + + BY THOMAS L. MONTGOMERY, _Trustee Free Library of Philadelphia_. + + +When, in the course of human events, it became necessary for our people +to dissolve the political bonds which connected them with another, +pretty much everything was declared a free and an inalienable right with +the exception of the public library. Whether it would have escaped the +attention of that founder of circulating libraries and everything else +that is useful, had it not been a time of extraordinary pressure of +business, or whether he purposely neglected it in the belief that a +people that had expressed such lofty sentiments as to life, liberty and +the pursuit of happiness might well be trusted to consider such matters +in due time it is not our purpose to discuss. He does not hesitate to +give credit to the libraries in his autobiography for making the common +tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen in other +countries, and for contributing in some degree to the stand so generally +made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges. It was not +until about 1850 that the desirability of a city library was suggested +to the City Council of Boston by Josiah Quincy, then mayor. The council +cautiously Resolved, "That it would accept any donation from citizens +or others for the purpose of commencing a public city library and that +whenever the library shall be of the value of $30,000 it will be +expedient for the city to provide a suitable place and arrangements to +enable it to be used by the citizens with as great a degree of freedom +as the security of the property will permit." In July, 1852, the +trustees made a report "that in their opinion the finances of the city +will not permit of the erecting of a building and the purchase of an +ample library." They suggest "a moderate expenditure on the part of the +city for the purchase of books and the compensation of a librarian." It +was soon after this that Mr. Bates made his famous gift of $50,000 worth +of books "on condition that the city provide an adequate building which +shall be an ornament to the city." A complete history of this +institution would seem to be the best possible answer which could be +made to the question before us. What can the city do for the free +library. With a magnificent collection of 700,000 books, selected under +the administration of some of the best men who have dignified our +profession, and housed in the most expensive building ever erected by a +city for such a purpose, it would appear that the citizen of Boston +might rightly exclaim "Si monumentum quaeris, circumspice." + +The things that can be done by a city are innumerable; what it _ought_ +to do and what it _will_ do are perhaps more easily dealt with. Thinking +I might obtain some information on the subject I asked the question of +the librarian of the Free Library of Philadelphia. He settled himself in +his chair and assuming the tone of an oracle said that there were three +things that the city should do for its library. 1. Provide an adequate +appropriation for its maintenance; 2. Provide an extra appropriation for +emergencies; and 3. Provide a special appropriation for some particular +work which the librarian might be particularly interested in at the +time. I asked several other prominent librarians the same question and +their answers were to the same purport--namely, if the city could +furnish sufficient money they felt themselves fully competent to build +up an ideal institution. + +We all know as a matter of fact that the strong libraries of the country +have been built up by other means than the mere appropriation of money +by city councils, and it is not unreasonable to mention as the first of +these the librarian. The city should see to it that this individual is a +man (or woman) strong, intellectual and vigorous, without bumptiousness, +which is often mistaken for vigor, and with those qualities which will +procure for him respectful attention from even those who may be opposed +to him. I have often heard addresses made before this Association +bewailing the fact that the city librarian had to deal with certain +political elements which very much hampered him. I should regard this +state of affairs as belonging to the time when the college president was +necessarily a professor of moral philosophy whose duties consisted of +receiving the senior class for one hour a week to discuss Whewell's +"Elements." Such an officer must now be an active administrative power +as well as an intellectual entity to at all meet the modern +requirements, and in like manner the public librarian should deem it a +privilege to meet the representatives of the city government and to have +the opportunity of impressing the needs of his institution upon them. +There is no better test of the capacity of the man for the great work in +which he is engaged. + +Speaking practically I would state that in the building up of the +Philadelphia Free Library in which I have taken an active interest, the +political elements have always responded most generously to our +requests, and that the library has been more inconvenienced by the +writings and personal influence of certain well-to-do-citizens upon whom +the word "paternalism" has acted as a nightmare than by any difficulty +with the city government. + +While the city should provide means and a proper official to conduct the +institution it should take much more care in the selection of the board +of trustees than is usually the case. They should be representative men, +who not only should be able to assist the librarian in the formation of +an educational institution, but also be able to devote a considerable +amount of time to matters relating to its policy. If the librarian is +not a systematic business man, one of the board or a committee should be +delegated to attend to the financial affairs, as it is absolutely +necessary that the accounts shall be at all times in as good condition +as in the most punctilious business house. + +I would also suggest that a certain modesty be observed in the carrying +out of such work by a municipality. It is hard to think of anything that +could be said for this proposition when the magnificent buildings of +Boston, Chicago and Pittsburgh are taken into consideration; but I would +respectfully submit that the feeling of unrest among the great army of +industrial workers throughout the civilized world is growing. With the +tremendous progress in science and industry these people are claiming +that they can see no gain in the position of the common people. This +discontent has manifested itself lately in the opposition of the labor +organizations of certain towns to the munificent proposition made by one +of the most conscientious men who has ever been numbered among the +multimillionaires of the world. While it is not always wise to consider +too seriously the socialistic murmurings of a few negative people, I +submit that it is our duty to consider the effect produced upon the +poorest and most scantily clad patron of our libraries. + +It is necessary that the library should be housed in a fireproof +building as soon as possible, and the owners of valuable books will +always choose such an institution for such gifts as they may make. I +believe that the Boston Library has received donations equal to half the +cost of the building since it has been housed in Copley square. + +Finally, the city should insist that the library be an educational +institution and not receive its appropriation for recreation mainly. The +extraordinary demand for light fiction in public libraries has led to a +very unsatisfactory condition of affairs, and it is not uncommon to find +300 copies of a new novel necessary to at all meet the demand. There is +every indication that the public library will be furnished with a happy +release from this call upon their resources by the institution of the +Book Lovers' Library which has now extended its branches to all the +important cities. If this system can be extended on good business +principles, the happiness of public libraries would be complete +notwithstanding the slight falling off in circulation that might follow. + +The motto of every such institution should be: _Libri libere liberis_, +which being freely translated, means: "A free people should have open +shelves if possible." + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE STATE.[A] + + BY E. A. BIRGE, _President Board of Directors, Madison (Wis.) Public + Library_. + + +The relation of the state to libraries may be considered from three +points of view. The first and oldest library function of the state has +been the maintenance of a state library, usually begun for the +convenience of the legislature and in many states enlarged into a +general library. With this function has also gone the indirect support +of libraries for historical and scientific societies, incorporated by +the state and in some degree representing it. Much might be said on +possible lines of work for the state in this direction, but as this +function is the oldest and best understood, it may be named and passed +without further discussion. + +Second, the state holds a relation to the local libraries in communities +which are supporting free libraries without aid from the state. The +state aids these libraries by enacting proper laws for their +organization. In general, the statutes should be such as will give the +local library the best opportunity for organization, and will leave it +when organized the largest amount of freedom in doing its work. The +earlier library laws of the states have very generally contained the +provision that, in order to establish a library in a community, the +proposition must be accepted by a majority of the voters at an election. +This provision has been found disadvantageous in Wisconsin, and was +eliminated from our library law in 1897. Experience has shown that it +is better to leave the establishment of a library, like other public +works of necessity and utility, to the common council, or other +representatives of the people in the larger towns and cities, rather +than to commit the proposition to the chance of a general election. + +The third function of the state with reference to libraries is that +which may be called library extension. Here the state acts directly to +aid in the establishment of libraries and the extension of library work +in the communities which would otherwise lack libraries. The necessity +for this work has become apparent to the more progressive states of the +Union within recent years. The justification of this work lies in two +main reasons. First, libraries continue for the older youth of the +community and for adults the education which the state requires for +children. It is neither fair nor right for the state to maintain a +system of education which develops a love of knowledge and of reading, +and then leave the community without the means for continuing in later +youth the development begun in childhood. Second, it is known that the +intellectual isolation of the rural communities is one of the main +reasons for the much-lamented drift from the country into the cities, +and it has been found that the establishment of libraries affords one of +the most important means of bringing these small communities into +intellectual touch with the world. + +The states then which have undertaken this work of library extension +have usually done so by means of the library commission. The first +commission was established by Massachusetts in 1890. Seventeen states +had established such commissions by the end of 1900--more than half of +them in the two years preceding that date. I have no statistics +regarding the establishment of such commissions in 1901. The work of +these commissions may be either advisory or missionary, aiding in the +establishment of libraries in the smaller communities which are able to +establish and maintain them under the guidance and advice of the +commission, and directly furnishing library facilities to the smallest +and weakest communities. In certain states direct state aid is given to +the smaller libraries, notably in Massachusetts, where each town library +established under the rules of the commission receives books to the +amount of $100. In some states aid is given in the purchase of books. +The direct furnishing of libraries is done mainly by means of travelling +libraries. So far as I can learn, these are now distributed by six +states. The system has grown throughout the Union, in various +manifestations, and its influence in bringing books to the communities +that most lack and need them has been of the utmost value. This work is +one of the greatest importance, and yet I believe it is one which will +ultimately pass into the hands of the counties or smaller governmental +bodies than the state. + +Lastly, the commissions are aiding in the library work by the +establishment of library schools. In Wisconsin a summer school for +library training has been held for the past seven years, and represents +a class of work which it seems important that each state should +undertake, namely: the training of librarians for the smaller libraries +in which the salaries paid are necessarily so small that the librarians +cannot afford the expense of a complete course in library training. This +instruction applies especially to persons already in charge of small +libraries throughout the state, who have not had the opportunity to +secure professional training for their work, and it is of great value in +bringing them in touch with library effort and setting higher standards +of purpose and efficiency. Experience has shown that in a two months' +summer session instruction can be given of the greatest value to those +who are to have charge of this class of libraries. + +In this department of library extension which the states have been +entering upon during the past decade lies the most important work which +the state can undertake for libraries. The work of the library +commissions means a systematic employment of the library as an +educational and social factor in the progress of the people. This is the +true mission of the library, and the most important function of the +state lies in effectively aiding it to perform this work. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: Abstract.] + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE NATION. + + BY HERBERT PUTNAM, _Librarian of Congress_. + + +You have had suggestions as to what may be done for libraries by the +city and what by the state. Whatever is left over--if there is anything +left over--I am to treat as something that may be done by the +nation--the nation not as an aggregate of its parts, but as a unit, +acting through its central authority. There is a disposition to contend +that _everything_ which may be more effectively or more economically +done by a central authority for the larger area should be undertaken by +that authority. I am not prepared to go so far. There may be a value in +local effort that will repay its greater cost. But in an educational +work which involves the accumulation of material some of which is +exceedingly costly, only part of which is constantly in use, and little +of which perishes by use; a work whose processes are capable of +organization on a large scale and the application of co-operative +effort: there must be certain undertakings which, relatively speaking, +are possible only if assumed by a central authority. It is such +undertakings, for the largest area, that I am asked to discover and set +forth. + +To do so involves consequences which may be inconvenient. For a possible +service means a correlative duty. And as I myself to a degree represent +here the central authority in question, whatever I state as a service +appropriate for that authority, I shall have to admit as a duty in which +I must share. I shall try to be candid. But under the circumstances I +cannot be expected to be more than candid. + +In some respects the Federal Government of the United States has already +influenced the constitution, resources and service of our public +libraries. It has enacted laws which, having for their primary purpose +the protection of authors and publishers, benefit libraries by +encouraging the manufacture of books soundly, substantially and honestly +made. It has favored public libraries by exempting from tariff duty +books imported for their use. It has encouraged the study of the +classics by laying a penalty upon the general importation of books less +than twenty years old. In its executive capacity it is itself +investigator, author, publisher, manufacturer, distributor, +statistician, bibliographer, and librarian. It maintains at Washington, +with a generosity not paralleled by any other government, bureaus for +scientific research; it compiles, publishes, and freely distributes the +results of this research. It is the greatest publisher in the world, and +the largest manufacturer of books. In a single publication, repeated +each year, it consumes over a million pounds of paper stock; and it +maintains a bureau whose purpose is to replenish the forests which as +publisher it thus depletes. It distributes gratuitously to the libraries +of the United States each year over 300,000 volumes, embodying the +results of its research, its legislative proceedings, and an account of +its administrative activities. It maintains a bureau for the +investigation of problems in education, for the accumulation and +dissemination of information concerning the work of educational +institutions; and it has included the public libraries of this country +among such educational institutions. This bureau has issued three +reports tabulating statistics concerning them, one also (in 1876) +summarizing their history and two (in 1876 and in 1893) containing +essays which embody the best contemporary opinion as to library +equipment and methods. It has published as a document the A. L. A. list +of best books to form the basis of a public library. + +Through its bureau of documents it is seeking to index and adequately to +exhibit its own publications, to facilitate their distribution to +libraries and to afford to libraries as to federal documents a clearing +house for duplicates. + +All such services are obviously appropriate for the national authority +and may doubtless be continued and extended. If the interchange of books +among libraries is to be facilitated by special postal regulations this +can be accomplished by the national authority alone. + +But in the case of a state a service has been described which is to be +rendered to local libraries by the library which the state itself owns +and maintains. Now the federal government also owns and maintains +libraries. What may be demanded of these? Certain precedents have +already been established. The library of the Surgeon General's +office--the most comprehensive in the world within its special +field--sends its books to members of the medical profession throughout +the United States, relieving just so much the burden upon local +libraries; and it has issued a catalog which is not merely in form and +method efficient, but is so nearly an exhibit of the entire literature +of the medical sciences that it renders unnecessary duplication of +cataloging and analytical work within the field which it covers. This +catalog has conferred a general benefit not equalled by any +bibliographic work within any other department of literature. It is +perhaps the most eminent bibliographic work yet accomplished by any +government. The cost of its mere publication--which is the cost +chargeable to the general benefit--has already exceeded $250,000. + +But this library is but one of several collections maintained by the +Federal Government; the aggregate of which is already nearly two million +volumes. In each federal department and bureau there is a library. And +there is a central collection which in itself is already the largest on +the western hemisphere. It was created as a legislative library--for the +use of both Houses of Congress. It is still called the Library of +Congress. But it is now being referred to as something more. The +government has erected for it a building which is the largest, most +elaborate, and most costly yet erected for library purposes. The seven +million dollars which it cost has been paid not by the District of +Columbia, but by the country at large. No such sum would have been +requisite for a building to serve Congress alone. It seems to intend a +library that shall serve the country at large, if there is any such +thing possible. In fact the library is already being referred to as the +National Library of the United States. What does this mean? or rather, +what _may_ this mean? One naturally looks abroad--to the foremost of +national libraries. + +The British Museum is a huge repository of material. In scope it is +universal. Its purpose is accumulation, preservation, and the aid of +research by accredited persons, upon its own premises. Its service is +purely responsive. It has printed catalogs of its own collections, but +does not undertake bibliographic work general in nature, nor engage in +co-operative bibliographic undertakings. It lends no books. + +But I fear you will hardly be satisfied with the analogy. The British +Museum, you will say, is placed in a city which is not merely the +capital of the British Empire, but the metropolis; the literary +metropolis also of the Anglo-Saxon race. The Library of Congress is at +the capital of the United States. But this capital is not itself a +metropolis. No student in Great Britain has to travel over 500 miles to +reach the British Museum. A student in the United States may have to +travel as much as 3000 miles to reach the Library of Congress. The area +which supports the national library of Great Britain is but 100,000 +square miles; that which supports the National Library of the United +States is ever 3,000,000 square miles. The conditions differ, and +therefore, you will say, the obligation. If there is any way in which +our National Library may "reach out" from Washington it should reach +out. Its first duty is no doubt as a legislative library--to Congress. +Its next is as a federal library to aid the executive and judicial +departments of the government and the scientific undertakings under +governmental auspices. Its next is to that general research which may be +carried on at Washington by resident and visiting students and scholars: +which in American history, political and social science, public +administration, jurisprudence and international law is likely to make +Washington its center, and which, under the auspices of the Washington +Memorial Institution--that new project for post graduate study involving +the use of the scientific collections and scientific experts at +Washington--is likely to be organized in various branches of the natural +and physical sciences as well. But this should not be the limit. There +should be possible also a service to the country at large: a service to +be extended through the libraries which are the local centers of +research involving the use of books. That claim may be made. Now what at +Washington might be useful to these libraries? + +(A lively imagination is not requisite.) Suppose there could be a +collection of books universal in scope, as no local library with limited +funds and limited space can hope to be: a collection that shall contain +also particularly (1) original sources, (2) works of high importance for +occasional reference, but whose cost to procure and maintain precludes +their acquisition by a local library pressed to secure the material of +ordinary and constant need, and (3) the "useless" books; books not +costly to acquire, but of so little general concern as not to justify +cataloging, space and care in each local library if only they are known +to be preserved and accessible somewhere. + +Such a collection must include also the general mass of books sought and +held by local libraries--the books for the ordinary reader; the daily +tools of research. Its maintenance will involve processes--of +classification and cataloging--highly costly. Suppose the results of +these processes could be made generally available, so as to save +duplication of such expenditure upon identical material held by local +libraries? + +A collection universal in scope will afford opportunity for +bibliographic work not equalled elsewhere. Such work centered there +might advance the general interest with the least aggregate effort. The +adequate interpretation of such a collection will involve the +maintenance of a corps of specialists. Suppose these specialists could +be available to answer inquiries from all parts of the country as to +what material exists on any particular subject, where it is, how it may +be had, how most effectively it may be used? + +There are special collections already existent in various localities in +the United States and likely to come into being through special local +advantage or incentive, or the interest of private collectors, or +private endowment--which cannot be duplicated at Washington. Suppose +there could be at Washington a bibliographic statement of that which is +peculiar to each of these collections; in brief, a catalog of the books +in the United States--not of every library, not of every copy of every +book, but of every _book_ available for an investigator? + +There are various bibliographic undertakings which may be co-operative. +Suppose there could be at Washington a central bureau--with approved +methods, standard forms, adequate editorial capacity, and liberal +facilities for publication--which could organize and co-ordinate this +work among the libraries of the United States and represent them in such +of it as--like the new Royal Society index--is to be international? + +There is the exchange of material duplicated in one library, needed by +another. Suppose there could be at Washington a bureau which would serve +as a clearing house for miscellaneous duplicates as the Bureau of +Documents serves for documents? It might accomplish much without +handling a single article; it might, like a clearing house proper as it +were, set debit against credit, _i. e._, compare the deficiencies in one +library with the surplus in another and communicate the results to the +institutions interested. It might do this upon slip lists sent in by +each--of duplicates and of particular deficiencies--in sets, for +instance. One of my associates has been guilty of this very suggestion. +It is likely to bring something upon his head. He may have his choice +between live coals and the ashes of repentance. + +Now those are some of the things which might be asserted as the duty of +Washington to the country at large. I have touched them as lightly as +possible: but there they are. And we may not be able to avoid them. Nay, +we seem to be drifting toward them. To some of them we are apparently +already committed. + +There is the building: that in itself seems to commit us. There is +equipment. There are books. As regards any national service the federal +libraries should be one library. They contain nearly two million +volumes. The Library of Congress contains net some 700,000 books and a +half million other items. It has for increase (1) deposits under the +copyright law, (2) documents acquired through distribution of the +federal documents placed at its disposal for exchange--formerly 50 +copies of each, now 100, (3) books and society publications acquired by +the Smithsonian through its exchanges, (4) miscellaneous gifts and +exchanges, and, (5) purchases from appropriations. These have increased +from $10,000 a year prior to 1897 to $70,000 for the year 1901-2. + +Such resources are by no means omnipotent. _No_ resources can make +absolutely comprehensive a library starting its deliberate accumulations +at the end of the 19th century. Too much material has already been +absorbed into collections from which it will never emerge. + +But universality in scope does not mean absolute comprehensiveness in +detail. With its purchasing funds and other resources the Library of +Congress bids fair to become the strongest collection in the United +States in bibliography, in Americana (omitting the earliest), in +political and social science, public administration, jurisprudence. If +any American library can secure the documents which will exhibit +completely legislation proposed and legislation enacted it should be +able to. As depository of the library of the Smithsonian it will have +the most important collection--perhaps in the world--of the transactions +and proceedings of learned societies; and, adding its own exchanges and +subscriptions, of serials in general. With theology it may not +especially concern itself nor with philology to the degree appropriate +to a university library. Medicine it will leave as a specialty to the +library of the Surgeon-General's office, already pre-eminent, Geology to +the library of the Geological Survey. Two extremes it may have to +abstain from--so far as deliberate purchase is concerned: (1) the books +merely popular, (2) the books merely curious. Of the first many will +come to it through copyright; of the second many should come through +gift. (Perhaps in time the public spirit of American collectors and +donors may turn to it as the public spirit of the British turns to the +National Library of Great Britain.) Original sources must come to it, if +at all, chiefly by gift. Manuscript material relating to American +history it has, however, bought, and will buy. + +Otherwise, chiefly printed books. Of these, the useful books; of these +again, the books useful rather for the establishment of the fact than +for the mere presentation of it--the books for the advancement of +learning, rather than those for the mere diffusion of knowledge. + +Lastly there is an organization. Instead of 42 persons, for all manner +of service, there are now 261, irrespective of printers, binders, and +the force attending to the care of the building itself. + +The copyright work is set off and interferes no longer with the energies +of the library proper. There is a separate division having to do with +the acquisition of material, another--of 67 persons--to classify and +catalog it. There are 42 persons attending to the ordinary service of +the reading room as supplied from the stacks, and there are eight +special divisions handling severally the current newspapers and +periodicals, the documents, manuscripts, maps, music, prints, the +scientific publications forming the Smithsonian deposit, and the books +for the blind. There is a Division of Bibliography whose function is to +assist in research too elaborate for the routine service of the reading +room, to edit the library publications, and to represent the library in +co-operative bibliographic undertakings. There is now within the +building, besides a bindery, with a force of 45 employees, a printing +office, with a force of 21. The allotment for printing and binding, in +1896 only $15,000, is for the coming year $90,000. + +The immediate duty of this organization is near at hand. There is a huge +arrear of work upon the existing collection--necessary for its effective +use, and its intelligent growth. It must be newly classified throughout; +and shelf listed. The old author slip catalog must be revised and +reduced to print. There must be compiled a subject catalog, of which +none now exists. Innumerable gaps--that which is crooked can be made +straight, but that which is wanting cannot be numbered--innumerable gaps +are to be ascertained and filled. A collection of reference books must +be placed back at the Capitol, with suitable apparatus, to bring the +library once more into touch with Congress and enable it to render the +service to Congress which is its first duty. The other libraries of the +District must be brought into association--not by gathering their +collections into the Library of Congress, but by co-ordinating processes +and service. The Library of Congress as the center of the system can aid +in this. It can strengthen each departmental library by relieving it of +material not necessary to its special work. It can aid toward +specialization in these departmental libraries by exhibiting present +unnecessary duplication. (It is just issuing a union list of serials +currently taken by the libraries of the District which has this very +purpose.) It can very likely print the catalog cards for all the +government libraries--incidentally securing uniformity, and a copy for +its own use of each card--which in time will result in a complete +statement within its own walls of the resources of every departmental +library in Washington. It will supply to each such library a copy of +every card which it prints of a book in its own collections relating to +the work of the bureau which such library serves. + +To reduce to order the present collection, incorporating the current +accessions, to fill the most inconvenient gaps, to supply the most +necessary apparatus in catalogs and to bring about a relation among the +libraries of Washington which shall form them into an organic _system_: +this work will of itself be a huge one. I have spoken of the equipment +of the Library of Congress as elaborate, the force as large, and the +appropriations as generous. All are so in contrast to antecedent +conditions. In proportion to the work to be done, however, they are not +merely not excessive, but in some respects far short of the need. To +proceed beyond those immediate undertakings to projects of general +service will require certain equipment, service, and funds not yet +secured, and which can be secured only by a general effort. But the +question is not what can be done, but what _may_ be done--in due time, +eventually. + +A general distribution of the printed cards: That has been suggested. It +was suggested a half century ago by the Federal Government through the +Smithsonian Institution. Professor Jewett's proposal then was a central +bureau to compile, print and distribute cards which might serve to local +libraries as a catalog of their own collections. Such a project is now +before this Association. It may not be feasible: that is, it might not +result in the economy which it suggests. It assumes a large number of +books to be acquired, in the same editions, by many libraries, at the +same time. In fact, the enthusiasm for the proposal at the Montreal +meeting last year has resulted in but sixty subscriptions to the actual +project. + +It may not be feasible. But if such a scheme can be operated at all it +may perhaps be operated most effectively through the library which for +its own uses is cataloging and printing a card for every book currently +copyrighted in the United States, and for a larger number of others than +any other single institution. Such must be confessed of the Library of +Congress. It is printing a card for every book currently copyrighted, +for every other book currently added--for every book reached in +re-classification--and thus in the end for every book in its collection. +It is now printing, at the rate of over 200 titles a day--60,000 titles +a year. The entry is an author entry, in form and type accepted by the +committee on cataloging of the A. L. A. The cards are of the standard +size--3 × 5 inches--of the best linen ledger stock. From 15 to 100 +copies of each are now printed. It would be uncandid to say that such a +number is necessary for the use of the library itself, or of the +combined libraries at Washington. The usefulness of copies of them to +any other library for incorporation in its catalogs must depend upon +local conditions: the style, form, and size of its own cards, the number +of books which it adds yearly, the proportion of these which are +current, and other related matters. On these points we have sought +statistics from 254 libraries. We have them from 202. With them we have +samples of the cards in use by each, with a complete author entry. +Having them we are in a position really to estimate the chances. I will +not enter into details. Summarily, it appears that our cards might +effect a great saving to certain libraries and some saving to others, +and would entail a mere expense without benefit to the remainder--all of +which is as might have been guessed. + +The distribution suggested by Professor Jewett and proposed by the A. L. +A. had in view a saving to the recipient library of cataloging and +printing on its own account. It assumed a subscription by each +recipient to cover the cost of the extra stock and presswork. There is +conceivable a distribution more limited in range, having another +purpose. The national library wishes to get into touch with the local +libraries which are centers for important research. It wishes the +fullest information as to their contents; it may justifiably supply them +with the fullest information as to its own contents. Suppose it should +supply them with a copy of every card which it prints, getting in return +a copy of every card which they print? I am obliged to disclose this +suggestion: for such an exchange has already been begun. A copy of every +card printed by the Library of Congress goes out to the New York Public +Library: a copy of every card printed by the New York Public Library +comes to the Library of Congress. In the new building of the New York +Public Library there will be a section of the public card catalog +designated The Catalog of the Library of Congress. It will contain at +least every title in the Library of Congress not to be found in any +library of the metropolis. In the Library of Congress a section of the +great card catalog of American libraries outside the District will be a +catalog of the New York Public Library. + +I have here a letter from the librarian of Cornell University forwarding +a resolution of the Library Council (composed in part of faculty +members) which requests for the university library a set of these cards. +Mr. Harris states that the purpose would be to fit up cases of drawers +in the catalog room, which is freely accessible to any one desiring to +consult bibliographical aids, and arrange the cards in alphabetical +order by authors, thus making an author catalog of the set. He adds "The +whole question has been rather carefully considered and the unanimous +sense of the council was that the usefulness of the catalog to us would +be well worth the cost of the cases, the space they would occupy, and +the time it would take to arrange and keep in order the cards." + +There is a limit to such a distribution. But I suspect that it will not +stop with New York and Ithaca. + +There is some expense attendant on it. There is the extra stock, the +presswork, the labor of sorting and despatching. No postage, however, +for the Library of Congress has the franking privilege, in and out. The +results however: one cannot deny them to be attractive. At Washington a +statement of at least the distinctive contents of every great local +collection. At each local center of research a statement of the +distinctive contents of the national collection. An inquirer in +Wisconsin writes to Washington: is such a book to be had in the United +States; must he come to Washington for it, or to New York?--No, he will +find it in Chicago at the Newberry or the Crerar. + +If there can be such a thing as a bibliographic bureau for the United +States, the Library of Congress is in a way to become one; to a degree, +in fact, a bureau of information for the United States. Besides routine +workers efficient as a body, it has already some expert bibliographers +and within certain lines specialists. It has not a complete corps of +these. It cannot have until Congress can be made to understand the need +of them. Besides its own employees, however, it has within reach by +telephone a multitude of experts. They are maintained by the very +government which maintains it. They are learned men, efficient men, +specially trained, willing to give freely of their special knowledge. +They enter the government employ and remain there, not for the pecuniary +compensation, which is shamefully meagre, but for the love of the work +itself and for the opportunity for public service which it affords. Of +these men, in the scientific bureaus at Washington, the National Library +can take counsel: it can secure their aid to develop its collections and +to answer inquiries of moment. This will be within the field of the +natural and physical sciences. Meantime within its walls it possesses +already excellent capacity for miscellaneous research, and special +capacity for meeting inquiries in history and topography, in general +literature, and in the special literature of economics, mathematics and +physics. It has still Ainsworth Spofford and the other men, who with +him, under extraordinary disadvantages, for thirty-five years made the +library useful at the Capitol. + +The library is already issuing publications in book form. In part these +are catalogs of its own contents; in part an exhibit of the more +important material in existence on some subject of current interest, +particularly, of course, in connection with national affairs. Even +during the period of organization fifteen such lists have already been +issued. They are distributed freely to libraries and even to individual +inquirers. + +But there may be something further. The distribution of cards which +exhibit its own contents or save duplication of expense elsewhere, the +publication of bibliographies which aid to research, expert service +which in answer to inquiry points out the best sources and the most +effective methods of research: all these may have their use. But how +about the books themselves? Must the use of this great collection be +limited to Washington? How many of the students who need some book in +the Library of Congress--perhaps there alone--can come to Washington to +consult it at the moment of need? A case is conceivable: a university +professor at Madison or Berkeley or San Antonio, in connection with +research important to scholarship, requires some volume in an unusual +set. The set is not in the university library. It is too costly for that +library to acquire for the infrequent need. The volume is in the +National Library. It is not at the moment in use at Washington. The +university library requests the loan of it. If the National Library is +to _be_ the national library----? + +There might result some inconvenience. There would be also the peril of +transit. Some volumes might be lost to posterity. But after all we are +ourselves a posterity. Some respect is due to the ancestors who have +saved for _our_ use. And if one copy of a book possessed by the federal +government and within reasonable limits subject to call by different +institutions, might suffice for the entire United States--what does +logic seem to require--and expediency--and the good of the greater +number? + +The Library of Congress is now primarily a reference library. But if +there be any citizen who thinks that it should never lend a book--to +another library--in aid of the higher research--when the book can be +spared from Washington and is not a book within the proper duty of the +local library to supply--if there be any citizen who thinks that for the +National Library to lend under these circumstances would be a misuse of +its resources and, therefore, an abuse of trust--he had better speak +quickly, or he may be too late. Precedents may be created which it would +be awkward to ignore. + +Really I have been speaking of the Library of Congress as if it were the +only activity of the federal government of interest to libraries. That, +however, is the fault of the topic. It was not what might be done for +science, for literature, for the advance of learning, for the diffusion +of knowledge. It was merely what might be done for _libraries_; as it +were, not for the glory of God, but for the advancement of the church. +We have confidence in the mission of libraries and consider anything in +aid of it as good in itself. + +Their most stimulating, most fruitful service must be the direct +service. The service of the national authority must in large part be +merely indirect. It can meet the reader at large only through the local +authority. It can serve the great body of readers chiefly through the +local libraries which meet them face to face, know their needs, supply +their most ordinary needs. Its natural agent--we librarians at least +must think this--is its own library--the library which if there is to be +a national library not merely of, but _for_ the United States--must be +that library. + +_Must become_ such, I should have said. For we are not yet arrived. We +cannot arrive until much preliminary work has been done, and much +additional resource secured from Congress. We shall arrive the sooner in +proportion as you who have in charge the municipal and collegiate +libraries of the United States will urge upon Congress the advantage to +the interests you represent, of undertakings such as I have described. +To this point we have not asked your aid. In the equipment of the +library, in the reconstruction of its service, in the addition of more +expert service, in the improvement of immediate facilities, our appeal +to Congress has been based on the work to be done near at hand. I have +admitted to you the possibility of these other undertakings of more +general concern. If they commend themselves to you as proper and +useful--the appeal for them must be primarily your appeal. + + + + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE--I. + + BY GEORGE ILES, _New York City_. + + +Six months ago the curtain descended upon what is likely to be accounted +the most memorable century in the annals of mankind. So salient are +three of its characteristics that they challenge the eye of the most +casual retrospection. First of all, we see that knowledge was increased +at a pace beyond precedent, to be diffused throughout the world with a +new thoroughness and fidelity. Next we must observe how republican +government passed from the slender ties spun in the times of Washington, +Jefferson and Adams, to the intimate and pervasive cords of to-day, +when, as never before, the good of the bee is bound up with the welfare +of the hive. Parallel with this political union of each and all there +was a growth of free organization which, in every phase of life, has +secured uncounted benefits which only joined hands may receive. Fresh +torches of light fraternally borne from the centers of civilization to +its circumference have tended to bring the arts and ideals of life +everywhere to the level of the best. These distinctive features of the +nineteenth century were in little evidence at its dawn, but they became +more and more manifest with each succeeding decade. In American +librarianship, as in many another sphere of labor, more was accomplished +in the last quarter of the century than in the seventy-five preceding +years. + +It is as recently as 1852 that Boston opened the doors of the first free +public library established in an American city. Its founders were +convinced that what was good for the students at Harvard, the +subscribers to the Athenæum, was good for everybody else. Literature, +they felt, was a trust to be administered not for a few, but for the +many, to be, indeed, hospitably proffered to all. To this hour, by a +wise and generous responsiveness to its ever-growing duties, the Boston +foundation remains a model of what a metropolitan library should be. As +with the capital, so with the state; to-day Massachusetts is better +provided with free public libraries than any other commonwealth on the +globe; only one in two hundred of her people are unserved by them, while +within her borders the civic piety of her sons and daughters has reared +more than six score library buildings. The library commission of the +state is another model in its kind; its powers are in the main advisory, +but when a struggling community desires to establish a library, and +contributes to that end, the commission tenders judicious aid. The +population of Massachusetts is chiefly urban, an exceptional case, for +taking the Union as a whole, notwithstanding the constant drift to the +cities, much more than half the people are still to be found in the +country. For their behoof village libraries have appeared in thousands. +Still more effective, because linked with one another, are the +travelling libraries, inaugurated by Mr. Melvil Dewey in New York in +1893, and since adopted in many other states of the Union, and several +provinces of Canada. All this registers how the democracy of letters has +come to its own. Schools public and free ensure to the American child +its birthright of instruction; libraries, also public and free, are +rising to supplement that instruction, to yield the light and lift, the +entertainment and stimulus that literature stands ready to bestow. The +old-time librarian, who was content to be a mere custodian of books, has +passed from the stage forever; in his stead we find an officer anxious +that his store shall do all the people the utmost possible good. To that +end he combines the zeal of the missionary with the address of a +consummate man of business. Little children are invited to cheery rooms +with kind and intelligent hospitality; teachers and pupils from the +public schools are welcomed to classrooms where everything is gathered +that the library can offer for their use; helpful bulletins and +consecutive reading lists are issued for the home circle; every book, +magazine and newspaper is bought, as far as feasible, with an eye to the +special wants and interests of the community; information desks are set +up; and partnerships are formed with expositors of acknowledged merit, +with museums of industry, of natural history, of the fine arts. Not the +borrowers only, but the buyers of books are remembered. The Standard +Library, brought together by Mr. W. E. Foster, in Providence, is a +shining example in this regard. + +The sense of trusteeship thus variously displayed has had a good many +sources; let us confine our attention to one of them. During the past +hundred years the treasure committed to the keeping of librarians has +undergone enrichment without parallel in any preceding age. We have more +and better books than ever before; they mean more than in any former +time for right living and sound thinking. A rough and ready +classification of literature, true enough in substance, divides it into +books of power, of information, and of entertainment. Let us look at +these three departments a little in detail. Restricting our purview to +the English tongue, we find the honor roll of its literature lengthened +by the names of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Matthew Arnold, Carlyle and +Ruskin, Emerson and Lowell. And not only to authors such as these must +our debt be acknowledged. We owe scholarly editors nearly as much. In +Spedding's Bacon, the Shakesperean studies of Mr. Furniss, and the +Chaucer of Professor Skeat, we have typical examples of services not +enjoyed by any former age. To-day the supreme poets, seers and sages of +all time are set before us in the clearest sunshine; their gold, refined +from all admixture, is minted for a currency impossible before. In their +original, unedited forms, the masterpieces of our language are now cheap +enough to find their way to the lowliest cottage of the cross-roads. + +It is not, however, in the field of literature pure and simple that the +manna fell most abundantly during the past hundred years. Mr. Alfred +Russel Wallace, the last of the great students who took all natural +history for their province, declares that the advances in discovery, +invention and generalization during the nineteenth century outweigh +those of all preceding time. Admit this judgment, and at once is +explained why the records and the spirit of science dominate the +literature of the last ten decades. And let us note that while books of +knowledge have increased beyond measure, they have appeared with a +helpfulness and with merits wholly new. For the first time in the +history of letters, men and women of successful experience, of practised +and skilful pens, write books which, placed in the hands of the people, +enlighten their toil, diminish their drudgery, and sweeten their lives. +Cross the threshold of the home and there is not a task, from choosing a +carpet to rearing a baby, that has not been illuminated by at least one +good woman of authority in her theme. On the heights of the literature +of science we have a quality and distinction unknown before these later +days. The modern war on evil and pain displays weapons of an edge and +force of which our forefathers never dared to dream; its armies march +forward not in ignorant hope, but with the assured expectation of +victory. All this inspires leaders like Huxley, Spencer and Fiske with +an eloquence, a power to convince and persuade, new in the annals of +human expression and as characteristic of the nineteenth century as the +English poetry of the sixteenth, in the glorious era of Elizabeth. The +literature of knowledge is not only fuller and better than of old, it is +more wisely employed. In the classroom, and when school days are done, +we now understand how the printed page may best direct and piece out the +work of the hand, the eye and the ear; not for a moment deluding +ourselves with the notion that we have grasped truth merely because we +can spell the word. To-day we first consider the lilies of the field, +not the lilies of the printer; that done it is time enough to take up a +formal treatise which will clarify and frame our knowledge. If a boy is +by nature a mechanic, a book of the right sort shows him how to +construct a simple steam engine or an electric motor. Is he an amateur +photographer, other books, excellently illustrated, give him capital +hints for work with his camera. It is in thus rounding out the circle +which springs from the school desk that the public library justifies its +equal claim to support from the public treasury. + +In the third and last domain of letters, that of fiction, there is a +veritable embarrassment of riches. During the three generations past +the art of story-telling culminated in works of all but Shakesperean +depth and charm. We have only to recall Scott and Thackeray, Hawthorne, +George Eliot and Thomas Hardy, to be reminded that an age of science may +justly boast of novelists and romancers such as the world never knew +before. No phase of life but has been limned with photographic fidelity, +no realm of imagination but has been bodied forth as if by experience on +fire, so that many a book which bears the name of fiction might well be +labelled as essential truth. Within the past decade, however, the old +veins have approached their bounds, while new lodes do not as yet +appear. Of this the tokens are the eager sifting of the rubbish heap, +the elaborate picturing of the abnormal and the gross. Pens unable to +afford either delight or cheer have abundant capacity, often with +evident malice, to strike the nerves of horror and of pain. If at the +present hour high achievement in fiction is rare, if we hear more echoes +than ever and fewer voices, quantity abounds to the point of surfeit. +With an output in America alone of 616 works for 1900, all fears of +famine may well be allayed. + +The main fact of the situation then is that the librarian's trust has of +late years undergone stupendous increase; this at once broadens his +opportunities and adds to his burdens. Gold and silver, iron and lead, +together with much dross, are commingled in a heap which rises every +hour. Before a trust can be rightly and gainfully administered, its +trustees must know in detail what it is that they guard, what its +several items are worth, what they are good for. And let us remember +that literature consists in but small part of metals which declare +themselves to all men as gold or lead; much commoner are alloys of every +conceivable degree of worth or worthlessness. There is plainly nothing +for it but to have recourse to the crucibles of the professional +assayer, it becomes necessary to add to the titles of our catalogs some +responsible word as to what books are and what rank they occupy in an +order of just precedence. + +This task of a competent and candid appraisal of literature, as a +necessity of its trusteeship, has been before the minds of this +Association for a good many years. A notable Step toward its +accomplishment was taken when Mr. Samuel S. Green, in 1879, allied +himself with the teachers of Worcester, Massachusetts, that they and he +together might select books for the public schools of that city. The +work began and has proceeded upon comprehensive lines. Such literature +has been chosen as may usefully and acceptably form part of the daily +instruction, there is a liberal choice of books of entertainment and +inspiration worthily to buttress and relieve the formal lessons. The +whole work goes forward with intent to cultivate the taste, to widen the +horizons, to elevate the impulses of the young reader. Mr. Green's +methods, with the modifications needful in transplanting, have been +adopted far and wide throughout the Union. Already they have borne fruit +in heightening the standards of free choice when readers have passed +from the school bench to the work-a-day world. + +Thus thoughtfully to lay the foundation of the reading habit is a task +beyond praise; upon a basis so sound it falls to our lot to rear, if we +can, a worthy and durable superstructure. It is time that we passed from +books for boys and girls to books for the youth, the man and the woman. +And how amid the volume and variety of the accumulated literature of the +ages shall we proceed? For light and comfort let us go back a little in +the history of education, we shall there find a method substantially +that of our friend, Mr. Green. Long before there were any free libraries +at all, we had in America a small band of readers and learners who +enjoyed unfailing pilotage in the sea of literature. These readers and +learners were in the colleges, where the teachers from examination and +comparison in the study, the class-room and the laboratory were able to +say that such an author was the best in his field, that such another had +useful chapters, and that a third was unreliable or superseded. While +literature has been growing from much to more, this bench of judicature +has been so enlarged as to keep steadily abreast of it. At Harvard there +are twenty-six sub-libraries of astronomy, zoology, political economy, +and so on; at hand are the teachers who can tell how the books may be +used with most profit. Of the best critics of books in America the +larger part are to be found at Harvard, at its sister universities and +colleges, at the technological institutes and art schools of our great +cities. We see their signed reviews in such periodicals as the +_Political Science Quarterly_ and the _Physical Review_; or unsigned in +journals of the stamp of the _Nation_. Fortunately, we can call upon +reinforcements of this vanguard of criticism. It would be difficult to +name a branch of learning, an art, a science, an exploration, from +folk-lore to forestry, from psychical research to geological surveys, +whose votaries are not to-day banded to promote the cause they have at +heart. These organizations include not only the foremost teachers in the +Union, but also their peers, outside the teaching profession, of equal +authority in bringing literature to the balances. And the point for us +is that these societies, through their publications and discussions, +enable these laymen to be known for what they are. Because the American +Historical Association is thus comprehensive, its membership has opened +the door for an initial task of appraisal, important in itself and +significant for the future. + +Drawing his two score contributors almost wholly from that Association, +Mr. J. N. Larned, of Buffalo, an honored leader of ours, has, without +fee or reward, acted as chief editor of an annotated Bibliography of +American History. The work is now passing through the composing room of +Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston; its contributors include professors +of history at Bowdoin, Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Harvard, McGill, Toronto, +Tulane and Yale, as well as the Universities of Michigan, Wisconsin and +Chicago; our own Association is worthily represented by Messrs. James +Bain, Clarence S. Brigham, V. L. Collins, W. E. Foster, J. K. Hosmer, E. +C. Richardson and R. G. Thwaites. As a rule the notes are signed. Where +for any reason a book demanding notice could not be allotted to a +contributor, Mr. Larned has quoted the fairest review he could find in +print. He has included not only good books, but such other works as have +found an acceptance they do not deserve. All told his pages will offer +us about 3400 titles; a syllabus of the sources of American history is +prefixed by Mr. Paul Leicester Ford; as an appendix will appear a +feature also of great value. In their "Guide to American history," +published in 1896, Professors Channing and Hart, of Harvard University, +recommended such collections of books as may be had for $5, $10, $20, +$50 or $100. Professor Channing is kind enough to say that he will +revise these lists and bring them down to date as a contribution to Mr. +Larned's work. Professor Channing may, we trust, name the books in each +collection in the order in which they may be most gainfully read. + +In times past our bibliographies have begun to need enlargement the +moment they left the bindery; in the present case that need is for the +first time to be supplied. Mr. Larned's titles come to the close of +1899; beyond that period current literature is to be chosen from and +appraised with the editorship of Philip P. Wells, librarian of the Yale +Law Library, who will issue his series in card form. We hope that he may +be ready with his cards for 1900 at the time that Mr. Larned's book +appears. Thereafter Mr. Wells' series will probably be published quarter +by quarter. Beginning with 1897, Mr. W. Dawson Johnston, now of the +Library of Congress, has edited for us a series of annotated cards +dealing with the contemporary literature of English history. Both the +form and substance of his series are capital. In so far as his cards go +directly into catalog cases, where readers and students must of +necessity see them, they render the utmost possible aid. If subscribers +in sufficient array come forward, Mr. Larned's book may be remolded for +issue in similar card form, with a like opportunity for service in +catalog cases. In the Cleveland Public Library and its branches useful +notes are pasted within the lids of a good many volumes. It is well thus +to put immediately under the reader's eye the word which points him +directly to his goal, or prevents him wasting time in wanderings of +little value or no value at all. + +With Mr. Larned's achievement a new chapter is opened in American +librarianship; he breaks a path which should be followed up with a +discernment and patience emulous of his example. If the whole working +round of our literature were sifted and labelled after his method, the +worth of that literature, because clearly brought into evidence, might +well be doubled at least. Every increase in the availability of our +books, every removal of fences, every setting-up of guide-posts, has had +a heartening public response. So it will be if we proceed with this +effort to bring together the seekers and the knowers, to obtain the best +available judgments for the behoof of readers and students everywhere. +Economics and politics, so closely interwoven with American history, +might well afford the second field for appraisal. A good many libraries +still find aid in the "Reader's guide" in this department, although it +appeared as long ago as 1891. Next might follow the literature of the +sciences pure and applied, together with the useful arts. Among useful +arts those of the household might well have the lead, for we must not be +academic, or ever lose sight of the duties nearest at hand to the great +body of the plain people. Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel, in 1897, did an +excellent piece of work for us in their "Bibliography of the fine arts"; +their guide might profitably be revised and enlarged in its several +divisions, not omitting the introductory paragraphs which make the book +unique in its class. These tasks well in hand, we might come to such +accessions of strength and insight as to nerve us for labors of wider +range and greater difficulty, where personal equations may baffle even +the highest court of appeal, where it is opinion rather than fact that +is brought to the scales. I refer to the debatable ground of ethics, +philosophy and theology; and, at the other pole of letters, to the vast +stretches of fiction and belles lettres in our own and foreign tongues. +With regard to fiction and belles lettres, one of Mr. Larned's methods +has a hint for us. In some cases he has found it best to quote Mr. +Francis Parkman, Mr. Justin Winsor, or the pages of the _Nation_, the +_Dial_, the _American Historical Review_, and similar trustworthy +sources. With respect to novels and romances, essays and literary +interpretation, it does not seem feasible to engage a special corps of +reviewers. It may be a good plan to appoint judicious editors to give us +composite photographs of what the critics best worth heeding have said +in the responsible press. + +It is in the preponderant circulation of fiction, and fiction for the +most part of poor quality, that the critics of public libraries find +most warrant for attack. They point to the fact that many readers of +this fiction are comparatively well-to-do, and are exempted by public +taxation from supporting the subscription library and the bookseller. +The difficulty has been met chiefly in two ways; by curtailing the +supply of mediocre and trashy fiction; by exacting a small fee on +issuing the novels brought for a season to a huge demand by advertising +of a new address and prodigality. Appraisal, just and thorough, may be +expected to render aid more important because radical instead of +superficial. In the first place, the best books of recreation, now +overlaid by new and inferior writing, can be brought into prominence; +secondly, an emphasis, as persuasive as it can be made, ought to be +placed upon the more solid stores of our literature. "Business," said +Bagehot long ago, "is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests +the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously and +deeply, but it does not look as if it did." Let it be our purpose to +reveal what admirable substance underlies appearances not always +seductive to the casual glance. Lowell and Matthew Arnold, Huxley and +John Fiske, Lecky and Goldwin Smith are solid enough, yet with no lack +of wit or humor to relieve their argument and elucidation. A New York +publisher of wide experience estimates that the average American family, +apart from school purchases, buys less than two books a year. Newspapers +and magazines form the staple of the popular literary diet. What fills +the newspapers is mainly news; their other departments of information +are often extensive and admirable, but within the limits of the hastily +penned paragraph or column they cannot rise to the completeness and +quality of a book carefully written and faithfully revised. The plain +fact is, and it behooves us to reckon with it, the average man, to whom +we bear our credentials as missionaries, looks upon a book as having +something biblical about it. To sit down deliberately and surrender +himself to its chapters is a task he waves away with strangely mingled +awe and dislike. So he misses the consecutive instruction, as delightful +as profitable to an educated taste, which authors, publishers and +librarians are ready and even anxious to impart. + +We hear a good deal in these days about the need of recreation, and not +a word more than is true, but let us remember that the best recreation +may consist in a simple change of work. Behold the arduous toil of the +city lawyer, or banker, as on a holiday tour he climbs a peak of the +Alps or the Adirondacks, or wades the chilly streams of Scotland or +Canada a salmon rod in his hands. Why does he undergo fatigues so +severe? Partly because they are freely chosen, partly because they are +fatigues of an unwonted and therefore refreshing kind. So in the field +before us to-day. Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more +fascinating when once its charms are recognized and entertained. Our +public schools throughout the land prove that a true story of +exploration, of invention or discovery, of heroism or adventure, has +only to be well told to rivet a boy's attention as firmly as ever did +Robinson Crusoe or Treasure Island. When readers take up from +instinctive appetite, or wise incitement, the best books about flowers +or birds, minerals or trees, an art, a science, a research, they come to +joys in new knowledge, in judgments informed and corrected, unknown to +the tipplers and topers whose staple is the novel, good, bad and +indifferent. And why, if we can help it, should public money ever be +spent for aught but the public good? + +With a new sense of what is implied in the trusteeship of literature, if +we endeavor in the future to ally ourselves with the worthiest critics +of books, we must bid good-bye to the temporary expedients which have +cramped and burdened our initial labors. The work of the appraisal of +literature requires a home, a Central Bureau, with a permanent and +adequately paid staff of editors and assistants. The training of such a +staff has already begun; in addition to the experience acquired by those +enlisted in our present bibliographical tasks, instruction is now given +in advanced bibliography at the New York State Library School at Albany, +and doubtless also at other library schools. And at the Central Bureau, +which we are bold enough to figure to ourselves, much more should be +done than to bring books to the balances. At such a home, in New York, +Washington, or elsewhere, every other task should proceed which aims at +furthering the good that literature can do all the people. There might +be conducted the co-operative cataloging now fast taking form; there +should be extended the series of useful tracts begun by that of Dr. G. +E. Wire on "How to start a library," by Mr. F. A. Hutchins on +"Travelling libraries." At such a center should be exhibited everything +to inform the founder of a public library; everything to direct the +legislator who would create a library commission on the soundest lines +or recast library laws in the light of national experience; there, +moreover, should be gathered everything to arouse and instruct the +librarian who would bring his methods to the highest plane. Thence, too, +should go forth the speakers and organizers intent upon awakening torpid +communities to a sense of what they miss so long as they stand outside +our ranks, or lag at the rear of our movement. In the fulness of time +such a bureau might copy the Franklin Society, of Paris, and call into +existence a needed book, to find within this Association a sale which, +though small, would be adequate, because free from the advertising taxes +of ordinary publishing. To found and endow such a bureau would +undoubtedly cost a great deal, and where is the money to come from? We +may, I think, expect it from the sources which have given us thousands +of public libraries, great and small. Here is an opportunity for our +friends, whether their surpluses be large or little. When a gift can be +accompanied by personal aid and counsel, it comes enriched. It is much +when a goodly gift provides a city with a library, it would be yet more +if the donation were to establish and maintain an agency to lift +libraries everywhere to the highest efficiency possible, to give +literature for the first time its fullest acceptance, its utmost +fruitage. + +In a retrospective glance at nineteenth century science, Professor +Haeckel has said that the hundred years before us are not likely to +witness such victories as those which have signalized the era just at an +end. Assume for a moment that his forecast is sound, and that it applies +beyond the immediate bounds of science, what does it mean for +librarianship? It simply reinforces what in any case is clear, namely, +that it is high time that the truth and beauty of literature known to +the few made its way to all the people, for their enlightenment, +consolation and delight. If the future battles of science are to be +waged less strenuously than of yore, if scholarship has measurably +exhausted its richest mines, let us give the broadest diffusion to the +fruits of their triumphs past. In thus diffusing the leaven of culture +the public library should take a leading, not a subordinate part. Its +treasure is vaster and more precious than ever before. The world's +literature grows much like the world's stock of gold, every year's +winning is added to the mass already heaped together at the year's first +day. In the instruction, entertainment and inspiration of every man and +woman there is a three-fold ministry, that of art, of science, and of +letters. Because letters bring to public appreciation, to popular +sympathy, both art and science, and this in addition to their own +priceless argosies, may we not say that of art, science and letters, the +greatest of these is letters? + + + + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE--II. + + BY RICHARD T. ELY, _Director School of Economics, University of + Wisconsin_. + + +It is my purpose to speak plainly and, if possible, forcibly, concerning +what seems to me a grave menace to the progress of science, but in all +that I shall say, I would have it understood that I have only the +friendliest feelings personally for the gentleman who has brought +forward what seem to me dangerous proposals. I appreciate his zeal for +progress and his self-sacrificing efforts for human advancement in +various directions, but I think that in this particular case--namely, +the evaluation of literature, or the establishment of a judicature of +letters, my friend is working against his own ideals. + +I admit freely that the readers in our public libraries very generally +need help in the selection of books, and that great assistance may be +rendered them by judicious advice. Much time is wasted by those who read +scientific and serious works which do not present the results of recent +investigations: furthermore, as another consequence effort is +misdirected and instead of producing beneficial results may do positive +damage. The question may be asked: "Shall I read Adam Smith's 'Wealth of +nations?' I hear it mentioned as one of the great works in the world's +history." Probably many a librarian has had this precise question asked +him. In giving an affirmative answer it will be most helpful to offer a +few words explaining the circumstances under which it appeared one +hundred and twenty-five years ago, and its relation to the subsequent +development of economic schools and tendencies. Doubtless this work is +frequently perused as if it were fresh from the press and were to be +judged as a work appearing in 1901. + +I further admit the harm which has come to individuals from the study of +the so-called "crank" literature in economics and sociology, as well as +in other branches of learning. Doubtless many a man is working +vigorously in a wrong way and attempting to force society into false +channels who might be doing a good work had his reading been well +directed in a formative period. + +But the magnitude of the interests involved in the proposal which greets +us requires caution and conservatism in action. We must take a long, not +a short, view of the matter, inquiring into remote and permanent +results. + +It is proposed, as I understand it, to have so-called expert opinions +expressed concerning books, new and old; to secure as precise and +definite estimates of their value as possible, and then by means of +printed guides, and even card catalogs, to bring these opinions and +evaluations before the readers in our libraries. + +Let us reflect for a moment on what this implies. It means, first of all +a judicial body of men from whom these estimates are to proceed. Have we +such a body? Is it in the nature of things possible that we should have +such a body? I say that so far as contemporary literature is concerned, +the history of knowledge gives us a positive and conclusive negative +answer--a most emphatic "No." Let anyone who knows the circumstances and +conditions under which reviews are prepared and published reflect on +what the attempt to secure this evaluation of literature implies. Many +of us know a great deal about these circumstances and conditions. We +have written reviews, we have asked others to write reviews, and we have +for years been in contact with a host of reviewers. We may in this +connection first direct out attention to the general character of the +periodicals from which quotations are frequently made in the evaluation +of literature. I say nothing about my own view, but I simply express an +opinion of many men whose judgment should have great weight when I say +that one of the most brilliant of these periodicals has been marked by a +narrow policy, having severe tests of orthodoxy along economic, social +and political lines, and displaying a bitterness and vindictiveness +reaching beyond the grave. I mention no names, and the opinion may or +may not be a just one; but it should be carefully weighed whether or +not, or to what extent, the evaluations of such a periodical ought to be +crystallized as it were: that is, taken from the periodical press and +made part of a working library apparatus, to last for years. + +Another periodical, an able magazine, which makes much of reviews is +under the control of a strong body of men, but they stand for scarcely +more than one line of thought among many lines. And sometimes very sharp +and very hard things are said about those who believe that scientific +truth is moving along one of these other lines. Indeed, the discreet +person, knowing personally the reviewer and the reviewed, will not be +convinced that there is always in the reviews, here as elsewhere, an +absence of personal animosity. Let us for a moment reflect on this +personal element in reviews, as it has surely fallen under the notice of +every man with wide experience in these matters. As a rule, the +reviewers are comparatively young and inexperienced men, frequently +zealous for some sect or faction. Sometimes great leaders of thought +write reviews, but generally they are unable to find the time to do so. +As a result in our reviews in the best periodicals it will frequently be +found that an inferior is passing judgment on a superior, and +furthermore, reviewers share in our common human nature, and the amount +of personal bias and even at times personal malignity found in reviews +and estimates of books is something sad to contemplate. An unsuccessful +candidate for a position held by an author has been known to initiate a +scandalous and altogether malicious attack in a review. + +In the next place, I would call your attention to the absence of +objective standards. Necessarily are the standards personal and +subjective; particularly and above all in economics, but in high degree +in sociology, ethics and philosophy in general, and religion. Biological +reviews have displayed in marked degree the subjective personal element. +Chemistry, physics, astronomy and mathematics probably are best of all +fitted for evaluations free from personal bias. + +It may be asked what damage will result from evaluation. Passing over +grave injustice to individuals, we observe that they must lead to the +formation of what Bagehot aptly called a crust, preventing the free +development of science. We have been laboring for years to obtain +scientific freedom, freedom in teaching, freedom in learning, freedom in +expression. For this end many a battle has been fought by noble leaders +of thought. Indeed, every new movement of thought has to struggle to +make itself felt, and to struggle precisely against those who control +the most respectable avenues of publication; against the very ones who +would be selected to give expert opinions and make evaluations of +literature. Call to mind the opposition to Darwin and Huxley--although +they were especially and particularly fortunate in early gaining the +adherence of scientific men--also the opposition to Adam Smith, Malthus, +Ricardo and John Stuart Mill--and to the last named, even now, some +would on a scale of 100 give an evaluation perhaps of 50, others of +65--still others 80 and 90. Recently an economic book appeared of which +one widely quoted periodical said that it illustrated a _reductio ad +absurdum_ of false tendencies, while another expert opinion inclined to +place it among the great works of the age. It would seem to me that if +we are to have formal evaluations, they should at least be restricted to +works which have been before the public for a period of fifty years. + +We have in this proposal, as I take it, an attack on liberty, proceeding +from one who would not willingly attack it, but illustrating the truth +of the saying "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." It is +proposed to publish virtually an _index librorum prohibitorum_ and an +_index expurgatorius_. And of all efforts ever conceived along this +line, this is precisely the worst because of its apparently impersonal +character. Let the ordinary reader go to a guide and find a book +described as unscientific and superficial, and what weight can it have +for him. The authority has spoken. It is well enough for librarians +personally to guide and direct their constituencies, and one review may +be weighed against another review. The old methods even must be used by +librarians cautiously, and they are ample for the purpose to be +attained. The great point is that there should be a fluid current of +opinion, and every facility for a revision of judgment should be +maintained. Reviewers themselves change their views. I, myself, remember +reviews which I wrote of works by two distinguished American authors, +which I now regret, as my estimates were, I believe, not altogether +sound and did an injustice to the authors, namely John Fiske and Lester +F. Ward. But after all, I suppose no special harm was done, but if +extracts from these reviews had been made part of a system of evaluation +it would have been different. + +Librarians as librarians must watch with impartiality the struggles +among tendencies and schools of thought, and above all things, endeavor +to keep open a free way for new truth. + + + + + BOOK COPYRIGHT. + + BY THORVALD SOLBERG, _Register of Copyright, Washington. D. C._ + + +In order to keep within the time limit provided in the program I have +been obliged to refrain from even touching upon many points, but have +endeavored to present certain general principles governing copyright in +books. I shall, therefore, only attempt to make clear, as briefly as +possible: + +1. What is copyrighted, _i.e._, what can properly be designated as a +"book" in order to secure copyright protection thereon; + +2. What is the nature of the protection secured under the copyright law; + +3. The limitation in time during which the protection applies, and its +territorial limitations; + +4. Who may obtain protection--the difference between an "author" and a +"proprietor"; + +5. International copyright; + +6. What conditions and formalities are required to be complied with in +order to secure copyright; + +7. The functions of the Copyright Office; and + +8. Possible copyright law amendment. + +1. _What is copyrighted?_ + +The copyright statutes enumerate the articles or classes of articles +subject-matter of copyright, and first in the list stands "book." The +first consideration is, therefore, What is to be understood by the term +"book" as thus used? or, in other words, What is a "book," as that +designation is employed in the copyright law? + +The answer is indicated in the provision of the federal constitution +upon which our copyright legislation is founded. This paragraph of the +constitution (section 8 of article 1) grants to Congress--"in order to +promote the progress of science and useful arts"--the right to enact +laws to secure "to authors ... the exclusive right to their ... +writings...." This provision is, of course, to be broadly interpreted, +but, using the exact wording of the law, it is the _writing_ of an +author--his literary composition--the prose or poetical expression of +his thought--which makes his "book," as the term is used in the +copyright law. In order to be a "book," subject to protection under the +copyright law, the author's production must have this literary +characteristic. The _quality_ of the literary ingredient is not tested, +but its presence is requisite. Hence not everything which may ordinarily +be called a book is fitly so nominated, in order to indicate the +subject-matter of copyright; while some productions not ordinarily +designated as "books" may properly be thus classified in order to be +registered as a preliminary to copyright protection. + +That an article possesses the corporeal characteristics of a book is of +little consequence. The _literary_ substance, not the material form, +primarily determines the matter. An article contributed to a newspaper +or a periodical--although but a few paragraphs in length--is a "book" +under the copyright law, while a bookkeeper's ledger, to all outward +appearance answering the description, is not a "book" so far as +registering its title to secure copyright is concerned. A calendar whose +main features are literary may doubtless be properly registered as a +"book," but a pack of playing cards with pictures on the backs, even +though each card may be furnished with a linen guard and all bound up, +with a plausible title-page, so as to resemble a book, is not a "book" +in the meaning of the copyright law. + +Orderly arranged information produced in a form which would commonly be +termed a chart cannot be registered under that designation which in the +copyright law is applicable only to a chartographical work, but may +properly be called a "book"; while a so-called book of coupons, or +railway tickets, or of blank forms, cannot be thus entitled. + +In brief, it should be a book in the ordinary understanding of a work of +_literature_ or art, and may not include a production whose main feature +is some original idea, however ingenious or fanciful its form may be, or +is of the character of something invented. Invention must look for +protection to the patent law. + +2. _The nature of the protection secured._ + +What is the nature of the protection secured? Copy-right, _i. e._, the +right of copy--the right to make copies. According to the words of our +own statute, the author of a book "shall have the _sole_ liberty of +printing, reprinting, publishing, completing, copying, executing, +finishing and vending the same." The _exclusive_ liberty of reproducing +his work, and the restriction of the liberty of every one except the +author to multiply copies constitute the literary property. It is a +much-discussed question whether the author's privilege of copyright is a +natural right or was created by legislation. Granting the production a +proper one, it would seem that the author of a literary creation has a +natural right to the unrestricted use and enjoyment of it. As Professor +Langdell recently put it: "he has the right of use and enjoyment, +because he can exercise such right without committing any wrong against +any other person, and because no other person can prevent his exercising +such right without committing a wrong against him." The author's +creation is his own, and he has a natural right to the use of it without +interference. The state does not create this right, but recognizes it +and protects it. Protection is secured by restricting the liberty of +other people in the use of the author's creation. Just how far this +restriction should go is still a moot question. The law says, however, +that you may not reproduce in whole or in part an author's book without +his written consent, signed in the presence of two witnesses. It does +not say that you may not read the book, nor are you forbidden to read it +in public, even for profit, although in the case of musical and dramatic +compositions public performance or representation for profit without the +author's special--not implied--consent is not only directly prohibited, +but is punishable by imprisonment. The International Publishers' +Congress, which met in Paris in June, 1896, passed a resolution to the +effect that the reproduction of a literary work by means of public +readings, in case such readings were held for purposes of profit, ought +not to be permitted without the consent of the copyright proprietor. By +the Act of March 3, 1891, the exclusive right to translate or dramatize +his book is reserved to the author. In this unrestricted and unlimited +exclusive right of translation and dramatization our law has exceeded +the usual trend of legislation in regard to the author's control over +his work in these directions. Foreign legislation usually only reserves +to the author the exclusive right to translate or dramatize for a +limited fixed period of time, and if he has not himself produced a +translation or dramatization within that period, another person may. + +It has occasionally been intimated that the efforts made by the public +libraries to secure the constant circulation of the same book is a +trespass upon the rights of the author, as he is presumably thus +subjected to the loss of readers who would otherwise also become +purchasers of his book. A case has just been decided to test an author's +right to object to having copies of his own copyright editions of his +books sold in a manner not indicated by himself as volumes of a +so-called collected edition of his works. The decision, on first +hearing, was adverse to the author's contention. + +It is the _literary expression_ of the author's thoughts and ideas which +is the subject-matter of the protection, and not primarily the thoughts +and ideas themselves. These last may or may not be original with the +author, but once he has made public a thought or an idea he has given it +away; he cannot control its use or application. The author of a +translation of a book--the original work being in the public domain--may +obtain a copyright upon his own translation, but doing so will not debar +another from producing an original translation of his own of the same +work and obtaining copyright registration for the same. + +Copyright does not give to any one monopoly in the use of the _title_ of +a book, nor can a title _per se_ be subject-matter of copyright. It is +the book itself, the literary substance which is protected, the title +being recorded for the identification of the work. + +3. _Time and territorial limitations of copyright._ + +A few countries still grant copyright in perpetuity, but usually the +term of protection is limited either to a certain number of years, or to +a term of years beyond the date of the author's death. This last +provision is the more general, and the term varies from seven years +after the author's death in England, for instance, to eighty years after +the author's death in Spain. The two most common terms are thirty years +to fifty years beyond the life of the author. Our own legislation +provides for two possible terms of protection. The first being for +twenty-eight years from the date of the recording of the title in the +Copyright Office, and the second, an extension of fourteen years from +the expiration of the first term. + +Besides the time limit, copyright--especially as far as the authors of +the United States are concerned--is limited territorially, not extending +beyond the boundaries of the United States. Whether the protection which +follows registration and deposit shall extend so as to include Porto +Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines is a matter of some question. Probably +as regards the Philippines the answer would be in the negative, but as +concerns Porto Rico, since the passage of the "Act temporarily to +provide revenue and a civil government for Porto Rico" (April 12, 1900) +and Hawaii, since the taking effect (June 14, 1900) of the "Act to +provide a government for the territory of Hawaii," the response would be +in the affirmative. + +The obtaining of copyright protection by a compliance with the United +States statutory requirements as to registration of title, deposit of +copies, and printing of notice of copyright, does not secure extension +of this protection in the territory of any foreign country, the United +States not being a member of the International Copyright Union. An +American author must comply with the requirements of the copyright laws +of a foreign country, just as if he were a citizen or subject of that +country, in order to obtain copyright protection within its borders. +Presumably, however, the obtaining of valid copyright protection in one +of the countries of the International Copyright Union, England for +example, would secure protection throughout the various countries of +that Union. + +4. _Who may obtain copyright._ + +It is the _author_ of the work who is privileged to obtain copyright +protection for it. As I have already pointed out, the constitutional +provision enacts that Congress is to legislate to secure to _authors_ +the exclusive right to their _writings_. When, therefore, the law states +that the author "or proprietor" of any book may obtain a copyright for +it, the term "proprietor" must be construed to mean the author's +assignee, _i.e._, the person to whom he has legally transferred his +copyright privilege. It is not necessarily transferred by the sale of +the book, _i.e._, the manuscript of the author's work, as the purchase +alone of an author's manuscript does not secure to the proprietor of the +manuscript copyright privileges. Prior to July 1, 1891, no foreign +author could obtain copyright protection in the United States, hence the +purchase by a publisher of one of Dickens's novels in manuscript, for +example, would not enable the buyer to obtain copyright on the book in +this country. No author who has not the privilege of copyright in the +United States can transfer to another either a copyright or the right to +obtain one. He cannot sell what he does not himself possess. Under the +United States law copyright comes through _authorship_ only. It is not a +right attaching to the thing--the book--but is a right vested in the +creator of the literary production, hence does not pass to a second +person by the transference of the material thing, the book, and evidence +must be offered showing that the transference of the book carried with +it the author's consent to a conveyance of the privilege of copyright. + +This same principle is embodied in the provisions of the law as to +renewal of the copyright. The second term of protection must also start +with the author, or if he be dead, with his natural heirs, his widow or +children, but not with his assigns, the "proprietors." The right to the +extension term is in the author if he be living at the period during +which registration for the second term may take place, _viz._, within +six months prior to the expiration of the first term of twenty-eight +years. If the author be dead, the privilege of renewal rests with his +widow or children. Whether the author may dispose of his right of +renewal so that the transference may be effective for the second term, +even though the author should have died before the date of the beginning +of that term, is a question upon which the authorities differ. The +language of the statute would seem to give to the author an inchoate +right which reverts to his widow or children should he be married and +die before the expiration of the first term of the copyright. + +5. _International copyright._ + +The idea of nationality or citizenship governed our copyright +legislation for more than a century, from the earliest American +copyright statute of 1783 to July 1, 1891, so that until the latter date +copyright protection in the United States was limited to the works of +authors who were citizens or residents. By the Act of March 3, 1891, +commonly called the international-copyright law, which went into effect +on July 1 of that year, the privileges of copyright in this country were +extended to the productions of authors who were citizens or subjects of +other countries which by their laws permitted American citizens to +obtain copyright upon substantially the same basis as their own +subjects. The existence of these conditions is made known by +presidential proclamation, and up to this time ten such proclamations +have been issued extending copyright in the United States to the citizen +authors of Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Great +Britain and her possessions (including India, Canada, the Australias, +etc.), Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. +The privilege of copyright in the United States is extended only to +authors who are subjects of some country in whose behalf a presidential +proclamation as to copyright has been issued. + +It is well to point out, perhaps, that these copyright proclamations are +not equivalent to copyright treaties, but are only notices that certain +conditions exist. Only in the case of one country, _viz._, Germany, has +anything been entered into approaching a convention or treaty. Under +date of Jan. 15, 1892, an "agreement" was signed with that country to +issue a proclamation extending copyright in the United States to German +subjects upon an assurance that "Citizens of the United States of +America shall enjoy, in the German Empire, the protection of copyright +as regards works of literature and art, as well as photographs, against +illegal reproduction, on the same basis on which such protection is +granted to subjects of the empire." + +In order to obtain copyright abroad, therefore, an American citizen must +ascertain the requirements of the law of each country in which he +desires to protect his book or other production and comply explicitly +with such requirements. He can, of course, only avail himself of the +legal protection accorded, so far as it is within his power to thus +comply, and therein lies the difference between the privileges secured +under the present international-copyright arrangements, and such as +would be obtainable under copyright conventions or treaties. A citizen +of the United States may find himself unable to meet the obligations or +conditions of the statutes, just as a foreign author may find it +practically impossible to comply with the requirements of the United +States law, and in either case there would be a failure to secure the +protection desired. In the case of a photograph, for example, the +English law requires that the "author" of the photograph must be a +British subject or actually "resident within the Dominions of the +Crown," and the United States law requires that the two copies of the +photograph to be deposited in the Copyright Office "shall be printed +from _negatives made within the limits_ of the United States," two sets +of conditions difficult of fulfilment. By means of a copyright +convention exemption could be obtained in either case from these onerous +conditions. + +6. _Conditions and formalities required by the copyright law._ + +Two steps are made prerequisites to valid copyright by the laws now in +force in the United States. The first of these is the recording of the +title in the Copyright Office. For this purpose the statute requires the +deposit of "a _printed_ copy" of the title-page, "on or before the day +of publication in this or any foreign country." For a number of years it +has been the practice of the Copyright Office to accept a typewritten +title in lieu of the _printed_ title-page, but in this, as with all +other requirements of the law regarding copyright, the preferable course +is a strict compliance with the letter as well as the spirit of the law. + +The clerical service for thus recording the title requires the payment +of a fee, which should accompany the title-page when transmitted to the +Copyright Office. The fee for this, as fixed by law, is 50 cents in the +case of the title of a book whose author is a citizen of the United +States, and $1 in the case of a book whose author is not an American but +is a citizen or subject of some country to whose citizens the privilege +of copyright in the United States has been extended, under the +provisions of the Act of March 3, 1891. If a copy of the record thus +made of the title (commonly called a certificate) is desired, an +additional fee of 50 cents is required in all cases. + +In order to have this essential record of title properly made, in the +form exactly prescribed by the statute, it is necessary to furnish the +Copyright Office with certain information, namely: + +_a._ The name of the claimant of the copyright. (This should be the real +name of the person, not a _nom de plume_ or pseudonym.) _b._ Whether +copyright is claimed by applicant as the "author" or the "proprietor" of +the book. _c._ The nationality or citizenship of the _author_ of the +book. (This is required to determine whether the book is by an author +who is privileged to copyright protection in this country, and, also, +the amount of the fee to be charged for recording the title.) _d._ The +application should state that the title-page is the title of a "book." +_e._ A statement should be made that the book is or will be "printed +from type set within the limits of the United States." + +The second prerequisite to copyright protection is the deposit in the +Copyright Office of two copies of the book whose title-page has been +recorded. These copies must be printed from "type set within the limits +of the United States," and the deposit must be made "not later than the +day of publication thereof, in this or any foreign country." The +stipulation as to American typesetting applies to works by American +authors as well as to those written by foreign authors. + +The statute provides, as regards both the printed title and the printed +copies, that the articles are to be delivered at the office of the +Librarian of Congress, or "deposited in the mail, within the United +States, addressed to the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C." +Just what would be held to have been secured under the latter provision +in case the deposit in the mail were made and the book failed to reach +the Copyright Office has not been determined by judicial decision. The +law provides for the giving of a receipt by the postmaster in the case +of the title and the copies, if such receipt is requested. + +The third step required for obtaining a defendable copyright is to print +upon the title-page or the page immediately following it in each copy of +the book the statutory notice of copyright. The form of this notice must +be either "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year ----, by A. +B., in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington;" or, +"Copyright, 19----, by A. B." The name printed in this notice must be +the real, legal name of the proprietor of the copyright, and must be the +same as that in which the entry of title has been made; the date, also, +must be the year date of the record of the filing of the title-page. A +judicial decision is on record to the effect that printing the year date +in this notice one year later than the date of actual recording of title +barred the defence of the copyright. A penalty of $100 is imposed on +"every person who shall insert or impress such notice, _or words of the +same purport_ in or upon any book ... whether subject to copyright or +otherwise, for which he has not obtained a copyright." + +An American author may obtain for his book copyright protection in Great +Britain, by a compliance with the official instructions as to +publication, deposit of copies and registration. The protection, under +English law, dates from the day of _first_ publication, but such first +publication must be on English territory, and registration may follow, +but cannot precede publication. The term of protection in the United +States, on the contrary, dates from the day of registration of title in +our Copyright Office, which must precede publication, and be followed by +deposit of copies made "not later than the day of publication thereof in +this or any foreign country." The point to guard, therefore, is +_simultaneous publication_ in this country and in Great Britain. +Registration in England is a secondary matter. As stated in the official +circulars of instructions issued by the English Copyright Office, +"Copyright is created by the statute, and does not depend upon +registration, which is permissive only, and not compulsory, but no +proprietor of copyright in any book can take any proceedings in respect +of any infringement of his copyright unless he has, before commencing +his proceedings, registered his book." + +Under existing legal conditions, in order to secure valid copyright on a +book in this country and in England, the following steps should be +taken, and in the order stated. 1. Record title in the United States +Copyright Office. 2. Print book from type set within the limits of the +United States. 3. Deposit two copies of such book in the United States +Copyright Office. 4. Send sufficient copies to London to + +_a._ Place copies on sale and take such usual steps as are understood, + under English law, to constitute "publication" on a prearranged day, + on which same day the book is published in the United States. + + _b._ Deposit copies: one copy of the best edition at the British + Museum, and four copies of the usual edition at Stationers' Hall for + distribution to the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the University + Library at Cambridge, the Faculty of Advocates Library at Edinburgh, + and the Trinity College Library at Dublin. + + _c._ Register title of book and day of first publication at Stationers' + Hall, London. + +7. _The United States Copyright Office._ + +One frequently hears the expressions "has obtained a copyright," "issued +a copyright," etc., giving the impression that copyrights can be granted +somewhat after the manner in which the Patent Office issues +letters-patent. But Congress has established no office authorized to +furnish any such guarantee of _literary_ property as is done in the case +of patent monopoly. The Copyright Office is purely an office of record +and simply registers _claims_ to copyright. The form of record +prescribed by law being the effect that A. B. "hath deposited the title +of a book the right whereof he _claims_ as author or proprietor in +conformity with the laws of the United States respecting copyrights." +The Copyright Office has no authority to question any claim as to +authorship or proprietorship, nor can it determine between conflicting +claims. It registers the claim presented in the prescribed form for a +proper subject of copyright by any person legally entitled to such +registration without investigation as to the truthfulness of the +representations, and would be obliged to record, not only the same title +for different books, but the same title for the same work on behalf of +two or more different persons, even against the protest of either one, +were such registrations asked for. No examination is therefore made when +a title reaches the office as to whether the same or a similar title has +been used before. As I have already stated, the title _per se_ is not +subject to copyright, and no one can secure a monopoly of the use of a +title by merely having it recorded at a nominal fee at the Copyright +Office. + +If any one, wishing to use a given form of title but desiring to avoid +possible duplication of one previously used, writes to the Copyright +Office asking whether such a title has already been recorded, an answer +is made stating what is disclosed by the indexes of the office. It must +be frankly explained, however, that an absolutely conclusive statement +as to whether a given title has been previously used cannot always be +given. The copyright records of entries of title previous to July 10, +1870, are but indifferently indexed and rarely by title, usually only +under names of proprietors of the copyright. The copyright entries since +July 10, 1870, to May 31, 1901, number 1,217,075. The index to these +entries consists of more than 600,000 cards, many of which contain a +number of entries. These cards index the entries primarily under the +names of the proprietors of the copyright, and this proprietor's index +is understood to have been kept up continuously and to be complete, so +that under the name of each copyright proprietor there is a card or +cards showing the titles of all articles upon which copyright is +claimed. In addition to the proprietor's index there are cards under the +titles of periodicals and under the leading catchwords of the titles of +other articles, besides cards under the authors' names for books. +Unhappily there are periods of time when what may be called the +subsidiary index cards were not kept up. + +In addition to cards under the proprietors' names, cards are now made: +for _books_, under the names of their authors; for _anonymous books_, +_periodicals_ and _dramatic compositions_, under the first words of the +titles (not a, an, or the), and for _maps_, under the leading subject +words of the titles, _i.e._, the names of the localities mapped. It is +doubtful if an absolutely complete index of all copyright entries by the +_title_ of the book and other article--in addition to the cards at +present made--could be justified by even a possibly legitimate use of +such an index. When it is remembered that the copyright entries last +year numbered 97,967, the magnitude of the task of making several cards +for each entry is easily conceived, and it is a question whether it +could be rightfully imposed upon the Copyright Office under the present +provisions of the law and so long as the registration of a title does +not secure the use of that title to some one person to the exclusion of +all others. + +8. _Amendment of the copyright law._ + +The possible amendment of the copyright laws is a subject which my time +does not permit me to consider in detail, even were that deemed +desirable. The law now in force consists of the Act of July 8, 1870, as +edited to become title 60, chapter 3 of the Revised Statutes, and ten +amendatory acts passed subsequently. Naturally there is lacking the +consistency and homogeneousness of a single well-considered copyright +statute. It is possible that Congress will presently be willing to take +under consideration, if not the re-codification of the copyright laws, +then, at least, some amendment of them. An increase in the period of +protection has frequently been urged, with some advocacy of perpetual +copyright. As the Federal constitution, however, distinctly provides +that the protection granted the writings of an author is to be for a +_limited time_, an amendment of the constitution would be necessary +before Congress could enact perpetual copyright, and such alteration of +the fundamental law of the land is not probable. + +Much might be said for an increase in the period of protection. It is +for a shorter term of years than that provided by most modern copyright +legislation, and the trend of such lawmaking has been in the direction +of an increase in the length of time during which the author or his +heirs could control the reproduction of his work. It should be borne in +mind that for books of little value the length of the term of protection +is of no great consequence. "Dead" books are not affected by the length +of the term of copyright. In the case also of popular new books, the +great sales and consequent disproportionate remuneration comes within a +short period of time after publication, and are not likely to continue +during a long term of copyright. On the other hand, many books of great +and permanent value not unfrequently make their way slowly into popular +favor, and are not fully appreciated until many years after publication. +For such books--the results, perhaps, of long years of study and +labor--an equitable return cannot be secured except by a long term of +protection. + +Perhaps the most urgently desirable forward step in respect to copyright +is the adhesion of the United States to the Berne convention, thus +securing the inclusion in the International Copyright Union of our +country, the leading one of the three great states not yet members of +this admirable association of nations. Were the United States a member +of the Berne Union a compliance with the statutory provisions of our own +laws alone would secure copyright protection not only within the limits +of the United States, but practically throughout the whole book-reading +world--Great Britain, all Europe (except temporarily Russia, Austria, +and Scandinavia), Canada and Australia, India, Japan and South +Africa--thus increasing the possible reading public of American authors +many fold. It would seem that considerations of justice to our large and +constantly increasing national contingent of literary and artistic +producers requires this advance of such great practical importance. It +is the easier of accomplishment because it involves the adoption of no +new principle, but only the extension of the principle embodied in the +Act of March 3, 1891, namely, reciprocal international exchange of +copyright privileges, and in return for the advantages which would +accrue to our own citizens, only obligates the extension of copyright in +the United States to the subjects of such countries as are members of +the Union. Of the members of the International Copyright Union, all the +great nations already enjoy copyright in the United States, and it would +only remain to extend this privilege to the citizen authors of the six +minor states that are members of the Union, namely, Hayti, Japan, +Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway and Tunis. + + + + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS. + + BY W. MILLARD PALMER, _Grand Rapids, Mich._ + + +In accepting the president's suggestion to give "expression of the +_business_ side of the subject rather than the theoretical or +sentimental," I wish at the outset to recall certain functions performed +by publishers, booksellers and librarians, and to acknowledge my +indebtedness to Mr. J. W. Nichols, secretary of the American +Booksellers' Association, for material along this line. + +Casual observers have come to regard publishers as bookmakers or +manufacturers, who merely put the product of authors into merchantable +form, and distribute it to dealers, for sale to the reading public. If +this were the only function of the publisher, his task would be an easy +one; indeed we might soon expect to see all publishers supplanted by one +great co-operative factory, to which authors might take their +manuscripts, and have them transformed into books and distributed +through the ordinary channels of commerce, like any other commodities. +Some superficial observers have recently made bold to conjecture that +this will be the final outcome of the present troubled state of the +general trade of publishing and selling books. But, alas! the actual +making of the book--giving to it an appropriate, artistic and really +attractive form--is perhaps the least of the publishers' trials, though +this, in itself, is a difficult task, requiring an artistic taste, well +trained and skilful judgment, and much technical knowledge. + +To one who has had an insight into the publishing business, the enormous +mass of manuscript that is annually submitted to each of the great +publishers is simply appalling. They are compelled to employ a corps of +"readers" to cull out that which is worthy of consideration by an +intelligent and skilled publisher. Much that come to hand has been +hastily prepared by persons who lacked the time, experience or special +training necessary to enable an author to prepare an acceptable +manuscript, while the great majority of young authors have really no +message to tell that is worth recording. Here comes the most difficult +and trying task of the successful publisher--_the selection of proper +material for publication_. It often happens that a rejected manuscript +contains some good work--a promise of something better to come. Then the +publisher points out the best features and encourages the incipient +author to try again. + +Thus books are made, not after a given pattern, like certain fabrics, +but each is a creation in itself. The responsibility of the publisher, +for the character of the creation, is by no means unimportant. He acts +as arbiter of the standard of excellence that must be attained by an +author before he is introduced to the public. The publishers' criterion +is simply a question of cash. "Will the public buy the book and pay for +it?" Nor can any other standard be adopted with safety. The whole +question of supply must always depend upon public demand. + +But the publisher is not infallible. He often makes mistakes. Between +him and the readers is the dealer. The retail bookseller stands closest +to the reading public. He acquaints himself with the essential character +of the new book, points out to his customer enough of interest to cause +him to glance through it, and finally sells it to him; for the +intelligent bookseller knows the taste and reading habits of his +customers. He has his leading customers in mind from the time he orders +a new book till he has shown it and sold it to them. If they are pleased +with it, and recommend it to their friends, who call at the store for +it, the bookseller re-orders it, and, if he is so fortunate as not to be +restrained by unfair local competition, he advertises the book and +pushes its sale with energy, so long as interest in it can be kept +alive. + +Thus the retail booksellers in every city and hamlet throughout the +country, standing close to the reading public, knowing what their +customers will buy, are the real monitors of the publishers. + +When the publisher considers the advisability of bringing out a new +book, he cannot undertake to look beyond a few hundred booksellers. It +is through them, and only through them, that he has learned to gauge the +taste of the reading public. The paramount question for him to decide +is, "How many copies of this particular book can I sell to dealer A, +dealer B and dealer C; how many copies of this book can I hope with +certainty to sell to all of my customers in the trade?" The publisher +well knows that the dealer is governed by the same criterion as himself: +"Will it pay; will this book be a ready seller, or will it cost me all +of the profit I make on it to sell it?" + +Thus the product of the author is subject to the immutable laws of +supply and demand from the time he submits his first immature manuscript +until he makes two, three, four or more trials, and finally has a +manuscript accepted. But even then the publishers prepares only a small +edition for a new author, and the dealers are very conservative in +ordering a new book--especially by an unknown author. The conscientious +bookseller awaits the verdict of certain patrons, knowing that, if the +book is commended by one whose judgment is respected by local readers, +he can safely re-order a goodly number. + +Thus the author is dependent upon the publisher for the standard of +excellence he must attain in order to achieve success; the publisher is +dependent upon the dealer, not only in forming his judgment of the +character of books that will sell, but also for the number that he may +safely print; while the dealer is dependent upon his best and most +critical patrons. Hence the relation of author, publisher and dealer is +so close--indeed they are so mutually interdependent--that one factor +could not be removed without vitally crippling the other. + +A distinguished librarian, who has been a pioneer of progress in the +library movement, has recently suggested the propriety of abolishing +book stores (_see Publishers' Weekly_, May 11, '01, p. 1149) and +allowing public librarians to receive orders and forward them to the +publishers. If the distinguished gentleman did not have in view visions +of personal gain for public librarians, he should have carried his +philanthropic suggestion farther, and proposed to abolish both +booksellers and librarians, and to allow the public to procure their +books directly from the publishers, thus saving that moiety of gain that +would be made by either in return for the service rendered. It cannot be +supposed that so able and conscientious an administrative officer ever +contemplated maintaining an extra corps of assistants, at an extra +expense to the municipality or to those liberal benefactors who have +endowed public libraries, in order that opulent citizens may still +further indulge their tastes by purchasing larger private libraries, +without paying the small commission or profit that is usually allowed to +retail booksellers. On the other hand, if this proposal was made for the +purpose of allowing libraries maintained by taxing the municipality, to +engage in gainful occupation, this is carrying the socialistic idea +farther than even our populistic friends have ever yet proposed. + +However, inasmuch as this question has been raised, we are bound to +treat it from an economic point of view. The question is, "Shall the +bookseller be abolished and his office merged into that of the +librarian, and can the librarian perform the offices of the bookseller?" + +No one has ever questioned the value of the public library from the +burning of the Alexandrian Library to the present day. The value of a +library, as a _librarium_, or storehouse for the permanent preservation +of books, has always been manifest. + +Again, the public library gives a larger opportunity and a wider range +than is possible in the private collection; and scholars, historians and +students of all classes are daily made grateful to the trained, +professional librarian, who has so classified the contents of the +library as to make the whole available at a moment's notice. + +Still another inestimable feature of the public library is that it +maintains a public reading room for children as well as adults. + +Finally, the library furnishes reading at home to those who are not yet +in a position to become owners of books. The benefit derived from +reading of this character is often of questionable value. The _habitué_ +of the circulating library makes his selections from misleading or +sensational titles. Little care and less intelligence is exercised in +choosing either title or author. As a result librarians are constantly +complaining that only the trashiest and most worthless books are read. + +The circulating department of the public library is now supplemented by +others that are conducted for cash profit. These have sprung up in many +cities. And now we have the "Book-Lovers' Library," a corporation with +capital stock, engaging in business for profit. It has the advantage of +certain trust features. It proposes to organize branches in all of the +principal cities and towns in the country. For five dollars a year it +proposes to supply fifty dollars' worth of reading to each subscriber. +An automobile is employed, with an attendant to deliver the books to +subscribers each week and take up those that have been read. Having paid +five, ten or more dollars, at the beginning of the year, the subscriber +can read from morning till night, while the new books come and go with +the lightning speed of the automobile. + +As in many other circulating libraries, new copyrighted fiction is the +chief staple supplied by the "Book-Lovers' Library"--the sweetest +pabulum automatically administered. + +After a season of such dissipation call in a neurologist to diagnose +your patient, and he will advise you that by continuing the treatment +the mind will be reduced to a sieve, if not ultimately to absolute +imbecility. Having abandoned the more serious literature that calls into +use all the faculties of the mind, the reader of nothing but fiction +converts what would otherwise be a healthful recreation into +dissipation, that is enervating and permanently debilitating to all the +faculties of the mind, when carried to an extreme. Had the reader been +denied the use of this automatic machine, and been compelled, as +formerly, to browse through the book store in search of something to +read, more serious books would have been selected--history, travel, +descriptive writing or popular science, with an occasional novel by way +of recreation. + +But to continue the argument, suppose we abolish the bookseller, as has +been proposed. This would not be a difficult matter. Most of them would +gladly be "abolished" if they could sell out their stock for anything +near what it cost them. Their profits have been so reduced by unfair +competition that they are not sufficient to pay the cost of doing +business. They have been compelled to carry side lines, as stationery, +newspapers, periodicals, sporting goods, _bric-a-brac_, wall paper, +etc., in order to make a living. By this means they have learned that +other lines of merchandise yield a better profit than books. As a result +most of them have greatly reduced their book stock, or entirely +abandoned the sale of books, and put in more profitable lines of +merchandise. + +The causes that have led up to this result are manifold: 1st. They were +strenuously urged, and they finally consented to allow discounts: + + (_a_) To ministers of the gospel, since they are public benefactors. + + (_b_) To school teachers, since they are public educators and + benefactors. + + (_c_) To public libraries, since they are for the most part + eleemosynary institutions, and hence entitled to charity. + +Indeed, when I recount the charitable benefactions that have been +exacted and received at the hands of the retail bookseller, he seems to +me to have been the most saintly character that has lived in my day and +generation. And right here it is of interest to note that these +ministers, these teachers, these physicians, these public librarians +were actually receiving out of the hands of the public stated salaries +that exceeded by far the annual net profit of the average bookseller. + +2d. Having secured from the local dealer a discount equal to the best +part of his profit, many librarians have gone behind him and appealed +directly to the publishers for a larger discount. This has been granted +in most cases, so that most librarians have recently been receiving as +large a discount as local dealers. + +3d. Commission agents have purchased complete editions of +popular-selling books from the publishers, and re-sold them at a slight +advance: + + (_a_) To dry-goods stores, where they have been put on "bargain + counters" and sold at less than cost, to attract customers to their + stores. + + (_b_) To publishers of local newspapers, who give the books away as + premiums or sell them at cost prices, to increase the local + circulation of their papers. + + (_c_) To mail-order agencies, who advertise the books at less than they + are usually sold for by dealers. + +4th. Many publishers have been advertising and mailing their books +directly to retail customers at reduced prices, or at the same price +they recommended local dealers to ask for them, and they have prepaid +the postage, thus _competing directly with their distributing agents, +the booksellers, in their own field_. + +5th. Finally, some local librarians, who a few years ago were appealing +to local booksellers for a discount, having been granted the discount, +have recently been supplying books "at cost prices" to other patrons of +the local booksellers. Thus our friends, the librarians, having inverted +the good old practice of returning good for evil, having helped to rob +the local bookseller of his livelihood, now propose to abolish his +office. + +To carry the proposition to its conclusions, suppose we abolish the +bookseller. Can the librarian take his place and send the orders in to +the publishers? If so, if this is all there is to the bookselling +business, why should the publisher pay a commission to the librarian for +doing what the people could as readily do for themselves? But a general +business cannot be carried on in this way. Publishers have tried it for +years, yet only comparatively few people are willing to order books that +they have not had an opportunity to examine, and of this class +librarians are the most conservative. They, too, want to know what they +are buying before they place their orders. Hence, this postulate: If the +librarian is to succeed the bookseller, he must become a merchant; he +must order stocks of books and take the speculative chance of selling +them. But the librarian has had no experience or training in +merchandising. Can he afford to hazard his own capital in an untried +field; can he induce his friends to supply him with capital to invest in +a business of which he confessedly has no knowledge? It would manifestly +be a perversion of the funds of the institution in charge of the +librarian, to invest them in a gainful occupation. + +From what I have said, it must be apparent that booksellers, as well as +librarians, have a province of their own, and perform a service that +cannot be delegated to another. And hence it is desirable that we live +and dwell together in peace and amity. + +But in these days of combinations, reorganizations and revolutions in +the conduct of business, the publishers have looked farther, in their +quest for more economical purveying agents. For the past ten years they +have been trying to induce the dry-goods merchants to carry books. But, +after all this time, not more than half a dozen department stores carry +fairly representative stocks of books. They confine themselves, for the +most part, to new copyrighted fiction, and of this they handle only that +which is widely advertised. + +Of late, department stores and dry-goods stores have met severe +competition in clothing stores, that make no pretext of carrying a book +stock. They simply buy an edition of a popular-selling book and +advertise it for less money than it actually cost. They do this simply +as an advertising dodge, to attract customers to their stores. Then, +too, the mail-order agencies have cut the price of the most popular +books so low that it is no longer profitable to handle them. The result +of this has been that many of the most promising new novels have been +killed before they were fairly put on the market; for _as soon as they +ceased to be profitable no one could afford to re-order them_. + +The effect of this recent drift of the trade has been to stimulate the +frothy side of literature to an extreme degree. The more serious +literature is being neglected. The latest novel is the fad. Its average +life is reduced to little more than one year, though the copyright lasts +for twenty-eight years, and with a renewal it may be extended to +forty-two years. + +This shortening of the life of books has had a baneful effect: + + (_a_) Baneful to the bookseller, since it frequently leaves him with a + dead stock of books on hand that cannot be turned without loss. + + (_b_) Baneful to the publisher, since the book stops selling and the + plates become valueless before he has had time fairly to recoup + himself for the expense of bringing it out, advertising it, and + putting it on the market. + + (_c_) Baneful to the author, since by shortening the life of his books + the value of his property in them is reduced. + +But perhaps the most baneful effect of this craze for ephemeral +literature is upon the people themselves. As the standard or degree of +civilization for a given age is marked by the character of the +literature the people produce and read, we cannot hope for a golden age +in American letters, unless the present system is reversed. Work of real +merit is never done by accident, nor is it the product of mediocre +talents. If we are to develop a national literature that shall fitly +characterize the sterling qualities of the American people in this, the +full strength of the early manhood of the nation; at the time when the +nation has taken its place in the vanguard of civilization; at the time +when the consumptive power of the nation is equal to one-third of that +of the entire civilized world; at the time when men of talents and +genius are annually earning and expending, for their comfort and +pleasure, more munificent sums than were ever lavished on the most +opulent princes; I say, if we are to produce a literature that shall +fitly characterize this age of our nation, we must hold forth such +rewards for the pursuits of literature as will attract men of genius, +men of the most lustrous talents, men who are the peers of their +co-workers in other walks of life. But this will not be possible so long +as the present strife to furnish cheap literature to the people +continues. + +It should be observed that the bookseller has not suffered alone in this +cheapening process. The publisher has suffered. Within the past few +months two names that for half a century were household words, synonyms +of all that is excellent in the publishing world, have met with +disaster, and others were approaching a crisis. + +Fortunately one firm stood out so prominently, as a bulwark of financial +strength and security, that its president, Mr. Charles Scribner, of +Charles Scribner's Sons, could afford to take the initiative in calling +for reform. He invited the co-operation of other publishers, and a year +ago this month they met in New York and organized the American +Publishers' Association. Their organization now includes practically all +of the general publishers who contribute anything of real value to +current literature. + +The publishers canvassed thoroughly the causes that had led to the +decline of the trade, and they appointed a committee to draft reform +measures. + +In reviewing the decline of the trade, two facts stood out so +prominently that it was impossible to disassociate them as cause and +effect. The three thousand booksellers, upon whom, as purveying agents, +the publishers had depended a generation ago, had shrunk in number until +only about five hundred could be counted who were worthy to be called +booksellers. The other fact, which doubtless made quite as deep an +impression upon the minds of the publishers, was that the long line of +books, on each of their published catalogs, was practically dead. Those +books of high standard character, by eminent authors, books that for +years had had a good annual sale, no longer moved. These standard books +have been a large source of revenue to publishers and their authors for +many years. But now so few of them are sold that it hardly pays the +publishers to send their travellers over the road. + +Few dry-goods merchants, druggists, newsdealers and stationers, that +have recently been induced to carry a small number of books, feel +sufficiently well acquainted with salable literature to warrant their +carrying anything more than the most popular-selling new copyrighted +novels and cheap reprints of non-copyrighted books that sell for +twenty-five cents or less. As stated above, there are a few large +department stores that carry a more general stock, but they are so few +that the support received from them is not sufficient to compensate, in +any measure, the loss sustained through the sacrifice of the regular +booksellers. Moreover, the regular booksellers that still remain in the +business have not been buying many standard books of late. Seeing their +profit in fiction sacrificed by unfair competition, many of them have +ordered only enough of the new copyrighted novels to keep alive their +accumulated stocks of standard books, until they can sell them out or +reduce them to a point where they can afford to abandon the book +business. + +From the character of the reform measures adopted by the American +Publishers' Association, which went into effect on the first of May, it +is evident that the publishers have determined to restore the old-time +bookseller. This can be done only by the publishers enforcing the +maintenance of retail prices, the same as is done by the proprietors of +the Earl & Wilson collar, the Waterman fountain pen, the Eastman kodak, +and many other special lines of which the retail price is listed. + +When dry-goods stores and clothing stores bought these special lines and +retailed them at or below the cost price, in _contrast to the list +price_ asked in the special furnishing stores, in order to attract +customers to their stores because of their wonderful "bargain counters," +the manufacturers realized that the dry-goods stores were simply using +up these wares to advertise their other business. They cut off the +supply of their goods to these price-cutting dry-goods stores, and +refused to supply any more goods, except under a substantial undertaking +on the part of the dry-goods stores to maintain the full list price. + +This, in a word, is the substance of the publishers' plan. They have +agreed to cut off absolutely the supply of all of their books, net, +copyrighted and otherwise, to any dealer who cuts the retail price of a +book published under the net-price system. + +On the other hand, the nearly eight hundred members of the American +Booksellers' Association have entered into a mutual agreement to push +with energy the sale of the books of all publishers who co-operate with +them for the maintenance of retail prices, and not to buy, nor put in +stock, nor offer for sale, the books of any publisher who fails to +co-operate with them. This is substantially the same system that was +adopted in Germany in 1887, in France a few years later, and in England +in 1900. + +The effect of this system in Germany has been to lift up the trade from +a condition even more deplorable, if possible, than that into which it +has fallen in this country, and to make it a prosperous and profitable +business. It has proved beneficent and satisfactory, not only to dealers +and publishers, but also to authors and to the reading public, for every +city, town and village in Germany now sustains a book shop that carries +a fairly representative stock of books, so that the people are able to +examine promptly every book as soon as it comes from the press, and the +authors are sure of having their books promptly submitted to the +examination of every possible purchaser. + +The results in France and England are equally encouraging, and it is +believed that as soon as the American system is fully understood, and as +soon as enough books are included under the net-price system, so that a +bookseller can once more make a living on the sale of books, many of the +old-time booksellers will again put in a stock of books and help to +re-establish the book trade in America. + +Having tried to define the present relation of publishers and +booksellers, I beg leave to say frankly that I know of no reason why +publishers and booksellers should maintain any different relations with +librarians than they maintain with any other retail customers. + +For example, let us take the new "Book-Lovers' Library," so called. +Their plan is to sell memberships, and to deliver to each member one +book a week for five dollars a year, or three books a week for ten +dollars a year. They take up the books at the end of each week and +supply new ones. + +If this plan could be carried out successfully, it would result in +making one book do the service now performed by ten or fifteen books. In +other words, this circulating library proposes to furnish its members +with ten or fifteen books for the same amount of money they now pay for +one book by simply passing the book around from one to another. + +The effect of this scheme, if carried into all cities and towns as +proposed, would be to reduce the number of books manufactured and sold +to about _one-tenth_ of its present magnitude. From a business point of +view, publishers and dealers cannot be called upon to make special +discounts to encourage such an enterprise. + +The encouragement and support given to authors, by patrons of +literature, would be reduced by this scheme to about one-tenth of the +present amount. The effect of this withdrawal of support to American +authors can easily be imagined. + +But I do not believe that real book-lovers, intelligent and conservative +readers, will be carried away by this passing craze. On the contrary, +they have studiously avoided forming that careless, slip-shod habit of +reading that characterizes patrons of circulating libraries. The real +book-lover selects his books like his friends, with caution, and with +discriminating and painstaking care. + +From a bookseller's point of view, the "Book-Lovers' Library" is not +founded on practical lines. However, as the plan also includes the +selling of capital stocks to its patrons, it is probable that the money +received from subscriptions, together with the annual membership fees, +will be sufficient to keep the enterprise going for some time. But since +this is a corporation organized for the purpose of making money, a +failure to earn money and to pay dividends will discourage its patrons, +cause them to feel that they have been deceived, and finally to withdraw +from membership. When the members realize that they are paying five or +ten dollars a year for privileges that can be had free at the local +library, in most cases they will withdraw their support. + +Thus, while in some respects I regard this enterprise as an evil factor, +it contains, I think, inherent weaknesses that will finally compass its +own end. + +But what is said of the relation of publishers and dealers to the +Book-Lovers' Library is true in a measure of all circulating and other +public libraries. They do not increase, but they positively contract the +number of sales that are made in the interest of authors, publishers and +dealers. + +Under the German system, of which I have spoken, public libraries were +at first allowed ten per cent. discount; but recently this has been +reduced to five per cent. + +Under the English system, profiting by the experience of German +publishers, no discount is allowed to public libraries, schools or +institutions. + +The American system, however, is modelled largely after the German, and +it permits the dealers to allow a discount of ten per cent. to local +libraries. In doing this local dealers are protected from competition by +the publishers, in that the publishers have agreed to add to the net +price the cost of transportation on all books sold at retail outside of +the cities in which they are doing business. Thus public libraries can +buy net books cheaper of the local booksellers than they can buy them of +the publishers by just the cost of transportation. + + + + + LIBRARY BUILDINGS. + + BY W. R. EASTMAN, _New York State Library, Albany, N. Y._ + + +A building is not the first requisite of a public library. A good +collection of books with a capable librarian will be of great service in +a hired room or in one corner of a store. First the librarian, then the +books and after that the building. + +But when the building is occupied the value of the library is doubled. +The item of rent is dropped. The library is no longer dependent on the +favor of some other institution and is not cramped by the effort to +include two or three departments in a single room. It will not only give +far better service to the community, but will command their respect, +interest and support to a greater degree than before. + +The following hints are intended as a reply to many library boards who +are asking for building plans. + +The vital point in successful building is to group all the parts of a +modern library in their true relations. To understand a particular case +it will be necessary to ask some preliminary questions. + + 1. _Books._ + Number of volumes in library? + Average yearly increase? + Number of volumes in 20 years? + Number of volumes to go in reference room? + Number of volumes to go in children's room? + Number of volumes to go in other departments? + Number of volumes to go in main book room? + If the library is large will there be an open shelf room separate from + the main book room? + Is a stack needed? + Will public access to the shelves be allowed? + +By answers to such questions a fair idea of the character and size of +the book room may be obtained. + +_Rules for calculation._ In a popular library, outside the reference +room, for each foot of wall space available 80 books can be placed on +eight shelves. Floor cases having two sides will hold 160 books for each +running foot, and in a close stack 25 books, approximately, can be +shelved for each square foot of floor space. But the latter rule will be +materially modified by ledges, varying width of passages, stairs, etc. + +The above figures give full capacity. In practical work, to provide for +convenient classification, expansion, oversized books and working +facilities, the shelves of a library should be sufficient for twice the +actual number of books and the lines of future enlargement should be +fully determined. + + 2. _Departments._ + Is the library for free circulation? + Is the library for free reference? + Are special rooms needed for + high school students? + children? + ladies? + magazine readers? + newspaper readers? + How many square feet for each of the above rooms? + Are class rooms needed as in a college library? + Club rooms? + Lecture rooms? + Museum? + Art gallery? + Other departments? + + 3. _Community._ + In city or country? + Population? + By what class will library be chiefly used? + School children? + Students? + Mechanics? + Reading circles? + Ladies? + + 4. _Resources and conditions._ + Money available? + Money annually for maintenance? + Size of building lot? + Location and surroundings? + How many stories? + Elevators? + Heat? + Light? + Ventilation? + + 5. _Administration._ + Is library to be in charge of one person? + How many assistants? + Is a work room needed? + unpacking room? + bindery? + librarian's office? + trustees' room? + +By careful study of these points a clear conception of the problem is +gained and the building committee is prepared to draw an outline sketch +indicating in a general way their needs and views. They are not likely +to secure what they want by copying or even by competition. The best +architects have not the time nor the disposition to compete with each +other. A better way is to choose an architect, one who has succeeded in +library work if possible, who will faithfully study the special +problems, consult freely with the library board, propose plans and +change them freely till they are right. And if such plans are also +submitted for revision to some librarian of experience or to the library +commission of the state, whose business and pleasure it is to give +disinterested advice, so much the better. + +The following outlines taken from actual library buildings are offered +by way of suggestion. + + + _Square plan._ + +An inexpensive building for a small country neighborhood may have one +square room with book shelves on the side and rear walls. A convenient +entrance is from a square porch on one side of the front corner and a +librarian's alcove is at the opposite corner leaving the entire front +like a store window which may be filled with plants or picture +bulletins. With a stone foundation the wooden frame may be finished with +stained shingles. + + + _Oblong plan._ + +A somewhat larger building may have a wider front with entrance at the +center. + +Book shelves under high windows may cover the side and rear walls and +tables may stand in the open space. + +It will be convenient to bring together the books most in demand for +circulation on one side of the room and those needed most for study on +the opposite side. One corner may contain juvenile books. In this way +confusion between readers, borrowers and children will be avoided. Each +class of patrons will go by a direct line to its own quarter. This is +the beginning of the plan of departments which will be of great +importance in the larger building. + +The number of books for circulation will increase rapidly and it may +soon be necessary to provide double faced floor cases. These will be +placed with passages running from the center of the room towards the end +and that end will become the book or delivery room and the opposite side +will be the study or reference room. + + + _T-shape plan._ + +The next step is to add space to the rear giving a third department to +the still open room. If the book room is at the back the student readers +may be at tables in the right hand space and the children in the space +on the left. The librarian at a desk in the center is equally near to +all departments and may exercise full supervision. + +The presence of a considerable number of other busy persons has a +sobering and quieting effect on all and the impression of such a library +having all its departments in one is dignified and wholesome. It may be +well to separate the departments by light open hand rails, screens, +cords or low book cases. It is a mistake to divide a small building into +three or four small rooms. + + + _Separate rooms._ + +For a larger library these rails must be made into partitions, giving to +each department a separate room. Partitions of glass set in wooden +frames and possibly only eight feet high may answer an excellent +purpose, adding to the impression of extent, admitting light to the +interior of the building and allowing some supervision from the center. +With partitions on each side, the entrance becomes a central hallway +with a department at each side and the book room at the end. This is +the best position for the book room for two special reasons. Overlapping +the departments in both wings it is equally accessible from either, and +at the back of the house a plainer and cheaper wall can be built +admitting of easy removal when the growth of the library requires +enlargement. + +Sometimes the angles between the book room and the main building may be +filled to advantage by work room and office. These working rooms though +not large and not conspicuous are of vital consequence and should be +carefully planned. + +We have now reached a type of building which, for lack of a better word, +I may call the "butterfly plan," having two spread wings and a body +extending to the back. Others call it the "trefoil." This general type +is being substantially followed in most new libraries of moderate size. +From one entrance hall direct access is given to three distinct +departments, or perhaps to five, by placing two rooms in each wing. + + + _Modifications required by limited space._ + +If we have an open park to build in we shall be tempted to expand the +hallway to a great central court or rotunda. Perhaps the importance of +the library may justify it, but we should be on our guard against +separating departments by spaces so great as to make supervision +difficult or passing from one to another inconvenient. We should aim to +concentrate rather than scatter. + +More frequently the lot will be too narrow. We must draw in the wings +and make the narrower rooms longer from front to back. With a corner lot +we can enter on the side street, leaving a grand reading room on the +main front and turning at right angles as we enter the house pass +between other rooms to the book room at the extreme end of the lot. Or +again, we shall be obliged to dispense entirely with one wing of our +plan, and have but two department rooms instead of three on the floor. +Every location must be studied by itself. + + + _Other stories._ + +Basement rooms are of great service for work rooms and storage. A +basement directly under the main book room is specially valuable to +receive the overflow of books not in great demand. + +A second and even a third story will be useful for special collections, +class and lecture rooms or a large audience hall. In a library of +moderate size it will often be found convenient to build a book room +about 16 feet high to cover two stories of bookcases and wholly +independent of the level of the second floor of the main building. + + + _Extension._ + +To meet the needs of a rapidly growing library it is important at the +beginning to fix the lines of extension. + +A building with a front of two rooms and a passage between may add a +third room at the rear, and at a later stage, add a second building as +large as the first and parallel to it, the two being connected by the +room first added. + +This is the architect's plan for the Omaha Public Library. + + + _Open court._ + +When a library is so large that one book room is not enough, two such +rooms may be built to the rear, one from each end of the building with +open space between, and these two wings may be carried back equally and +joined at the back by another building, thus completing the square +around an open court. + +This gives wide interior space for light and air, or grass and flowers. +Such is the plan of the Boston Public and Princeton University +libraries. It will be the same in Minneapolis when that library is +complete. In the plan of the new library at Newark, N. J., the central +court is roofed over with glass becoming a stairway court with +surrounding galleries opening on all rooms. In Columbia University, New +York, as in the British Museum, the center is a great reading room +capped by a dome high above the surrounding roofs and lighted by great +clerestory windows. + +If the street front is very long there may be three extensions to the +rear, one opposite the center and one from each end, leaving two open +courts as in the plan for the New York Public or the Utica Public; and +this general scheme may be repeated and carried still farther back +leaving four open courts as in the Library of Congress. This plan can +be extended as far as space can be provided. + +When the general plan of the large building is fixed, passages will be +introduced, parallel to the front and sides, and departments will be +located as may be judged most convenient, always having regard to the +convenience of the patrons of each department in finding ready access to +the books they need and providing for supervision and attendance at +least cost of time, effort and money. Extravagance in library building +is not so often found in lavish ornament as in that unfortunate +arrangement of departments which requires three attendants to do the +work of one or two. + + + _Light._ + +Natural light should be secured if possible for every room. Windows +should be frequent and extend well up toward the ceiling terminating in +a straight line so as to afford large supply of light from the top. +Windows like those in an ordinary house or office building, coming +within two or three feet of the floor are more satisfactory both for +inside and outside appearance than those which leave a high blank wall +beneath them. From the street a blank wall has a prison-like effect; on +the inside it cuts off communication with the rest of the world and the +impression is unpleasant. The proper object of library windows six or +eight feet above the floor is to allow unbroken wall space for book +shelves beneath them. There is no serious objection to this at the back +of the room or sometimes at the sides of the house where the windows are +not conspicuous from the street, but every room of any size, if it is +next to the outer wall, should have windows to look out of on at least +one side. + +A book room at the back of a building may secure excellent light from +side windows eight feet above the floor with lower windows at the back. + +The lighting of large interior rooms is often a difficult problem. Light +will not penetrate to advantage more than 30 feet. Skylights, domes and +clerestory windows are used. In the case of the dome or clerestory the +room to be lighted must be higher than those immediately surrounding it. +The clerestory plan with upright windows is most satisfactory when +available, being cheaper and giving better security against the weather +than the skylight. In a large building with interior courts, the lower +story of the court is sometimes covered with a skylight and used as a +room. + +This appears in the plans for the New York Public and the Utica Public +libraries. Skylights must be constructed with special care to protect +rooms against the weather. + +The problem of light is peculiarly difficult in the crowded blocks of +cities. A library front may sometimes touch the walls of adjoining +buildings so that light can enter only from the front and rear. If +extending more than 40 feet back from the street, it will be necessary +to narrow the rest of the building so as to leave open spaces on each +side, or to introduce a little light by the device of light wells. +Occasionally a large city library is found on the upper floors of an +office building, where light and air are better than below, and the cost +of accommodation is less. The use of elevators makes this feasible. + + + _Shelving._ + +The general scheme of book shelves should be fixed before the plan of +the building is drawn. Otherwise the space for books can not be +determined and serious mistakes may be made. Between the two extremes of +open wall shelves and the close stack a compromise is necessary. The +large library will put the bulk of its books in a stack and bring a +considerable selection of the best books into an open room. The small +library will begin with books along the walls and provide cases for +additions from time to time as needed. Its patrons will enjoy at first +the generous spaces of the open room without an array of empty cases to +offend the eye and cumber the floor. When walls are covered with books a +floor case will be introduced and others when needed will be placed +according to plan, till at last the floor is as full as it was meant to +be, and the basement beneath having served for a time to hold the +overflow, a second story of cases is put on the top of the first. This +process should be planned in advance for a term of 20 years. + +For public access passages between cases should be five feet wide. Cases +have sometimes been set on radial lines so as to bring all parts under +supervision from the center. This arrangement, specially if bounded by a +semi-circular wall, is expensive, wasteful of space and of doubtful +value, except in peculiar conditions. It is not adapted to further +extension of the building. + + + _Size of shelf._ + +For ordinary books in a popular library the shelf should not be more +than eight inches wide with an upright space of ten inches. Eight +shelves of this height with a base of four inches and crown finish of +five inches will fill eight feet from the floor and the upper shelf may +be reached at a height of 81 inches or six feet nine inches. Ordinary +shelves should not exceed three feet in length. A length of two and a +half feet is preferred by many. A shelf more than three feet long is apt +to bend under the weight of books. For books of larger size a limited +number of shelves with 12 inches upright space and a few still larger +should be provided. The proportion of oversize books will vary greatly +according to the kind of library, a college or scientific collection +having many more than the circulating library. Any reference room will +contain a large number of such books and its shelves should correspond. + + + _Movable shelves._ + +Much attention has been given to devices for adjustment of shelves. Some +of these are quite ingenious and a few are satisfactory. No device +should be introduced that will seriously break the smooth surface at the +side. Notches, cross bars, iron horns or hooks or ornamental brackets +expose the last book to damage. If pins are used they should be so held +to their places that they cannot fall out. Heads of pins or bars should +be sunk in the wood and the place for books left, as near as possible, +absolutely smooth on all sides. It is at least a question whether the +importance of making shelves adjustable and absolutely adjustable has +not been greatly overrated. As a fact the shelves of the circulating +library are very seldom adjusted. They may have all the usual appliances +gained at large expense but there is no occasion to adjust them outside +the reference room. They remain as they were put up. It is probably well +to have the second and third shelf movable so that one can be dropped to +the bottom and two spaces left where there were three at first. But all +other shelves might as well be fixed at intervals of 10 inches without +the least real inconvenience and the cases be stronger for it and far +cheaper. A perfectly adjustable shelf is interesting as a study in +mechanics, but is practically disappointing. Its very perfection is a +snare because it is so impossible to set it true without a spirit level +and a machinist. All shelves in a reference room should be adjustable. +Bound magazines might have special cases. + + + _Wood or iron shelves._ + +Iron shelf construction has the advantage of lightness and strength, +filling the least space and admitting light and air. Where three or more +stories of cases are stacked one upon another iron is a necessity. It +also offers the best facilities for adjustment of shelves and is most +durable. + +On the other hand it is more difficult to get, can be had only of the +manufacturers in fixed patterns, and costs at least twice as much as any +wood, even oak, unless carved for ornament, and four or five times as +much as some very good wooden shelves. This great cost raises the +question whether the advantages named are really important. Few village +libraries need more than two stories of shelves in a stack. If iron is +more durable we can buy two sets of wooden shelves for the cost of one +of iron--and when we buy the second set will know better what we want. +The importance of shelf adjustment has been exaggerated. + +A more important consideration, to my mind, is that iron is not so well +adapted to the changing conditions of a growing library. It is made at a +factory and to be ordered complete. It is bolted to the floor and wall +at fixed intervals. But we have seen that a gradual accumulation of +bookcases is better than to put all shelving in position at first. + +Wooden cases are movable. You begin with those you need and add others +as you have more books, you can change and alter them at any time with +only the aid of the village carpenter, and enjoy the wide open spaces +till the time for filling them comes. + +Iron with all its ornaments belongs in the shop. It is not the furniture +you prefer in your home. The item of cost will usually decide the +question. For libraries of less than 30,000 volumes, where close storage +is not imperative, wood has the advantage. + + + _Miscellaneous notes._ + +A floor of hard wood is good enough for most libraries. Wood covered +with corticene or linoleum tends to insure the needed quiet. Floors of +tile, marble or concrete are very noisy and should have strips of carpet +laid in the passages. + +On the walls of reading rooms it is neither necessary nor desirable to +have an ornamental wainscot, nor indeed any wainscot at all, not even a +base board. Book cases will cover the lower walls and books are the best +ornament. + +Small tables for four are preferred in a reading room to long common +tables. They give the reader an agreeable feeling of privacy. + +Do not make tables too high. 30 inches are enough. + +Light bent wood chairs are easy to handle. + +Steam or hot water give the best heat and incandescent electric lamps +give the best light. + +Be sure that you have sufficient ventilation. + +Windows should be made to slide up and down, not to swing on hinges or +pivots. + +Without dwelling further on details let us be sure 1, That we have room +within the walls for all the books we now have or are likely to have in +20 years; provide the first outfit of shelves for twice the number of +books expected at the end of one year and add bookcases as we need them, +leaving always a liberal margin of empty space on every shelf. We must +plan for the location of additional cases for 20 years with due +consideration of the question of public access. + +2, That all needed departments are provided in harmonious relation with +each other and so located as to serve the public to the best advantage +and at least cost of time, strength and money. + +3, That the best use of the location is made and the building suited to +the constituency and local conditions. + +4, That the estimated cost is well within the limit named, for new +objects of expense are certain to appear during the process of building +and debt must not be thought of. + +5, That the building is convenient for work and supervision, a point at +which many an elegant and costly building has conspicuously failed. + +Make it also neat and beautiful, for it is to be the abiding place of +all that is best in human thought and experience and is to be a home in +which all inquiring souls are to be welcomed. Since the people are to be +our guests let us make the place of their reception worthy of its +purpose. + + + + + THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN. + + BY JOHN LAWRENCE MAURAN, _Architect, St. Louis, Mo._ + + +The public library, as we understand the name to-day, has had but a +brief existence compared with the mere housing of collections of books +which has gone on through countless ages. + +With the change from the old ideas of safeguarding the precious books +themselves to the advanced theory of placing their priceless contents +within the easy reach of all, has come an equally important change in +the character of the custodian of the books. The duties of the modern +librarian are such that he must be not only something of a scholar, in +the best sense of the word, but he must be capable also of properly +directing others in the pursuit of learning, and, withal, combine +executive ability with a highly specialized professional facility. The +result of carefully conceived courses of training is apparent in the +wonderful results achieved through the devoted and untiring efforts of +the members of this Association towards a constant betterment of their +charges, and a closer bonding, through affection, between the masses of +the people and that portion of the books which lies between the covers. + +My purpose in recalling to your memory the wonderful advance made by +training in your profession in a comparatively short time, is to give +point to an analogy I wish to draw, showing a corresponding advance in +the profession of architecture. Not so very many years ago there were +ample grounds for the recalling by Mr. David P. Todd of Lord Bacon's +warning against the sacrifice of utility to mere artistic composition in +the following words: "Houses are built to Live in, and not to Looke on: +Therefore let Use bee preferred before Uniformitie; Except where both +may be had Leave the Goodly Fabrickes of Houses, for Beautie only, to +the Enchanted Pallaces of the Poets; Who build them with small Cost": +but to-day, thanks to the munificence of the French government and the +untiring energy of some of those who have profited by it, in fostering +the growth of our own architectural schools, there are few sections of +this broad land which have not one or more worthy followers of Palladio +and Michael Angelo. Hunt, Richardson and Post were among the first to +receive the training of the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and they, moreover, +had the rare judgment to take the training only, adapting their designs +to the climatic and other local conditions rather than attempting the +importation of French forms as well as method of design. Their example +and the impetus they were able to impart to the technical schools have +been potent factors in the development of the talent of American +architects. While it is true, and more the pity, that some students +return from Paris with the idea that because Paris is a beautiful city +architecturally, the simple injection of some of their own masterpieces +into our diverse city street fronts, is going to reincarnate our +municipalities, the major portion are sufficiently discriminating to +realize that Paris owes much of its charm to a symmetry under +governmental control which we, free born Americans, can never hope to +attain, and leave behind them the mere forms and symbols of their alma +mater to use that which is best and most profitable in their training; +that is, a breadth of conception of the problem and a logical method of +sequential study of it which ensures a creditable if not an ideal +solution. The modern architect, to be successful, must be conversant +with a vast amount of information which is apparently outside his chosen +profession--such as the minutiae of hospitals, churches, libraries, +railroad stations and the like. As a case in point I recall the address +of a certain railroad president at the dedication of a large terminal +depot, in which he said: "while we have had the co-operation of +engineers and specialists in every branch of the work, I must give great +credit to our architect who is responsible for the conception of the +entire system of the handling of passengers, although he was employed +solely to enclose the space designated by our engineers." It is not my +purpose to laud the profession of architecture, but rather to show its +preparedness to _co-operate_ with you in achieving the best in library +construction and design. + +May I add to Mr. Todd's advice to library boards about to build, "first +appoint your librarian," the suggestion that second, in consultation +with him, _appoint_ your architect. It is not disbelief in competition +which has led the American Institute of Architects to advise against +competitions, for the former is a constant condition, while the latter +they believe to result in more evil than good. It is a popular notion +among laymen that a competition will bring out _ideas_ and mayhap +develop some hidden genius, but in answer to the first I can say, I know +of but one building erected from successful competitive plans without +modification, and for the second, the major portion of American +originality in building designs is unworthy the name of architecture. +Aside from the needless expense and loss of time entailed on library +board, as well as architect, by the holding of competitions a greater +evil lies in the well proven fact, that in their desire to win approval +for their design, most architects endeavor to find out the librarian's +predilections and follow them in their plans rather than to submit a +scholarly solution of the problem studied from an unprejudiced +standpoint. It is not often the good fortune of competitors to have +their submitted work judged with such unbiased intelligence as that +which permitted the best conceived plan to win in the competition for +the new library in New York City. Few men would have dared in +competition to remove that imposing architectural feature, the reading +room, from their main façade and put it frankly where it belongs, in +direct touch with the stacks which serve it, as Carrere & Hastings did. + +Not long ago a member of a certain library board of trustees wrote to us +that we were being considered, among others, as architects for their new +building, and he suggested that we send to them as many water colors as +we could collect and _as large as possible_, to impress the board; for, +as he added, "some of us appreciate your plans, but most laymen are +caught by the colored pictures, the larger the better." + +As a rule librarians have very decided ideas as to the plan desired in +so far as it relates to the correlation of rooms and departments, and +it, therefore, seems manifestly proper that having selected a librarian +on account of merit, the next step should be the selection of an +architect on the same basis, to the end that in consultation the theory +of the one may either be studied into shape or proved inferior to the +theory of the other. Under the discussion of two broad minds, the wheat +is easily separated from the chaff with the much to be desired result of +the assemblying of a well ordered plan to present to the board, which +has had such study that few criticisms cannot be answered from the store +of experience gathered in the making. This ideal crystallization of +ideas, this development of the problem working hand in hand precludes +the need of such advice as is found in the following quotation from a +paper on library buildings: + +"Taking into account the practical uses of the modern library it is +readily seen that it needs a building planned from inside, not from +without, dictated by convenience and not by taste no matter how good. +The order should be to require the architect to put a presentable +exterior on an interior having only use in view and not as is so often +done to require the librarian to make the best he can of an interior +imposed by the exigencies of the architect's taste or the demand of the +building committee for a monumental structure." + +Such an anomalous relationship between interior and exterior is +absolutely opposed to the fundamental training of the architect of +to-day. Often have I heard my professor of design, a Frenchman of rare +judgment, fly out at a student caught working on his exterior before the +interior was complete: "Work on your plan, finish your plan, and when +that is perfect, the rest will _come_." + +Architects of experience, who have been students of library development +in its every branch, who have followed the changes in the relations of +the library to the people, have reached the same conclusions along broad +lines, as have the librarians, with respect to lighting, access, +oversight and administration, as well as the general correlation of +universally important departments, and it is therefore my purpose to +state our relationship rather than attempt the raising of issues on +details of library arrangement, and to show if possible, that the +skilled architect's method of procedure tends to settle mooted points by +weighing values and considering relations of parts in a logical and +broad minded study of the particular set of conditions pertaining to his +problem. + +Either owing to the size, shape or contour of the site, its particular +exposure, local climatic conditions, the particular character of the +library itself or the people whom it serves, the problem presented to an +architect by a library board is _always_ essentially a _new_ one. +Certain fundamental rules may obtain through their universal +applicability, but every step in the working out of a successful plan +must be influenced by the particular conditions referred to, and here +the co-operation of the librarian is of inestimable value to the +architect, no matter how wide his experience may be. + +Desired correlation, like most results, can be achieved in divers ways, +and in most cases nothing of utility need be sacrificed to secure a +dignified plan, which is as much to be desired as a dignified exterior. +Realizing the importance of accomplishing successful results, a +scholarly architect will strive to mould his plan with an eye to +symmetry, without losing sight for an instant of the conditions of use, +and never sacrificing practical relationship to gain an _absolutely_ +symmetrical arrangement of plan. + +The French architect will, if necessary, waste space or inject needless +rooms into his plan to secure perfect balance, while his American +student will gain all the value of the _effect_ without diminishing the +practical value of his building one iota. + +Along with symmetry, the logical development of the plan in study keeps +in mind something of the rough form of the exterior design, with +particular reference to the grouping of its masses to secure the maximum +of air and the best light for the various departments. With the best +designers, it is an unwritten law, that the next step after completing a +satisfactory plan, is to sketch a section through the building, not only +to ensure a proper proportion in the enclosed rooms, but most important +of all to secure a system of fenestration, allowing wall space where +needed and introducing the light as near the top of the rooms as the +finish will permit. Having settled then all the details of plans and +section, wherein are comprised all of the matter of greatest moment to +the practical librarian, it only remains for the architect to prepare a +suitable exterior and I certainly agree with my old preceptor that "it +will come." The American people believe that education is the corner +stone of manhood and good citizenship, and next to our public schools, +if not before them, the most potent educational factor is our public +library. The librarians are responsible in a great measure for the good +work which is being accomplished in the dissemination of knowledge and +culture among the people, but let me ask, are we not as responsible for +our share, as co-workers with them, to perpetuate in lasting masonry the +best which in us lies for the same great cause of the education of the +people? + +What renaissance has failed to find literature and architecture +quickened alike? The awakening of a love of the beautiful brings a +thirst for knowledge concerning the beautiful; as the records will show, +the interest excited by that marvellous assemblage of architectural +masterpieces at the Chicago Fair, created a demand on the libraries +almost beyond belief for books on architecture and the allied arts. + +Every conscientious architect must feel his responsibility to his +clients as well as to the people and strive he must, to combine the +ideal in convenience with simple beauty in design; my one plea is that +such a combination is not only _possible_, but in intelligent hands, +should be universal, and if my beliefs, hopes and expectations find +sympathy with you, I shall feel repaid in the security of a harmonious +co-operation between architect and librarian in the great work which +stretches ahead of us into the future. + + + + + THE DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARY. + + BY JAMES THAYER GEROULD, _University of Missouri, Columbia_. + + +The recent discussion of the departmental library system at the +University of Chicago and the consequent restatement of the position of +that university in reference to such libraries, together with the +consideration of the problem in the annual reports of Dr. Canfield and +Mr. Lane, have called up anew the question of the expediency of the +system. Is the departmental library to be a permanent feature of the +university library? Is the highest effectiveness of a library to be +secured by a policy of decentralization? + +The public library has answered the question, finally, it seems, in the +affirmative. Do the arguments which have induced the public librarian to +establish branches and delivery stations apply in the case of the +university library? Is the university library of the future to be housed +in a single building, or is it to be scattered about in class rooms and +laboratories? To my mind, there is no more important question of +administration before those of us who are trying to render the +university library an efficient instrument of instruction than this. + +With many librarians there is an element of necessity entering into the +question. Mr. Lane is facing a condition where the library has +altogether outgrown its building, and some place must be found where +books can be stored and used. The situation is much the same in many +other places. Shall the facilities of the library be enlarged by +building or shall the books be transferred to the various departmental +libraries? Mr. Lane, speaking for his own library, says of the latter +alternative: "It would commit the library to an entirely different +policy from what it has pursued hitherto, and such a change would be +little short of a revolution for this library." + +At the University of Missouri we are expecting in the near future to +begin the construction of a library building, but, before adopting any +definite plans, we are trying to work out the problems that have just +been stated, and to make ourselves reasonably sure that we are right +before we go ahead. + +There are arguments enough on all sides of this question, of which Dr. +Canfield says that it has not two sides only, but a dozen. We must +premise that no two departments use their books in exactly the same way, +and that, consequently, methods of administration must differ. It is +generally for the advantage of all, for example, in a university where +there is a law school, that the books on private law should be separated +from the main collection and treated as a branch library. Similarly +medicine, theology and possibly a few other subjects may be withdrawn +and administered separately. + +In some of our universities one or more of the departments are several +miles away from the main body of the institution. It is obviously +necessary that the books most used in those departments should be near +enough so that the students can have access to them without too much +inconvenience and loss of time. In the ordinary institution, however, +most of the buildings are grouped in a comparatively small area, and it +is seldom more than five minutes' walk from the most remote building to +the library. In a condition such as this, and with the exceptions noted +above, I am inclined to the opinion that the university is best served +by a central library containing the main collection, and small, rigidly +selected laboratory libraries comprising books which from their very +nature are most useful in the laboratory as manuals of work. + +The arguments generally advanced in favor of the system are these: + +1. The instructor needs to be able to refer, at a moment's notice, to +any book relating to his subject. + +2. The system enables the instructor to keep a more careful watch over +the reading of his students. + +3. The best interests of the library demand that each division of the +library shall be directly under the eye of the men most interested in +it, that is to say, the instructors in the various departments; that +they should direct its growth and watch over its interests. + +That the first and second of these arguments have great weight cannot be +denied, but with a properly constructed library building and most +careful administration the requirements of both instructor and student +can be met quite as well by a central system. + +It is, of course, quite impossible for each instructor to have in his +office all the books necessary for his work. The duplication necessary +for this purpose would be impracticable even for the most wealthy +university. He must, therefore, go from his office or class room to the +department library and search for the book himself. With the confusion +which generally reigns in a library of this sort, and with the lack of +effective registration of loans, this is quite often a matter of some +difficulty. + +At Columbia University the office of each professor is in telephonic +communication with the central library. When a book is wanted the +library is notified by telephone, the book is found and sent out at +once. Within ten minutes from the time that the request reaches the +library the book is generally in the instructor's hands. He may lose two +or three minutes' time, but the amount lost is more than compensated by +the readiness with which others can use the books of the department, and +by other advantages to be considered later. At Columbia, too, the system +of stack study rooms provides in a very satisfactory way for the second +objection. There, as many of you have seen, the stacks are distributed +through a series of small rooms, the light side of which is supplied +with tables and used for study rooms and for seminar purposes. If the +instructor can use the departmental library for his work room, he can +certainly use this room to as good advantage, for here he has the +entire collection and not a selected few of his books. I believe fully +that an instructor who is sufficiently interested in the reading of his +students to watch over it carefully in his departmental library, will +find that he is able to keep just as close a relation to it, if his +students are working in a central library. He may be obliged to make +slight changes in his methods, but the result ought to be the same. + +The third argument in favor of the departmental library system is of a +different nature. Is the librarian or the professor best qualified to +direct the growth and watch over the interests of the different +departments of the library? So far as I know, this argument is given +more consideration at Chicago than anywhere else. It may be true, in +certain cases, that the professor has the greater qualification for this +work, but when this is the case it argues that the professor is an +exceptional one or that the university has been unfortunate in the +selection of its librarian. + +It is quite needless to say that the librarian should be in constant +conference with the teaching force regarding purchases, but that he +should delegate all of his powers of purchase in any given field, admits +of the gravest doubt. Laude, in his recent work on the university +library system of Germany, attributes a great deal of the success of +those libraries to the fact that they are independent and autonomous +institutions, enjoying a much greater measure of freedom than is +accorded to any similar American institution. Too many professors are +apt to buy books in their special field and slight other lines of +research in their own subject. For example, a zoologist, who is doing +research work along the lines of embryology, is very apt to overload the +collection at that point and neglect other equally important lines. + +Again, very few instructors, even granting them the qualifications +necessary for the work, have the time or patience for it. If the amount +appropriated to the department is at all large, a considerable portion +of the sum is quite frequently unexpended at the end of the year. Some +interesting tables, prepared by Mr. Winsor for his report for the year +1894-95, show that in seven selected departments the amount of books +ordered, including continuations, was only about 50 per cent. of the +appropriation, plus one quarter, the allowance for orders not filled. +While this proportion would probably not hold good in all departments or +in all places, it exhibits an almost uniform tendency and a tendency +which must be corrected if a well-rounded out library is to be secured. + +The system of departmental control is very sure to create a feeling of +departmental ownership, a feeling that the books, bought out of the +moneys appropriated to a particular library, should remain permanently +in that library, and that any one from outside who wishes to use the +books is more or less of an intruder. Pin any one of these men down, and +they will admit that the books are for the use of all, but the feeling +exists, notwithstanding, and is the cause of constant friction. + +The departmental library renders the books difficult of access. If the +library is large enough to warrant the setting apart of a separate room +for its use, this room can seldom be open for as large a portion of the +day as the central library, and when it is open the books cannot be +obtained as readily by the great body of the students as if they were in +a central building. Most students are working in several lines at once. +They are compelled, by this system, to go from one room to another, and +to accommodate themselves to differing hours of opening and to varying +rules for the use of the books. Then, too, it frequently happens in the +case of small libraries that the books are kept in the office of the +head of the department, and can only be consulted when he is in his +office and at liberty. The difficulty is here greatly increased. I know +of cases where even the instructors in the same department have found +difficulty in getting at the books, and the library was, in effect, a +private library for the head professor, supported out of university +funds. If instructors cannot use the books, how can the student be +expected to do so? + +There is a sentiment, false, perhaps, but nevertheless existing in the +minds of many students, that any attempt to use the books under these +circumstances is an endeavor to curry favor with the professor. This +feeling does not exist in connection with the use of the books at a +central library. + +If a book in a departmental library is needed by a student in another +department, he must either go to the department and put the custodian to +the inconvenience of looking it up for him, or he must wait at the +central library while a messenger goes for the book. His need of the +book must be very pressing before he will do either. + +If the different fields of knowledge were sharply defined, the +departmental system might be a practicable one, but such is not the +case. The psychologist needs books bearing on philosophy, sociology, +zoology and physics, the sociologist gathers his data from almost the +whole field of human knowledge, the economist must use books on history +and the historian books on economics. The system hampers him exceedingly +in the selection and use of his material, or it compels the university +to purchase a large body of duplicate material, and restricts, by so +much, the growth of the real resources of the library. + +The system, it seems to me, induces narrowness of vision and a sort of +specialization which is anything but scientific. Trending in the same +direction is the separation of the books, in any given field, into two +categories. The undergraduate may need some such selection, but any +student who has gone beyond the elements of his subject should have at +his command the entire resources of the library. The needs of the +elementary student can be met by direct reference to certain books, or +by setting aside the volumes required as special reference books and +allowing free access to them. + +A large amount of our most valuable material is found in the +publications of scientific and literary societies and in periodicals. In +many cases these must be kept at the central library. They will be much +more frequently read if the readers are using the central library and +availing themselves of the information given in the catalog. + +From the administrative point of view, there is nothing impossible in +the organization of the departmental system, provided that finances of +the library admit of the increased expenditure. As Mr. Bishop has +pointed out in a recent number of the _Library Journal_, the element of +cost seems to have been utterly left out of consideration in the recent +discussions at the University of Chicago. It is possible that, with the +immense resources of that institution, they may be able to ignore that +factor, but most of us are compelled to reduce administrative +expenditures to the lowest point consistent with good work. + +Aside from the cost of the duplication of books already noted, +necessitated by the division of the books among the different +departments, there are the items of space and labor to be considered. It +needs no argument to show that there is a great economy of space gained +by the consolidation of all libraries, with the exceptions previously +referred to, into one central building. An entire room is frequently +given up to a departmental library of three or four hundred volumes, +when a few extra shelves and possibly a slight increase in the seating +capacity of the reading room would accommodate it in the central +library. The cost of maintenance, of heating and of lighting is also +undoubtedly greater under the departmental arrangement. + +The greatest increase in expense is, however, in the item of service. In +order properly to control a branch of this sort, an employe of the +library must be in constant attendance. The duties and responsibilities +of such a position are so small that only the lowest paid grade of +service can be employed with economy. The amount necessary to pay the +salaries of such persons could, with much greater advantage to the whole +institution, be used for the employment of a few specialists, highly +trained in different lines, who would act as reference librarians in +their respective fields. Our American libraries are, as a class, +compared with those of foreign universities, singularly deficient in +this quality of assistance. Sooner or later we must supply this lack, +and every move which tends in another direction must be examined with +care. + +The university library exists for the whole university--all of it for +the whole university. In an ideal condition, every book in it should be +available, at a moment's notice, if it is not actually in use. This +should be our aim, and it should be from this viewpoint that we should +judge the efficiency of our administration and the value of any proposed +change. + + + + + SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE DEGREE OF + DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. + + BY WILLIAM WARNER BISHOP, _Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y._ + + +Graduate instruction and the degree of doctor of philosophy as its +reward are not so novel and recent in America as to call for either +explanation or definition. Neither are they so old as to require a +history. Most of us can well remember when it became a common thing for +American universities to have numerous candidates for the doctorate. At +the present time there are several hundred students in our universities +who are candidates for the doctor's degree and the number is increasing +rapidly. + +A degree implies a dissertation, or, as it is more commonly and less +correctly termed, a thesis. I need not here express any opinion as to +the merits or defects of these documents as a class. What I wish to +speak of is their value to university and college libraries, and the +difficulty of discovering what dissertations are produced annually, and, +for reference libraries, of procuring them when discovered. I presume +the librarian who knows the specialist's insatiate greed for +dissertations, _programmen_, and small pamphlets generally will need no +words of mine to bring home to him the need of procuring as many of +these documents as he can. Whatever we may say in derogation of doctors' +dissertations--and they have their faults--they at least represent +long-continued and careful investigation under supposedly competent +direction, and the specialist must have them. + +It is a comparatively easy task to get him German and other foreign +dissertations. The new ones are listed annually and the old ones load +the shelves of the second-hand stores of Europe. But to find what is +being produced here in this country is by no means a simple undertaking. +And it behooves us, unless we tacitly admit that our American +dissertations are not worth having, to take some steps toward bettering +the present situation. + +In order to ascertain the exact condition of things I have selected +fifteen representative institutions which confer the degree of Doctor of +Philosophy and have studied their requirements and conducted some +correspondence with their librarians. These institutions have been +selected purely as representing various geographical and educational +conditions, and omissions from the list are not to be taken _in malam +partem_. They are: (1) Brown, (2) Bryn Mawr, (3) California, (4) +Chicago, (5) Columbia, (6) Cornell, (7) Harvard, (8) Johns Hopkins, (9) +Michigan, (10) Nebraska, (11) Pennsylvania, (12) Princeton, (13) +Stanford, (14) Wisconsin, and (15) Yale. + +The majority of these universities require that before the degree is +conferred the thesis shall be printed and a fixed number of copies, +ranging from 50 to 250, shall be deposited with some officer of the +university or in the library. The statistics are as follows: + +California requires 150 copies. + +Chicago requires 100 copies. "Accepted theses become the property of the +university." + +Columbia requires 150 copies. + +Cornell requires 50 copies. + +Michigan requires 150 copies. + +Nebraska requires 150 copies. + +Pennsylvania requires 250 copies. + +Stanford requires 100 copies. + +Wisconsin requires 100 copies. + +Two institutions, Bryn Mawr and Princeton, require the printing of the +thesis, but make no requirement, so far as can be ascertained from the +catalogs, that there shall be any deposit of copies. + +Johns Hopkins and Pennsylvania allow the thesis to be either written or +printed; if printed, Johns Hopkins requires the deposit of 150 copies, +Pennsylvania of 250, except under certain conditions which will appear +later. + +Brown makes no requirement for deposit or for printing. Harvard +provides that one copy either printed or written must be deposited in +the library. Yale requires that the "thesis must be deposited at the +library for public inspection not later than May 1st" of the year in +which the candidate expects to receive the degree. + +Of these universities two only, Brown and California, print the titles +of theses in the university catalog. + +The foregoing statements are taken from the annual catalogs for +1899-1900 of the universities named, except in the case of Pennsylvania, +where the statement made in the catalog is supplemented from a letter +received from the Dean. + +Although I presumed that most of the copies deposited in the libraries +of the universities were used for exchange, I wrote to the librarians of +those universities which require the deposit of a number of printed +copies, making inquiry regarding their systems of exchange and +provisions for the sale of copies not exchanged. I received replies from +almost all. [These letters were read, the common condition being shown +to be that most of the copies received by the libraries were exchanged +with foreign institutions and other American universities. Varying +conditions ranging from a refusal to sell any copies to a free +distribution of copies not exchanged, was found to exist with regard to +sale of theses by the libraries.] + +It will be seen from these replies that, if a library does not happen to +be on the exchange list of the university in which a thesis is written, +and if the thesis is not printed in some journal or in the proceedings +of some learned society, such a library stands very little chance either +of learning of the publication of a thesis or of procuring it from the +author or from the university. That this is not much of an affliction in +most cases I cheerfully admit. Still the small colleges which +deliberately refuse to attempt graduate work--and, be it said to their +honor, there are not a few of these--and the large reference libraries +which do not publish, have as much need of certain theses as the large +universities, and they have no means of getting them easily. + +It appears to me, and I trust to you, that, if our American +dissertations are worth anything, if they are valuable enough to +preserve, if they are real contributions to knowledge--and I believe +that they are all of these--then it is worth while to secure the +publication of some list which will tell librarians and specialists +where to go to get copies, either from the author or from the +university. It should not be difficult to secure co-operation in this +matter. The number of theses printed and deposited in any one university +in any one year is not large, and it certainly would not be a burden of +alarming proportions to send titles to some central bureau. The +difficulty will be to secure an editor and the funds for publishing the +list. It would seem to me that some one of the large institutions whose +libraries publish bulletins and other matter, or possibly the Library of +Congress might assume the expense as a matter of patriotic service to +learning in the United States. And it might not be out of place for this +section, should it care to follow up the matter, to enter into +communication with them on the subject. It might be also, that some +enterprising publisher would be glad to undertake the task of both +editing and publishing, if it could be shown him that he would thus do a +favor to American libraries. + +One final word should be said before closing. The inevitable delays +incident to the publication of such a list would be more than offset by +the delays in publishing theses. Many a man is called "Doctor" who has +never received his diploma for that degree because his thesis remains +unpublished. The laxity in this matter in some quarters is very great. +It may be that such a publication of titles as I have proposed might +perceptibly hasten the publication of theses. + + + + + OPPORTUNITIES. + + BY GRATIA COUNTRYMAN, _Minneapolis (Minn.) Public Library_. + + +If I were to sum up in these short moments the opportunities which lie +before library workers, it would have to be an epitome of all that has +been said at this conference and all previous conferences, and of all +that has been written on library extension and influence. Even then the +opportunity which lies before you might not even be mentioned. + +I will not even try to enumerate the almost endless ways in which +library usefulness may express itself, for these various ways are, after +all, only different directions in which to use our one great opportunity +of service to mankind. + +May we not think of a library as a dynamic force in the community, to be +used for lifting the common level. There are so many forces at work in +the nation pulling down and scattering; but the hundreds of large and +small libraries dotted over the country stand for social regeneration, +stand for the building up and perfecting of human society, stand for the +joy and happiness of individual lives. And no matter how limited seems +our own small field, it is a piece of the great domain of helpful +activity. + +It is not always easy, after a hard and tiresome day of small and +perplexing duties, to see beyond our wall of weariness. Yet nothing is +more restful than to feel that we are contributing our part to a great +work, and that we, in our place, are a part of one of the great +building-up movements of the century. + +I will not soon forget what Mr. Lane said in his president's address at +the Atlanta conference. I would like to quote largely, but this sentence +serves. He said: "What a privilege that we are always free to place +ourselves at the service of another. Most professions are so engrossed +by their own work that they have no time to serve the needs of others, +but it is the _business_ of the librarian to serve. He is paid for +knowing how." + +It is peculiarly true that the librarian's business is to put himself +and the library under his custody at the complete disposal of the +people. It is his _business_ to watch their interests and to think in +advance for their needs. + +The librarian must have, in Mrs. Browning's words, + + "... both head and heart; + Both active, both complete and both in earnest." + +Our opportunities, then, are not something which lie to one side, to be +especially thought of, but are the very heart of our business--of our +profession. + +I have been wondering if there is not an element of discouragement to +the librarian of the small library, in such a conference as this, or +even to us who fill subordinate places in large libraries. We get so +many new ideas, we get so many plans which other libraries are putting +into operation. We know we cannot put them into practice, we know well +enough that we shall go home and do just what we have been doing, with +small quarters, with cramped revenues, with possibly unsympathetic +trustees who take unkindly to our new-born enthusiasm. There seems to be +the possibility of so much, but the opportunity for doing so little, and +then our limitations seem more apparent than our opportunities. The +assistant in the larger library says, "I wish I could be the librarian +of a small library, they have so much better an opportunity for coming +into close contact with the people," and the librarian of the little +library who does her own accessioning, cataloging, record keeping, +charging, reference work, etc., with one brain and one pair of hands, +says, "Oh, if we were only a little larger library, with more money, and +with more help, I might do so many things that other libraries do." + +Carlyle says, "Not what I have, but what I do, is my kingdom," and I +take that to mean in library work that my opportunity is not what I +could do if I held some other position in some other library, but what I +can do under present conditions with present means. Success does not lie +with those who continually wish for something they haven't got, but +with those who do the best possible thing with the things they have. "It +is not so much the ship as the skilful sailing that assures a prosperous +voyage." It is not so much a great collection of books and a fine +technical organization as the personal character of the man or woman who +stands as a bridge between the books and the people. Your opportunity +and mine does not lie in our circumstances, but in ourselves, and in our +ability to see and to grasp the coveted opportunity. We are reminded of +the pious darkey who prayed every night just before Christmas, "Dear +Lord, send dis darkey a turkey." Christmas came dangerously near, and +there was no prospect of a turkey. So the night before Christmas he grew +desperate, and prayed, "Dear Lord, send dis darkey to a turkey." That +night the turkey came. Even so it is with our opportunities. + +There are three classes of people toward whom the library has a special +mission: the children, the foreigner, and the working classes. + +1. As to the children, we have been hearing considerably about them in +this conference. Mr. Hutchins in the Wisconsin meeting said that a good +book did more good in a country boy's home than in the city boy's. When +the country boy takes a book home he and all his family devour it, but +the town boy reads his book and exchanges it, and no one in the house +perhaps even knows that he has read it. Well, that is a subject for +thought. If his family or teachers do not watch his reading, it becomes +a serious thing for the librarian who chooses and buys his books for +him. Perhaps the library is not large enough to have a children's +department or to send books into the schools, or to do any specialized +children's work, but it can make judicious selection of books, and being +small can know individual cases among the children. It is not so hard to +find out the children one by one who need some care and interest, to +learn their names and to find out something about their families. They +say that letters cut lightly in the bark of a sapling show even more +plainly in the grown tree. A boy whom no one has reached comes into your +library. By a little watchful care he reads some wonderful life, learns +some of the marvellous forces in God's creation, opens his eyes to the +glowing sunsets or to the springing blades of grass; suddenly knows the +dignity of human nature and his own growing self. His aspirations are +born, his ambition is awakened, his life is changed. Library records +have not one, but many such cases. + +The home library is a method of reaching children which is not used +enough by the smaller libraries. Branches and stations may not be +practicable, but a group of 15 to 25 books taken into sections of a town +by some friendly woman, on the plan of the home libraries, could be +carried out in almost any town. The librarian might not have time, but +she could find people who would do it, if she set the work to going. + +2. As to the foreigners, Europe has used us for a dumping ground for +considerable moral and political refuse. We have the problem of making +good citizens out of much wretched material, and next to the children +there is no greater opportunity for the library. Even the smallest +library ought to study ways and means of getting at the foreign element. +It would almost pay to make a canvass of the town, to see that these +people are reached and that they know about the library. If books in +their own language are necessary to draw them, then it is the best +investment you can make. + +3. But in reality the library does its great work among the mass of +common working people. It is the quiet side which makes no showing, but +it has always been the telling side. From the common people spring most +of our readers. They do our work, they fight our battles, they need our +inspiration. For them you make your libraries attractive, for them you +make careful selections of books--the student does not need your +pains--for their sake you identify yourself with every local interest. +You fix your hours for opening and closing to accommodate these working +people. You make your rules and regulations just as elastic as possible, +that they may not be debarred from any privilege. They do not ask +favors, but after all this great mass of common people whose lives are +more or less barren and empty are the ones to which the library caters +in a quiet, unadvertised way. It is the great opportunity which we +scarcely think of as an opportunity at all. It is just the daily +routine. Millions of people know little more than a mechanical life, +what they shall eat, drink and wear. Many can touch their horizons all +around with a sweep of their hands, so narrow is their circle. They live +in the basements of their spiritual temples, and never rise to the level +of their best ability. They have no joy of life, of abundant life. The +library performs a great service to society when it has furnished +information to the people, when it has been an educational factor, but +it has performed a greater one when it has awakened a man and put him +into possession of his own powers. + +Well, this is not a very specific setting forth of the ways in which we +can extend the work of a small library. The way must vary greatly with +the conditions, but the spirit of the work runs through all conditions. +If I should name the qualifications of a good librarian, I would give +them in the following order, according to importance: + +1. Genuine character, with broad natural sympathies. + +2. Courteous, kindly manners. + +3. Education, general and technical. + +Any such librarian, with only a fairly equipped library, will find her +opportunity at her hand. + + + + + SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE SELECTION. + + BY G. E. WIRE, M.D., LL.B., _Worcester County (Mass.) Law Library_. + + +1. _Books and pictures should be suited to the constituency._--This may +seem so trite, so self-evident as to need no statement, much less any +argument to support it. But on sober second thought, all will agree that +it needs constant reiteration and appreciation. All of us are familiar +with libraries--of course not our own--in which we detect glaring +inconsistencies in book selection. The story used to be told of one +library commission that in its first epoch it used to send the books on +agriculture to the sea-coast, and books on fish curing to the hill +country. This is now strenuously denied but there may be more truth than +poetry in it after all. + +In the case of large, 50,000 v. libraries and over, less care need be +taken, both on account of expenditure of money and on account of +worthlessness of the book itself. A few hundred dollars' worth of +rubbish, more or less, does not count and almost any book no matter how +poor comes in use some time. But in the case of the small, 5000 v. +library or under, with little money to expend and the whole realm of +knowledge to cover, it is different. Of course the covering will be +scanty and thin, but it will do for the first layer. They should buy but +few books in philosophy and religion, more in sociology, only the latest +and most popular in the arts and sciences, comparatively fewer in +literature and more in history, biography and travel. + +Of course fiction, adult and juvenile, must also be bought and at first +a disproportionately larger amount in many cases. Too much reliance +should not be placed on what some larger library has or on what the +neighboring library has. + +Avoid imitation and duplication, especially the latter. Now that +inter-library loans are coming in, each small library in the more +thickly settled portions of the country may be able to supplement its +neighbor. Travelling libraries should also help out the smaller +libraries which can ill afford to sink a large part of their annual +book-fund in evanescent fiction, which soon moulds on the shelves. + +As the commissions become better organized, they should also be able to +send expensive reference works for the use of study clubs, and so help +the small libraries all the more. + +The needs of the constituency should be carefully studied and the most +pressing should be attended to at first, others can wait. As to buying +technical books for those engaged in manufacturing, I think a more +conservative policy is now favored. Better wait a while and feel your +way before spending much on these high priced books which rapidly go out +of date. Theoretically the operatives of a cotton mill should be much +interested in all that relates to cotton, but practically when their +hours of drudgery are over they are more inclined to a novel, if +inclined to read anything. And how much encouragement have they to read +in most factories? Better begin with the owners, who may be on your +board, or the superintendent, who may live on your street. As liberal +purchases as possible should be made in reference books--always +selecting the latest and freshest to start on. For example Seyffert's +"Antiquities," Bulfinch's "Age of fable," and Murray's "Mythology" will +serve better than Smith's books, now out of date and expensive beyond +all return for the money invested in them. More will be said along this +line under head of cost. Of course in a library of this size, no foreign +books should be bought other than perhaps some fiction. + +I thoroughly believe in America for Americans. Foreigners would not buy +our books under the same circumstances and why should we buy theirs? +Reciprocity is good policy. Even in the case of English books most of +those on geology, botany, zoology, on fishing and hunting, are valueless +to us, by reason of climatic, or other local conditions. Their local +history and antiquities are quite as unprofitable for most of our public +libraries. + +2. _As to the matter of outside experts._--Most of us have seen bad +examples of the work of outside experts, in fact I think we are safe in +saying there are more bad than good examples. In the case of arts and +sciences it is quite the fashion to refer the book list to the nearest +high school or college professor, with the idea that in his line he +knows all there is to be known about these books. In some cases he is +practically given _carte blanche_ and his selection is bought without a +murmur. The natural consequence is that in many libraries are to be +found high priced technical works of momentary interest, fit only for +class-room or laboratory use, too deep for general reading and soon out +of date. Most of these so-called experts are not even competent to +select works for their own department, let alone the public library. + +Personal bias, the quarrels of investigators, loyalty to instructors, +jealousy of other workers in the same lines are powerful factors which +far outweigh the question of real merit. In New England many of the +libraries are overloaded with good, blue, orthodox theology, bought on +the suggestion and for the sole use of the dominie who was on the +library committee. It was a glorious opportunity for him and it has +rarely been neglected. These libraries are now really addicted to this +habit; it has become a species of intoxication with them and they +continue the pernicious practice. + +3. _Choice by committee._--One of the latest fads is selection by voting +or by committee. This usually results in a mediocre selection, all the +really good books or pictures being left out, or else a preponderance of +votes for a few favorites. Voting choice is seen in the list of books +sent out each year from New York State Library as a result of voting by +members of the New York State Library Association. This is a list of the +50 best books for a village library from a list of 500 books, including +fiction, adult and juvenile. Of course fiction takes a large per cent., +while the remaining few books make a most patchy lot. The first list is +too large and the last list is too small. Another publication by the +Regents of the State of New York is a list of pictures for schools--not +so much selected as neglected by a jury of 75 persons. Between religious +prejudice, prudishness, peace policy and finical art criticism only the +husks of architecture and stately ruins are left for the youths of the +Empire State to gaze upon. Think of leaving out the "Sistine Madonna," +"1807," "Christ in the Temple," "Queen Louise" and the "Horse fair." +Some of these were omitted in cold blood because they were "poor and +popular" and "pupils would like them and should not." Most of us, +however, have gotten beyond the idea of trying to make people read +George Eliot when they want Mary Jane Holmes. Nothing I have seen in the +nature of criticism is so cold, hard and repelling as this. It is to be +hoped no other state will follow this example, but that is just the +perniciousness of such lists made out by people who are supposed to be +experts, but who too often fail worse than common mortals. This whole +matter of selection by committee is virtually begging the question of +individual responsibility. + +4. _Choice by librarian experts._--This seems to be the most +satisfactory solution of the problem. It is true that many if not most +of the existing small (5000-10,000) libraries have not or can not afford +a trained librarian. But it is also true that more and more are +employing trained people as organizers and an increasing number are +retaining their organizer as librarian. It is their study and their +business to know what books are best suited to the needs of the +community. Even should we go beyond that into the larger public library, +the reference library or the college library I still hold that the +librarian is the best judge of books for the library. His taste is sure +to be more catholic, wholly unbiassed and he makes a more even and +better rounded selection on the whole. In the small public library he is +able to carefully study the constituency and then knowing what books are +standard in other places he makes the necessary allowances for the case +in hand. The time has, I trust, wholly gone by when the local editor, +local clergyman, and local schoolmaster have the pleasure of picking out +their favorite books, or of ordering "standard sets" or the "classics" +in history and literature at the public expense. Most of these books are +on the shelves to-day faded but not worn, the leaves not even cut and +usually only the first volume slightly used. + +Of course books in useful art and sciences were largely overlooked. +Nowadays library committees are turning more and more to the librarian, +knowing that he has made a study of book selection and that they will +get better results to leave it with him. This is as it should be and the +librarian should not lower himself by going outside for assistance on +any line. I count it as slipshod and a confession of ignorance for any +librarian to tag around after outside "experts." Let him study up his +subject and master it himself. There are only a few in which he cannot +easily surpass outsiders, and profiting by his knowledge of the many, +which enables him to do that part quickly and easily, let him pay more +attention to the hard and less familiar subjects. The librarian who +delights in religion, philosophy or folklore says of lists on biology, +botany, steam-engineering or sanitation--"I leave all that to Professor +So and So--of course he knows all about it." Why should he, more than +the librarian? What is the librarian for, if not to know things? Is it +not time to turn from the material things and concern ourselves more +with a higher standard of scholarship and more outside work in our +profession? And for the small libraries of 5000 v. or under there are +the library commissions who are supposed to, and do, advise them. There +is difference with the commissions, some are in closer touch with the +local situation than others, some are more conscientious than others +about costly books, and some are given to this "expert" business which I +have named, but on the whole they are doing good work and bid fair to do +better. + +5. _Matter of cost._--This should be carefully considered. I hold it to +be little short of criminal to recommend high priced books for libraries +of limited means. By high priced books I mean those costing over $5 a +volume. This of course does not apply to reference books. And yet in one +annual list such books constantly appear, as not only suggestions but, +considering the source, as recommendations or even commands. I am +thankful the Wisconsin Library Commission has taken up this work +systematically and is doing all it can to discourage such foolish waste +of money. The worst example is the "Encyclopædia Britannica" now from 25 +to 10 years behind the times and never a satisfactory book of reference +at its best. Take De Bry's "Mycetazoa," it stands on the shelves of +dozens of libraries, leaves uncut, totally unused, each copy meaning at +least four dollars wasted money. These are only given as an +example--there might be hundreds of them. There are scores of books now +published and more coming out every day on various questions of +philosophy, sociology, science, art and particularly literature and +history priced from $1 to $2.50 which are far superior for practical +purposes to the heavy weight monographs at $5 a volume and upwards. You +thus get two or three books on the same subject for the money, and in a +small library this is a vital question. The money must bring in the +largest possible number of good books. + + + + + BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK LISTS, AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY + OF PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? + + BY CAROLINE M. HEWINS, _Hartford (Ct.) Public Library_. + + +A children's librarian has three sources of reliance in the choice or +purchase of books. They are: 1, Book reviews in current or earlier +periodicals; 2, Lists, graded or ungraded, for libraries; 3, Articles on +children's reading in books or periodicals. + +1. The children's librarian, or any librarian, who orders children's +books from reviews often finds the books entirely different from what +the description has led her to suppose. Even if there is no positive +untruth in a notice, it is often misleading from the lack of a standard +of comparison with the best books for children. + +The papers oftenest taken in a country household or small library are a +daily or semi-weekly from the nearest large town or city, a religious +weekly, and an agricultural weekly or monthly, sometimes all three, +oftener only one or two, and it is from the notices and advertisements +with quoted notices in these papers that estimates of books must often +be formed. Libraries and library trustees who send book lists from such +sources as these to a state public library commission are often +surprised that they do not receive what they ask for, and write anxious +inquiries as to why certain books have not been bought. "There surely +can be no objection to them," they say, "for we took the titles from +reviews in the ---- or ---- or ----," naming denominational papers. Now, +lest the Children's Section should be accused of unfairness and +denominational prejudices, I shall quote no reviews from these papers, +except one which came from a leading religious weekly taken by the +household in whose pew I have a seat. It is of Eden Phillpotts' "Human +boy," a series of sketches of English schoolboy life, which is dismissed +with this remarkable sentence: "The scene here, too, is in the west, and +various hunting experiences are recorded." The librarian who orders that +book for boys greedy for big game will be disappointed! + +Such a mistake as this is not common, but reviews in both religious and +secular papers are often perfunctory and meaningless. One reason of this +is that many books are published for the Christmas trade, between the +15th of September and the 15th of December, when they come into +newspaper offices with a rush, until they are piled in stacks on the +desk of the hapless reviewer, and hastily noticed, sometimes by title +only. In a new edition of Elizabeth Sheppard's fine, but forgotten +novel, "Rumour," whose keynote is the quotation from "Lycidas" on the +title-page, + + "Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil, + Nor in the glistering foil + Set off to the world, nor in broad Rumour lies, + But lives and spreads aloft in those pure eyes + And perfect witness of all-judging Jove," + +the reviewer did not understand the meaning of the lines, and called the +book "a good example of the working, influence, and effect of rumour." +On one of our own local papers not long ago there was a review of Mrs. +Barr's "Maid of Maiden Lane," which was referred to as the sequel to her +"Beau of Orange River." Even in newspapers fortunate enough to command +the services of specialists for history and science, and an additional +critic for novels, the children's books are hastily noticed, sometimes +by the youngest reporter in his spare minutes. In smaller offices the +task of reviewing all books falls to the hard-worked editor, who is, +like Jacob Riis, also his own "reporter, publisher and advertising +agent," but whose sense of literary values is often not in proportion to +his knowledge of state politics or local reforms. + +It is unfortunate that in the newspapers of as high a class as the +_Outlook_, _Independent_ and _Dial_ the notices of children's books are +often carelessly written, and show the lack of a standard of comparison. +In the _Outlook_ for Nov. 27, 1897, Richard Pryce's "Elementary Jane," +a most unchildlike book, is classed among books for children, and +"Pansy" and "Elsie" are recommended in other numbers. + +In the _Independent_, where notices of books for older readers are +written with discrimination, Ellis's "Klondike nuggets" is described: +"Full of lively adventures and exciting experiences, and is told in a +straightforward, off-hand style just suited to the purpose." (Oct. 6, +1898.) There is nothing absolutely untrue in this, but there is nothing +to guide a reader in comparing it with better books. One of Alger's +heroes is mentioned as "An admirable boy with wonderful ability to take +care of himself" (Oct. 20, 1898), and a book by Stratemeyer as "a +stirring tale, told with enthusiasm." (Oct. 6, 1898.) Stratemeyer is an +author who mixes "would" and "should," has the phraseology of a country +newspaper, as when he calls a supper "an elegant affair" and a girl "a +fashionable miss," and follows Oliver Optic closely in his plots and +conversations. + +Mrs. Cheever's "Little Mr. Van Vere of China," with its cheap sentiment +and well-worn plot of a stolen child coming to his own at last, is +commended as "well made, well illustrated." (_Dial_, Dec. 6, 1898.) A +notice in the religious paper mentioned above says, "He is a thoroughly +fascinating little fellow, and his story is told most acceptably." One +of Amanda Douglas's tales is spoken of as "A story with a fine moral +influence, yet not preachy, in the end leaving in the reader's mind the +sense of having been in good company." (_Independent_, Dec. 15, 1898.) + +One notice of "Elsie on the Hudson" is: "The multitude of young people +who have read the Elsie books, by Martha Finley, will eagerly welcome +this volume by the same author. It has to do with American history in +the days of the Revolutionary war, and the style is simple and +pleasing." In another: "Miss Martha Finley continues also the +instruction which is mixed up with that young woman's experiences." +(_Dial_, Dec. 6, 1898.) + +It is, I think, the same periodical, though I have not been able to +verify the quotation, which commends Harry Steele Morrison's "Yankee +boy's success" thus: "The book is interesting, full of push and go. Boys +will read it with a gusto; yet they must remember that what this lucky +Yankee boy did is not what they all can do." Another number which puts a +just estimate on Master Morrison as a "very unlovely and unpleasant sort +of boy, whose impudence and enterprise ought later to fit him for a +place on a yellow journal," entirely mistakes the purpose of Pugh's +"Tony Drum," a realistic story of London slum life, and classes it as a +book for boys. (_Dial_, Dec. 16, 1898.) + +The _Outlook_ says of Frances Hodgson Burnett's mawkish "Editha's +burglar," which was well parodied in _Punch_ by Anstey in his "Burglar +Bill": "This story of the queer, loving little girl and her daring and +successful effort to protect her mother, and the equally queer burglar, +is too well known in play and story to need comment." (Dec. 10, 1898.) +This story is in almost all library and school lists, even the best +selected and classified. The same number calls "Mr. Van Vere" "a +charming story." (The adjective is used for four different works for +young people in that week's grist.) + +Even Noah Brooks, in a signed article in the _Bookbuyer_ (Dec., 1898), +gives praise to Drysdale and Stratemeyer, commends the uninteresting +Chilhowee books, refers to Pansy's as "strong and helpful," and one of +Amanda Douglas's as "rich in chastened and refined sentiment." He +mentions Oliver P. Tunk's "Awful alphabet" as "a fit companion for 'A +coon alphabet.'" Perhaps it is, but when libraries and schools are +circulating Jane Andrews's "Seven little sisters" to teach the +brotherhood and sisterhood of all nations, and teachers, in the language +of Professor Thurston, of the Chicago Normal School, are "encouraging +each nationality to contribute the best it has of song, story, game, +home customs and occupations to the life of the school," it is wrong to +buy a book for a white child in which black children are held up to +ridicule, as they have been many times in _Harper's Young People_. +"Blackberries" and "Comical Coons" are also recommended in the _Dial_ +(Dec. 16, 1897), where Gertrude Smith's "Ten little comedies," a book +entirely different in spirit from her "Arabella and Araminta" stories; +Marion Harland's "Old-field school girl," which has a story of horrible +cruelty of a schoolmaster to a child, and is not meant for children; the +silly "Elaine" book, and the equally silly and sometimes coarse "Father +Goose" are favorably reviewed. + +The _Nation's_ reviews of children books have lately not been up to the +old standard, as for instance a review of Sydney Reid's would-be funny +"Josey and the chipmunk" (Dec. 13, 1900), which is called "a perfectly +delightful child's book, nearly as good as the 'Alice' books, and, +indeed, might be pronounced quite as good if Lewis Carroll, like +Shakespeare, had not 'thought of it first.'" + +It will be seen by these instances that reviews help children's +librarians very little, and that it is impossible under present +conditions for a library to determine the worth of a book without seeing +it. + +2. There have been in the last 25 years many lists of children's books +by libraries, schools, denominational societies and other organizations. +The earlier lists, although interesting to a student of the evolution of +the Children's Section, have so many books out of print or superseded +that they do not concern us now, except in that they are not made for +very young children, and often have a profusion of material which is +over the heads of boys and girls below, or even in, the high school age. +Some of them are made from hearsay or from other book lists, without an +intimate knowledge, or indeed any knowledge at all, of books +recommended, as in the following instance: A paper read at a library +meeting and afterward printed in the report of a state librarian +describes the "library ladder" as "a list of books beginning with a tale +of adventure. From this the reader's attention will be drawn to the next +in order, leading on and out, until finally the child will be +unconsciously delving into the mysteries of science; for example, we +could first take Butterworth's Indian story, 'The wampum belt': next, +Brooks's 'Story of the American Indian'; from this lead to Bancroft's +'Native races,' and finally various United States histories." + +Any one who has ever seen the five ponderous volumes of Bancroft's +"Native races of the Pacific States" knows that although it has some +value as a work of reference, not as a history, for older readers, it is +entirely useless as a stepping-stone for children, who can easily go +without its aid from Brooks's, or better, Grinnell's "Story of the +Indian" to a good one-volume United States history, or even to John +Fiske or Parkman. It is no more meant for boys and girls than the other +thirty-four volumes on the history of the Pacific coast completed by +Bancroft and his corps of assistants. + +Some tests of a library or school list are: Are the books in it chosen +for their permanent value? Has the maker of the list read them? Will it +tell an overworked teacher or librarian what the best modern +straightforward stories in simple English are, the best life of +Lafayette without any long words like "evacuation," or the best account +of a salamander in language that a child of 10 can understand? A list +for teachers is not a help in choosing books for children, unless from +the point of view of child-study, which has another place than on the +shelves of a children's room. + +In one list the "Dotty Dimple" and "Flaxie Frizzle" books are +recommended for the third-reader grade. Children who are in this grade +cannot read the ungrammatical baby-talk easily, and if they could it +would demoralize their English. + +Another has for the seventh grade a part of the "Library of wonders," +translated from the French, and out of date 20 years ago. Teachers +should be careful in buying books of popular science that they are +modern, and also written in a style that makes them attractive to boys +and girls. In a long experience in libraries I have never found that +boys and girls liked the "Library of wonders." + +A third, for children under 10 years of age, includes Miss Plympton's +"Dear daughter Dorothy," and even in one of the best and most recent +graded lists it is annotated as a "story of devotion and comradeship +between a father and his young daughter." Now "Dear daughter Dorothy" is +the best specimen I have ever seen of a kind of book to be kept out of +libraries and homes, the story of a little eight-year-old girl, who has +the entire control of the $1200 earned yearly by her father, a +bookkeeper with literary aspirations. He is arrested on a charge of +embezzlement, found guilty in the face of his daughter's testimony, but +at last acquitted through the confession of the real criminal, and he +and that important little personage, Dorothy, who takes all hearts by +storm, sail for England escorted to the ship by a crowd of admiring +friends, including the judge who sentenced him. + +The next list has Mrs. Burnett's "Little Saint Elizabeth," a morbid +tale, and with it a reproduction of "Prince Fairyfoot," a story which +the author read when she was a child in a book that she never could find +again. In order to understand the pertness and flippancy of her style in +this story, one has only to compare it with the original, reprinted +within a few months in Frances Browne's "Wonderful chair," or "Granny's +wonderful chair," as it is called in one edition. A few lines in the +simple, direct English of the old fairy tales, are expanded by Mrs. +Burnett into eight or 10 pages, with attempts at wit and allusions to +unhappy married life, which should be kept out of books for children. + +The same article in the _Nation_ which gives high praise to "Josey and +the chipmunk" thinks "The wonderful chair" prosy, but I have tested it +on children who do not enjoy stories unless they are simply told, and +have found that it holds their attention. + +Books on differences of religious belief, books written in a style or on +subjects beyond the years of boys and girls, scientific books that are +inaccurate or out of date, books that make children despise their +elders, or have an overweening sense of their own importance, and books +that are cheap, slangy, flippant, or written in bad English, dialect or +baby-talk, should have no place in a school list, and books on poor +paper and in poor type and binding should also be kept out. There are +books that tell stories of wholesome, well-bred children; fairy tales in +the simple, old-fashioned style; out-of-door books that are not dull or +aggressively instructive; and selections from the best poetry to choose +from. There is room yet for the right kind of histories that are +interesting without being babyish, and accurate without being dull. + +Lists are often made in entire ignorance of the limitations of the +children who are to use the books recommended in them. A +well-intentioned paper suggests for children of eight or over Ebers' +"Uarda" and Thiers' "French Revolution" as attractive historical works. +In science it mentions Hooker's books, which are quite out of date, and +in biography Lockhart's Scott and Forster's Dickens, which not one boy +or girl in a hundred would read through, great as is their charm. +Bryce's "American commonwealth" is also named. This list has either been +made up from books that the compiler has heard of as classics, or else +she is not in the habit of associating on familiar terms with boys and +girls, even of high school age. This paper recommends Sophie May for +very young children, and also the "Story of liberty," which a mother in +the New York _Times_ says is in the library of her daughter of eight. +This is a mother who would not allow a child to read Scott's novels till +14 or 15, and thinks Dickens too sad for even that age! + +The hundred books recommended in the _St. Nicholas_ for March, 1900, +made up from many competing lists, are nearly all good. A few, like Mrs. +Richards' "Captain January," Mrs. Wiggin's "The Birds' Christmas Carol," +and Munroe's "Through swamp and glade" have no permanent value. If one +of Munroe's books is to be included it should be "The flamingo feather," +or "Derrick Sterling," both of which are well worth reading many times +and are great favorites with children. The defect in the list is the +same just spoken of, that too many of the books are for boys and girls +from 10 to 14 years old of bookish families, and that little attention +is paid to younger or less carefully trained children. + +One list puts into the first primary grade, or fourth year of school, +for children nine or 10 years old, Abbott's "Cyrus," "Darius," "Xerxes," +and other heroes, and Fiske's "War of independence," all of which are +entirely beyond the grasp of 499 children out of 500 under 12 or 14. +Lists should be shorter, and not too closely divided. A division, "Easy +books," should include whatever children need until they can read +without difficulty, and should contain books like Longman's adapted +stories from the "Blue fairy book" and the earlier volumes of the "Ship" +English history, Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories retold" and +Eggleston's "Great Americans for little Americans." + +In one case where books are not classified by grade, Horace Bushnell's +"Woman suffrage," Hinsdale's "President Garfield and education," and +Wright's "Industrial evolution of the United States" are in the same +class with Emilie Poulsson's "Through the farmyard gate," with no +discrimination as to the age for which any one of the four is intended. +Three are beyond the understanding of boys and girls below high school +age, and if in school libraries should be for teachers only, and the +fourth is a book of kindergarten stories. + +A book which is often commended by teachers and librarians is Coffin's +"Story of liberty," which I said nearly 20 years ago "is so fierce in +its Protestantism and so bloody in its details that it causes pain to +many a sensitive child." The pictures are too horrible for a child to +see, and the book, like any other which wars against any form of +religious belief, should not be allowed in a public school. + +Some lists admit the "Elsie" books, tearfully sentimental and priggish, +where the heroine is held up as a saint and martyr for refusing to obey +an entirely reasonable request of her father, and where money, fine +clothes, and love-making at an early age hold too prominent a place. + +In one list, one of Mayne Reid's books is annotated, "To read carefully +any volume of this author is to acquire a considerable knowledge of the +trees, the flowers, the animals, the insects, and the human creatures +existing in the region where the story takes place." In Mayne Reid's +"Desert home" maple sugar trees are tapped in the autumn and yield +nearly a hundred pounds of sugar. Emerson's "Trees and shrubs of +Massachusetts" states that although sap will flow in summer and early +autumn, it has but little saccharine matter. Mayne Reid's stories as +stories are delightful for children to read, but should never be used as +aids to geography lessons. + +One library offers its boy-and-girl readers Bushnell's "Moral uses of +dark things," Mrs. Campbell's "Problems of poverty," Ely's "Labor +movement in America" and Shinn's "Mining camps." + +The lists made by James M. Sawin, of Providence, are good and +suggestive, but better for older than younger children, including, +however, for beginners in reading some excellent old favorites like Mrs. +Follen's "Twilight stories," and for children a little older a book that +ought to be in print, Paul de Musset's "Mr. Wind and Madam Rain." + +The Milwaukee list for children under 10 is good for the most part, but +includes "Dear daughter Dorothy" and "Editha's burglar." + +Mrs. Whitney's list of "Books not usually selected by young people" +(first published in the _Bulletin of Bibliography_) is for the most part +beyond the grammar-school age, including such books as Sismondi's +"Literature of the south of Europe" and Ragozin's "Vedic India." It is +unclassified, good and not too American. + +The Buffalo Public Library lists are the best that I have found, +thoroughly practical, well chosen, and in the pamphlet entitled +"Classroom libraries for public schools" well graded as far as one can +judge. The grading of schools varies so much in different cities that it +is impossible unless one knows exactly what "four" or "eight" or "nine" +represents to say whether books are suitable for it. A list of this kind +cannot be made without a thorough understanding between librarian and +teachers, a thorough knowledge of the condition of the schools and the +home-life of the children on the part of the librarian, and a knowledge +of books on the part of the teachers. + +The graded and annotated list from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is +for teachers, not children, and has many suggestive notes, but will bear +weeding. + +Many lists are almost entirely American, and seem at first sight narrow +and one-sided. A little thought and knowledge of the conditions under +which they are made shows the cause of this apparent fault. City lists +are made for schools which are full of children of newly-arrived +emigrants, whose first desire, as soon as they can read English at all, +is to know something of the great free country to which they have come. +It is to supply this demand that many simple United States histories and +historical stories relating to this country have been put upon the +market in the last five years, almost to the exclusion of other books of +the kind. Teachers and librarians should remember in making lists that +there are other countries in the world, and good histories of them, like +Longmans' "Ship" series. + +The books suggested by public library commissions are usually published +in this country, partly for the reasons that it is easier to find them, +that they are cheaper than imported books, and that they are in demand +in small libraries. The New York State Library lists are of this kind, +and the books for children are carefully chosen as far as they can be +from this country alone. + +With regard to scientific books for children, the Springfield (Mass.) +City Library has printed a short list of books on science and useful +arts that children really enjoy. This list has been prepared by the +children's librarian in connection with the supervisor of science in the +Springfield public schools and an out-of-town librarian. The list is the +best I have seen, but is open to criticism on account of one or two of +the books being out of date. The list for third-grade teachers compiled +by Miss May H. Prentice for the Cleveland Library is excellent for +supplementary reading and nature-stories and poems. + +3. The value of articles on children's reading is variable, but a fair +specimen may be found in the _Contemporary Review_ for June, where H. V. +Weisse states in his "Reading for the young" that a generation ago the +number of published books was small, magazines were high in tone, and in +the realm of juvenile literature Ballantyne was "monarch of all he +surveyed." On account of the limited supply of children's books, boys +and girls were thus driven to standard authors. "Now magazines and +so-called 'historical stories' are issued in such quantities that young +people read nothing else. They should be trained to better things, and +teachers and mothers should read to their children and see that they +read good books for themselves, if need be rewarding for a clear +reproduction of the sense of any good book, never punishing for a +failure to understand, at first hearing or reading, that which involves +'a new form of mental effort.'" We have all heard something like this +before! Even Agnes Repplier, with her charm of style and her +denunciation of the "little Pharisee in fiction," and the too-important +Rose in Bloom in contrast to the well-kept-under Rosamond, makes few +suggestions of books which are good for children to read. + +The reading lists in the New York _Times_ are based on the experience of +the writers, who have often been precocious, over-stimulated children of +bookish families without companions of their own age, and have no idea +of the needs, wants and limitations of the public library children of +to-day, many of whom have few or no books at home. "I have quite a +library," wrote one such child. "I have three books, Longfellow's poems, +a geography, and a book of fairy tales." + +A dreamy boy like "The child in the library" of a recent _Atlantic +Monthly_ and the keen little newsboy who snatches a half hour after +school is over and he has sold his papers to spell out a simple life of +Columbus or the "Story of the chosen people" have little in common, and +need different books, but they both need the very best of their kind. + +A book reviewer or maker of book lists for children should have an +intimate knowledge of the best books which have been written for them, +and the unconscious training which this knowledge gives in good taste +and a critical sense of style. He (or she) should have also the intimate +knowledge of all sorts and conditions of children and their limitations +that a teacher or a settlement worker or a wise mother has. More than 20 +years ago, in the meeting of the American Library Association in Boston, +Mrs. Kate Gannett Wells said: "I would like to have mothers prepare +lists, whose headings should vary from any yet given; such as: books +that make children cry; books of adventure for unexcitable and +unimaginative children; unlovesick novels." + +The best reviews of children's books ever written in this country were +the work of a woman and a mother--Lucy McKim Garrison, who, in the +earlier volumes of the _Nation_, put into her work broad-mindedness, +high ideals, and an understanding of children. It is such work as this +that should be a model for the reviewers and a guide to the librarians +of to-day, and one of the most important duties of the Children's +Section is to insist upon higher standards, both in reviewers and +through them in the writers of children's books, and upon trained +critical knowledge in the makers of children's lists. + + + + + BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: + + I. FICTION, II. FAIRY TALES, III. SCIENCE. + + +It seems to have been fairly demonstrated that we have as yet no proper +standard of values to guide us in the selection of children's books. +Reviews fail: they either do not evaluate the book at all, or they lack +appreciation of it or of the children who are to read it--or both. Book +lists fail, as a rule, through eagerness to get something printed before +we know what to print. Articles upon children's reading fail because the +people who have written them are not always familiar with children's +books or are not acquainted with the "public library child." We turn to +the books themselves, but, having no standard of values, how shall we +judge? How are we to know whether a book is good or poor? + +It is not possible to reduce the appreciation of literature--whether +books for children or for all time--to an exact science. It is difficult +to conceive of any formula for the evaluation of books in general or the +books of a particular class which would not fail again and again when +applied to the individual book through the medium of a personal +judgment. We shall not attempt, therefore, to answer the questions which +form the substance of our topic. We have endeavored merely to state a +question which to all children's librarians seems to be of paramount +importance, trusting that we may eventually reach a partial solution of +this problem by bringing the thought of many minds to bear upon it. + +This collective paper, or, more properly, this collection of ideas upon +different classes of books, requires a word of explanation. The +contributors were not asked to prepare papers but to furnish ideas and +opinions, which should form the basis for discussion of the general +principles of selection and of individual books in the several classes +considered. The purpose was to present briefly the principles that +should apply in each class, and to emphasize these by citation of +specific books. + + + _I. FICTION._ + +We were recently asked to make out a list of a dozen books suitable as +prizes for a Sunday-school class of boys and girls from 12 to 16 years +of age. We studied a long and carefully prepared list of stories written +for girls of this age and supposed to include what was most desirable. +Assuming that the girls had read Mrs. Whitney and Miss Alcott, we did +not consider them, and we found not one story which we could recommend +as possessing permanent interest and literary value. There were many +books which girls read and like but they did not reach a fair standard +for this purpose. We filled out the desired number for the girls with +books written for older readers. Far different was our experience with +the books for the boys. It was only a matter of choice between a large +number, both suitable and desirable, and yet the lists which we +consulted had been compiled by the same hand. + +In making selections of books for her readers, the children's librarian +encounters at the first step this difference in the quality of the books +written for boys and those written for girls. Judged purely by the +standard of taste, she must reject the greater proportion of those +written for girls. When she finds so few that reach her standard she may +blame herself for ignorance of the better books, but she must ultimately +reach the conclusion that whatever her own shortcomings there is a lack +of desirable books for girls. However, another most important factor +comes into the case on the reader's side of the question. If the +librarian is going to meet the needs of her readers she must understand +what they are instinctively seeking in books, and she must enlist +herself on the side of human nature. She will find at once that a +distinct division in the reading of boys and girls springs from the fact +that, generally speaking, the mental life of the boy is objective, that +of the girl subjective. The boy seeks action in fiction, the girl is +attracted by that which moves her emotionally or relates itself directly +to her own consciousness, and the last thing that either of them cares +about is the literary value of the book. Hundreds--no doubt +thousands--of our college graduates look back to the period when, +according to their sex, the "Oliver Optic" series, or the "Elsie +Dinsmore" series, played a very important part in their existence. The +love of adventure in the boy gave the charm to the books. Adventure he +must have, whether he finds it in the tinsel setting of Oliver Optic or +the refined gold of Robert Louis Stevenson. And the magnet in the nature +of the girl draws to herself something helpful even from Martha Finley; +otherwise, she would not speak of the "Elsie" books as "beautiful": +there is something in them which to her represents "beauty." +Nevertheless, while justly condemning the Oliver Optic and the Elsie +books as cheap, tawdry things, the librarian must seek among better +authors the holding quality on the nature of the child which these books +possess. She must search for books in which these elements of interest +are incarnated in what we call literature--books which, while rivalling +these in attraction, will at the same time refine and broaden the taste +of the reader. + +Now, the lovers of Oliver Optic and Mrs. Finley do not take kindly to +the classics and as, in the modern stories for young people, few will +pass muster as literature, all that the librarian of to-day can do is to +use her judgment and discrimination among those the writers have +provided. The boys are readily turned from Oliver Optic to Henty, +Tomlinson, Jules Verne, and on to "Ivanhoe," but with the girls the case +is hard. The girl tells us that she likes stories about boarding-school. +It is a capital subject: in the hands of a writer sympathetic with +girls, of fertile imagination and vigorous power of characterization, +boarding-school life affords material for most entertaining +combinations--but the literature of the boarding-school has yet to be +written. The average boarding-school story has three main +characters--the attractive, impulsive heroine, always getting into +trouble; the cruel, cold-blooded, unscrupulous rival, habitually dealing +in falsehood, and the teacher who is singularly devoid of discernment or +intuition. The heroine inevitably falls into the snare of the rival, and +things are usually set right all around by a death-bed scene--although +actual death is sometimes averted. "Louie's last term at St. Mary's" is +one of the better stories of this kind, and Mrs. Spofford's "Hester +Stanley at St. Mark's" is fairly well written, with a touch of the charm +of the author's personality. "Chums," by Maria Louise Pool, is one of +the worst of its kind, where envy, hatred, and malice run riot through +the pages and the actors in the story are wholly lacking in vitality. +The experiences of Miss Phelps's "Gypsy Breynton" and Susan Coolidge's +"Katy" are as satisfactory pictures of boarding school life as we have; +and Helen Dawes Brown's "Two college girls" is a good story. "Brenda, +her school and her club," by Helen L. Reed, is a recent valuable +addition to books for girls. + +In stories of home life Miss Alcott still easily takes the lead, with +Susan Coolidge and Sophie May following in merit and popularity. The +boys have an excellent story of home life in Rossiter Johnson's "Phaeton +Rogers." The setting is perfectly simple, every day surroundings, but +the characters have the abounding vitality that keeps things moving. The +entertaining succession of events proceeds directly and naturally from +the ingenuity and healthy activity of the young people grouped together. +The book is a model in this respect as well as in the use of colloquial +English which never loses a certain refinement. Every boy, while reading +"Phaeton Rogers," finds himself in touch with good companions--and this +is true as well, in Charles Talbot's books for boys and girls. + +The most important books for boys are the historical stories, appealing +at once to the hero worship and the love of adventure common to boyhood; +at the same time they should give a good general idea of history. The +story in historical setting is, also, most desirable for girls--in that +it balances the too subjective tendency; it carries the mind of the +reader beyond the emotional condition of the heroine--indeed the heroine +has no time to study her own emotions when brought into vital relation +with stirring events. Apart from the value of the historical facts +imparted is the indirect but more valuable habit of mind cultivated in +the girl reader. Vivid, stirring, absorbing stories for girls can be and +should be written in this field, which is practically unlimited. Miss +Yonge has done some good service here. "The prince and the pauper" and +the "Last days of Pompeii" are also illustrations of the kind of work +that should be done--they are both strong in the direct interrelation +between the imaginary characters and real history--and both appeal alike +to the boy and the girl. + +Books written with a direct moral purpose seldom achieve popularity with +boys--and yet one of the most popular of all their books is "Captains +courageous," which is of the highest moral value though without one line +of religious preaching in its pages. Here the boys are in touch with a +real, living character, acted upon and developed, through the moulding +pressure of life itself--from first to last the aim of the story is the +boy; and yet the moral outcome is simple, natural, inevitable and manly; +it appeals to the common sense which is strong in boys. + +Now when a woman writes for girls on the subject of the transformation +of a frivolous butterfly into a girl of sense, instead of giving us +character and action with a moral outcome, we have a religious setting +with the action of the story and the conduct of the characters bent in +every direction to illustrate the motive of the story--the religious +idea. + +The plastic nature of the young girl wrought upon by life, fresh +faculties brought into activity by the hard knocks of fate or the +sunbursts of good luck--although these things are happening every day in +the real life of young girls, we yet await the writer who will put them +into literature without sentimentalizing. What we want is the novel +simplified; the story told directly, without byways of description or +analysis; where healthy young people, neither saints nor prigs, nor +creatures of affectation, jealousy, or malice, are acted upon by life +and each other in a natural fashion. + +Let boys and girls be brought together as in real life; brothers are a +good element in girls' stories, and love affairs need not be excluded, +if handled with delicacy, common sense and true feeling. Many books +classed as novels are merely stories simply and clearly told, intended +for older readers, but far better for young girls than the stories +usually written for them. Miss Jeanie Gould Lincoln's stories and Mrs. +J. G. Austin's historical novels, some of Mrs. Barr's and Mrs. +Oliphant's novels and a wide range of other interesting, well-told +stories can be substituted, if care and discrimination are used in the +selection. Fortunately, too, many girls of twelve are ready for Dickens +and other standard writers. + +However it is not only through the emotions that these aspirations and +desires are ministered to--when the writer can develop this emotion into +spiritual enthusiasm--or when she portrays a character of active +spiritual force, she has put something valuable into the life of the +reader. Here, as always, it is the personality of the writer--the soul +back of the words that most counts, and it is just this quality of true +spirituality which gives value to Mrs. Whitney's stories, in spite of +their wordiness, lack of proportion and forced symbolism; as it is the +genuine goodness and pure idealism of Miss Mulock which forms the very +atmosphere in which her characters move. + +While it is impossible to offer a practical guide to the selection of +books a few suggestions can be made. In the religious stories, for +instance, there must be discrimination between those encouraging morbid +self-examination or religious sentimentalizing, and those cultivating +optimism and the perception of true values and ideals. + +In books of adventure the dividing line would fall between, on the one +side, those stories where the hero is actuated by pure love of adventure +or where the adventure is worth while in itself--as in "Foul play"; and, +on the other side, those stories where the hero is merely seeking to +exploit himself and in which the tendency might be to incite boys to +reckless escapades for the sake of notoriety. + +In the _purchase_ of books one must consider the range of the average +reader, but in _recommending_ books to the individual boy and girl, +appreciation of differences in temperament and culture is indispensable. + + WINIFRED L. TAYLOR, + _Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, N. Y._ + + + _II. FAIRY TALES._ + +Fairy tales must appeal to the love of the marvellous, and must yet be +told with a simplicity that precludes all doubt of their reality in the +mind of the child, no matter how improbable the circumstances to our +prosaic minds. The language must be simple and dignified. To write a +fairy tale, one must first of all be a poet, at least must have the +poetic instinct. The child very early absorbs the idea of rhyme. He is +sung to sleep with cradle songs, and soothed by jingles, and he does not +soon outgrow their influence. + +These tales from the librarian's standpoint, fall naturally into two +classes: the folklore legends adapted for children (in which, regardless +of classification, we include mythological tales) and the purely +literary, imaginative story. + + _Fairy tales derived from folk-lore._ + +Fairy tales derived from folk-lore--stories drifted down from the +childhood of the world, were not originally written for children, and +perhaps for this very reason, they have claimed them for their own. They +are not "the artless appeals to all little masters and misses who are +good or intend to be good" of John Newbery's time. They have a +naturalness which these first books printed especially for children +lack; the moral is not too strongly urged. Different versions of the +old, old tales reflect in a measure the manners and customs of the +country in which they are collected. Fairies are stolid or clever, +mischievous or amiable, according to the characters of the people to +whom the stories were told. + +To this class belong the Grimm brothers' "Household tales," "Icelandic +tales," edited by Mrs. A. W. Hall (tales in which it is the princess or +the peasant maiden who rescues the prince, instead of being rescued); +the Norwegian tales of Asbjörnsen and Moë, the Grimm brothers of the far +North. The collections of Lang, Baring-Gould; and Cruikshank, because of +illustrations; Miss Mulock's "Book of fairies" and William Canton's +"True annals of fairyland" should be in all libraries. + +Collections of tales derived from Greek and Roman mythology, such as +Kingsley's "Heroes," Hawthorne's "Wonder book" and "Tanglewood tales," +may also be considered as fairy tales derived from folk-lore. + +One of the most exquisitely told of the old Greek fairy tales is that of +"Eros and Psyche," adapted by Paul Carus from Apuleius. The story +appeals to children, regardless of the religious significance indicated +in the preface of the book. + +"Fairy tales from far Japan," translated by Susan Ballard, is excellent, +particularly the story of the "Magic mirror," which is also found in a +charming set of booklets published in Tokio, in English. This set is +called the "Japanese fairy tale series," the type, paper and colored +illustrations being all of Japanese manufacture. + +"Fairy stories from the little mountain," by John Finnemore, is a good +collection of Welsh stories as is Frere's "Old Deccan days" of Indian +folk-lore. + +"Wigwam stories," edited by Mary Catherine Judd, are told by Indians, or +adapted from ethnological reports and original sources. + +Mabie's "Norse stories retold from the Eddas," Keary's "Heroes of +Asgard," "The wonder-world stories" of Marie Pabke and Margery Deane, +Scudder's "Book of folk tales" and Wiltse's "Folk-lore and proverb +stories," both of the latter for the youngest readers, the Countess +d'Aulnoy's fairy tales, the collections of Laboulaye and the immortal +tales of Perrault, we cannot afford to be without, as well as Howard +Pyle's "Wonder clock" and "Pepper and salt," which retain the old-time +flavor and are much enhanced by the author's illustrations. + + _Literary fairy tales._ + +Hans Christian Andersen's stories, while based often upon tradition, are +excluded by Hartland from the list of pure fairy tales and classed as +literary. Yet even the old, old fairy tales cannot, with justice, rival +his in the hearts of the children. Their feeling for him has been +expressed by John White Chadwick, in writing of another: + + "But as I muse, I seem at heaven's door + To hear a sound which there I heard before. + When Danish Hans that way did softly wend-- + A sound of children making merriest din + Of welcome, as the old man entered in." + +Mary S. Claude, in "Twilight thoughts," has shown herself a graceful +follower in the footsteps of Andersen. Such stories create a tenderness +for plants and animals not easily effaced. + +It detracts nothing from the interest of the story that what a child +calls a fairy tale we call literature. Even Dr. Johnson recognized that +"babies do not want to hear about babies." It is a great pity that a +child should never meet the knights of the Round Table, or the +Charlemagne legends--half history, half romance--or the Homeric tales, +outside the dissecting room of a literature class. Small wonder that a +child who heard them there for the first time should exclaim with +considerable animus, "I like to read, but I hate literature." + +Here is a good field for the "story hour" so successfully introduced in +the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh. That edition which follows most +closely the original, or is told in graphic clear-cut English, such as +Morris uses in the "Earthly paradise" or the "Life and death of Jason," +or Butcher and Lang's translation of the Odyssey, is the best. Such a +version read aloud is infinitely better than the best dilution by any +well-meaning attendant. Skip judiciously, but do not weaken the story. +It is not only the plot but the charm of style which we wish to +introduce. The argument may of course first be given, that the child be +put in sympathy with the situation. + + _Modern fairy tales._ + +A good modern fairy tale is a rare article. One may search far and long +before finding it. If it is not worth reading twice, it is not worth +reading once. In many of these modern tales there is an atmosphere of +haste wholly lacking in the good old tales. Fairyland has a government +of its own, where neither time nor space has value. It lies "east of the +sun and west of the moon." + +One of the best collections is "Granny's wonderful chair," by Frances +Browne--in the American edition "The wonderful chair." It is well +written, the interest is well kept up, and the language is befitting the +subject. The surest way to test a poor fairy tale is to first read one +of unquestionable merit, and to get thoroughly into its atmosphere. + + _Good modern fairy tales._ + +"Princess Ilse," by Marie Petersen; a gracefully told story of a +discontented mountain brook. + +"Mopsa the fairy," by Jean Ingelow, and "The little lame prince," by +Dinah Maria Craik. + +"Lob-lie-by-the-fire," by Mrs. Ewing, and "At the back of the North +wind" and "The Princess and Curdie," by George Macdonald. + +The average modern fairy tale is a jumble of impossibilities, with no +continuity of incident, well enough or poorly written, according to the +ability of the writer. + +"The magic fruit garden," by Marion Wallace Dunlop, is an illustration +of this kind. Two very small children, in abbreviated pinafores, are +studying their Monday lessons; one is writing an essay on Perseverance, +the other is copying geographical names. By the illustrations, one may +judge the children to be of kindergarten age. It is not surprising that +they fall asleep, and, to dreamland sent, meet with adventures enough to +make the strongest head whirl--a case of literary delirium tremens. + +"Snow garden," by Elizabeth Wordsworth, is on the whole a good +collection; the stories, however, are of unequal merit. + +"The other side of the sun," by Evelyn Sharp, is of negative goodness. +The witches and wizards are mild and amiable, especial care evidently +being taken that no child should be kept awake at night. It does no harm +for children occasionally to shiver and shake as poor Hans in the Grimm +collection longed to do. The author's satisfaction at the expression the +"wymps wimpled" is insisted upon a little too frequently. + +"Fairy folk of Blue Hill," by Lily F. Wesselhoeft, is of especial +interest to children about Boston, since it accounts for the granite +quarries and pudding stone of the region. It is smoothly written and is +not spoiled by slang or pertness. + +"Summer legends," by Rudolph Baumbach. The stories are not altogether +fairy tales nor are they written for the youngest readers. They are +gracefully written although they lose somewhat by translation. The book +is in some parts amusing and all the stories are peopled with the +wonderful creatures of fairyland. + +Other tales seem invented only for the purpose of forcing religious +sentiment, or pointing a moral in inverse proportion to the size of the +reader. Their authors seem sometimes to have reached Mark Twain's +conclusion that "every one being born with an equal amount of original +sin, the pressure on the square inch must needs be greater in a baby." + +"Pixie and Elaine stories," by Carrie E. Morrison, is a mixture of fairy +tale and religious story. The author speaks in her preface of the +stories having been carefully pruned. One shudders at thinking what they +must have been before, with such chapters as "The Elaines' picture of +heaven," and "The pixie transforms an Elaine" left in. + +"New book of the fairies," by Beatrice Harraden, is marred by the +suggestion of cruelty to animals. In one story, in place of rubbing the +Aladdin lamp, that what one wishes may happen, one must pull the black +cat's tail. It is gratifying to reflect that black cats have their own +peculiar method of retaliation for such experiments. + + _Burlesque fairy tales._ + +Burlesque fairy tales are the most atrocious of all. They are apt to be +broad in their humor, full of _fin de siècle_ jokes or puns, and modern +allusions which mar the poetry of the tale if there is any in it, and +create an appetite for facetiousness in books. "Lips wagging, and never +a wise word," one is tempted to say with Ben Jonson.... Copyright fees +should be trebled on this class of books. + +Under this head come: + +"The book of dragons," by E. Nesbit. + +"Here they are!" by James F. Sullivan; full of modern allusions and +puns. + +"The pink hen," by Cuthbert Sterling; a sort of "continuous +performance." The pink hen is hatched from a forgotten Easter egg, is +driven from the barnyard by her associates and forced to seek her +fortune. She links her fate with that of a little girl who has escaped +from an ogre, and together they redeem a prince from the curses of bad +fairies. The pink hen is continually punning, and the prince while still +in the cradle is addicted to smoking. + +It is hard to tell how the author of Jewett's "More bunny stories" would +classify them. We hope not as fairy tales. They are poor from any point +of view. The bunnies might as well be ordinary children as anything. +They go to lawn parties, play golf, dance the Virginia reel, go to West +Point, tell folk-lore stories, repeat Bible verses and say their +prayers. We are sometimes asked for a Sunday book. For one who must have +a special book for that day, this might possibly answer; it is certainly +full of moral reflections and pious sentiment; but there is no reason at +all for reading it on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. The story closes +with a wedding where the happy bunnies are united under a bridal bell, +while the strains of the march from "Lohengrin" float in the air. + +Humor is not early developed in all children, which is perhaps why a +great many do not care for "Alice in Wonderland," and for Stockton's +fairy tales--"The bee man of Orn," "The griffin and the minor canon," +etc. + +Laura E. Richards' "Chop-chin and the golden dragon" must also be +classed as humorous. It is not as good as the Toto stories. + + _Animal folk-lore._ + +Animal folk tales as exemplified in Joel Chandler Harris's stories, +"Little Mr. Thimble-finger," "Mr. Rabbit at home," "Daddy Jake," "Uncle +Remus," "Story of Aaron," etc., are excellent. Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, +the black stallion and all the animal characters are quite as much +realities to the children as Buster John, Sweetest Susan and the Little +Master. + +Ortoli's "Evening tales," follows the same general line. + +Kipling, too, in the "Jungle books" has won the hearts of the children, +and here there is no hint of the "garlic flavor," mentioned by +Higginson. + +Fraser's "Mooswa" also belongs to this class. + +A common practice in modern fairy stories is for the author to open the +tale in this way: A child falls asleep and enters fairyland via the +dream country. Often the child has been sent to bed for some +misdemeanor, as in the "Dream fox story book," by Mabel Osgood Wright, +or has fallen asleep over his tasks, as in the case of the "One-eyed +griffin," by Herbert E. Inman, the fairy tales being offered by way of +consolation; a reprehensible practice in itself, besides putting one out +of touch with the real fairyland. It is too conspicuously "make believe" +and leads one to suspect that the author has little confidence in his +own production. As "good wine needs no bush," so a good fairy tale needs +no introduction or apology. In the real fairyland one cannot easily be +ungraceful. + + _Nature fairy tales._ + +Nature fairy tales are more than apt to be failures, and often include a +great deal of pertness and cheap talk, in their effort to teach by +stealth. (Charles Lamb writes to Coleridge in regard to Goody Two Shoes +in this way: "Think what you would have been now, if, instead of being +fed with tales and old wives' fables, you had been crammed with +geography and natural history.") + +A conspicuous example of the faults of this class of story is found in +"Sylvia in flowerland," by Linda Gardner. The heroine is introduced as a +high-school girl, well-advanced in Latin and mathematics, and amply able +to supplement very largely the information which the flowers give her +about themselves. Linda strolls into the fields and is told all sorts of +facts about the habits of plants by the flowers. The story where the +author forgets to interject puns is interestingly told, certainly enough +so to attract a girl of fourteen, who has any fondness for flowers. +Besides the numerous puns, such glaring sentences as the following, +condemn it. "I don't know who you mean." "Why it is a nasty nettle"! +said Sylvia. "Nasty, yourself," ejaculated the nettle sharply, "why do +you come shoving against me?" + +McCook's "Old farm fairies," gives what Mrs. Malaprop calls "a +supercilious knowledge" in its attempt to interest children in insect +life, by introducing different insects in the form of pixies, brownies +and fairies. While it has not the faults of "Sylvia in flowerland," the +information is mainly crowded into footnotes and appendices, which as a +rule are carefully avoided by children. + +Mabel Osgood Wright's "Tommy Anne" and "Wabeno" are more successful; but +the same amount of energy spent in making the facts of nature +interesting in themselves would be preferable. + +While not assuming an absolute censorship in this department, the +principle of natural selection may be applied in discarding such books +as are characterized by the faults here cited, that we may do our share +towards discouraging a taste for facetiousness, flippancy and poor style +in literature. For while these modern, sham, soulless fairy tales soon +lose themselves in the overwhelming mass of printed matter, in their +brief existence they have time to accomplish considerable harm. Far +better to encourage re-reading the imperishable tales, than to gratify +an insatiable desire for more. Did not we ourselves again and again shed +fresh tears over Cinderella's hard fate, or gasp with bated breath while +watching with Sister Ann for that distant speck on the horizon? If +children are different to-day, it is partly because we are helping to +make them so. + + ABBY L. SARGENT, + _Medford_ (_Mass._) _Public Library_. + + + _III. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN._ + +In the selection of books for children's libraries it is necessary to +understand the difference between the aims and methods of the old +education and the new. + +Until recently the schools have centered their work about man, studying +his language, literature, methods of reasoning, and the manner in which +he has partitioned off the earth into countries. No importance whatever +was attached to his physical surroundings, which form so great a factor +in his life and by which he is so profoundly affected. In history, the +study of dates, battles and leaders was all that was required. In +geography, the work was almost exclusively confined to a description of +the earth, the location of mountains, rivers, cities, and political +divisions. Before the establishment of the national Weather Bureau there +was scarcely any public interest manifested in the phenomena of the +atmosphere and its relation to various weather elements. Many of us can +recall from our own experience the picture of the earth divided into +zones, but why such a division was made did not come up for +consideration. + +What are we now aiming to do for the child? We are looking beyond the +mere cultivation of memory; and we desire to increase the child's point +of contact with the world, to bring him into closer relationship with +the life about him, to broaden his sympathies and to develop the powers +of observation and reason. In so far as we are able to accomplish these +results, we shall make him happier by enabling him to understand the +great laws that govern the universe. The child is learning that the +facts of history are the results of causes, that they are the working +out of great principles and that by the comparison of the past with the +present he may be able to judge of the future. From a study of the +physical features of the earth he learns that slopes determine the +course of rivers and that cities are dependent for their growth upon +physical environment. The consideration of the weather enables him to +understand the state of the atmosphere about him, its effect on climate, +the cause of storms, and the different action of solar energy on air, +land, and water, which renders possible life upon the earth. Science +demands an investigation of the growth and habits of plants and animals, +the relationship of one form to another, the function and adaptation of +parts, the effect of surroundings, while form and structure are results, +not ends. + +We want to lead the child from results back to causes. The possession of +a vast number of facts, unrelated among themselves, is valueless and +even harmful, for the child does not look upon nature as a whole. +Nature-study, perhaps more than any other subject, leads the child into +sympathy with his environment. He observes carefully and thoughtfully +and thus the individual is developed. From personal contact with nature +he gains the power of accurate observation, correct thinking and +judgment; thus strengthening his moral character. If this is the effect +of nature-study upon the development of the child, the question comes to +the librarian--What principles shall guide me in the selection of books +that the library with which I am connected may be of assistance in +accomplishing these results, and meet the demand of modern education? + +A book for children should be attractive. The exterior should present a +harmony of color and tasteful decoration. The text should be printed +with clear type upon good paper and should be well illustrated. Colored +plates are preferable, provided the coloring is good, otherwise +uncolored illustrations are far more desirable. The text should be +clear, simple, and scientifically correct. + +The new scientific book differs from the old. The old style book gave +dead results, no sympathy in or interest for life was aroused, no +suggestions were given for first-hand observations of nature, +consequently the book failed to stimulate a desire for personal +investigation that could be verified by the recorded work of others. The +new scientific book not only gives results but a detailed account of the +methods employed in obtaining those results. The reader is interested in +trying the same experiments, gains a sympathy and interest in the +wonderful life history of a plant, bird, or insect, develops a +tenderness for life and feels that all nature is a sympathetic unit. + +Within the last few years the interest that has been aroused throughout +the country in "nature-study," has caused a great demand for this class +of books. Writers and publishers have hastened to meet the demand and as +a result the market has been flooded with books that were made to sell. +Too often the writers have not been scientific persons, and as a result +the books have been mere compilations, or were not true to facts. They +lacked the true spirit of science. Other authors have not separated the +element of fiction from that of science, thinking that the child could +only be interested in nature by means of a story. The writer of this +paper does not believe that science books should be made story books. +"Tenants of an old farm," by McCook, is a good illustration of the +combination of the science and story element. The author is a naturalist +and whatever facts are presented may be accepted as being as nearly +correct as it is possible to make them since they represent the results +of careful personal observation. The author himself did not believe that +the truths of nature were so unattractive that they needed to be woven +into a story in order that the book might find its way to the general +reader. Then why did he employ this method? He was persuaded by his +friends to change the original plan of the book and presented it, after +much hesitation, in its present form. The book has thereby lost much of +its usefulness. + +Another element that many authors have employed to a greater or less +extent is personification. That the value of a book is lessened thereby +and its power over the reader greatly decreased, is beyond question. +There may be some excuse for a limited amount of personification in the +treatment of bees, wasps, or ants, but the majority of forms of plant +and animal life does not need the human factor in order to make clear +life-relationships. Grant Allen, in his "Story of the plants," has +described the use of the stamens and pistils as "how plants marry" and +the modes of fertilization as "various marriage customs." Allen Gould, +in "Mother Nature's children," speaks of the "snakehead" fish and its +young as "Mr. and Mrs. Snakehead and their babies" and of the +seed-vessels of plants as "ways the mother plants have of cradling their +babies." This method of treating nature's truths does not make the facts +any clearer to the child; it only tends to diminish the grandeur of that +truth. Some writers have considered it desirable to embody the thought +in terms that are already, or are supposed to be, familiar to the child, +that he may be able to grasp the truth. The author forces upon the child +a double task, since he must first get the thought as it appears and +then search for the concealed fact. This process is not liable to be +successful. Mrs. Dana, in "Plants and her children," uses the term +"sweet stuff" for nectar, "watery-broth" for the cell-sap of plants. The +food of plants is spoken of as the "plant's bill of fare," and in +expressing the fact that the crude sap which is taken up by the roots +needs to be converted into elaborated sap before it may be used as food, +she says "When the watery broth is cooked in the sun, the heat of the +sun's rays causes the water to pass off through the little leaf mouths. +Thus the broth is made fit for plant food." Must not the child possess +some scientific knowledge before he will be able to understand the +author's meaning? "Plants and her children" is a valuable book, but +would not its merits be greatly enhanced if the scientific facts were +told in simple language? They certainly have interest enough in +themselves to be attractive to the child. Books like Hooker's "Child's +book of nature" should be discarded. They represent the old scientific +thought. No sympathy or interest in life is aroused, no relationships +are suggested, no adaptation to environment is shown, no incentive is +given for personal observation. Why should we cling to the old when a +book can be obtained that will more nearly satisfy our needs? + +There is often a great difference in the individual merits of books by +the same author. Mabel Osgood Wright's "Birdcraft" is valuable, while +"Tommy Anne and the three hearts" and "Wabeno" are the reverse. The last +two represent a type of book that should not be included in a science +library. The fairy and story element so greatly exceeds the scientific +as to render the books absolutely valueless, nor are they a success from +a literary standpoint. No book in which the author wanders from one +subject to another, in such rapid succession that the reader has +difficulty in following the thought, or is so vague that an effort must +be made to understand the topic treated, can be of much practical value. +The greater number of the Appleton's "Home reading books" possess little +merit. The selections were not written for children; they lack +simplicity, are not attractive and are too technical. The article "The +life of plants" in "Plant world" would require two or three readings by +an adult in order to understand what the author was discussing. The best +books in this series are Weed's "Insect world" and Holden's "Family of +the sun" and "Stories of great astronomers." Such books as Fanny +Bergen's "Glimpses at the plant world," Carpenter's "Geographies," +Kearton's "Our bird friends," and Weed's "Stories of Insect life" +represent the style of book that the elementary science of to-day +demands. We do not wish to make scientists of the children, but by means +of the best books on nature-study we would prepare the way for +elementary science. _Nature-study_ is not _science_, for science is +classified knowledge. So far as possible let the elements of +personification and fiction be omitted, do not select books that are too +technical or vague, that are not well illustrated, and that are not true +to science. + +Then our libraries will contain books that will incite the self-activity +of the child and arouse the spirit of investigation; books that will +stimulate observation and inculcate a spirit of tenderness and love for +all life. + + ELLA A. HOLMES, _Assistant curator, + Children's Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences_. + + + + + BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN. + + BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH WALLACE, _Hazelwood Branch, Carnegie Library of + Pittsburgh_. + + +The primary object of bulletin work is to direct the attention of the +children to the books. The bulletin, like a poster, attracts the eye, +arouses interest in a subject, and advertises the books treating of it. +By means of picture bulletins interest may be awakened in topics before +unnoticed; the children are curious to learn more about the pictures +displayed, their curiosity is further excited by the short descriptive +text, and as a result books relating to the subject are read. Thus, +without rousing the children's suspicions, we are able to guide their +reading. + +The second object is the cultivation of the children's appreciation for +pictures. If we can catch the eye by attractive pictures, we may add to +the children's store of ideas, and aside from broadening their +knowledge, bring them under the beneficent influence of beauty. Pictures +of æsthetic value placed in a children's room in which harmony of +decoration, furniture, and arrangement have been considered, exert a +vitally refining influence. When we realize how painfully lacking in +refinement are many of the homes of the children who visit the library, +how blinded are their eyes to beauty because of their sordid +surroundings, we shall then see how essential it is to enrich their +lives by every means of cultivation appropriate to our field of work. + +Whatever we may do in bulletin work must accord with the high standard +of taste evidenced in all of the fittings of a dignified library. While +we are to aim to attract the children by bulletins which are simple and +childlike in spirit, we must keep a sharp lookout that in our effort to +please them our bulletins do not become tawdry and fussy in style. We +are to meet the children on their level and yet educate their taste to a +higher standard. + +The first practical consideration of bulletin-making is the collection +of material. Pictures may be obtained from a variety of sources. Old +magazines, book announcements, publishers' catalogues, book covers, book +plates, railroad guides, advertising sheets, posters, special prints, +etc., form the main sources of supply. In addition to a stock of +good-toned gray mounting-board for regular use, colored mounting-board +may be employed as a suitable background for colored prints, or to +express the main idea of the bulletin--a delicate shade of green making +an effective mount for certain pictures for bulletins on "Spring." + +The choice of subject is of supreme importance. We should study the +children whom we are trying to benefit, that we may discover their +tastes and learn their interests. We may select a subject in line with +the course of school study. This serves not only to illustrate a subject +in which the children are already interested, but is an incidental means +of making known to the teacher and pupils the usefulness of the library +in furnishing reading supplementary to the school studies. We may +bulletin a subject of transient interest, thus informing the children +along this particular line; or, we may choose a topic which by the +novelty of its presentation, may arouse interest in an unfamiliar +subject, providing we make sure in choosing that we relate the unknown +to the known. We always have a chance of illustrating some one of the +universal interests of childhood. Spring and autumn exhibits, bulletins +on birds, flowers, and animals, certain anniversaries, etc., invariably +prove attractive to children. The bulletins should be such as to satisfy +a catholicity of taste and cover a wide range in age and understanding. +But whatever be one's choice of subject, let it be carefully thought and +wrought out, definite in plan and purpose, and worthy the necessary +expenditure of time, material, and effort. + +It is well to read thoroughly on a subject before attempting to plan a +bulletin. The reading of sketchy accounts in children's books is not a +sufficient preparation for this work. It is better to turn to more +substantial sources that we may penetrate the meaning of the subject for +the children, and reflect this in the selection and arrangement of the +pictures in the text, and in the talks with the children about the +bulletin. We may thus reinforce the message of the bulletin and lead +the children to the best book where the information they are seeking may +be found. + +The explanatory text of the bulletin should be direct and simple. +Accuracy of statement is essential; this is especially important in +scientific subjects. Experiment has proved that a concise and simple +account will be read, when a longer statement is passed unnoticed. + +Poetry may be appropriately introduced to illustrate the thought of the +bulletin. We should select the very best poems which will serve the +purpose, making sure they are simple and clear enough in meaning to be +readily understood by the children. In bulletin work we have an +opportunity to acquaint the children with the choicest poetry. In +addition to displaying pictures which please the eye, we may also +present word-pictures, thus making a double appeal to the mind. + +An annotated book list is of great service in connection with the +bulletin. This enables the children to gain an idea of the subject +matter of the various books, and, if the notes are attractive, induces +them to read a book which otherwise might be ignored. In teaching the +children the use of lists we are also preparing them for independent +work later. The books, it possible, should be placed on a shelf near the +bulletin, that they may be conspicuous and easily accessible. + +No matter how beautiful the collection of pictures, nor how happy the +choice of subject, a bulletin will not be successful unless it is well +executed. Technical skill is also necessary in carrying out the idea. +Not only should the bulletin direct attention to books but it should +nourish æsthetic taste as well. Form is as important as subject. +Slipshod mounting, unequal margins, untidy work in general, detract from +the appearance of the bulletin, and are most disastrous object lessons +to children. + +We must collect only material which is worth while and even from this +select with the greatest care. Sometimes it may be necessary to make use +of weak or faulty prints in reference work, if a subject is sparingly +illustrated, but such material should be reserved for this purpose +rather than posted on bulletins. + +There is danger in exhibiting more than one bulletin at a +time--exception being made, of course, for such bulletins as illustrate +allied subjects, thus forming an exhibition. The display of too many +pictures on any one bulletin is equally inadvisable. Have we not all of +us at times felt oppressed and confused by the seemingly endless array +of pictures at a large art exhibit? The mind is overtaxed in the effort +to grasp it all. Knowing the patience with which little children study a +picture, even dwelling on the smallest detail with delight, it would be +better to choose with discrimination, and avoid bewildering the minds of +the children, and fatiguing their attention by a large collection of +pictures. A miscellany of pictures or bulletins defeats its one +purpose--that of making a definite impression which should lead to +further investigation of a subject. + +The arrangement of the bulletin should make its central thought and +object apparent. A bulletin on Lincoln's life if properly arranged could +easily tell the story of the experiences between the log-cabin and White +House. The pictures should have some logical grouping, whether by +succession of events, or according to some natural relationship, as +bringing a collection of wild flowers together in the order of their +appearance, birds and animals by families, etc. + +Concerning the composition of the bulletin, we may borrow the rules of +pictorial composition and adapt them to bulletin purposes. According to +John C. Van Dyke, "Pictorial composition may be defined as the +proportionate arranging and unifying of the different features and +objects of a picture.... There must be an exercise of judgment on the +part of the artist as to fitness and position, as to harmony of +relation, proportion, color, light; and there must be a skilful uniting +of all the parts into one perfect whole." In a bulletin as in a picture +there must be a center of interest. We should strive to effect this by +selecting for this purpose a picture which has earned its place, because +it best suggests the subject, or because pictorially, either through +tone or color, it best adapts itself to the principles of composition. +The other pictures should be grouped accordingly, always taking account +of the subject and artistic value of each in placing them. The bulletin +should be built up architecturally as well, letting the heavy pieces +support the light. Such a picture as Rosa Bonheur's "Ploughing" should +not surmount Breton's "Song of the lark." + +Color has its legitimate place in bulletin work as children are keenly +alive to its attractiveness. It is because they are so sensitive and +impressionable in this regard that our responsibility is proportionately +greater; this alone should make us most discreet and careful in its use. +Van Dyke cautions us in the following terms: "Beware of your natural +taste, beware of bright pictures for they are generally bad." He tells +us "That 'color' does not mean brightness alone; and that a 'colorist' +is not one who deals in flaming colors with the recklessness of a +crazy-quilt maker, but one who justly regards the relationship, the +qualities, and the suitableness of his colors one to another...." +Harmony strives to associate colors which are congenial to each other; +however, it cannot be comprehended in the abstract. We bring to our +bulletin work the results of our previous standards of taste, be these +high or low. But we may raise our standards by holding ourselves +receptive to the influence of art, whether it be decorative, ceramic, +textile, or pictorial, and appropriate the lessons which it teaches in +blending color into harmony. The love of prime colors is characteristic +of primitive man, while the appreciation of the neutral tones is the +acquirement of civilization. Intellectual development conforms to the +epochs of racial progress. Children love crude and elementary colors. +But while we make concession to their taste we should also educate it to +an appreciation of the refined in color. + +The question of economy often arises in connection with bulletin work. +Are bulletins sufficiently useful and effective to pay for the outlay of +time and money? In a system of central and branch libraries this is not +so serious a problem as the same bulletin may be of service in the +various libraries. The tendency toward extravagance would appear in the +excessive quantity of bulletins exhibited, rather than in the expensive +quality of any one of them. Certainly we should strive to be economical +in the sense of planning the material without loss or waste, but +"whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," and the main +question is, are bulletins worth doing at all? The bulletin justifies +itself by the results it accomplishes in calling attention to subjects, +guiding the reading, circulating books, and increasing the children's +observation and enjoyment of pictures. + + + + + REFERENCE WORK WITH CHILDREN. + + BY HARRIET H. STANLEY, _Brookline_ (_Mass._) _Public Library_. + + +Preliminary to preparing this report, a list of 15 questions was sent to +a number of libraries in different parts of the United States, from 24 +of which replies were received. So far as space would permit, the facts +and opinions obtained have been embodied in this paper. + +Reference work with grown people consists in supplying material on +various topics; we consider it sufficiently well done when the best +available matter is furnished with as little cost of time and trouble to +the inquirer as is consistent with the service we owe to other patrons +of the library. To a certain extent this statement is true also of +reference work with children, but I think we are agreed that for them +our aim reaches further--reaches to a familiarity with reference tools, +to knowing how to hunt down a subject, to being able to use to best +advantage the material found. In a word, we are concerned not so much to +supply information as to educate in the use of the library. Seventeen of +the 24 libraries reporting judge children to be sent to them primarily, +if not wholly, for information. One of the first steps towards improving +and developing reference work with children will have been taken when +the teacher appreciates the larger purpose, since the point of view must +materially affect the character and scope of the work. Another forward +step is for the library to have definitely in mind some plan for +accomplishing these ends. Whatever the plan, it will in likelihood have +to be modified to accord with the teacher's judgment and needs, but a +definite proposal ought at least to give impetus to the undertaking. + +Six libraries state that a considerable part of the inquiries they +receive from children are apparently prompted by their individual +interests, and not suggested by the teacher. These inquiries relate +chiefly to sports, mechanical occupations and pets. This paper is +confined to the discussion of reference work connected with the schools. + + + _Library facilities._ + +In selecting reference books for the purpose, certain familiar ones come +at once to our minds. Beyond those there have been suggested: Chase and +Clow's "Stories of industry," "Information readers," Brown's "Manual of +commerce," Boyd's "Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century," Patton's +"Resources of the United States," Geographical readers, _Youth's +Companion_ geographical series, Spofford's "Library of historic +characters," Larned's "History for ready reference," Ellis's "Youth's +dictionary of mythology," Macomber's "Our authors and great inventors," +Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories," "Riverside natural history," Wright's +"Seaside and wayside," bound volumes of the _Great Round World_, and +text-books on various subjects. + +A dictionary catalog will be useful in teaching the child to look up +subjects for himself. If a separate catalog is provided for children, +the question arises whether it is wiser to follow closely the A. L. A. +headings or to modify them where they differ from topics commonly asked +for by children or used as headings in text-books. This question +suggests also the advisability of a modified classification for a +children's library. + +Last and not least, children should have room and service adapted to +their needs, so that they may not constantly have to be put aside in +deference to the rightful demands of adult readers. + +So far as the writer knows, the Public Library of Boston was the first +library to open a reference room expressly for children, well equipped +and separate from the children's reading room or circulating department, +and from the general reference department for adults. + + + _Choice of topics._ + +Many libraries report that they find the topics habitually well chosen. +The gist of the criticisms is as follows: + +(_a_) The teacher should make clear to the child just what he is to look +up and how to ask for it. An eastern library furnishes this incident: + +"I want a book about flowers." + +"Do you want a special flower?" + +"Yes, I want the rose." + +A book on the cultivation of roses is handed her. Her companion, looking +over, exclaims, "Why, she wants the _Wars of the roses_!" The same +librarian was invited to provide something on _American privileges_; +whether social, religious, political, or otherwise, the child did not +know. + +(_b_) The teacher should be reasonably sure that there is on the topic +something in print, in usable shape, that can be gotten at with a +reasonable amount of labor. + +(_c_) The subject when found should be within the child's comprehension. +The topic _Grasses_ is manifestly unfit for children, since grasses are +difficult to study, and the description of them in encyclopedias and +botanies is too technical. An eight-year-old had to investigate the +_Abyssinian war_. Pupils under 16 were assigned the topic _Syncretism in +the later pagan movement_. A western librarian was asked by some girls +for Kipling's "Many inventions" and "Day's work." Both were out. "Well, +what other books of Kipling's on _agriculture_ have you?" "Why, Kipling +hasn't written any books on _agriculture_; he writes stories and poems." +"But we have to debate on whether agriculture or manufacturing has done +more for the welfare of the country, and we want a book on both sides." + +(_d_) The topic should be definite and not too broad, and should be +subdivided when necessary. The briefest comprehensive description of +_Rome_ is probably that in Champlin's "Persons and places," where the +six columns, already much condensed, would take more than an hour to +copy. A young girl came to find out about Italian painters. None of the +several encyclopedias treated them collectively under either _Italy_ or +_Art_. Mrs. Bolton's book of 10 artists includes four Italians, but it +takes some time and skill to discover them, as the fact of their +nationality does not introduce the narrative. How should a sixth grade +pupil make a selection from the 60 painters in Mrs. Jameson's book? +Three names were furnished by the librarian, and the child made notes +from their biographies. The next day she returned and said she hadn't +enough artists. + +(_e_) The question should preferably be of such nature that the child +can be helped to find it rather than be obliged to wait while the +librarian does the work. One inquiry was, "What eastern plant is +sometimes sold for its weight in gold?" This is not in the book of +"Curious questions." + +(_f_) The topic should be worth spending time upon. The _genealogy of +Ellen Douglas_ will hardly linger long in the average memory. + + + _Use made of the material by the child._ + +Suppose the topic to be good and suitable material to have been found; +for older children there are two good ways of using it--one to read +through and make notes on the substance, the other to copy in selection. +Children need practice in doing both. The first method suits broad +description and narration, the second detailed description. There seems +to be a prevailing tendency to copy simply, without sufficient neglect +of minor points, a process which should be left to the youngest +children, since it furnishes little mental training, uses a great deal +of time, keeps the writer needlessly indoors, and fosters habits of +inattention, because it is easy to copy with one's mind elsewhere. The +necessity for using judgment after the article has been found is +illustrated by the case of some children who came for the life of Homer. +Champlin, in about a column, mentions the limits within which the +conjectures as to the time of Homer's birth lie, the places which claim +to be his birthplace, and tells of the tradition of the blind harper. +The children, provided with the book, plunged at once into copying until +persuaded just to read the column through. "When you finish reading," I +said, "come to me and tell me what it says." They came and recounted the +items, and only after questioning did they at all grasp the gist of the +matter, that nothing is known about Homer. Even then their sense of +responsibility to produce something tangible was so great that they +would copy the details, and from the children who came next day I judged +that the teacher had required some facts as to time and place and +tradition. While it is true that we learn by doing and it is well that +children should rely upon themselves, it is evident that young pupils +need some direction. Even when provided with sub-topics, they often need +help in selecting and fitting together the appropriate facts, since no +article exactly suits their needs. About half of the reporting +librarians are of the opinion that it is the teacher's business to +instruct pupils in the use of books; they consider the library to have +done its share when the child has been helped to find the material. The +other half believe such direction as is suggested above to be rightly +within the librarian's province; several, however, who express a +willingness to give such help, add that under their present library +conditions it is impracticable. We can easily see that time would not +permit nor would it be otherwise feasible for the teacher to examine +every collection of notes made at the library, but there ought to be +some systematic work where the topics are thoughtfully chosen, the +librarian informed of them in advance, and the notes criticised. A +moderate amount of reference work so conducted would be of greater +benefit than a large quantity of the random sort which we now commonly +have. Five librarians state that they are usually given the topics +beforehand. Several others are provided with courses of study or attend +grade meetings in which the course is discussed. + + + _Systematic instruction in the use of the library._ + +While a general effort is being made to instruct children individually, +only a few libraries report any systematic lessons. In Providence each +visiting class is given a short description of books of reference. In +Hartford an attempt at instruction was made following the vacation book +talks. In Springfield, Mass., last year the senior class of the +literature department was given a lesson on the use of the library, +followed by two practice questions on the card catalog. In one of the +Cleveland branches talks are given to both teachers and pupils. At the +Central High School of Detroit the school librarian has for the past +three years met the new pupils for 40 minutes' instruction, and test +questions are given. A detailed account of similar work done in other +high school libraries is to be found in the proceedings of the +Chautauqua conference. Cambridge has given a lecture to a class or +classes of the Latin school. In the current library report of Cedar +Rapids, Ia., is outlined in detail a course of 12 lessons on +bookmaking, the card catalog, and reference books. The librarian of +Michigan City, Ind., writes: "Each grade of the schools, from the fifth +to the eighth, has the use of our class room for an afternoon session +each month. Each child is assigned a topic on which to write a short +composition or give a brief oral report. When a pupil has found all he +can from one source, books are exchanged, and thus each child comes into +contact with several books. At these monthly library afternoons I give +short talks to the pupils on the use of the library, the reference +books, and the card catalog, accompanied by practical object lessons and +tests." At Brookline our plan is to have each class of the eighth and +ninth grades come once a year to our school reference room at the +library. The teacher accompanies them, and they come in school hours. +The school reference librarian gives the lesson. For the eighth grade we +consider the make-up of the book--the title-page in detail, the +importance of noting the author, the significance of place and date and +copyright, the origin of the dedication, the use of contents and index. +This is followed by a description of bookmaking, folding, sewing and +binding, illustrated by books pulled to pieces for the purpose. The +lesson closes with remarks on the care of books. The ninth grade lesson +is on reference books, and is conducted largely by means of questioning. +A set of test questions at the end emphasizes the description of the +books. In these lessons the pupils have shown an unexpected degree of +interest and responsiveness. The course brought about 400 children to +the library, a few of whom had never been there before. These were +escorted about a little, and shown the catalog, charging desk, +bulletins, new book shelves, etc. Every one not already holding a card +was given an opportunity to sign a registration slip. The following year +the eighth grade, having become the ninth, has the second lesson. With +these lessons the attitude of the children towards the library has +visibly improved, and we are confident that their idea of its use has +been enlarged. + + + _Bibliographical work._ + +The inquiry was made of the reporting libraries whether any +bibliographical work was being done by the high school. The question was +not well put, and was sometimes misunderstood. Almost no such work was +reported. At Evanston, Ill., one high school teacher has taught her +class to prepare bibliographies, the librarian assisting. At Brookline +we have ambitions, not yet realized, of getting each high school class +to prepare one bibliography a year (we begin modestly) on some subject +along their lines of study. Last May the principals of two grammar +schools offered to try their ninth grades on a simple bibliography. The +school reference librarian selected some 60 topics of English +history--Bretwalda, Sir Isaac Newton, East India Company, the Great +Commoner, etc. Each bibliography was to include every reference by +author, title and page to be found in the books of the school reference +collection of the public library. The pupils displayed no little zest +and enjoyment in the undertaking, and some creditable lists were made. +Observation of the work confirmed my belief in its great practical +value. Pupils became more keen and more thorough than in the usual +getting of material from one or two references on a subject. Such +training will smooth the way and save the time of those students who are +to make use of a college library, and is even more to be desired for +those others whose formal education ends with the high or grammar +schools. + +The practice of sending collections of books from the public library to +the schools is becoming general. When these collections are along the +lines of subjects studied, it would seem as if the reference use of the +library by pupils might be somewhat diminished thereby. No doubt it is a +convenience to both teacher and pupils to have books at hand to which to +refer. The possession of an independent school library also tends to +keep the reference work in the school. But in neither case ought the +reference use of the public library or its branches to be wholly or +materially overlooked, since it is on that that pupils must depend in +after years, and therefore to that they must now be directed. We +recognize that the people of modest means need the library. As for the +very well-to-do, the library needs them. Other things being equal, the +pupil who has learned to know and to know how to use his public library +ought later so to appreciate its needs and so to recognize the benefits +it bestows that he will be concerned to have it generously supported and +wisely administered. + +Even we librarians claim for our public collections no such fine service +as is rendered by those private treasures that stand on a person's own +shelves, round which "our pastime and our happiness will grow." Books +for casual entertainment are more and more easily come by. But so far as +our imagination reaches, what private library will for most readers +supplant a public collection of books for purposes of study and +reference? Is it not then fitting that we spend time and effort to +educate young people to the use of the public library? Do not the +methods for realizing this end seem to be as deserving of systematic +study as the details of classification and of cataloging? We have +learned that to bring school authorities to our assistance our faith +must be sufficient to convince and our patience must be tempered by a +kindly appreciation of the large demands already made upon the schools. +Have we not yet to learn by just what lessons and what practice work the +reference use of the public library can best be taught to children? + + + + + VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL. + + I. THE SCHOOL. + + BY MAY L. PRENTICE, _City Normal School, Cleveland, O._ + + +Years ago a little girl ran down a country road to meet the light wagon +returning from town with the purpose of climbing into the back and so +getting a ride. Without turning, the wise elder brother spoke from the +driver's seat: "I wouldn't undertake that if I were you." And over his +shoulder a breathless but dignified voice answered, "But I have already +undertooken it!" + +A similar answer might reasonably be expected from the library to any +well-meant but tardy advice from the school-side in regard to the +vitalization of the relation between the school and the library. It has +already been accomplished, and comparatively small thanks are due to the +school for its doing. + +Graded lists of books, special lists of materials for occasions, library +league work, the establishment of school branch libraries, all these +have been the work of the library in a much larger measure than of the +school. + +However, there are many teachers who share the library's buoyant faith +in the blessing which books bring. These have been first to appreciate +all which the library has offered them. They have accepted all that has +been offered them and asked for more. They have circulated library books +through their own schools, sometimes at considerable cost and trouble to +themselves, and for years have done all in their power to make their +pupils wise and discriminating patrons of the library. That the children +of their care and love might have life and have it more abundantly--that +is why they have done these things. + +These teachers are comparatively few. + +That it is any function of the school to give joy to its children is an +idea of slow growth. A child's school-time is usually thought of as +preparation for living and not as living itself. Hence the rebuke of the +teacher to the child who interrupts the "nature-lesson" to blow the +thistle-down which waves over his head, or to watch the bee which booms +against the window-pane, or the hawk which floats lazily against the +blue sky. Life is such a wild, wilful, irregular thing. Quietude, +prudent inaction, is so much safer. + +So with books. It is the old search for life, life, more abundant +life--for knowledge of it, for entrance into it--which sends the child +to the fairy-story, the boy to the tale of adventure, the young girl to +the story of romance, the older man and woman to the realistic novel. +And it is the instinctive feeling of the teacher and parent that life is +a dangerous force and difficult of control which has made school and +home look askance upon reading which the child finds too enjoyable. + +There is another feeling or belief which lies back of our doubt of work +or study or reading which is too enjoyable. It is in regard to the part +which love of ease plays in human enjoyment. Love of ease is strong in +human nature, and the man who tries to get his knowledge of human life +mainly through the novel has indeed sought a short-cut to his end which +will bring him but a short distance on his way. This is not the time nor +place for the discussion of the value of fiction, but undoubtedly we are +inclined to believe that man's indolence is a strong factor in man's +enjoyment of certain lines of reading, and indolence is a bad thing. +Therefore, we distrust the value of such reading. Whether we like or +dislike it, however, we are obliged to admit that fiction is a permanent +form of literature, that our children will read it, and that the +question for us to settle is shall it be good or poor. + +What, then, has the teacher to do? Two things: To _be_ the atmosphere +from which the child breathes in love for and delight in good books. +This is first. All things in the way of learning are possible after +this. Second, to be the pupil's guide and director in what may be called +his "laboratory practice" with books. + +The Autocrat, mellowest of men of ideas, once suggested that every +college and university should have a professorship of books. The +Autocrat was an ingrained aristocrat, although one most mild and kind. +The true democratic idea is that a professorship of books should be +established in every school-room. + +But how shall the blind lead the blind? How shall the teacher who +herself never has learned to know, to enjoy, and to choose good books +guide others to do so? + +The library is a storehouse of great thought, an unfailing source of +healthful recreation, but also the library is the mine in which the +practical man and woman, the lawyer, the machinist, the scientist, the +teacher, must dig deep for information, if he is to keep near the head +in his own line of work. + +So far, as I have said before, nearly all organized effort to teach the +teachers along these lines has come from the library. Certain normal +school and college librarians have done much, but to a large extent the +work has been on sufferance. Odds and ends of the students' time and +attention have been given to it. + +The desirable thing is that the study of juvenile literature and the use +of the library shall take equal rank with other studies in the +preparation of prospective teachers; that the normal school, the +pedagogical department of the college and university, the teachers' +summer-school and institute, shall recognize this subject in their +curricula. + +The practical side of library use--its use for information--is easily +seen by the public, and schools for teachers can quite readily be +induced to make room for the course of study suggested. + +In the Cleveland City Normal Training School an attempt to carry out +such a course of study has been made. A term's work is given in juvenile +literature and the use of the library. Moreover, this subject is placed +upon an equality with the philosophy of teaching, history of education +and psychology. + +As yet the work is not thoroughly organized. We feel, however, that some +things of value have been already accomplished. + +In a twelve-weeks' term a class of 116 prospective teachers (the junior +class of the school) have taken notes on a series of talks on reference +books. They have learned something of the comparative value of various +standard encyclopædias, gazetteers, dictionaries and indexes, and they +have been sent to the public library a half-day at a time to do work +which required the use of these. + +For instance, a study of the life of Robert Louis Stevenson was made for +the purpose of giving a talk on the subject to fifth-grade pupils. The +students were required to look up all the available material in the +library, looking not only in the printed and card catalogs for +individual and collective biography, but in the various +indexes--Poole's, the Annual, the Cumulative--for magazine articles. +They were required to select the four or five articles found most +valuable and to estimate their comparative value for the purpose in +hand, making definite statements of the points of value. They were +required to make careful and well-worded notes from the best material +available, either books or periodicals, always giving the source, and to +read these notes in class subject to the criticism of their instructor +and school mates. And, lastly, they were required to write the story of +Stevenson's life as they would tell it to the children. + +Careful instruction in the use of the printed and card catalogs and of +indexes had preceded this assignment. We were fortunate in possessing +quite a large number of issues of the Cumulative index unbound. It was +thus possible to place one of these in the hands of each student during +instruction on the subject. This was a considerable aid. + +There was too much work with the less-used ready-reference books. Next +year the number will be largely reduced. + +A study of fairy stories was made. An attempt was made to find a +philosophical basis for the love of children for fairy stories. An +attempt was made to discriminate between the good and the bad fairy +story. Felix Adler's "Moral instruction of children" was helpful here, +but the study of the fairy stories at first hand is still more helpful. + +The following books were read by the whole class: + +(1) Alcott's "Little Women." Lessons were given on reading it with the +children. + +(2) Mara L. Pratt's "History stories," vol. 3. + +(3) Eggleston's "First lessons in American history." The Pratt and +Eggleston books were read in succession for the purpose of contrasting +them. A yet better contrast would have been Baldwin's "Fifty famous +stories." + +(4) Frau Spyri's "Heidi." Some of our girls read this story in the +original German but most in the translation published by Ginn & Co. It +is a charming story of a breezy little maiden whose home was in the +Swiss Alps, and one of the rather scarce desirable books for the fourth +grade. + +(5) Mrs. Burnett's "Sara Crewe." This was read as a type of the "child +novel" and for the sake of a study of the charms, dangers and benefits +of this class of books. + +(6) Howard Pyle's "Men of iron" was read as a study of the worthy +historical story. + +The following outline was given the students as an aid in judging the +books read: + + _Outline to aid in estimating a juvenile book_. + + 1. Written when? By whom? For children or adults? [e.g., "Robinson + Crusoe" and "Gulliver's travels" were written for adults.] If for + children, of what age? (Consider both manner and matter.) + + 2. Essential purpose of the book: Recreative? Instructive? Moral? Is + the recreation afforded wholesome? The instruction reliable? The + moral lessons sound? + + 3. Style: Is it clear? Correct? Beautiful? Suitable? + + 4. If a story, What is the strongest character in it? The most + effective passage? Give reasons for thinking so. Is it true to + life? + + 5. Is the book a creator of ideals? How so? Along what lines? + +An effort was made that there should be no formal adherence to this +outline. Papers on the books read were required in which the outline +could not be used. For example, after reading "Men of iron" the students +were required to write, in class, a paper on "The education of a boy in +chivalry" based on the story of Myles Falworth. + +The oral discussions of these books were often very animated. + +Each student was also required to hand in an annotated list of at least +20 books actually read by the student and judged by her suitable for the +grade in which she is to train. An oral discussion of these lists took +place, and the student in many cases was required to justify her +judgment, and to answer questions in regard to the books read. + +Some of these lists were very cheering. One excellent list for the sixth +grade, with very original annotations contained 60 instead of 20 books +actually read, and 30 more which the student had listed to be read at +her convenience. + +Not all of the lists were of that character. A list for the third grade +recommended "Gulliver's travels, by Gulliver" as a valuable aid in +geography. + +The instance is eloquent of the value of a course of study which results +in the illumination or the elimination of such a student. + +Much remains to be worked out, but a beginning has been made. + +Ours is one instance of the awakening of the school to the value of the +privileges which the library gives it. And as the reward of doing work +well is invariably to have more work to do, from the school fully +awakened the library shall receive its exceeding great reward in more +work to be done. + +Except for the hearty co-operation of the Cleveland Public Library the +little experiment here outlined could not have been undertaken. + + + + + VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL. + + II. THE LIBRARY. + +BY IRENE WARREN, _Librarian University of Chicago School of Education_. + + +The establishment of the Library Section of the National Educational +Association was proof that the thoughtful librarians and school men of +this country believed that an effective co-operation between public +schools and public libraries was possible. In many states library +sections of the state teachers' associations have been formed. Many +public libraries have for some time past systematically sent both books +and lists of books to the public schools. + +No sooner had this been done than librarians and teachers both saw that +they had made but a beginning, and the next steps, and, indeed, the +present needs, are to bring about a more intelligent use of both books +and libraries and to place larger and better arranged collections within +easy access of the pupils. Rarely do the teachers find the libraries +adequate to the reference work or the collateral reading they wish the +pupils to do. The funds are seldom sufficient to keep the libraries up +to date. There is no one person in the school who knows how to organize +and administer the library, and therefore whatever work the teachers do +in this line is at a greater expense of both time, energy and material +than it would be were it done by one having had a library training. The +school buildings are frequently closed to the students shortly after the +school session, usually by five o'clock, and always on holidays and +during vacations. Most of the pupils' reading and research must +therefore be done in the one or two books which he carries home with +him. The Buffalo Public Library made another step in organization when +it offered to take the collections of books from any of the public +schools in the city and in return mend, rebind, catalog, classify them, +furnish such schools as agreed to this arrangement with the books they +needed, either from their own collections or from that of the public +library, and appoint two attendants to look after the school work. + +The public school began with the one central school in the community, +but it soon found that it must establish branches if it reached all of +the children of the city. To-day there is no town of any considerable +size but has its central school with a high school usually, and its +branches on the north, east, south and west sides. The public library, +following the public schools, has found that it cannot reach the people +of the community unless it delivers books to the various parts of the +town, and moreover establishes branch reading rooms where at least +reference books may be consulted and magazines read. + +As in the history of the schools, so in the history of the libraries, +provision was first made for the mature student. Educators have been +slow to see that they should begin with the child before he has +established habits of thought and action. Not until the public library +is considered a vital factor in the educational scheme of a city can it +hope to secure its best results, nor is this possible when the central +library and its few branches are removed, as at present, from the public +schools. The libraries and the schools should be housed in close +proximity to do the most effective work. + +It is with keen interest that the experiment in New York City is being +watched. It certainly seems as if the most economical arrangement would +be to have the branch of the public library so placed in a school +building that the students would have free access to it, and the public +also, not only during school hours but public library hours. It seems +the logical duty of the board of education to furnish the few necessary +reference books that are in continual demand in every school room and +also the sets of books which are used for supplementary reading. It +does, on the other hand, seem that the public library can furnish a +larger general collection, in better editions and keep them in better +condition for less money and with better results than can the public +schools. + +The already crowded curriculum in most of our public schools made many +an educator hesitate when a course in library economy was suggested. One +can indeed see a time not far distant, it is hoped, when such a course +will not be thought necessary. Such a time will be when instructors have +awakened to a much greater appreciation of the value and use of +bibliography and the need of training students in this line. Along with +this will develop a desire in the student to keep his own references and +material so arranged that he will be able to use them easily. There will +still be considerable of a general bibliographical character, handbooks, +etc., which would be of value in all subjects and yet perhaps be +overlooked by the specialists, that could be called to the students' +attention through such a pamphlet as was recently compiled by Mr. Andrew +Keogh, of Yale University Library, under the title, "Some general +bibliographical works of value to the students of English." + +There is a phase of library economy that every teacher should know, and +which it seems must always have its proper place in the curriculum of +the normal school. That is the knowledge of how to obtain books. Every +teacher should know what the laws of his state are regarding the +establishment and maintenance of the public library and the public +school library, and how these laws compare with those of other states. +He should know what aid he can gain through the travelling library +system, should he be in a village or country district, and the possible +co-operation between the public library and the public schools should he +be assigned to a city. Just as the public schools are finding that they +must adapt their curriculum to the needs of the children of a certain +district or class, so the public library has the same lesson to learn. +The Carnegie Public Library of Pittsburgh has been one of the first to +recognize this in the establishment of home libraries. It has thus +reached a class of children that could be reached in no other way, and +why should not the public library as well as the public school aim to +reach these less fortunate children? + +The subject of children's literature should be a serious one with every +teacher of children. The best writers for children, best illustrators, +and best editions should be part of the normal school student's +knowledge when he completes his course and goes out to teach. It is a +great problem with him now how he shall keep this information up to +date, when there are hundreds of books coming out every year and his +school-room duties absorb so much of his time. Here is the librarian's +opportunity to be of great aid to the public school teacher by issuing +lists of the best children's books on various subjects, exhibiting them +in the library from time to time, and to the schools for trial, as so +many libraries are now doing. In the country districts the library +commissions must supply this information through annotated lists. + +It has been shown in a number of schools that children love to make +books, and that the making of books quite successfully lends itself to +the constructive work as carried on in the schools of to-day. The +materials for this work are not so costly as to make it impossible for +the average school. Every child at the completion of the graded schools +should know the value of a title-page, the use of the preface and +introductory notes, the difference between the table of contents and the +index, the best books in the several subjects which he has studied, and +where and how he can obtain more books on these subjects later, should +he wish them. It would doubtless be a great surprise to one who has not +tried the experiment to ask the pupils in our graded and high schools +even, for such simple information as the author, title and date of the +text-books they are using daily. + +If the suggestions in this paper be accepted, and most of them have +already been successfully tried, it will be seen at once how great is +the importance of having trained librarians in our normal schools and +institutions of higher learning. The time has now come in a number of +cities which we hope is prophetic of the future, when the public library +stands equally important as an educational institution with the public +school, each supplementing the other in work and still distinct in +function and administration. It is therefore necessary that our teachers +should be trained to use libraries, and that our librarians should be +acquainted with the great educational movements of the day. + + + + + OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM. + + BY CLARA WHITEHILL HUNT, _Newark (N. J.) Free Public Library_. + + +In writing this paper on the opening of a children's room, I am +presupposing the following conditions: That in a library whose work with +the children has been confined to the general delivery desk, and the +divided attention of clerks whose time an adult public would monopolize, +there is to be set aside a commodious apartment to be known as the +Children's Room; that, considering this work of enough importance to +demand such a department, the trustees are prepared to support it by a +reasonable outlay for new books, necessary and convenient furnishings, +and especially by placing in its charge one who, by natural fitness and +special training they believe to be so thoroughly capable of supervising +the work, that she is to be given a free hand in deciding both how the +room is to be made ready for opening, and how managed after it is +opened. This being the case, I imagine the children's librarian, with +opening day a few weeks or months ahead, planning her campaign with such +wise foresight and attention to the smallest detail that, in the rush of +the first weeks, there may be the least possible wear and tear on nerves +and temper from petty inconveniences which assume gigantic proportions +when one is hurried and tired, and the smallest amount of undoing and +beginning over again as time goes on. + +It is difficult to be clear in speaking of furnishings without something +more than verbal description for illustrating mistakes and excellences, +but so much power can be lost by not having the parts of the machine +properly fitted and well oiled that how to furnish the children's room +becomes one of the most important topics under this subject. + +To begin with, the children's librarian must cultivate, if she does not +already possess, the architect's faculty of seeing a completed structure +in a flat piece of paper marked off by lines labelled 20 ft., 50 ft., +etc. If 20 ft. does not mean anything to her she would do well to take a +tape measure to an empty lot and measure off the exact dimensions of her +room to be, until she can see its floor space clearly. She should live +in her room before its existence, locating every door and window, the +height of the windows from the floor, every corner and cupboard, the +relation of her room to the other departments of the library. In +proceeding to furnish the room she will learn what to adopt and what to +avoid by visiting other children's rooms and asking if the tables and +chairs are the correct height, if the exit is satisfactorily guarded, +what working space is necessary for a certain circulation, whether the +electric light fixtures are easily broken, and many other things. If she +cannot make such visits, her knowledge of children and a study of +conditions in her own library will answer. + +Limited to a small space the children's room is nevertheless a +circulating department, a reading room, a reference room, perhaps a +repair room, and a cataloging department all in one; and if the +children's librarian has not had actual work in each of these +departments of her library, she should serve an apprenticeship at the +receiving and charging desks, the registration desk, the slip rack, not +only for the sake of knowing the routine of each department, but for +studying improvements in planning her furnishings. The registration +clerk will tell her that she has not enough elbow room, that the +application drawers are too narrow or too heavy; the attendants at the +charging desk find every present arrangement so satisfactory that they +advise exact reproduction. Armed with pad and tape measure the +children's librarian notes all these points. + +The problem how with a minimum of help to "run" all departments, to see +all parts of the room, to keep your eye on the entrance so as to nip in +the bud any tendency to boisterousness as the children come in, and to +watch the exit so that no book goes out uncharged, how to keep all +unfinished work out of the children's reach but to give them perfectly +free access to the books, in short, how to arrange your working space so +that one person on a moderately busy day can attend to all these things, +may be answered, I think, in this way. All wall space will sooner or +later be needed for books. Taking an oblong floor space (dimensions +proportionate to size of room and circulation) and surrounding this by a +counter 30 inches high and two feet wide, is a simple way of +accomplishing these things. The counter opposite the entrance is the +receiving and charging desk; at another place it is the registration +desk; books after "slipping" are piled in another part ready for return +to shelves; books waiting to be marked occupy a fourth section; the +catalog case, notices to children, call-slip holders, etc., stand on the +counter. The space under the counter is available for supply cupboards +and drawers. The height of the counter is such that a grown person +sitting in an ordinary chair works comfortably behind it, but it is so +low that no small child feels frowningly walled out in standing on the +other side. Thus all the work of the room is concentrated and +supervision is easy. A few details are worth noticing. First, don't let +the carpenter give you drawers instead of cupboards. Drawers are +wasteful of room for packing supplies, and of time in hunting for them. +Next, have the cupboard doors slide, not swing, open, for economy of +your working floor space. Underneath registration and charging desks +leave space empty for your feet. Just under counter near the +registration desk have a row of drawers, sliding easily but fastened so +they cannot fall out, made of the exact size to hold your application +blanks and cards, with guide cards. A work table within the counter will +be necessary. + +In addition to this working space, every large children's room should +have a locked closet, or better still, a work room opening from it. In +busy times things _will_ accumulate which must be kept out of reach, and +it would not be sensible to take valuable space out of the children's +room to hold such accumulations until you have time to attend to them. + +The height of the children's chairs and tables seems to have reached a +standard in children's rooms--tables 22 and 28 inches high, with chairs +14 and 16 inches to go with them. I think it best to have very few +tables of the smaller size, for tall boys take the strangest delight in +crouching over them, snarling their long legs around the short table +legs and trying, apparently, to get a permanent twist to their +shoulders. Small children do not stay long, and it is less harmful, if +necessary, for them to sit in a chair a little too high than to compel +large children to spend a holiday afternoon with bodies contorted to fit +a small chair and table. + +By all means have the electric light _fixed_ in the center of the table +so that each child gets an equal share of light, and have the +connections so made that jarring the table and the movements of restless +feet will not put the fixtures out of order. Be very careful not to have +the shade so high that the glare of the lamp instead of the restful +green shade is opposite the child's eyes. + +When you see a chair that you like, find out before purchasing whether +it is very easily tipped over. You will know why, if you are not wise, +on some rainy day, when the room is full of readers and the reports of +chairs suddenly knocked over sound like a fusillade of cannon balls. + +Leaving this hasty and most unsatisfactory discussion on getting the +_place_ ready for opening, I would say a word about getting the _books_ +ready--not about buying a large quantity of new, and putting the old +into the best possible condition of repair and cleanliness, for that +will naturally be done. But from experience I know that the moment is +golden for weeding out, never to return, authors you think +objectionable. + +Suppose a girl reads nothing but the Elsie books. Very likely one reason +is that she knows little about any other kind. In a printed catalog with +a scattering "j" between many titles of adult books it is easier to make +lists of numbers from the long sets of prolific writers, and those +excellent authors who have produced only a few books for children are +oftenest overlooked. Suppose in the process of moving the Elsie books +are left behind. The little girl comes into the beautiful new +children's room. She sees the shining new furniture, the pictures, the +comfortable tables and chairs and book cases so planned that any child +can reach any book. She finds that there is perfect freedom for every +child in this room--that no stern Olympian comes and says, "Don't do +this," and "You can't have that," and "Those books aren't for you," but +that among all these hundreds of fresh new covers she may take her pick, +may sit anywhere, or stand or kneel as she chooses. Do you imagine that, +as these unaccustomed delights sink into her mind, any child is going +off in a huff when she finds one author is lacking, if the children's +librarian uses any tact in introducing her to others adapted to her +tastes? I have been asked for Alger and Optic and Elsie, of course, +though much less often than I anticipated, but I am perfectly certain +that I have never lost a "customer" because I did not display these +wares. One little girl exclaimed in doleful tones, "Oh, haven't you the +Elsie books? Oh, I'm _terribly_ disappointed! I think those are _grand_ +books!" But in spite of this tragic appeal her curiosity and interest +proved stronger than her disappointment, and I have the satisfaction of +seeing a more wholesome taste develop in a child who must have been on +the high road to softening of the brain and moral perversion from +association with the insufferable Elsie. If you once put these books on +the open shelves, however, and later attempted the weeding out process, +a howl would arise which would not be silenced without consequences +which I, for one, would not like to face. + +Furniture and books are comparatively simple matters to make ready, but +to prepare your assistant or assistants for opening day and the time +that follows is harder. The external preparation for the rush of the +first weeks consists in drill in the routine to be observed. Assigning a +place and certain duties to each person, foreseeing as far as possible +all questions that may arise and making sure that each attendant +understands what to do in any case, having a place for everything, and +everything in its place, and every person knowing what that place is, so +that there will be no frantic search for an extra set of daters when a +long line of people stands waiting--this also requires only foresight +and firmness. But so deeply to imbue your chief assistant with your +spirit and principles of management that she will not simply obey your +directions, but be inwardly guided by your desires, and there may be no +break in the steady march to a definite end--this demands that rare +species of assistant who is born, not made, for the position, and a +leader who possesses strength, tact, contagious enthusiasm, a likeable +personality, and other qualities difficult to attain. + +This brings us to the consideration of what the guiding principles of +the new department are to be--a question which must be pondered and +settled by the children's librarian before making the external +preparations. If the senior members of the American Library Association, +the librarians-in-chief, would consider the children's room of enough +importance to give us their ideas of what it should stand for, what its +scope should be, the result might be more uniformity of thought among +members of the library profession in this regard, and a more sensible +attitude toward the children's room in the library. Between those who, +on the one hand, take themselves so very seriously, pondering with +anxious care what probable effect on the child's future career as a +reader the selection of a blue or a green mat for mounting the picture +bulletin would have, and those who look upon the children's room merely +as an interesting plaything, driving the big boys away in disgust by +encouraging visitors who exclaim, "Oh, what cunning little chairs and +tables! Why, you have a regular kindergarten here, haven't you?"--from +either point of view, the discussions on children's rooms in libraries +seem almost to lose sight of the very word library and all it carries +with it. + +The children's room is only one room in a great dignified library. As +the newspaper room, the catalog room, and all the rest are fitted up +with furnishings suited to their peculiar needs, so the children's room +is furnished with tables and chairs and books suited to its +constituents. Apart from this, all its management and spirit should +correspond as closely as possible to that of the other departments. The +same dignity, the same freedom, the same courteous attention to every +want without fussy attentions which by grown people would be called +intrusiveness should prevail. Make the selection of books what it should +be, provide guides and catalogs, perfectly clear but not patronizingly +written down, show the children that you are always willing to respond +in every way to their questions, and then--let them alone! + +Some one has asked me to speak on the question of discipline. After the +first two or three weeks, if one begins properly, there will be no such +question. Allowing something for the noise of small feet which have not +learned to control themselves as they will later on, and expecting more +"talking over" an interesting "find" than is common with adults, one +should aim for library order. Teach the children what a library reading +room means. If in the first days there is a disposition on the part of +any boy to be rough or unruly, or if a group of girls make a +visiting-and-gum-chewing rendezvous of your tables, don't waste any time +in Sunday-school methods of discipline, trying to keep a hold on the +child at any cost to the library. A sentence in a report of Pratt +Institute children's room is worth adopting as a guiding principle. "The +work of the children's room should be educative, not reformatory." Give +one decided warning and then if a child does not behave, send him out at +once. Do not be afraid of seeming stern at first. The fascinations of +the room are such that a child who has been turned away for disobedience +comes back a subdued and chastened young person and your best friend +forever after; then with your aim and your firmness early settled, you +will have no more thought of discipline than the reference librarian +with his tables full of studious adults. After the first a little care +about the way a child enters the room will be all that is necessary. +Your courteous manner, low tones, a little reminder about caps and clean +hands while discharging his book, will give him the cue as to what is +expected, and he will have a pride in living up to what is expected of +him as a gentleman, not demanded of him as a child under authority. + +Many other points will engage the thought of the children's librarian, +for example, what shall be the attitude of the children's room toward +the other departments--whether it is to encourage the children to make +use of the adults' reference room, to take out cards in the main +delivery department, and get into the way of reading standard works from +suggestions of the children's librarian; or whether the line of +separation is to be rigid and she will be jealous of their "graduating" +from her care. How to prepare the public, especially the school-teaching +public, for the opening, so as to secure their hearty co-operation from +the beginning is worth constant effort. The question of blanks and forms +for the children's room is a minor matter which is after all not a small +thing. To make as few changes as possible in the forms already in use, +so that any assistant from the main delivery room can in emergencies +quickly take up the clerical work of the children's room without needing +to learn a new routine may save much confusion should the children's +staff all happen to be stricken with grippe at the same time! + +Beginning early to plan, profiting by other people's mistakes, getting +the routine of each department at one's finger tips, foreseeing every +probable obstacle and removing each in imagination, beforehand, +proceeding with calmness and common sense, thus the new machinery will +move as smoothly during opening weeks as if it had been running for +years, and, as "well begun is half done," every thought given to +preparation while the room exists only on paper will have a far-reaching +effect on the permanent influences of the children's room. + + + + + REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES; 1900-1901. + + BY GEORGE WATSON COLE. + + +The period covered by this report is from June 1, 1900, to July 1, 1901, +and includes all gifts and bequests of $500 or more, as well as all +gifts of 250 volumes and over, given by any single individual. A few +gifts have been included which fall below these figures where the +importance or value of the gift seemed to require mention. This report +has been increased by the addition of over 50 gifts, information of +which was received too late to be inserted before its presentation to +the Waukesha conference. A few others, which have been announced since +July 1, have also been inserted. + +Much of the information here given has been obtained by a careful +examination of the _Library Journal_ and _Public Libraries_. +Communications were sent to all the state library commissions, several +state library associations and clubs, and to the librarian of libraries +known to have 50,000 volumes or more. The responses to these +communications have been quite general, and the information contained in +the replies has been embodied in this report. The thanks of the compiler +are herewith extended to all who have assisted him in collecting the +material for this list. + +It was suggested by Miss Hewins in 1896 that it would be desirable to +have the library commission of each state appoint some librarian, or +library trustee, who should be responsible for the collection of +information regarding the gifts and bequests made within his state. +Judging from the replies received this year the suggestion has never +been carried out. + +Following the example of my predecessor, I wish to emphasize the +importance of the suggestion, and would further recommend that the +information so gathered be divided as nearly as possible into the +following classes: + +1. Buildings, giving value or cost; + +2. Sites, giving value or cost; + +3. Cash for buildings, with accompanying conditions, if any; + +4. Cash for sites, with accompanying conditions, if any; + +5. Books, pamphlets, periodicals, prints, maps, etc., giving number of + each kind, with value or cost of the whole, if known; + +6. Cash for books, etc., with accompanying conditions, if any; + +7. Cash for endowment funds, giving purpose for which income is to be + expended; + +8. Cash to be expended, with specified purposes for which it is to be + spent; + +9. Cash given unconditionally; + +10. Miscellaneous gifts, specifying their nature and value. + +It will be observed that the first four of the above headings relate to +gifts of real estate, which should also include gifts for fixtures of +any kind, such as plants for lighting, heating, and ventilation; mural +decorations, such as frescoes; furniture, so constructed as to be an +essential part of the building; landscape gardening, etc. The remaining +headings include books, endowment funds for various purposes (excepting +building funds and the other objects just mentioned), and gifts of money +for administration, current expenses, etc., etc. + +Then, too, information should be given as to whether a gift has been +offered, accepted, or received. + +It seems desirable that information relating to such old and moribund +libraries as have been absorbed or merged with newer and more vigorous +institutions should somewhere find a record. As such transfers are +usually made as gifts, there seems to be no more suitable place for such +a record than in the annual report of Gifts and Bequests. It is to be +hoped that, in the future, the tables of statistics issued from time to +time by the state library commissions, the U. S. Bureau of Education, +and others will contain a record of the final disposition of such +libraries. + +In the report of Gifts and Bequests made by Mr. Stockwell, a year ago, +covering a period of two years, there were given 458 separate gifts, +amounting to over $10,500,000, and distributed among 36 states and the +District of Columbia. This report, covering 13 months, includes 482 +separate gifts, amounting to $19,786,465.16, and is distributed as +follows: 468 in 39 of the United States, 10 in the British provinces, +and three in Scotland. To that princely philanthropist, Mr. Andrew +Carnegie, we are indebted, during the past year, for gifts reaching the +enormous aggregate of $13,704,700, over $12,500,000 of which was given +for the erection of library buildings. In every case the gift, except +where otherwise specified, was made upon the condition that the city or +town receiving it should furnish a site for the building and appropriate +yearly for the maintenance of the library a sum equivalent to 10 per +cent. of the gift. + +The most notable gifts of the year are due to the ever-increasingly +generous hand of Mr. Carnegie. That to the city of New York of +$5,200,000, for the erection of 65, or more, branch libraries, is +probably the largest library gift ever made at one time to a single +city. His gift of $1,000,000 to the city of St. Louis for library +buildings and an equal sum, placed in trust as an endowment fund, for +the Carnegie libraries at Braddock, Duquesne, and Homestead, Pa., occupy +the second and third positions, by reason of their amounts. His recent +gifts of $750,000 each to the cities of Detroit and San Francisco, +though announced since July 1, have been included in this report. Mr. +Carnegie's gifts during the year number 121; 112 in the United States, +six in Canada, and three in Scotland. One hundred and seven of these +gifts in the United States were for library buildings. Of the remaining +five, amounting to $1,028,000, one of $25,000 will probably be used for +a building. + +The transfer of the John Carter Brown Library to Brown University by the +trustees of the estate of the late John Nicholas Brown, recently +announced, is one of the most important library events of the year. This +library contains, if not the finest, at least one of the finest +collections of early Americana in this country, and possesses many books +not to be found in any other library on this side of the Atlantic. Its +collector, after whom it is named, was a competitor with Lenox, Brinley, +and other early collectors of Americana for many a choice nugget which +Henry Stevens and other European dealers had secured for their American +patrons. The library is estimated to be worth at least $1,000,000, and +the gift carries with it two legacies, one of $150,000 for a library +building, and another of $500,000 as an endowment fund for its increase +and maintenance. + +The gift of four public-spirited citizens of St. Louis, who have jointly +contributed $400,000 to lift an incumbrance on the block to be used for +the new Carnegie library in that city, is a noble example of public +spirit, and one of which the friends of that city may justly feel proud. + +The collection of Oriental literature of Yale University has been +enriched by the gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, many of which are +extremely rare. The collection covers the whole range of Arabic history +and literature, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. + +This collection, formed by Count Landberg, was purchased by Mr. Morris +K. Jesup, of New York, at a cost of $20,000, and was presented by him to +the university library. This library has also received, as a bequest, +the private library of the late Prof. Othniel C. Marsh, consisting of +about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, dealing mainly with +palæontological subjects. + +The New York Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden +foundations--through the generosity of Mr. Charles Stewart Smith, has +come into possession of a large and valuable collection of Japanese +engravings and chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, of the +_Japanese Mail_. + +I regret that I do not have the pleasure to record any addition, during +the year, to the Publication Fund of the American Library Association. +The Publishing Board is much hampered by lack of funds from carrying on +its important work. If some philanthropically inclined person would +present a fund, say $100,000, upon condition that all publications +issued from its income should bear the name of the fund, it would not +only be of inestimable benefit to the cause of libraries, but would also +be a most enduring monument to its donor. + +An examination of the following list will disclose other gifts worthy +of special mention if space permitted. The main list has been arranged +alphabetically by states, as being the most convenient for reference. A +tabulated summary, arranged by the geographical sections of the country, +will show how widely scattered have been the benefactions of the year, +extending from Alabama in the south to Montreal in the north, and from +Bangor in the east to "where rolls the Oregon" in the far west. + + + ALABAMA. + + _Montgomery._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of books forming its library, from the Montgomery Library + Association. + + _Tuskegee._ Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Gift of $20,000, + for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The building will be + erected entirely by student labor. + + + CALIFORNIA. + + _Alameda._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Berkeley._ University of California. Gift of $10,000, as a fund for the + purchase of books for the law library, from Mrs. Jane Krom Sather, + of Oakland, Cal. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Col. E. A. Denicke. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes, being the private library of the late + Regent, A. S. Hallidie, from Mrs. M. E. Hallidie. + + _Fresno._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000 for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Napa._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for free public library + building, from George E. Goodman. + + _San Francisco._ Public Library. Gift of $750,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of building and fixtures for Branch Library, No. 5, estimated to + cost $20,000, from Hon. James D. Phelan, Mayor of San Francisco. + + _San Jose._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Stanford University._ Leland Stanford University. Gift of $2000, $1000 + for books on sociology and $1000 for books on bibliography, special + gift from Mrs. J. L. Stanford. + + + COLORADO. + + _Grand Junction._ Public Library. Gift of $8000, increased from $5000, + for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Leadville._ City Library Association. Gift of $100,000, for a public + library, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Ouray._ Walsh Library. Gift of a library building, costing $20,000, + from Thomas F. Walsh. + + + CONNECTICUT. + + _Branford._ Blackstone Memorial Library. Bequest of $100,000, from + Timothy B. Blackstone, of Chicago, founder of the library. + + _Danielsonville._ Edwin H. Bugbee Memorial Building. Bequest of $15,000, + for the erection of a building, also the donor's private library and + cases, from Edwin H. Bugbee. + + _Derby._ Public Library. Gift of a fully equipped public library + building, by Col. and Mrs. H. Holton Wood, of Boston, the city to + agree to maintain the library and raise a book fund of $5000, to + which sum the donors will add an equal amount. + + -- Gift of $12,000, raised by popular subscription, towards book fund, + from interested citizens. Nearly $75 was given by public school + children. + + -- Gift of $5000, towards a book fund, from Col. and Mrs. H. Holton + Wood. + + -- Gift of 900 volumes, from Derby Reading Circle. + + _Greenwich._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, as an endowment, from + wealthy New Yorkers. + + _Hartford._ Case Memorial Library, Hartford Theological Seminary. Gift + of $2000 towards fund for purchase of periodicals, from Mrs. Charles + B. Smith. + + -- Gift of $500 for book purchases, from Miss Anna M. Hills. + + -- Gift of 365 volumes, pertaining to missions, from Rev. A. C. + Thompson, D.D. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $5000, from F. B. Brown. + + _Kensington._ Library Association. Gift of $10,000, for a new library + building, from S. A. Galpin, of California. _Litchfield._ Wolcott + Library. Bequest of $1000, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott, of + Boston, Mass. + + _Middletown._ Wesleyan University. Gifts of $3604, to be added to + Alumni Library Fund. + + -- Gift of $483, to be added to the Hunt Library Endowment. This + addition has been increased to $1000 by the reservation of the + income of the fund. + + _New Haven._ Yale University. Gift of $10,000, for a fund for the + Seminary library in the department of Philosophy, from Mrs. John S. + Camp, of Hartford, Conn. + + -- Gift of $1500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from + Charles J. Harris. + + -- Gift of $1300, for purchases in the department of Folk-music, from + an anonymous donor. + + -- Gift of $1000, for purchases in department of English literature, + from Edward Wells Southworth, of New York. + + -- Gift of $500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from + the Hon. William T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education. + + -- Bequest of about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, forming the + private library of the testator, from Prof. Othniel C. Marsh. + + -- Gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, collected by Count Landberg; bought + for $20,000 by Morris K. Jesup and presented by him to the + University. Many of these Mss. are very rare. The collection covers + the whole range of Arabic history and literature, dating back to + the 12th and 13th centuries. + + -- Gift of a collection of musical manuscripts, number not stated, from + Morris Steinert. + + _Norwalk._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _South Norwalk._ Public Library and Free Reading Room. Bequest of + $1000, for permanent fund, from R. H. Rowan. + + _Southington._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, towards a library + building, from L. V. Walkley. + + _Torrington._ Library Association. Bequest of $100,000, by Elisha + Turner. From this amount is to be deducted the cost of the library + building, about $70,000, which was being erected by the testator at + the time of his death. + + _Wallingford._ Public Library. Gift of library building, cost value not + stated, from the late Samuel Simpson, as a memorial to his + daughter. + + _Windsor._ Library Association. Gift of $4000, towards a library + building fund, from Miss Olivia Pierson. + + + GEORGIA. + + _Atlanta._ Carnegie Library. Gift of $20,000, for furnishings and + equipment of new building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Travelling Libraries for Schools._ Gift of 960 volumes for 16 + travelling libraries for country schools, for that number of + counties in the state, from the Hon. Hoke Smith. It is planned to + have each library remain in a school for about two months. + + + ILLINOIS. + + _Aurora._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site and + guarantee $6000 a year maintenance. + + _Centralia._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to provide a site and + $2000 yearly for maintenance. + + _Chicago._ John Crerar Library. Bequest of $1000, from the late + President, Huntington W. Jackson. + + -- Rush Medical College. Gift of 4000 volumes of medical and surgical + books, from Dr. Christian Fenger. This gift contains a practically + complete collection of German theses for the past fifty years. + + -- University of Chicago. Gift of $30,000, to endow the history + library, from Mrs. Delia Gallup. + + _Decatur._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Young Men's Christian Association Library. Gift of $500, from Miss + Helen Gould, of New York. + + _Dixon._ Dodge Library. Gift of a valuable and extensive collection of + art books, value and number not stated, from George C. Loveland. + + _Evanston._ Northwestern University. Gift of $750, for the purchase of + books in political economy, from Norman Waite Harris, of Chicago. + + -- Gift of $543.50, to be known as the "Class of '95 Library Fund," the + income of at least 4 per cent. to be used for the increase of the + university library, from the class of 1895. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward library site fund, from + William Deering. + + _Freeport._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Galesburg._ Knox College. Gift of $50,000, for a library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $6000 for library + maintenance. + + _Grossdale._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Havana._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Jacksonville._ Public Library. Gift of $40,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Kewanee._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Lake Forest._ Lake Forest College. Gift of the Arthur Somerville Reid + Memorial Library building; cost about $30,000, from Mrs. Simon + Reid. + + _Lincoln._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Maywood._ Public Library. Gift of $100, being surplus campaign funds + remaining after the election, from Republican Committee of that + town. + + _Pekin._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city has appropriated $1500. + + -- Gift of a site for the proposed Carnegie library building, value not + stated, from George Herget. + + _Rock Island._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for book stacks and + furniture, from Frederick Weyerhauser, of St. Paul. + + _Rockford._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a new public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and "not + less than $8000" yearly for maintenance. + + _Springfield._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The City Council appropriated + $10,000 annually in hope that the gift might be increased to + $100,000. The library will be known as the "Lincoln Library." + + _Streator._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Sycamore._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost about + $25,000, from Mrs. Everill F. Dutton, as a memorial to her late + husband, Gen. Everill F. Dutton. + + _Waukegan._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $2000 + for library maintenance. + + + INDIANA. + + _Crawsfordsville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Wabash College Library. Gift of the original manuscript of "The + prince of India," from General and Mrs. Lew Wallace. + + _Elkhart._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city, in advance, has pledged + $3500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Elwood._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, through the local Women's + Club, from President Reid, of the American Tin Plate Co., of New + York. + + -- Gift of $200, the results of a benefit, from The Women's Club. + + _Fort Wayne._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Goshen._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a library building, from + Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Indianapolis._ Butler College. Gift of $20,000, for a library + building, also a site for the same, from Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. + Thompson, in memory of their daughter. + + -- Public Library. Gift of 275 volumes on music, in memory of her son, + Harry S. Duncan, deceased, from Mrs. Ella S. Duncan. This + collection includes musical scores of the most famous operas and + oratorios, as well as the best critical works on music. + + _Lafayette._ Public Library. Gift of property, valued at $15,000, from + Mrs. Robert R. Hitt, of Illinois. + + _Logansport._ Public Library. Gift of a fine library of historical + material relating to the Mississippi Valley, collected by the late + Judge Horace P. Biddle. This collection was the result of 60 years + of historical research, and contains originals of maps, drafts, + etc., of great value. + + _Madison._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Marion._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. A site was purchased some time ago, + and the offer was promptly accepted. + + _Michigan City._ Public Library. Gift of $500, for books, from Mrs. J. + H. Barker. + + _Muncie._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $6000, from the heirs of an estate, name not given. + + _New Harmony._ Workingmen's Institute Public Library. Bequest of + $72,000, from Dr. Edward Murphy. In the final settlement the amount + may exceed these figures. + + _Peru._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $2700 yearly + for library maintenance. + + _Portland._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Wabash._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 5000 volumes, from Woman's Library Association. The library + has been turned over to the city to be maintained as a public + library. + + _Washington._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + IOWA. + + _Burlington._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, from Philip M. Crapo. + + _Cedar Rapids._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Centerville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building and site, from ex-Governor F. M. Drake, on condition that + a two mills tax be laid for the perpetual and proper care of the + property. + + _Davenport._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, thereby increasing former gift to $75,000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Dubuque._ Carnegie-Stout Free Library. Gift of $50,000, from Andrew + Carnegie, on condition that the Young Men's Library Association be + made the nucleus of a free public library, and that the city + furnish a site and maintain the institution. + + -- Gift of a suitable site for the library building offered by Andrew + Carnegie, valued at $17,000, from F. D. Stout, given in memory of + his father. + + _Fayette._ Upper Iowa University. Gift of $25,000, which will be + devoted to library purposes, probably for a new building, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Fort Dodge._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Grinnell._ Stewart Library. Gift of a new library building, costing + $15,000, from Joel Stewart. + + -- Gift of a site for new library building, value not stated, from The + Congregational Church. + + -- Gift of $4000, for books, raised by popular subscription by the + citizens of Grinnell. + + _Iowa Falls._ Public Library. Gift of a public library building, if the + city will provide a suitable site, from E. S. Ellsworth. + + _Mt. Vernon._ Cornell College. Gift of $40,000, for a library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. Conditions, if any, not stated. + + _Muscatine._ Public Library. A new library building, to cost about + $30,000, by P. M. Musser, provided the city vote to establish and + maintain the library. + + + KANSAS. + + _Dodge City._ Railroad Library and Reading Room. The Atchison, Topeka, + and Santa Fé Railroad Co. are fitting up a library and reading room + at this place for its employés. + + _Fort Scott._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Kansas City._ Public Library. Bequest of about $6000, from Mrs. Sarah + Richart. + + _Lawrence._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + KENTUCKY. + + _Lexington._ State College. Gift of $50,000, from President James K. + Patterson. + + + LOUISIANA. + + _New Orleans._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000 and a valuable + collection of books, from Abram Holker. + + + MAINE. + + _Bangor._ Public Library. Bequest of $18,347.26, towards the building + fund, from A. D. Mason. + + -- Gift of building site, costing $7500, from Nathan C. Ayer. + + _Belfast._ Free Library. Gift of $3000, as a fund for the purchase of + books on history and biography, in memory of Albert Boyd Otis, from + Albert Crane. + + _Brunswick._ Bowdoin College. The new library building, given by Gen. + Thomas H. Hubbard, of New York City, reported last year, at over + $150,000, will cost over $200,000. + + -- Bequest of $2000, from Captain John Clifford Brown, of Portland. + + -- Gift of $1200, from an unknown donor, through a Boston friend. + + _Fairfield._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost + between $8000 and $10,000, from E. J. Lawrence. + + _Farmington._ Public Library Association. Gift of $10,000, for a public + library building, from Hon. Isaac Cutler, of Boston, Mass. + + _Lewiston._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + MARYLAND. + + _Cumberland._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Hagerstown._ Washington County Free Library. Gift of $50,000 and + accrued interest $1250, from B. F. Newcomer, of Baltimore, the town + to furnish a site for building, which will cost about $25,000. + + + MASSACHUSETTS. + + _Amherst._ Amherst College. Gift of $500, to form a fund for the + purchase of Spanish books, from Hon. John S. Brayton, of Fall + River, Mass. + + _Bolton._ Parker Library. Devise of a dwelling house and one-half acre + of land, on condition that within one year from the allowance of + the will the town shall establish a free public library to be known + as the Parker Library, from Louisa Parker. + + _Boston._ Lang Memorial Library. Gift of a free public library of + musical scores, founded by B. J. Lang, as a memorial to Ruth + Burrage. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of $4000, from Abram E. Cutter. + + -- Gift of 599 volumes of text-books used in the public schools of + Boston, from the Boston School Committee, in co-operation with the + publishers. + + -- Gift of 597 volumes, relating to music, scores, etc., from Allen A. + Brown. + + -- Gift of 576 volumes, relating to music, including operas, oratorios, + collections of school and college song books, etc., from The Oliver + Ditson Co. + + _Cambridge._ Harvard University. Bequest of $10,000, to increase fund, + already established by him, for purchase of works of history, + political economy, and sociology, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott. + + -- Gift of $1250, for purchase of books relating to the history of the + Ottoman Empire, from Prof. A. C. Coolidge. + + -- Gift of $800, for the purchase of books on ecclesiastical history in + the Riant Library, from J. Harvey Treat, of Lawrence. + + -- Gift of $500, for purchase of books relating to Scandinavian + subjects, from Mrs. Emil E. Hammer. + + -- Bequest of 1920 volumes, mainly English and French literature, from + Edward Ray Thompson, of Troy, N. Y. + + -- Gift of 700 volumes from the library of James Russell Lowell, to + form the Lowell Memorial Library for the use of the Romance + Departments of the University, from various subscribers. + + -- Gift of 549 volumes, the library of Alphonse Marsigny, from The J. + C. Ayer Company, of Lowell. + + -- Gift of 317 volumes, belonging to the library of her late husband, + from Mrs. John E. Hudson. + + -- Bequest of 250 volumes of Sanskrit and other Oriental works, from + Henry C. Warren, Esq. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of 550 volumes, consisting chiefly of Maine + and New Hampshire local histories, genealogies, etc., from Cyrus + Woodman. + + -- Gift of a collection of art works, valued at about $500, from + Nathaniel Cushing Nash. + + _Clinton._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Conway._ Field Memorial Library. Gift of a library building to cost + $100,000, as a memorial to the donor's father and mother, from + Marshall Field, of Chicago. It will also be endowed by Mr. Field. + + _Fairhaven._ Millicent Library. Gift of Fairhaven Waterworks, valued at + from $100,000 to $125,000, and producing an annual income of about + $8000, from Henry H. Rogers. + + _Groveland._ Public Library. Bequest of $5000, from J. G. B. Adams. + + _Hinsdale._ Public Library. Bequest of $5000, to be known as "Curtice + fund," the income to be used for the purchase of books, from John + W. Curtice, of Washington, D. C. + + _Lynn._ Free Public Library. Gift of a library building, erected + largely from the bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Shute. + + --Gift of large mural painting, by F. Luis Mora, from Joseph N. Smith. + + -- Gift of copy in marble of the Venus of Milo, from Charles W. Bubier, + of Providence, R. I. + + -- Gift of a bronze bust of the late Charles J. Van Depoele, from his + family. + + _Malden._ Public Library. Gift of $125,000, to be known as the Elisha + and Mary D. Converse Endowment Fund, from Hon. Elisha D. Converse. + "The income from this fund will be 'used freely in any direction in + which it may conduce to the welfare of the library.'" + + _Milton._ Public Library. Bequest of $2000, from ex-Governor Roger + Wolcott, of Boston, Mass. + + _Newburyport._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for the purchase of + books, from John Rand Spring, of San Francisco. + + -- Bequest of $4500, from Stephen W. Marston, of Boston. + + -- Bequest of $3000, from E. S. Moseley. + + _North Adams._ Public Library. Gift of furnishings and decorations of + children's room, value not stated, from William Arthur Gallup, as a + memorial to his children. + + _Petersham._ Public Library. Bequest of $12,000, from Lucy F. Willis. + + _Plymouth._ Public Library. Gift of a new library building, to cost + about $20,000, from the heirs of the late William G. Russell, of + Boston, as a memorial to their father and mother. + + _Salem._ Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, from Walter S. Dickson. + + _Somerville._ Public Library. Gift of $4000, from Mrs. Harriet Minot + Laughlin, in memory of her father, Isaac Pitman, the first + librarian of the institution, the income to be used for the + purchase of "works of art, illustrative, decorative, and + otherwise." + + _Springfield._ City Library. Bequest of about $70,000, from the estate + of David Ames Wells, of Norwich, Conn., his son David Dwight Wells + having died June 15, 1900, without issue. One-half of the income is + to be expended for publications on economic, fiscal, or social + subjects. + + -- Gift of 450 volumes, from Miss Frances Fowler. + + _Sunderland._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a library and its + equipment, from John L. Graves, of Boston. + + _Swansea._ Public Library. Bequest of a library building, cost not + stated, from Frank Shaw Stevens. + + _Woburn._ Eunice Thompson Memorial Library. By his last will Jonathan + Thompson, of Woburn, left a plot of ground and the residue of his + estate for the erection and maintenance of a suitable building by + the city, to be known by the above name. Value of bequest about + $70,000. + + _Worcester._ American Antiquarian Society. Gift of $3000, for a fund, + the interest of which is to be expended for literature relating to + the Civil War of 1861-65. This fund is in memory of Hon. John + Davis, President of the Society from 1853-54, and was given by John + C. B. Davis, of Washington, D. C., Horace Davis, of San Francisco, + and Andrew McF. Davis, of Cambridge. + + -- Clark University. Bequest of $150,000, from Jonas G. Clark, for the + erection and maintenance of a library. + + + MICHIGAN. + + _Albion._ Albion College. Gift of $10,000, to be devoted to a library + building, as a memorial to the donor's daughter, Lottie T. Gassett, + from Mrs. C. T. Gassett. + + _Ann Arbor._ Ladies' Library Association. Bequest of $3000, from Mrs. + L. M. Palmer. + + -- University of Michigan. Gift of about 1600 volumes, belonging to the + library of the late Prof. George A. Hench, from his mother, Mrs. + Rebecca A. Hench. The greater number refer to Germanic philology. + + _Delray._ Public Library. Gift of property, valued at $15,000, for a + public library, from The Solvay Process Company, of that place. + + _Detroit._ Public Library. Gift of $750,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 477 volumes and 1932 pamphlets, from the heirs of the late + Gov. John J. Bagley. "This collection was notable in being almost + wholly available, useful, and valuable to the library." + + -- Gift of 418 volumes and 1435 pamphlets, from Herbert Bowen, formerly + a member of the Library Board. "All were of a historical character, + mostly local and relating to Michigan, or institutions and + localities in the state." + + _Grand Rapids._ Public Library. Gift of $150,000, for the erection and + furnishing of a library building, from Martin A. Ryerson, of + Chicago, the city to provide site and maintenance. The offer was + made Feb. 14, 1901, and was at once accepted by the Mayor. + + _Iron Mountain._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Ishpeming._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Jackson._ Public Library. Gift of $70,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $7000 + yearly for library support. + + _Marquette._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward a new library + building, from an anonymous donor. + + _Muskegon._ Hackley Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new + two-story stack room, from Charles Henry Hackley. + + _Sault Ste. Marie._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + MINNESOTA. + + _Cloquet._ Public Library. Gift of a site for a library building, + valued at $2500, from Cloquet Lumber Company. + + _Duluth._ Carnegie Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new library + building, in addition to a former gift of $50,000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Mankato._ Public Library. Gift of $40,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Minneapolis._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for the erection of a + branch library building, from ex-Governor J. S. Pillsbury. + + _St. Cloud._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $2000, towards the purchase of a site for the new Carnegie + library building, from J. J. Hill, of St. Paul. + + _St. Paul._ Public Library. Gift of $500, for purchase of children's + books, from various friends of the library. + + -- Gift of their library of 430 volumes, from St. Paul Teacher's + Association. + + -- Gift of 38 photographs of paintings, two pictures and a large cast + of the Victory of Samothrace, from four donors. + + _Sleepy Eye._ Dyckman Free Library. Gift of $8000, being the cost of + the completed library building, from F. H. Dyckman. + + + MISSISSIPPI. + + _Natchez._ Fisk Library Association. Gift of $25,000, from Mrs. + Christian Schwartz, on condition that the Association raise an + additional $10,000. + + -- Gift of site, valued at $3000, and a library building, to cost + $10,000, from Mrs. Christian Schwartz. + + _Yazoo._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost $25,000, + as a memorial to the late Gen. B. S. Ricks, from his widow. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Mrs. K. C. Gardner. + + + MISSOURI. + + _De Soto._ Railroad Library. Gift of $1000, for a library for railroad + employes, from Miss Helen Gould, of New York. + + _Hannibal._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for the erection of a + library building, to be known as the John H. Garth Public Library, + from Mrs. John H. Garth and her daughter, Mrs. R. M. Goodlet. + + _Jefferson City._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, upon condition that the city + secures a site and appropriates $3000 a year for the maintenance of + the library. + + _St. Joseph._ Free Library. Bequest of $20,000, from Jarvis Ford. + + _St. Louis._ Public Library. Gift of $1,000,000, for public library + buildings, from Andrew Carnegie, provided the city will contribute + the site and appropriate $150,000 yearly for the support of the + library. + + -- Gift of $400,000, to lift incumbrance on block to be used for the + new Carnegie Library, from four St. Louis citizens. + + _South St. Joseph._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NEBRASKA. + + _Crete._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a public library + building, from T. H. Miller, provided the city furnish a site + approved by the donor. + + _Lincoln._ University of Nebraska. Bequest of 2000 volumes, of history, + literature, and works on education, forming the library of the + donor, from Simon Kerl, of Oakland, Neb. The books are never to be + loaned outside the library rooms. + + _South Omaha._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NEW HAMPSHIRE. + + _Derry._ Benjamin Adams Memorial Library. Bequest of $10,000, for the + erection of a town-hall and public library building, from Benjamin + Adams. + + _Hanover._ Dartmouth College. Bequest of $10,000, as a library fund for + the Department of Philosophy, from Mrs. Susan A. Brown. + + _Pittsfield._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to be + erected, value not stated, from Josiah Carpenter, of Manchester. + + _Rindge._ Ingalls Memorial Library. Gift of $1000, as a fund, the + interest to be used for the benefit of the library, from the Hon. + Ezra S. Stearns. + + + NEW JERSEY. + + _Jersey City._ Free Public Library. Gift of 819 volumes and 381 + pamphlets, forming the medical library of the late Dr. S. W. Clark, + from his widow. + + _Montclair._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Newark._ Free Public Library. Gifts of 1125 periodicals and pamphlets, + from three persons. + + _Perth Amboy._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $1200 + yearly. + + -- Gift of a site for a public library building, value not stated, from + J. C. McCoy. + + -- Gift of $1000, with which to purchase books when needed, from Adolph + Lewisohn. + + _Princeton._ Princeton University. Gift of $50,000, for library + maintenance, from anonymous donor. + + -- Gifts of cash aggregating at least $16,000, from various sources. + + -- Gift of $5000, for library of Germanics, from the class of 1891. + + -- Bequest of 2739 volumes and 860 pamphlets, from Prof. William Henry + Green. + + -- Gift of 1000 volumes, from the library of the late Dr. Samuel + Miller, presented by Samuel Miller Breckinridge. + + -- Gift of 310 volumes, from D. H. Smith, of New York. + + -- Gift of 255 volumes, from Prof. Henry Van Dyke. + + _Trenton._ Public Library. Gift of books, forming the Women's Christian + Temperance Union Library, to the Public Library. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes, comprising books in "A. L. A. catalog" + not already in library, from Ferdinand W. Roebling, president of + the board. + + + NEW MEXICO. + + _Albuquerque._ Free Public Library. Gift of a two-story brick building, + valued at $25,000, on condition that it be used forever as a public + library and that $1000 additional be raised by the citizens, from + J. S. Reynolds. + + -- Gift of $2000, for the purchase of books, raised by popular + subscription. + + + NEW YORK. + + _Albany._ Young Men's Association Library--Pruyn Branch Library. Gift + of building, furniture, and equipment, cost about $20,000, from + Mrs. William G. Rice, in memory of her father, the late Chancellor + J. V. L. Pruyn. + + -- Gift of $525, from various persons. + + _Angelica._ Free Library. Gift of $12,000, for a library building, from + Mrs. Frank Smith. + + -- Gift of a building lot for a library building, value not stated, + from Frank S. Smith. + + _Brooklyn._ The Brooklyn Library. Bequest from Mr. James A. H. Bell of + sixteen-seventy-fifths of his estate. This bequest is estimated to + be worth about $10,000. Mr. Bell also left the library 1523 + volumes, collected since he gave his library of 10,425 volumes, + three years ago. + + -- Long Island Historical Society. Gift of $6500. This amount was + raised by popular subscription, and is to be known as the "Storrs + Memorial Fund," the income to be devoted to the increase of the + library. + + -- Bequest of $1000, the income to be expended in "the enlargement of + the department of ecclesiastical history," from Richard S. Storrs, + D.D., late President of the Society. + + _Caldwell, Lake George._ Dewitt C. Hay Library Association. Bequest, + valued at about $13,300, consisting of 100 shares of Amer. Bank + Note Co. stock, 35 shares of C. M. and St. Paul R. R. stock, and + $2000 in Duluth and Iron Range R. R. stock, to be held in trust, + the income to be spent for new books, pictures, and objects of art, + from Mrs. Marietta C. Hay, of Tarrytown, N. Y. This library is + established in memory of the donor's husband. + + _Catskill._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Cohoes._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Gloversville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $3000 + for library maintenance. + _Greene._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from William H. and James H. Moore, founders of the + Diamond Match Co., of Chicago. + + _Hempstead, L. I._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Homer._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for the erection of a public + library building, from George W. Phillips. + + _Ithaca._ Cornell University. Gift of $12,000, as an endowment fund for + the Flower Veterinary Library, the income alone to be used for the + increase of the collection, from Mrs. Roswell P. Flower. + + -- Gift of $1126, as a contribution toward printing the catalogue of + the Dante collection, from Willard Fiske. + + -- Bequest, estimated at about $2000, from C. H. Howland, class of + 1901. This is to form an endowment fund, the income to be used for + the purchase of works in the English language for a circulating + library for the use of students and officers of the university, and + is not payable until after the death of the testator's father, who + is still living. + + -- Gift of $575, for the increase of the White Historical Library, from + the Hon. Andrew D. White. + + -- Gift of 330 volumes, from the family of the late Prof. S. G. + Williams. + + -- Gift of 300 volumes, from Theodore Stanton, class of '76. + + _Johnstown._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + appropriate $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Middletown._ Thrall Library. Bequest of $31,500, with which a fine + library building has been erected, from Mrs. S. Marietta Thrall. + + _Mount Vernon._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _New Rochelle._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city must furnish site and a + yearly maintenance of $4000. + + _New York City._ American Geographical Society. Gift of $4455 to + building fund, from various persons. + + -- Am. Institute of Electrical Engineers. Gift of Latimer Clark + collection of electrical works, 6000 v., from Dr. S. S. Wheeler. + + -- American Museum of Natural History. Gift of 4539 volumes, pamphlets, + etc., on Natural History, including 73 maps, of a value of not less + than $4200, from Gen. Egbert L. Viele. + + -- Gift of 3166 volumes of Bibles, dictionaries, travels, cyclopædias, + etc., valued at $6500, from N. Y. Ecumenical Council. + + -- Gift of 243 volumes and 33 pamphlets, handsomely bound and valued at + $2000, from Frederick A Constable. + + -- Gift of 45 rare volumes on Mineralogy, valued at $250, from Ernest + Schernikow. + + -- Association of the Bar. Gift of $10,000, received Jan. 1, 1901, + source not given. + + -- Columbia University. Gift of $10,000, from "A Friend of the + University," for additions to the library. + + -- Gift of $5000, from "A Friend of the University" (another friend), + for special purposes. + + -- Gift of $2250, with which to complete the library's set of English + Parliamentary Papers, from the Hon. William S. Schermerhorn. + + -- Gift of the "Garden Library" of 2279 volumes and 145 pamphlets, + consisting of works by Southern authors or bearing on Southern + history, from The New York Southern Society. + + -- Deposit of the library of the Holland Society, consisting of books + and pamphlets, mostly in the Dutch language, many of which are + rare. + + -- General Theological Seminary. Gift of 2700 volumes, a part of the + library of the Rev. B. I. Haight, D.D., from C. C. Haight, Esq. + + -- Gift of 1000 volumes, a part of the library of the Rt. Rev. Horatio + Potter, D.D., from Prof. William B. Potter. + + -- Gift of books, number not stated, to the value of $3850, from the + Society for Promoting Religion and Learning in the State of New + York. + + -- Mechanics' Institute Library. (General Society of Mechanics and + Tradesmen.) Bequest of $5000, from estate of Charles P. Haughan. + + -- New York Free Circulating Library. (New York Public Library.) + Bequest of $20,000, from Oswald Ottendorfer. + + -- Bequest of $11,250, from Proudfit Estate. This library is now + absorbed by the New York Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden + Foundations. + + -- New York University. Gift of over 1200 volumes, from the library of + the late Prof. Ezra Hall Gillett, D.D., from his two sons. + + -- Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Gift of + $5,200,000, for the erection of 65 branch library buildings, the + city to furnish the sites and guarantee the maintenance of the + libraries, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 1304 volumes, from the Union League Club. + + -- Gift of 738 volumes, from Hon. Robert P. Porter. + + -- Gift of 592 volumes, from the Misses Ely. + + -- Gift of 497 volumes, from Mrs. Gertrude King Schuyler. + + -- Gift of 393 volumes, from estate of S. V. R. Townsend. + + -- Gift of 343 volumes, from Dr. R. G. Wiener. + + -- Gift of 287 volumes, from H. V. and H. W. Poor. + + -- Gift of 280 volumes, from Edmond Bruwaert. + + -- Gift of 923 groups of steel engravings, all "engravers' proofs," + chiefly the works of the donor's father, from James D. Smillie. + + -- Gift of a large and valuable collection of Japanese engravings and + chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, of the _Japan Mail_, + from Charles Stewart Smith. + + -- New York Society Library. Bequest of $1000, from Maria B. Mount. + + -- Bequest of $20,004.86, from Charles H. Contoit; during the previous + year $137,000 was paid to the library by this estate. + + -- Union Theological Seminary. Gift of 559 volumes, from the library of + the late president, Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, LL.D. + + -- Gift of 519 volumes, from the library of the late Prof. Ezra Hall + Gillett, D.D., from his two sons. + + -- Washington Heights Free Library. Gift of $1700 by Andrew Carnegie + towards completing sum required by conditional gift for new + building. + + -- Young Men's Christian Association. Gift of $5000, to prepare + catalogue of circulating library, from Frederick E. Hyde. + + _Newark._ Gift of a library building, costing nearly $25,000; also, + $1000 to send out travelling libraries in the neighborhood and the + salary of the librarian for a year, from Mr. Henry C. Rew, of + Evanston, Ill. + + _Niagara Falls._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site and a + yearly maintenance of $7000. + + _Oxford._ Public Library. Gift of a public library, from children of + the late Eli L. Corbin. + + _Oyster Bay, L. I._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, towards a public + library building, by Andrew Carnegie. No conditions were attached + to this gift. + + _Peekskill._ Public Library. Gift of the old Henry Ward Beecher + residence, fully equipped for a public library, from Dr. John + Newell Tilton. + + _Port Jervis._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + appropriate $3000 yearly maintenance. + + -- Gift of plot of ground for library site, value not stated, from + Peter E. Farnum. + + _Rochester._ Reynolds Library. Gift of 900 volumes of United States + public documents, from Hon. Charles S. Baker. + + _St. George, S. I._ Arthur Winter Memorial Library of the Staten Island + Academy. Gift of $500, from Andrew Carnegie, without conditions. + + _Schenectady._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city council had already + appropriated $5000 a year for library maintenance provisionally in + hope of securing a Carnegie gift. A site is under consideration, at + a probable cost of $14,000. + + -- Gift of $15,000, with which to purchase a site for the new Carnegie + library, from the General Electric Company. + + _Syracuse._ Public Library. Gift of $260,000, for a new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + guarantee $30,000 yearly for maintenance. + + _Watertown._ Flower Memorial Library. Gift of $60,000, from Mrs. Emma + Flower Taylor, for a public library to commemorate her father, the + late Governor Roswell P. Flower. + + _Yonkers._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NORTH CAROLINA. + + _Charlotte._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Durham._ Trinity College. Gift of $50,000, for a library building, + from James K. Duke, president of the American Tobacco Co. + + _Raleigh._ Olivia Raney Memorial Library. Gift of 5000 volumes, also + services of a trained librarian to organize the work, from Richard + B. Raney. + + + NORTH DAKOTA. + + _Fargo._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + + OHIO. + + _Akron._ Public Library. Gift of a building for the public library, to + cost not less than $50,000, from Col. George T. Perkins. + + -- Gift of library of music (1898), valued at $600, name of donor not + stated. + + _Ashtabula._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Bucyrus._ Memorial Library. Gift of $500, for purchase of books, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Canton._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of property, valued at $10,000, from W. W. Clark. + + _Cincinnati._ Natural History Library. Gift of $60,000, for a new + library building, name of donor not stated. + + -- Gift of 14,000 volumes, donor not named. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $1000, for the purchase of books for the + blind, raised by popular subscription. + + -- Gift of 500 volumes in raised type for the blind, name of donor not + given. + + -- Gift of 416 volumes and 1600 pamphlets, from H. L. Wehmer. + + -- University Library. Gift of 6782 volumes; the Robert Clarke + collection. + + _Cleveland._ Adelbert College, of Western Reserve University. Gift of + $15,000, name of donor not given. + + -- Case Library. Library property condemned by U. S. government for new + public building; award, including damages, fixed at $507,000. + + -- Cleveland Hardware Co.'s Library. Gift of 300 volumes, from famous + people all over the world, many with autographs. + + -- Medical Library Association; The Vance Library. Gift of 2000 + volumes, from Drs. Dudley P. Allen and A. C. Hamman. + + -- Public Library. Gift of 306 bound and 217 unbound volumes, on + Oriental religions, folk-lore and allied subjects, from John G. + White. + + _Columbus._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, for maintenance of the + Kilbourne alcove; also 750 volumes, from James Kilbourne. + + _Conneaut._ Public Library. Gift of $100,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Delaware._ Ohio Wesleyan University. Gift of 4179 volumes, including + the complete library of the late Prof. Karl Little, from Prof. John + Williams White, of Harvard University. + + _Gambier._ Kenyon College Library. Gifts of $15,000, names of donors + not given. + + _Geneva._ Platt R. Spencer Memorial Library. Gifts of $1577, names of + donors not given. + + _Granville._ Dennison University Library. Gifts of $525, names of + donors not given. + + _Greenville._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, a yearly maintenance of $2000 + required. The site has already been secured. + + _Hamilton._ Lane Free Library. Gift of $500, donated by citizens. + + _Marietta._ Marietta College. Gift of 18,712 volumes, from his private + library, by Hon. R. M. Stimson; to be kept together and in + reasonable repair. The collection is especially rich in Americana + relating to the Mississippi Valley. + + _Massillon._ McClymonds Public Library. Gift of library building, + valued at $20,000, name of donor not given. + + -- Gift of $10,000, as an endowment for books, name of donor not given. + + _Painesville._ Public Library. Gift of new library building, neither + value nor name of donor given. + + -- Gift of 385 volumes, name of donor not given. + + _Sandusky._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Shelby._ Public Library. Gift of property valued at $6500, for a + public library, from Daniel S. Marvin. + + _Steubenville._ Carnegie Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Toledo._ Public Library. Gift of $1800, from Mr. Hardy. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Mrs. J. R. Locke. + + -- Gifts of 1223 volumes, names of donors not given. + + _Van Wert._ Brumback Library. Gift of new library building, costing + about $50,000, from family of the late John S. Brumback, thus + carrying out his intentions in completing and furnishing it and + presenting it to the county. + + _Wooster._ University Library. Gift of a $35,000 library building, from + H. C. Frick, of Pittsburg, Pa. "This beautiful building is fitted + up with the latest improvements." + + _Youngstown._ Reuben McMillan Free Library. Bequest of $5000, received + from Charles D. Arms. + + + OREGON. + + _Portland._ Library Association. Gift of $25,050, from the three + daughters of the late Henry Failing. + + -- Bequest of $2500, the income to be used for maintenance of the + donor's private library of nearly 9000 volumes, also bequeathed to + this institution, from John Wilson. + + -- Bequest of his private library of nearly 9000 volumes, valued at + $2500, from John Wilson. This library is rich in art works and + examples of early printing, and is to be kept as a separate + collection for reference only. + + -- Gift of $1100, for work of cataloging the Wilson Library, provided + for by private subscription, by the directors. + + + PENNSYLVANIA. + + _Braddock_, _Duquesne_, and _Homestead_. Carnegie Libraries. Gift of + $1,000,000, from Andrew Carnegie. This amount has been placed in + trust with the Carnegie Company, of Pittsburg, the income of which + is to be devoted to maintaining the above libraries, founded by Mr. + Carnegie. It will be distributed from time to time, according to + the work done or needed. + + _Carbondale._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Duquesne._ _See_ Braddock. + + _Easton._ Lafayette College. The Van Wickle Memorial Library building, + erected at a cost of $30,000, from a legacy of Augustus S. Van + Wickle, of Hazleton. Pa. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. The gift was declined March 14, 1901, because of + maintenance requirement, and afterwards accepted (April 11) on + assurance that the site would be given to the city. + + -- Gift of money to purchase a site for the building offered by Mr. + Carnegie, amount not stated, raised by popular subscription. + + _Homestead._ _See_ Braddock. + + _Huntingdon._ Gift of $20,000, for a public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Idlewood._ Chartiers Township Free Library. Gift of $1500, for the + purchase of books, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Newcastle._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. If the yearly maintenance is made + $4000 the gift will be raised to $40,000. Gift rejected, June 27, + 1901. + + _Philadelphia._ Academy of Natural Sciences. Bequest of about $500,000, + from Dr. Robert B. Lamborn. Though bequeathed to the academy, its + library will be benefited by the bequest. + + -- Bequest of about $75,000, and a valuable collection of botanical + books and dried plants, from Charles E. Smith. The library will be + benefited by this bequest. + + -- College of Physicians. Gifts and bequests amounting to $27,500 + towards a "Library Endowment Fund," raised through the efforts of the + president of the college, Dr. W.W. Keen, within a period of eighteen + months, as follows: + Trustees of the William F. Jenks Memorial Fund, $7000. + Mr. William W. Frazier, $5000. + Estate of Esther F. Wistar, $5000. + Mrs. William T. Carter, $5000. + Dr. William W. Keen, $1000. + Charles C. Harrison, $1000. + J. Percy Keating, $1000. + Major Luther S. Bent, $1000. + John H. Converse, $1000. + George H. McFadden, $500. + + -- Gift of 2466 volumes, from Dr. J. M. Da Costa. + + -- Gift of 1500 volumes, from Dr. John Ashurst, Jr. + + -- Gift of 272 volumes, from the daughters of the late Dr. William T. + Taylor. + + -- The Franklin Institute. 844 volumes and 899 pamphlets, relating to + iron, coal, mining, railroads, and statistics, from the late + Charles E. Smith, at one time president of the Philadelphia and + Reading Railroad Co. + + -- Free Library. Bequest of 1215 volumes and 1806 unbound books, + pamphlets and magazines, through Stevenson Hockley Walsh, from Mrs. + Annie Hockley. + + -- Gift of 464 volumes, for H. Josephine Widener Branch Library, from + Mr. P. A. B. Widener. + + -- Gift of 245 volumes, from estate of George B. Roberts. + + -- Gift of several volumes in embossed type for the blind, from Dr. + David D. Wood. + + -- Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Gift of $5000, from Mrs. Mifflin + Wistar. + + -- Gift of $2041, from Miss Ellen Waln. + + -- Gift of $500, from Carl Edelheim. + + -- Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift of 900 volumes, from the Hon. + Richard Vaux. + + -- Gift of 406 volumes, from Henry Carey Baird, Esq. + + -- University of Pennsylvania. Gift of $1750, to be spent in purchase + of philosophical books, from Class of 1889. + + -- Gift of $615, for purchase of files of botanical periodicals, from + Robert B. Buist. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes exceedingly valuable in works of Travels + and Archæology, from the heirs of Robert H. Lamborn, and the + Academy of Natural Sciences. + + -- Gift of 1300 volumes, secured at Hunter sale, from contributions of + friends of the University. + + _Phoenixville._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Reading._ Public Library. Gift of $2000, for purchase of books, from + friends. + + -- Gift of 681 volumes, from same source. + + -- Gift of 356 volumes, forming his library, from Henry S. Comstock. + + _Sharon._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Washington._ Washington and Jefferson College. Gift of $10,000 (added + to the $50,000 given by her husband, William R. Thompson, for a new + library building), from Mrs. Mary Thow Thompson, of Pittsburg. The + building will cost $40,000, the balance, $20,000, will be held as a + book fund, the income only to be spent. Mr. Thompson's gift is + intended as a memorial to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Donaldson + Thompson. + + -- Gift of $30,000, towards the erection and maintenance of a new + library building, from W. P. Thompson, making in all from Mr. and + Mrs. Thompson $60,000. + + _Wilkinsburg._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + RHODE ISLAND. + + _Central Falls._ Adams Library. Bequest of $35,000 from Stephen Ludlow + Adams, as a special trust for the establishment of a library, to be + named as above; $25,000 to be spent on building, the income of + $10,000 for its maintenance. + + _Newport._ Redwood Library. Bequest of $1000, from Miss Martha Maria + Anderson. + + -- Bequest of $5000, to be paid at the expiration of three years, from + John Nicholas Brown. This is to be used as a fund, the income to be + used for the purchase of books. + + -- Bequest of $2000, from Mrs. Orleana Ellery Redwood Pell (Mrs. Walden + Pell). + + -- Gift of 316 volumes on angling and hunting, from Daniel B. Fearing. + + _Providence._ Brown University. By the will of the late John Nicholas + Brown it is provided that the John Carter Brown Library of + Americana previous to 1801, the estimated value of which is at + least $1,000,000, shall be maintained as a permanent memorial. + The testator sets aside $150,000 for a building and $500,000 as an + endowment fund for its increase and maintenance. This library and + its endowments have been presented, by the trustees of the estate, + to Brown University. + + -- Gift of $1000, for purchase of American poetry and drama, at the + McKee sale, from William Goddard, Chancellor of the University. + + -- Gift of over 250 volumes on international law, from William Vail + Kellen, a trustee of the University. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, from Ada L. Steere. + + -- Gift of $3000, to be invested and income used for purchase of books. + The name of the donor is not made public. + + + SOUTH DAKOTA. + + _Aberdeen._ Alexander Mitchell Library. Gift of $15,000, for public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie requests that + the library be called after his friend, Alexander Mitchell. + Accepted March 20, 1901. + + _Sioux Falls._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + TENNESSEE. + + _Chattanooga._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. It is reported that the amount of the gift + will be raised to $100,000, provided the city agrees to appropriate + $10,000 yearly. + + _Jackson._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Memphis._ Cossitt Library. Bequest of 942 volumes and 423 pamphlets + especially strong in social science and history, from Gen. Colton + Greene. + + + TEXAS. + + _Dallas._ Public Library. Gift of over 1100 volumes, from various + persons, at a book reception, held Dec. 11, 1900. + + _San Antonio._ Carnegie Library. Collection of books, valued at $3500, + from San Antonio Library Association. To be turned over to the + Carnegie Library on the completion of its building, and provided + that the city contribute $50 a month towards expenses until so + turned over. + + _Waco._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, by Andrew Carnegie, towards the + library. + + + UTAH. + + _Ogden._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Salt Lake City._ Free Public Library. Gift of $75,000, to erect a free + public library building, and a building site worth $25,000, from + John Q. Packard. + + + VERMONT. + + _Middlebury._ Middlebury College. Gift of the Starr Library building, + erected from a bequest of $50,000, from Egbert Starr, of New York + City. + + _Windsor._ Library Association. Bequest of $2000, from Charles C. + Beaman, of New York. + + + VIRGINIA. + + _Hampton._ Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Gift of a new + library building, cost not stated, as a memorial to Collis P. + Huntington, from Mrs. C. P. Huntington. + + _Lexington._ Washington and Lee University. Bequest of his law library + (1884), made available by death of his widow, from Prof. Vincent L. + Bradford, of Philadelphia. + + _Norfolk._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- _Seaboard Air Line Travelling Libraries._ Gift of $1000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Richmond._ Public Library. Gift of $100,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Winchester._ Public Library. Bequest of $250,000, from Judge John + Handley, of Scranton, Pa. + + + WASHINGTON. + + _Seattle._ Public Library. Gift of $200,000, for a new library + building, to replace the one destroyed by fire Jan. 2, 1901, from + Andrew Carnegie, on condition that the city make a guarantee to + provide $50,000 yearly for maintenance and improvement. + + _Tacoma._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted with the proviso that + $7500 will be appropriated for maintenance annually if the gift is + increased to $75,000. A site has already been selected. + + + WEST VIRGINIA. + + _Wheeling._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + WISCONSIN. + + _Appleton._ Public Library. Gift of $663.54, from directors of Prescott + Hospital. + + -- Gift of $500, for furnishing room, from women's clubs. + + _Ashland._ Vaughn Library. Bequest of the Vaughn Library, valued at + $60,000; also property which will give it an income of $1200 a + year, from Mrs. Vaughn-Marquis, of Chicago. + + -- Bequest of 540 volumes, from Mrs. E. Vaughn-Marquis. + + _Columbus._ Public Library. Gift of $1300, $1000 for endowment and $300 + for immediate use, from Mrs. C. A. Chadbourne and F. A. Chadbourne. + + _De Pere._ Public Library. Gift of $2000, towards furnishing a library + of 10,000 volumes and upwards, if accepted before September, + 1902, from A. G. Wells. + + _Green Bay._ Kellogg Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site + and $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + -- Gift of a building site for new Carnegie Library, worth $2000, from + Bishop Messmer. + + _Janesville._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city council voted March 19, + 1901, to appropriate $3500 yearly for maintenance. + + -- Bequest of $10,000, for a public library building, from F. S. + Eldred. + + _Kenosha._ Gilbert M. Simmons Library. Gift of a library building and + furniture, costing about $150,000, from Z. G. Simmons, in memory of + his son, Gilbert M. Simmons. + + -- Gift of $20,000, for purchase of books, from Z. G. Simmons. + + _La Crosse._ Washburn Library. Gift of the Albert Boehm collection of + stuffed birds, valuable but cost not stated, from citizens of the + city. + + _Lake Geneva._ Public Library. Gift of 750 volumes, from several + ladies. + + _Lake Mills._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, in addition, for building, + from L. D. Fargo. + + -- Gift of $1700, for building site, from citizens of the place. + + _Madison._ Free Library Commission. Gift of $35, for German travelling + library, from citizens of Milwaukee. + + -- University of Wisconsin. The Germanic Seminary Library, comprising + 1700 volumes, relating especially to Germanic philology and + literature; purchased from a fund of $3146, raised by + German-American citizens of Milwaukee and presented Jan. 1, 1899. + + -- Gift of $2645 for purchase of books for School of Economics and + Political Science, from gentlemen in New York, Milwaukee, Madison, + and other Wisconsin cities. + + -- Gift of $2350, for the purchase of books for School of Commerce, + from five citizens of Milwaukee. + + -- Gift to the Germanic Seminary Library of 268 volumes, from the house + of F. A. Brockhaus, of Leipzig. + + _Marshfield._ Public Library. Gift of $2500, one-fifth to be expended + annually for five years for books, from W. D. Connor. + + _Menomonie._ Memorial Free Library. Gift of about $2000, for running + expenses pending settlement of the estate of Captain A. Tainter, + from his son and daughter, L. S. Tainter and Mrs. Fanny Macmillan. + + _Milwaukee._ Law Library. Bequest of $10,000, one-half for endowment + and one-half for the purchase of books, from A. R. R. Butler. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a collection of books on + literary subjects, from Mrs. A. A. Keenan, as a memorial to her + husband, the late Matthew Keenan. + + _Oconomowoc._ Public Library. Gift of $1500, toward library building, + from Mrs. P. D. Armour. + + -- Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. P. D. Armour, Jr. + + -- Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. Bullen. + + _Oshkosh._ Harris-Sawyer Library. Bequest of $75,000, toward new + library building, from Marshall Harris. + + -- Bequest of $25,000, towards new library building, from Philetus + Sawyer. The bequests of Mr. Harris and Mr. Sawyer were supplemented + by $50,000 from the city. The Harris bequest of $75,000 was made in + 1895 by Mrs. Abby S. Harris, to carry out the intentions of her + husband. It was made on condition that within three years an equal + amount should be raised for the same purpose. The bequest of + $25,000 by Hon. Philetus Sawyer was made to assist in raising the + latter amount, the balance of which was secured by the issue of + city bonds. $90,000 remains as a trust fund. + + -- Gift of paintings, valued at $5000, from Leander Choate. + + _Racine._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, towards a public library, + from citizens of that city. + + _Sheboygan._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $1000, or his salary of $500 per annum for two years, for a + site for library building, from the mayor, Fred Dennett. + + _Stanley._ Public Library. Gift of $12,000, $8000 for building and + $4000 for equipment, from Mrs. D. R. Moon. + + _Superior._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $5500, for a library building site, from citizens of the + town. + + _Waukesha._ Carroll College. Gift of $20,000, for a library endowment + fund, from donor whose name is not given. + + _Whitewater._ Public Library. Gift of $3000, for a memorial collection + of books, from Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Cook. + +NOTE.--Foreign gifts include: For British provinces, Vancouver Public +Library, $50,000 from Andrew Carnegie--For Canada, McGill University of +Montreal four gifts ($14,000, $1300, $1000, $500) for various purposes: +Ottawa Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Windsor Public +Library, $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Sidney Public Library, $15,000 +from Andrew Carnegie; Winnipeg Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew +Carnegie; Halifax Art School and Public Library, $75,000 from Andrew +Carnegie--For Trinidad, Cuba, bequest for public library from Mary B. +Carret--For Scotland, Glasgow district libraries, £100,000 from Andrew +Carnegie; Greenock, £5000 from Andrew Carnegie; Hawick, £10,000 from +Andrew Carnegie. + + WAUKESHA CONFERENCE + --------------------------------------------------------------------| + SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. | + ===================================================================== + |No.|Gifts in |Money for |Books. | + | |money. |buildings. | | + --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------| + N. Atlantic Division| | | | | + Maine | 9| $6,200 | $145,847.26| | + New Hampshire | 4| 11,000 | 10,000+ | | + Vermont | 2| 2,000 | 50,000 | | + Massachusetts | 44| 280,550 | 500,000 | 6,508 v.+ | + Rhode Island | 10| 532,000 | 175,000 | 566 v.++| + Connecticut | 28| 199,887 | 154,000 | 6,265 v.+ | + | | | | 10,000 pm. | + New York | 74| 128,030.86| 6,025,655+ | 29,737 v. | + | | | | 178 pm. | + New Jersey | 15| 72,000 | 50,000+ | 7,623 v. | + | | | | 2,366 pm. | + Pennsylvania | 45| 1,635,906 | 285,000+ | 13,149 v. | + | | | | 2,705 pm. | + S. Atlantic Div. | | | | | + Delaware | | | | | + Maryland | 2| 26,250 | 50,000 | | + District of Columbia| | | | | + Virginia | 6| 251,000 | 150,000 | law library.| + West Virginia | 1| | 75,000 | | + North Carolina | 3| | 70,000 | 5,000 v. | + South Carolina | | | | | + Georgia | 2| | 20,000 | 960 v. | + Florida | | | | | + | | | | | + Southern Cen. Div. | | | | | + Kentucky | 1| 50,000 | | | + Tennessee | 3| | 80,000 | 942 v. | + | | | | 423 pm. | + Alabama | 3| | 70,000 | yes. | + Mississippi | 4| 26,000 | 38,000 | | + Louisiana | 1| 10,000 | | yes. | + Texas | 3| | 1,000 | 1,100 v.+ | + Arkansas | | | | | + Oklahoma Territory | | | | | + Indian Territory | | | | | + | | | | | + N. Central Division | | | | | + Ohio | 39| 69,402 | 1,002,000 | 49,553 v.+ | + | | | | 1,817 pm. | + Indiana | 22| 94,700 | 370,000+ | 5,275 v.+ | + Illinois | 29| 32,893.50| 685,000 | 4,000 v.+ | + Michigan | 14| 3,000 | 1,090,000 | 2,495 v. | + | | | | 3,367 pm. | + Wisconsin | 40| 90,993.54| 543,700 | 3,258 v. | + Minnesota | 10| 500 | 162,500 | 430 v. | + Iowa | 14| 24,000 | 307,000+ | | + Missouri | 7| 21,000 | 1,475,000 | | + North Dakota | 1| | 50,000 | | + South Dakota | 2| | 40,000 | | + Nebraska | 3| | 70,000 | 2,000 v. | + Kansas | 4| 6,000 | 40,000+ | | + | | | | | + Western Division | | | | | + Montana | | | | | + Wyoming | | | | | + Colorado | 3| | 128,000 | | + New Mexico | 2| 2,000 | 25,000 | | + Arizona | | | | | + Utah | 2| | 125,000 | | + Nevada | | | | | + Idaho | | | | | + Washington | 2| | 250,000 | | + Oregon | 4| 28,650 | | 9,000 v. | + California | 10| 13,000 | 905,000 | 2,500 v. | + | | | | | + Cuba | | | | | + British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | + Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | + --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY. + ======================================================================== + North Atlantic Division|231|$2,867,573.86|$7,395,502.26+ | 63,848 v.++ | + | | | | 15,249 pm. | + South Atlantic Division| 14| 277,250 | 365,000 | 960 v.++ | + South Central Division | 15| 86,000 | 189,000 | 2,042 v.++ | + | | | | 423 pm. | + North Central Division |185| 342,489.04| 5,835,200+ | 67,011 v.++ | + | | | | 5,184 pm. | + Western Division | 23| 43,650 | 1,433,000 | 11,500 v. | + +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + |468|$3,616,962.90|$15,217,702.26+| 145,361 v.++| + Cuba | 1| | | 20,856 pm. | + British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | + Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | + +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + |482|$3,619,762.90|$16,166,702.26+| | + -----------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + + WAUKESHA CONFERENCE + -------------------------------------------------- + SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. + ================================================== + |Miscellaneous. |Carnegie + | | gifts. + --------------------+----------------+------------ + N. Atlantic Division| | + Maine | | $50,000 + New Hampshire | | + Vermont | | + Massachusetts |art works, etc. | 25,000 + Rhode Island | | + Connecticut | 842 mss.+ | 50,000 + New York | engravings. | 5,808,200 + New Jersey | | 50,000 + Pennsylvania | dried plants. | 1,216,500 + | | + S. Atlantic Div. | | + Delaware | | + Maryland | | 25,000 + District of Columbia| | + Virginia | | 151,000 + West Virginia | | 75,000 + North Carolina | services. | 20,000 + South Carolina | | + Georgia | | 20,000 + Florida | | + | | + Southern Cen. Div. | | + Kentucky | | + Tennessee | | 80,000 + Alabama | | 70,000 + Mississippi | | + Louisiana | | + Texas | | 1,000 + Arkansas | | + Oklahoma Territory | | + Indian Territory | | + | | + N. Central Division | | + Ohio | | 280,000 + Indiana | ms. | 350,000 + Illinois | | 615,000 + Michigan | | 885,000 + Wisconsin |paintings, etc. | 200,000 + Minnesota |art works, etc. | 90,000 + Iowa | | 220,000 + Missouri | | 1,050,000 + North Dakota | | 50,000 + South Dakota | | 40,000 + Nebraska | | 60,000 + Kansas | | 40,000 + | | + Western Division | | + Montana | | + Wyoming | | + Colorado | | 108,000 + New Mexico | | + Arizona | | + Utah | | 25,000 + Nevada | | + Idaho | | + Washington | | 250,000 + Oregon | | + California | | 865,000 + Cuba |public library. | + British Provinces | | 360,000 + Scotland | | 575,000 + --------------------+----------------+------------ + SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY + ====================================================== + North Atlantic Division |art works, mss.,| $7,199,700 + |engravings, etc.| + South Atlantic Division | services. | 291,000 + South Central Division | | 151,000 + North Central Division |art works, mss.,| 3,880,000 + | etc. | + Western Division | | 1,248,000 + +----------------+------------ + | |$12,769,700 + Cuba |1 library | + British Provinces | | 360,000 + Scotland | | 575,000 + +----------------+------------ + | |$13,704,700 + ------------------------+----------------+------------ + +Total Gifts and Bequests to American libraries from all sources, +$19,786,465.16, 145,361 volumes, and 20,856 pamphlets. The above figures +do not include several buildings and other gifts, the value of which was +not stated. Statistics of this nature must ever remain mere +approximations until some uniform system of gathering them is devised +and carried out. + + + + + REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD. + + BY JOSEPH L. HARRISON, _Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.) + Athenæum_. + + +In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor +to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year +1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially +a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly +the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in +the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our +publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book +publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in +what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than +offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of +all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of +$830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the +expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications +which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition +of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out +of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of +$927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in +hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), +$627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions +due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk +in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our +hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment +Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the +balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It +should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been +heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account +of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed +to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the +previous year. + +As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements +concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest: + + + _Books._ + +_A. L. A. proceedings._--The board has in stock at its headquarters, +10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference +proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very +limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it +is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind +the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early +consideration. + +_Annotated bibliography of fine art._--The "Bibliography of fine art," +prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which +has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive, +critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications +transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the +regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained +directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84 +copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication, +which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400. + +_Books for boys and girls._--The little, inexpensive, paper-covered +handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists, +prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home +use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand +that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000. +It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board. + +_Library tracts._--Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for +the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of +each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?" +was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to +start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law +Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary +of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received, +and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as +possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is +hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and +individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library +interests. + +_List of books for girls and women and their clubs._--This carefully +selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls +and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & +Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year, +showing a continued though not increased demand. + +_List of French fiction._--Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list, +chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New +Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the +board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less +than 500 copies. + +_List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs._--"Subject +headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the +board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year +show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the +book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the +hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent. + +_Reading for the young._--Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered +by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition, +compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary +E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound +together. During the current year the original edition has become +exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be +printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with +additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future. + + + _Printed cards._ + +_Current books._--It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed +cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of +the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the +year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively +will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of +the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past +years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their +courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in +getting the cards to subscribers with--under often adverse +conditions--most commendable promptness. + +_English history._--The annotated cards on English history continue to +be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however, +to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end +their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the +extent of making them self-supporting. + +_Periodical and society publications._--The Publishing Board is now +printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications. +During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out. +This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an +expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the +sales. + +_Miscellaneous sets._--The board has now printed 16 of the so-called +"Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes +covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of +Science--Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical +Association--Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical +Association--Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum--Bulletin, 1892-98, +nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society--Collections, 1792-1899; Old +South Leaflets--series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution--Annual reports, +1886-96; Smithsonian Institution--Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97; +Smithsonian Institution--Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S. +Bureau of Ethnology--Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National +Museum--Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum--Bulletin, +1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce"; +Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America." + +These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the +board's work as "periodicals and society publications"--completed works +like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to +these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with +the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been +a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the +limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year +covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the +subscription. + +The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board +is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional +sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify +the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science--Annals, 1900 +to date; American Economic Association--Economic studies, 1896-97; +American Economic Association--Publications, 1887-96; _Bibliographica_, +1895-97; Bureau of American Republics--Publications; Columbia University +Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins +University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. +Geological Survey--Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological +Survey--Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of +the Territories--Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical +Survey of the Territories--Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos. + +These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the +Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it +needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the +Association. + + + _In preparation and under consideration._ + +Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American +history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so +generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a +fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of +the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready +for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that +the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited, +as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this +summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be +continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the +index will be pushed to rapid completion. + +Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the +board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be +mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an +"Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books," +cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library +Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts +public documents. + +In conclusion it remains to express the deep and sincere regret with +which the board accepted the resignation of Mr. William C. Lane as its +secretary and treasurer, tendered in December of last year on account of +ill health and after a long period of most earnest, faithful and +valuable service, and to repeat here the suggestion with which he closed +his report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion made, it must be +remembered, after years of closest attention to the workings of the +board: + +"The desirability of taking some definite steps toward putting the work +of the Publishing Board on a broader and stronger basis is as evident as +ever. In addition to the efficient service rendered by the assistant +secretary, the Publishing Board could with advantage employ a portion, +say half, of the time of a capable man who should combine business +judgment and alertness with bibliographical tastes and knowledge of +library interests. The time has come when both for its own sake and in +justice to those who serve it the Publishing Board should have salaried +officers. To make the change successfully, however, requires a better +financial condition than it yet has." + + ====================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + ------------------------------------------------------ + | | | + | Copies | Copies | + PUBLICATIONS. | sold | on hand | + | in | Dec. 31, | + | 1900. | 1900. | + | | | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + A. L. A. Proceedings | 2 | 1829 | + Books for boys and girls | 188 | 643 | + Bibliography of fine art | 84 | 209 | + List of French fiction | 991 | 440 | + | { 107 | 474 | + Books for girls and women | { 218 pts. | 4064 pts.| + | | | + | { 6 orig. | 24 | + Reading for the young | { 32 suppl.| 899 | + | { 24 compl.| 5 | + List of subject-headings | 296 | 55 | + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| | | + Portrait index | | | + Current book cards | | | + English history cards | | | + Periodical cards | 170,344 | | + Miscellaneous sets | | | + Library tracts | 824 | 2174 | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + Totals | | | + General balance | | | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + | | | + ------------------------------------------------------ + ====================================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + | Balances, Jan. 1, | Operations, | + | 1900, being excess | Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, | + PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or | 1900. | + | receipts to date. | | + |---------+----------+----------+----------| + | Spent. | Received.| Expenses.| Receipts.| + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + A. L. A. Proceedings | | $5.56 | $1.24 | $2.00 | + Books for boys and girls | $13.47 | | | 8.60 | + Bibliography of fine art | 415.87 | | | 47.50 | + List of French fiction | | 8.51 | | 20.64 | + | } | | 66.19 | 66.19 | + Books for girls and women | } | | | | + | | | | | + | } | | | | + Reading for the young | }418.58 | | | 48.39 | + | } | | | | + List of subject-headings | | 227.85 | 144.17 | 390.36 | + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 242.84 | | 225.00 | | + Portrait index | 728.94 | | 561.08 | | + Current book cards | | 467.37 | 719.16 | 860.39 | + English history cards | | 16.41 | 134.00 | 55.76 | + Periodical cards | | 438.37 | 1795.75 | 1688.26 | + Miscellaneous sets | 41.85 | | 235.48 | 644.67 | + Library tracts | | | 125.15 | 41.20 | + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + Totals |$1861.55 | $1164.07 | $4007.22 | $3873.96 | + General balance | | 697.48 | | 133.26 | + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + |$1861.55 | $1861.55 | $4007.22 | $4007.22 | + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + ==================================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + | Balances, Dec. 31, + | 1900, being excess + PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or + | receipts to date. + |----------+--------- + | Spent. |Received. + --------------------------+----------+--------- + A. L. A. Proceedings | | $6.32 + Books for boys and girls | $4.87 | + Bibliography of fine art | 368.37 | + List of French fiction | | 29.15 + | | + Books for girls and women | | + | | + | | + Reading for the young | 370.19 | + | | + List of subject-headings | | 474.04 + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 467.84 | + Portrait index | 1290.02 | + Current book cards | | 608.60 + English history cards | 61.83 | + Periodical cards | | 330.88 + Miscellaneous sets | | 367.34 + Library tracts | 83.95 | + --------------------------+----------+--------- + Totals | $2647.07 |$1816.33 + General balance | | 830.74 + --------------------------+----------+--------- + | $2647.07 |$2647.07 + ----------------------------------------------- + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + | | + | Bal. Jan. 1, 1900. | + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+----------| + | Dr. | Cr. | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + General expense and income account | | $1960.48 | + Old members account | | 49.25 | + Library Bureau account | | 455.00 | + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | | + Other charges unpaid | | 69.41 | + Balance of cash |$1100.66 | | + Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions | 736.00 | | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + Totals |$1836.66 | $2534.14 | + Balances | 697.48 | | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + |$2534.14 | $2534.14 | + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + ------------------------------------------------------- + | | + |Operations of 1900.| + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+---------| + | Dr. | Cr. | + ----------------------------------+---------+---------+ + General expense and income account| $345.55 | $2.15| + Old members account | 2.84 | | + Library Bureau account | 1413.23 | 1327.75| + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | 159.12 | 175.62| + Other charges unpaid | 69.41 | 241.69| + Balance of cash | 3019.67 | 3296.69| + Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 2717.26 | 2816.44| + subscriptions | | | + ------------------------------------+----------+------+ + Totals | | | + Balances | | | + ----------------------------------+----------+--------+ + | | | + ------------------------------------------------------- + ------------------------------------------------------ + | + |Bal. Dec. 31, 1900. + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+--------- + | Dr. | Cr. + ----------------------------------+---------+--------- + General expense and income account| |$1617.08 + Old members account | | 46.41 + Library Bureau account | | 369.52 + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | 16.50 + Other charges unpaid | | 241.69 + Balance of cash | $823.64 | + Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 636.82 | + subscriptions | | + ------------------------------------------------------ + Totals |$1460.46 |$2291.20 + Balances | 830.74 | + ------------------------------------------------------ + |$2291.20 |$2291.20 + ------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + THE PROCEEDINGS. + + WAUKESHA, WIS., THURSDAY, JULY 4--WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1901. + + + _FIRST SESSION._[B] + + (METHODIST CHURCH, WAUKESHA, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 4.) + + PUBLIC MEETING. + +The meeting was called to order at 8.15 by President CARR, who announced +that the American Library Association would take up the program prepared +for its 23d annual meeting. The president then introduced ANDREW J. +FRAME, of Waukesha, who extended a cordial welcome to Waukesha on behalf +of the local committee, referring to the advance made in library +development throughout Wisconsin, largely through the efforts of such +men as Senator Stout, of Menominee, and Z. G. Simmons, of Kenosha, and +the enthusiasm of the state commission. + +MR. CARR then delivered the + PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. + (_See_ p. 1.) + +The subject + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES +was presented by three speakers, T. L. MONTGOMERY presenting + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE CITY, + (_See_ p. 5), +DR. E. A. BIRGE reviewing + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE STATE, + (_See_ p. 7), +and HERBERT PUTNAM outlining + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE NATION, + (_See_ p. 9.) + +Adjourned at 10 p.m. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + + (ASSEMBLY ROOM, FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 5.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 10.25, and announced that +the usual reports of officers and committees would be taken up in due +order. + +The PRINTED REPORT OF 1900 MEETING was approved as presented and +distributed. + +The AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION, as approved at the Montreal meeting was +submitted for ratification, and was adopted. It provides that in section +17, line 10, of the constitution the words "of the association," shall +be stricken out, thus making the final sentence of that section read as +follows: "It may, by a two-thirds vote, promulgate recommendations +relating to library matters, and no resolutions except votes of thanks +and on local arrangements shall be otherwise promulgated." + +F. W. FAXON presented his + + + SECRETARY'S REPORT. + +During the 13 months since the Association met at Montreal the number of +new members added has been 167.[C] Including with the new those who have +rejoined (for they are practically new members), we have over 225, the +largest year's increase in the history of the A. L. A. The system of +giving to each person who joins an accession number, and after a lapse +of membership for one or more years reverting to the old number when he +again joins, is not to my mind quite fair to the regular continued +membership. One of the charter members, to take an extreme case, may, +after paying dues for 1876 only, come in again this year by paying for +1901 and yet appear on a par with the 1876 members who have faithfully +kept up their membership for 25 years. Those rejoining members should be +included with the total of new names added. There is a chance here for +our statistician to devise a better system of accession. In March, 1901, +the active membership reached the 1000 mark, an achievement which may +well be recorded at the opening of a new century. + +In January 4000 copies of preliminary announcements were mailed to +members, and others supposed to be interested. The secretary compiled +for this purpose a card catalog of names, including in it members of +all the state associations and local clubs. + +In May a new handbook (68 pages and cover) 3-1/4 × 5-3/4 in., +practically following the size of last issue, was sent out, giving list +of members, officers and committees, statistical tables, lists of state +and local library associations and state library commissions, necrology +for the year, and other information of value to members and of use in +extending the work of the A. L. A. + +An edition of 4500 was printed at an expense of $160.60, and about half +were mailed, in connection with circular no. 2 regarding the Waukesha +meeting. The remainder should suffice for the coming year, with a small +supplement to include the new members, and the by-laws to be passed at +Waukesha, thus completing the new constitution. + +Early in June the final announcement was sent out, with private post +card enclosed, requesting advance registration. This was entirely +successful, 476 persons registering for attendance, up to June 28. A +printed list of these, for distribution at the early sessions of the +meeting, will, it is confidently expected, more than justify the expense +of its compilation. (800 copies, 24 pages, same size as handbook, +$32.75.) + +2000 copies of program (16 pages, handbook size) were printed and a copy +mailed to each person who registered for attendance at the meeting, and +to all members of the Association. + +The secretary's expenses for the year, exclusive of handbook, will be +about $400, the chief items being postage and printing. This seems +justified, as it has been the means of increasing the income of the A. +L. A. by more than the amount expended. + +Number of letters and postcards written during the year 956, number +received about 1000. + +Gifts to the A. L. A. during the year have included: + +Current issues of the New York Public Library _Bulletin_, and the +_Library Journal_, from the publishers. + +Reports of the Bristol meeting of the L. A. U. K., from the Honorable +Secretary. + +Report of the trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, Australia, +1900. + +Catalogue of books on art, from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Library. + +Statistics of labor, Conn., Report, 1901. + +_World_ Almanac, 1901. + +Annual reports of several American libraries, including Philadelphia +Free, Haverhill Public, Somerville Public, and Bowdoin College +libraries. + +In closing I wish to thank all upon whom I have called for information +or help, for the promptness and cordiality of their response. + + GARDNER M. JONES presented the + + + TREASURER'S REPORT. + + Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1900 (Montreal conference, p. 107) $54 75 + + RECEIPTS, JAN.-DEC., 1900. + + Fees from annual members: + + From 3 members for 1898 + From 61 members for 1899 + From 780 members for 1900 + From 12 members for 1901 + --- + 856 members at $2 $1712 00 + + Fees from annual fellows: + + From 1 fellow for 1899 + From 9 fellows for 1900 + -- + 10 fellows at $5 50 00 + + Fees from library members: + + From 1 library for 1899 + From 29 libraries for 1900 + -- + 30 libraries at $5 150 00 + ------- + $1912 00 + + Life membership: + + Alfred Hafner + Emma R. Neisser + 2 life memberships at $25 $50 00 + + Interest on deposit, New England Trust Co. 11 64 + + Donation 1 00 + -------- + + $2029 39 + ======== + + PAYMENTS, JAN.-DEC., 1900. + Proceedings, including delivery: + Jan. 15. _Publishers' Weekly_, balance on printing and + binding Atlanta Proceedings $142 92 + _Publishers' Weekly_, delivery Atlanta + Proceedings 66 27 + Mar. 17. _Publishers' Weekly_, cartage 50 + Oct. 2. _Publishers' Weekly_, Montreal Proceedings + and delivery 881 34 + ------ $1091 03 + Stenographer: + June 30. J. H. Kenehan $30 75 + July 7. G. D. Robinson 73 69 + ------ $104 44 + + Secretary and conference expenses: + April 24. F. H. Gerlock & Co., printing handbook $59 00 + F. H. Gerlock & Co., circulars, etc. 35 25 + May 29. Henry J. Carr, postage, etc. 112 90 + June 30. F. H. Gerlock & Co., programs and + circulars 37 75 + July 24. Henry J. Carr, travel secretaries' + expenses 67 92 + Oct. 18. F. W. Faxon, stamped envelopes, etc. 15 60 + Dec. 12. F. W. Faxon, salary, on account 50 00 + ----- $378 42 + Treasurer's expenses: + May 29. Gardner M. Jones, postage, etc. $14 00 + Oct. 2. Salem Press Co., printing bills, etc. 5 50 + Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes, etc. 46 85 + Dec. 24. Gardner M. Jones, expenses 31 55 + ----- $97 90 + + Trustees of the Endowment Fund, life membership for + investment $50 00 + -------- + $1721 79 + + Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1900: + Deposit in New England Trust Co., Boston $201 55 + Deposit in Merchants' Bank, Salem, Mass. 106 05 $307 60 + -------- -------- + $2029 39 + ======== + +From Jan. 1 to July 1, 1901, the receipts have been $1650.00 and the +payments $781.32, the balance on hand July 1 being $1176.28. The +membership, hence the income, of the Association is increasing from year +to year, but it should be borne in mind that increased membership means +increased expenses. The secretary and treasurer are obliged to ask for +more money for postage, stationery, printing, etc., and it is only by +the most rigid condensation that the recorder is able to keep our +conference Proceedings within our means. + +The number of members in good standing on Dec. 31, 1900, was as follows: + + Honorary members 3 + Perpetual member 1 + Life fellows 2 + Life members 34 + Annual fellows (paid for 1900) 9 + Annual members (paid for 1900) 796 + Library members (paid for 1900) 29 + --- + 874 + +During the year 1900, 208 new members joined the Association and seven +died. + + GARDNER M. JONES, _Treasurer_. + +The following report of audit was appended: + +The Finance Committee have performed the duties laid down in the +constitution; they have examined the accounts of the treasurer, during +the period covered by his report, and find them properly kept and +vouched for. + + JAMES L. WHITNEY, } + CHARLES K. BOLTON, } _Finance Committee._ + GEO. T. LITTLE. } + + + _Necrology._ + +1. Eleanor Arnold Angell (A. L. A. no. 1631, 1897) assistant librarian +American Society of Civil Engineers, New York City. Born Jan. 23, 1874; +died in New York City May 18, 1900. Miss Angell graduated from the Pratt +Institute Library School in 1896 and was a member of the Pratt Institute +Library staff until July, 1897. From Dec., 1897, to the time of her +death she was assistant librarian of the American Society of Civil +Engineers. + +2. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain (A. L. A. no. 335, 1879) ex-librarian, Boston +Public Library. Born in Pembroke, N. H., June 4, 1821; died in Chelsea, +Mass., June 25, 1900. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844, +taught school at Brattleboro, Vt., entered the Harvard Law School in +1846, was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1849. In the same year he +took up his residence in Chelsea and began the practice of law in +Boston. He held several municipal offices and was a member of both +houses of the state legislature. From 1866 to 1870 he was an associate +justice of the Municipal Court of Boston, then chief justice of the same +court until his resignation in 1878. He was librarian of the Boston +Public Library from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 1890. During his +administration the library's collection of Americana was largely +increased and the preliminary plans for the new building were developed. +The remainder of his life was devoted to literary and historical work. +Judge Chamberlain was recognized as one of the foremost students of +American colonial history and his collection of autographic documents +relating to American history was one of the finest in the country. This +collection was deposited in the Boston Public Library in 1893 and became +its property on the death of Judge Chamberlain. + +(_See "Brief description of the Chamberlain collection of autographs," +published by the Boston Public Library._) + +3. Henry Barnard (A. L. A. no. 104, 1877.) Born in Hartford, Ct., Jan. +24, 1811; died July 5, 1900. He graduated from Yale College in 1830 and +in 1835 was admitted to the bar. From 1837-40 he was a member of the +Connecticut legislature and during his term of service advocated reforms +in insane asylums, prisons and the common schools. From 1838 to 1842 he +was secretary of the board of school commissioners in Connecticut; from +1842 to 1849 school commissioner of Rhode Island; from 1850 to 1854 +state superintendent of the Connecticut schools, and from 1857 to 1859 +president of the State University of Wisconsin. From 1865 to 1867 he was +president of St. John's College, and from 1867 to 1870 U. S. +Commissioner of Education. He wrote and compiled many educational books +and edited several educational periodicals, the most important being the +_American Journal of Education_. In 1886 he published a collected +edition of his works comprising 52 volumes and over 800 original +treatises. Dr. Barnard received the degree of LL.D. from Yale and Union +in 1851 and from Harvard in 1852. He was always greatly interested in +libraries. In 1823 or 1824 he served as assistant librarian and made his +first donation to the library of Monson Academy, and from 1828 to 1830 +was librarian of the Linonian Society of Yale College, giving twice the +amount of the small salary back to the library in books. During his +connection with the legislature and common schools of Connecticut, 1837 +to 1842, the district school library system was established and the +power of taxation for libraries was given to every school society in the +state. During his sojourn in Rhode Island he started a library in every +town in the state. He joined the A. L. A. in 1877, and was made an +honorary member at Chicago in 1893. He attended the conferences of 1876, +1877, and 1893. + +("_National cyclopedia of American biography," vol. I; L. J._, 4:289.) + +4. Enos L. Doan (A. L. A. no. 1909, 1899), librarian of the Wilmington +(Del.) Institute Free Library. Born in Indiana about 40 years ago; died +in Wilmington, Dec. 18, 1900. He was a graduate of Haverford College and +was for several years connected with the Friends' School in Wilmington, +first as teacher and later as assistant principal and principal. In the +spring of 1899 he resigned that office to accept the appointment of +librarian of the Wilmington Institute Free Library. He had previously +been active in the development of the library, and as chairman of the +library committee had aided in the reorganization of the former +subscription library into a free public library. + + (_L. J., Jan., 1901._) + +5. Josiah Norris Wing (A. L. A. no. 585, 1886), librarian New York Free +Circulating Library. Born near Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 29, 1848; died in +New York City, Dec. 20, 1900. His father, E. N. Wing, was engineer of +the East Tenn. and Va. R. R. He was a Union man and after the siege of +Knoxville removed to New York City. Here young Wing attended the public +schools and entered the College of the City of New York, but before the +close of the first year he became a clerk in the Mercantile Library. He +was connected with the library for 13 years and became first assistant +librarian, but his unceasing work and devotion to details injured his +health and he was obliged to retire from active work. In 1880 he took +charge of the library department of Charles Scribner's Sons, for which +his library training well fitted him. In April, 1899, he was elected +chief librarian of the New York Free Circulating Library. During the +years he was in the book business Mr. Wing kept in close touch with +library interests. He was a member of the A. L. A. for 14 years, and was +almost from its beginning an active member of the New York Library Club. +He had been treasurer of the New York Library Association for seven +years, holding that office at the time of his death. He was also +prominent in book trade organizations and in various civic reform +movements in New York City. He was always ready to give help and service +in any good cause and he will be missed by many friends among librarians +and bookbuyers. + +(_Publishers' Weekly, Dec. 29, 1900; L. J., Jan., 1901._) + +6. Huntington Wolcott Jackson (A. L. A. no. 884, 1890), president board +of directors of the John Crerar Library. Born in Newark, N. J., Jan. 28, +1841; died in Chicago, Jan. 3, 1901. He attended Phillips Academy, +Andover, Mass., and entered Princeton College. At the end of his junior +year he enlisted in the army, where he secured rapid promotion. After a +year at the Harvard Law School and a year spent in European travel and +study, he finished his studies in Chicago and was admitted to the bar in +1868. He practiced law in Chicago and in 1888 was elected president of +the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Jackson was a warm and trusted friend +of the late John Crerar. At Mr. Crerar's death he was, with Mr. Norman +Williams, one of the executors of the will and a co-trustee of the John +Crerar Library, then to be founded. For many years Mr. Jackson was +chairman of the committee on administration and practically all of the +details of administration were passed upon by him and some quite +important changes were made by him. Mr. Jackson was a member of the A. +L. A. from 1890 until his death, but there is no record of his +attendance at any conference. + + (_See Report of John Crerar Library, 1900._) + +7. Robert Crossman Ingraham (A. L. A. no. 205, 1879), librarian of the +New Bedford (Mass.) Free Public Library. Born in New Bedford, Feb. 11, +1827; died there March 3, 1901. The New Bedford Free Public Library was +instituted in 1852 and Mr. Ingraham was chosen its first librarian, then +taking up the work to which he gave nearly half a century. Under his +management the library grew from its nucleus of 5500 volumes to 72,000 +volumes, and the strength and good proportions of the collection are due +to his scholarship, unsparing labor, and discernment of local needs. For +many years Mr. Ingraham had little or no assistance in the library, yet +for more than 30 years he cataloged every book added to its shelves. He +kept in touch with changes in library administration and was not +prevented by conservatism from adopting those which his good judgment +approved. Mr. Ingraham was a man of retiring disposition and simple +tastes, a hard student with a marvellous memory. In addition to his +great fund of general information, and knowledge of the books in his +library, he was thoroughly posted in everything relating to the history +of New Bedford, and had few equals in his knowledge of mosses and +liverworts. He devoted his life to his library and his fund of erudition +was always at the service of every one who sought his assistance. + + (_See W. R. L. Gifford in L. J., April, 1901._) + +8. Eugene Francis Malcouronne (A. L. A. no. 1973, 1900), for the last 10 +years secretary-treasurer and librarian of the Fraser Institute Free +Public Library, of Montreal, died April 11, 1901. Mr. Malcouronne will +be pleasantly remembered by many who attended the Montreal conference. + +The treasurer's report was accepted. + +C. C. Soule read the + + + REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND. + + _To the Secretary of the American Library Association._ + +I submit herewith a report of the receipts and expenditures from the +date of last report, June 6, 1900, to July 1, 1901, together with a +schedule of assets, and an estimate of income for the ensuing year. + +There are no donations to report. The permanent fund has been increased +by the fees for three (3) life memberships, $75 in all. + +In March, 1901, the mortgagor on a loan of $1000, bearing interest at +six per cent., and falling due Aug. 1, 1903, asked leave to pay off the +mortgage. He was allowed to do so on paying $53.97, being the difference +between the six per cent. he was to have paid, up to maturity of the +mortgage, and the four per cent. which the trustees can expect to get on +reinvestment of the $1000 repaid. This repayment to the fund has been +kept in bank until after this conference. If not needed by the +Publishing Board as a loan, it can be invested at, say, four per cent. +Of the $2102.18 now on deposit, subject to check, $655.04 is on interest +account, available for expenditure as the Council may direct. (In +addition to this, $301.03 income may be expected during the year +1901-2.) $1437.14 is on principal account to be invested as opportunity +offers. + + CHARLES C. SOULE, + _Treasurer A. L. A. Endowment Fund_. + + ENDOWMENT FUND STATEMENT, JUNE 6, 1900-JULY 1, 1901. + + _Cash account--Received._ + + 1900, June 6. Balance on hand, $619.27 + 1901, March 8. Repayment of mortgage loan, 1000.00 + + _For permanent fund--life memberships._ + + 1901, March 5. E. P. Thurston, $25.00 + " S. H. Ranck, 25.00 + June 21. B. C. Steiner, 25.00 + ------ $75.00 + + _On interest account._ + + 1900, June 28. Interest mortgage loan, $75.00 + " 29. " International Trust Co.'s deposit, 6.82 + Aug. 14. " Mortgage loan, 30.00 + Oct. 1. " " " 24.50 + Dec. 27. " " " 75.00 + 1901, Jan. 14. " Brookline Savings Bank deposit, 40.80 + Feb. 6. " Mortgage loan, 30.00 + " " " Int. Trust Co., 6.82 + March 8. " Mortgage loan, 53.79 + Apr. 6. " " " 24.50 + June 26. " " " 75.00 + " 29. " International Trust Co. deposit, 16.48 + ------ 458.71 + -------- + $2152.98 + + + _Paid out._ + + 1901, Jan. 14. Interest added to deposit in Brookline + Savings Bank, $40.80 + Apr. 18. Rent of safe box for securities, 10.00 50.80 + -------- + 1901, July 1. Balance on deposit with International + Trust Co., Boston, $2102.18 + + _Assets._ + + Loan on mortgage at 7%, due Oct. 1, 1902, $700.00 + " " " " 5% " Jan. 24, 1902, 3000.00 + Deposit with Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, 4% interest 1050.80 + " " International Trust Co., Boston, 2% " 2102.18 + -------- + $6852.98 + + [Of this amount $6187.94 is principal, to be left intact, $665.04 is + interest, available for use.] + Liabilities, none. + Annual expense, $10 for safe deposit box. + + _Available for appropriation by the Council, 1901-1902._ + + Cash on hand July 1, 1901 (interest account), $665.04 + Interest on $700.00 @ 7%, 49.00 + " " 3000.00 @ 5%, 150.00 + " " 1050.80 @ 4%, 42.03 + ------- + $906.07 + (If no part of the principal is needed as a loan by the + Publishing Board, add also) Interest on (say) $1500.00 invested + at 4%, 60.00 + ------ + Estimated total, $966.07 + +The following report of audit was appended: + +At the request of Charles C. Soule, treasurer of the Endowment Fund, we +have examined his accounts and securities, and find evidence of +investment of $3700 in mortgage loans, of deposit of $1050.80 in the +Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, and of $2102.18 in the International +Trust Company, of Boston. We also find his accounts correctly cast, with +proper vouchers for all expenditures. + + JAMES L. WHITNEY, } _of the_ + CHARLES K. BOLTON } _Finance Committee_ + +Mr. SOULE: In submitting this report, I would call the attention of the +Association to the fact that the permanent fund is not as large as it +ought to be. If you will remember, the attempt at collection, made with +much vigor at first, had to be abandoned on account of general financial +trouble through the country. No systematic effort has since been made to +increase the fund. The work of the Association would be very much +furthered if this fund were large enough to provide $5000 or $6000 of +income, so that the Association could have two or three, or one or two, +permanent paid officers, with a good allowance for travelling and +incidental expenses. If any of you should be asked where an amount of +say $100,000 could be placed with advantage to the general library +cause, I hope you will bear in mind the inadequate funds of the +Association. + +The report was accepted. + +In the absence of W. L. R. GIFFORD, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF THE CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE. + +The exhaustive report on co-operative cataloging rendered by the +Co-operation Committee of last year has disposed for the present, so far +as this committee is concerned, of the most important subject which has +of late years been brought to its attention. + +Dr. Richardson reports that the index to theological periodicals is +progressing rapidly, and will probably be published before the next +conference of the A. L. A. The index will cover the years 1891-1900, and +will include all the standard theological periodicals, of Poole rank and +upwards, in all languages of which there are representatives in American +libraries, together with many references to theological articles in +general periodicals, in all not less than 25,000 references. It will be +an alphabetical subject index like Poole, but will differ from Poole in +giving regular author-title entry, and will be more bibliographical in +character through the select references to general periodicals. A +feature of the index will be a very brief definition of each subject. +Dr. Richardson has at present seven clerks engaged in the work, and is +pushing it as fast as possible. + +The dictionary of historical fiction, in preparation by the Free Library +of Philadelphia, is making satisfactory progress, and will probably be +issued within the coming year. Since the announcement was made at the +Atlanta conference that this dictionary was in preparation there have +been many inquiries concerning it, and the prospect of its publication +will be welcome. + +The committee has received no new information during the past year in +regard to plans for bibliographical work, and it would emphasize the +recommendations of previous years that all such plans be reported +promptly to the committee, so that they may be published in its annual +report. + + WILLIAM L. R. GIFFORD, _Chairman_. + +In the absence of C. H. GOULD, chairman, C. W. ANDREWS read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. + +The committee begs to report, with considerable confidence, that this is +positively its last appearance in connection with the list of French +government serials, which has been long in course of compilation and +publication. This work is now in its final stage, and as it will soon be +in the hands of the reviewer, to say much in regard to it at present +seems hardly necessary. Two points, however, require a word: + +1. Recognizing the difficulties in the way of attaining anything like +completeness in an enumeration of this nature, the committee +deliberately decided to omit certain documents in favor of others. Thus +it happens that no reference is made to the legislative proceedings of +the several Revolutionary Assemblies, nor to other publications of equal +importance. + +2. In addition to enumerating documents, this list indicates particular +libraries where they may be consulted. It was, of course, unnecessary, +even had it been possible, to mention all the libraries in the country +which possess sets more or less complete. But it is hoped that the +libraries chosen are so widely distributed as to save a would-be reader +from undertaking a long journey when a shorter one would serve. + +Such other features as call for notice will be referred to in the +preface. + +It would, however, be unbecoming if the committee failed now to +recognize and thank Miss Adelaide R. Hasse for the pains and labor she +has bestowed upon the list. She has co-operated with the committee from +the first, and to her and to Mr. Andrews the committee is under special +obligations. + +The committee would further report that it now has on hand a +considerable amount of raw material for a German list similar to the +French; and it is hoped that progress may be made in arranging this +during the present summer. + + Respectfully submitted, + C. H. GOULD, _Chairman_. + +W. I. FLETCHER read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TITLE-PAGES AND INDEXES OF PERIODICAL VOLUMES. + +Your committee have understood their business to be the preparation of a +note to be addressed to the publishers of periodicals, setting forth the +views of librarians in regard to the issue of title-pages, etc., with +periodicals. They, therefore, submit as their report the accompanying +draft of such a note, with the recommendation that it be sent to the +publishers of all leading periodicals, and that a committee on this +subject be continued, to receive and act upon any correspondence that +may be called out. + + THORVALD SOLBERG, } + }_Committee_. + W. I. FLETCHER, } + +_Note to publishers of periodicals, as to the furnishing in proper form +of title-pages and contents. This note was drawn up by a Committee of +the American Library Association and was approved by the Association._ + +As a result of much dissatisfaction among librarians with the +irregularities and uncertainties connected with the issue, by publishers +of periodicals, of title-pages and "contents" of volumes, the American +Library Association has had a special committee considering the subject +with a view to drawing up a suitable memorial to be presented to such +publishers, looking to the securing of more uniformity and propriety in +this matter. After mature consideration the committee have prepared the +following recommendations as embodying the minimum of improvement which +may reasonably be hoped for. + + 1. Title-pages and tables of contents should always accompany _the + number completing a volume_, and not the first number of a new volume. + [They should be _stitched in, and not sent loose_.] There are several + cogent reasons for this recommendation: + + (_a_) In many cases it is a serious detriment to the usefulness of a + set in a library, if a completed volume cannot be bound until the + receipt of the next number. + + (_b_) More important is the need that the numbers of a volume shall + constitute the volume in its entirety, so that as they are bought and + sold there shall not be the necessity of handling also another number + belonging to a different volume in order to complete the first. Now + that libraries are buying periodical sets and volumes in such large + numbers for use with Poole's and other indexes, it is of great + importance to the book trade, as well as librarians, and must have a + real bearing on the business interests of the publishers, that this + matter, often trifled with, shall receive due attention. Publishers + must come to feel that if it is necessary (which it generally proves + not to be) to delay a completing number a day or two in its issue in + order to insure its completeness in this respect, the delay is + abundantly compensated for. + + 2. Title-pages and contents should be furnished _with every copy_ of + the issue of a completing number. We earnestly believe that by + inserting title-pages and contents in all cases publishers will at once + put a premium on the preservation and binding of their magazines, + suggesting it to many who otherwise would not think of it. In the long + run the demand for back numbers to make up volumes must more than + compensate for the extra expense of putting in the additional leaves. + + The policy of sending title-pages and contents only to those calling + for them is suicidal, as it results in flooding the market with numbers + from which volumes cannot be made up and by destroying the hope of + making up sets weakens the demand which would otherwise exist for + volumes and numbers of the periodical in question. + + If an alphabetical index, in addition to a table of contents, is + furnished, which is the preferable practice, the former should be paged + to go at the end of the volume. When such an index is furnished, and no + table of contents, the index should be printed to follow the + title-page. + + 3. As to the form in which title-pages and contents should be issued: + they should be printed on a two-, four-, or eight-leaved section, + separate from other printed matter, either advertising or reading. + Nothing is more important in binding volumes to stand the hard wear of + our public libraries than that none of the earlier leaves in the volume + shall be single leaves pasted in. One of the greatest abuses of the + book trade at present is the disposition to have title and other + preliminary leaves pasted in. Librarians find to their cost (what is + not so obvious to the book manufacturer) that this does not work. An + absolute requirement for good bookmaking is that the first and last + portions of the book especially shall be good solid sections--no single + leaves, nor do most librarians or owners of private libraries like to + include advertisements, in order to secure these solid sections for + binding. We feel sure that it is abundantly worth while for the + publishers to squarely meet this demand. + + 4. Admitting that there may be cases in which it is practically + impossible to furnish title and contents with the completing number of + a volume, we would recommend for such cases that such a separate + section as has been described be made and furnished with the first + number of the new volume, stitched in _at its end_, not at its + beginning. The last-named practice is likely to cause more trouble to + librarians than any other that is common, as it is difficult to remove + the section without making the number unfit to place in the reading + room. + + We would like to call the attention of periodical publishers to the + difficulties arising from the common practice of printing some first or + last leaves of reading matter on the same section with some pages of + advertising. Most librarians prefer to remove the advertising leaves + before binding the magazines. The practice referred to makes it + necessary to bind in some advertising leaves or else take off and paste + in single leaves of reading matter, sometimes three or four in one + place, which is very inimical to good binding. Publishers are advised + to have all advertising pages printed on separate sections if possible. + + Desiring to meet, so far as possible, the views of publishers in regard + to the matters referred to above, the committee will be pleased to hear + from any to whom this note may come. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The committee have corresponded with some of the magazine +publishers, and if any are disposed to consider what is here proposed an +ideal system, your attention may be called to the fact that several of +our magazine publishers are carrying it out. For instance, Houghton, +Mifflin & Co.--I am not mentioning them as superior to others; others +might be mentioned--but in their reply to a tentative letter Houghton, +Mifflin & Co. say that "in all of our publications every one of these +recommendations is strictly carried out." They took pride in replying to +us that they believed they were doing exactly what we wanted--and +several other publishers. + +G. M. JONES: I understand the report to recommend that title-pages and +indexes be fastened into the last number of the volume. Now it seems +that in many cases it would be very much better to have them left loose. +The case is this: In almost all public libraries of any size periodicals +are put into some kind of a binder. On many accounts binders which +perforate are the best, but we do not wish to perforate title-page and +index, if we can help it, especially the title-page, and I would like to +inquire why the committee considered it so essential that the title-page +and index should be fastened into the number? + +Mr. FLETCHER: These questions were all considered by the committee, and +I would say when I first drew up my suggestion on this point it was that +title-page and index should be sent loose; but I found an overwhelming +argument against that, when we came to consider that they were desired +to be with every completing number; that those completing numbers are +sold to the people in railroad trains and elsewhere and are coming into +the second-hand periodical market, where we must look for many to make +up our sets. Now as to the point which Mr. Jones has spoken of. If the +magazine is to be perforated to be put in the binder, as the completing +number is to have the title and index, as we proposed, in a separate +section, it can be removed by undoing the stitching, or sewing, if it is +sewed. That can be done before it is put into the binder. Of course +there is no necessity for ruining, the stitching in its entirety. There +may be some little objection there, but it is so slight that it seemed +to the committee entirely counterbalanced. + +Mr. JONES: Mr. Fletcher's reply is perfectly satisfactory on that point. + +W. S. BISCOE: One other suggestion: Do I understand from Mr. Fletcher, +if there is a table of contents, that the index be put after the +title-page? + +Mr. FLETCHER: No, the suggestion is that if there is an alphabetical +index and a table of contents, the index should be planned and arranged +at the end of the volume, but that if only an index is furnished, and no +table of contents, that would be in accordance with the usual practice +in such cases--the index should go, like a table of contents, after the +title-page. + +Mr. BISCOE: If there is no table of contents the alphabetical index is +to go after the title-page? It seems to me desirable that it should +always go at the end of the volume. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I am very glad that point has been called attention to. I +should like it if Mr. Biscoe would suggest an amendment. According to +the report, when such an index is furnished, and no table of contents, +the index should be printed to follow the title-page. We might say: if +an alphabetical index is furnished, it should be paged to go at the end +of the volume. + +T. L. MONTGOMERY: Was not the committee's report to provide for the +printing of the alphabetical index in the place of a table of contents, +thereby making it one section? + +Mr. FLETCHER: The advantage of that would be that there would be +something to go with the title-page to make up the section. The +title-page should be part of a section for binding as a separate +section. I wonder if most of the librarians present haven't had the same +exasperating experience which I have so often had with those title-pages +which are separate leaves, and have to be pasted into the volume. There +is hardly any practice so vicious in bookmaking as having the title-page +pasted in. It almost always pulls out before the book is in any other +respect at all dilapidated. + +A. G. JOSEPHSON: I would suggest that the committee recommend that both +a table of contents and an index should be furnished. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The committee would entirely agree to that, and it could +very easily be done. If an alphabetical index, in addition to the table +of contents, is furnished, a practice to be preferred might be to +consolidate them. + +Pres. CARR: I think, Mr. Fletcher, you should be able to modify your +report, before printing, to incorporate those suggestions. + +F. W. FAXON: If the committee is trying to get at an ideal arrangement, +it might be well to suggest that the publishers of magazines have some +one who knows something about the contents make the index. We have a +magazine in Boston that persists in indexing articles under "a" and +"the," and proper names under "John" and "James." But if the committee +is trying to get a rule that the publishers will be most likely to +adopt, it seems to me they might suggest that the index be published in +each concluding number of a volume, even though the index is put in +place of that many pages of text. Of course it would not do to suggest +that these pages be taken out of advertising, but as the text usually +costs the magazine something, publishers would probably be willing to +devote four of the pages they would have to pay for to an index, which +would cost them much less. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I think it would interest the Association to know of an +example that Mrs. Fairchild sent me some time ago of the way these +indexes are made. Some periodical in New York had an article on motive +power for the canals, and in the index it appeared under "Mule, Must the +Canal Go?" + +The report was approved and referred to the Council. + +In the absence of Dr. J. S. BILLINGS the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON "INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC + LITERATURE." + +Your committee begs to report that the final conference of delegates of +the various governments for the purpose of considering an International +Catalogue of Scientific Literature was held in London on June 12 and 13, +1900, and, as intimated in the report of your committee last year, owing +to the failure of Congress to make it possible for delegates with power +to attend, no representatives of the United States were present. Mr. +Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, who was visiting England at the +time was informally in conference with various members of the Royal +Society and rendered effective service in enabling them to reach a +conclusion. + +The conference decided to undertake the issuing of the Catalogue +provided 300 complete subscriptions were received by October 1st, the +quota of the United States in this being 45. During the summer the +Smithsonian Institution issued a circular to American libraries and +universities and learned societies and scientific men, announcing the +fact, with the very gratifying result of the subscription to the +equivalent of over 70 complete sets for a period of five years. + +A meeting of the International Council to finally arrange for the +beginning of the work was held in London on December 12 and 13, 1900, at +which the necessary financial arrangements were agreed to, the Royal +Society advancing certain sums and agreeing to act as publisher, and +being authorized to enter into contracts, etc. Doctor H. Foster Morley +was elected director and offices were secured at 34 and 35 Southampton +street, Strand, London, W. C. The initial work has begun. The +preparation of a list of periodicals to be indexed and a more careful +revision of the schedules was the first work to be done. Thus far the +periodical lists for Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, +Holland, Japan, Portugal, Canada, India and Ceylon have been printed. +That for the United States is expected to be ready for transmission to +London about August 1st. + +In the absence of any provision, the Smithsonian Institution is carrying +on the work for the United States, although with very inadequate force. +It would be very desirable if legislation could be had to enable the +Smithsonian Institution to prosecute this work more vigorously and +without drawing upon its own funds. + + J. S. BILLINGS, _Chairman_. + CYRUS ADLER, _Secretary_. + +Pres. CARR: Dr. Hosmer has, I think, a communication to make that is of +concern to us all. + + + MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE. + +Dr. HOSMER: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: + +We meet here in the midst of beautiful surroundings, but with +considerable discomfort. Perhaps we hardly make it real to ourselves +that this is in our country a time of calamity. Never in the course of a +somewhat long experience, can I remember so many fatalities from the +terrible heat of the summer. The newspapers have come to us from day to +day with the list of victims from the great cities, and this morning +comes in intelligence of a death which touches us librarians very +closely--the death of John Fiske. He died yesterday at Gloucester, +Mass., overcome by the heat; and I think it entirely right to say that +in the death of John Fiske comes the extinction of the greatest force in +American literature at the present moment. John Fiske, while not a +member of our association, was at one time a librarian; he had a great +interest in the Association; he was the personal friend of many of its +members. It is perhaps quite right to say that no author at the present +time is so frequently in the mouths and in the hands of the librarians. +It has been thought fitting by the executive committee that we should +make an exception in his case, and that there should be some formal +mention of his passing. I regret very much that the time is so brief. +What I have to say must be unconsidered. + +In several directions, John Fiske was a great writer. First as regards +the doctrine of evolution, the great idea which has come to the world in +our day. What a great and solemn thing it is! The slow process through +the lapse of ages from the monad to that which crawls, then to that +which swims, then to that which flies, until we come at last to that +which walks erect with brow expanded broadly to the light of heaven; the +slow increment of intelligence in the brain, as species becomes merged +in constantly higher species; the extension of infancy, with its +beautiful sequence of humanity, of love, of spirituality. This has come +to be accepted by scientific minds as the path which the divine energy +chooses to follow in the work of creation. Now, among our American +writers, I suppose there is no one who has had so much to do with the +development of the doctrine of evolution as John Fiske. He was the +intimate friend and counsellor of Darwin, of Huxley, of Herbert Spencer, +of Tyndall. They recognized in him their peer, and if it is the +case--and I believe it to be the case--that John Fiske contributed to +the doctrine of evolution the idea of the "extension of infancy" as +being the cause of what is most gentle and lovely in humanity he +deserves to be named with the first of those who have been connected +with that great theory. + +In the second place as a historian, this wonderfully versatile man +stands among the very first of the country. As a historian, John Fiske +is not to be spoken of without discrimination. He had his limitations. I +do not think that he had the power of picturesque description to the +extent that Motley or Prescott possessed it. I do not think that he had +the power of indefatigable research to the extent that it was possessed +by our honored fellow-member, Justin Winsor. I do not think that he had +the faculty of character-drawing as it was possessed for instance by the +great historian, Clarendon, of the seventeenth century. But John Fiske +had his gift, and it was a remarkable one. Taking a chaotic mass of +facts, I know of no other American writer who had such genius to go in +among them, to discern the vital links that connected one with another, +to get order and system out of it, and then to present the result with a +lucidity and a beauty which carried captive every reader. That was his +faculty, as a historian; and he possessed it to such an extent and he +used it in such a way that he is entitled to a place among our greatest +historians. + +Nor are these the only claims to distinction of this great man who has +gone. As a religious leader, John Fiske is one of the foremost men of +the time. His "Destiny of man," his "Idea of God," his latest noble +address on the immortality of the soul, not yet published, are priceless +writings, and men and women among the very best and brightest find in +these books the best expression and guidance for their religious +feelings. + +Every one here has had opportunity, abundant opportunity, to know the +greatness of John Fiske's mind. Few here, perhaps no other one, has had +such opportunity as I have had to know the warmth and the generosity of +his heart. For ten years in the Washington University, at St. Louis, we +were colleagues; for 35 years we have been friends, and as I stand here +before you to speak of him, my emotions fairly overcome me and I can do +nothing but take my seat; but it is appropriate that in the American +Library Association there should be some recognition taken of the +passing from the midst of us of this great and noble figure. + +Pres. CARR: After these fitting and touching words, we can hardly have +it in our hearts to transact any further business this session, and +therefore, if there is no objection, we will proceed to take an +adjournment. + +Mr. CRUNDEN: I think a fitting action, on the suggestion of Dr. Hosmer, +would be the appointment of a committee, with Dr. Hosmer as chairman, to +draw up memorial resolutions. I make a motion to that effect. + +The motion was adopted, and a committee was appointed, of J. K. Hosmer, +George Iles, and R. G. Thwaites. + +Adjourned 12 m. + + + _THIRD SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 6.) + +The meeting was called to order by President CARR at 10.20. + +In the absence of R. R. BOWKER, chairman, W. E. HENRY read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. + +The Committee on Public Documents this year makes an exclusively +negative report. The Congress was occupied so exclusively with matters +of larger public policy, particularly in relation with new territorial +developments, that no attention was given in either house to public +documents measures. A bill was presented in the House of Representatives +by Mr. Heatwole, on somewhat different lines from the Platt bill offered +in the Senate last year, but like that in essential conformity with the +general position taken by the American Library Association. This bill +did not, however, progress beyond the introductory steps. + +Within the past twelvemonth the Indiana State Library has issued its +useful "Subject catalog of U. S. public documents in the Indiana State +Library," as an appendix to the 23d biennial report of the state +library, covering 289 pages, and presenting a useful conspectus within +its field. This index, while serving helpfully as a general key for the +use of other libraries through the range of documents contained in each +specific library, suggests the greater importance of an adequate subject +index to U. S. government publications in general, which could be made a +checklist by several state and other libraries. The Indiana State +Library has also prepared an index to the _Documentary Journal_ of +Indiana from the beginning of that publication in 1835 to 1899, which is +included in the 23d report of that library. + +There is also little to report as to state publications, although there +is evident a growth of interest in state bibliography, particularly in +the state libraries. Part second of the bibliography of "State +publications" is promised for the present year, including the states of +New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, +and Wisconsin. + +A contribution of interest within this field has been made by the Acorn +Club, of Connecticut, which has issued an elaborate bibliographical +record of "Connecticut state laws," from the earliest times to 1836, +compiled by A.C. Bates, librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society, +a useful feature of the work being the indication, when possible, of +some library in which each issue recorded may be found. Record may also +be made, in this connection, of the work accomplished or accomplishing +by the Public Archives Commission of the American Historical +Association, headed by Prof. William McDonald, of Bowdoin College, as +chairman, in which Professors Robinson, of Columbia, Caldwell, of +Nebraska, Bugbee, of Texas, who are his associates on the committee, +have the co-operation of representatives in the several states. While +this commission does not concern itself specifically with bibliography, +it is preparing the way for a better bibliography of state publications +than has hitherto been possible, by investigating the conditions of the +public archives of each state, with a view to inducing the systematic +and more complete collection in each state of its own archives, +including its printed documents as well as manuscript records. + + R. R. BOWKER, } + W. E. HENRY, }_Committee._ + JOHNSON BRIGHAM. } + +HERBERT PUTNAM: I would suggest that the Superintendent of Documents is +here, and that possibly he might have some suggestion or recommendation +to make on the subject of this report. + +L. C. FERRELL: I suppose anything I may have to say will be in addition +to what was said in the report of the committee on public documents, as +the report was rather negative. The matter of bringing about any +legislation requires time and involves a great deal of hard work upon +somebody. This is especially so if the subject is one in which no member +of Congress, in particular, has a personal interest. It generally takes +10 or 12 years to pass any bill of interest to the people that no member +of Congress will take care of personally. If it is a matter like saving +the country, you can get a fifty million dollar bill passed in half an +hour, but you cannot get a member of Congress to take up and pass a bill +changing the method of printing and the distribution of documents +without a great deal of pressure. Now, if Mr. Heatwole, chairman of the +House Committee on Printing, was here, I think we might accomplish +something to advantage on that subject, because I think if he could meet +this great body of librarians face to face, we might get him to commit +himself as to what he will do next session. He has promised me to take +up this matter next winter and revise the printing laws from "A" to "Z," +as he expressed it, but whether he will do so or not, I cannot say. Now, +I shall prepare another bill, or have the old bill introduced again, I +do not know which, and, as long as I remain in the office of +Superintendent of Documents, I shall endeavor to bring about legislation +on the lines proposed in the bills heretofore presented to Congress. In +the first place, I want all the government periodicals taken out of the +Congressional series and bound in cloth, so that they can be distributed +to the libraries as soon as they are printed. But one edition of any +document ought to be printed, and that edition ought to have the same +endorsement on the back and the same title on the inside. If we continue +to print duplicate and triplicate editions--departmental, bureau, and +congressional--librarians will always have trouble in classifying and +cataloging them. As far as my record is concerned, I suppose most of you +are familiar with it. I am constantly endeavoring to improve the +service. I have adopted a cumulative index for the monthly catalog; +cumulative for six months, with a consolidated index for the entire +year, in the December number. That was done mainly because the annual +catalog cannot be printed so as to be distributed promptly, and the +monthly catalog fully indexed can be made to answer all temporary +purposes. Now, we have three series of catalogs, as you all know, +perhaps, each one serving a distinctive purpose. The document catalog, +or comprehensive index--its official title--is intended for permanent +use. It includes all documents printed during a fiscal year--July 1 to +June 30, following. The document index is a subject, title, and author +index of all congressional documents, indicating the number of each +document and the volume in which it is bound up. In the monthly catalog +all documents are arranged alphabetically under the author of the +document, and everything related to the same subject is brought together +in the index. Now, we are broadening out a little in our work; probably +doing something Congress never contemplated we should do when the office +was established. We are doing a good deal of bibliographical work, and I +intend to enlarge upon it as I have the opportunity. We have published +"Reports of explorations printed in the documents of the United States +government, a contribution toward a bibliography," by Miss Hasse; a +"Bibliography of U. S. public documents relating to inter-oceanic +communication across Nicaragua, Panama, etc.," and we expect soon to +take up the subject of documents relating to the various states, the +purpose being to make a complete bibliography of everything printed in +the U. S. public documents concerning each state and territory. We +propose to take up the matter of documents relating to the Louisiana +purchase first, because we are going to have a great exposition two +years from now at St. Louis to commemorate that great event. + +J. C. DANA presented the + + + REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL + ASSOCIATION. + +Early last winter I secured from librarians, library assistants and +teachers about 25 brief articles on co-operation between libraries and +schools. These articles were written with special reference to teachers. +I made a descriptive list of them and sent this list to leading +educational journals in this country, with the request that the editors +thereof select from it one or more of the articles and publish them +prior to July 1, 1901. Largely through the kindness of Mr. Winship, +editor of the _Journal of Education_ of Boston, I got the promise of +publication of these articles from educational editors to the number of +25. The articles were duly sent out. I regret to have to report that I +have received notice of the publication of less than half a dozen of the +whole number. A few others may have been published, but the editors have +never notified me of the fact. The articles were brief and chiefly +written by persons prominent in library work in this country, they were +of general interest, and seemed to deserve publication. The fact that +they did not get it is to my mind somewhat indicative of the comparative +unimportance of libraries in the opinion of educational people of this +country. + +Since coming here I have learned of another little incident which throws +some light on our relation to the educational profession of this +country. From the office of _Public Libraries_ the program of the +meeting of the library department of the N. E. A. at Detroit was sent to +32 leading educational journals in this country with the request that +they print it. Of these 32 papers two only printed the program as +requested, or at least two only printed it and gave due notice of the +fact. + +From all this we may learn, as I have stated more than once before, that +libraries and librarians are as yet held in small esteem by the +educational people of this country. Our influence among them is not +great. It is not considered that we are connected in any important way +with educational work. This is the opinion held by the rank and file. I +believe this to be true in spite of the fact that the leaders of the N. +E. A. have themselves been more than generous to the library department. +Those leaders, largely through the influence of Mr. Hutchins of +Wisconsin, gave a special appropriation of over $500 to a committee of +this department for the publication of a report on the relation of +libraries and schools. This report has been quite widely circulated and +has been well received by both teachers and librarians. We owe that to +the N. E. A. We owe it to the appreciation of library work by the +leaders of the N. E. A. Nevertheless, taking the teaching profession at +large, I think it safe to assume that our experience with the +educational journals during the past winter is indicative of the +teacher's attitude toward libraries and their possible helpfulness in +the school room. This fact should not discourage us. On the contrary it +should stimulate us to make our collections and our work with them of +still more consequence until it becomes quite impossible for anyone in +the educational world to be ignorant of, or to fail to take advantage +of, the assistance to every day teaching work which we believe our +libraries can give. + +It is quite difficult, of course, if not impossible, for us to produce +any great effect on the teachers of the present day save through +individual work in our respective communities. No one can ask for a +better opportunity to see the result of such work than I have had +myself. I have seen two or three hundred teachers in the course of four +or five years changed from an attitude of indifference toward the +library as an aid in every day school room work, to one of readiness not +to say eagerness, to take advantage of every opportunity the library +could possibly offer. Many other librarians have had similar +experiences. But this work does not go on rapidly enough to influence +the profession as a whole. The teaching profession as it now stands is, +as I have said, indifferent toward us. One thing we can do, and that is, +arouse an interest among those who are to become teachers. After +individual work in our own towns the best thing we can do, and +especially the best thing we can do as an association, is to stimulate +an interest in library training in the normal schools of this country. +Interest in this phase of practical work has increased very much in +normal schools the last few years. This is especially true in the west; +and perhaps more true in Wisconsin than in any other state. + +Mr. Dewey has recently given this matter consideration and I shall be +much pleased if he will say something further by way of supplementing +this informal report of mine, on what has been done and what can be done +in normal schools toward interesting teachers in the use of libraries in +teaching. + +MELVIL DEWEY: What Mr. Dana has said, though perhaps a little +discouraging in its tone, is pretty nearly the truth; but we ought to +remember this--the public school teachers and the other teachers of this +country are a badly overworked class. Many a man and woman has broken +down of nervous prostration in school, who has entered a library and +worked hard and kept well. Our friends on the school side of educational +work have a strain that comes from the disciplinary side. Worry kills +more than work, and teachers have to meet this question of discipline; +they have to take responsibility in the place of parents; they have an +interminable number of reports to fill out; they have a mass of +examination papers to read and deal with; and they have examinations to +make until they are driven almost wild. Now, we go to them and present +our case, our arguments for co-operation with the library. They admit +it; they are convinced of it; but they have not vital energy and force +enough to take up the matter and do much work in our cause. It is not +that they doubt. They won't question the high plane on which we want to +put the library, and they want to fulfil all their duties. I believe if +we were to change places and were put into their routine, the majority +of us would do just what they do--put it off until a more convenient +season. I think that is the real trouble with our teachers. They are +overworked, many of them; they are in certain ruts; and my suggestion is +to try to reach them when they begin their work, through the normal +schools. If we can get the normal school authorities to give the right +kind of instruction and the right kind of a start to the teachers, we +will accomplish a great deal more. We can do twice as much in working +with the student teacher; it is like working in plaster of paris--easy +while in a soft and plastic stage, but you leave it awhile and it +hardens. So I should say, in considering this report, that we ought not +to be discouraged. It is what we should expect, and we should turn our +attention to, doing all we can to reach the young teachers who are now +in a plastic state, ready to be moulded, but who in ten years will be +dominant forces in education. + +Miss M. E. AHERN: I wish to call attention to the fact that the program +of the Library Department of the National Educational Association calls +for a greeting from some representative of the A. L. A., and I therefore +request, as secretary of that section and as an earnest member of the A. +L. A., that you appoint some member to carry such greetings to the +Library Department of the N. E. A. + +It was voted that Mr. Crunden be appointed to represent the Library +Association at the N. E. A. meeting. + +F. M. CRUNDEN: Touching the subject before this meeting, I want to +corroborate the statement made by Mr. Dana regarding the progress that +comes quickly if you once induce the teachers of a city to accept, even +in a small measure, the co-operation of the library. Only a few years +ago we almost had to beg the teachers to use our books. We had to offer +every inducement to them, and they did it, most of them, rather +reluctantly. Now the great majority of our schools use the library +books. Not long ago I asked three questions of the teachers using the +library in their work: What value do you place upon the library in +supplementary reading? What effect has it had thus far on the progress +of your pupils in their studies? Is it an aid to the pupils? All these +question were answered most satisfactorily to us. Several say the +library books are worth as much as any study in the curriculum, while +two of them say that the library books are worth all the rest. And +regarding discipline, the universal testimony is that the library is an +aid to the discipline. In the school where most reading is done, the +principal tells me that the problem of discipline has been practically +eliminated; they give no more thought to it, because the children are +interested and pleasantly occupied, so they do not get into mischief. +The library has aided in all studies, is the basis of language work, has +improved the language of the children, and has given an interest to the +school work that it did not have before. Now if the teachers can only +understand that this is going to lighten their work instead of +increasing it, they will accept the co-operation of the library. + +Dr. CANFIELD: Just one word to express my appreciation of the fairness +with which Mr. Dewey put before you the position of the teachers and to +add this statement: You are all likely to forget that you determine the +lines of your own work and that a teacher's work is laid out for her by +other people, and it takes about all the time and strength of the pupil +to meet the immediate demands of the curriculum, which is often very +unwisely laid out. I want to add to that, as a proof of the interest +taken by teachers, I know of my personal knowledge that the teachers of +the high schools of New York have frequently placed their personal +endorsement upon library cards for the pupils they have sent to the +libraries and for whose books they are personally responsible. They +cannot prove their interest in any better way than that. + +Mr. DANA: I just want a moment to correct a possible impression that I +was finding fault with the educational profession of this country. I was +not finding fault with them, but finding fault with ourselves. If we are +not yet a power to the teachers of this country, then it is our own +fault. We do not as yet understand our own fitness, especially in +relation to schools and reading in the schools, and we do not even know +what we want to do, or what books to recommend. We do not know what the +field of work in the schools is. How, then, can we expect to teach it; +to urge a thing in regard to which we are not yet free of all doubts? +The fault is our own possibly, and yet it is not all our own fault. It +is largely a question of necessary time. + +In the absence of Dr. E. C. RICHARDSON, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION. + +The Committee on International Co-operation in taking up the work +referred to it by the Association has limited itself this year to a +consideration of the question of a uniform standard of book statistics. +This question is a two-fold one, first, what should be called a book, +second, when statistics are classified, what are the most practical and +useful classes? + +In respect of the first matter, it recommends that all books for +statistical purposes be divided into two or three classes. (1) Books of +50 pages or over; (2) books under 50 pages; or, where books of under +eight pages are regarded at all, books of from eight to 49 pages; and +(3) books under eight pages. + +In respect of the second question, the chairman has prepared a +comparative table of the usage of the _Publishers' Weekly_, _Bookseller +and Newsdealer_, _Publishers' Circular_, _Bibliografia Italiana_, +_Hinrichs_ and _Reinwald_, arranging these in the order of the Dewey +classification. This was printed by Mr. Bowker for the use of the +committee, and is herewith submitted. + + _Table showing classification of book trade statistics._ + +Some of the chief matters for attention are the questions of +_Biography_, whether by itself or scattered in classes; _Literary +History and Art_, by itself or under Philology, or under Bibliography, +or scattered; _Juveniles_, by itself or divided among Fiction, Poetry, +Education, etc.; _Scientific School Books_, _Geographies_, _etc._, under +subject or under Education; _Art of War_, _Commerce_, _etc._, under +Economics or Technology. All these conflict somewhere in usage shown and +in the judgment of the various members of the committee, although there +is a majority for keeping Biography as a separate class--contrary to +unanimous foreign usage. + + =================================================================== + DEWEY (ORDER). | PUB. WEEKLY. | BOOKSELLER | + | | AND NEWSDEALER. | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected and | Literature and | Unclassified. | + mis. works. | coll. works. | | + 010 Bibliography. | | | + Period. and | | | + proceedings. | | | + 070 Newspapers. | | | + 100 Philosophy. | Philosophy. | Philosophy. | + 230 Theology. | Theology and | Religion. | + | religion. | Christ sci., | + | | occultism, | + | | theosophy. | + 320 Polit. Sci. | Law. | Law, tech. | + and Law. | | Politics. | + Economics and | Polit. and soc. | Sociological | + social rel. | sci. | subj. | + 370 Education. | Education. | Education. | + 400 Philology. | | | + 500 Natural | Physics and math. | Mathematics, | + science. | sci. | chem. and physic. | + | | Biology. Nat. | + | | history. | + 600 Useful arts, | Useful arts. | Technology. | + Gen. | | | + 610 Medicine. | Medicine and hyg. | Medicine. | + 630 Agriculture. | Domestic and rural. | Farming and | + | | gardening. | + Art of war. | | | + 700 Fine arts, | Fine arts, il. gift | Art, architecture.| + Gen. | books. | | + 780 Music. | | On music and | + | | musicians. | + 790 Games and | Sports and amusements. | Sports and | + sports. | | games. | + 800 Literary | | | + hist. | | | + Poetry and | Poetry and drama. | Poetry and drama. | + drama. | | | + Fiction. | Fiction. | Fiction. | + Juveniles. | Juvenile. | Juveniles. | + Other forms. | Humor and satire. | | + 900 History. | History. | History. | + 920 Biography. | Biog. and correspond. | Biography. | + 910 Geog. | Descrip., geog., trav. | Travel. | + travels and | | | + descrip. | | | + ========================================================================= + | | | + DEWEY (ORDER). | PUBLISHERS' CIRCULAR | BIBLIOG. ITAL. | + | | | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected |Misc. includ. pamphlets, |Enciclopedia. {| + and mis. | not sermons. | {| + works. | | {| + 010 Bibliography. | |Bibliografia. {| + Period. and |Year b'ks and serials in |Atti accademici. {| + proceedings. | vols. | {| + 070 Newspapers | |Giornale politici. {| + 100 Philosophy | |Filosofia-Teologia. {| + 230 Theology |Theol. sermons, Biblical |Pubbl. relig. e pie. lett.| + 320 Polit. Sci. |Law, jurisp. Legislazione, Guirisp. | + and Law | | Atti de senato, atti | + | | duputati. | + Economics and |Polit. and soc. sci. |Scienze polit. soc. Stat. | + social rel. | Trade and commerce. | bilanci ecc. | + 370 Education. |Education, classical and |Instruzione. Educaz. Libri| + | philological. | scolastici. | + 400 Philology. | |Filologia storia lett. | + 500 Natural |(See below) |Scienze fisiche, mate. e | + science. | | nat. | + 600 Useful arts, | |Ingegneria-Ferrovie. | + Gen. | | | + 610 Medicine. |Medicine, surgery. |Medicina. | + 630 Agriculture. | |Agricolt. Industr. comm. | + Art of war. | |Guerra Marina. | + 700 Fine arts, |Art, science and |Belle arti. | + Gen. | il. books. | | + 780 Music. | | | + 790 Games and | | | + sports. | | | + 800 Literary hist.|(See below) | | + and crit. | | | + Poetry and |Poetry and the drama. |Lett. contemp. Poesie. | + drama. | | Teatro. | + Fiction. |{Novels, tales, juvenile |Romanzi e nov. | + Juveniles. |{works and other fiction.| | + Other forms. |Belles lettres, essays, |Misc. e lett. popol. | + | monographs, etc. | | + 900 History. |Hist., biog., etc. |Storia-Geografia | + 920 Biography. | |Biografia contemp. | + 910 Geog. travels |Voyages, travels, | | + and descrip. | geographical research. | | + ------------------------------------------------------------------------- + ========================================================================= + | | | + DEWEY (ORDER). | HINRICH. | REINWALD. | + | | | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected {|Bibliothekswesen, |Divers. | + and mis. {| encyklopädien, Gesammt. | | + works. {| werke. Sammel werke, | | + 010 Bibliography. {| Schriften Gelehrten. |Bibliografia. | + Period. and {| Gesellschaften |Atti accademici. | + proceedings. {| Universatätswesen, etc. | | + 070 Newspapers {| |Giornale politici. | + 100 Philosophy {| |Filosofia-Teologia. | + 230 Theology |Theologie. |Religion (Philos. morale).| + 320 Polit. Sci. |Rechts u. Staatswiss. |Droit et économie polit. | + and Law | | | + Economics and |Handel, Gewerbe | | + social rel. | Verkehrswesen. | | + 370 Education. |Erziehung u. Unterricht. |Education. | + | Jugendschriften. | | + 400 Philology. |Sprach u. |Linguistique. | + | Litteraturwissen. | | + 500 Natural |Naturwiss. Math. |Sciences, medicales et | + science. | | naturelles. | + 600 Useful arts, |Bau u. |Technologie. | + Gen. | Ingenieurwissenschaft. | | + 610 Medicine. |Heilwissenschaft | | + 630 Agriculture. |Haus, Land u. Forstwiss | | + Art of war. |Kriegswissenschaft |Art militaire et marine. | + 700 Fine arts, |Kunst. |Beaux arts. | + Gen. | | | + 780 Music. | | | + 790 Games and | | | + sports. | | | + 800 Literary hist.|(See below) | | + and crit. | | | + Poetry and |Schöne Litteratur. |Littérature. | + drama. | | | + Fiction. | | | + Juveniles. | | | + Other forms. | | | + 900 History. |Geschichte. |Histoire, Biog. polit. | + 920 Biography. | | | + 910 Geog. travels Erdbeschreibung, Karten. |Geographie. | + and descrip. | | | + ------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +Mr. Bowker, in behalf of the committee, has submitted the matter, +through Mr. G. H. Putnam, to the International Congress of Booksellers, +and it is hoped that there may be a committee appointed or empowered to +confer with this committee, and that some practical result may be +reached in spite of various difficulties. This committee therefore +recommends for the purpose of library reports, etc., the use of the +Dewey order and divisions given in the accompanying table, with such +modification as may be necessary to meet book trade requirements, but in +the case of all recommendations begs to make them subject to an +international understanding, and asks that the committee be continued +and given full power to adopt a recommended order, providing an +understanding can be reached with a representative of the booksellers. +If such an understanding is reached, efforts should be made to get the +further concurrence of other library associations and bibliographical +bodies generally. + + ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, _Chairman, + for the Committee_. + +J. C. DANA for the + + + COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING + +made a brief statement, that the committee as a whole had been unable +this year to visit and report upon the schools. He presented, as the +report of the committee, a letter from Dr. E. C. Richardson, one of its +members who had visited several of the schools as lecturer.[D] + +WILLIAM BEER spoke briefly on + + + COLLECTION AND CATALOGING OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS. + +The few remarks I have to make on this subject are prompted by a recent +effort to collect from printed catalogs the scattered newspaper material +for the first 15 years of the 19th century. The collection of +information on the locality of files of newspapers up to 1800 has been +commenced, and will in time be completed by Mr. Nelson, who publishes +his results in the "Archives of the State of New Jersey." Many +corrections will be necessary to his list, but it will even in its +present shape be of great advantage to historical students. + +The difficulty of the work increases almost in geometrical proportion as +the dates approach the present era. The great increase of newspapers +renders it necessary to divide the work into decades. I have chosen to +carry it to 1815 on account of the importance to Louisiana history of +the reports on the battle of New Orleans. + +The particular feature in cataloging which I would fain see carried out +in every library is the chronological conspectus, of which so admirable +an example exists in Bolton's catalog of scientific documents, which is, +or ought to be, familiar to all present. + +It is exceedingly simple and easy to prepare and is of the greatest +possible service, both to the librarian and the student. + +Take any folio book ruled in wide columns with an ample margin. For my +purpose I start by heading the first column 1800, and so on to the end +of the page. Taking material from Mr. Galbreath's useful compilation, I +find that in the libraries of Ohio there is only one title which will +appear under this head, the _Western Spy_ in the collection of the +Cincinnati Young Men's Mercantile Library. Enter in the marginal column +the full details of the publication of this newspaper and draw a +horizontal line across the column. The years 1802-3-4, etc., present an +increasing number of titles. The horizontal lines in the columns present +an immediate summary of all the newspaper literature on the subject. + +Dr. G. E. WIRE read a paper on + + SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE SELECTION. + + (_See_ p. 54.) + +MELVIL DEWEY: I want to say a word about that New York list of pictures. +When we printed that bulletin a great chorus of criticism arose from +among the newspapers, and we smiled; we said it was characteristic of +newspapers to discuss a thing without knowing at all what they were +talking about. But I did not suppose that same characteristic would +appear in this Association. Our bulletin states very distinctly what it +is for, and it makes its own case absolutely infallible. We had to meet +the problem in the state of New York, of circulating pictures bought +with the taxpayers' money, to be put on the walls of the school +houses--Jewish schools, Roman Catholic schools and schools of many +denominations. Under those peculiar conditions it was a question whether +we could carry the movement at all, and we selected about 50 people, +whose judgment was most reliable, and asked them, out of several hundred +pictures, to select 100 that would be open to no objection of any kind. +There was no effort whatever to select the hundred _best_ pictures. They +simply made a list that would pass the legislature. It included pictures +that people ridiculed sadly; and yet we had on file letters from +prominent people in the state to the effect that they would protest +against certain well-known pictures, and we thought it wiser not to +raise issues over minor details. Our bulletin is simply a list of +pictures that have been passed by representatives of various religious +and ethical interests. You may think it most absurd that certain +pictures, perhaps the most famous, should have been voted out of such a +list, but if you were to go through the schools of the state of New York +or any other state you would find that there are conscientious mothers +and fathers, who have had no opportunity for art training, who would get +down on their knees and pray that some of these pictures might not be +put on the walls of the school room. If you do not know that, you are +not familiar with the sentiment in the rural districts. There was a +specific purpose in our action; we heard all of these criticisms, and we +did the thing that seemed right and best under the circumstances. There +are about a hundred of us on the state library staff, but we do not yet, +as a body, venture to feel as omniscient as some single individuals +regard themselves. I strongly believe that it is not a bad thing to take +the opinion of experts. We are perfectly willing to show respect to the +specialist in his own field, and I think it is mighty unwise advice to +give young librarians, when they are told not to ask the opinion of a +good specialist, whose verdict commands the confidence of the public. + +Adjourned at 12.05 p.m. + + + _FOURTH SESSION._ + + (LIBRARY HALL, MADISON, WIS., MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 8.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 2.25 p.m., and in a few +words expressed the appreciation of the Association for the delightful +arrangements that had made "Madison day" so interesting and enjoyable. + +Miss MARY W. PLUMMER then spoke on + + + SOME EXPERIENCES IN FOREIGN LIBRARIES[E] + +Miss PLUMMER deprecated any desire to make a comparison between foreign +and American libraries. They served so different a purpose, for the most +part, that comparison was impossible. Libraries, like systems of +education, were an outcome of the history, of the race-temperament and +characteristics, and of the social conditions of a people. And it was +according to one's point of view whether such a comparison would be +favorable to one side or the other. One thing seemed almost +predicable--that, wherever democracy was making its way, there the +library supported by the people and for the use of the people had a +tendency to appear patterned more or less after those of England and +America. + +English libraries were not touched upon, but the leading collections of +Germany, France and Italy were briefly described. At the Bayreuth and +Nuremberg libraries books were secured without formality, and all +privileges were extended to the visiting colleague, with entire +trustingness and fraternity. In Italy more formality was required, the +libraries being government institutions for reference use, but courtesy +and a desire to be of service prevailed throughout. Considering the +question, "What do people do who want to read fiction in Italy--the same +people who are always wanting the new novels in this country?" Miss +Plummer said: "Apparently, these people do not exist in sufficiently +large numbers to be considered in the libraries. If a work of note comes +out, such as a new novel by d'Annunzio or Fogazzaro, it can be had at +the book shops in paper for two lire or two and a half, _i.e._, 40 to 50 +cents, and people buy it and lend it. In some of the little book shops +books circulate for a small fee, but not by any means the best class of +books. The government libraries may purchase the novels of such authors +as those I have mentioned, but they do not make haste about it, and in +one library (a municipal, circulating library) no book can go out that +has not been in the library's possession three months. The novel-reading +class is chiefly composed of visiting or resident English and Americans, +and in all Italian cities of any size there is a subscription library +where books in English can be had." + +At Florence, when one discovers the large and enterprising subscription +library which the Viesseux, father and son, have carried on for several +generations, one's troubles in getting books seem ended, for they have +all the books that the government libraries cannot and do not buy--a +large subscription list of periodicals, open shelves, late books +separated from the rest, and they will get what one asks for if they +haven't it already. If American publishers sent their lists regularly to +Viesseux one would probably find more American books there. Further than +this, one's subscription entitles one to a book or books by mail to any +place in Italy or in the surrounding countries where one may be staying. +Of the Florentine libraries, the Marucellian is the nearest our ideal of +a modern reference library in its collections as in its methods. It has, +as its chief field of purchase, the best modern books in belles-lettres, +and as it is open in the evening its rooms are often crowded with +students and readers until closing time. It has a card catalog by +subjects and a duplicate card catalog of part of the collection of the +National Library of Florence; a ms. catalog in book form by author, +which is accessible to readers; a room set apart for women students, +with a woman, a university graduate, to preside over it. The National +Library is a much greater collection and older, in its 87 rooms; and its +periodical room is the most modern of all, with its magazines from all +countries, even our own _Harper_ and _Century_ showing their familiar +faces on the racks. A special room here is devoted to the catalogs, +which were partly in ms. book form and partly on cards, and students +were always searching the pages or the cards without let or hindrance. + +At Rome the Victor Emanuel Library had a small room shelved with the +Leyden catalogs, in constant consultation. As in most of the government +libraries, there was a table reserved for women, though it did not seem +to be much used. + +Among the Paris libraries described were the Ste. Geneviève, the +Sorbonne, and one of the ward or "arondissement" libraries. The latter +was in the Mairie, and open at 8 p.m. only. The books were in floor +cases, with a counter between them and the people, and on the counter +lay small pamphlet finding lists. It is not hard to keep these up to +date, since the libraries themselves are far from being so, and new +books are not often added. The librarian, who had some other occupation +during the day and served here in the evening, to add a trifle to his +income, got books and charged them in a book as people asked for them. +Use of the library was permitted only after obtaining as guarantor a +citizen living in the same arondissement with the would-be borrower. +While this kind of library is of course much better than none, and the +situation in Paris is that much better than in Italian cities, the fact +that the hours of opening are only in the evening is a barrier to much +usefulness. On the other hand, a library to each arondissement is a fair +allowance, and no one has to go very far to reach his library. For the +most part they are patronized by the small tradesmen of the neighborhood +and their families. A large proportion of our reading public is missing +from these municipal libraries--they buy their own books, in paper, at +the department stores, and make no use whatever of the government +libraries or of these small circulating centers. + +In conclusion, Miss Plummer said: "If I were asked what sort of library +was most needed in France and Italy, I should say first _good_ libraries +for children and young people. The children of these countries read +earlier than ours, the language presenting fewer difficulties of +spelling and pronunciation, and many of them are fond of reading. Good +material is not plentiful, and what there is the child has no help in +getting hold of. Bad reading there is in abundance, in the shape of +so-called comic papers, etc., at every turn and for an infinitesimal +price. One is ready to say that it is better not to know how to read +than to be induced by one's knowledge to make such acquaintance as +this." + +Dr. J. K. HOSMER followed with an amusing fable, entitled + + + FROM THE READER'S POINT OF VIEW, AND THE ERA OF THE PLACARD.[F] + +The subject was presented in the form of a clever parable, satirizing +the present-day "booming" of popular books, and the unseemliness and +vulgarities of modern advertising methods. It concluded with an +"imaginary conversation" between a librarian and a reader, as follows: + +"'A fellow-librarian?' said I. + +"'Not quite that,' said he, 'but one who uses libraries--a reader, in +fact.' + +"I felt a sudden thrill of satisfaction. Here at last I had found my +reader, and I faithfully proceeded at once to get at his point of view. +'Well,' said I, 'is it not an inspiration to live in the era of the +placard; and what do you mean to do for the Great American Bill Board +Trust?' + +"We walked down the street arm in arm, and this is the rather +unsympathetic monologue in which the reader indulged: + +"'The bill-board--and I mean by the bill-board coarse and obtrusive +advertising in general, whether shown in this defacement of natural +objects, road-signs, street car panels, or in newspaper columns--an evil +from which even the public library is not free--the bill-board is an +evil, but after all only a minor evil. If we had nothing worse than that +among our social problems to vex us, we should indeed be fortunate. +Advertising is a legitimate incident of commerce. The merchant who has +wares to sell may properly make his commodities known. I own I study the +advertising pages of my _Century_ and _Scribner_ with scarcely less +interest than I do the text. But the world is so full of bad taste! +There is no sanctity or silence through which the coarse scream of the +huckster may not at any time penetrate. The loud bill-board is but the +scream of the huckster transmuted so that it may attack still another +sense. The wonder is that this bill-board, and its fellow enormities in +the street car panel and the newspaper columns, do not repel instead of +attract. In the case of refined minds certainly repulsion must be felt. +Now for myself,' said the reader, and here I thought he spoke +conceitedly, 'the fact that a thing is coarsely and loudly advertised is +a strong, almost invincible reason for my not buying it, however +necessary it may seem. With the world in general, however, the standard +of taste is low. Coarseness does not offend; also, it pays to use it. + +"'I have sometimes seen on library walls placards sent in with the +demand, 'Please display this prominently,' that have exercised upon me +an immediate deterrent effect. Still,' said the reader, with his +superior air, 'do not think me ill-natured. The best thing we can do is +to keep our temper, stamp down as we can what becomes too outrageous and +indecent, and labor and pray for the refinement of the world's taste. +This no doubt will come very slowly.' + +"'Can we help the thing forward at all?' said I, falling in for the +moment with his humor. + +"'Only as we can promote in general the diffusion of sweetness and +light,' said the reader. 'If a man should be aroused to attack directly +I believe he might strike a more effective blow through ridicule than +through denunciation. Keep denunciation for the more weighty and ghastly +evils that beset us; a mere annoyance it is better to laugh away if we +can do it.'" + +Adjourned at 3.30 p.m. + + + _FIFTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 9.) + +The meeting was called to order by President CARR at 10.20 a.m. + +The president announced the receipt in pamphlet form of the + + REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. + + (_See_ p. 87.) + +This was read by title, and filed for publication in the Proceedings. + +W. I. FLETCHER presented the + + REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD. + + (_See_ p. 103.) + +Mr. DEWEY: I wish to remind some of you who were with us 25 years ago in +Philadelphia, when we organized the A. L. A., and who, during that whole +period, have studied its interests so closely, that the time has come at +last when we are really on the way to secure one of the things we have +always thought most important--co-operative printed catalog cards. This +will make for all of us less drudgery and more inspiration, for there is +not much inspiration in writing out author's names; it will relieve us +of a considerable burden; it will produce economy and increase +efficiency; and it appeals strongly to our trustees and business men. It +is perhaps the most important thing we have to do, and there have been +apparently insuperable obstacles to success; but we have always hoped +for one complete solution. And this was that it could be done at the +National Library in Washington, with its printing presses, post-office +facilities, copyright department and great central collection. You +remember that when the Pacific railroad was built, and as the ends came +together to make the connection, a great celebration was held through +the country, a thrill that the work was at last done; and I feel to-day, +now that we hear in this able report that printed catalog cards are +really to be undertaken at the National Library, that what we have +waited for over 20 years and what we have been dreaming about has come +to pass at last. After serving my term on the Publishing Board--this is +my valedictory--I feel to-day that I must say just this: Now that we +have reached this point, that every one has hoped for so long, we must +see to it that this agency is utilized and appreciated. Every one of us +ought to watch those printed cards, and make suggestions as to their +use. If we utilize them, and prove their value and their economy, we can +rely on the great support of the National Library in many other +movements. + +The secretary read a letter from the Hon. Secretary of the + + + LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, + +inviting the A. L. A. to be represented at its annual meeting, to be +held in Plymouth, England, Aug. 27-30, 1901; and, on recommendation from +the Council, it was voted that members of the A. L. A. abroad at the +time of the English meeting be authorized to represent the American +Library Association on that occasion. + +The president announced that the polls would be open for + + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS + +in the library exhibit room at the Fountain House from 8 to 10 Tuesday +evening, and that J. I. Wyer and J. G. Moulton would serve as tellers. + +In the absence of F. J. TEGGART, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN LIBRARIES. + +Since its appointment this committee has worked steadily towards the +accomplishment of the object of the handbook. Specifically this object +is the collection of the statistics, history and bibliography of all +libraries in the United States having 10,000 or more volumes on Dec. 31, +1900. + +While about 80 per cent. of the circulars sent out in 1899 were +returned, the cases in which the bibliographical and historical data was +supplied were too few in number to be of much assistance. The work which +has therefore fallen on the chairman of this committee is neither more +or less than the preparation of a check list of all the publications of +American libraries. The need of this work must be apparent to any +librarian who considers that there is at present no bibliographical +source in which information regarding library publications may be found. +The "American catalogue," for example, ignores such publications +altogether. + +In beginning this work the chairman of your committee indexed the set of +the _Library Journal_ and all available bulletins and catalogs of +libraries for library publications, and cataloged the similar material +existing in the libraries of San Francisco. Approximately the list now +includes between 8000 and 9000 cards. + +This large body of material has been reduced to shape, and the greater +part has been typewritten on sheets. What now remains to be done is +that some person conversant with the library literature of a state or +city should take the sheets representing that district and carefully +compare the entries with the books themselves, supplying omissions and +correcting errors. This certainly is no light piece of work, but it is +essential to the success of the undertaking. + +The historical notices have been prepared in part, but the statistics +obtained in 1899 must of necessity be renewed to bring the entire work +down to the end of the century. + +As the manuscript can be completed by Jan. 1 next, there is every reason +to believe that this large piece of work can be presented in completed +form to the Association in 1902, with one proviso. When the committee +was appointed in 1899 it was given a general authorization to incur +expenditure--in fact, without doing so no work could have been done. +Again, in 1900, an authorization for expenditure was passed by the +Association. Up to the present the chairman of the committee has +expended directly on this work on postage and printing about $150. Owing +apparently to the general terms in which the authorizations for +expenditure were made at previous meetings, the officers of the +Association have not so far made any appropriation towards this amount, +and it would seem proper that some definite provision should be made by +the Association at this meeting to cover a part at least of this +expenditure if the handbook is to be considered an "A. L. A." +undertaking. + + FREDERICK J. TEGGART, _Chairman_. + +C. W. ANDREWS: As the third member of the committee, I may supplement +this report, and state that the matter of obtaining the consent of the +Bureau of Education to undertake the publication of this handbook was +left to me, and that I have pleasure in informing the Association that +there seems every prospect that at least a portion of this material will +be published by the Bureau of Education, and that we may hope to have +made available in this way a much-needed tool for practical use and a +mass of information which cannot fail to be of value outside of this +country. + +W. I. FLETCHER: The matter of the publication of this handbook was +referred to the Publishing Board, but if the plan for its publication by +the government is carried out, the Publishing Board understands that +will take the publication out of its hands. I move that the executive +board be requested to inquire into the matter of the expense incurred by +Mr. Teggart, and provide for meeting it, if this is found possible. +_Voted._ + +The secretary read the by-laws to the constitution, prepared by special +committee and adopted by the Council, as follows: + + + BY-LAWS. + + §1. The annual dues of the Association shall be $2 for individuals and + $5 for libraries and other institutions, payable in advance in January. + Members who are one year in arrears shall, after proper notification by + the treasurer, be dropped from the roll of membership. + + §2. Nine members shall constitute a quorum of the Council for the + transaction of routine business, but no sections of the Association + shall be established and no recommendations relating to library matters + shall be promulgated at any meeting at which there are less than 17 + members present. The records of the Council, so far as of general + interest, shall be printed with the Proceedings of the Association. + + §3. In case of a vacancy in any office, except that of president, the + Executive Board may designate some person to discharge the duties of + the same _pro tempore_. + + §4. No person shall be president, first or second vice-president, or + councillor of the Association for two consecutive terms. + + §5. The president and secretary, with one other member appointed by the + executive board, shall constitute a program committee, which shall, + under the supervision of the executive board, arrange the program for + each annual meeting and designate persons to prepare papers, open + discussions, etc., and shall decide whether any paper which may be + offered shall be accepted or rejected, and if accepted, whether it + shall be read entire, by abstract or by title. It shall recommend to + the executive board printing accepted papers entire, or to such extent + as may be considered desirable. + + §6. The executive board shall appoint annually a committee of five on + library training, which shall investigate the whole subject of library + schools and courses of study, and report the results of its + investigations, with its recommendations. + + §7. The executive board shall appoint annually a committee of three on + library administration, to consider and report improvements in any + department of library economy, and make recommendations looking to + harmony, uniformity, and co-operation, with a view to economical + administration. + + §8. The executive board shall at each annual meeting of the Association + appoint a committee of three on resolutions, which shall prepare and + report to the Association suitable resolutions of acknowledgments + and thanks. To this committee shall be referred all such resolutions + offered in meetings of the Association. + + §9. The objects of sections which may be established by the Council + under the provisions of section 17 of the constitution, shall be + discussion, comparison of views, etc., upon subjects of interest to the + members. No authority is granted any section to incur expense on the + account of the Association or to commit the Association by any + declaration of policy. A member of the Association eligible under the + rules of the section may become a member thereof by registering his or + her name with the secretary of the section. + + §10. Provisions shall be made by the executive board for sessions of + the various sections at annual meetings of the Association, and the + programs for the same shall be prepared by the officers of sections in + consultation with the program committee. Sessions of sections shall be + open to any member of the Association, but no person may vote in any + section unless registered as a member of the same. The registered + members of each section shall, at the final session of each annual + meeting, choose a chairman and secretary, to serve until the close of + the next annual meeting. + +Dr. J. K. HOSMER reported for the committee on + + + MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE. + +Dr. HOSMER: The committee to whom this matter was referred thought it +best to prepare, instead of a formal preamble and resolution, a minute +to be entered upon the Proceedings of the convention. That received the +approval of the Council. The minute is as follows: + +"The news having reached us of the untimely death of John Fiske, once +our professional associate, we, the American Library Association, desire +to make record of our profound grief at the departure of a writer who +was a dominant force in American literature, and to express our sense +that in this passing of a great thinker, historian, and spiritual +leader, our land and our time have sustained irreparable loss." + +President CARR: This minute will be spread upon the record of the +Proceedings, having taken the regular course. + + + CO-OPERATIVE LIST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS. + +C. R. PERRY: At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section +action was taken looking towards a co-operative list of books for +children. There were some features connected with it that were of such a +general character that we thought it essential that the plan come before +the Association in general session, to secure proper authority for us to +proceed with the work; furthermore, there was no further session of the +Children's Librarians' Section, so if a report was made at all it would +have to be made to the A. L. A. in general session. The report is as +follows: + +_To the American Library Association_: + + At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section a committee + was appointed to formulate some plan whereby a co-operative list of + children's books may be produced, this committee to report at some + general session. We now are ready and beg leave to report progress. + + We have interviewed over 50 members of the A. L. A. within the last two + days, and find a general desire for such a list. Moreover, the people + interviewed have expressed their willingness to subscribe among + themselves a sum of money necessary to cover the cost of preparing such + list (postage, typewriting, stationery, printing, etc.). + + Your committee have found that one or two days are hardly sufficient to + enable us to bring our plan into perfection. We desire very strongly to + accomplish the results for which we were appointed, and therefore ask + for more time. We do respectfully recommend and ask that authority be + given to our committee to proceed with the following plan: + +(1) Committee on co-operative children's list to appoint six people to + collect the subscriptions which have been promised. + + (2) Some one experienced and well-known librarian to be appointed by + our committee to undertake the preparation of the said list. + + (3) When such person has been appointed and has accepted, the money + raised to be turned over to that librarian. + + (4) Our committee to suggest to the person undertaking this work a plan + whereby not only may be secured the approval or disapproval of + librarians and teachers as to the books of the tentative list, but + also a report as to the manner in which these books have been + received by the children in all parts of the nation. + + (5) A final and definite report to be submitted at the next conference. + This report to include the books generally accepted and those + rejected as well. + Respectfully submitted, + + CHESLEY R. PERRY, _Chairman_, + J. C. DANA, + ELIZA G. BROWNING. + +President CARR: This report comes before you in the nature of a +recommendation, and suitable action would be to move that the +Association appoint a general committee to carry out the recommendations +of the report. That committee might consist of the members of the +present committee, who drew this report--Mr. Perry, Mr. Dana and Miss +Browning. + +R. R. BOWKER: Is not this a matter which should come under the +jurisdiction of the Publishing Board? It would then give this proposed +committee somewhat the relation to the Publishing Board that is borne by +the advisory committee on printed catalog cards. Otherwise we might have +a confusion of results. + +Mr. PERRY: That matter was discussed, but we felt that we were preparing +something which at the next convention might be submitted to the +Association, and then referred to the Publishing Board. We are not +expecting to prepare a list for general printing and circulation, but a +list which may be brought up at the next conference as something +definite to be referred to the Publishing Board. + +It was _Voted_, That the committee acting for the Children's Librarians' +Section be appointed to carry out the work outlined. + + + PRINTED CATALOG CARDS. + +HERBERT PUTNAM: I ask your indulgence, Mr. President, for a few words. +The readiness of the Library of Congress to take up the work of +supplying printed cards has been stated. For the Library of Congress, I +wish to say that we do not repudiate anything of what has been stated as +to our readiness; it must be understood, however, that we are justified +in entering upon this undertaking only in case it presents a reasonable +probability of success. Now, for that probability three elements are +essential. First, some body that should represent judgment and +experience, in such co-operative work, and be in touch with the +interests at large of the Library Association. That body is furnished by +the Publishing Board. Second, there was necessary some office that was +directly in relation with the publishers of this country. That office is +the _Publishers' Weekly_, and the _Publishers' Weekly_ has generously +offered to place at our disposal all of its facilities for securing +prompt information as to every recent publication. Third, there is a +strong probability that during the first year at least there will be +some deficit, while the experiment is merely beginning. That danger has +been met. Mr. Bowker, personally, has tendered a guaranty amounting, if +necessary, to $1000, to meet the possible deficit of the undertaking +during the present calendar year. Repudiating nothing of what has been +said about the readiness of the Library of Congress to serve in this +undertaking, I nevertheless wish this matter to appear in its proper +proportions, and we should not be willing to have these other elements +overlooked. + +In the absence of THORVALD SOLBERG, J. C. HANSON read Mr. Solberg's +paper on + + BOOK COPYRIGHT. + + (_See_ p. 24.) + +GEORGE ILES read a paper on + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE. + + (_See_ p. 16.) + +Mr. ILES: I may add, that when I was in England three years ago and +talked about this scheme, one or two asked me, "Who is going to meet +your libel suits?" I explained that there was already a very large body +of responsible critics who contribute in this country, especially in +this field; as, for instance, the critics of the _American Historical +Review_, and the notes that I have in mind are very much of the color of +the notes one reads in such reviews--not many of them very black, not +many of them very white; most of them a whitey brown. I have never heard +yet of any libel suits against the editors of the _American Historical +Review_, even when their reviews have not been particularly amiable. I +do not think we need to dread any litigation. Mr. Larned went to work in +organizing his staff of contributors with great caution and good +judgment. He did not choose them from any one particular university, but +when he heard that at University "A" there was a man who was +acknowledged to know the literature of the Columbian period of American +history better than anybody else, he sought to enlist that man. And Mr. +Larned has been limited, of course, in various ways that you can readily +understand, as for instance when sometimes a contributor has given him +notes which he has felt obliged to discard. And let me say also that in +the main the most important work has been done by the professors of +history in the colleges and universities, except for the period of the +Civil War, where the late General Cox, who had made a special study of +that field, was his contributor. Mr. Larned's idea is simply to find +throughout this country in any particular field--the Civil War period, +or the pre-Columbian period, or the settlement of the Northwest period, +or the war of 1812--the most authoritative and trustworthy man and +enlarge his audience to take in all the readers and students in this +country, instead of having him speak merely to the students of a +particular university or to the readers of a particular review. + +Dr. RICHARD T. ELY read a paper on the same subject. + (_See_ p. 22.) + +Mr. BOWKER: Can't we have a word from Mr. Thwaites on this question? + +R. G. THWAITES: I do not suppose I ought to speak on this matter, for I +am one of Mr. Larned's contributors. I have done a good deal of +annotation, or evaluation, of this sort, upon request; I have a fair +acquaintance with reviewers, and have done a good deal of reviewing +myself. I know the limitations of reviewers, and there is, I think, a +great deal of truth in what Dr. Ely says. I always want to know, when I +read a review, who wrote the review; after I know the individual who has +written the review, I make up my mind more or less regarding its +verdict. Often, in writing annotations for this work of Mr. Larned's I +have felt the very serious responsibility which rested upon me as an +individual contributor, in seeming to crystallize judgment for +generations perhaps--if this book is to be used for generations--and the +possible harm that might result from such crystallization. I know that +my point of view will be entirely different from another man's point of +view. You take four or five men and ask them to write a note on the same +book for this annotated list, and you will have four or five different +judgments--absolutely, radically different. It is perhaps, a dangerous +thing to crystallize these judgments; and yet, after all, I sympathize +very greatly with Mr. Iles' position. I think the thing should be done. +Librarians are asked for such judgments all the time. All of us who +write text-books are continually asked for annotated bibliographies for +students to follow, and we are always passing judgments--other people +might call them "snap" judgments--upon various books. Great wisdom is +necessary in this matter. For instance, the other day Mr. Larned sent a +note to two of us who are contributing to this annotated bibliography. +It happened through some editorial mistake that two notes, asking for +comment on a certain book, were written to different individuals. It was +Dr. Davis Dewey, of the Institute of Technology, who happened to cross +my path and wrote a note on the same book. Now we had two absolutely +different opinions about this book. And yet it was very natural. I had +looked at this book as the story of an exploring tour down the +Mississippi valley; he had looked at it as a study in sociology from an +economic standpoint. It was exceedingly interesting from my standpoint; +it was filled with fallacies and whims from the standpoint of an +economist and sociologist. Well, I threw up my note and let his stand. +What are we going to do about it? Some work of this kind ought to be +done, because it is most useful; but after all, I think Dr. Ely's word +of warning is one that we should take to heart very thoroughly. +Personally I really don't know whether we ought to "evaluate" literature +or not; and yet I am doing it all the time. + +Mr. ILES: We expect that this bibliography of Mr. Larned's, and any +others in the same series which may follow, will appear also in card +form, and I very much desire when the central bureau finds that a +particular note can be replaced by a better one, in the light of further +developments, that that particular note should be withdrawn, and a +better and more nearly just note be substituted; all gratuitously to the +subscribing libraries. + +F. M. CRUNDEN: I realize the force of what Dr. Ely has said, but I still +believe that this work is worth doing, because it is exceedingly +valuable to us. We have got to have some guide. We cannot all of us read +in all lines and so far as the contradictory notes referred to go, it +seems to me that all that was necessary was for the editor to apply to +those two divergent notes just the remark that Mr. Thwaites made--that +one was written from the standpoint of the sociologist and economist, +the other from that of the historian and geographer. From one side it +was a good book; from the other side a bad book. + +Mr. PUTNAM: I speak on such a subject as this with very great +reluctance, and yet, as a librarian who has had occasion in times past +to select--I do not have so much occasion now, because so much matter +comes to us without inspection--I wish to draw a distinction between +selection and exclusion. Now, when Dr. Ely speaks of an _index librorum +prohibitorum_ or an _index expurgatorius_, the implication is that the +libraries of this country, on advice or of their own motion without +advice, are deliberately excluding from their collection books of which +they disapprove. The librarian, however, approaches the matter in an +entirely different way. He has at his disposal, for purchase, a very +limited sum of money; a very limited sum of money, no matter how large +his library, for the amount of literature put upon the market is +practically limitless. Men of science themselves, after contending for +liberty of expression, do not always use that liberty with discretion or +to the advantage of the community. Now, there must be a selection. That +is the point we start from as librarians; that is the duty laid upon +us--to get, with the means at our command, the books that will be most +useful to our constituents. Now, that means choice. How are we to make a +choice? I do not believe there is a librarian in the United States who +would set himself up as an arbiter or an expert in every department of +literature; who would claim to determine the value of doctrine, either +in religion or in economics, the two departments of literature as to +which the discrimination must be most difficult and most dangerous; and +yet even in those departments we must choose. That means a selection. +What is the alternative, in case we have no guide? What would Dr. Ely +offer us? Dr. Ely, of course, as any university professor, has his +students, who are studying not merely one subject in which they wish to +get the best and final opinion, but all opinions, from which they are to +draw conclusions. Now, the duty of the librarian is simply to represent +all opinions, and not his own opinion, or his notion of the best +opinion, or somebody else's notion of the best opinion; but, given a +doctrine which is important, which is attracting attention, he assumes +that this doctrine must be represented in his collection. It is only a +question of what represents this doctrine best--not whether the doctrine +is right or wrong. If there is a book regarding which there are two +opinions, the appraisal may give the two opinions, as all appraisals +should, so far as it can be done. The substance of what I wish to say is +this: our duty is not one of exclusion; it is one of selection, and that +fact is as little understood as any element in library administration +to-day--and I am sorry to say that the misunderstanding is apt to be +countenanced by the librarian. Take for instance the case of the Boston +Public Library, berated all over the country for excluding certain books +from its collection. Now, the Boston Public Library deliberately +excludes, to my knowledge, almost no book. Its process is of selection. +It receives about seven hundred volumes of recent fiction a year, to +consider for purchase. It believes that it is for the best interests of +its constituents to buy less than two hundred titles and multiply +copies. Now, how is it going to dispose of the other five hundred? They +are neither rebuked, disapproved of or placed in an index. They are +simply left out, because in the process of selection, the first two +hundred seem most useful for the purpose of the library. + +Dr. ELY: I was not thinking about the librarians in my remarks. They +must, of course, make their selections of books, but what I had in mind +was the bringing, especially in the form of a card catalog, these +judgments and these appraisals before the reading public all over the +entire country, and so possibly forming opinion, along one line. +Formerly librarians have had a great many facilities to aid them in +making this selection of which Mr. Putnam has spoken. They have had the +various periodicals with their reviews; they could read these and base +their selections upon these. I had especially in mind the objections to +crystallizing opinion and bringing a one-sided opinion, or one kind of +an opinion, before the entire United States, instead of having opinions +of one sort in one place and opinions of another sort in another place. +Also, it is the impartial nature, or the apparently impartial nature, of +the proposed "evaluations" which seems to me especially objectionable. +Of course, in our college classrooms, we give our estimates of books, +but Professor A will give one estimate, and then the students go to +Professor B's class-room, and they hear another estimate, so that they +soon learn the personal inclinations and preferences of the various +professors, and can soon offer some explanation of the conditions and +the circumstances under which these estimates are formed. And the views +expressed in one university are criticised very largely by another +university. Not so I take it with the person who ordinarily consults the +card catalog of a public library. + +R. R. BOWKER: May I take a moment from my own paper to say just a word +on this subject? Questions are asked of the librarians, and they must be +answered. To answer them in the fullest light instead of the scantiest +is, as I understand, the purpose of what Mr. Iles calls "evaluation." If +Miss Smith--I think there are six of her, so that my remarks are not +personal--comes from the library school, or after the library school +training, to a public library desk, she is sure to be asked questions, +we will say, in American history. There may be an information clerk to +refer them to, or there may not; but, as I understand, this work of Mr. +Iles is intended, not to exclude other sources of information, but to +give Miss Smith opportunity to inquire and obtain the best and widest +available information as to the character of a particular book, or as to +its rating. If this book were to be the sole and exclusive authority, +then of course we might have a censorship in literature, but I do not +understand that in the minds of the promotors of this plan there is any +such design to make an exclusive and solely authoritative work. + +W. MILLARD PALMER read a paper on + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS, AND LIBRARIANS. + + (_See_ p. 31.) + +R. R. BOWKER: There is, or should be, I take it, a large purpose common +to all who have to deal with books, as intermediaries between the author +and the reader, whether from the altruistic side, as the librarian, or +from the commercial side, as the publisher and bookseller. We are +familiar with one expression of that purpose, to get "the best reading +for the largest number at the least cost"; and I, for one, am firmly of +the opinion that that function is properly shared by the two classes of +whom I have spoken, that they are not in competition but in +co-operation; I mean the librarian and the bookseller. It is a narrow +view, it would seem, which puts the two in opposition, or even in the +position of competitors. And just as it seems that the bookseller is +wrong in feeling that the librarian is interfering with his business, so +I think it is wrong for the librarian to feel that the bookseller should +in any way be limited or hampered or belittled in his kind of work of +getting books to the people. It seems to me a truism, indeed, that there +is one thing better than a book loaned, and that is a book owned. The +ideal library community is, after all, one in which the people are so +well supplied with books in their own homes that the function of the +library is not so much a great circulation, however fine that may look +in the statistics, but rather that of guide and helper to readers in the +selection, and, if you please, in the "evaluation" of books. The board +of health in a city or in a state is, perhaps, a fair illustration of +the final function of the librarian; a health board, in its ideal, is a +body to promote sanitation, to warn people against errors, to get rid of +the mistake that tuberculosis is a hereditary disease from which people +have to suffer, instead of one which is communicated and which can be +avoided; rather than a body to furnish free medical attendance like a +dispensary. So I start with the proposition, that it is desirable for +librarians, for public librarians, as such, to encourage most of all the +formation and owning of private libraries throughout their bailiwicks. + +Now, there has been one difficulty of late years in bringing about this +result, in the most effective way, and that difficulty has been felt not +only in this country, but throughout most countries--the fact that +competition, not in quality but in "cut rate" price, has practically +taken away the living of the commercial intermediary in the +distribution of books, the hire of the laborer who is working in that +particular vineyard. That has been true in Germany, in France, in +England, and in this country. It has not prevented the sale of books; it +_seems_ not to have limited the sale of books; but it is probably true +that the dissemination of the best literature among the mass of the +people, in private libraries, while it has been immensely improved by +the library system, has not been promoted by the bookselling system +under present conditions as it should be. In Germany, a movement has +been on foot for a few years past, and has been quite successful, to +give that particular kind of librarian, the bookseller, a fee more +worthy of his function; a profit which makes it possible for him to keep +that sort of library which is distributed into private libraries, +_i.e._, the book store. In France a very curious difficulty is in +illustration. There the price of books had come to be very low, so low +that when a rise in the price of paper came, the publisher's business +was found to be almost impossible. The remedy naturally took the shape +of a general rise in price, a considerable rise in price in cheaper +books, sufficient to meet that particular difficulty and to make +possible at the same time a better recompense, a living wage, to the +intermediary. Now, the whole tendency of modern industrial development +is to get rid of the intermediary as much as possible; _i. e._, to have +as few steps, of person and of cost, between the producer and the +consumer as is practicable. This we may take as fundamental to-day. It +remains true, nevertheless, that there must, as a rule, be somebody +between the producer and the consumer, between the person in the great +manufacturing center and the remote distributing points on the +circumference to bring the thing wanted to the person who wants it; and +it is only in view of that requirement that the bookseller is to be +considered. In that sense, as I have said, he seems a complement of the +librarian, and the book store the complement of the library. Now, a +librarian cannot live without salary, though many live on very small +salaries, in the hope of better things--and one of the accomplishments +of the American Library Association has been to bring better things to +the librarian. Both the dignity and the emolument of the library +profession have been, I believe, increased greatly by the existence of +this Association. The librarian receives a salary, and it is not true, +as we all know, that books can be circulated freely from public +libraries in the sense of their being circulated without cost. Indeed, +we have occasion to lament often that the cost of circulating a single +volume is so great. It is a fair question whether the cost of shelving, +preparing for the public, and in many cases, of circulating a volume, is +not greater than the fee which the bookseller asks as his profit, his +wage in transferring that volume from the publisher to the reader. +Therefore it seems to me that the suggestion of which Mr. Dewey is the +apostle, that the public library should take the place of the book +store, that it should exhibit recent books to the public and take the +public's orders for those books, rests both on an economic and on a +social fallacy. In a word, work cannot be done for nothing, and whether +that work is paid for by the public in the shape of salaries or by the +private buyer in the shape of profits is a matter of comparison. + +About the time at which the A. L. A. was organized, in 1876, there was +an attempt on the part of the book trade to deal with this question, and +at Philadelphia, in 1876, a meeting was held at which a reform plan was +initiated. That plan, it seemed to me then as it seems to me now, +involved a fundamental mistake, in that it did not deal with the +question of published prices. It is evident that books cannot be +increased in price, unless there is a specific reason in the price of +paper or some such reason, without interference with their sale and wide +distribution. It is poor policy for the publisher to limit the sale of +his ware by putting a higher price on it than the traffic will bear. At +that meeting it was proposed not to alter the published prices of books, +but to recognize formally the custom of giving twenty per cent. discount +to the retail buyer. The reform proceeded upon that basis, and the +system presently broke down. Within a year past there have been shaped +two organizations, the American Publishers' Association and the American +Booksellers' Association, which are working in harmony on another plan. +That plan is that new books, new copyright books (fiction and some +special classes excepted for the time), should be published at a price +which recognizes the fact that the published price hitherto has not been +the real or standard price. In other words, a book which was priced at +$1.50 it is expected to publish at twenty per cent., more or less, below +that price, and to make a $1.50 book, say, $1.25 or $1.20; a $2 book +$1.60 or $1.50, and a $1 book 75 or 80 cents. This plan recognizes the +existing situation, and the proposal is that the plan shall be enforced +by the publishers declining to supply books to booksellers who fail to +maintain those standard prices. The plan has worked out with other +classes of specially owned articles, in that respect similar to books, +and it has worked with fair success. + +There is only one exception which the bookseller is permitted under the +proposed regulations to make, and that is a discount to the library. +That discount is limited to ten per cent., and I think it should fairly +be stated that this may increase, perhaps by five or ten per cent., the +actual prices which some libraries, at least, have been paying for their +books. That is a disadvantage from the library point of view which must +be faced. I do not know that it will increase the price in the case of +libraries generally. In the case of the public, it has been true that +while many have paid the lower price for the books, others have been +asked the full published price, so that there has been an inequality of +price where the person best equipped in one sense, least equipped in +another, has had the advantage of the lower price. In other words, the +person who had most books and knew most about them, got the book at a +very low price, and the person who was really most in need of the book, +because he knew less, had to pay the full price for it. I do not believe +myself that that is the right or a good way of doing business. It would +not be the method which you would permit in libraries, of treating one +person differently from another, because the fundamental proposition of +this Association is that the public should be treated equally and +justly. Take it altogether, I for one believe that although in some +cases there may be this slight rise in cost to the library, the whole +library situation, or, I should say, the whole book situation, would be +so much improved by the proposed change that it would be to the general +advantage of the libraries to suffer that specific disadvantage. + +Nevertheless, there is a good deal of grasping in human nature, and it +might be very wise for the American Library Association, in one sense +representing the public, to come into official relation with this matter +and be the guardian of the buying interests, to the extent of making +sure that there is a real reduction in the prices of books on this +scheme. The large-minded publishers will doubtless see their interests +in making the reduction throughout on the copyright books which are to +be published on this plan. There are others who may not see this +advantage, and who may attempt, under the new plan, to set as high a +price on the book as under the old plan. If we had a committee of this +Association on relations with the book trade, it might be possible for +such a committee, known to be on the alert, to prevent or remedy cases +of that sort, and I trust such a committee will be appointed by this +body, or by its Council, as I shall take the liberty of moving. + +I should feel some hesitancy in speaking to this Association from the +two points of view, of relation with the book trade and of relation with +the library interests; _i.e._, of speaking as the editor of the +_Publishers' Weekly_ and as the editor of the _Library Journal_, but for +the fact that I believe the interests to be one. I may, however, make +the personal explanation that while it seems to me that a journalist +cannot write that in which he does not believe, on the other hand, a +journalist who is responsible for the conduct of a representative +journal cannot interpolate his own opinion to the exclusion of the +opinion of the class whom he is supposed to represent; for that reason I +have taken the position in my own office that in case the library +interests should come in conflict with the publishing interests, I will +give over that particular subject to some librarian, who, using the +editorial columns of the _Library Journal_, will represent +distinctively, free from any interest in the book trade, the views of +the Library Association and of the library interests at large. I take +this opportunity to say that in case the opinion of this Association is +adverse to the plan which I have been outlining, the _Library Journal_ +will take that course in presenting fairly and fully the views of the +profession. When the whole question is threshed out; when such a +committee has discussed, perhaps with the publishers' association +itself, whether there should not be a somewhat greater discount to the +librarian, to equalize the old rates; when such a committee expostulates +with individual publishers against an abuse of this plan, I believe that +the result will be, on the whole, to promote the wide and useful +dissemination of books, and I trust that any action which is taken, if +action should be taken by the Association or by its Council, will be in +view of the wider co-operation in which these two interests should work. +Let me remind you that the bookseller cannot live without earning his +living any more than the librarian, and it is not quite fair perhaps for +those of us who are protected by salaries to impeach the fair living +which the bookseller earns in another way. The book store should exist +in every community, alongside the library. We know as a matter of fact +that even our large cities, certainly our small cities, even more our +towns, are very ill equipped with book stores; that in many places they +are notable for their absence rather than for their presence. This +element of active work in the distribution of books should, I believe, +come back more to our American life. It cannot come back, apparently, +under present conditions, and any movement, it seems to me, should have +the helping hand of the A. L. A. that tends to put the American +bookseller on a plane with the librarian as an agent for the +dissemination of the best books at the least cost to the most people, +and I emphasize "at the least cost," meaning the least cost at which the +service can be rightfully performed. + +Adjourned at 12.45 p.m. + + + _SIXTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 9.) + +The meeting was called to order at 2.15 p.m. by President CARR, who +announced that the discussion would be continued from the morning +session, on the subject + + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS. + +MELVIL DEWEY: There seems to be an impression on the part of some that +the attitude I have taken in regard to this question is for the sake of +starting up discussion. I am quite sincere in what I say and in what I +believe in regard to it. In the first place, I think nothing could be +more unfortunate than for any of us to get into an attitude of +antagonism with the publishers and booksellers. There was something like +that twenty-five years ago; their organization and ours began at the +same time. There were some who wanted to fight with the booksellers and +publishers. I think that is all wrong. I am heartily in sympathy with +nearly everything that Mr. Bowker said this morning, and with what has +appeared in the columns of the _Publishers' Weekly_. I read every page +of it. I believe so profoundly in the value of the bookman's work that, +when formulating definitions of our university studies, as to what a +full-fledged university should be, I insisted it should include +publishing research and publication, not only the preservation of +learning. It is because I have so profound a respect for what may be +done by the book trade, as we call it, that I believe in these things. +But the discussion this morning seemed to be very much on the line of +Ruskin's attack on railroads, which he said always were devices of the +devil, and he said it very eloquently. You heard the same talk about the +trolley lines--about the whitening bones of the young innocents that had +been killed by them. We were assured that bicycles were to destroy the +horse trade entirely, yet horses now bring double what they did before. +Twenty-five years ago, I remember a very prominent man most earnestly +pointing out just what was pointed out this morning--that the A. L. A. +and the public libraries were simply devices to injure the interests of +publishers and booksellers. And the attitude of men on these things is +based on what Mr. Bowker called "an economic and social fallacy." I like +the phrase; only he was fitting it to me, and I fit it to him, and it is +for you to decide which is right. The question hinges on what we +understand the library to be. If the library is like a blacksmith shop, +or shoe store, or something of that kind, then he is right. If the +library is an essential part in our system of education and a necessity +for our civilization, then I am right. In New York we still have the +plank road and the toll-gate, and we are just taking them over for +public use--buying them and abolishing the tolls, so that the public's +right to use the roads has come back to them. All the arguments we heard +this morning would fit the question of abolishing the toll-roads. A +great many people keep no horses. Why should they be taxed to maintain +the roads? We have the fire department. We do not tax only the people +whose houses are on fire. It is a public necessity. We have the best +illustration of the case in our schools. The tax-supported high school +has killed off a number of private schools, and estimable people who +were earning their living that way were thrown out of employment. And +the tax-supported high school is in analogy with the public library. It +has offered instruction free and has ruined the business of others. It +is so with many professional schools. A transition has been going on +very rapidly. The last big fight we have been having is over the +business colleges, some of which are directed by mere charlatans, and +others by those who are giving admirable instruction, doing their work +well. But they have outlived their time. The public demanded that +certain instruction of this kind should be made available cheaply to all +the people. + +Now, we have been charged with wanting to abolish the bookseller. I +never said anything about abolishing him. It is like saying that because +the tadpole is going to be a frog we are abolishing the tadpoles. It is +nature that does it; it is a matter of growth. Or it is like saying that +the entomologist in pointing out that the moth is going to develop into +the butterfly, is abolishing all the moths. So the good booksellers, if +they go on with the work of supplying the public with good reading, will +do it through the agency of the public library, where they can do it +cheaper. When we are sure that a certain thing ought to be done; that it +is a good thing; and, secondly, when we are sure that it can be done +cheaper than in any other way, we are not inclined to waste a great deal +of time theorizing over anybody's philosophy as to whether it is a +proper thing to do or not. We want the right things done in the best and +cheapest way. I am sorry to see the old-time bookseller, who did good +work, crowded out of the field. I do not see any way in which he can +save himself, except in the largest cities. I am sorry to see a great +many of the old schools, the secondary schools, crowded out of business +and entirely replaced by the tax-supported schools. I do not understand +that it is our purpose, either in this Association, or in life, to be +studying how we are going to feed every man after the system which has +fed him up to the present time is abolished. If the man is good for +anything, he will earn his wages; and it is utterly fallacious to say a +thing is wrong because somebody is going to lose his business. When the +railroad was built a great many worthy men who drove stage coaches were +driven out of business in just that way. Every modern improvement does +that; new machinery of all kinds has the effect of driving people out of +employment; but, in the long run, it pays. + +I ought to say in the first place that the suggestion that the librarian +would sell books for a profit is one of those queer things that crop out +in connection with all great movements. I never yet heard of any library +that was buying books and distributing them. I believe that the library +will order books in connection with other work. My thesis is this: the +book owned is a great deal better than the book loaned. I believe it is +better for a man to own a book than to borrow it; that it is legitimate, +at public expense, to show him that book in the library and hand it to +him as his book--just as legitimate an expense, every way, as it is to +employ a man to sell people books so that they won't patronize the +Booklovers' Library. I think the whole thing hinges there. It is not a +matter of theory, but of fact. If that is what we want to accomplish, +can we do it best with the book store or with the library? I contend +that it is impossible to rehabilitate the old bookseller, any more than +the old private school, which could be done only by endless means in +endowment. I do not believe we should try, because it can be done better +and cheaper in another way; because the library has the books on its +shelves. The statistics this morning showed that the bookseller is dying +out. I believe it to be entirely impossible to rehabilitate that +profession. If in the library it becomes a recognized principle that +the library is supported at public expense for the purpose of lending +books. I am confident that the public will demand it to be done in that +way. I am confident of another thing. You have only to consult your +catalogs to see the remarkable development of the last decade in +publishing which is done by endowed universities and colleges and of +learned societies. See the great body of technical journals that have +been turned over the university presses. Every university that pretends +to accomplish much now has a press, and is developing it with great +rapidity. It was said this morning that the publisher hinged on the +cash; that the bookseller hinged on that. Ladies and gentlemen, the cash +profit is not a proper scale in which to weigh the questions in which we +are interested. When you take questions of education, or religion, or +philanthropy, and put them on a question of cash profit, you are in an +absolutely false attitude. I do not mean by that that we must not regard +business conditions. We must know how to pay for our coal and our rent, +but not a dividend in dollars and cents. And the moment my antagonist +says that this question is to be measured by a cash dividend, I say he +is ruled out of court in any body of librarians who are giving their +lives and their work at salaries not at all commensurate, but who make +dividends on a higher plane. There is no occasion for an attitude of +hostility; nor, I take it, for me to take issue on this new proposition +in regard to prices to libraries. There is not a librarian in this room +who has all the money he wants. If prices rise ten per cent., it will +diminish the number of books he can buy. I followed the argument this +morning. If it is correct, there is only one thing we can do. We, as +librarians, are cutting into the revenues of these men, and we ought not +only not to ask a discount but librarians ought to pay twenty-five per +cent. in addition, because we are cutting into their revenues. We ought +to appoint a committee, which without a bit of the spirit of antagonism, +should meet the publishers and booksellers and point out all over the +United States large consumers who buy for cash. I think it is a +practical mistake to try to force up the price, and that we are bound as +custodians of this money that is put in our hands, firmly and +courteously, but, I am sure, with the most friendly relations on both +sides, to see that the prices of our books shall not be cut down. + +I say, therefore, in summing up, after an observation of thirty years, +that I am confident that the library of this century is going to assume +those educational functions, and that among the most prominent of these +is the putting into the hands of the people who wish to make their lives +wealthier in arts or trades the books of power and of inspiration. The +public library cannot afford not to put into their hands at a minimum +price the books they want to read. And, logically we shall be forced in +that direction. You will find that this tendency is growing all the +while, and we will have to put the library squarely alongside the high +school. Indeed the library in its development is following exactly the +line of development of the tax-supported high school and for that same +reason, that in the high school we now offer instruction free, the +library will offer books for sale without profit--there should be no +profit in the library--and will lend books freely, and will with regret +kill the local book store and supplant it by something that is worth a +great deal more. + +W. I. FLETCHER: I have been so long on the Publishing Board with Mr. +Dewey that I have got thoroughly in the habit, when he gets through, of +saying something on the other side. It seems to me that a few words +might be said to clarify this subject. It is undoubtedly true, as Mr. +Dewey has said, that a book store that is worth anything could not be +established in every place in the country. There ought to be something +of the sort, even if it is a public library. The book stores exist only +in places where it is commercially possible, and that number of places +is very limited. Now I suppose that if we could ascertain the +communities where it is not commercially possible for a book store to be +carried on, we should none of us have any objection--it seems to me most +of us would favor the idea--that the public library should, to some +extent, take the place of the book store in supplying books to the +would-be owners in such a community. That leaves the question confined +to those places where a book store is commercially impossible, probably +to those places where book stores have been, even with difficulty, +maintained under past conditions. I should be willing, for my own part, +to do all I could in securing the establishment of a good book store +where there is not one, where it is commercially possible to maintain +one. Where it is not, it would be a good thing to let the library sell +the books. I am greatly impressed with the argument as to the advantages +of a book store in a community where it can be maintained. So it seems +to me that there is not very much difference of opinion among us, after +all, as I dare say those who spoke this morning would not object +seriously to the distribution of books for sale through the libraries, +where there is no hope of having a local book store. As to the amount of +discount under this new arrangement, I am entirely in accord with Mr. +Dewey in wishing that the Association might present whatever are the +views of the Association. On the subject of the amount of discount that +we ought to have, I should hardly feel that the booksellers were +treating us right in this country if they should follow the custom of +the German publishing trade and refuse any discount at all; and it is a +question whether the ten per cent. which they propose to allow under +this new system is enough. I have advised our library committee to +express a hearty readiness to accede to the proposed arrangement, to +take the ten per cent. discount, and we have given our adhesion to it. +Perhaps that was somewhat hasty, before the librarians in general had an +opportunity to act; but I do not believe anything very different from +that will be the attitude of the librarians at large. We might in time, +for example, make it fifteen per cent., but I am sure that could not be +done at present. I am heartily in sympathy with the movement that will +make it possible to have a good book store, which I believe every +librarian would like to have in his place. + +W. M. PALMER: I wish to say just this: Of course in the lack of time +that was accorded me, it is difficult to say all that can be said on the +subject, and explain the by-paths, and so forth; but, as I intimated at +the introduction of my paper, I simply stated what I said as facts, and +while we wish a great many things to be different, we realize that they +cannot be reached in a certain direction all at once. In order to bring +the bookselling business to a basis which will enable the bookseller to +live, some reform had to take place. The publishers have seen fit to +institute the reform which has been outlined to-day. When I spoke this +morning, for instance, of the fact that some librarians ordered books +for friends and others at the discounts which the library and they +themselves received from the booksellers, I did not wish to impute any +wrong motive to the librarian in doing that. It is a matter within the +knowledge of the booksellers, and the booksellers wink at it. I do not +think there was any element of dishonesty in it, because the bookseller +who sold the book to the librarian knew it was again to be sold to some +friend of the librarian. + +R. R. BOWKER: In offering a resolution, I wish to say just a word or +two. I had not expected Mr. Dewey to make an argument in favor of the +public library, for certainly there would be no disagreement on that +point in this room. Where he went further and suggested that the +salaried librarian should become the commercial bookseller, I think and +I hope that there are few to follow him to that length of argument. As +to the Booklovers' Library, of course that is not at all in analogy with +the public library, and I want to take this opportunity to call +attention to what seems to me an admirable use of the Booklovers' +Library scheme, so long as it can hold out. Mr. Carr has told me that he +has looked upon the Booklovers' Library as a very useful overflow or +safety-valve for the public library. When thirty-five people come at +once and want "Quincy Adams Sawyer," and a librarian sees that the two +copies that could be put on the shelves would not meet the demand, he +would say to himself "I cannot rightly spend the money for thirty-five +copies," and therefore he would say to the thirty-three, "You can go to +the Booklovers' Library and get these new books just when you want +them." So this library may be a relief to the librarian who is +conscientious in the spending of his money. + +The resolution which I now ask to move is that the Council be requested +to appoint a committee on relations with the book trade, to which this +question shall be referred. + +The resolution was carried. + +The general session was then adjourned, and there followed a Round Table +meeting on + + THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS. + + (_See_ p. 171.) + + + _SEVENTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 10.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., and after local +announcements by the secretary called upon the tellers to report upon + + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + +The result of the balloting was announced by the secretary as follows: + _President_: John S. Billings, 103. + _1st Vice-president_: J. K. Hosmer, 103. + _2d Vice-president_: Electra C. Doren, 104. + _Secretary_: Frederick W. Faxon, 104. + _Treasurer_: Gardner M. Jones, 105. + _Recorder_: Helen E. Haines, 105. + _Trustee of Endowment Fund_: Charles C. Soule, 81. + _A. L. A. Council_: M. E. Ahern, 101; E. H. Anderson, 104; Johnson +Brigham, 104; John Thomson, 104; H. M. Utley, 105. + +The president then announced that the Association would be glad to hear +from Mr. PUTNAM, as chairman of the + + + COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. + +Mr. PUTNAM: The Committee on Resolutions has suffered the usual +embarrassments of committees on resolutions. It has been compelled to +abstain from expressions which might seem hyperbole, and from +designating by name many services that prefer to remain anonymous. + +It is the custom of certain associations to make acknowledgment to those +speakers on the program not members of the conference. That is not +customary with the A. L. A. Had it been, I should have had a special +pleasure in proposing an acknowledgment to Professor Ely for his +presence and paper yesterday. It is no slight compliment to the +Association when a thinker and writer so eminent as Dr. Ely is willing +to lay his views before it. It is, in a sense, a greater compliment when +his views prove unfavorable to some undertaking which the Association is +inclined to approve. It implies that our action may be important, and +therefore our judgment worth convincing. Could the Association convince +Dr. Ely, great advantage indeed might result. For should a selected list +of books in economics be undertaken with helpful notes--I will not say +"evaluations," or "appraisals"--but helpful _notes_, Dr. Ely's aid would +be one of those first sought. + +The resolutions follow: + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. + +_Resolved_, That the American Library Association, in concluding a +meeting that has been one of the most largely attended and most +successful in its history, desires to express its hearty obligation to +the various committees and individuals who have made considerate +arrangements for its comfort, and in many an agreeable incident acted as +its hosts. In particular: + +To the Wisconsin Free Library Commission for its efficient general +arrangements for the conference; + +To the Citizens' Executive Committee and Women's Clubs of Waukesha, for +the attractive drives about the city, for the pleasant evening +reception at the Fountain Spring House, and for various attentive +courtesies; + +To the members of the Methodist Church of Waukesha, for the use of the +church for the public meeting on July 4; + +To Senator A. M. Jones, for the opportunity to visit Bethesda Park and +enjoy there the concert given by him complimentary to the Association; + +To the trustees, librarian and staff of the Milwaukee Public Library, +for the opportunity to inspect the library under most favorable +conditions, and to the junior members of the staff for the appetizing +refreshments served in connection with the visit; + +To the resident librarians of Madison, the Forty Thousand Club, and +various citizens, for the drive through the city and delightful +parkways of Madison; to the resident women librarians, the Madison +Woman's Club, and the Emily Bishop League, for the luncheon which was +provided so substantially for the great company of visitors; and in +general to the chairmen and members of the several local committees +representing the state, the city, and various institutions and +organizations, who contrived so excellently for the accommodation and +enjoyment of the Association in its visit to Madison. + +The Association deems itself fortunate indeed in having held its +meeting within reach of two achievements in library architecture so +notable as the library buildings at Madison and at Milwaukee. + +The Association would add its appreciation of the endeavor of the +management of the Fountain Spring House to convenience in every way the +business of the conference; and its obligation for the special +provision made by the management for its entertainment on two evenings +of the conference. + +The Association is aware that in addition to the hospitalities which it +has enjoyed, many have been proffered which could not be accepted +without injustice to the affairs of business which were the proper +purpose of the conference. It desires to record its acknowledgment of +these also, and of the kindly consideration of the hosts who in +deference to this purpose have been willing to forego inclinations +which it would have been a generous pleasure to themselves to have +carried into effect. + + HERBERT PUTNAM, } _Committee_ + J. C. DANA, } _on Resolutions._ + MARY WRIGHT PLUMMER, } + +The report of the committee was unanimously adopted by a rising vote. + +President CARR: This report having brought to a conclusion the general +business of the Association, I may perhaps be permitted just a word +before we dissolve this general session, which is to be followed by a +round table meeting in this room. The chair can only say to you that he +appreciates more than he can express, even had he more vigorous and full +command of language than he possesses, all that has been done by +members, officers, chairmen of committees, one and all, to aid in the +transaction of business and in the success of this conference. The chair +also wishes to congratulate you upon what you yourselves have done to +make this meeting a happy one, and trusts that it may long be remembered +by us all, and that we may all long continue to work together in the A. +L. A. + +Adjourned at 10.30 a.m. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote B: Preceding this first general session of the Association, an +informal social reception had been held at The Fountain Spring House, +Wednesday evening, July 3; and during Thursday, July 4, there were +meetings of the A. L. A. Council, special committees, etc.] + +[Footnote C: From the close of the Montreal meeting to close of Waukesha +meeting the total new members joined were 280.] + +[Footnote D: This report will appear in a later issue of the _Library +Journal_.] + +[Footnote E: Abstract.] + +[Footnote F: Abstract.] + + + + + COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION. + + +The College and Reference Section of the American Library Association +was called to order in the parlors of the Fountain Spring House at 2.40 +p.m. on July 6, Mr. W. I. FLETCHER being in the chair. + +The program was opened by an address by the chairman on + + + SOME 20TH CENTURY LIBRARY PROBLEMS. + +The 20th century is undoubtedly something of a fad already with public +speakers. I should hesitate to speak of 20th century problems in library +work were there not a special justification for noting chronologic +epochs in connection with the modern library movement. It was almost +precisely at the middle of the century that this movement took its rise +in the passage of the first public library laws in England and in New +England. And again it was at the very middle of the last half century, +in the year 1876, that this Association was formed and the _Library +Journal_ started. (I may be excused for merely alluding to the fact, +parenthetically, that Melvil Dewey graduated from Amherst College in +1874.) And now at the very beginning of the new century the library +movement receives an enormous impetus from the benefactions of Andrew +Carnegie, not only in themselves multiplying and increasing libraries, +but serving as a great stimulus to towns and cities and states as well +as to individuals, so that his indirect contribution to the cause of +libraries will probably far outweigh his direct gifts, princely as they +are. + +The library problems of the 20th century sum themselves up in one, the +problem of expansion, and we may perhaps best regard them from the point +of view of the obstacles to expansion, these obstacles constituting the +problems. + +First, we must notice our library buildings, and admit that many of +them, and most of the ideas heretofore cherished about the building of +libraries, present such an obstacle. When we note that since the plans +were drawn on which nearly all of our most recent large library +buildings have been erected, three new ideas in library administration +have come into general acceptance which must powerfully affect library +construction, we can but feel that great foresight and wisdom are needed +to erect libraries that shall not very soon be obstacles to proper and +necessary expansion. These three new ideas are, first, access of readers +to the bookshelves; second, children's rooms, and third, the +distribution of books through schools, branches, delivery stations, home +libraries, and inter-library loans, this third new idea involving +provision for business offices, packing rooms, etc., unthought of +formerly. To meet not simply these new ideas, but others with which the +new century is pregnant, care must be taken that great sums of money, +leaving the securing of more for a long time hopeless, are not expended +on structures in which instead of provision for expansion we seem to +have provision against it. + +Another obstacle to expansion is found in elaborate systems of +shelf-marks connected with systematic schemes of classification, +representing carefully arranged subordination and co-ordination of the +parts. For two things are certain: first, accepted classifications of +books rapidly become obsolete, and second, no library will long be +content with an out-of-date arrangement. Especially will my successor, +or yours, be sure to feel the necessity of signalizing his accession to +office by introducing what is in his day the latest classification. And +in this he will be right. Now, if we have a fair sense of our duty to +our successor, which is merely an extension forward of our duty to the +library itself, we shall be unwilling to tie the library by an intricate +notation to a present system of classification. I think we must take +more pains than is done by either the Decimal or Expansive schemes to +provide a somewhat elastic notation. I regard the classification of the +University of California Library as the best (available in print) for +libraries of our class, because it employs designations which indicate +mere sequence of classes. A little thought will, I am sure, show you how +this is true. At any rate, a little experience in attempting more or +less reclassification with, for example, the Decimal classification, +will prepare you to believe that a less highly involved and articulated +method of designation would be in the interest of reasonable expansion, +and save such expansion from the odium of upsetting the classification. +Through the logic of events forcing those considerations to the front +more and more, I anticipate that the larger and rapidly growing +libraries will increasingly shun all such systems as the "D. C." and the +"E. C.," of which the paradox is certainly true, that the better they +are made the worse they become. The scheme of numbering classes recently +adopted by Princeton University Library points in this direction, while +the reclassification of Harvard University Library, which has been +slowly carried forward during the last 20 years or more, represents a +complete departure from the idea of any correlation between classes, as +indicated in the notation, the order of minor divisions being a +numerical sequence easily changed or modified, while each main class +bears a mark suggesting no relation to another. For example, the +military and naval sciences have lately been reclassified and brought +under the designation War, which may be called (to represent a certain +harmony with other designations) W-a-r. The location of any main class +in the library is subject to change at any time, and is known to the +attendants by a chart, which may be somewhat altered to-day, and +replaced by a new one with large differences to-morrow or next year. Not +that such changes would be made except for real occasion, but under this +system, when they are necessary they are not deferred or regarded as +hopeless as they must be under any highly organized system. + +Another obstacle to expansion closely related to elaborate methods of +notation is found in the common practice of inserting the call-numbers +in catalogs of all kinds, written or printed. When the Boston Public +Library was moved into the new building it was naturally supposed that +it would be completely rearranged to suit its ampler and entirely +different shelf-room, particularly as much fault had already been found +with its existing classification, which seemed quite outgrown. But when +it is observed how the library was tied to its old numbering by an +endless variety of catalogs, printed as well as written, it ceases to +seem strange that it was thought best to transfer the old arrangement to +the new building, with all its infelicities heightened by its new +location and surroundings. And in this respect that library should serve +as a warning to others to avoid, by any available means, such an +entanglement. If it be asked what means of avoiding it are available, I +would say that I am inclined to think that if I were starting with a new +library I would try the experiment of putting no shelf-numbers or +call-marks in any catalog, but rather have a key by which they could be +found by means of the accession numbers which alone would be given in +the author-catalog. + +I can only refer hastily to one feature of library expansion which is +coming in with the new century, and which has to do with the catalog. I +mean the introduction of printed cards, and would say that I look to see +these work a revolution in library methods. If we can procure at low +cost an indefinite number of these cards for each book we shall come to +use them in many ways, as, for example, the accession record, the shelf +list, bulletins and special lists, and charging cards. For the latter +purpose they would have the advantage of absolutely identifying the +book. + +I am sure I have said enough to set you thinking, and I hope when time +is given for discussion you will freely express your thoughts. + +J. T. GEROULD read a paper on + + DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARIES. + + (_See_ p. 46.) + +W. P. CUTTER read a letter from R. C. DAVIS on the + + + RECLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. + +I am conscious that this report of our adoption of the Decimal +classification is, as far as I am concerned, premature. I look upon the +work in its present state as just from the broad-axe or the saw-mill. +There is planing to be done and sand-papering. Except to discuss now and +then some fundamental principle in classification, I have had little to +do with the work. Other duties, which I must necessarily perform, have +occupied every hour of my time. I am hoping that now the rough part of +this work is off our hands, I can make a readjustment of the work in +general that will give me time next year to participate in the finishing +process. The history of the matter is very brief. Our old fixed location +had become impossible, and a point was reached where it was necessary to +begin at once with whatever movable method we might adopt. I had been at +work for some time on a substitution of relative markings for fixed +ones, which would, without any change of classification, set our books +free. This was interrupted by sickness at the critical time, and it was +determined to adopt the Decimal classification as the most generally +used and the most susceptible of modification. Also, my assistants, on +whom the work would fall, were familiar with this method, and had +experience in working it. The changes that had been made were made +largely in deference to the desires of heads of departments. It was not +always easy to act on these suggestions inasmuch as a general adoption +of them would be fatal to uniformity. In consequence some of the changes +are in the nature of a compromise, and are tentative. The change now so +nearly accomplished has been made economically and, considering all +things, expeditiously. The credit of this is due to my assistants. They +have been untiring in their industry and their management of the +differences of opinion that they have encountered has been wise and +tactful. Mr. Jordan, my cataloger, has made a brief catalog of the +changes, which I enclose. You can make such use of this matter as you +may desire at your meeting, but I would prefer that nothing go upon +record. By next year we shall have the matter better digested, and I +hope some of us may be present at the meeting to discuss it. It is a +subject which has a perennial interest. + +In the absence of W. W. BISHOP, J. I. WYER read Mr. BISHOP'S paper on + +SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE. + + (_See_ p. 50.) + +After the reading of Mr. Bishop's paper there was some discussion in +regard to the great desirability of having published each year a list of +the dissertations presented to American universities. On the motion of +Dr. B. C. Steiner it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed +by the chair to consider the question of the section taking steps to +secure such an annual list. Mr. Fletcher appointed Dr. B. C. Steiner, W. +M. Smith and C. W. Andrews to form the committee. + +Mr. A. G. S. JOSEPHSON wished that a complete bibliography of university +theses could be made. + +The chairman announced that the election of officers for the next year +would take place, and called for nominations. + +Mr. Josephson nominated Mr. A. S. Root for chairman. Mr. Root was +elected. Dr. Canfield nominated for secretary Mr. W. M. Smith, and Mr. +Smith nominated Miss Emma A. Hawley. Mr. Smith was elected. + +After the election there followed a general discussion of the topics +presented during the afternoon, those receiving special notice being +classification, notation, the use of call numbers, department libraries +and university theses. + +In the discussion Mr. FLETCHER said: + +My thought about dispensing with shelf-marks in the card and other +catalogs (not really my thought, for I had it from one of our leading +librarians, who has not, however, put it in practice himself) is that +the great difficulties connected with the changing of shelf-marks in +catalogs when books are reclassified may be avoided by placing on the +card only the accession number (in case of a set the accession number of +the first volume), and then maintaining a key, consisting of a book +closely ruled in double columns, where for each book in the library the +shelf-mark is written in pencil against the accession number and changed +whenever the book is renumbered. Such a scheme could not be +satisfactorily applied in a library where the looking-up of the +shelf-mark is involved in the calling for books in most cases. I am +prepared to favor it only where (as is now the case in our own library) +a majority of the calls for books are made orally and answered by the +attendant without reference to shelf-mark. In our case these calls +amount to seven-eighths of all the calls, and in addition to this it +should be said that at least one-half the books drawn under our +open-shelf system are drawn without any "call" at all, so that we may +say, that if we had the "key" system it would come into play for perhaps +one-sixteenth of the books drawn. In libraries of moderate circulation +like our college and university libraries, and (for all but certain +classes which are most used) even in the large public libraries, it +seems to me that the key plan may work well. Of course the key if +subjected to constant use would be difficult and expensive to maintain, +owing to wear and tear. We should not fail to observe that three +separate and distinct features of modern library progress are each and +all working against the necessity, _i.e._, tending to minimize the +necessity, of shelf-marks in the catalog. + +These are, first, the open-shelf system; second, minute classification +and alphabetical arrangement in classes, and third, book-card charging +systems. Without enlarging upon these points, I would like to suggest +them to you as worthy of consideration. + +Mr. HODGES described briefly the classification of the scientific books +at Harvard. First, the serial publications of the broad learned +societies, the societies taking cognizance of all branches of learning, +are brought together arranged alphabetically by country and city. +Secondly, the general scientific serials and the special scientific +serials, however published, are arranged in a group; the general coming +first, the others following according to subject, astronomy, +mathematics, physics, chemistry, natural history, zoology, botany, etc. +When suggesting the separation of the serials in pure science from the +handbooks at the very outset of his work at Harvard, Mr. Hodges urged +that the serials constitute a record literature to which the +investigator must refer when carrying on original work, while the +handbooks are used by the pedagog when preparing for his classwork. The +general designation for the learned society group is L. Soc.; for the +scientific serials, Sci. The handbooks on physics are in a group +designated Phys.; the general treatises by Phys. 357-360. A treatise +published in 1892 is marked Phys. 358-92; another of the same year, by +Phys. 358.92.3. + +Mr. ROOT said: It may possibly have interest in this connection to note +that the catalog of the University of Göttingen, which was established +about 1750, has the feature which has been mentioned here as +characteristic of the Harvard system. The books are grouped in large +classes with an abbreviated heading, with minute sub-classification. +Just when this system was introduced I do not know, but I suppose it to +have been in use a hundred years or so, which I judge to be a longer +life than Mr. Fletcher is willing to allow to the D. C. + +Interesting remarks were made by several others, notably Mr. Andrews, +Dr. Steiner and Dr. Canfield. It is to be regretted that the revision of +their remarks has not been received in time for publication. + OLIVE JONES, _Secretary_. + + + + + CATALOG SECTION. + + +The Catalog Section of the American Library Association held two +meetings in connection with the Waukesha conference. + + + _FIRST SESSION._ + +The first session was held in one of the parlors of the Fountain Spring +House, on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 9. The chairman, ANDERSON H. +HOPKINS, called the meeting to order. + +It was _Voted_, That the section waive the formality of registration of +members preliminary to voting. + +It was _Voted_, That the chairman appoint a nominating committee of +three, to report at the close of the session. This committee was +appointed as follows: Miss Sula Wagner, Mr. Jones, Mr. Roden. + +A. H. HOPKINS: When the round table session on this subject was held +last year its object was, of course, to find out whether there was a +demand for a section of this kind. We found it out pretty soon. Now we +have the section. Then came the question, when I was asked to assume the +chairmanship for one more year, of how it might best be occupied. It +seemed to me for a time that perhaps the best plan would be to go to the +opposite extreme--from having been informal last year--and have set +papers, especially as the Association had decided not to take +stenographic reports of the meetings. However, a change came about in my +views when the interstate meeting was called at Atlantic City last +March. A meeting was held there of the Publishing Board's committee on +rules for a printed card catalog. The members of that committee were at +that time all of the opinion that no better plan could be followed for +this year's meeting of the Catalog Section than to have another +discussion similar to that of last year, but confining the talk chiefly +to knotty points which they met in the course of their work. That has +been done; but there have been added a few questions which have come to +your chairman in the course of the year from persons interested in the +section. + +The Publishing Board, in taking up the task of producing printed cards, +found that widely divergent practices must be shaped so that they would +work together. To this end they appointed a committee of seven and set +them the task of producing harmony among the jarring elements of +practice in all the libraries of this country, barring none. The head of +the catalog department of the Library of Congress was made chairman of +this committee; and, as you know, this great library and its chief, to +whom we all turn so gladly, are lending their cordial support to the +project, and realization now seems near at hand. + +Now what do we want? We want an arrangement whereby any one may be able +at a reasonable cost to get accurately made and well printed cards for +any book at any time. This and nothing else will do. (Applause.) + +The members of the Committee on Rules thought this session could not be +better occupied, as I said before, than in a discussion of certain +points, met by them in their attempts to produce a workable scheme which +would meet adequate support, it having at that time become evident that +the enthusiasm so manifest at Montreal had largely evaporated; probably +because it had not been made clear that the proposed plan was really a +workable scheme. Some of these points the chairman of the committee and +myself have selected and graded roughly into three classes, and I will +lay some of these before you. + +One of the chief troubles is going to lie between the _32 and 33 size +cards_. Let us hear from you on this subject, if you have anything you +wish to say about it. + +Mr. FLETCHER: Perhaps those present may be interested to know something +about the 32 and 33 card from the point of view of the Publishing Board. +The Publishing Board has been supplying the 32 or 33 size card as +required by subscribers for cards for current books. I cannot speak +authoritatively, but I think the board is nearly prepared to say that in +future, if these cards are prepared at the Library of Congress and +distributed from there, it will be found very much the wisest plan from +the beginning to use only the 33 size. It has not been declared +impossible at the Library of Congress to print the cards in such shape +that enough could be cut off to make the card a 32 card; neither has it +been decided by the board that it is not worth while to try earnestly to +bring that about; but the present impression, I think, is that the 32 +size will have to be left aside in the co-operative work. If there is a +strong sentiment here to retain the 32 size card, let us hear of it now. + +Mr. BOWKER: Couldn't Mr. Hanson, of the Library of Congress, give us a +report on the letters they received there in regard to the size of cards +used? And let me emphasize this thought, that in coming to a uniform +system we must approach as near uniformity as possible. It is impossible +to meet all the variances of cards in the several libraries, but we must +look towards drawing all the using libraries into as close uniformity as +possible. And I think the prevailing practice is shown best by the +statistics which I believe Mr. Hanson has with him. + +Mr. HANSON: The statistics Mr. Bowker refers to I have not with me. As I +recall the figures there are something like 19 out of 100 that use the +32 card. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I have Mr. Putnam's figures. I was astonished to find the +percentage that were using the larger card. Out of 185 reporting 138 +used the 33 card, 38 used the 32 card and only 19 (true those 19 are the +older, better established and larger libraries) used odd sizes. + +I will take occasion to ask Mr. Hanson to answer another question on +this point. I had an interview in his company last winter with the +representative of the Harvard Library, which uses the smaller card. We +then came to a satisfactory compromise, and I am surprised to hear Mr. +Fletcher say it is all in the air. It was understood that the Library of +Congress wanted for its subject headings, and we wanted for our subject +headings, a sufficient amount of space, and that they were not willing +to print below the punched hole. That leaves exactly the width of the 32 +card in the center of the 33. And the proposition agreed to by all of us +in this conversation was to print the 33 card with the broad margin +above and never go below the hole, so any library that wanted to could +buy the cards and cut them down on both top and bottom and have a 32 +card. It was understood to be satisfactory to all the 32 users that I +consulted, including Harvard, the largest, I believe, of them all. It is +that point that I would like to ask Mr. Hanson to report on--whether he +now feels that he must go higher or lower than the lines we then +indicated. + +Mr. HANSON: I don't feel it absolutely necessary; in fact we are +following out the measurements laid down by the Publishing Board now. I +have in my hand two cards--the title runs over on the second card at +considerable waste of space, as you can see. But the printers have their +measurements which provide for cutting away the space above and below to +accommodate the 32 card. But I believe it is going to be objectionable, +in the end, when it runs over on the second card. That is the only +objection I can see. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I should like to have Mr. Andrews state whether this card, +if it has to be cut down at the top as well as at the bottom, will allow +room for headings? + +Miss BROWNE: Instead of having to print a second card I don't see why we +can't print the 33 card; then if the 32 card libraries want it in their +catalog why can't they transcribe the extra line or so by hand on a +second card and cut off the bottom. In nine cases out of 10 it would not +make any difference. In one case in 10 where they would have to +transcribe on the second card, is there any reason why it could not be +done? + +Miss DOREN: I am not a user of the 32 card. The only objection I see, if +I were to use it, would be that perhaps I should have to pay a little +more for my card than those that use the 33 card, and it would make the +catalog a little more bulky. + +Mr. ANDREWS: Talking with Miss Crawford it was evident that the Dayton +library wanted a broad margin for analyticals and headings above the +print in the 33 card. That is exactly what we want. We don't want it as +much as they do, but I want to emphasize the necessity for a broad top +margin. That is the point which makes it desirable for 33 people as well +as for 32. + +Miss DOREN: I did not understand the question as referring to analytical +headings. We do want those above all things, and if we are to use the +card at all we need the broad margin at the top. Our use of the card +depends upon having a broad margin at the top. + +Mr. BOWKER: I should like a show of hands on this point. Are those +present, whether 33-card or 32-card people, of the opinion that, after +dropping the heading so as to leave ample room at the top to permit the +32 card to be cut out from the 33 card, as stated by Mr. Andrews, it +would be better to run the type down farther than the hole, if +necessary, on either side, and then cut and recopy for the 32 size, or +to make a double card both for the 33 and 32 size? + +I suggest that the show of hands be first from those who prefer to have +one card furnished for a title when possible, and then to transcribe the +lower part, if necessary, for the 32 card; and then from those who +prefer to have a second card wherever it is not possible to put the +material on the space of the 32 card as printed on the 33 size. Is that +clear? + +CHAIRMAN: I believe so. It includes, however, both the users of the 32 +and 33 cards, and instead of a show of hands let us have a rising vote, +and give time to count them. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who are in favor of printing below the 32-card limit +on the 33 card, rather than furnishing two cards to a title, please +rise. 56 persons rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who are in favor of confining the print to the 32 size +and having a second overflow card printed for the same title, please +rise. 17 persons rose. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I should like to call for a rising vote to learn how many +would like to urge that arrangements be made by which 32-size cards can +be furnished. Three persons rose. + +Mr. HANSON: I cannot think of any library printing cards that would care +to print any lower than the round hole. On the other hand, the library +must have three-quarters of an inch at the top of the card for headings. +Will that leave sufficient space for taking away from top and bottom? + +Mr. ANDREWS: They accepted it by that first vote. + +Mr. HANSON: Then they must punch the hole in the margin. + +CHAIRMAN: Or lose the part they punch out. If you will excuse me, I will +put forth a little argument of my own. + +Apropos of another report I had to make some time ago, I had heard that +the greatest library in this country, certainly in some respects, was +changing its plan to accommodate itself to the 33 card. I wrote to Mr. +Whitney, of the Boston Public Library, which as you know uses a card +larger than the 33, and it is a fact that with their immense catalog +running for so many years, and with so large a number of cards which +they cannot now cut down to the 33 size, they have found it advisable so +to modify their plan for titles henceforth that the cards may be cut +down to the 33 size on reprinting the old titles. Here is the letter, +the report from his cataloger. [Mr. Hopkins here read the letter.] If +they do not think it likely that ultimately they will use the 33 card +why should they take all that trouble? Now, the problem they had to deal +with was 10 times more difficult than that which the users of the 32 +cards have to deal with. All you have to do with a 32 card to make it a +33 size is to paste it on something big enough and provide space to hold +it. With such evidence as this before us why should we fret ourselves to +provide a 32 card when the change to the 33 can be so easily and so +cheaply made? + +Mr. BOWKER: May I add a word which Dr. Billings said to me? He said that +he preferred a printed catalog card to a written catalog card any time, +without reference to any question of uniformity. So he was actually +replacing his written catalog cards with the Library of Congress cards +or Library Bureau cards. I think that there is growing in the great +libraries a desire for some general method which will supply printed +catalog cards. + +CHAIRMAN: Is there any further discussion on this topic? If not we will +pass to the next. + +_Notes and Contents._ I read from the official report made by the +Committee on Rules to the Publishing Board: "The position of the +collation and series note to be on a separate line immediately after the +date and preceding other notes." Now we cannot take up the whole +question of notes, nor the question of the minority report which Mr. +Hopkins was asked to submit; but the question I would submit to you is +this: Is not the contents note really, logically, sensibly, a part of +the title? Is it not actually, in almost nine cases out of ten, more +important than the title itself? If it were not, would it not be +nonsense to print the contents note? If it is so, why separate the +contents note from the title by other relatively unimportant matter? Has +anybody anything to say? + +Mr. HANSON: It seems to me it would be well to say here, collation is +used for pagination, illustrations, maps, plates, etc., and size. That +is the imprint, as we have for convenience's sake called collation; and +the idea is that this information is to be paragraphed, on a separate +line, so as to set out the date and make the date end the line in twelve +point. + +Mr. BISCOE: I want to say a word on the other side. It seems to me that +it would be unfortunate to put the collation after the contents, +particularly where the contents are long. It would throw the collation +on the second card. To find out whether you had more than one volume you +would have to turn to another card. If you are looking for duplicates +you want to see at once not only the author of the book, but also the +number of pages, to show whether the edition is the same. And if for all +those purposes you have got to turn to a second card, it seems to me it +would be unfortunate. + +Mr. JONES: I agree strongly with Mr. Biscoe. I think the number of +volumes, size, etc., range in properly with the date, while the contents +should come afterward and range in with such matter as critical or +descriptive notes. Ordinarily you want those parts that I speak of +first, then your contents, like any other kind of descriptive or +explanatory notes. + +CHAIRMAN: Mr. Biscoe's position appears at first sight very solid and +plausible but there is nothing in it. The reason for this is that there +is only a small class of books that will call for a contents note. I +deprecate mentioning any institution, particularly The John Crerar +Library, but that calls for contents notes probably as often as any, and +I should like our cataloger to answer if he knows about how many cases +run over on the second card. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: We have printed so far about 25,000 cards and the number +of titles that run over to second cards is considerably below 1000; it +is nearer 500 than 1000. + +Mr. JONES: I should like to ask the chairman whether in foreign +bibliographies we do not find that the data, as to volumes, size, +etc.--called the collation--always come first. Should not we be setting +ourselves up in opposition to other catalogers if we put the collation +after the contents? + +CHAIRMAN: Possibly that it so; but if we gain a truth, what then? +Tradition is powerful, but it is not all. Sometimes it is very little +indeed. And this is one of the cases in which I believe it is very +little. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I hold in my hand one of the sample cards which have been +distributed, which has this arrangement. That represents what we now +call the old practice, which we are proposing to depart from--Cutter's +Rules say that the imprint, strictly, is place, date and form of +printing; and then goes on to say that for practical purposes the +imprint is considered as being enlarged so as to contain not only place, +date and form of printing, but also publisher, number of pages and +number of volumes. It seems to have been agreed some time ago by the +Committee on Rules and the Publishing Board that it was wise to bring +back the imprint to the old idea of giving the place, date and form of +printing and publisher. It was also pretty generally agreed that +form--or size as we now call it--number of pages and number of volumes, +and anything else that might describe the book from an exterior point of +view, should be called collation--we have not exactly agreed it should +be called that--and that this should be put in a statement by itself in +smaller type, after the title and imprint, the imprint being printed in +the same type as the title and even completing the line the title ends +on. Now the question is whether that line of smaller type should be +printed immediately after the title and imprint or whether it should +follow contents; that is to say, whether contents (called "contents" and +not "contents note") should not be attached immediately to the +title--which is Mr. Hopkins's idea, I understand, as he thinks logically +it belongs there. The card I have in my hand has contents occupying four +lines, because while it is one volume it contains four different +lectures. That brings before us the "contents note" and the other notes. +Now I understand the new proposition is that the collation should +follow the contents note, but precede other notes. + +CHAIRMAN: The thing I want is that the contents note should follow the +title. I called it "contents note" merely because it appeared in the +smaller type with the other note. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I wish to express my preference in accord with Mr. Jones +and one or two others, that the collation note should continue to occupy +the place it has always occupied, of immediate juxtaposition with the +imprint, and other notes should go below. + +CHAIRMAN: In explanation, permit me to take the floor again---- + +Mr. BOWKER: Has not the officer of The John Crerar Library given the +best argument for placing the collation before the contents? Mr. +Josephson has told us that probably the number of cards including +contents would be less than three per cent. Why should we not follow the +old practice and let the cataloger and the public continue to use the +usual thing? + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I did not say how many cards give contents notes, but how +many titles need more than one card. + +CHAIRMAN: That is the strong point. It is not three per cent. nor +anywhere near it. Those cards that ran over were not all contents notes. +The actual number of contents notes that run over is very small indeed. +And moreover, you have this bibliographical note on every card. You are +going to put it between the contents note and the title every time. + +Mr. HARRIS: I would like to ask what proportion of cards have contents +notes at all. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I don't think I can answer that. It is between ten and +twenty-five per cent. + +Mr. HARRIS: The point I was about to make was that I think it is well to +sacrifice something for the sake of uniformity, for the aid of persons +who consult the catalog; and as Mr. Josephson says only fifteen to +twenty-five per cent. of the cards have contents notes, in seventy-five +per cent. the collation would immediately follow the title. And +therefore it seems to me it is desirable not to have the contents note +follow the title. + +A show of hands was called for. + +CHAIRMAN: Before we have the show of hands, may I say one thing more? I +don't believe that most of you that have not been using these cards know +how useful the contents note is or what it is for. It is to furnish your +analyticals. If you want to analyze a volume of essays, for example, +your contents note does it all for you with just a little bit of +clerical work when the cards come in. You have fifty items that you +would like to represent in your catalog, and the card does it all for +you. It is costing you one to three cents instead of fifty or sixty +cents. + +Mr. L. P. LANE: I have learned a good deal since I have been in the +Boston Public Library by observing the practices which that library has +departed from. I know the library did in times past print contents and +have an entry designed to fit one particular item of contents and then +underline that item on the card. That has been found so unsatisfactory +that when we now recatalog anything and deem any item of contents worthy +a separate entry we catalog that item separately and print a second +card. + +Mr. ANDREWS: If the Library of Congress will do this we do not care for +many contents notes. I didn't understand the Library of Congress +proposed to print analyticals, but rather to print contents notes; that +they, and most of the libraries that print cards, found their economy on +this point. But it is really the Library of Congress that must be +consulted as to the desirability of many contents notes. + +Mr. HANSON: That has been one of the perplexing questions with us in +printing cards. We do use the contents as analyticals to some extent, +underscoring the particular item on the heading given. But where an +analytical is what we catalogers call an imprint analytical, that is, +with separate title and pagination, we find it more economical to print +a separate card for that title. In other cases and where we find it very +inconvenient to use the contents card, we print analyticals. + +CHAIRMAN: My own opinion is that it is best to put the collation at the +end. It is easiest found there. The thing I want to see is to have it go +below the contents. I want to say one thing more. The reason you think +more than one per cent. consult the note is because you are librarians. +Take your popular libraries, and they deserve to be considered, how +many readers are going to look for that note? + +Miss CRAWFORD: I am somewhat undecided in mind between the two +standpoints. It seems to me that the contents, from the nature of the +case and from the accessibility of the catalog, belongs rather at the +top. I believe you are right when you say that ninety per cent. would +use the contents first, rather than the bibliographical note. But the +critical notes and any other general information should come right next +to the contents. + +Mr. JONES: I wish to repeat that "collation" is a bibliographical +description of the book; if you want to describe a book or to order from +a bookseller you turn to that data. Collation, it seems to me, comes +naturally after the title, and I still hold that to separate it from the +title is not in accord with the general bibliographical practice of the +world. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of placing contents note immediately +following the title, please rise. Three persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of placing contents note after +collation, please rise. 52 persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: The next question is a recommendation from the committee: +"_That a column be set aside in the Library Journal for notifications to +libraries of decisions on doubtful points; e. g., 'Kate Douglass Wiggin +should not be changed to Riggs; or, Automobiles should be classified +...'_" + +In other words, that a kind of department be created, when the Central +Bureau is created, for giving librarians throughout the country a notion +of how these matters are to be treated. What is the opinion? Is there +any discussion? If not we will go on to the next point. + +A MEMBER: No discussion means that we agree to it, I understand. + +CHAIRMAN: I suppose so. If it doesn't you should say so quickly. + +A MEMBER: Does this recommendation say _Journal_ or journals? + +CHAIRMAN: _Journal_ is the word used. The _Library Journal_ is the +official organ of the A. L. A. Probably if the committee had gone beyond +that it would have been exceeding its province. + +"_The committee earnestly recommends that the practice of giving dates +of birth and death be used extensively. It is convinced that a very +large share of the work has already been done and may be easily obtained +for the use of the Central Bureau. Expressions from various members of +the committee have shown a great readiness to assist in this._" + +Mr. MERRILL: I would like to inquire whether that means that dates shall +be given only to distinguish men of the same name or whether they shall +be used in every case. + + +CHAIRMAN: It is not designed that the use of dates be intended only for +distinguishing writers, but it is urged that dates be given extensively. + +Mr. BOWKER: Doesn't that mean that the dates should be used where the +authors are not of the same names? + +CHAIRMAN: Yes. + +Mr. BOWKER: In the case of living authors, is it intended to give date +of birth if possible? + +CHAIRMAN: Yes. + +Miss BROWNE: At the Boston Athenæum for years they have been giving +those dates on their cards, and now they are scratching them off. + +Mr. BOWKER: Does anybody know why? + +Miss BROWNE: I believe they consider they are not as desirable as a +means of distinction as some phrase might be, and so they scratch off +the date and give, for instance, "Henry James, _Novelist_; Emerson, +_Essayist_." + +Miss WAGNER: How would they classify William Morris? + +A MEMBER: Or Andrew Lang? + +CHAIRMAN: The next question is the following recommendation of the +committee: "_The committee recommends that the Central Bureau prepare a +biographical card giving the fullest form of name, dates, official and +honorary titles and degrees, membership of academies, etc., and all +forms of names and pseudonyms used._" + +Mr. FLETCHER: I suppose the idea is to prepare a biographical card for +each author for whom any card is issued. I don't know exactly how it +should be worked. I want to call your attention to the fact that the +Advocates' Library of Edinburgh tried this in preparing the first two +volumes of their catalog; and when they got the two volumes printed +they concluded it was too expensive, and gave it up. I wonder how many +libraries would advocate that the Library of Congress shall furnish us +cards, not only for the books, but whenever an author comes for whom +they have not furnished such a card that they shall furnish us a +biographical card, which we shall pay for? I do not understand that the +Library of Congress is preparing such a card now. It may be worthy of +discussion whether we want such a card prepared. + +Miss AMBROSE: It seems to me a card of that kind would be extremely +helpful in smaller libraries that are limited in biographical books. + +Mr. JONES: I would suggest that in the case of authors for whom we most +need those facts, new authors, the facts would not be available. Could +we have a copyright note by which each author should furnish the desired +facts? + +CHAIRMAN: Mr. Hanson could answer that, perhaps. + +Mr. HANSON: I have familiarity with copyright authors that many +librarians do not meet with, but whom we must have information about to +distinguish from other well-known authors of the same name. We have a +method of getting at them through the copyright records, and we write +them, sending a blank, and occasionally ask them to give information of +their other works. That is put on a preliminary card, and before every +new author such a biographical card is inserted. I believe this is an +old practice, used in many libraries. + +Mr. BOWKER: The Publishing Board would like a show of hands on how many +libraries would like such a biographical card. At first sight this +struck me as a most valuable suggestion. It would, of course, cost the +extra half cent or cent--whatever it might be--for the card; on the +other hand, it might be of great value to the reader. I suggest that we +have a show of hands, not _pro_ and _con_--simply _pro_. + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: I am especially interested in this, because we +tried such a card in our library. We thought an information card was +going to be a desirable thing. We tried it for about two years, and we +found it was very little used indeed for biographical purposes. People +wanted more information than we could give on a biographical card. Of +course it is very desirable to differentiate authors of the same name. + +Miss AMBROSE: Have those cards a distinct purpose, as of assisting the +catalogers aside from the public? + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: From the standpoint of a cataloger who has done +it, we didn't find it useful to us. It was more work than help. + +Mr. BRETT: Wouldn't it be more valuable to the small library than to the +larger library? A great many of the smaller libraries haven't time to +look up authors. It seems to me it would be of value in our library. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I think those cards would be of use not only to small +libraries, but to readers in larger libraries. I do not say, though, +that I think it was the purpose to print a card for every author. If the +heading used on the Library of Congress card gave all the information +desirable, I don't see any use of printing it again. I hope the +proposition will be put in three forms: Those who want such a card for +every author; those who only want a distinctive card in cases where +distinction is desired; and those who do not care for such a card at +all. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as favor such a card for general use, please rise. 16 +persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as favor such a card for distinctive purposes only, +please rise. + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: If we are going to have the same material on the +other cards we won't need it here. + +One person rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as do not care for such a card at all, please rise. +None voted. + +CHAIRMAN: We have still another of these topics: "_The committee +recommends as strongly as it can the importance of placing the subject +headings and classification numbers (D.C. and E.C.) on the bottom of the +card._" + +Miss BROWNE: These subject headings are simply suggestive. If any +cataloger has already started with, for example, "Birds" instead of +"Ornithology," he can simply go on as he has begun. The same way with +the D.C. and E.C. numbers. There are certain ones that perhaps are +absolute; others are suggested to go in one place, but would go +perfectly well in three or four other places; you take the one that fits +in with your scheme; if you have no scheme you can use the one that is +suggested. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The Committee on Rules has recommended this, and unless +objection is presented here this meeting might endorse this +recommendation. + +W. M. SMITH: I don't see how these marks could be put on without +preliminary classifying. + +Mr. HANSON: If the work is done at the Library of Congress, of course +the book has to be classified, and it is very easy to translate any +classification mark into either D.C. or E.C. It would be an additional +cost, of course, to print two or three headings at the bottom of the +card, but it has to be done. + +CHAIRMAN: In other words, the work has to be done for the Library of +Congress. + +Miss KROEGER: The subject headings are the most expensive part of the +catalog. It would be a mistake to leave off the marks. + +CHAIRMAN: A show of hands is called for. As many as favor recommendation +of this rule, please rise. 70 persons rose; contrary, none. + +Mr. BOWKER: I would like to say a word upon the question which was +raised of printing certain matter in the _Library Journal_. While the +_Library Journal_ is technically the official organ of the A. L. A. it +would seem desirable to send such material to all the library +periodicals, and I should suppose that it would be understood that the +committee might so do. + +CHAIRMAN: In the formal report of the committee to the Publishing Board +the same plan of numbering is followed that was followed in the last +issue, or edition, of Cutter's rules, of the A. L. A. rules. A number of +changes, additions, excisions and emendations have been made. I will +read the first. + +"1a. Enter books under surnames of authors when ascertained, the +abbreviation _Anon._ being added to the titles of works or editions +published anonymously." + +Now the question has been raised since, by a member of the committee, +and it was desired that it be placed before this section for decision, +If the heading of an anonymous book is always bracketed is it necessary +to add the abbreviation "_Anon._" to the end of the title? + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: It sometimes happens that an author signs his name at the +end of the preface. In that case the name is not on the title-page, and +should be bracketed on the heading. We have to distinguish those from +the really anonymous books in some way. You have to do one of two +things, either put the abbreviation "Anon." or the full word "Anonymous" +on the top line, or, as we do in The John Crerar Library, put a note at +the bottom. + +Miss CRAWFORD: It has been my experience that the word "Anon." at the +end of the line is sometimes confusing to the reader and brings up all +sorts of questions, and is taking space that might be needed for +something else. I do not see its value, and sometimes it is positively +misleading. The bracket expresses all that is of real use, and it +doesn't matter whether the author's name appears in some other place in +the book; at any rate it was not on the title-page. The brackets tell +that, and I don't see the use of the abbreviation. + +Miss WAGNER: I don't see that the public are interested in brackets or +in the word "Anon." It is for the public that the card is being made, I +understand. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: When I spoke I went on the supposition that the title +entry would, as is now usual, give the title only and omit the author's +name from the title. But if, as I hope, the Publishing Board will decide +to have the title-page copied exactly, giving the author's name in the +title as it is done on the title-page, then you don't need to +distinguish the anonymous authors from those who have signed in any +other place than the title-page, except that in the former case you put +a bracket around the name. As to the objection that the public is not +concerned with the brackets, that may be true; but the librarian is very +much concerned with knowing whether a book is published anonymously or +not. I should like to have instead of brackets a footnote, telling +"published anonymously" or "signed at the end of title-page" or "signed +at end of the book." + +Mr. FLETCHER: I would like to call attention to one or two things. In +the first place, many popular libraries might like to have extremely +simple cards. They will have to realize that they must take a good deal +of information they do not want if they are to take the cards made for +all libraries. Mr. Josephson's idea is a good one, that technicalities +shall be avoided in favor of good, plain English notes. "Anon." is +obscure to a great many people, while "published anonymously" is pretty +plain English. If such a note follows it is not necessary to use any +brackets. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I rise to suggest that we should discuss the question of +_size notation_. + +Mr. FLETCHER: What we have to consider here is whether this meeting +would favor one method or the other in size notation; and a +consideration of that question might be largely affected by the further +question, Is either of these methods to be followed for the printed +cards? If you should be told that in all probability neither of them +would be followed, it would prevent a good deal of waste of time in +discussing one as against the other. We have two old methods that are +mentioned in the reports. The third method, which finds a great deal of +favor and which may be adopted by the Publishing Board, is that the size +notation shall be represented by a mark giving the absolute measurement +of the book, perhaps in centimeters, perhaps in inches and fractions. + +Mr. HANSON: These three questions came before the committee at the +meeting at Atlantic City; one was to give the fold symbol, as is used +all over Europe and in the larger libraries of this country; the other +was to give the letter symbol adopted by the A. L. A. in 1877; the +third, presented by Mr. Hopkins, was to give measurements in centimeters +of the letterpress and of the page--not of the binding. A minority +report was submitted by Mr. Currier, Miss Kroeger and myself urging the +fold symbol. Mrs. Fairchild, Mr. Cutter and Miss Browne are the +majority, because I understood Mr. Hopkins to stand with them. + +Miss KROEGER: Mrs. Fairchild was undecided, saying she was inclined to +the exact measurement in centimeters; Miss Browne and Mr. Cutter voted +for the old letter symbol; so there was no majority of the committee. +Mr. Hopkins's vote was for the exact size. It was left with the +Publishing Board to decide. + +Mr. HANSON: The report is for the figure, but with a strong predilection +of the members who signed it towards exact measurement, providing that +should be adopted by the Publishing Board. Three of us argued in favor +of the fold symbol. There were too main reasons argued, one that the +great majority of readers in this country were familiar with the figure; +the 4to, 8vo and 12mo gave them the size of the book; and that the +majority of libraries used that rather than the letter. The other was in +favor of uniformity. We found that the fold symbol as a measure of +height, not in the old sense, was advocated by the Prussian, the Italian +and the French university libraries and others. But if the Publishing +Board should decide to adopt size measurement in centimeters I do not +believe there is anyone of the committee who will insist very strongly +on the retention of the one or the other. + +Mr. HARRIS: I think that bibliographically it is a mistake to take the +old fold symbol and apply it to size notation. It is not size--it +represents form notation. It is much simpler to give size in inches or +in centimeters, whichever you prefer, rather than to use the symbol +which denotes fold. + +L. P. LANE: It was said that the fold symbol was now almost never used +to indicate the fold. In the Boston Public Library we use it to indicate +the fold for foreign books and old books. We also use the same symbol in +the case of American books to indicate size. There is considerable +dissatisfaction with the practice and some of the cataloging staff would +prefer to give the size in inches. How would that apply to books not in +the condition in which they were published? Also I should like to ask +whether it might not be possible where the fold is easily distinguished, +to give both size and fold. + +Mr. HANSON: That is really the practice of the Prussian university +libraries. + +Miss BROWNE: My thesis for defending the size letter is that 25 years +ago the A. L. A. thrashed this matter all over and decided on the size +symbol. Mr. Bowker has used that letter symbol from that time on. Miss +Kroeger found a very large proportion of the libraries using the letter +symbol; library classes are teaching the letter symbol. My chief +objection to the fold symbol is that we are making one sign serve two +uses, which I think is always bad. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: If the Library Association 25 years ago decided to use +one symbol or another symbol, that is no reason why we should do so now. +The objection to using the fold symbol to denote size is, among other +things, as Mr. Lane suggested, that you need it in case of old books to +tell the fold. The only rational designation of size is by centimeters, +or inches, if you prefer. There is of course one difficulty in using +accurate measurement in centimeters, if you have a book that has been +bound and cut down. But that can be overcome, I think, by letting the +measurement mean letterpress and nothing else. In ordinary cases you +know about how wide a margin is if you know the side of the letterpress; +it is always a certain proportion. You don't need the size to tell on +what shelf the book is put, because that is given by the call number. So +in order to find a book you don't need the size notation; you need it to +see what size the page is. It is a purely bibliographical notation. + +[Mr. Hanson here read rule for size notation for books "notable for age +or rarity."] + +Mr. BOWKER: In the days of our youth, in fact almost as soon as we were +born, this Association, as Miss Browne has indicated, adopted the letter +symbol; and it seems to me that the reasons that operated for the choice +of the letter symbol are stronger now than they were then, because the +symbol has in the meantime come into quite general, if not universal +use. The Association at that time had a phrase to indicate size. The +objections to the old fold symbol still remain, and I think one very +strong one has been stated. It is not only that the numerical system of +8vo, 12mo, etc., has ceased to mean what it originally meant and is +confused with measurement size, but that it is used in England and +America with utterly different meanings; and that difference continues. +That is to say, the English use crown octavo and post octavo and two or +three names for 12mo, in such a way as to cross our use of the word 8vo +and 12mo and make a double confusion. I feel very strongly, for one, +that the method of breaking over from the octavo and duodecimo, etc., +the figure designation, into a definite and accurate letter designation +was a very ingenious and very useful move. It is difficult to get +general adoption of a modification of that sort, but the adoption has +been quite general, and to me it would seem a very great retrogression +to go back to the old figure symbol; we had better adhere to the A. L. +A. notation of 25 years ago and custom since, and give a symbol which is +in no sense confusing or misleading, following that, if you please, with +the actual size measurement in centimeters. + +Mr. RODEN: I understand, of course, that we cannot legislate upon the +subject, and possibly our discussion will not influence the legislature. +At the same time, as a representative of a popular library in the middle +west, I cannot help but regard with apprehension the small but insidious +innovations which these rules seem to display. Mr. Josephson has said +measurement is a bibliographical detail; in popular libraries it is a +gratuitous detail. It could very well, as the chairman suggests, be +placed at the end. In the public I am dealing with I should say the old +fold symbol is most commonly used and means most. It occurs to me that a +combination of fold and letter symbols might be used. I suggest this as +a little concession to the popular library, and it is the first I have +heard this afternoon. + +Mr. JONES: An objection to exact measurement is, that so far as the +greater mass of books that we have to deal with are concerned, it is not +very important whether they are a few centimeters larger or smaller, and +such books are often rebound in such a way that if we have an exact +description our copies do not correspond. I agree with Mr. Bowker that +the symbols adopted by the A. L. A. 25 years ago are sufficiently well +known by people who are handling books to be recommended as a system to +be adopted. + +Miss KROEGER: I have been teaching in the library school according to A. +L. A. measurements, yet it has always seemed to me somewhat absurd. None +of the publishers have adopted it; I suppose the newer libraries have. +The replies received to the questions sent to the various libraries +last June, except for the newer libraries, indicate that the majority +are using the fold symbol, and they would like to know why, if the +letter symbol is such a good thing, the publishers are still marking +their books 8vo, 12mo and 4to. The fold symbol means more to the mass of +the people than do the letters O or D. + +Mr. BOWKER: If I remember correctly the London _Bookseller_ is giving +the exact size and measurement now. + +Mr. HARRIS: Many literary and critical journals give the size of all +books recorded in inches. + +Mr. BOWKER: The Publishing Board is extremely interested in getting the +feeling of those here on the question. I want to suggest that when it +comes to the rising vote or show of hands, we take a somewhat +complicated vote: those who are in favor of the present A. L. A. letter; +those in favor of returning to the fold (I mean not in the usual sense); +those in favor of exact measurement in centimeters; those in favor of a +combination of letter symbol and centimeter; and those in favor of the +fold symbol and centimeter. The board wants all the information it can +get. + +CHAIRMAN: I will ask Mr. Bowker to state the first proposition. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those in favor of the letter symbol, the present A. L. A. +method, please rise. Twenty-four rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those in favor of returning to the fold symbol, the 8vo, +12mo and 4to please rise. Ten rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who prefer a designation of actual measurement, please +rise--with the understanding that those voting for this will then vote +their preference as to either inches or centimeters. Seventeen rose. + +CHAIRMAN: Your next proposition, Mr. Bowker. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who would prefer centimeters if exact measurement +should be adopted, please rise. Thirty-two rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Now those who would prefer inches if an exact measurement +were adopted. Three rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of the exact measurement coupled with +the A. L. A. symbol, in case there is to be a combination--letter and +exact size--please rise. Thirty-two rose. + +CHAIRMAN: Now those who would prefer the combination of exact size with +figure symbol. Sixteen rose. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: We might have another vote on whether the size should +mean letterpress or book. + +CHAIRMAN: Before this is done I want to call attention to the effect of +binding after cataloging. If this scheme is going to take in foreign +books, and you are going to get cards promptly, a large share of the +books will be cataloged before they are bound. If a good binder does his +work conscientiously and as it should be done, if you give the page you +will have a more satisfactory measurement. + +Mr. HANSON: I have looked into this question recently, and I find, where +libraries do measure in centimeters they measure the paper. If the book +is bound they measure the outside cover, for the reason that when the +unbound book is trimmed down for binding what is lost is regained in the +binding. I have found no instance yet where the practice that is +advocated by yourself, the measurement of the letterpress, is followed +in actual work. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Let all those who want an exact measurement of the +letterpress please rise. Two rose. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Now those who want size to mean the outside of the book. +Fifty-five rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: I think it might clarify things if we take the vote of those +who favor the use of the symbol alone as against those who favor the use +of the symbol and exact measurement in centimeters. + +CHAIRMAN: Those who favor the use of the symbol alone as against the +combination of symbol with measurement please rise. Twenty-three rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who favor combination of symbol with exact +measurement, please rise. Fifteen rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: If there is no other business I wish to move the very +cordial appreciation of the Catalog Section of the admirable report +which has been presented in such detail by the advisory committee of the +Publishing Board. _Voted._ + +Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Hanson, as chairman of the committee, I have great +pleasure in conveying to you and to your associates this appreciation, +which I know is most thorough on the part of all here. + +I would also like to move a vote of thanks to the chairman for his +admirable presiding during the session. _Voted._ + +L. P. LANE: I move that the program committee be requested to assign a +time before the end of the conference when there may be a continued +meeting of this section; and if such a time be found, that when we +adjourn we adjourn to that time. _Voted._ + +CHAIRMAN: Let me announce again that at the close of this session the +secretary, Miss Van Valkenburgh, will be ready to begin the registry of +persons who express themselves as willing to become members of this +section. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I would call attention to the fact that under the by-laws, +if the section wants to, it can adopt rules restricting membership; if +it doesn't adopt rules any member of the Association may be a member of +this section. It is a question whether we wish to confine this section +to catalogers. + +CHAIRMAN: It is an important point or might easily become an important +point. For the ordinary run of affairs it would be a matter of no +consequence, but it may be that this section will sometime wish to +promulgate some proposition and a little logrolling might vote it down. +What does the section wish to do in this matter? + +Mr. WINDSOR: I think we can safely leave it open to all who are +interested in the subject of cataloging. I don't see that there is +anything gained by leaving out anybody who is interested in the work. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I move that a vote on this question be postponed. +_Voted._ + +Mr. HANSON: In the points that were outlined last year for discussion at +this meeting there were a great many details; we have not reached a +fifth of them. May I ask catalogers to get copies of the rules +recommended by the Committee on Rules and look them over and communicate +with any one of the members of the committee--Mr. Hopkins, Miss Kroeger, +Miss Brown or myself. It would be of the greatest assistance to us. + +[Miss Kroeger objected to giving out copies of the rules, because they +were incomplete.] + +CHAIRMAN: I think we have no right to make a general distribution yet, +to do so would perhaps exceed the province of the committee; but we +might lend copies to those who want to look them over. + +I will now call for the report of the _Committee on Nominations_. + +[The committee reported the names of Mr. Hanson, of the Library of +Congress, for chairman, and Miss Mary E. Hawley, Chicago Public Library, +for secretary.] + +Mr. HANSON: I am the chairman of the advisory committee and we have a +great deal of hard work before us. I would ask the section to accept my +resignation. I really do not feel I can give the time necessary to make +this section a success at the next meeting. + +CHAIRMAN: There are no rules governing us, Mr. Hanson, but I beg that +you do not insist on this, or if you feel you must resign that you do so +between now and the next session. + +The names submitted were unanimously elected, and adjournment was taken +subject to call of chair. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + +The second session of the Catalog Section was called to order on +Wednesday, July 10, ANDERSON H. HOPKINS presiding. + +CHAIRMAN: The matters that were of first importance to be brought before +the section were discussed yesterday. At the same time there are other +things that I am sure would be interesting; and perhaps you would prefer +to bring up your own topics, and each present something you would like +to talk about. + +Miss WAGNER: Is the Y. M. C. A. question proper for discussion? + +CHAIRMAN: I believe that question was received; please read it, Mr. +Hanson. + +Mr. HANSON (reading): Young Men's Christian Associations, mercantile +library associations and the like are to be entered under place. That is +1 i 21 of the rules suggested. + +Miss WAGNER: It is our practice to put the Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. +A.; Y. M. C. A., Boston; Y. M. C. A., New York; instead of putting it +under place. There is a separate association which has a distinctive +being and the local associations are branches. It seems this is much +more logical, and where the public would expect to find reports of the +Y. M. C. A. + +Mr. HANSON: I wish to state in support of Miss Wagner's contention that +Mr. Cutter in his new edition, which is now in manuscript, was rather in +favor of changing his rule, which reads as this one does. He has always +advised entering under the place; but he was now inclined to enter under +Young Men's Christian Association, not only for the general association +of the United States, but for the associations of the various states. A +majority of the committee, however, seemed inclined to enter the local +Y. M. C. A. under the place, on the ground that 99 per cent. would look +for Chicago Y. M. C. A. under Chicago, Philadelphia Y. M. C. A. under +Philadelphia, rather than under Y. M. C. A.; and that the same was true +of the mercantile library associations. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Was any argument brought forth to substantiate that +statement that nine-tenths of the people would look under the local +name? + +Mr. HANSON: No contention, except that it seemed to be the general +experience. + +Miss CRAWFORD: It seems to me if the committee would correspond with +public libraries there might be some change of opinion on the matter. + +Miss WAGNER: I find that Chicago enters Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A., +as the St. Louis Public Library does. + +Miss CRAWFORD: The logical thing has always seemed the fair thing in +this matter--to ask one's self the question, Has the organization a +national existence? And if so, to enter it under the generic name. The +Y. M. C. A. has a national existence, which is more important as a +governing body than any one of the local associations. And the same is +true of other organizations. If they have no national organization, then +I enter them under the local name; but if there is a national +association, then I enter under the generic name. + +Miss AMBROSE: Would you follow the same reasoning for entries under +Methodist Episcopal church, or would you put them under the place? It +seems to me the same reasoning would apply. + +Miss CRAWFORD: I shouldn't wish this logical process to supersede the +better rule of entering under the best known form. And I think in the +case Miss Ambrose mentions the best known form would be the locality. + +Mr. HANSON: Miss Wagner's question has launched us into the center of +the most difficult problem of all--that is, corporate entry, entry of +societies and institutions. There is an underlying principle which +governs our distinctions, I believe. There is a distinction to be made +between societies, and to some extent institutions; societies, including +royal academies, which are societies, to be entered under the first word +not an article; on the other hand, institutions, galleries, museums, +libraries, etc., which generally have buildings and are affiliated +closely with the place, to be entered under place, unless they have +other distinctive names--that is to say, names from persons or +geographical locations. That principle would to some extent affect the +Young Men's Christian Associations and mercantile libraries. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Would that override the other rule of entering under the +best known form? Would the institution entry override the principle of +entering under best known form? + +Mr. HANSON: That rule we have not formulated. We have not considered as +broad a rule as that--entry under best known form. We have tried to lay +down some rule that should govern entry under place and entry under +name; and what we are really trying to get at is best known form. + +Miss CRAWFORD: I appreciate that, and there ought to be some ground on +which to make exceptions. I think your distinction between institutions +and societies is a good one. Is not the Y. M. C. A. a good case to make +an exception? + +Mr. HANSON: Yes, that is the 21st exception, is it not, under the rule? +The general rule is, "Enter societies under the first word not an +article or serial number, of its corporate name." Then there are 22 +exceptions, and we began with the 21st. + +L. P. LANE: I don't know whether the practice of the Boston Public +Library is of interest, but personally I incline to the views Miss +Crawford has expressed. The Boston Public Library strives to use the +corporate name where there is a corporate name, carrying that practice, +I think, to an extreme degree, so that they enter Chamber of Commerce +under Chamber of Commerce, so and so. I understand under this rule +Chamber of Commerce would be entered under the name of the place. + +Mr. HANSON: Yes. We propose to enter all boards of trade, all chambers +of commerce under the name of the city or state. + +Miss KROEGER: That comes under rule 1 i 9: If a body's name begins with +such words as "board," "corporation," "trustees," enter that part of the +name by which they are usually known. + +Mr. HANSON: This will be very helpful to the committee, because it shows +that in the case of exception 21 there is a strong sentiment of entering +it under name instead of under place. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Would you make that same application to mercantile +libraries? It seems to me in that case the place is what people would +look for, just as they would for a public library. + +Mr. HANSON: Yes, personally I should feel disposed to give in on the Y. +M. C. A. question, but not on the mercantile library. + +Miss WAGNER: The mercantile library has no general organization. If you +enter the local Y. M. C. A. under the city you are forcing the people to +look in perhaps 30 or 40 places. + +Mr. BISCOE: Is it the purpose of the author arrangement to show what the +library has on Y. M. C. A.? + +Miss WAGNER: It is the purpose to show what the library owns under the +authorship of the Y. M. C. A. And to find that you force the person to +look into as many different places as there are Y. M. C. A.'s +represented in your catalog. The person who comes to your catalog +wanting to know what Y. M. C. A. publications you have has a right to +find them in one place. + +Mr. HANSON: He could always find it by cross-reference under the general +Y. M. C. A. to every local Y. M. C. A. represented in the catalog. The +contention at the meeting of the committee was that in a great majority +of cases a man is interested in a particular Y. M. C. A. If he comes to +study all Y. M. C. A.'s the catalog must make provision to help him. + +CHAIRMAN: I am one who maintains the thesis that no one has a right to +expect to find everything pertaining to Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A. in +the author catalog. + +Miss WAGNER: It seems to me in the author catalog you have a right to +expect to find what the author has written, therefore you have a right +to find what the Y. M. C. A. is responsible for. + +Mr. BISCOE: Why isn't it the same thing to expect to find out everything +about the Episcopal church under "Episcopal church"? Isn't every branch +of the Episcopal church a part of the general Episcopal church? + +Miss WAGNER: The answer in our library would be that nobody asks for +that information, as they do for the Y. M. C. A. + +CHAIRMAN: Are you sure the reason they ask for the Y. M. C. A. in that +way is not because you catalog it that way, and they have learned to +look for it there? + +Miss WAGNER: My answer is that for the last seven years we entered Y. M. +C. A. under place. The change was made in agreement with the demand at +the issue desk. + +CHAIRMAN: That is just the kind of thing we want to find out. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Under 1 i 12 what would you advise regarding the Carnegie +libraries which in large numbers have assumed the name Carnegie since +the endowment of the building? Would you give them all as Carnegie +libraries of so-and-so, or would you still preserve the form showing the +library was supported by the city in which it was? For example, +Pittsburgh Carnegie Library and Atlanta Carnegie Library--introducing +the word Carnegie right after the city? Or would you advise putting the +word Carnegie for all of these libraries? + +Mr. HANSON: I have not had to deal with that question. I should think +they would be entered under the name of the city, and then if you want +to bring the entire Carnegie record together you can make a second +entry. + +CHAIRMAN: This raises the question whether or not the designation +"Carnegie library" is an official one. If it is not, then it is a name +which has come up by common consent, and it seems to me that nothing but +time would enable us to determine exactly how it should be treated; the +conservative thing would be to use the name of the place. + +Miss AMBROSE: I would like to hear an expression of opinion--it is the +same principle in three different places, 1 i 4, 1 i 5 and 1 i 16--as to +entering professional schools, libraries and observatories separately if +they have distinctive names separate from the corporations that they +belong to. + +Mr. HANSON: I think it would be better to enter the colleges of American +universities under the name of the university. It is an easy rule to +follow and a rule that has been followed in American libraries. On the +other hand we have peculiar cases--the medical schools, for instance, +which have distinctive names and are often situated a hundred miles from +the mother school. "College libraries and local college societies under +the name of the college, but the Bodleian library may be put under +Bodleian. Intercollegiate societies and Greek letter fraternities under +the name." I think all will agree with that. 1 i 16, "Observatories +under the name of the place, except that those having distinctive names +are to be entered under that name. Refer for university observatories +from the university." I personally think that is unfortunate; I would +prefer to see university and observatories under university. For +instance, for Washburn observatory I would say, "Wisconsin university, +Washburn observatory." + +Miss CRAWFORD: Under 1 h 1, "Enter Government bureaus or offices +subordinate to a department directly under the country not as +sub-heading under departments." Is it proposed to invert the name of the +bureau or office so as to bring the distinctive name to the fore or let +it read in its natural way? + +Mr. HANSON: The practice of inverting has been followed, I think, in the +majority of American catalogs. We have not as yet inverted our headings. +We are printing them in the order in which they read, as "Bureau of +Education"; but that does not mean we may not arrange entries under +United States, _Education_. + +L. P. LANE: It seems to me it would be most desirable to harmonize the +practice of the Superintendent of Documents with the Library of Congress +in this matter. In the "Comprehensive catalogue" there is this +inversion, and it seems to me it has been very judiciously done. In the +present practice of the Boston Public Library, however, it is not done. + +Miss AMBROSE: I should like a definition of the word "local" in 1 i 20. + +Mr. HANSON: 1 i 20: "Purely local benevolent or moral or similar +societies under the place." + +Mr. Cutter said that he had more trouble with this rule than with any +other. He had, in fact, I believe decided to enter under name, not under +place, but it seems during the discussion he changed back to the old +rule. + +Miss KROEGER: That was in deference to the majority vote. Mr. Cutter's +opinion favored entry under name. + +Mr. HANSON: His reason seemed to be that those referring to these local +societies were the citizens of the place where they were situated and +they sought the name of the society. If the people in other states, +using other catalogs, were looking for the societies, they would not +remember the name. In fact, the only thing that remains in one's memory +is the name of the place, and one naturally would look under the place +for it. + +CHAIRMAN: As I understand Miss Ambrose she raises the question how large +a locality might be meant--whether it should go to the limits of a +county or a state. I should have supposed it meant a narrower locality +and would apply to a city or town--a vicinage. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Perhaps it might be well to let the word "local" mean +here what it means in "local geography"--anything belonging to the +state--not taking in towns. + +I should like to bring up 1 k: "Enter commentaries accompanied by the +full text of the work under the name of the author." And then exceptions +only when the text is not to be readily distinguished from the +commentary. We have a good many cases where the text is particularly +short--a text of from four or five or ten pages--and then comes a +commentary of several hundred pages. It seems absurd to catalog a text +of five or ten pages accompanied by a commentary of five or six hundred +pages under the name of the author of the text. + +Miss KROEGER: That is provided for in the rule. "Except when the text is +distributed through the commentary in such a manner as not to be readily +recognized or is insignificant as compared with the commentary." That is +designed to fit just such cases. + +Mr. HANSON: There is another rule, on laws, 1 h 3: "Laws on one or more +particular subjects, whether digested or merely collected, to be entered +under the collector or digester, with added entry under country." + +I think that is a departure from the present practice, which has been to +enter New York laws on state taxation under New York, State Legislature, +and secondly under compiler or collector. + +Miss AMBROSE: If you had a compilation of road laws of Illinois, you +would put that under the compiler first and secondly under Illinois +State Legislature? + +Mr. HANSON: Yes. + +L. P. LANE: Under 1 h and 1 q I would like to ask whether a proclamation +by the king of England would be put under England, or Great Britain, +King, or under Edward VII.? + +Mr. HANSON: We enter such publications in two places; the official +proclamations or edicts under the name of the country with a subdivision +for king or sovereign, and then their private publications under their +names. + +Miss CRAWFORD: 1 j: "Enter a periodical under the first word, not an +article or serial number, of its title." + +What is the judgment of the committee upon newspapers? Should they +always be entered under the first word of their title, or would it be +better to enter under the name of the place? + +Miss KROEGER: We consulted Mr. Fletcher about the rules, and he +suggested this very point, bringing up the question of newspapers. And +we have a rough draft of a rule to enter newspapers under the name of +the place, putting the name of the place in brackets and not in the +title. 1 j also brings up the question as to whether it is to be under +the first word of the current title or of the original title. + +Miss GRAHAM: 1 i 15: "Exhibitions under the name of the place where they +are held." + +It would seem to me that in the case of the Pan-American Exposition, +that should be first, rather than Buffalo. Also the Columbian +Exposition. + +Mr. HANSON: I think a majority of the expositions in this country have +specific names. In the discussion of the committee I think Mr. Cutter +proposed the rule as follows: "Enter under the name of the place in case +of expositions, always making a cross-reference from the special name of +the exposition, if it has one." In all cases it would be necessary that +the cross-reference should be made from the special name by which it is +known--as the Cotton States, Pan-American, World's Columbian. + +CHAIRMAN: Is there anything more to say on this subject? If not, Miss +Graham, you might bring up that question you spoke to me about this +morning. + +Miss GRAHAM: The matter Mr. Hopkins refers to was regarding the revision +of the "A. L. A. catalog" of the 5000 best books. We feel the need in +small libraries, and I think the need is felt where libraries are trying +to organize, for a revision of that catalog. We all use that in small +libraries when making out lists of standard works. There are many of +them out of print. If we could have a revision of that catalog on +printed cards it seems to me it would be a great help in the work of +library extension as well as to smaller libraries which have little +cataloging force--where the librarian has to be cataloger. + +CHAIRMAN: I thought perhaps enough would be interested in this to raise +the question in such a way that the Publishing Board would take it up. +It may be cards are in existence that might be reprinted for this work. + +Miss AMBROSE: There is a supplement to this catalog just about ready to +come out. Would that include new editions or simply new books? + +Mr. FLETCHER: The matter has been put off to such a large extent that +the State Library at Albany has undertaken to publish this supplement; +but it has been delayed. They intend to print it for their own state +use, but allow the Publishing Board to distribute it to other places. As +to a revision, I do not know whether it has been undertaken. I think +that the original edition was not electrotyped, and that there are no +plates existing to reprint it from. + +CHAIRMAN: I will read a question from the Hartford Public Library on the +arrangement of author, editor and translator in a card catalog--whether +to be put in one alphabet or arranged separately? + +Miss CRAWFORD: That hits upon a very practical experience which we had +in Dayton. We arranged the works of an author under the author's own +works; then the author as editor; and then author as joint author; and +then the author as translator; alphabeting by the word which happened to +follow the name of the author at the top of the line. We tried that for +three or four years, and at the end of that time we ourselves in our own +use of the catalog were so continually running up against our own +arrangement as a thing which we never used and which was a constant +blunder to us that last year we set about rearranging all the authors so +as to bring them in one alphabeting order by the first word of the +title, regardless of whether it was as author, editor or compiler. Of +course when translator or editor of a specific person's work, that entry +was placed after the others. + +Mr. FLETCHER: That is our practice, after having used the other for some +time. We now undertake to put all the works of an author in a general +series, whether he is author, or editor, or collector, or whatever it +be, if the work is significant as his work. We put those all in one +alphabet, as if there was no such addition after his name, and then we +put at the end the two notes which are in the nature of cross-reference. +If a man is translator of somebody else's work we cannot very well put +those in as his works. Everything else we put in one series. + +Mr. PERLEY: In the library of the Institute of Technology, of Boston, we +arranged the authors, joint authors, translators and editors all in one +common alphabet. It seems to me in a library of this kind such an +arrangement is especially good, because the public patrons of the +library never seem to take very kindly to distinctions, however +interesting they may be to the librarians; and it happens very often +that the American translator is a good deal more important to the +American reader than the original author from whom it was translated. +And in the same way a joint author may take equal rank with the author +in the main entry. + +Miss CRAWFORD: 1 o: "Enter under highest title unless family name or +lower title is decidedly better known." Will you keep the title in the +vernacular in all cases? For example, will you always say "Fürst von" +instead of the English form, and "Graf von," etc.? + +Mr. HANSON: There is a varying practice as to that. I will say for the +Library of Congress, where they are purely titles of honor or minor +noblemen, we use the vernacular; but we have found it advisable for +kings, in fact for sovereigns, to use the designation king, emperor, +pope, etc., in English. + +Miss KROEGER: Has anything been said about entering sovereigns and popes +in the vernacular or English form? The rule says, "_May_ be given in the +English form." + +Mr. FLETCHER: I think we should generally feel, as Mr. Cutter expresses +it in his rule, that this is a matter of progress; and before long our +library committees will not tolerate "Henry" instead of "Henri" for king +of France, or "Lewis" instead of "Louis." We are in a transition stage, +and this "May be" means that it is considered allowable while we are in +the transition stage to use the English form instead of the vernacular. +But give names of sovereigns in the vernacular. The same thing is true +of names of cities. Some librarians are leading us a little and giving +Wien for Vienna. + +Mr. PERLEY: It seems to me the use of the English form would largely +depend upon the length of the custom. I think for the names of the +Italian cities which have been given common English names since the +Middle Ages we are justified in using the English forms, and the names +of persons in the same way. + +Adjourned without day. + + + + + SECTION FOR CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS.[G] + + +The A. L. A. Section for Children's Librarians held two sessions during +the Waukesha conference. In the absence of Miss Annie Carroll Moore, +chairman of the section, the chair was occupied by Miss L. E. STEARNS, +who presided as honorary chairman. + + + _FIRST SESSION._ + +The first session of the section was called to order at 2.15 p.m., +Friday, July 5. + +The secretary read a communication from the chairman, Miss Moore, who +extended her cordial greeting to the Children's Librarians' Section, and +expressed regret that she was unable to be present. She also expressed +her satisfaction that the meetings should be conducted by one whose +contributions to the work of children's librarians, both by the pen and +the power of her magnetic personality, have been so far-reaching in +their influence. Miss Stearns' paper given at the Lake Placid +conference, 1894, she believed to be one of the most important +contributions to the development of work with children, as it set people +thinking and talking, and stimulated activity along the lines indicated. +In regard to the establishment of a separate section of the A. L. A., +Miss Moore said: "It is most encouraging and gratifying to feel that we +have the support of those whose interest in library work for children +precedes our own, and whose wise counsel may be counted upon in +considering the problems which have arisen out of a practical +experience. + +"It has been the chief object in the construction of this first program +to define certain phases of our work in order that we may proceed with a +clearer vision of its significance and with a better idea of how we are +to accomplish the results at which we seem to be aiming. It is hoped +that succeeding meetings may be rich in profitable discussions of +practical problems, but let us plan our programs with the utmost care, +that we may gather a body of matter which shall prove valuable for the +future as well as enlightening in the present. + +"Most hearty thanks are due to all who have assisted in the making of +the program, and to those who have volunteered to carry it to a +successful issue. + +"We feel especially grateful to the librarians at large who have so +generously responded by the preparation of papers, or by participating +in the discussions, to this special claim of ours upon their time and +thought." + +The secretary read a statement regarding + + + THE CLUB OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS. + +At the A. L. A. conference in Montreal in 1900 an informal meeting was +held for the purpose of personal acquaintance and co-operation among +those actively engaged in library work with children. + +As a result of this meeting an organization was formed, to be known as +the Club of Children's Librarians, of which Miss A. C. Moore was made +chairman, and Miss M. E. Dousman secretary. In order to facilitate the +work of the club it was decided to divide the work into departments, +each department to be in charge of a chairman appointed by the chair. + +The secretary of the club was instructed to inform the secretary of the +American Library Association of the formation of the club and to offer +its services in the making of the program for future sessions on library +work with children, if so desired. + +The result of this proposition was that at a meeting of the executive +board of the A. L. A. it was voted that a section for library work with +children be established, providing such section be acceptable to the +officers of the Club of Children's Librarians. The section was accepted, +and the program for the same was submitted by the officers of the club +to the program committee of the A. L. A. + +The establishment of a section devoted to work with children, as a +result of the efforts of the club, is a matter of congratulation for all +those interested in this branch of library work. Special thanks are due +the chairman, Miss Moore, for her unremitting efforts in making the +program for the sessions helpful and inspiring. Thanks are also due +chairmen of committees for their zeal in collecting valuable material +and for the presentation of practical and suggestive reports. + +In view of the establishment of the Section for Children's Librarians, +which makes possible the thorough treatment of children's library work, +it seems desirable that the Club of Children's Librarians be no longer +continued, its special purpose being accomplished; at the present +meeting of the section it is hoped to perfect its organization and +outline its plans for the coming year. + +The first paper of the session was by Miss CAROLINE M. HEWINS, and in +her absence was read by Miss HELEN E. HAINES. It dealt with + + BOOK REVIEWS, LISTS AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY OF + PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? + + (_See_ p. 57.) + +The subject was discussed by Miss HAINES, who said: + +Miss Hewins' criticisms and deductions are so sound that there is little +to add to what she has said, except in the way of assent. The children's +librarian who relies only upon what she can find in print to tell her +what she ought to think about children's literature, leans upon a broken +reed. In general, reviews in this field are valueless, owing to lack of +discrimination and of good taste, and to indifference. The reason for +this is the unimportance of the subject, from the standpoint of the +average reviewer or literary editor. Miss Hewins has stated with entire +fairness the conditions that control reviews of children's books. +Christmas time--the "rush season"--is practically the only time when +they are given attention, and then owing to the great mass of review +copies to be handled, notices are most inadequate. Indeed, most of these +notices are evolved from material supplied by the publisher with the +book--the trail of the publisher is over them all. + +There is not yet among children's librarians a sufficient "body of +doctrine"--critical judgment, knowledge of books--to produce +satisfactory library lists. Such lists are too often made up from +hearsay, or through selection from other lists, which is almost always +unsatisfactory. The most prevalent and serious defect in these annotated +library lists is the use of too many words which mean nothing. In this +work especially "the adjective is the enemy of the substantive." Even +the Carnegie list, excellent as a whole and probably the best of the +kind yet published, is crude in some respects, and would stand pruning. +There is too frequent use of such phrases as "a wholesome book," "a +cheery tale," "a children's classic," and there is too great a +preponderance of American books, of commonplace "series," of books in +what may be called the public-school rut. As an example of "what not to +do" in book annotation, extracts may be given from a recent annotated +list of children's books, which included the following: + +Warner, S. The wide, wide world. + +Miss Warner is one of the best friends a young girl can have as +chaperone into the delightful kingdom of romance. + +Weyman, S. The house of the wolf. + +A modern English version of a curious French memoir written about 1620. + +Church. Three Greek children. + +Mr. Church is an accomplished restorer of the antique, and has a keen +discrimination for points appealing to child-like magnetism. + +Cooper. The spy. + +A story founded upon fact. The same adventitious causes which gave birth +to the book determined its scenes and its general character. + + +It will be seen that not one of these annotations conveys an idea of +subject, quality, or treatment, while in two of them at least it is +evident that the annotator knew nothing at all about the book. + +Articles on children's reading are in general either sentimental or +prejudiced, and they are not of direct practical use to the children's +librarian. Reading such articles, however, is interesting and often +suggestive. Their best feature is the hints they now and then give of +some book or class of books that has pleased children, and that the +librarian does not know or had not thought of. + +Turning to specific points in Miss Hewins' paper, one is inclined to +question the stringent criticisms of the "Pansy" books, the "Prudy" +books, "Editha's burglar," and the like stories, that certainly do +delight many children, though they may not be of a high literary plane. +Nor do I believe in children's books carefully "written down" to their +audience and never rising above their comprehension. +"Words-in-one-syllable" books are obnoxious to a right-minded child. It +is a good thing to be given now and then what is above our +comprehension. What we don't quite understand holds a strong +fascination. Nor do I believe that the "horrors" of the old fairy +stories are particularly harmful--the thrills they impart have a subtle +charm, and most children delight in "horrors." The difficulty is to +steer between what is vulgar and coarse or trashily sentimental on the +one hand, and the limiting of a children's collection only to +"pretty-pretty" stories, innocuous but utterly without character or +variety, on the other. Such a collection should be made as broad, as +varied, as catholic as it can be, including old books, English +books--Miss Yonge, Miss Shaw, Miss Strickland--not just current and +American books. + +In conclusion, the most important thing is to know the books themselves. +This could not be possible for the librarian of a general collection, +but it is possible, and ought to be indispensable, for the librarian of +a special class of literature. A children's librarian can make herself +familiar with the literature suitable for children, and should do so. +Personal familiarity is better than all "evaluations" by other people. +There should be a constant interchange of criticism and experience among +those working in this field--it is as yet small enough to permit this. +This should be largely personal and individual--not brought out as a +public expression--until there is developed a better basis for critical +and literary discernment in this subject than now exists. The most +important thing to do is not to rush hastily into print--to "educate +ourselves in public"--but to set to work to know our books, and through +such knowledge to establish a fund of critical judgment and experience +that will later make it possible for the utterances of children's +librarians to carry weight in their own field of literature. + +There followed a "collective paper," in three parts, each part being +treated by a special writer. It dealt with + + + THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. + +In the absence of Miss WINIFRED TAYLOR Miss EDNA LYMAN read Miss +Taylor's consideration of + + I. FICTION. + (_See_ p. 63.) + +Miss LYMAN also read the second paper by Miss ABBY SARGENT, on + + II. FAIRY TALES. + (_See_ p. 66.) + +The third paper, in the absence of its author, Miss ELLA HOLMES, was +read by Miss BERTHA M. BROWN. It reviewed + + III. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN. + (_See_ p. 69.) + +The general subject was opened for discussion by F. M. CRUNDEN, who said +that he thought it was unwise to make a distinction between the reading +of boys and girls, as it tended to differentiate the sexes. + +He also believed in the reading and rereading of the classics and +standard literature to children as a means of checking the craving for +new books which is a characteristic evil of the American adult. The best +means of judging the quality of a new book was to set it in comparison +with an old one that had stood the test of time, so that familiarity +with, and an ample supply of, the best literature was one of the most +effective ways of raising the standard of taste as regards current +books. He also said that the well-brought-up child will usually choose +the best himself, though wise direction is necessary, for the books he +reads influence his whole life. Reading aloud to children is of great +value in bringing them to love books, and too strict a grading of books +by age suitability is inadvisable, as many very young children enjoy +books that at first thought seem beyond them. The boy who reads the best +books will not choose the worst companions. + +The program of the meeting was shortened, owing to arrangements of the +local entertainment committee, so that the conclusion of the discussion +on this subject was carried over to the next session. Before adjournment +a nominating committee was appointed, made up of Miss Linda A. Eastman, +Miss Edna Lyman and Mrs. Menzies. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + +The second session of the section was held on the afternoon of Saturday, +July 6. The meeting was called to order at 2.30, when discussion was +resumed of the subject + + + THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. + +Miss W. W. PLUMMER said: + +I should much like to see tried Miss Sargent's plan for the story-hour, +_i. e._, the argument of the story being given first in the attendant's +own words, followed by a reading from some good version of the original, +with judicious skipping. If this has been tried anywhere, we should be +glad to know of it. We have given as a problem to our class of +children's librarians the selection of one or two books of Homer, of the +Odyssey preferably, to cut and edit for reading by or to children, and +have always found that what was left made an exceedingly interesting +story, that it seemed might be read just as it was. But, of course, such +an exercise would require an unusually good and very intelligent reader +to be a success. + + + _Fairy tales._ + +Belief, on the part of the author, at least while writing, is necessary +if one would preserve the true atmosphere of the fairy story and +communicate the right enjoyment to the child-readers. The fairy book in +which the author tries to be "smart" and is continually thrusting in his +own personality, is a failure. He must forget himself, leave the present +century, and for the time be as credulous as the child himself. + + + _Fiction._ + +The vulgarization of the child is one of the dangers we must avoid. What +if the boy's father does read the _New York Journal_ and the girl's +mother, when she reads anything, Laura Jean Libbey? It is our business, +as librarians for children, to see that by the time the child reaches +the same age he shall like something different and better. And how can +this be brought about if we let him steep himself in the smart, +sensational, vulgar and up-to-date children's books that naturally lead +to just such tastes in the adult? + +We must also guard against false reasoning. Some authors whom we have +probably never questioned will have to go, if thus examined. I am +thinking, for instance, of a writer for girls who has been generally +accepted. I examined her last book, the story of a little girl and her +grandmother, apparently plain people, who moved into a summer village +alongside of a family of fashionable city people. The question with the +children of the fashionable family and their friends was whether they +should or should not make a friend of the new girl--she was nice, but +evidently not rich, not fashionable, not one of their kind. The counsel +of the minority prevailed, and the children, boys and girls of 15 or 16, +kindly admitted her to their circle, though not considering her their +equal. How they held their breath at thought of their nearness to a +great mistake when they found she belonged to a fine old family of +another city, and had great expectations from the quiet grandmother! +"See how it paid to be polite!" is the tacit morality of the book, which +is full of the spirit of snobbery while professing to teach the +opposite. It behooves us, therefore, to dip into books before purchasing +or recommending. Nothing will take the place of knowing the books we +handle and having our own opinion of them. + +A thing we have to look out for is the intentional or unintentional +imitation of the names of well-received writers, _e.g._, the Marie +Louise Pool, author of "Chums," to whom Miss Taylor refers, is not the +Miss Pool who wrote "Roweny in Boston" and "Mrs. Keats Bradford," that +author having died two or three years ago. The person who uses the same +name, rightfully or wrongfully, writes very different and very inferior +books. + +At the information desk we have made lists for various classes and types +of person--but very often have had to lay these aside and make a special +selection for the individual, after talking with him or her. This is as +true for children as for adults--the books that appeal to one person do +not appeal to another of seemingly the same type. Until the proper +relation be established between the child and the librarian, he cannot +be influenced very much in his choice of books. Sometimes this relation +may be established in five minutes, sometimes in a week, a month, or a +year; sometimes it seems impossible to do it, and some other personal +influence must be waited for. + +People sometimes say that the children's own tastes in reading should be +our guide. This is true thus far: that if a child is reading books that +do not seem good for him in our judgment, we should find out what it is +_in_ these books that appeals to him; then look for the same thing in +books that are better written and lack the objectionable features, and +both librarian and child are satisfied. Children learn a great deal by +absorption, and if the children's librarian can give them the sort of +plot or incident they want and, at the same time, a book from which they +may absorb good English instead of bad, high ideals and a high code of +behavior instead of low ones, she has accomplished a great part of her +task. + + + _Science._ + +With regard to nature books for children, I am glad that Miss Holmes has +spoken frankly and pointed out to us the dangers we incur in rushing +into the purchase of a new kind of book without investigation. The +taking up of nature study and the study of art in the public schools has +meant a great pressure upon libraries for books which teachers and +pupils have heard of, but of the merits of which many of them as well as +ourselves are unable to judge. In order to have books enough to meet the +demand, our temptation is to buy entire series, every book we hear of in +these lines, whereas our best plan would be to get them for inspection +only, invite the inspection and criticism of some scientific person, or +some one conversant with art and its literature, and reject what they +condemn, putting in duplicates enough of the approved books to meet the +large demand. A thing we need to beware of is the stampede--the wild +rush to or away from a thing without reasoning, without stopping to +think, just because other libraries we know of are engaging in it. The +librarian needs at such times to keep cool, brace himself or herself +against the rush, and when the dust of the crowd is over think things +out and go ahead. And in these lines where special knowledge is +necessary do not let us think ourselves infallible or even altogether +competent; let us be humble enough to take advice and information from +those who have a real claim to know. + +J. C. DANA said: + +The papers we have heard read tell us that we can put no dependence on +book reviews; that the librarian must depend on herself. How can she do +it? There are no laws or rules or principles of book selection. Even if +there were, no librarian has time to read even hastily all the books for +children. + +If she wishes to evaluate them in the light of any possible principles +she may have laid down, she finds the principles themselves very shaky. +Experience is our only guide. A friend of mine much interested in +psychology, and especially in the psychology of young people, and +especially, again, in the influence on young people of the books read +during the years 12 to 16, tells me that as a result of considerable +study of nickel-libraries and news-stand story papers of what we call a +poor kind, he thinks this literature is generally harmless; is perhaps +even helpful; is well above the intelligence of most of those who read +it; and is largely written by men and women who seriously wish to help +to bring light and joy into the world. If our general opinion about +these nickel-libraries is to be given a shock such as that, what may we +not expect as to other classes of books, of our judgment on which at +present we are quite as sure? It is distressing, the amount of work that +is being done in this country nowadays even by the librarians themselves +in their attempt, each by herself alone, to come to sound conclusions in +regard to the value of books for children. We don't care to read these +books. We read them when we are weary, we read too many of them. Our own +taste, if originally good, gets perverted; our point of view gets +prejudiced; and our opinions are of very little value when formed. Why +not try co-operation? I suggest that you appoint a committee to +formulate some scheme for securing the beginning of an evaluated list of +children's books; and that this committee see that at least a portion of +the scheme, enough to show us another year how it can be successfully +carried on, be completed before our next annual meeting. I would +suggest, for example, that this committee, in the first place, collect +from members of the Association sufficient money in voluntary +subscriptions to pay for postage, clerical work and printing, in +beginning the evaluated list; that they then appoint some person to set +in motion the machinery necessary for getting together a set of +evaluations. She would perhaps begin by selecting almost at random 500 +story books for young people of the ages 10 to 14. This list she would +submit, in whole or in small sections, to as many active librarians who +are interested in children's literature, as she could get into +communication with. Having secured from them opinions, she would +tabulate the results of the reading of each book and compile from these +opinions a brief note. She would, perhaps, submit to us at the end of +the year a brief list, in type, with or without annotations, of story +books for children that are not good, another brief list of story books +for children that are good. Without going further into detail I think +you will see that in some such way as this, we can make the reading we +now do along these lines permanently helpful to one another. We can +perhaps in two or three years produce a foundation list of books for +young people on which we can depend; we can then continue the evaluating +process for other books as they appear from year to year. + +H. C. WELLMAN directed attention to the economy which would result from +a printed list of juvenile books to be prepared and issued by the +Section of Children's Librarians and used as a catalog of the juvenile +collections in public libraries. Such a list should not only embody the +joint opinion of the best authorities, but should effect a saving of 90 +per cent. in the work of preparing and the cost of printing separate +lists for each library. The joint lists, containing 500 or more titles, +could be set up with slugs, and revised and brought down to date in +frequent editions. Some simple notation could be adopted, and the +juvenile books in each library numbered to correspond. Then the list +could be purchased in quantities by the libraries and sold to their +borrowers at a cent apiece. The result would place within the reach of +even small libraries a juvenile list at an exceedingly low price, always +up-to-date, and of a quality and authority which should make it superior +to any similar lists ever issued. + +A motion was made by Mr. PERRY that a committee of three be appointed to +take action on Mr. Dana's suggestion. The motion was carried and a +special committee consisting of Mr. Dana, Mr. Perry and Miss Browning +was appointed by the chair to act upon the suggestion at some general +meeting of the Association.[H] + +In the absence of Miss H. H. STANLEY Mr. WELLMAN read Miss Stanley's +paper on + + REFERENCE WORK FOR CHILDREN. + + (_See_ p. 74.) + +Mr. WELLMAN then discussed the question of whether the bulk of reference +work with children should be carried on in the schools or at the +library, and urged the claims of the library. The ultimate aim of +reference work with children is to teach them to use the library during +school life and after for purposes of study and self-education. To +accomplish this end no person is so competent as the librarian and no +place so appropriate as the library. + +Miss LINDA A. EASTMAN said: + +Miss Stanley's excellent report appears to furnish just the sort of +basis for a discussion of one of the most vital questions in relation to +the work with children, such a discussion as may lead to a much-needed +definition of principles in regard to this side of the work. + +A word or two about special topics mentioned--under library facilities. +In addition to the books for reference mentioned by Miss Stanley, there +is one which may not yet have come to the attention of all children's +librarians because it is but just published--the new "Index to _St. +Nicholas_," published with the consent of the Century Company by the +Cumulative Index Co. It has its imperfections, but it certainly should +prove a useful reference tool for every children's librarian, and the +best simple stepping-stone yet furnished to the use of Poole and the +other indexes. + +Now, for the general subject, Miss Stanley says, "I think we are agreed +that for the children our aim reaches to a familiarity with reference +tools, to knowing how to hunt down a subject, to being able to use to +best advantage the material found. In a word, we are concerned not so +much to supply information as to educate in the use of the library." + +The aim is well stated, and we are agreed in it, I believe, but are we +agreed as to, and have we given sufficient thought to, the methods by +which this desirable aim is to be accomplished? Where, in that ideal +ultimate of co-operation between schools and libraries toward which we +are striving, will the necessary instruction be given, in the schools or +in the library? Or, if in both, where will the division of labor be +placed? I, myself, am inclined to think that the formal, systematic +instruction in the use of books should be given in the schools, with +sympathetic, systematic help on the part of the library. Is it not +possible that we, as librarians, seeing the need, are over-anxious to do +the whole work, or at least feel sometimes that we can do the whole work +more easily and better than we can get the overworked teachers to do +it--though a large part of the work really belongs to them. + +More than in any other work with the children, this reference work +requires that we go back of the children and begin with the +teachers--no, not with the teachers, but with the teachers in +embryo--the students in the normal schools. + +Miss ALICE TYLER, who followed, said that it was of the greatest +importance to teach children the use of the catalog, which should be +made to suit the mental capacity of children, using terms with which +they are familiar. + +In Cleveland the children's catalog was made upon these lines, using +simple subject headings based on headings used by Miss Prentice in her +"Third grade list" and the Pratt Institute lists. + +Teaching children in the children's room how to use the catalog is the +only way to make the future men and women more independent readers in +the public library. + +Mr. HENSEL closed the discussion with a short account of the reference +work done in the Columbus public schools. + +A paper by Miss CLARA W. HUNT was read on + + OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM. + (_See_ p. 83.) + +The discussion was opened by HENRY J. CARR, who said: + +I cannot say why I was selected to discuss Miss Hunt's paper, unless +because I was known to her and somewhat familiar with her work and the +particular children's room fitted up under her direction in the new +building of the Newark Free Public Library. + +I am so much in sympathy with Miss Hunt's views as expressed in the +paper, and regard them as so correct that I can do little but emphasize +the points she has brought out. She has been eminently wise in +presenting for consideration some of the proper guiding principles of +the children's room, something that is too often lost sight of in the +attitude taken by those responsible for their establishment and +operation. + +We should not look upon the children's room as a "kindergarten," or +playground for the younger children, so much as a stepping-stone to tide +them along to the reading of books adapted to more mature minds, and +hence to "graduate" them out of it as fast as possible. It has also a +purpose, which is a further reason for retaining in this room, more or +less, an aspect similar to that of the adults' rooms. Parents to some +extent come to select reading matter for their children, and those of +mature years but immature minds may drift into this department, if it is +not made too juvenile in tone and appearance. Hence, I prefer the name +Young People's Library to that of Children's Room. I have seen boys +stand aloof at first for fear of ridicule for going into the room "for +kids." I prefer to have the discharging of books done at one main desk, +as it keeps the children in touch with adults and gives all ages more +freedom in drawing from all departments. Hence we have no special +juvenile cards. I should advise to include on the children's shelves +good books for older readers; to avoid sets or the writings of +voluminous authors, as a rule; and to aim to seek the writers of those +good books that are apt to be overlooked. Discipline and good order +should be maintained at the outset, and after that the children should +be let alone, so far as possible. They like to have a chance to inform +one another; those becoming first familiar with the room and its methods +will only too gladly induct newcomers into its operation. + +Mrs. M. A. SANDERS said: + +The librarian from Newark speaks from experience, for hers is an ideal +children's room, both in equipment and administration. At the dedication +of the library the interest centered largely around that department. Her +interest in the children and their work, so ably expressed, carried me +back to the early 80's, when, as some of us remember, scarcely a round +dozen libraries could be found where children were admitted. On one side +of the door we saw a placard reading, "Children not admitted under 14 +years"; on the other, "Dogs not allowed." A strong appeal was made at +that time at the Thousand Island meeting for children's rights in the +public library by a librarian who was making a specialty of work with +children, and admitted them without an age limit. Glorious has been the +response, for the library that makes no provision for the children +to-day is the exception. + +At Pawtucket we open our children's rooms and bid them welcome, we open +our shelves, and their judgment in the selection of books often equals +our own. We decorate the walls with pictures that appeal to the +affections, we send them into the homes, and by and by we see an entire +family gathered around the table deeply interested in the pictures and +the description of them as they read from the books brought home by the +children. We put in our cases of birds, which the children delight to +study, and soon a mother says to us, "I never thought much about the +birds till the children began to talk about them, but we have been out +every morning listening for the new calls as the birds appear in the +spring." In these and various other ways we see the influence of the +children's room, which is broadening every day. + +There is, however, many a library where the children's room has not yet +materialized, either from lack of space or funds, that is exerting a +powerful influence through its children, and I question sometimes +whether it may not be a mistake to draw too sharp a line of separation. +Where should we draw our line? At just what age do girls and boys cease +to be children? That has been for me a serious question; I wonder if you +have escaped it, and if the children's room solves it. + +I am in hearty sympathy with the opinion expressed that "the management +and spirit of the children's room should correspond to that of other +departments of the library." There seems to be a tendency to make these +rooms a play-room--the children coming to be amused, and the time of one +person devoted to their amusement. If this is the design of the +children's room, our own young people at Pawtucket will be sadly +disappointed. While we will put in the pictures, the birds, the plants, +the busts and all else to make the room interesting, and while we will +have frequent talks in the lecture room, the children being quietly led +on to express themselves freely, the quiet dignity of the children's +library room as an important part of the library will be maintained. The +books will also be charged at the main charging desk for them, as we +feel that this bringing of the adult and the child into close contact is +of mutual benefit. + +The discipline of the children's department has never been a serious +question to us. Give them a very few brief rules, and enforce them, and +we shall have no great troubles to contend with; the children will +virtually take care of themselves. + +The question is asked us, "For what does the children's room stand, what +is its real purpose?" It is evident that it has a different purpose in +different libraries. To us the children's library room is for reading, +for study, for observation, for questioning undisturbed and +undisturbing, while the entire library is still at the service of any +child who desires to make practical use of it. + +Miss CHARLOTTE WALLACE read a paper on + + BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN. + (_See_ p. 72.) + +Two papers were read on + + VITALIZING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY, + +Miss MAY L. PRENTICE treating + + THE SCHOOL. + (_See_ p. 78.) + +Miss IRENE WARREN presenting the side of + + THE LIBRARY. + (_See_ p. 81.) + +Owing to the lateness of the hour discussion of the last topics had to +be passed over. + +The chairman then called for the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. + +The committee on nominations wishes to submit the following names: For +president, Miss Annie Carroll Moore; for secretary, Miss Mary E. +Dousman. + +In suggesting the continuance of the present officers the committee does +not wish to establish a precedent, but there seems to be special fitness +and justice in asking Miss Moore and Miss Dousman to serve the section +for another year. To their earnest effort this section of children's +librarians is largely due; these well-balanced programs are a result of +their careful planning. The section can hardly be put in safer hands for +its second year. + +The officers named in the committee report were unanimously elected. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote G: This report is from notes furnished by Miss Mary E. +Dousman, secretary of the section.] + +[Footnote H: For report of this committee and action of Association +_see_ Proceedings, p. 130.] + + + + +STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS AND TRAVELLING LIBRARIES: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +An informal "round table" meeting for the consideration of the work of +state library commissions, including travelling libraries, was held in +the assembly room of the Fountain House on Tuesday afternoon, July 9. +The chairman, MELVIL DEWEY, called the meeting to order at three +o'clock, and in a few introductory remarks outlined the subjects to be +discussed. + +Mr. DEWEY: We have on our program this afternoon two of the most +interesting things in library work. The travelling library is reaching +out in its manifold forms with wonderful rapidity and gives very great +promise of usefulness for the future; organized work under the state +commissions is showing every year better and better results and +indicating that just as our schools increased their efficiency so +immensely by having state departments to look after them, we are +repeating the history of that evolution in our state library +commissions. We have only a single session this afternoon to discuss +these two subjects. If we were to give them one quarter of the time that +they ought to have, we would not get one quarter through, and I propose +therefore to deal only with questions and answers, and utilize one +another's experience or thought along these lines of state commission +work and work of administering travelling libraries. + +I have noted down some of the topics that have been given to me by +persons who wanted to have them discussed briefly; we will first take up +some of these. So much has been done in travelling libraries, that +perhaps we should clear the floor of that subject, and then consider the +work of the state commissions--and in that I mean all the work done by +the state in its official capacity--chartering libraries, library +legislation, inspection, travelling libraries--whatever the state may do +for public libraries. + +The first topic is, "What is the best method of getting travelling +libraries before the people?" Who has any experience or suggestion to +offer on that point--either of difficulties or successes? + +A MEMBER: Go to the pastors and school houses. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: Does the gentleman mean to put the travelling libraries +into school houses? Last Sunday I visited a man who had never heard of +such a thing as travelling libraries; he was a German pastor; and +probably that accounted for it. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Is there not objection to having travelling libraries in +school houses, for the reason that so many of the hours during which the +children have leisure to read, and their parents could read, the school +houses are closed? Another difficulty is the long summer vacation; and +still another is that to place the library in the school house makes the +travelling library merely a side issue. + +Mr. DEWEY: Where would you put it? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Find somebody to take it in special charge. A travelling +library in a community is bound to find some good woman who would rather +have charge of it than anything else in the world. + +Mr. DEWEY: Then you would put it in a private house? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: In a private house or a country post-office--wherever you +can find a person who believes in its use and will give service for it. + +Mr. GALBREATH: I should like to ask Mr. Hutchins, provided the teacher +is a man or woman who believes in the library, what objection is there +to placing it in the school house? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The teacher may be a person who believes in it, but he or +she makes the school of first importance. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: What difference does it make if the library is a side +issue, so long as it gets in its work? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: If it is a side issue it does not get in its work. + +Miss STEARNS: Let us go back to the original question, How to get the +travelling library before the people. The best method, we find, is to +take with you a county superintendent who is acquainted with all the +people in his county, or ought to be. Take your travelling library with +you also, just as a travelling man takes his samples. Do not start out +with a lot of circulars; take the books themselves right with you, in +the back of the wagon. When you have brought the people together open +your box; take out your _Scribner_ or your _Youth's Companion_; take out +your books on the Philippines, on birds, on cookery; show your audience +some good stories; and you will organize a library association ten times +quicker than if you had started out by writing letters. Those are +letters, very often, that are never answered, and you wait and wonder +why the people do not want the books. Go to the people with the books. +That is the way we find we can work best in Wisconsin. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Sometimes it is difficult to find the means to do the +work that Miss Stearns has mentioned, and possibly our experience, +briefly stated, in bringing the travelling library to the attention of +the people of Ohio might not be out of place here. We began by +advertising it through the daily and weekly papers. That brought us very +few responses. We next tried to reach the people through the official +organ of the teachers of the state. That brought us many responses from +rural schools. Our next effort was to reach the farming communities +through the state grange, which devoted one of its quarterly bulletins +to the travelling libraries. This brought many responses. We reached the +women's clubs through circulars issued to their membership, and this was +very effective in turn. We found it best to reach the people of the +state through the organs that were devoted to specific interests, +especially along educational lines. + +Mr. DEWEY: Did you go personally to the grangers, write to them, or send +printed matter? + +Mr. GALBREATH: We saw the lecturer of the grange, who issues a quarterly +bulletin in our state. We explained the system fully to him, and he +devoted almost an entire bulletin to an explanation of the system, and +advised the farmers of the state to patronize the travelling libraries. +Then we have published in Ohio the _Ohio Farmer_, which circulates +widely outside of the state. That took up the work and helped us +greatly. We reached the farmers by going to the public press and using +the organs that the farmers read. We reached the teachers in the same +way, and the women's clubs. We have advertised our system pretty widely +over the state, so that now we do not send circulars except when they +are requested. We are circulating about one thousand travelling +libraries in Ohio, and they go to all parts of the state. Not only that, +but we have travelling library systems in three counties of the state +that are in no way dependent upon the state for support and that are +doing excellent work. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Do the people pay anything for the libraries? + +Mr. GALBREATH: They pay transportation both ways, and that is all. + +Miss STEARNS: Do they always have to pay it? + +Mr. GALBREATH: Yes. + +Miss STEARNS: If you found a community too poor to pay, what would you +do? + +Mr. GALBREATH: We have not so far met that condition. Perhaps some +libraries have not been sent out because the people were too poor to pay +the charge, but if that problem does come up before us, we will try to +find some person who will pay the transportation. + +Mr. DEWEY: Are there no remarks to be made on the use of annotated +finding lists in travelling library work? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Annotations are worth a great deal, because the people, at +their homes, sit down and talk over the books in these lists, and they +get acquainted with the books and the authors. + +Mr. DEWEY: The best form of annotation, I take it, would be the brief +note, giving the best idea possible of the character of the book, and +telling the reader whether he wants to read it or not, not necessarily +as a matter of quotation from some one else. + +Miss STEARNS: It is always a good plan to put in the publisher and price +of the book; if the person gets interested in the book he can find out +how much it would cost and where he can get it. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: It would be well also to put in the number of pages, so +that people know how large a volume it is--150, 250, or 350 pages. + +Mr. DEWEY: Has any one else tried the use of a wagon, as described by +Miss Stearns--going right to the people and reaching the homes? That +means going out into the rural districts and dealing with the farmhouses +as individual homes. There must be the right person in the wagon, of +course, who can stand and speak for an hour perhaps and leave half a +dozen or a dozen books to start the work along. + +Miss STEARNS: That is the only way in the world by which you can find +what the people like to read--it is only by visiting the people, getting +acquainted with them, going right into their homes. The idea of sending +a box of books off in a freight car, not knowing anything about the +country or the people it is going to! If you want those books to do good +work, you must know where they are going. + +Mr. DEWEY: That is the way men sell goods. The librarian is just as +anxious to place his books to advantage as the merchant is to sell his +wares. If he is dealing with the rural community he follows just that +method. I am inclined to think that somebody is going to make a great +success with those wagons. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Where the demand for books is strong, as it is in Ohio, +and you have all that you can do to supply that demand, should not that +be attended to before you go out in a wagon to enlarge your field? + +Mr. DEWEY: Oh, yes; but in Ohio everybody expects to be President sooner +or later. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Isn't the point this: Where you only supply a demand you +reach the intelligent communities first and the neglected communities +are left out; but the libraries should reach the neglected communities. +We spend too much money in buying books and not enough in educating the +people to use the books. It is the same old story. You spend $10,000 for +books and not $200 for administration, and the administration is the +important point. + +Mr. DEWEY: There is another analogy. We used to have the schools only +for the bright boys. It is a modern idea to give education to the dull, +the backward, the blind and the deaf, but nowadays they are all being +trained. And we keep finding men who are among the strongest citizens of +their age, but who, if we get at their early history, we find were once +dull, backward boys that somebody hunted up and started along the right +lines. + +Mr. GALBREATH: What communities, as a rule, are first served in +Wisconsin? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The neglected communities. The community in which we are +meeting is in the wealthiest part of the state of Wisconsin. We have not +got a travelling library near here. We have only 300 of these libraries, +and we seek out the neglected communities; not because we do not care to +help the people here, but we must take the neglected ones first. + +Mr. GALBREATH: This is a practical question. It may be that after a +while we will all be seeking the neglected communities. What is the +practical method of going out into the state after the neglected +communities? How are you going to do it? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: That is where you have got to have missionary work, +personal contact. + +Mr. DEWEY: It is not a question of studying what to do; it is a case of +the man behind the idea. If a man starts out who is a born missionary, +he will go straight to the communities who need him, while another man +will take care of another class. We want to do all the work before us, +but if we are so situated that we cannot do both kinds of work in this +field, which is the more important to do first, cultivate the good field +or the poor field, which if you do not cultivate it will run to weeds +and escape us entirely? As Mr. Galbreath asks, if a community is anxious +to read, will you supply that, or will you stir somebody up that does +not want your supplies? In other words, if there is a field that is +rather poor, will you cultivate that at the expense of another field +that yields a good crop? + +Mr. GALBREATH: It seems to me that a neglected community is one that has +no library of any kind of its own; nine-tenths of our travelling +libraries go out to communities of that sort. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I would not take that as a definition. In an intelligent +community they buy books, they buy magazines, they have intelligent +people. A neglected community is one that is not reached by these means, +or by any means of civilization. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Suppose I go into a community which all the American +people are gradually leaving, only foreigners remaining. How can I reach +the foreign people that hardly have the English language in their homes, +and scarcely in the schools? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Take, for instance, one of those foreign communities. The +children go to school; some of them stay in school until they can barely +spell out the third reader, and then they go out and become American +citizens. Reading is hard work for them. You offer them a chance to read +a book, and they do not want it. But in that place we send first with +our travelling libraries the _Youth's Companion_ and the little picture +papers, to interest them in spelling out little short stories. Try +elementary books; simple books of American history and biography; lead +them on to better books. But the way is, first of all, to go to them. We +have many such communities in the northern part of the state, where the +people have come from foreign lands and know nothing about our customs. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Another question. I would ask Mr. Hutchins, if a farming +community should send to the state commission for a travelling library, +and with the request state that they had no library to which they had +access, if he would decline to send to them because they were an +intelligent community? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: No, we send libraries to these communities. We are sending +to all classes, but if Miss Stearns, in the northern part of the state, +finds a neglected community, and can work with them, and can find some +members of the women's clubs to go out and help, we send to them first. + +Mr. GALBREATH: I think that perhaps our methods do not vary so much +after all. The women's clubs are supplementing our work in that way. In +Ohio we have succeeded in interesting a number of the members of the +legislature, and frequently they come in and look over our maps +illustrating the travelling library work, and say, "There is in our +county a community that is very backward. They have no libraries there, +and they are not very intelligent. I wish you to write to So-and-so in +that community." We do a great deal of work in the line of reaching what +Mr. Hutchins calls the neglected communities. + +A MEMBER: I would like to ask Mr. Hutchins if he has forgotten that we +have something besides the readers in our Wisconsin schools? Under the +present school law every district in the state has the beginnings of a +library, and adds to that library each year. And we have in each of our +school institutes held during the summer a 45-minute period which is +spent in training teachers how to get children to read books, how to +interest them in the books, and how to show them to get from the book +the information it contains. And I would also like to ask if the library +placed in the school house is not as accessible to the district as a +library that may be placed at some central point? Very often people +would have to drive 25 or 30 miles to reach that central point, whereas +in the library in the school house the children can take the books to +their homes. During the long vacation the library need not be left in +the school house, but in some other place. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: A library in a school is a school library, no matter where +it may be, and the children do not go to the school house after they +leave the school. + +Mr. DEWEY: The library is an optional affair; the children are compelled +to go to school. On the other side, there are a number of advantages in +favor of the school building. + +Has anybody succeeded in getting from the railroads or express companies +special concessions for the transportation of library books? + +Mrs. DOCKERY: In Idaho, while the travelling libraries were in the hands +of the women's clubs. When they came in the hands of the state, the +railroads felt that they should have some compensation, and they gave us +half rates. The stage lines give us less than half rates. + +E. H. ANDERSON: In Pennsylvania the Adams and the United States Express +Companies, which are the two leading companies, have made this +concession: We can send out books at full rate going, and half rate +returning. These rates apply only on condition that the books returned +are paid for at the library, so there is no confusion at any other +station. + +Mr. MONTGOMERY: How about books that are transferred to another point? + +Mr. ANDERSON: We do not transfer them; they must all come back. + +G. F. BOWERMAN: The law of Delaware requires that the express companies +shall give the franking privilege, both coming and going, to all state +documents, and we intend, if possible, to extend that provision to our +travelling libraries, now that they are conducted by a state commission. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: On the question of express, my experience in Illinois is +that the shipping of our books has been unsatisfactory, and I have had +some conversation in the matter with the express companies. They seem +willing to give us some concessions, and I believe if this meeting would +recommend that the American Library Association take up the question of +express charges, that we could get for the whole United States a liberal +concession for travelling libraries. At least I think we could get as +much concession as is given the farmers for returning chicken coops. I +think if this is taken up by the Association, as an association, we +could get a very liberal reduction. + +Mr. BOWERMAN: The Seaboard Air Line runs a free travelling library +system, and I presume they send their books over that system free? + +Mr. DEWEY: Yes. They also pay expenses, but would they open those +privileges to other people? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: I want to raise one question. Isn't it a mistake to put the +library in the position of a beggar? Is it not better to pay for what we +get? + +Mr. DEWEY: If we have money enough. We would rather beg than have no +bread. We are willing to profit by whatever concession we can get which +will enable us to do our work. + +No one has spoken of the most important thing of all in this work. We +are reaching communities, but there are in all our states great numbers +of isolated homes and of farmers. They have more leisure than any other +class, especially in the winter, and we have to reach them through the +mails. We have a letter from Mr. Lane, of Harvard, upon the movement to +secure reduced postal rates for library books, undertaken through the +New England Education League by Mr. Scott. This matter is of great +importance to us all. [Mr. Lane's letter was read by Mr. Bowerman.] + +Mr. MONTGOMERY: In connection with that, has any one here tried to send +single books to individuals in any of the communities through the rural +delivery system? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: We have to a certain extent. We have not sufficient funds +to send out enough of the boxes, so we allow a school teacher in the +northern part of the state to draw out some book on some subject, and we +send these by the rural delivery, or by mail, whichever will reach him +most quickly, but of course we have to pay the regular postage. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: We have sent out a few books to the country domestic +science clubs through the mails, and we have a greater demand for them +than we could ever supply. Now I find this experience: the express +companies, in the matter of books, would carry a book more cheaply than +the United States mail. I am quite confident that the express companies +would return the books free, or at a very low rate, if the charges were +prepaid. I move that this meeting recommend that the American Library +Association take up the question of procuring reduced transportation +rates for all free circulating library books. + +Mr. DEWEY: If this large meeting is practically agreed on the importance +of that, we could send the recommendation into the Council meeting +to-night. It seems to me simply inconceivable that we are willing to +allow periodicals, bad and indifferent, and the yellow journals, to +receive the pound postal rate, while our libraries, suffering from lack +of income and working for the public benefit, cannot use the public +facilities as cheaply as the people who are using them for public harm +instead of public good. I had supposed there would be unanimous approval +of an act to register public libraries, owned and maintained for the +public benefit, so that they could receive the pound postal rate on +books. + +Mr. HOSTETTER'S motion was seconded. + +Mr. DEWEY: Let us see if there is anything more on this question before +the motion is put. There is a bill closely allied to this going into the +next Congress. Mr. Hutchins, will you state it briefly? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: We have twice tried to secure better transportation in the +state of Wisconsin. We have found rural mail carriers who said that they +would carry books to the farmers for a travelling library without cost, +but the United States law said that we could not do this; that we cannot +carry in this way anything under four pounds in weight except it is +stamped. Congressman Jenkins, therefore, has drawn a bill which gives +libraries authority to send their books free along rural mail routes. At +present the farmer must either carry the book himself and return it to +the public library, or he must pay postage. + +Mr. DEWEY: You say that the carriers cannot take packages under four +pounds without stamps? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Yes; the government rules that packages under four pounds +are to be sent by mail. Larger packages we could send by the carriers, +and we have sometimes thought of sending 15 or 20 books to a +neighborhood for distribution. I think that could be done, under the +government rule, if the mail carrier was willing to carry them. + +Mr. DEWEY: The idea is, that the carrier must not carry anything to +compete with the postal service. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Mr. Jenkins, who has drawn this bill for us, has submitted +it to all the Senators and Representatives in the United States, and +nearly all favor it. Now, I am in favor of Mr. Scott's bill, which gives +libraries reduced rates through the whole United States. As things are +to-day, if you want to send a travelling library book 100 miles out into +the country it costs as much as to send it to San Francisco or New York. +If we can get the government to allow transportation by rural free mail +delivery it will be an entering wedge for this other bill. + +Mr. BOWERMAN: Why cannot the legislation adopting the rural mail +delivery also include this matter of the pound rates? Why not have both +provisions in one bill? My library is practically free to the whole of +Newcastle county, not confined simply to Wilmington, but it is a farming +community. We would like to send books to every part of the county, +practically to every part of the state. The library is practically free +to the state of Delaware, so far as people can come to us, but they +cannot come to us; we would like to go to them, but we cannot do it, +because of the expense. We could do it if we could afford sufficient +postage to send books. + +Mr. DEWEY: These are two closely allied questions. Has any one any +objection to this Jenkins bill, which, on its face, promises to be so +useful to us? I think we can get it, if we work together. + +Miss STEARNS: If the government admits library books into this country +free of duty, why cannot it allow a man to carry a book free on the +rural delivery route if he wants to do it? In our state we have people +who cannot afford to pay postage on the books; if the mail-carrier is +willing, in the goodness of his heart, to take the book to them, why +can't it be done? Why should not a book from a free library be sent +free? I do not mean from one state to another, but I mean by rural free +delivery. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: Would you make it optional with the carrier? Why not make +it compulsory? You say, "if he wants" to carry the book. Suppose he does +not "want" to carry it? + +Miss STEARNS: I would have it so that he can do it for nothing if he +wishes, or he can charge a little for express. The rural mail delivery +people have to work hard, and they make but little. Now, the United +States government has to employ good men to do this work, so it puts in +a premium by allowing them to conduct an express business in connection +with it. In order, however, that the government may receive its revenue, +it does not allow the carriers to carry any packages under four pounds +in weight. What we want is to have that embargo removed for free library +books, so that they may carry books weighing a pound or a half pound. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: The post-office would probably say that this would +interfere with the delivery of the regular mail. + +Miss STEARNS: If it interferes, then the whole express business +interferes. The carriers are doing such a business now for packages +about four pounds in weight. + +Mr. DEWEY: Then all you need to do is to attach a brick to your book and +make it weigh over four pounds. Is there any motion before the meeting? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: The motion of the gentleman from Illinois has not been +disposed of. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: My motion relates to express transportation. Rural +delivery is somewhat of an experiment, and it would not reach the case I +have in mind. We spend our money for expressage, and we want the +express companies to give us a minimum rate. + +Mr. DEWEY: I rule there is no motion before us until it is repeated. + +Mr. HUSE: I move that we recommend the passage of the Jenkins bill. We +ought to pay no attention to all this talk about lines of least +resistance. If we have no law, we will find the Post-office Department +ready with an objection that will answer any request we may make. If we +can get a law authorizing what we want, the Post-office Department will +obey it whether we seek the line of least resistance or not. + +Mr. DEWEY: Is the motion seconded? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: I rise to a point of order. There was a previous motion +made and seconded, and I call for the question. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: I made a definite motion in regard to the express +companies. It was made for the reason that arrangements can probably be +effected with the express companies, but we are not likely to get the +legislation we want. This motion was this: That this meeting request the +Council of this Association to negotiate with the express companies of +the United States for reduced rates upon travelling libraries and +travelling library books. + +The motion was adopted. + +Mr. HUSE: I renew my motion that we recommend the passage of the Jenkins +bill. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The Jenkins bill provides that wherever there is +established a public library from which rural delivery routes radiate, +books may be carried upon those routes from the public library to the +patrons in the country without cost. They may not, however, be returned +free; in returning they must either be returned personally to the +library or postage must be paid. + +The motion made by Mr. Huse was adopted. + +Mr. DEWEY: We come now to the question of pound rates. That has been +before Congress for some time, and I think there is hope of its passage; +but it needs our support. I am heartily in favor of it. I think it is +just, and that a great deal of the criticism it has received is based on +misapprehension. Some people look only at the rates that extend +throughout the country, and say that the government will be carrying +books at a loss, but these books will largely circulate within 100 miles +of the library, and you will pay exactly the same rate within that +circuit as you would if sending to San Francisco. Does anybody want to +move that the Council be asked to support this bill? + +It was moved and seconded that the support of the bill be recommended. + +Mr. HUSE: It seems to me we are trying to get a good many things. If we +get the cheap postal rates, that will include rural delivery, and then +the express companies will come down in their rates to compete with the +government. + +Mr. DEWEY: The rural delivery is limited to a single section, and is +analogous to newspaper rates. + +Mr. HUSE: But if this pound rate is extended to library books the +express companies will come down in their rates, and the rural delivery +will be almost free. + +Mr. DEWEY: But in any case if we want all these things, it won't do any +harm to ask for them. + +Mr. EASTMAN: I would like to raise one point, and that is, what would be +the effect of the extremely cheap rates of postage upon small libraries +or upon libraries which we want to establish? In the remote parts of the +state, where the population is small, won't the tendency be to have one +great library dominate the whole state? Then when you go to a community +to awaken library interest the people will probably say, "We don't care +about a library; we can get our books from New York, or Albany, or +Cincinnati, or Chicago." Won't this measure tend to hamper the work of +establishing libraries in the small places? + +Mr. ANDERSON: That is a difficulty easily remedied. I do not think that +any library should act as a forwarding agent to a person in any place +where another public library is or can be established. Our library takes +that position very firmly. We refuse to be a forwarding agent to any +person; if a library, however small, asks us to send books, we are glad +to do it. I know we have helped small libraries by making people feel +that the small library was very important, as it could get concessions +that they reasonably could not obtain. + +Mr. DEWEY: Mr. Eastman's point, if this were a commercial question, +might have something in it, but as long as books are circulated free, we +should make the road free to the reader, for a short distance or a long +distance. + +The motion was adopted. + +Mr. DEWEY: We will now take up the topic of county libraries as units in +a state library system. Mr. Hodges, of Cincinnati, has something to say +on this. + +N. D. C. HODGES: By an act passed April 21, 1898, the privileges of the +Public Library of Cincinnati were extended to all residents of Hamilton +County. While the trustees did not derive any revenue from the taxpayers +outside of the city limits until the beginning of 1899, steps were taken +at once on the passage of the act to enable all the residents of the +county to avail themselves of their new privileges. There has been some +discussion in the public press as to whether this library or that might +claim priority as a county library. The Public Library of Cincinnati has +been loaning its books to all the residents of Hamilton County for more +than three years. I believe there is no other library in the state of +Ohio which had furnished books throughout a whole county before January +of this year. This method of supplying books over a comparatively +limited territory has interest when we are discussing the circulation of +books over a whole state from the state capital. + +For those who cannot, or will not, come to the central library, there +have been established throughout the county forty-one delivery stations. +Four of these are branch libraries. All these branch libraries had +previously been village libraries with very respectable histories; +started as subscription institutions they had in years past taken on a +public character and were supported partially by taxation. There are +several other local libraries in the county which are supported more or +less by taxation and which are likely to come under the general +management of the trustees of the Public Library of Cincinnati, as +otherwise the taxpayers in the regions where they are located will be +subject to double taxation for library purposes, and, moreover, there +seems to be a consensus of opinion among those who are interested in the +branches which have come under the wing of the central institution that +they have found the change to their advantage. + +Hamilton County is not a flat region. The old part of the city of +Cincinnati is located on what might be called the river bottoms, though +the land is, most of it, at a safe height above the river floods. Half a +mile or a mile back from the river there are sharp rises of four hundred +or five hundred feet to the hill tops, on which the newer portions of +the city are built. Again, these hill tops are not tablelands but are +cut here and there by deep gorges. The hilly character of the county +adds to the difficulty of transportation. It is slow work for a wagon to +climb the steep ascent from the old city to the suburbs. The library +does not have its own service of wagons, but depends on the local +expresses. There are portions of the county with which there is no +regular system of communication by stage or express. It is in these +regions, more or less inaccessible, though not uninhabited, that the +authorities of the library have placed travelling libraries. Twelve of +these travelling libraries were sent out in March of this year. In each +library there are 62 or 63 books. New books were purchased for the +purpose, books of a character likely to interest the readers, the new +novels with a 40% sprinkling of the best classed literature. The +travelling libraries were arranged in three circuits of four each. Each +library containing 62 or 63 books, the four libraries in a circuit +contain 250 volumes. The books in circuit A are the same as those in +circuit B and as in circuit C. The libraries were placed with school +teachers. Right here a difficulty has arisen on account of the closing +of the schools for the summer. The country schools have rather long +vacations. Some of the teachers are willing to care for their libraries +during the summer and see that they are open to the patrons. Some are +not in a position to undertake this work. For the summer months there +has been a gathering of these 12 travelling libraries at less than 12 +stations. The idea has been, in general, that one of these travelling +libraries should remain about six months at a station before it is moved +on. + +The Public Library has also sent out 36 travelling libraries to the 36 +fire companies of the city. Each of these smaller travelling libraries +contains 20 volumes and they have been moved more rapidly than the +larger travelling libraries sent to the remote parts of the county. The +deliveries to the delivery stations vary. With some there is a daily +delivery, with others triweekly, for a few twice a week and there are +two which have but one delivery a week. + +There are a good many women's clubs in Hamilton County, Ohio. Last +winter we received programs from 37 of these clubs, and reading lists +were prepared on these programs by the cataloging department. A club +alcove was set aside and an attendant assigned to aid any of the members +of the clubs visiting the library for study on the papers which were to +be read. We have not attempted to send out selected lots of books for +the clubs in the suburban districts. Much better work can be done for +the readers if they will only come to the central library; and it +cripples the resources of the library to scatter its reference books far +and wide. We have sent such selected lots of books for limited periods +to the university for the use of the students and professors, but, in +general, for such reference work the policy has been to encourage the +use of the central library. + +This brings me to the consideration of whether there is any advantage in +the system of county libraries. No very great expense is involved in a +journey from the most remote corner of Hamilton County to the central +library in the city. Those who are intent upon serious study can, in +most cases, make a journey of 15 or 20 miles. At the central library +with a concentration of financial resources there can but be a more +valuable collection of books. On the other hand, it is perfectly +feasible for the officers of the library to visit even the most remote +portions of the county and by personal interview estimate the character +of the people whom they have to serve; with the result of a more +intelligent distribution of books in the outlying districts. Serious +study is provided for at the central library, while desultory reading is +supplied through the delivery stations and travelling libraries. + +Dr. STEINER: It seems to me that it depends somewhat upon your unit of +local government as to how much you need a county library. I should +think in Massachusetts or Connecticut the county library would be rather +an unfortunate enterprise, unless used in connection with the town +libraries. But in many of the southern states the county library is +going to be almost indispensable. With us the unit of local government +is the county, except in the case of the incorporated municipality. +There is a county in Maryland with 75,000 people without a single +municipality. The county commissioners attend to the minutest details of +administration in that county. It is manifestly unwise that the state +should take all the functions of the local library. But it seems that in +the states where we have no township system, or where the township +system is little developed, the county library is at present a +necessity. + +Mr. DEWEY: How do you support the schools? + +Dr. STEINER: By a county tax. We have school districts; but their only +function is to have district trustees, appointed by the county +commissioners, whose duty it is to take care of the school house and +appoint teachers. The taxes are raised by the county. It is the same in +other southern states, so far as I know. + +W. T. PORTER: Mr. Hodges has said that the Public Library of Cincinnati +was a county library. Possibly that was a little misnomer, in that the +library still remains the Public Library of Cincinnati, but we have +extended the privileges of that library to the county at large. That was +done under act of legislature of 1898, continuing the board of trustees +of the public library in office, and then authorizing that board of +trustees to make a levy upon the county for the maintenance of the +library. + +Miss STEARNS: How much of the county is embraced outside of the city of +Cincinnati? + +Mr. PORTER: We have about 14 townships outside of Cincinnati township. +Our county is possibly 28 miles in extent. + +Miss STEARNS: Then it is a small county that you supply? + +Mr. PORTER: It is a small county, but the population is extensive. We +commenced the county delivery system in June, 1899. Up to the present, +and through the stations alone, there have been about 7500 new +registrations, and we are to-day, through our stations, carrying 20,000 +books. + +Mr. DEWEY: This question seems to be of a city library extending its +privileges. What I thought we were to talk about was whether the county +should be used as a library unit. That is quite a different matter. + +Mr. GALBREATH: But in this case the county here is the unit, and is +taxed for the support of the library. There are no other public +libraries in the county. + +Mr. DEWEY: But there is a different side to the question. Suppose you +take a rural community and establish a county library there? I think it +would be a great extravagance to maintain not only local libraries +throughout the state, but also county libraries; it is going to cost too +much. + +Miss STEARNS: Would it not be better to have a central library? + +Mr. PORTER: We have also in Ohio, something which approaches the county +idea, known as our Van Wert law. The state of Ohio, by an act, +authorized the county commissioners of any county to accept library +donations, funds, or building. Upon the acceptance of that donation the +county can be required to maintain a library within the building. In Van +Wert county, the Brumback Library building and grounds were given in +this way and the agreement was made with the county commissioners, that +they maintain thereafter a library. + +Mr. DEWEY: Our question is not whether such libraries should exist or +can exist, but are they desirable? + +Mr. HUSE: What is the use of asking questions that must be governed +entirely by local conditions? This matter must be governed by local +conditions. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: We are trying a line of rural travelling libraries in three +counties of our state, in advance of any county or state legislation. +Miss Brown, of Lucas county, and myself, in correspondence, could see no +reason why a travelling library sent to Sheridan should not go on to +another point, and to another point, and so on, and then back to +Sheridan, back to me, and then after it had made its rounds, take +another start, and so on. We tried the plan and it has worked so well +that we are now trying it in two other counties. What the development +may be I do not know, but the satisfaction and the gratitude of the +people in the small towns it reaches is worth all it has cost of extra +effort. + +Miss TYLER: The point of the plan is that the librarian of the +county-seat library is responsible for the travelling library. She +guards the books, watches over them and makes her library the point of +distribution. She distributes the books through the county, they come +back to her library for exchange, or are passed on to the next exchange, +whichever is most convenient; but they come under her direction. + +Mr. DEWEY: Let me state the point as I understand it. We are all agreed +that we must have local libraries for the people. They can go from their +homes into the library and take the books into their hands. If they are +in the city almost every day they can utilize the large city library. +When it comes to the question of sending books by mail or express we are +all agreed that each state must have a state library and its own state +commission. The question is, Should there be an intermediary point +between a state library and the local library? It seems, at first +thought, that there should be, because you would have a shorter distance +to travel, but all commercial experience is against this. Manufacturers +are closing factories all the while and paying transportation, because +they can do their work more cheaply in one place. Thus, repair of books, +checking lists, and all that kind of work can be done under a single +executive at some central point in the state more cheaply than if there +was a library in each county. In Wisconsin, with 71 counties, you would +have 71 libraries and you would have to duplicate great quantities of +books. My experience indicates that we can do this work more cheaply and +more economically by putting the books under control of a central +library. As to the extra distance, very often the identical trains that +would take the books from a county seat would have brought them from the +capital as it went through, so that they would have been received almost +without delay. Is it going to pay to introduce a new ganglion--that is, +the county library? + +Dr. STEINER: Take Baltimore county in Maryland. There is a county with +75,000 people; it has an electric lighting system, a police court, fire +engine houses; there are towns in that county of a thousand people. +There is no government in that county except the board of county +commissioners, who are as complete autocrats as the czar of Russia. +There is no municipality in the county; there is one town which has 5000 +people. You must have a county library with a county administration, +because you cannot have anything but the county library; you cannot +discriminate between one part of the county and another. That library +must send books equally to all parts of the county; you cannot put it +where the great centers of the population are, because you cannot +deprive any citizen of the county of his right to draw books. + +Mr. DEWEY: Of course, we are not discussing a peculiar condition such as +exists in Maryland. + +Dr. STEINER: It is not a peculiar condition; it is the condition of at +least one-third of the United States. + +Mr. GALBREATH: It seems to me that there is nothing peculiar about this +condition. Of course, it differs from conditions in the north, but it +includes a state government, to which the county is subordinate, and if +I understand Mr. Dewey, it is his purpose to do this work from the state +as a center, and the question he has raised is whether it is better to +do it from the county as a center, or from the state as a center. I +think that in our state it would be well to use the county as a center, +for a time at least. However, I believe that in our state "benevolent +neutrality"--to apply the term that Mr. Putnam used the other day--on +the part of the state librarian toward these matters would be more +effective than "benevolent assimilation," and we hope for much from the +county library system. + +Mr. DEWEY: It is a question of what we should encourage. Is it wise to +do this work by the county unit or the state unit? It is largely an +economic question. How can you give the people the best reading for the +least amount of money? + +R. P. HAYES: In North Carolina we have practically nothing in the +library field and the question is, shall we try for county library +development or state library development? I would like to get some +definite word on that. + +Dr. STEINER: It seems to me we should try distinctly for county +libraries. In the southern states at least there is no question about +it; you have got to have county libraries. I started with the idea of +the local township libraries, but we must wait until we have a township. +My idea is, in any county wherein there are no incorporated +municipalities or where the incorporated municipalities do not care to +support libraries, the county library is the proper thing. In the south +the county takes the place of the town in New England; it is the taxing +unit, the unit in which all the local administration is carried on. + +Mr. HUSE: It seems to me that for the south, as stated by the gentlemen +here from Maryland and from North Carolina, the county system is very +probably the best one; but in New England we could not work by a county +unit, any more than the people of North Carolina and even further down +south could run a toboggan slide nine months in the year--they would not +have the ice; we haven't the counties. At least, we have the counties, +but they are of no importance to us except to have court houses, and +courts of justice. Now, each state must solve this problem according to +its own conditions and according to the desires and enthusiasm of its +own workers. The gentleman from Maryland, I haven't any doubt, will soon +have the county system operating fully and successfully in his state, +and the same will be true in North Carolina and throughout the south; +whereas in New England it won't be done because the county is not a +unit. In Wisconsin and New York, Mr. Dewey and Mr. Hutchins, and the men +and women who know more than they do, will run the library system +safely; whether it is state or county. But we cannot adopt any general +rule or take any general expression of opinion, for the people in each +state must work out their own salvation according to their own +condition. + +Mr. DEWEY: There are a number of other topics that have been specially +asked for. + +Can state commissions provide travelling libraries for hamlets which +furnish the money, and make such hamlets travelling library stations? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I wish to say a few words on that question. All through +Wisconsin, when we started travelling libraries, some people found that +there was a chance to make money by using the idea in a commercial way. +They went to communities which had heard of the travelling libraries, +raised $150 or so for "subscription" and then sent about ten dollars' +worth of books once in six months. Now, the plan we have worked out may +be best described by this illustration: about a year ago Miss Stearns +heard that there was a little hamlet of fishermen far up in the state on +a point which juts out into Lake Michigan. It included about a hundred +people who had heard of the travelling libraries, but they did not want +to be indebted for a gift or a charity, and so they had a series of +entertainments, and raised fifty dollars. They sent the money down to us +and we agreed to buy a library in their name. That library was the +contribution of the fishermen of the hamlet of Jacksonport, and the +hamlet was made a travelling library station. You can see how such a +method works out. The second point is, that in communities where there +are a hundred people or so, and conditions are favorable, we offer to +give them travelling libraries on condition that they establish +permanent public libraries on lines that are satisfactory to us. We take +care of the travelling libraries and they take care of the local +libraries. + +It seems to me, that in this method we have struck finally the correct +principle, the principle of self-support. The state takes the money and +gives trained service in the selection of the books, in taking care of +them, and in keeping the books travelling around their circuit. The +citizens pay for their books, and have the feeling that they belong to +an organization. More than all, when they are collecting their library +fund, giving their little "dime socials," contributing two dollars or +five dollars apiece, they are advertising that library, and it seems to +me that the library that is coming to them that way means far more than +the library that is given to them as a charity. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Mr. Hutchins, how often do the communities raise that +fifty dollars? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: They raise fifty dollars once, and for that the state +engages to send them libraries during the life of the library given by +them, which we estimate to be about six years. + +Mr. DEWEY: What shall be the unit of circulation--the cataloged library +or the single book or combination? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: We have tried both in Iowa. One of the twins is growing +faster than the other, and of course that is the hopeful one. + +Mr. DEWEY: Which one is that? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: That is the individual, or the single book as the unit, +rather than the travelling library; but I believe that the shelf-listed +library will always exist. The shelf-listed library of 50 or 25 books +must be a necessity in the communities where there are no libraries, and +I am sorry to say that there are a great many communities of that sort; +but the communities in which there are libraries are increasing, and +wherever there is a local library, or wherever there is a woman's club, +there the single book can be used to the best advantage. There are +disadvantages in the use of the shelf-listed library. Before we adopted +the new system, we often had requests for library no. 38 or no. 53, and +later found that the request arose from the fact that there was a single +book, or perhaps two books in that library, that some one wanted, while +the rest of the volumes would come back comparatively unused. That was +not good business economy. We might better have sent those two books, +and I became more and more impressed with this fact, and was finally +able to partially adopt the other plan. We have now perhaps 2000 books +on our shelves that are issued separately; but we have nearly 5000 tied +up in libraries. Both classes are in use, but the expense to the local +library of getting our collection of 50 books for the sake of using +perhaps two volumes is unnecessary. I am more and more impressed with +the fact--though the remark may be unorthodox--that there is prevalent a +little fad for spending money for administration, and spending it not +always economically. I believe in spending money freely for +administration that is approved by good common sense; beyond that it is +a woful waste of money. And so I would keep the use of the single book +in mind. The women's clubs as you know, are studying more and more, and +are doing less and less miscellaneous reading. Suppose we are trying to +meet the wants of the women's clubs. We put up a library covering the +Victorian period in literature, and we find that some one wants a +certain number of books on the lake poets. What is the use of sending +the entire library? We may have a library made up on the lake poets. +Then, suppose one librarian or one secretary writes for what we may have +on Coleridge, another wishes material on Wordsworth. Why not send the +Coleridge books to the one, and the Wordsworth books to the other? In +that way, make the books count. We should not be penurious in the matter +of expenditure for cases or for printing, or for any other working +tools, but we should always keep in mind that the essential thing is the +book, and if we can get on without the book case, or without the cover +that envelops it, or without the shipping case, or without the +combination book case and shipping case, all the better. We cannot get +along without them altogether, but we can send small packages all over +the state wrapped in paper, and can get rid of a great deal of expense. + +Mr. DEWEY: When you send ten books, of course send them in paper, but +when you send 50 or 100, send them in boxes; that is cheaper. This is a +mere shipping question. + +Adjourned. + + + + + WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND WOMEN'S CLUBS IN ADVANCING + LIBRARY INTERESTS: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +The work that can be done by state library associations and women's +clubs to advance library interests was considered in a "round table" +meeting, held in the assembly room, Fountain Spring House, on the +morning of Wednesday, July 10. Miss MARILLA WAITE FREEMAN presided as +chairman. + +Miss FREEMAN: At the Montreal conference last year a round table meeting +of officers of state library associations was held for the discussion of +questions affecting association work. Certain subjects, some of which +were informally discussed at that time, seem naturally to invite our +attention at the present session. We are to consider the object and +functions of state library associations--whether they should attempt +other lines of effort than the holding of a general meeting; what +principles as to time and place of meeting, topics, and participants +should govern the preparation of a program. With this general subject +has been joined the allied topic of the work of women's clubs in +advancing library interests. Few of us fully comprehend even yet the +amount of effective library extension work which has been and is being +accomplished by club women in almost every state of the Union. I have +asked representative members from some of the states which have been +working along these lines to tell us of their work. We shall hear first +from Mr. J. C. Dana, of the City Library, Springfield, Mass., the +Western Massachusetts Club, and the Massachusetts Library Club, on + + + WHAT THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD BE. + +J. C. DANA: Perhaps the chief purposes of a state library association +are to arouse an interest in libraries among the public and to increase +the knowledge and enthusiasm of the members of the profession. The +mistake is often made of thinking that the chief purpose of an +association is to hold an annual meeting. It is thought that the annual +meeting once provided with a good program, and that well carried +through, the work of the association for the whole year is done. There +could not be a greater mistake. The benefits of a state association come +largely from correspondence between members, the preparation for the +meeting, and the securing of ideas, new methods and statistics by +circulating letters among members, and the publication in newspapers and +elsewhere of notes about the meeting which is to come and the meetings +which have been. One is almost tempted to say that a library association +performs its duty better if it is active during the year--carrying on +correspondence and thoroughly advertising itself--and holds no meeting +whatever, than it does if it holds an annual meeting and does not +advertise. + +Another mistake common to those who organize state library associations +is to suppose that they are chiefly designed for the benefit of those +who organize them. They do not realize that to help younger and less +experienced members of the craft is a chief purpose of the association, +and that if through it librarians generally are informed and encouraged, +the profession itself is thereby improved, and they are themselves +advanced in general esteem. + +It is, then, an association's business to be active all through the +year, to devote itself largely to such work in and between its meetings +as will benefit both beginners and past-masters among librarians, and, +always, properly to advertise its work. Along this last line let me say +an urgent word in favor of good printing. It is difficult to +overestimate the value to an institution like a library association of +an exhibition of itself, through all its circulars and programs and +lists, by means of the best printing that money can buy. + +The general state association, being the largest and richest of all +associations in a given state, should take upon itself some large +definite work of permanent value and as far as possible of general +interest; say the compilation of historical material, the making of a +useful index, the issuance of popular lists, etc., etc. This work may +continue along the same line for several years, ending in the +publication of something thoroughly worth while which shall have been +the means of arousing interest in the profession itself and of bringing +the members of it into touch with one another month by month and year by +year. + +As to the place of meeting of the state association, I doubt if much +benefit accrues, on the whole, from meetings held in remote places for +missionary purposes. I say this, of course, on the supposition that the +meetings thus held, being at places difficult of access, will not +generally draw a large gathering. Better results can generally be +reached in these same small communities by sending to them occasionally +one or two active representatives of the association to carry on a +little propaganda work, speak before a woman's club, before the school +teachers, or a local literary society on the local library problems. + +About the programs of association meetings, it is difficult to say +anything which will have general application. They must, of course, to a +considerable extent, fit local conditions. I do not think it advisable +to give up much time to local speakers, either for words of greeting or +for historical sketches. These latter are generally unspeakably dull. On +the other hand, if popular interest in a place is desired a local +speaker may be the one best means available for accomplishing your +object. + +Associations which are attended, as so many are, by librarians of +smaller libraries who rarely get abroad and do not often have an +opportunity to meet their fellows and to expand in the social atmosphere +of the library meeting, should cultivate to the greatest possible extent +what one may call the conversational feature. Not only should ample +opportunity be given before and after and between the sessions for +informal talks, but a portion of the formal gathering itself should be +devoted to brief and rapid exchange of ideas. This can be brought about +by a little preliminary wire-pulling. Let some one briefly open a topic, +and then let questions be offered, some of them by the most diffident of +those present who have previously been posted as to what they are to ask +and when. Manufacture a little spontaneity by way of an ice-breaker, and +it is surprising how freely genuine spontaneity will then flow. It is +unquestionably of great value to a librarian who is unselfishly giving +her energy to a small library in a remote place, trying to make her +books of use, to be able to express herself, no matter how briefly, on +some of the matters which touch her work at home. + +A state association should draw out the diffident; cheer the discouraged +ones; magnify our calling; compel public attention to the value of +libraries; be active the whole year through; and always keep a little +ahead of the general library progress in the state. + +Miss ELLA MCLONEY: It is unquestionably true, as has been stated, that +the annual meeting of a state library association is not the whole of +the work that must be done through the year. It is possibly only an +incident, but the fact is that in the nature of things the work of +preparation for this meeting must be carried on during at least half the +year. The preparation of the programs requires a great deal of +correspondence, and this must extend over a great part of the state and +during a great part of the year. Whenever any circulars or announcements +are issued, they should be sent to every library in the state; it does +not matter whether that library is likely to be represented or not, it +should have information as to the work that is being done by the state +association. + +So far as advertising a library is concerned it seems to me a good deal +of a problem. Of course, library people, like other people, need the +help of the newspapers, but if you want to get the newspapers interested +in libraries it will have to be on the strength of something more than +what libraries are going to do. In other words, it will have to be +something that the newspapers can take up as news and feel that the +public are interested in; they want material that is fresh and newsy, +and if you can furnish them with that, then the newspapers will be +willing to help. + +As to the printing of programs and other material, I am hardly prepared +to say that library associations should always have the best and most +expensive work. It is a proper thing, theoretically, to appear before +the public in the handsomest and most suitable dress possible, but when +every 25 cents is of importance and your treasury is practically empty, +and there is no one upon whom you can legitimately draw to fill it, I +think you must limit your work accordingly. + +About definite work to be done, it is true of a library association, as +of any other association, that it should do something that will furnish +a reason for its existence. In most cases the most definite thing, if +you are beginners in association work, will be the task of gaining a +foothold; but the time will probably come when it will be necessary to +undertake some definite work, that the life of the association may be +prolonged and finally assured. The Iowa association, for its first three +or four years, was a very frail child, and required most careful +nursing; but finally, about the fourth year, it began to seem as if +there was very good prospect of its growth and development. Miss Ahern, +whom Illinois has claimed for the last five years, and who was at that +time interested in the Iowa work, devised the plan of establishing a +four years' course of library study, an ambitious undertaking in the +condition of affairs in Iowa then. This was printed in a neat folder, +which was sent to every library in the state, with a circular telling +them what the plan was, and that the library association wished the +librarians of the state to enter upon this four years' course of study, +and asked all who would pledge themselves to do so to come to the next +meeting with their report of the work. I received seven letters in +response to all this circular work, and when the time for the annual +meeting came there was no one there to report. Librarians were too busy, +too far apart, and too poorly paid, to permit the work being carried on +systematically. It was dropped at that point; I think it could be done +now, and it may be taken up yet. It did furnish a common bond, although +the results were not very evident just then. + +The next thing, as has been the case with many other associations, was +the work of securing the library commission. We pegged away at that for +five years before we accomplished anything. Finally the State Federation +of Women's Clubs interested itself; we secured the commission, and the +work has been going on exceedingly well for the past year. We have made +no plan yet for further definite work, but some need will doubtless +develop. + +In regard to programs, they must, of course, as Mr. Dana said, be +adapted to local conditions, and the people who are primarily the +workers in the state association, cannot expect personally to get much +from the program or from the work of the association. But it is probably +true in most cases that these workers have opportunities of visiting +other libraries, and have facilities for work that are not open to the +librarians in the smaller places. The librarians of the smaller +libraries should be given something definite, something technical, +something that will be of help to them in the work from a professional +point of view. + +As to place of meeting, the Iowa meetings were always held in Des +Moines, the capital city, until two years ago. Then it was decided to +make the library association a movable feast. We met at Cedar Rapids +two years ago, last year at Sioux City, where we had a good meeting, +although not largely attended. Sioux City is in the extreme western part +of the state, and is not easily accessible by railroad, but we drew a +little from South Dakota, which was what we had counted on; some Dakota +people came and joined the association, and two of those people have +attended this A. L. A. conference. We meet next in Burlington, where +there are more libraries in the locality, and we expect a larger +attendance. I suppose the ideal condition would be to meet in some +central place, where there are library facilities, but I believe it is +worth while to move the association about; that is one way of +advertising it. + +Miss OLIVE JONES: I fully believe that the greatest work of the state +association it does through the librarians individually. It is of help +in the state in bringing out different lines of work, and in keeping the +library work before the public; but, after all, do we not gain more from +individual effort than from anything else? In educational problems, it +is coming to be realized that the work of the individual means more than +the work of any body of people, and I am fully convinced, if we can +bring librarians to our state associations, and have an association full +of enthusiasm and that intangible something which we call library +spirit, we will have more done for the state at large than by any +devising of general work along large lines. I would make a special plea +that in deciding where to meet, you should consider first the +librarians, and settle a pleasant place for the members who meet +fellow-workers only once a year. There are librarians who have no +vacation at all, except when their board kindly allows them to go to the +state association meeting; there are librarians who never know +personally anything of this larger work done all over the country, and +we should not ask such persons to come to a place where they are not +going to be comfortable, and which they must spend a good deal of money +to reach. We must be sure of having something for the librarians of the +smaller libraries; something technical, not too much, but something +which the librarian can take away, feeling that it has been worth while +to attend. I am not certain that we could have library instruction in +Ohio; we tried it and it did not seem to work; but if you can introduce +in the program one or two definite, technical papers, it is a good +thing. And at the same time give a chance for sociability and some +social entertainment. + +There is one other point, and that is in regard to the advertising that +we can do through individuals--you see my point is individualism. I +believe in newspaper advertising, but I think if you can work up a good +mailing list through your state, sending all your circulars to +individuals, you will do more than by newspaper advertising. And it is a +good thing to get one library in each city to keep a list of every one +in that city who ought to be specially interested in library work, +whether members of the association or not. Then let that librarian send +to the secretary of the association a duplicate of that list, so that +everything the state association issues goes to each person who should +be interested in library work. + +W. R. EASTMAN: In New York we are going through a little transition +period in state library association work. Formerly our state association +held occasional meetings in different places. It held one in midwinter +in New York City, with the New York Library Club. Then in the summer or +spring we held a meeting in the central part of the state. We tried to +make our programs as practical as could be, discussing not only +occasional technical points, but elementary points as well. We always +had good meetings; we got together a little circle of librarians who +were interested, and we thought the state association was worth keeping +up, although the state was so large that we reached only one or two +centers. About a year ago, under a new administration, Dr. Canfield +suggested that the annual meeting should always be held in one place. We +consented to try the plan, and decided to make Lake Placid, in the +Adirondacks, our meeting place. We met there, and the association, to my +surprise and somewhat to my disturbance, first voted always to meet in +one place, and then voted always to meet at Lake Placid. We then made a +proviso instructing the executive board to district the state into 10 or +12 districts, and lay out a plan by which every one of those districts +should have a library conference in the course of the year. Thus, +instead of one meeting of the state during a year, we are going to have +12 local conferences. Whether those local conferences will have an +organization I do not know; the board has not yet reported its plan. +Probably there will be some sort of a skeleton organization--a president +and secretary, and perhaps some one in charge of each local conference, +and then some member of the association will probably come and attend +the conference. Our object is to bring together the librarians and +library trustees for 50 miles around; if the teachers are interested, so +much the better. So, you see, we have begun to establish a system of +local conferences all over the state. It is not extravagant; it is +hopeful; I believe there is a great deal in it, especially for the +larger states. + +Miss STEARNS: I for one would protest against always meeting in one +place, unless as Mr. Eastman has described, the meeting is held at a +resort. I have known cases where meetings were held at one central, +large town, because it was so accessible; and the librarian of a little +library, who cannot have open shelves and all facilities, goes to this +town and sees its large library, with its red tape, and gets so +completely tangled up in the red tape of that institution that she will +never be able to disentangle herself. I believe in the migration of +meetings. + +H. C. WELLMAN: I am in hearty sympathy with what has been said in regard +to extending library work through the state. It is especially valuable +in the newer states of the Union, but in the older states, in New +England, in New York, and elsewhere, I think we must not attend too +strictly to the extension of library work, but must rather intensify it. +A state library association, as Miss Jones said, can do a great deal for +librarians and for the library profession. The Massachusetts Library +Club has done something in the way of giving a series of lectures, to +run two or three years. The first lecture dealt with paper making, the +subject being treated by an expert; then came book illustration, of +which most librarians knew absolutely nothing; and then, finally, book +binding, for which we had one of the best binders of the state to come +down and show us the tricks of the trade. You are all library school +graduates out here; but in the effete east nine-tenths of the librarians +have not had that technical training. I do not know anything that was of +more practical good to our club membership than that lecture on library +binding. There is another thing that we ought to do, and that is to give +attention to the more scholarly side of librarianship. We are so busy +organizing, so busy spreading library ideas, that we are in danger of +losing sight of scholarship. That is something the state association can +do--in the directions of literature, bibliography, and such subjects. I +think that should be emphasized more than has been the case. In the +Massachusetts Club we are trying a similar scheme to that of Mr. +Eastman; we are going to have one annual meeting, which will take in all +the library clubs all over the state. Then, besides that, the state club +meets about three times a year in different parts of the state. + +In concluding, I want to make sure that this round table is to be +continued, and I therefore move that this assembly petition the program +committee of next year for another round table meeting on this subject. +_Voted._ + +Miss M. E. AHERN: I want to say a word about this matter of having +peripatetic meetings. In the state of Illinois we have all the library +law and all the library books in the northern part of the state, and +then there is a part of the state down in the south that they call +"Egypt." There may be some libraries there, but we have been unable yet +to induce them to take their place in the state library association. Two +years ago, after having tried for several years to get these libraries +to come into the association, we brought the association to them, and +held our meeting in East St. Louis, under the most distressing +circumstances of weather and other uncomfortable conditions; and not a +single librarian from that community attended the meeting. We tried the +same plan last year in another place in the state, and I felt when the +meeting was over that we had not done much good there. Very few of the +local people came to the meeting. Later I heard that we did some good, +but I am inclined to think that the personal efforts of the librarians +at that place did more than the association did. I am not at all a +pessimist, but in Illinois this plan has failed to interest the people +of the indifferent districts in the work that the library association +was trying to do, and I have been almost convinced that it is the proper +thing for an association to get a central point and bring librarians in +touch with the vitalizing spirit of a good library conference, rather +than to try to take the association to an indifferent community. I want +heartily to emphasize the point made by Mr. Dana about local speakers. I +have suffered more than once from these local speakers. I have a most +distinct recollection of hearing a trustee talk for one hour and a +quarter on the beautiful, magnanimous and generous efforts made by +himself to run the local library. The point made by Mr. Wellman needs to +be taken cautiously. I think there is more danger of emphasizing the +scholarly side of librarianship at state meetings than there is of not +giving it sufficient attention. The American Library Association, in my +opinion, should stand for the higher tenets of the library faith, and +the scholarly side should be more emphasized than has been the case +heretofore in the meetings of the national association. With all our +different organizations, clubs, associations, conferences, round tables, +and so on, it seems to me that the American Library Association should +take care of the technical side, and the smaller questions, that must, +indeed, be settled by local conditions, should be taken up by the state +associations. While, of course, we want to have material of a high order +presented at the state association, at the same time we must remember +that these associations reach those people who cannot be touched in any +other way; and if they have come to get light on this new topic of work +for children, or if they are on the point of reorganizing their library, +or if they are having trouble with their board, they do not take kindly +to a dissertation on printing in the 15th century. + +One thing has been left out in the various interests which have been +brought forward, and that is the part of the trustee in the state +association meetings. A librarian may have all possible inclination, and +all the enthusiasm that we can give her, but if she does not have the +co-operation and the kindly sympathy of her library board, or at least a +majority of its members, life is to her a burden. Her condition is worse +than when she did not know, and did not know that she did not know. The +state associations have not so far been open enough to the trustees. It +seems to me that this is a subject well worth taking up, and we should +try to do more for the library trustees of the state than we have done +heretofore. Necessarily they take rather a material view of the +situation, and we should try to lead them away from the dollar-and-cents +view of library work. These two things need to be emphasized--keep in +mind the small librarian, and educate the trustee. Some one has said +that we need a library school for trustees quite as much as we need a +library school for librarians, and the more I see of libraries the more +I believe that. + +Mrs. E. J. DOCKERY spoke on + + + HOW A LIBRARY COMMISSION WAS SECURED IN IDAHO. + +I bring to you an accurate and complete history of the course adopted by +the club women of my state in securing library legislation, as I +personally participated in the work with other members of the Woman's +Columbian Club, the organization that had the direct and immediate +charge of the subject. + +It is a somewhat embarrassing confession to make that Idaho, with its +area of 87,000 square miles and a population of 164,000 souls, and its +sobriquet of "The gem of the Mountains," has not a free circulating +library. I make this statement, however, to emphasize the virgin field +in which we had to labor and the munificence of our legislators when we +consider the various tax burdens are so many and the number so few to +bear them. + +Boisé City, the capital of our state, with a population of 10,000, is +the home of the Woman's Columbian Club of 200 members. This club, among +its many achievements, established and almost wholly supports a public +library of 2750 volumes at Boisé; and its members stand in the vanguard +and do yeoman's service as leaders and in the ranks in all causes to +advance the moral, intellectual and material good of all the people of +the state that has granted women equal suffrage with men. + +The club strongly urges the formation of other woman's clubs throughout +the state, and encourages at all times the organization and development +of free libraries. + +The first really effective and aggressive step of the club in this +direction, and which led to important results, was the adoption of the +free travelling library scheme. Its zealous members, by united action +and individual effort, accumulated sufficient funds to put into +circulation 15 travelling libraries with a total of 800 volumes, and +invited discussion of this work in the public press. + +At the 1899 state teachers' meeting representatives of the club, on +invitation, espoused the cause of the travelling library and libraries +generally. The demand for library cases soon exhausted the Columbian +Club's ability to respond, and then an appeal for legislative aid was +determined upon, and systematic methods, principally through the press, +were pursued to awaken public sentiment favorable to the election of +friendly legislators. + +After the election of the legislators in 1900 the Columbian Club sent +circular letters to each one, setting forth the merits of the two bills +the club had prepared and upon which its energies were concentrated, +namely: a bill creating a state library commission, and a bill +authorizing common councils of cities and governing bodies of +communities to levy a tax not to exceed one mill on the assessed +valuation of property for the establishment and maintenance of free +reading rooms and libraries. + +Similar circular letters were sent to each of the 75 newspapers +published in the state. All women's clubs were importuned to co-operate, +and also all public school officials, teachers and educators of the +state. The press responded right royally with one single exception, and +book lovers and educators of high and low degree lent their willing +assistance. Representatives of the club again appeared before the 1900 +annual state teachers' meeting, and secured an official endorsement from +that body for the proposed library legislation. The state teachers' +association, in addition, advocated a law requiring that three per cent. +of all school moneys be set aside as a fund for school libraries, to +which the club women gave their aid and which also became a law. + +At the convening of the legislature in January of this year the leaven +had begun to work, thus paving the way for the successful lobbying by +the official representatives of the Columbian Club. + +The first step was the selection of a conspicuous legislator to stand +sponsor for our bills. In this we encountered an embarrassment of riches +in capable legislative material, but finally selected Senator S. P. +Donnelly, who cheerfully assumed the duty, and exerted the full force of +his wide popularity and marked ability from the time of his introduction +of the bills until the final vote upon them. + +The club members held frequent conferences with the educational +committee of both houses of the legislature and other legislators +specially interested in educational matters, and made plain to them the +inestimable benefits of the bills we championed. + +And in this connection I desire to make graceful acknowledgment to the +library workers of Wisconsin, as it was while a resident of this state I +received from them my first library inspiration; and particularly do I +desire to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. F. L. Hutchins, whose +personal communications and generous supply of library literature +enabled us to fully present our subject and to meet all objections +raised by some of the legislators. + +Every member of the legislature, with the exception of one in the lower +house, was buttonholed, and the consequence of that oversight was +manifested on the final voting day. + +In the meantime the club requested the home papers of the legislators to +continue to urge favorable action; and the club women from all parts of +the state, by letters, personal visits and petitions to the legislators, +did likewise. + +The instinct of partisanship, a peculiarity of all legislative bodies, +was not manifested in the least. + +On the day for the final action in the Senate Committee of the Whole the +Columbian Club was notified and attended in a body, the courtesy of the +floor being extended to us. + +Imagine our consternation, when the question was submitted to an aye and +nay vote, at not a voice being raised in its favor save Senator +Donnelly's. For a few moments silence so profound that it was almost +palpable prevailed, when presently Senator Kinkaid, who was in the +chair, without calling for the nays, solemnly announced, "The ayes have +it"; and delight supplanted our agonized distress as the pleasantry at +Senator Donnelly's expense and ours dawned upon us. + +The bill was then placed upon its final passage, and the senators, who +hesitated in their support on the ground of economy only, announced that +they would vote in favor of the bill, but desired it expressly +understood that they did so because they were intimidated by the +presence of the Columbian Club. The best of spirits prevailed, and our +bill providing for a state library commission of five members, two at +least to be women, passed the senate unanimously, the president of the +state university and the superintendent of public instruction to be _ex +officio_ members and the other three members to be appointed by the +governor; and the law appropriated $6000 for the purchase of travelling +library books and the maintenance of the commission for two years. + +The bill was sent to the lower house to take its course in that body, +but we were denied the privilege of practicing intimidation there. +Immediately upon its arrival in the house a member moved that it be made +a special order of business and be immediately placed upon its final +passage, and that a polite message be sent the president of the +Columbian Club that the house would perform its solemn duties without +the assistance or coercion of that club. + +The bill passed the house unanimously save for the solitary negative +vote of the member whom, by an inexplicable oversight, we failed to +interview, and who announced he so voted for that reason. + +This library commission bill was by all odds the most conspicuous matter +before the legislature, and the enrolled bill submitted to the governor +for signature was elaborately prepared and adorned with the club colors +by the attaches of the legislature. + +The commission has been in existence three months, or more properly +speaking, less than two months, for the necessary preliminary work did +not enable us to get before the public until May. Already we have been +invited to assist and direct the formation of six libraries and to +select books for the penitentiary library, have placed in circulation 10 +new travelling library cases in addition to the 15 cases donated to the +state by the Columbian Club, and have 20 more cases in preparation. + +While the law provided for the appointment of at least two women on the +commission, the governor appointed three, two of whom are members of the +Columbian Club; and our superintendent of public instruction being a +woman, we have four of the five members, and what is more especially to +the point, they are all club women. + +Woman's clubs may with propriety, I think, lay claim to some credit for +library laws in Idaho, and yet it is significant that the reason for +their power lies in the fact that the women of our state have in their +hands the wand of progress and civilization, the most powerful and +bloodless offensive and defensive weapon on earth--the ballot. In the +hand of the frailest of our sex this powerful weapon can strike as +deadly a blow at evil or as strenuous a blow for good as it can in the +hands of the brawniest of fighting men; no moral wretch of whatever size +and strength but what the very gentlest of our number can cancel his +registered will on election day; for an aspiring public servant to dare +oppose a righteous cause means sure defeat--for womanhood inevitably +arrays itself against the hosts of error. + +The women of our state, marshalled under the leadership of women's +clubs, stood in an unwavering and united array for all our library laws +and every other law that stood for good; and there were, all told, 15 +bills affecting education enacted into laws at the last session. + +Whatever of inspiration and encouragement the success of women's clubs +in Idaho may give our sister clubs in sister states, the success of +woman's suffrage there at any rate will help to silence the scoffers' +sneers and help put this ballot-sword, forged in the workshop of right +and justice, in the hand of every woman. + +In the absence of Mr. John Thomson Miss Neisser read Mr. Thomson's paper +on + + + HOW TO SECURE A STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION. + +I am asked "How to secure a state library commission?" I answer: + +_Ask for it._ + +_Urge it on the legislature._ + +_Strive persistently._ + +Without these three methods, there is little hope of getting a library +commission or the passage of good library legislation. + +Pennsylvania has been behind every other state in the Union in the +matter of library legislation and principally because hardly any effort +was made to procure the assistance of the legislature. Outside of a +dog-tax paid over for the support and maintenance of public libraries, +under an act approved in May, 1887, no real step was taken in this state +to secure the benefits of the public library movement until 1895. In +that year, it was sought to pass an act to authorize all cities and +boroughs of the commonwealth to levy taxes and make appropriations for +the establishment and maintenance of free libraries. Unfortunately, this +bill was stoutly opposed and was finally amended so as to affect only +cities of the first class. The most important subsequent legislation was +the approval by the governor in May, 1899, of a bill providing for the +appointment of a free library commission and defining its powers and +duties. Under this act, the governor had power to appoint five persons, +who with the state librarian, constitute the free library +commission--the state librarian being _ex officio_ secretary of that +body. The commission has power to give advice and counsel to all free +libraries in the state and to all communities which may propose to +establish them, as to the best means of establishing and administering +such libraries, the selection of books, cataloging, and other details of +library management; and the commission has certain powers of general +supervision and inspection. The section closes with the following words: + +"The commission shall also establish and maintain out of such sums as +shall come into their hands, by appropriation or otherwise, a system of +travelling libraries as far as possible throughout the commonwealth." + +Legislature adjourned without making any appropriation and the +commission found itself in the position described by Dickens when Mr. +Pickwick and his friends were authorized to travel where they liked, +make such investigations as they thought good, and generally to promote +science at their own expense. The commission was authorized under the +powers conferred upon it to purchase books, provide book-cases, print +whatever matter seemed good to it, and generally develop a travelling +libraries system throughout Pennsylvania _at its own expense_. Nothing +daunted, the members of the commission met in the state library on April +25, 1900 and organized, and being absolutely without funds, efforts were +made to secure contributions from benevolent friends of the movement and +$2800 were raised from 29 persons who generously placed in the hands of +the commission sufficient funds to enable it to start the work. In a +recent circular issued by the commission, the secretary calls attention +to the fact that Ohio already had more than 800 travelling libraries and +an appropriation of $5000 per year with which to carry on the work. +Michigan has many libraries and an appropriation of from three to five +thousand dollars per year. Wisconsin has six or seven hundred travelling +libraries, and New York nearly one thousand. Every state of any +importance in the Union has established and is maintaining travelling +libraries on from three to five thousand dollars per annum. A few +travelling libraries only at present have been sent out in Pennsylvania. +These are now in use, but the commission was afraid to undertake much +work, as it did not know how soon its funds might be exhausted, and it +might find itself unable to grant the applications for travelling +libraries which are steadily coming in. + +When it is asked how to secure a state library commission the second +question how to secure an appropriation with which to carry on the work +of the commission is necessarily involved. In the case of Pennsylvania +(just brought to a happy issue,) the active interest of many of the +leading newspapers throughout the state was sought and obtained. The +editors of these papers were written to in person and a statement +describing the scope and needs of the library commission and the amount +of the appropriation hoped for was forwarded to each. With one or two +exceptions, the editors printed much of this material as news, and a +considerable number added editorials urging the importance of the +movement. More valuable help could not have been secured. The smaller +papers, which of course draw their material largely from the papers +published in the larger cities, followed suit, and practically reprinted +the same matter. Copies of the papers containing these articles were +secured, and marked copies were sent to the representatives from their +own neighborhoods. In this manner nearly three hundred of the newspapers +throughout the state were communicated with, and their assistance had a +great deal to do with the final granting of the appropriation. In this +way information was laid before thousands of citizens who would +otherwise have been uninformed on the matter. Beyond all this an +explanatory letter fully detailing the position of the commission was +sent by one of the commission to every member of the legislature and the +secretary of the commission issued the excellently prepared circular +(above referred to), several copies of which were sent to every member +of the legislature and to others. The result has been that an +appropriation of $3500 has been passed by both houses, and there is no +reason to doubt that the bill will receive the governor's signature when +the time comes for him to sign the appropriation bills for 1901-1902. + +It would be waste of time at a round table meeting like this to dwell +upon the benefits of the travelling libraries movement. The free library +commission of Pennsylvania has determined to do its utmost to develop +the movement throughout the state, and if a practical answer is to be +given to the question, How to secure a state library commission?, I +would say, Recognize the importance of the movement, strive early and +late, through the newspapers, by means of circulars and by personal +interviews, to interest the members of the legislature, and persevere +unintermittingly in impressing your needs upon those who have the power +to grant the necessary legislation and appropriation. Work early and +late and do not stop working until you have secured what you want. + +Mrs. BELLE M. STOUTENBOROUGH spoke on + + + WHAT WOMEN'S CLUBS CAN DO TO FURTHER THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY. + +I trust you will pardon me for adding the word "Nebraska" to my topic. +Six years ago last October the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs held +its second annual meeting at our state capital. Some two weeks before +the meeting Mrs. Peabody, a name familiar to every librarian in this +room, who was at that time our president, wrote me: "I am very anxious +to bring the travelling library movement before the women of our state. +Will you talk for 15 or 20 minutes on this topic before the Lincoln +meeting?" If she had asked me to talk on the study of comparative +anatomy, I should have been just as familiar with the topic, but in the +reference room of the Omaha Public Library, I held a consultation with +Poole's index, and succeeded in finding just one article on travelling +libraries; it was in the January _Forum_ of 1895, and if I am not +mistaken, it was a brief history or sketch of the traveling library +movement in New York. Here was my opportunity; what had been done in New +York, could be done in Nebraska, although upon a smaller scale, by the +Federation of Women's Clubs. I shall not forget how I trembled as I +stood before that large audience and made my first plea for a travelling +library. However, the secretary, in reporting the meeting, was kind +enough to say that the audience at once caught the speaker's enthusiasm, +and a committee was appointed for the formation of plans for a +federation travelling library. A hundred dollars was subscribed, and +sixty books purchased and sent out to eight clubs that first year. I +know it seems like a small beginning to-day, but it was serious, +earnest, and full of possibilities, and to-day the work is an +educational factor in our state. I believe that these books which have +gone out to the club women have not only enabled them to pursue certain +lines of study, which otherwise it would not have been possible for them +to have taken, but they have created in the minds of other members of +the family a desire to possess good reference books. These books are +sent out from my own home. The clubs receiving them are at no expense +except in paying express charges for their return. The work is supported +by voluntary contributions, and as to the salary of the librarian, she +is paid over and over again in the thankful letters which she receives +from the people who are using the books. + +In 1897, the Nebraska Library Association succeeded in introducing a +bill in the legislature, creating a library commission for travelling +libraries. It passed the lower house, and went into the senate, where it +was "lost to sight, though to memory dear." In 1899, nothing daunted, +the Nebraska Library Association was there again with its library bill. +It passed the lower house, but it never reached the senate. Last June, +the National Federation of Women's Clubs was held in the city of +Milwaukee. Mrs. Buchwalter, of Ohio, the chairman of the program +committee, planned for a bureau of library instruction or information, +and this bureau was located in an upper room in the Milwaukee Public +Library. The presiding genius in the room was Miss Stearns; I always +think of her as the pioneer travelling library woman of the northwest. A +clubwoman from Nebraska was in attendance at that meeting and instead of +spending her time listening to the program, she passed the greater part +of the week in that upper room, and there she learned the work which is +being done by women's clubs throughout the length and breadth of our +land in this library field, and she went back to Nebraska determined, if +possible, to secure legislation for free travelling libraries in the +coming year. It was a strange coincidence, that last October the +Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs again held their annual meeting at +our state capital, and as before, the same woman who had presented six +years before to that meeting, a plan for a Federation travelling +library, was there to present a plan for free travelling libraries and a +state library commission for Nebraska. The plan was formally and +unanimously adopted, and a committee was appointed to co-operate with +the Nebraska Library Association to secure legislation. In all this +work, we never had any one who assisted us more ably than Mr. Wyer, the +librarian of the state university, who was never too busy to advise us +or to see a man that we could not reach, and he it was who drafted our +bill and saw it through. To make a long story short, the first thing we +did was to send out circulars suggesting that "a library day" be +observed in the clubs; this library day was generally discussed +throughout the state. Then we sent a petition which was circulated, not +only in the towns, but among the farmers and their wives; and finally +one March morning I received the following telegram: "Rejoice and be +exceeding glad"--and I have been rejoicing ever since, for house bill +no. 20, carrying with it an appropriation of $4000 for free public +libraries, for free travelling libraries, and for the state commission, +had passed, not only the lower house, but the senate. It received the +governor's signature, and it means we are to have travelling libraries +in Nebraska. + +Miss FREEMAN: Mrs. Morris, of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and +the General Federation of Women's Clubs, will be unable to be with us +this morning on account of illness. We are, however, fortunate in being +able to hear from Mrs. Youmans, the president of the Wisconsin +Federation of Women's Clubs. + +Mrs. YOUMANS: I cannot possibly fill Mrs. Morris' place, but I should +not like to have this subject discussed without Wisconsin being +represented. + +We may gather from the deliberations of this association, that Wisconsin +keeps a prominent place in library work among the states of the Union. +If this is so, and I do not doubt it, it is, as we all know, due to the +enthusiasm and energetic efforts of the Free Library Commission, and +this commission will assure you that its members have had no more +enthusiastic allies than the club women of the state. Work for libraries +was the first work undertaken by Wisconsin women's clubs--the first work +outside of their regular literary programs--and since the organization +of the federation in 1896, it has been one of its most prominent lines +of work. I suppose there are few clubs among the 150 in the federation +that have not done something, sometimes important and sometimes +unimportant, for the library movement. They have established libraries +and free reading-rooms; they have helped to support libraries; they +have made donations of books and money; they have sent out travelling +libraries on their errands of usefulness; and they have also sent out +travelling reference libraries especially for the uses of the study +clubs. The federation at the present time is making a special effort +toward securing as many of these travelling reference libraries as +possible. The club women in the interior of the state have very +inadequate reference facilities; we have now only six or seven of these +reference libraries, and we feel comparatively rich that we are soon to +have half a dozen more. + +A great many of the public libraries in Wisconsin are due directly to +efforts of club women. The public library of Waukesha is due directly to +the efforts of a little coterie of club women; they started seven years +ago, with prospects that could not possibly be called brilliant. They +kept the library going for seven years from one month to another, in +some way securing the money, and finally the burden was taken from their +shoulders by the city council. Now, the library is not large; it is not, +from a technical point of view, fine; and it certainly lacks many things +that we hope to have in the future; but it has 2500 volumes, generally +read and much valued by the people, it has become established as a +regular necessary part of the municipal life, and I think it is sure of +a regular though moderate support from the public funds. In a city a few +miles north of here a woman's club has a fund of $500 towards a library +building. It does not intend building a library with that sum; it does +not intend to go on earning money by rummage sales and private +theatricals; but it does expect to use that money and to use the +interest of the members of the club as a center for developing library +interests in the vicinity. + +This work is illustrative of what is being done all over the state, and +it is not so much the money that the club women collect for the +libraries, nor the books they may secure, nor even the direct work that +they do; it is the feeling that they disseminate as to the value of +public libraries. The club woman, in her club work, finds the need of a +good library; her associations and connections are such that she learns +to value books more than she ever did before; she learns, too, that for +the intellectual life of her vicinity it is necessary to have a public +library; she helps to develop the public spirit that demands a public +library; she helps to bring out an atmosphere in which public libraries +germinate and grow and flourish. This, it seems to me, is the most +important part of club work among club women. This is what they are +doing in Wisconsin, and what they will continue to do. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I have been watching for years the work of the women's +clubs and their enthusiasm for libraries. They are accomplishing a great +deal, and there is just one thing I would like to say to the club women +of the country, "Plan a study club, and in a few years you get a public +library. Plan a library, and in a few years you get five study clubs." + + + CO-OPERATION BETWEEN A. L. A. AND GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. + +Miss STEARNS: The American Library Association has fallen into a most +successful alliance with the National Educational Association, as is +demonstrated by the continuation of our meeting at Detroit. Now, the A. +L. A. has never realized all that the General Federation of Women's +Clubs has done for the promotion of library interests. This is the first +time in the history of the A. L. A. that the women's clubs have been +recognized on our program, and I move that the A. L. A. Council be +requested to form an alliance between the American Library Association +and the Federation of Women's Clubs for the promotion of library +interests. _Voted._ + +In the absence of Miss MARIE S. DUPUIS, the chairman read by title her +paper on + + + THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND THE TRAVELLING LIBRARY. + +The woman's club and the travelling library seem made for each other. So +perfectly does the travelling library supply a suitable channel for the +energies of the woman's club, and so admirably does the woman's club +seem fitted for the work of sending out travelling libraries, that the +one seems the natural and perfect complement of the other. + +What a box of well-selected reading matter means to a rural community +probably only those know who have lived in a rural community without +the box. Others must draw upon their imaginations to picture farm homes +without other current literature than a weekly local paper whose "patent +inside" contains all the news they receive of the world's work; homes +where the family Bible--not always present--and the children's school +books form the only bound volumes of the family library, where even the +deservedly ephemeral literature of the daily paper and the 10-cent +magazine are unknown, though rural free mail delivery will soon alter +this. + +With numberless such communities on the one hand, we have on the other +numerous women's clubs organized for self-improvement and "mutual aid," +to use the fine phrase of Prince Kropotkin. And so closely are human +interests interwoven that "mutual aid" means self-improvement, and +self-improvement "mutual aid." It is doubtful if any form of educational +endeavor undertaken by women's clubs is so fruitful in good results as +the travelling library. It is the most practical form of educational +work as yet undertaken by these organizations. The work of the Illinois +Federation of Women's Clubs in this direction has been under the +supervision of the library extension committee of that organization. +More than one-third of the clubs of the state are now engaged in +travelling library work. The number of libraries in circulation has +doubled in the past year. + +The plan usually adopted in the formation of a travelling library is for +each member of a club to donate one or more books. A Parmelee or other +suitable trunk bookcase is purchased for the collection, usually +consisting of about 50 volumes, a record-book is provided, each volume +is furnished with a library catalog and the rules for borrowers +recommended by the committee, and the library is then ready to begin its +travels. + +Several libraries are grouped into county circuits--a unique feature of +the Illinois plan--of four or more to a circuit. Two years has been +found to be the average life of a travelling library, and a circuit of +four libraries remaining in each community for six months will thus +supply four communities with travelling libraries for two years. + +With regard to the composition of the travelling library, the committee +recommends that each library consist of about 50 volumes; that of these +one-half shall be juveniles; that fiction shall be carefully selected, +preference being given to standard works, those which have stood the +test of time; that everything of a theological bias shall be excluded; +that biographies, travels and nature studies and stories are +particularly desirable, with other suggestions for particular +communities or of a general character. We lay particular stress upon the +proportion of juveniles being at least one-half, for the reason not only +that children and young people are generally the most numerous class of +readers, but also because many adults, unaccustomed to much reading, +find juvenile literature more readily comprehensible. Considering the +fact that our libraries are almost wholly the result of voluntary +donation, it is remarkable and, indeed, extremely gratifying that the +libraries sent out are of such a high degree of literary excellence. The +outcome of the heterogeneous tastes of club members, they seem admirably +adapted to the equally heterogeneous tastes of the communities to which +they are sent. Improvement, however, is always possible, and for the +coming year we have model lists of books drawn up as guides, if not +patterns, for future libraries. + +In states where a public travelling library system does not yet exist, +the women's clubs seem excellently qualified for inaugurating and +maintaining such a system until the time comes, as it surely will, when +every state has its library commission and its travelling library fund. + + + + + TRUSTEES' SECTION. + + +A meeting of the Trustees' Section of the A. L. A. was held on July 6 in +parlor C of the Fountain House, with Dr. Leipziger in the chair and +Thos. L. Montgomery acting as secretary. There were 75 persons present. +Dr. Leipziger made an opening address, outlining the work that might be +discussed by the section. + +Mr. Soule urged the election of trustees for a term of years only, and +in the opinion of those present three years seemed the proper limit. + +The question of whether members of the board of education should be +admitted to library boards excited considerable discussion, in which Mr. +Cooke, of Iowa, Mr. Porter, of Cincinnati, Mr. Crunden and the secretary +took part. It was generally conceded that members of the board of +education should not be trustees of libraries _ex officio_, but that +there was no objection to electing them as individuals. + +Mr. EASTMAN then read his very interesting paper on + + LIBRARY BUILDINGS. + + (_See_ p. 38.) + +Mr. MAURAN, of St. Louis, spoke on + + THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN. + + (_See_ p. 43) + +Mr. Patton, of Chicago, said that the two papers showed the lack of any +antagonism between the professions. He considered it absolutely +necessary that the architect should be selected before anything else, in +order that he should be familiar with all the librarians' requirements, +and that the interior arrangement was the only matter that should be +thought of then. The plan of giving premiums is bad, because it is no +temptation to the skilled architect, but it is to the mere draughtsman. +He also thought that library architecture must become a specialty. + +Mr. Dewey asked, "What is the best way to get the combined judgment of +several architects without offence to the profession, and yet give a +proper remuneration for their labor?" + +Mr. Patton answered that there was no objection to such consultations on +the part of the profession, and that it was becoming more common every +year. The objection to competitions was that there was no expert to make +a fair decision. Competitions, as a rule, did not produce such good +results as the appointment of a well-equipped and competent architect, +to plan and oversee the work from the beginning. Under any circumstances +expert advice might be had and should generally prove useful, especially +when members of a library board were not prepared to give thorough +attention to the architectural problems. Personally, he had often been +employed as consulting architect, just as a physician might be called in +that capacity. + +Mr. Eastman stated that in the case of the Utica Public Library $150 had +been given to each of ten architects for small sketches or outlines +incorporating the requirements of the board. + +Mr. Dewey thought that every state commission should have an expert, to +whom should be referred all suggestions for plans for libraries, in +order that the bad features may be called to the attention of the +library board. In the case of very large institutions the national +library should be appealed to. + +This was by far the most interesting meeting that has been held by the +section, and the interest taken in the discussion promises well for the +future meetings. + +Dr. Leipziger declining to serve as chairman, and the secretary having +declined the nomination, Mr. D. B. Corey was elected chairman and T. L. +Montgomery secretary for the ensuing year. + + THOMAS L. MONTGOMERY, _Secretary_. + + + + + PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN BIBLIOGRAPHY: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +An informal "round table" meeting for the consideration of present and +possible methods of professional instruction in bibliography, was held +on the morning of Monday, July 10, in one of the parlors of the Fountain +Spring House. A. G. S. JOSEPHSON was chairman, and J. I. WYER, Jr., +acted as secretary. + +The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m. by Mr. JOSEPHSON, who +opened the session with a paper on + + + A POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIBLIOGRAPHY. + +In looking over the various definitions of the word bibliography, I have +found two main groups, one narrow, one broad. + +The narrow definition has been thus expressed by Prof. C V. Langlois: +"Bibliography is the science of books. As library economy treats of the +classification, the exterior description of books, of the organization +and history of libraries; as bibliography treats of the history of the +book as a manufactured product (printing, bookbinding, bookselling); so +bibliography in the precise meaning of the word, is that particular part +of the science of the book which treats of the repertories and which +provides the means of finding, as promptly and as completely as +possible, information in regard to sources." + +As an example of the broad definitions I choose the one by M. E. Grand +in "La grande encyclopédie" He defines bibliography as "the science of +books from the point of view of their material and intellectual +description and classification," and goes on to say that "there are +three principal things to be considered in the study of bibliography: +classification of books, ... (_bibliographical systems_); description of +books (_bibliographical rules_); and the use of _bibliographical +repertories_." + +If we compare these two definitions we see that here the same word has +been used for two distinct subjects, the one of which includes the +other. Without here going deeper into the intricacies of these +definitions, I will, for the purpose of this discussion, accept the +broader of the two. + +The question what instruction in bibliography should contain is already +answered in the above definition itself. + +The study of _bibliographical systems_ for classification of books +presupposes the study of the theoretical systems of classification of +knowledge and this presupposes the study of the history of the sciences. + +_Bibliographical rules_ govern the practical art of book description, +what is technically known as cataloging. There are various codes of +rules, more or less arbitrary, as they are more or less the outcome of a +compromise. But under all arbitrariness one will discern some underlying +theory as to what a description of a book should contain. Such theories +are founded on the practice of printing and publishing: thus the +intelligent study of bibliographical rules presupposes the study of the +history of printing and publishing. + +_Bibliographical repertories_ contain the systematic records of printed +documents and the study of these repertories is what is called +bibliography in the narrow sense. While the branches of study previously +referred to may by some be regarded as of less value to the librarian +there is surely none who will deny the necessity of his being thoroughly +familiar with the literature of bibliographical repertories. However, I +do not think that I am alone in the contention that all the different +branches of bibliography in the broader sense are of the utmost +importance to the librarian. + +Dr. Dziatzko has pointed out that in such an eminently practical +occupation as that of the librarian it is particularly important not to +neglect altogether some kind of theoretical studies. There can be no +studies of greater importance to the librarian than those just +enumerated, namely, history of literature--the word taken in its +broadest sense--history of the book in all its phases, and the study of +bibliographical literature. + +The library schools have done much to encourage the professional spirit +of librarians and to develop the technical side of their work. It is, +however, felt that something more is needed, something that a +professional school or a training class cannot give, namely, solid +bibliographical scholarship. This can, in my opinion, not be acquired +except at a university with a faculty of specialists and an extensive +equipment of bibliographical literature as a part of a large university +library. + +A post-graduate school of bibliography, such as I have in mind should +offer instruction to two classes of students. The one class would be +students in the other branches of instruction who would select as a +minor one of the subjects offered by the school, and who should be +required to pursue in the school the bibliographical study of their main +topics and the preparation of the bibliographies that should be required +as a necessary accompaniment to every dissertation. The other class +would consist of persons wishing to prepare themselves for the +professional work of the librarian and bibliographer. They would choose +as their majors the studies offered at this school, and could choose as +a minor any other scholastic subject. It would be of great importance to +the would-be librarian, could he, while pursuing his special studies, be +allowed to do university work in some other subject of his choice, such +as literary history, philosophy, American history, mathematics, or the +like. + +As thorough bibliographical knowledge is the foundation for the work of +the librarian, the central subject of instruction in the school should +be the study of bibliographical repertories and of the record +literature. This study should include seminar work in the handling of +literary tools, in hunting up references on special questions, and in +the preparation of bibliographical lists. This leads to the study of +bibliographical methods. The principles of book description should be +discussed, the leading codes of rules studied comparatively, their +merits and defects discussed, but none should be taught as the one to be +absolutely followed. + +History of printing and bookselling comes next, preceded by an +introductory consideration of palæography, particularly that of the 15th +century. The steps leading to the discovery of printing with movable +types, and the spread of the art over the world should be followed. +Examples of the products of the first printing presses should be studied +and described. Of later periods in the history of the book the most +important seem to be the later 16th and the 17th centuries in England, +and the 19th century in Germany. + +A parallel study with that of the history of printing might be +classification of knowledge and of books, with the history of science. +The student might well be given his choice between these two topics, +while that of bibliography in its narrower sense should be required of +everyone. The history and interrelation of the various sciences is a +subject of great importance not only to the classifier, but to the +library administrator in general. It should be covered by special +lectures by the representatives of the various sciences, connected by a +theoretical course in the theory of classification, and followed by +seminar work in classification of books. + +A course preparing for the professional work of librarianship cannot be +complete without the study of library administration. While we are not +particularly concerned with this to-day, it should be said that this +subject would naturally be a required one, and would cover particularly +the history of libraries and of the methods of library administration. +The technical training in the minor topics of library economy would not +have any place in a school of this description. + +I had hoped to be able to present at this meeting some statements from +university authorities in regard to the establishment of a post-graduate +school of bibliography at some university. I have not, however, +succeeded in getting any statement of such definiteness that I can +present it here. I can only say that the president of one of the larger +western universities seems to look with some interest on the +proposition. A letter from Dr. W. T. Harris, Commissioner of Education, +says: + +"It is very easy for me to say that I believe post-graduate courses in +bibliography to be a most excellent thing, but whether there should be +such a school established in Washington--I have no conviction on this +question. I am not in a condition to say whether it would not be a most +excellent thing to establish such a school in connection with the +Library of Congress. Mr. Putnam is proceeding in a very intelligent +manner to make the Congressional Library of use to the whole country. +Would not a school of bibliography here in Washington have the best +opportunity to do, so to speak, laboratory work in bibliography, and +this in connection with the national library? I am not able to affirm an +opinion on this question. The subject is very important and your letter +was a letter which I wished to answer to some purpose, but I have not +been able to do it, and this is merely an explanation of why I have not +been able to do it. + + "You very well name the studies of such a school: The literature of the + subject; the use and handling of books as literary aids; + bibliographical methodology; comparative history of literature and the + sciences; classification of knowledge accompanied by the study of the + various systems of classification of books; palæography, history of + printing. + + "It seems to me that one-tenth of all the librarians educated for the + purpose of working in a library should take just such a course of + instruction as this. This would give them directive power in the most + important part of the librarian's duty." + +The secretary read a paper by Dr. JOH. LECHE describing the + + + COURSES IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OFFERED BY PROF. DZIATZKO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF + GÖTTINGEN. + +The first and so far the only professorship in the auxiliary sciences of +librarianship in Prussia was founded in 1886 in Göttingen as a +consequence of the growing importance of libraries. This professorship +has been filled since its foundation by Professor Dr. Carl Dziatzko. + +The courses of lectures given have so far been as follows: + + Library administration. + The laws of authors and publishers in the history of bookselling. + Books in the Middle Ages. + (The above courses have not been given in later years.) + Books and writing in ancient times. + History of printing and bookselling: + (_a_) previous to the Reformation. + (_b_) since the Reformation. + History and development of modern librarianship. + +The lectures are held three times a week and have the same strictly +scientific character as other university studies. + +They demand therefore real co-operation between lecturer and students, +putting before the latter, as they do, a rich and critically sifted +material which gives them, in a way, a sharp outline only which they +will fill out more or less fully according to their diligence in +carrying on their studies. The lectures are made particularly attractive +and stimulating through the exhibition of important examples of +printing, if possible original works referred to or quoted in the +lectures, etc. + +Beside these public lectures, Prof Dziatzko gives once a week a +bibliographical seminar for a smaller circle. The majority of the +members of this seminar are the library volunteers who naturally are +more numerous in Göttingen than at other Prussian university libraries. +If it is true of the public lectures that valuable results are gained +only by real co-operation of the students, these seminars directly +demand independent work of the members. A considerable part, in fact +half of the allotted time, is given to description of incunabula +according to the rules formulated by Prof. Dziatzko and published in no. +10 of his "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten." Apart from +the importance of incunabula for the history of printing, they are +particularly suited to bring out questions of various kinds relating to +bibliography and librarianship. The remaining seminar hours are given up +to reviews and papers by the members. In most cases the subjects are +selected at the suggestion of Prof. Dziatzko, but it is preferred that +the members should select their own topics. The papers deal with the +most varied subjects: questions of a purely practical nature alternate +with scientific and historical investigations of bibliographical topics. +(Several of these papers have afterwards been prepared for publication +in Prof. Dziatzko's "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten.") +The papers are followed by judicious criticism by Prof. Dziatzko and +discussion by the members of the seminar. Whatever time is left is +devoted to reading of old manuscripts, exhibition of bibliographical +rarities and curiosities, important new publications, etc. + +In connection with the palæographical studies just mentioned it should +be noted that a special seminar in palæography, given by another +professor, Dr. Wilhelm Meyer, is attended by many as a supplement to +their bibliographical studies. + +A. S. ROOT, librarian of Oberlin College, supplemented this letter with +a description of his work with Dr. Dziatzko, stating that the real +strength and power of the work consisted in the bibliographical seminar +and the work with incunabula. In this work each student has assigned to +him the work of a special city or a special press. He studies the books, +catalogs them, and submits his work to Prof. Dziatzko for review. These +papers are then discussed by the members of the seminar and sharply +criticised by Prof. Dziatzko. The new literature of bibliography added +to the library is periodically examined and discussed by the class. + +G. W. HARRIS, librarian of Cornell University, gave in outline, the +substance of a course of 15 lectures on bibliography, delivered one each +week during a half year at Cornell. The nature of these lectures is +general because in each department more or less stress is based on the +use of special bibliographies, and each thesis for an advanced degree at +Cornell must be accompanied by a satisfactory bibliography of the +subject treated. The large collection of early imprints representing +many of the different presses affords excellent opportunity to inspect +and study examples of early printing. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that +work in the bibliography of special subjects should be given by the +heads of the departments concerned. Mr. Harris gave the following + + + SYNOPSIS OF LECTURES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY. + + LECTURE. + + I. Definition--Advantages of knowledge of bibliography; Range of + bibliography; Antiquity of books. Ancient materials--Clay tablets + of Assyria, Assyrian libraries--Palm leaf books of India--Birch + bark books of Cashmere--Maya books and mss. + + II. Papyrus and its importance, preparation, grades, roll form of + books--Papyrus mss. and Egyptian literature. + + III. Papyrus paper among Greeks and Romans--Methods of bookmaking and + publishing in Greece and Rome. Writing instruments and inks--Mss. + of Herculaneum--Public libraries of the ancients--Alexandrian and + Roman libraries. + + IV. Wax tablets of the Romans--Introduction of parchment--Change from + roll form to square form of books--Results of this + change--Palimpsests. + + V. Latin palæography and various styles--Bookmaking in the Middle + Ages--Schools of calligraphy--Scriptorium and its + rules--Colophons--Monastic libraries. + + VI. Secular scribes of Middle Ages; Gilds. Art of illumination with + examples of illuminated mss.--Changes resulting from introduction + of paper--Cotton vs. linen paper--Block printing in China and + Europe--Block books. + + VII. Invention of printing--Career of Gutenberg--Earliest printed + books--Spread of the art in Germany, Italy, France, + England--Printing in America. + + VIII. Incunabula--Characteristics--Types, abbreviations, signatures, + colophons with examples. + + IX. Technical terms for sizes of books--Confusion of size and + form--Signatures, water-marks, size notation. + + X. Bindings of books--Historical sketch--Processes of book + binding--Examples. + + XI. Rare books--Fashions in books--Famous presses--Famous editions. + + XII. Illustrated books--Methods of illustration--Manuals for + collectors. + + XIII. Classification of books in libraries; various systems briefly + described, with examples. + + XIV. Catalogs and cataloging; various kinds of catalogs briefly + described, with examples. + + XV. Aids in use of the library--Reference lists--Bibliographies, + national and special, with examples. + +Prof. CHARLES H. HASKINS, professor of European history in the +University of Wisconsin, presented an outline of his + + + COURSE IN HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. + +My standpoint is that of the user, not the custodian, of books, and of +the user of historical books in particular. There is no branch of +knowledge more dependent upon bibliography than is history. The natural +sciences, for example, get their bibliographies through current journals +and their original materials in the laboratory, while the student of +history must not only cover current literature thoroughly but is +entirely dependent upon bibliographies to guide him to the primary +sources of his subject of study. There is not as yet enough definite +instruction in historical bibliography offered in American universities; +indeed, there is some vagueness as to just what historical bibliography +is. In the work at Wisconsin the course is divided into two broad +sections. The first half of the course is taken up with a general +account of the manuscript and printed collections of historical material +in Europe and America. The second half begins with a description of the +bibliographical tools which all students alike use, the national +bibliographies, and the trade bibliographies of all the important +countries, and goes on to consider the bibliographical materials +peculiar to history and of prime importance only to the historical +student. In this connection especial stress is laid upon the historical +periodicals. The aim throughout the whole course is to indicate the +nature and the range of historical material, where it is to be found, +what and where are the sources, so that the student will come to know +what he wants and where to find it. The course is given one hour each +week through a half year and is taken entirely by graduate students. The +registration is usually from 8 to 12. The work in the lectures is +supplemented by many references to articles and books. In the latter +part of the course the "Manuel de bibliographie historique" of Langlois +is used as a text in the hands of the students. The second edition of +this book, which is just out, forms an exceedingly satisfactory book for +this purpose, and is supplemented by informal comment and mention of +additional material. In this admirable little volume nothing of +importance is omitted and very little indeed which is unimportant is +included. Very much is made of the actual handling of the books by the +students. No regular system of practical exercises in connection with +this course has yet been worked out, but progress is being made in this +direction. The object is primarily to impress students with the +importance of the use of bibliographical tools. Considerable practice in +the use of bibliographies is also given in all the advanced courses in +history. + +In general I have found that much inconvenience both to students and +instructors results from the habit of secluding all the most important +bibliographies in the catalog room. If it be true that these +bibliographies are constantly needed in the catalog room, they should be +duplicated for the use of the students. This practice of seclusion would +not be worth mention did it not seem to be habitual in almost all +libraries, and I wish here to register a special plea that +bibliographies may be shelved just as publicly as any other section of +the library. + +I am much interested in Mr. Josephson's proposals for developing +bibliographical instruction in universities. It seems to me he has taken +hold of the matter by the right end, and the establishment of a course +similar to that he suggests would not only be of value to future +librarians by giving them wider opportunities for general training than +they can get in special schools, but would also prove helpful to +advanced students in all departments of study. I hope some university +will take the matter up. I am in sympathy with any instruction, formal +or informal, which brings instructors and students to a better knowledge +of how to use the library and the books. + + + COURSES AT OTHER COLLEGES. + +Mr. ROOT gave in detail the work he is doing at Oberlin in this line. He +said: + +We offer at Oberlin a course in bibliography in each college year. The +first year the work has to do with the use of libraries, with questions +of classification and cataloging, and is designed to aid the new +students in becoming familiar with the methods in use in our own library +and also with accepted methods in all well-conducted libraries. The +course in the second year has to do with the history of books and of +printing. This work is almost entirely historical. Some study is given +to the process and history of binding, with examples of famous bindings. +The third year work deals with palæography and the history and +development of handwriting, illumination, and work with manuscripts in +general. The fourth year work is in the nature of a seminar and is +devoted to instruction in bibliography. After an outline of the leading +national and trade bibliographies, problems in bibliography are handled +and discussed. The courses fill half of the college year, one lecture +per week being given. The work is entirely elective and the completion +of all of it enables a student to elect one-eighth of his course in this +subject. I should be glad to see recognition by the leading library +schools of this work, perhaps giving students advanced credit when work +has been satisfactorily done at any reputable college. + +WALTER M. SMITH, librarian of the University of Wisconsin, briefly +outlined the elementary work done there with new students, and +maintained that formal lectures were not so good as practical +instruction in the use of the library both from the librarian's desk and +from the reference desk. + +Miss SHARP, librarian of the University of Illinois, stated that a +one-hour course was given there for the general student body in the use +of the library. Regular university credit is given, but students may +attend these lectures optionally and many do so. + +ANDREW KEOGH, of Yale University Library, described a short course in +the use of the library offered at that university. Two lectures are +given, one in the class room and one in the library, accompanied with +actual demonstration with the books. Some further and more elective work +is given as graduate work at Yale, but the elementary work is compulsory +with all new students. + +A letter was read from Dr. H. P. TALBOT, of the Massachusetts Institute +of Technology, giving full description of his + + + COURSE IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CHEMISTRY. + +My attempts to interest my students in books and bibliographies are +briefly these: For one term of 15 weeks of the junior year the students +of the course in chemistry devote an hour each week (with two hours +assigned for preparation) to practice in reading chemical German. The +subject matter assigned is either from some work on general or +analytical chemistry or from some current journal. Of late I have +confined myself mostly to a work on inorganic chemistry. The purpose +here is not at all to attempt to teach German, but to assist the +students in acquiring a moderate facility in reading, that is, +sufficient to enable them to get the _essentials_ from an article, +rather than to make a finished translation. + +During the term following this, there is assigned to the class one or +more (usually two) topics, and they are required to prepare and submit +for inspection a bibliography of the journal literature upon these +subjects. This year the topic assigned to the whole class was the +"Determination of sulphur in irons and steels." The class (of 30) was +divided into squads, and to each squad a second topic was assigned, such +as "The use of sodium peroxide in analytical chemistry," "The +preparation and analysis of persulphuric acid and the persulphates," +"The recovery of molybdic acid from residues," etc. + +General directions are given as to procedure in the compilation of the +bibliography, the use of such periodicals as the _Centralblatt_ as a +starting point, and also the way to record and classify the references +found. + +This year we have used library cards for the recording of the references +for the first time, with marked success. Each card was to bear the +original reference, the _Centralblatt_ or _Jahresbericht_ reference, the +title of the article (if possible) and a very brief statement of its +contents. The cards were then to be grouped according to a +classification to be worked out by the student. + +Each student had finally about 200 cards, often with several references +on a card. They were allowed to divide the journals among the members of +a given squad, and to exchange cards. + +The results are most satisfactory. The work has been well done as a +whole, and already I hear of resolves on their part to keep up a card +catalog of interesting articles, which is a promising symptom. + +Each year for some time, I have devoted a single hour near the close of +the year to a brief discussion of books, from the point of view of the +needs of a person desiring to collect a small library. In this +connection I have put into the students hands a list of "Standard works" +citing the essential reference books on the subject, and have commented +briefly on the list. Please understand that this list is not by any +means infallible, and that there are doubtless other works just as good +as those mentioned. + +Our senior students are all required to compile a bibliography of the +literature of the subject chosen as a thesis, and to prepare a brief +review of all recorded work, before they can begin their investigation, +and the way in which they attack this work seems to indicate that the +familiarity with journals and methods gained in the work of the junior +year outlined above stands them in good stead. + +In connection with the instruction in the history of chemistry, frequent +preparation of memoirs and a study of works in this field is also +required. + +The list of books referred to in Dr. Talbot's letter was divided under +the following heads: History of chemistry, Physiological chemistry, +Organic chemistry, Technical chemistry, Agricultural chemistry, +Analytical chemistry, Biography, Dictionaries, Tables, Dyeing, Foods, +General chemistry, Toxicology. + +J. I. WYER, librarian of the University of Nebraska, outlined a course +of 16 lectures which are given there during the first semester of every +alternate year, embracing national and trade bibliography, reference +books, and thorough drill in subject bibliography. The work is primarily +given as part of the apprentices' training for the library, but is +attended by advanced and graduate students in other departments. +Regular university credit is given for the work. + +W. STETSON MERRILL, of the Newberry Library, read a paper, entitled + + + A DESIDERATUM FOR LIBRARY SCHOOLS. + +As I am desirous that you should apprehend precisely what it is that I +am to suggest as a desideratum for the library schools, I will ask to be +permitted to lead up to my point, rather than state it at the outset. + +We are all of us daily impressed with the rapidity of change and +enlargement in the arts, sciences and various achievements of knowledge +to-day. In some departments, indeed, such as the natural sciences, we +expect the accepted opinions of one decade to give place to others in +the next decade. But we perhaps hardly realize that there is a similar +progress in the historical, sociological and religious sciences, and in +the fine arts. New facts are discovered, verdicts of history are +reviewed, new schools of thought and methods of study are established; +new men, new theories, new things come up every year, almost every day. + +Now, a librarian is expected to bring the stores of knowledge to an +inquiring public; to render available the resources of accumulated +wisdom which but for him would be like gold hidden in the veins of the +rock. To perform this function requires of course primarily a certain +amount of educational training. A library assistant should be at least a +high school graduate; the librarian of a library of research should be a +college bred man, as such collegiate training will be found to his own +advantage and to that of his library. + +But how after all their training and preparation are librarians, library +workers or students of library science to keep abreast of the time? This +is really the problem in what may be called the higher education of the +library profession. It may be thought that the reading of annual +cyclopedias, periodicals and the latest treatises will suffice to keep +members of the profession posted upon all subjects of importance. Yet a +little consideration will show that by such means much time and labor +are sacrificed. A library worker reads in such a case, not for general +information, but to ascertain definite and pertinent facts of importance +to him in his special field of work. What he wishes to know are indeed +the new discoveries, facts and opinions; viewed, however, not in +themselves as events in the progress of the sciences, but as bearing +upon the classification and nomenclature of the respective sciences +which treat of them, and upon the relations which those sciences bear to +others. He needs also an up-to-date acquaintance with the great men of +the time, not in a personal way, but through the contributions which +they have made to knowledge. Otherwise he will not discern the authority +upon any given subject from a tyro or an ignoramus. A true knowledge of +bibliography does not consist merely in knowing lists of books or in +knowing where to find such lists. It implies an acquaintance with the +relative values of books as well. + +A thoroughly equipped reference attendant or cataloger should also be +familiar with the shibboleths and theories of the schools and with the +opinions of scholars upon questions of the day. Now how is he to learn +all this? He cannot learn it before he begins to study library work, +because it is a growing, living thing--this mass of current fact and +opinion. Yet he has no time to master each science for himself, and in +merely cursory reading he will miss the point which is to be of most use +to him in his particular line of work. + +I reply that he needs the spoken word of the expert, framed and directed +to meet the special requirements of his case. The expert who knows his +subject in all its bearings can tell us at once just what we want to +know, if we have a chance to ask him. + +Let us have then before our library schools and--I may add also--our +library clubs and associations, periodical talks by specialists upon +their respective subjects, presenting in a concise form the progress of +these sciences and arts with special reference to the needs of library +workers, as outlined above. + +Such a presentation will enable the librarian, the reference attendant, +the cataloger or the classifier to perform his work with an assurance +and a facility that can be acquired in no other way. He will be acting +under expert advice. The special points to be brought out will be +presented to the lecturer beforehand; he will prepare his statement, +deliver it, and later answers inquiries which may have arisen. We all +know how much easier it is to ask somebody about something than it is to +look it up in some book. Let questions be noted as they occur and the +class be given a chance to ask them of an authority. + +These lectures or talks need not and should not be confined to student +class rooms. Let them be public lectures which library workers outside +the school may attend upon payment of a small fee. The intrinsic +interest of a lecture upon some topic of the day whether literary, +historical, political, or scientific, would attract in a way that a +course upon pure bibliography can never do. As our library schools are +so integrally a part, as a rule, of some system of collegiate +instruction, there should be no difficulty in securing the services of +different members of the faculty. I may repeat also that no more useful +program of work for a library club during a season could be planned than +a course of just such talks as I have described. To tell the truth, the +matter of this paper first occurred to me in its bearings upon the work +of library clubs. To them and to the directors of our library schools it +is presented for their consideration. + +Following this the representatives of the various library schools were +asked to describe the + + + WORK OFFERED IN BIBLIOGRAPHY AT THE LIBRARY SCHOOLS. + +Mr. BISCOE described the work at Albany, running through two years, the +first being taken up with trade bibliography and the second with +reference work and subject bibliography. The large resources of the New +York State Library enable the students to see, study and use almost all +books taken up and the work is accompanied with many problems. Further +elective work is also offered to students desiring to specialize along +this line. + +Miss PLUMMER spoke for the Pratt Institute School. During the first year +a general course of instruction in bibliography is offered, beginning +with trade bibliography, students being referred to the leading works of +reference in English, French and German through lectures and problems +given during the year. Each student is required to prepare a reading +list on a selected subject, requiring considerable research work, which +must be satisfactory to the instructor. The leading national and subject +bibliographies are included in the lectures, and the problems frequently +require consultation of these. Ten lectures are given on the history of +books and printing. This is merely an outline course offered partly that +students may discover any latent inclination toward the historical +course, that they may know there is that side to their work. "In the +special lessons in French and German cataloging which we expect to +undertake this fall," she said, "a study of foreign catalogs will be a +prominent feature, and the students will collect for themselves a +vocabulary of bibliographical terms in these languages. In the broad +sense of the term bibliography, as we find it in the 'Century +dictionary,' the subject is fairly well covered by the second year's +historical course. Through the courtesy of the New York Public Library +the class has had opportunity to do most of its work at the Lenox +Library where there is a fine collection of reference books. The course +begins with a study of reference books on the history of printing, +bibliographies of the 15th century, etc., and books such as Hain, +Panzer, etc., and the more general bibliographies, _e.g._, Brunet, +Graesse. The history of bookmaking is studied from the period of the +manuscript through the 15th century, and some work with American and +other books has been done each year. The materials used in the earliest +times, the methods of production and the steps leading to the invention +of printing are all treated. The history of printing is studied by +country, town, and printer, chronologically, and a study of the types +used by different printers is made. For practical work the class +catalogs 15th century books. The books used for consultation in this +course have been very numerous, and perhaps a good working knowledge of +them has been the most important feature of the work. The class was not +and could not be limited to books in English, but used and in part +translated books of reference in foreign languages. In the work with +manuscripts the historical course depends upon instruction given by +Prof. Egbert, professor of Latin palæography of Columbia University, who +has made up a course especially adapted to the object of our work and to +the time we have to give. Twenty-three lectures, only a few of which are +devoted to the bibliography of the subject, comprise the instruction, +two hours' work outside being necessary on each lecture. Much more is +usually done by the students, who generally live in New York city while +taking the historical course. The study of successive handwritings and +abbreviations as illustrated by blue-prints furnished by the professor, +leads naturally to early printed books, whose types were modelled after +the handwriting of the period. Reports of the work of this class have +been very satisfactory." + +Miss KROEGER, of the Drexel Institute Library School, described a course +of 15 lectures on the history of books and printing, given at her +school. + +The lectures embrace the following subjects: + + I. The development of language, oral and written. Ancient systems of + writing. Derivation of the English alphabet. The preservation of + literature. Earliest forms of permanent records, literature, + books, and libraries in the ancient civilizations of the east. + + II. The literatures of Greece and Rome. The book in the classical age. + Alexandria as a literary center. Barbarian invasions of the Roman + Empire. Decline and extinction of ancient culture. Destruction of + books and libraries. + + III. The book in the Middle Ages. The preservation and the production + of books in the monasteries. Development of the illuminated + manuscript. The early Renascence in its relation to literature + and books. + + IV. The later Renascence: revival of learning. Recovery of ancient + literature. Rome, Florence, and Venice as the centers of + activity. Multiplication of manuscripts. The formation of modern + libraries. + + V. The art of engraving as the precursor of printing. The invention + and diffusion of printing. The chief centers and the great + masters of printing. The printed book and its influence upon + civilization. + + VI. Book illustration in ancient, medieval, and modern times. + + VII. Books and libraries in Europe and the United States. Types of + modern public libraries. + +VIII. Makers and lovers of books, and their libraries. + +Miss SHARP told of the instruction in bibliography given to the students +in University of Illinois Library School by the professors at the +university. Several of the professors give lectures on the bibliography +of their various subjects; a subject is assigned to the students before +the lecture, they are required to examine bibliographies, reviews, and +the books themselves, as far as accessible in the library, and to select +ten books which they would buy first for a library of 10,000 vols. This +selection is criticised by the professor, who meets the class, gives +them an outline of his subject, speaks of the principles of selection, +mentions the writers who are considered authorities, and calls to the +attention of the students valuable material not to be found in the trade +lists. This is in the first year; in the second year the professors give +their lectures first and the class will select their books for criticism +afterwards. The professors have given most generous co-operation in the +work; but their work has been uneven and many of them fail to catch the +librarian's and bibliographer's point of view, and most of them +acknowledge that their studies are limited to the advanced works, so +that they do not know what to recommend for the small public libraries. + +An interesting discussion followed as to the relation between university +librarians and professors in mutual co-operation in bibliographical +work. + +Miss KROEGER suggested that library students who felt a special +inclination for some scholastic subject might take up such study as a +supplement to the library school course. + +To this Mr. HASKINS remarked that the proper way would rather be the +opposite, namely that the student of history, for example, who wished to +take up library work, might take a course in library economy as a +supplement to his university studies. He pointed out that a university +graduate did not at all need to spend two years in getting familiar with +library technique. + +Mr. HANSON, of the Library of Congress, Mr. ANDREWS, of The John Crerar +Library, and Miss CLARK, of the Department of Agriculture Library at +Washington, all emphasized the need of scientific experts who should +also be trained in bibliography and library economy. The opinion was +strongly expressed that there was no greater desideratum in instruction +in library work at present than a course offered to trained scientists +who would be willing to add to their scientific training a fair +knowledge of library methods. + + + + + TRANSACTIONS OF COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE BOARD. + + +Meetings of the Council of the American Library Association were held in +connection with the Waukesha conference, on July 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, in +all six sessions being held. There was also a short meeting of the +executive board on July 9. + +Of the 25 members of Council 15 were present, as follows: C. W. Andrews, +R. R. Bowker, W. H. Brett, H. J. Carr,[I] F. M. Crunden, J. C. Dana, +Melvil Dewey, Electra C. Doren, W. I. Fletcher, J. K. Hosmer, George +Iles, Mary W. Plummer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. +Soule. In addition, the members of the executive board served as _ex +officio_ members and officers of Council. They included the president, +Henry J. Carr; ex-president, R. G. Thwaites; secretary, F. W. Faxon; +recorder, Helen E. Haines; treasurer, Gardner M. Jones. The first and +second vice-president--E. C. Richardson and Mrs. Salome C. +Fairchild--were not present during the conference. + + + PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL. + +_Place of next meeting._ Invitations for the 1902 meeting of the +American Library Association were received from Detroit, Mich.; +Charleston, S. C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Brevard, N. C.; from a New Hampshire +Board of Trade, suggesting a resort in the White Mountains, and from the +Massachusetts Library Club, urging that the meeting be held on the +eastern coast, near Boston. It was _Voted_, That place and date of next +meeting be referred to the executive board, with recommendation to meet +at a resort on the New England seaboard near Boston. + +_Nominations for officers._ It was _Voted_, That the ex-presidents +present at the meeting be appointed a committee to submit nominations +for officers for 1901-2. This committee reported at a later session of +the Council, and the nominations submitted were adopted, with the +provision that the ticket include also without distinction names sent in +on nominations signed by five members of the Association. + +_By-laws._ H. M. Utley, chairman of the Committee on By-laws, reported +the draft of by-laws prepared by that committee. This was discussed and +amended, each section being separately considered and voted upon. It was +_Voted_, That the entire body of by-laws, as amended, be adopted, +subject to such arrangement of sections as may be made by the president +and secretary. + +The by-laws were later presented to the Association in general meeting. +(_See_ Proceedings, p. 129.) + +_Endowment Fund and Publishing Board._ Charles C. Soule, trustee of the +Endowment Fund, reported that the income of the fund now on hand and to +accrue during the year amounted to about $1000, and recommended that the +sum of $500 be added to the principal of the fund, unless required by +the Publishing Board or for other purposes of the Association. + +W. I. Fletcher, for the Publishing Board, stated that the board would +need during the ensuing year an appropriation as ample as could be +secured; and it was _Voted_: + +That the trustees of the Endowment Fund be authorized to transfer to the +Publishing Board the income of the Endowment Fund now on hand and to +accrue during the coming year. + +_Reduced postal and express rates on library books._ Recommendations +were submitted from the Round Table Meeting on state library +commissions, as follows: + +1, That the Council be requested to arrange for securing reduced rates +from the express companies for travelling libraries; + +2, That the Council be requested to give its support to the Jenkins bill +providing for the transmission of library books by rural free delivery; + +3, That the Council be requested to actively interest itself in securing +lower postage rates on library books. + +After discussion it was _Voted_, That a committee of five of the Council +be appointed on express and postal rates for library books, to negotiate +with the express companies, to co-operate with regard to Congressional +legislation, and to report further to the Council as to the postal +question. + +The committee was appointed as follows: E. H. Anderson, chairman; J. S. +Billings, W. C. Lane, R. R. Bowker, Johnson Brigham. It was _Voted_: + +That in case of the inability of any member of the committee to serve, +the retiring president be authorized to fill vacancies. + +_Relation of libraries to the book trade._ It was _Voted_, That the +executive board be requested to appoint a committee of five to consider +and report upon the relation of libraries to the book trade. + +_Cataloging rules for printed cards._ It was _Voted_, That the Council +authorize the promulgation of the proposed A. L. A. cataloging rules for +printed cards, so soon as the Publishing Board and its special advisory +committee, and the Library of Congress, shall have agreed upon the +details of same; + +That the committee on cataloging rules for printed cards be requested +also to formulate the variations from those rules which they recommend +for manuscript work. + +_List of American dissertations._ The College and Reference Section +submitted the following communication: + +"_To the Council of the A. L. A._: + +"The College and Reference Section, at its recent meeting, appointed the +undersigned, a committee to prepare and report to the council the draft +of a request with reference to an annual list of American dissertations +for the degree of doctor of philosophy or science. We would, therefore, +respectfully ask that the approval of the Council be given to the plan +outlined herein, viz: + +"To send to such institutions of learning in the United States and +Canada as confer the degree of doctor of philosophy or science, after +residence and examination, the following circular letter: + + "_To the President and Faculty of ----_, + + "GENTLEMEN: The College and Reference Section of the American Library + Association, with the approval of the Council of such Association, + respectfully requests that your institution publish in its annual + catalog, or corresponding publication, a list of the dissertations + accepted from persons who have been granted the degree of doctor of + philosophy or science during the preceding academic year, and a + supplementary list of all dissertations printed since the publication + of the last annual catalog. This list should contain the following + particulars: The full name and year of graduation of the author; the + full title of the dissertation; the year of imprint, and, if a reprint, + the title, volume, and pagination of the publication from which it was + reprinted. + + "We also request your institution to require a title-page for each + dissertation, giving, in addition to the full name of author and title + of dissertation, the year in which the degree was conferred, and in + which the dissertation was printed, and, if a reprint, the title, + volume and pagination of the publication where it was first printed. + + "A compliance with these requests will be a most valuable service to + the college and reference libraries of the country." + +The section further instructed us to suggest to the Council the +desirability of the compilation and publication of a complete list of +such dissertations to July, 1900. + + BERNARD C. STEINER, } + WALTER M. SMITH, } _Committee_. + CLEMENT W. ANDREWS, } + +It was _Voted_, + +That the circular letter prepared by the Committee of +the College and Reference Section be approved, and that the executive +board authorize the necessary slight expense of printing and postage +required; + +That a committee of the College and Reference Section be appointed to +secure the publication of the list of dissertations referred to without +expense to the A. L. A. + +_Prosecution of book thieves._ Communications were read from C. K. +Bolton, recommending that the Council appropriate, when necessary, from +the income of the Endowment Fund, money to be used in the detection or +prosecution of book thieves. It was pointed out that "a few men +systematically rob libraries, particularly in small poor towns that +happen to have some rare books. To gather evidence and rid us of these +men requires money, and seems very properly to come within our field of +work." No action was taken on the subject. + +_Minute on John Fiske._ The memorial minute on John Fiske, prepared by +the special committee, consisting of J. K. Hosmer, George Iles and R. G. +Thwaites, was submitted to the Council and recommended for presentation +to the Association, to be spread upon the records. (_See_ Proceedings, +p. 130.) + + + TRANSACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. + +_List of American dissertations._ In accordance with vote of Council, +the following committee from the College and Reference Section was +appointed to arrange for the publication of the list of dissertations +proposed by the section: B. C. Steiner, C. W. Andrews, W. M. Smith. + +_Committee on resolutions._ A committee on resolutions to serve during +the Waukesha conference was appointed, as follows: Herbert Putnam, Mary +W. Plummer, J. C. Dana. + +_Secretary's expenses._ A communication was received from the Finance +Committee, recommending that the sum of $425 be allowed for the expenses +of the secretary's office for the year ending July 16, 1901. It was +_Voted_, That $100 additional be also appropriated for the secretary's +expenses for the past year. + +_Non-library membership._ It was _Voted_, That the names of 38 persons +not engaged in library work, as presented by the treasurer, be accepted +for membership in the Association. + +No meeting of the incoming Council or executive board was held, and the +appointment of special and standing committees, reporters, etc., was +therefore deferred. + + HELEN E. HAINES, _Recorder_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote I: Also, as president, _ex officio_ member of executive board +and council.] + + + + + ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE. + + +An Elementary Institute, for the presentation of "first principles" in +library work, was held in the assembly room of the Fountain Spring House +on Tuesday evening, July 9. In the absence of Miss Cornelia Marvin, +chairman, Miss L. E. Stearns presided. The meeting was quite informal, +and there were no prepared papers, except one by Miss GRATIA COUNTRYMAN +on + + OPPORTUNITIES. + (_See_ p. 52.) + +An introductory speech was made by Mr. Dewey, who spoke of the +educational force that libraries should exert in the community, and the +varied field before the public library of to-day. There was some general +discussion, in the course of which J. C. Dana read a letter describing +pioneer library work carried on in the Yukon district of Alaska, and E. +P. McElroy told of some interesting incidents connected with the work of +his library at Algona, Iowa. + +An early adjournment was made to attend the display of stereopticon +views of library buildings which was given on the same evening. + + + + + ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. + + +A most enthusiastic reunion of the alumni of the Illinois State Library +School was held at Waukesha on July 5, in connection with the meeting of +the A. L. A. + +Forty-seven members of the Alumni Association sat down to a long table +which had been spread for them in the dining-room of the Fountain Spring +House, where a very pleasant hour was passed in renewing old friendships +and hearing about the work of classmates who had gone out to make +themselves famous in the library world. + +Following the dinner a business meeting was held, after which the +members listened to a most interesting report by Miss Katharine L. +Sharp, director of the Illinois State Library School, on the growth and +present condition of the school, showing the changes which have come to +it from its connection with the University of Illinois. + +Miss Sharp gave an outline of each course as it is now given in the +school, noting the changes which have been made and the reasons for +these changes. The report was of especial interest to the early +graduates of the school, who could follow the changes made in the course +of instruction, the general development in scope and methods, and could +so well comprehend the great growth of the school since its +establishment at Armour Institute of Technology, in Chicago, in 1893. + + MARGARET MANN, _Secretary_. + + + + + THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE WAUKESHA CONFERENCE. + + BY JULIA T. RANKIN, _Carnegie Library, Atlanta, Ga._ + + +To chronicle the social side of the twenty-third annual meeting of the +American Library Association is a pleasant duty. To recall all of the +courtesies extended to us by our hosts of the Middle West would take +more time than is at my disposal and more space than the Proceedings +allot to the frivolous recreations of the strenuous librarians. Through +the entire period of the meeting, the good people of Waukesha did +everything in their power to make the time pass pleasantly and Mr. +Walker, the proprietor of the Fountain Spring Hotel, worked early and +late to make the members comfortable. Golf had a few members marked for +its own, and these were not deterred by the +110°-in-the-shade-conditions. Dancing was in order every evening after +the meetings (Sunday excepted) and the gentleman from Washington is said +to have solved the problem of how often a man can dance with the same +girl in a given evening. The piazzas were ample and as each led to some +spring sooner or later, the "water habit" became popular. The +dining-room was, in the language of the daily papers, "taxed to its +utmost," but all shortcomings were treated with good-natured +indifference when it was understood that the hotel had never +accommodated so many people in its history, and the management promptly +increased its force of servants to meet the occasion. + +According to the program the social side of the conference should have +begun on the evening of July 3 with "friendly greetings" at 8.30 p.m.; +but as the New York party did not arrive until 9 p.m., and the New +England party not until 2 a.m., it will readily be seen that the +friendly greetings had to be postponed. Social amenities, however, +commenced on the morning of "the Fourth" when the proverbial early bird, +arrayed in cool flannels or faultless duck, promenaded the long veranda +of the Fountain House and greeted the later arrivals. As the "later +arrivals" had almost all come from a distance during one of the hottest +weeks of the hottest summer known, and were consequently covered with +dust and cinders, it was tantalizing to see the earlier arrivals in such +cool array, and welcome speeches were cut short until the dust of travel +could be removed. + +The coolness of the evening found a refreshed, summer-attired conference +wending its way to the Methodist Church where the public meeting was +held. The speeches were interrupted repeatedly by the festive small boy +and his Fourth of July crackers. The explosions caused untimely mirth +when they punctuated or emphasized the well rounded periods of the +orators. The formal meeting was followed by informal groups on the +veranda of the hotel and at the springs where thirsty mortals never +tired of drinking the "fizzy" waters, that have made Waukesha famous as +the "Saratoga of the West," and, indeed, the place has many features +similar to its famous Eastern prototype. + +Friday evening was devoted to various dinner parties of the alumni of +the library training schools, and the dining-room with its long tables +and flowers presented a festive scene. College yells and class cheers +resounded through the halls. One got a good idea of the number of +technically trained library assistants now dispersed over the country. + +Saturday evening the hotel management provided a dance for the guests +and the great dining hall was transformed into a gay ballroom. Although +Mr. Cutter was absent the dancing contingent was ably represented, and a +delightful evening was enjoyed. + +The program meetings were well attended and the many papers presented +during the sultry days of the first week made Sunday a welcome day. The +Rest Cure seemed to be the order of the day until after lunch, when most +of the members went to Milwaukee to see the public library, where an +informal reception was held. Misses Stearns, Dousman, Van Valkenburgh +and Stillman entertained a party of 40 at White Fish Bay. A trolley ride +to Milwaukee and on to this beautiful bay proved a good appetizer for +the very excellent lunch provided. The view of the lake was keenly +enjoyed and the day was clear and cool. Twenty miles home and an early +supper, and most of us were willing to retire early, for the trip to +Madison next day was scheduled for an early hour. + +Although the day spent in Madison was not strictly a "social" feature of +the conference, yet so delightfully did the citizens of Madison welcome +the visiting librarians that the record of the day in truth belongs to +the social chronicler. Its pleasures came as a complete surprise to +those who had not prepared themselves with Appleton's guide and other +works of ready reference. The building of the Historical Society is +certainly one of the most beautiful and sensibly arranged libraries in +the United States and its situation on the outskirts of the grounds of +the University of Wisconsin leaves nothing to be desired. In fact it +would be hard to picture a more beautiful situation for a university +town than this. The lakes, the undulating landscapes and the beautiful +roads extending for twenty-five miles and maintained by a committee of +public spirited men, who also are responsible for planting the roadsides +with hardy shrubs, trees and flowers, make the external conditions +ideal. The whole party was driven through the town, the university +campus, and through five or six miles of the park roads, and was then +escorted through the library building by Mr. Thwaites, Mr. Bradley and +the assistants. It was while the members were being driven through the +town that the new library anthem was perpetrated, and + + "Of all the cakes + My mother makes + Give me the gingerbread!" + +will go down in A. L. A. history linked with + + "Here's to Mr. Bradley + Who smiles on us so badly, + gladly, + madly, + sadly!" + +The whole 350 found chairs in the gymnasium of the university and +disposed of every one of the doughnuts promised to them by Mr. Thwaites +in his eloquent address on Luncheons the previous day. The afternoon was +spent in inspection of the beautiful new library building, and here an +hour or so later the "official photograph" was taken, the delegates +being seated on the steps of the library with its stately façade for +background. + +Madison refused to maintain us after five o'clock, and on our return to +Waukesha we found that the City Federation of Women's Clubs of Waukesha +would be "at home" in our honor, so we put on our prettiest frocks and +were presented in due form. The reception committee comprised Mrs. H. Y. +Youmans, president of the State Federation; Miss L. E. Stearns, Mrs. O. +Z. Olin, Mrs. C. E. Wilson, Miss Winifred Winans, Miss Emily Marsh and +Miss Kate Kimball. A bevy of pretty girls served tempting ices and a +musical program was delightfully rendered. + +Tuesday's program was almost too much for even the most confirmed +conference attendant. From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. till 6 did +we sit and listen or stand and discuss the program. At 9 p.m. Mr. +Eastman's display of library architecture, by means of a stereopticon, +proved to be one of the most interesting features of the meeting. It is +wonderful the advancement made in this form of library development; and +still more wonderful how many bad libraries are still being built when +so much information is to be had on the subject. + +Later the dining-room was cleared and the conscientious librarians who +had sat all day in interesting sessions were invited to relieve the +monotony of work with the terpsichorean muse. It was a pretty sight to +see the girls in their muslin frocks and all the young and old members +meet in the measures of a Virginia reel. And such a reel; it will go +down to history as _the_ dance of the Waukesha meeting. Staid librarians +growing bald with the weight of a nation's libraries; quiet instructors +in library economics, all unbent to the fascination of this +old-fashioned country dance. + +Wednesday's sessions were somewhat broken by the necessary preparations +for departure. In order to leave nothing undone the hotel management +arranged a fire spectacle this last afternoon of the conference and the +fair grounds looked their best with flames leaping in the air and the +black smoke rolling on. There was a large attendance of spectators, +including the town fire department who declared the exhibition a great +success. + +Then came the leavetakings, and after many handshakings and hearty +appreciations of hospitality, the conference gradually disintegrated and +only a small number of us were among that fortunate party lined up along +the wharf at Milwaukee to take the lake trip to Buffalo _en route_ to +our homes. + +We stood in silence as the big white _Northwest_ loomed in sight. This +ship and its twin-sister the _Northland_ represent the perfection of +modern lake travel and rival the trans-Atlantic liners in elegance and +comfort. It was a sleepy party that sought staterooms early. The morning +came fine and cloudless, and although the dawn and sunrise on the water +seemed to come very early in this high latitude, it was a thing of +beauty--an aquarelle of Nature's best workmanship. The trip to Mackinac +was marked by the organization of the Infinite Eight, a secret society +having blood-curdling ritual and banded together for offensive and +defensive tactics in the war upon the cuisine--led by the gallant +survivor of the "Adventures of a house-boat." This company attacked +everything that was before it and demolished everything within its +reach. Not until the last day were any reverses recorded and then +Neptune with his trident reduced the gallant band to four. In memory of +this glorious record the survivors have applied for arms consisting of a +ship rampant on a field azure and the motto + + Puellæ Pallidæ non ad cenam veniunt. + +When Buffalo was reached the Pan-American exhibition claimed everyone's +attention. Most of the party were there by eleven o'clock and spent the +rest of the day. Mr. Elmendorf claimed a number of the men and gave them +a delightful dinner in "In Nuremburg," and everyone was in front of the +great pilons in time to see the electricity turned on at 8.30, after +which the gondoliers became popular. It was Georgia Day at the +Exposition and the A. L. A. members who had attended the Atlanta +conference were greeted by a familiar figure in the person of Mr. +Cabiniss, who had addressed the Association at Atlanta and was one of +the orators of the day. The most popular part of the proceedings, +however, was the singing of the refrain + + "He laid aside a suit of gray + To wear the Union blue" + +which was cheered and encored many times. + +Sunday was spent at Niagara Falls by most of the survivors and +everything was accomplished, even to going under the American Falls. +Many goodbyes were said in the Nuremburg restaurant at the Exposition +that evening and the shutting off of the electric light closed one of +the pleasantest post-conference trips in the history of the Association. + + + + + OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES + + SERVING IN 1900-01 AND DURING WAUKESHA CONFERENCE. + + +_President_: Henry J. Carr, Scranton Public Library. + +_First vice-president_: Ernest C. Richardson, Princeton University + Library. + +_Second vice-president_: Salome Cutler Fairchild, New York State + Library. + +_Secretary_: Frederick W. Faxon, Boston Book Co. + +_Treasurer_: Gardner M. Jones, Salem Public Library. + +_Recorder_: Helen E. Haines, _Library Journal,_ New York. + +_Registrar_: Nina E. Browne, A. L. A. Publishing Board, Boston. + +_Trustees of the Endowment Fund_: Charles C. Soule, Brookline; John M. + Glenn, Baltimore, Md.; G. W. Williams, Salem, Mass. + +_A. L. A. Council_:[J] Henry J. Carr, John C. Dana, Melvil Dewey, + George Iles, Mary W. Plummer, R. R. Bowker, C. A. Cutter, W. I. + Fletcher, W. E. Foster, Caroline M. Hewins, Wm. H. Brett, F. M. + Crunden, Frank P. Hill, Hannah P. James, J. N. Larned, C. W. Andrews, + John S. Billings, Electra C. Doren, Wm. C. Lane, J. L. Whitney, C. H. + Gould, J. K. Hosmer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. + Soule. + + _Executive Board_: President, ex-president (R. G. Thwaites), + vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, recorder. + + _Publishing Board_: Chairman, W. I. Fletcher; W. C. Lane, George Iles, + R. R. Bowker, Melvil Dewey. + + + STANDING COMMITTEES. + +_Finance_: James L. Whitney, George T. Little, Charles K. Bolton. + +_Co-operation_: W. L. R. Gifford, W. R. Eastman, Electra C. Doren, J. G. + Moulton, Agnes E. Van Valkenburgh. + +_Public Documents_: R. R. Bowker, Adelaide R. Hasse, W. E. Henry, + Johnson Brigham. + +_Foreign Documents_: C. H. Gould, C. W. Andrews, L. B. Gilmore, James + Bain, Jr. + +_Co-operation with Library Department of N. E. A._: J. C. Dana, Melvil + Dewey, F. A. Hutchins. + + SPECIAL COMMITTEES. + +_By-Laws_: H. M. Utley, W. C Lane, B. C. Steiner. + +_Gifts and Bequests_: Reporter, George Watson Cole. + +_Handbook of American Libraries_: F. J. Teggart, T. L. Montgomery, C. W. + Andrews. + +_International Catalog of Scientific Literature_: John S. Billings, C. + W. Andrews, Cyrus Adler. + +_International Co-operation_: E. C. Richardson, R. R. Bowker, S. H. + Ranck, Mary W. Plummer, Cyrus Adler. + +_Library Training_: John C. Dana, W. H. Brett, Electra C. Doren, Eliza + G. Browning, E. C. Richardson. + +_Title-pages to Periodicals_: W. I. Fletcher, Thorvald Solberg. + + SECTIONS AND SECTION OFFICERS. + +_College and Reference Section_: Chairman, W. I. Fletcher; secretary, + Olive Jones. + +_State Library Section_:[K] Chairman, L. D. Carver; secretary, Maude + Thayer. + +_Trustees' Section_: Chairman, H. M. Leipziger; secretary, T. L. + Montgomery. + +_Catalog Section_: Chairman. A. H. Hopkins; secretary, Agnes E. Van + Valkenburgh. + +_Children's Librarians' Section_: Chairman, Annie C. Moore; secretary, + Mary E. Dousman. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote J: Also includes members of executive board.] + + + + + ATTENDANCE REGISTER. + + ABBREVIATIONS: F., Free; P., Public; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; As. + Assistant; Ref., Reference; S., School; Com., Commission; Tr. Trustee. + + +Abbott, Elizabeth Lilyan, As. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Adams, Katharine S., Ln. Adams Memorial L., Wheaton, Ill. + +Adams, Zella Frances, Library Organizer, 624 Church St, Evanston, Ill. + +Ahern, Mary Eileen, Ed. _Public Libraries_, Library Bureau, Chicago, + Ill. + +Allen, Jessie. As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Allen, Jessie M., 229 No. Topeka Ave., Wichita, Kan. + +Allen, Sylvia M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Ambrose, Lodilla, As. Ln. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Anderson, Edwin Hatfield, Ln. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Andrews, Clement Walker, Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Apple, Helen, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Applegate, Elsie, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Bacon, Gertrude. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Baker, Florence E., State Hist Soc. L., Madison, Wis. + +Baldwin, Clara F., Ln. Minn. State L. Commission, 514 Masonic Temple, + Minneapolis, Minn. + +Ball, Lucy, Ex. Ln., 210 N. Union St., Grand Rapids. Mich. + +Bangs, Mary Freeman, 80 Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass. + +Bardwell, Willis Arthur, As. Ln. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Bardwell. Mrs. Willis A., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Barker, Bess L., As. P. L., Portland, Oregon. + +Barnard, Pierce R., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Barnes, Mrs. Clara P., Ln. Gilbert M. Simmons L., Kenosha. Wis. + +Bate, Florence E., McClure, Phillips & Co., 141 E. 25th St, N. Y. City. + +Bates, Flora J., Cataloger, 7013 Yale Ave., Chicago. + +Beck, Sue, Ln. P. L., Crawfordsville, Ind. + +Beer, William, Ln. Howard Memorial L. and Fisk Free and P. L., New + Orleans, La. + +Bell, Martha W., Ln. P. L., Beloit, Wis. + +Benedict, Laura Estelle Watson, Ln. Lewis Institute. Chicago, Ill. + +Bennett, Helen Prentiss, Ln. P. L., Mattoon, Ill. + +Berryman, J. R., Ln. State L., Madison, Wis. + +Best, Mrs. Louise L., Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Billon, Sophie C., Ln. L. Assoc, Davenport, Ia. + +Biscoe, Ellen Lord, Albany, N. Y. + +Biscoe, Walter Stanley, Senior Ln. State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Bishop, William Warner, Ln. Academic Dept., Polytechnic Institute of + Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Blend, Belle, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Booth, Jessie. As. P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Bowerman, George Franklin, Ln. Wilmington Inst. F. L., Wilmington, Del. + +Bowerman. Mrs. George F., Wilmington, Del. + +Bowker, R. R., Ed. _Library Journal_, N. Y. City. + +Bradley, Isaac S., Ln. and Asst. Supt. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Branch, Elizabeth, Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Brett, W. H., Ln. P. L., Cleveland, O. + +Briesen, Henreiette von, Ln. P. L., Manitowoc, Wis. + +Brigham, Johnson, Ln. State L., Des Moines, Ia. + +Brigham, Mrs. Johnson, Des Moines, Ia. + +Brigham, Mabel. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Brown, Bertha Mower, Ln. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. + +Brown, Gertrude L., Cataloger F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Brown, Margaret W., Travelling L. As., State L., Des Moines, Ia. + +Brown, Walter L., As. Supt. P. L., Buffalo, N. Y. + +Browne, Nina E., Sec'y A. L. A. Publishing Board, 10-1/2 Beacon St., + Boston, Mass. Registrar, A. L. A. + +Browning, Eliza G., Ln. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Buntescher, Josephine, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Burnet, Duncan, 701 Glenwood Av., Avondale, Cincinnati, O. + +Burns, Adeline, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Burton, Kate, Ln. P. L., Geneva, Ill. + +Calkins, Mary J., Ln. P. L., Racine, Wis. + +Canfield, Dr. James H., Ln. Columbia Univ. L., New York, N. Y. + +Cargill, Joseph, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Carpenter, Mary F., Ln. State Normal School, West Superior, Wis. + +Carr, Henry J., Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa., and Pres. A. L. A. + +Carr, Mrs. Henry J., Scranton, Pa. + +Carter, Lillian M., As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Carver, L D., Ln. State L., Augusta, Me. + +Carver, Mrs. L. D., Augusta, Me. + +Chapin, Artena M., 1st As. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Chapman, Mabel E., Ln. Milwaukee-Downer College, Milwaukee, Wis. + +Chapman, Susan, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Chase, Adelaide M., 109 Brooks St, W. Medford, Mass. + +Chase, Jessie C., As. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Cheney, John Vance, Ln. Newberry L., Chicago, Ill. + +Chipman, Kate, Ln. P. L., Anderson, Ind. + +Clark, Josephine A., Ln. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + +Clarke, Elizabeth Porter, Ref. Ln. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Clatworthy, Linda M., Cataloger P. L., Dayton, O. + +Coad, Priscilla, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Cole, Theodore Lee, ex-Trustee, 13 Corcoran Bldg., Washington, D. C. + +Colerick, Margaret M., Ln. P. L., Fort Wayne, Ind. + +Cooke, Thos. F., Pres. F. L., Algona, Ia. + +Corey, Deloraine Pendre, Pres. P. L., Malden, Mass. + +Corey, Mrs. Deloraine P., Malden, Mass. + +Cory, H. Elizabeth, Ln. Carnegie L., Lawrenceville Br., Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Countryman, Gratia A., As. Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Crafts, Lettie M., As. Ln. Univ. of Minnesota, Tr. P. L., Minneapolis, + Minn. + +Craver, Harrison Warwick, As. Carnegie L. Technical Science Dept., + Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Crawford, Esther, Head Instructor Summer School for Librarians, State + Univ., Iowa City, Ia. + +Crim, Margaret E., Clerk P. L. Com. of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. + +Crunden, Frederick M., Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Curran, Mrs. Mary H., Ln. P. L., Bangor, Me. + +Cutter, William Parker, Chief Order Division L. of Congress, + Washington, D. C. + +Dana, John Cotton, Ln. City L., Springfield, Mass. + +Danforth, George F., Ln. Indiana Univ. L., Bloomington, Ind. + +Davis, H. W., _Milwaukee Free Press_, Milwaukee, Wis. + +Davis, Olin Sylvester, Ln. P. L., Lakeport, N. H. + +Dean, C. Ruth, As. P. L., St Louis, Mo. + +Decker, Cora M., As. Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa. + +De Moe, Claire, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Denison, George A., C. & G. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass. + +Denton, J. H., Chairman P. L. Com., Toronto, Canada. + +Dewey, Melvil, Director State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Dexter, Lydia Aurelia, 2920 Calumet Ave., Chicago. Ill. + +Dickey, Helene L., Ln. Chicago Normal S., Chicago, Ill. + +Dill, Miss Minnie A., As. Ln. P. L., Decatur, Ill. + +Dillingham, W. P., Tr. State L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Dippel, Clara E., As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Dixson, Mrs. Zella A., Ln. Univ. of Chicago, Chicago. + +Dockery, Mrs. E. J., F. L. Com., Boise, Idaho. + +Donaldson, Allison, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Doolittle, Hattie A., Ln. Williams F. L., Beaver Dam., Wis. + +Doren, Electra Collins, Ln. P. L., Dayton, O. + +Douglas, Matthew Hale, Ln. Iowa Coll. L., Grinnell, Ia. + +Dousman, Mary Ella, Head Children's Dept., P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Downey, Mary E., As. Ln. Field Columbian Museum, Chicago. + +Drummond, Mary, Tr. Adams Memorial L., Wheaton, Ill. + +Dudley, W. H., As. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. + +Durham, Josephine E., Ln. P. L., Danville, Ill. + +Dwight, Agnes L., Ln. F. P. L., Appleton, Wis. + +Earl, Mrs. Elizabeth C., P. L., Com. of Indiana, Connersville. Ind. + +Eastman, Linda A., Vice-Ln. P. L., Cleveland, O. + +Eastman, William Reed, Inspector P. L. Dept., State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Eaton, Harriet L., As. P. L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Elliott, Carrie. Ref. Ln. P. L., Chicago. + +Elliott, Julia E., Ln. P. L., Marinette, Wis. + +Ellison, Mrs. Annette C., Children's Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Elrod, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Columbus, Ind. + +Engle, Emma R., As. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Ensign, Katherine W., 404 E. 2d St., Duluth, Minn. + +Evans, Mrs. Alice G., Ln. P. L., Decatur, Ill. + +Faddis, Miss Zoe, As. Chicago S. of Education L., Chicago. + +Fairbanks, May L., Ln. Cornell Coll., Mt. Vernon, Ia. + +Fatout, Nellie B., Ln. P. L., Elwood, Ind. + +Faxon, Frederick Winthrop, Manager Library Dept., The Boston Book Co., + Boston, Secretary of A. L. A. (address 108 Glenway St., Dorchester, + Mass.) + +Faxon, Mrs. F. W., Dorchester, Mass. + +Felt, Anna E., Financial Secy. Board of Library Directors, Galena, Ill. + +Fernald, Helen Augusta, 384 Adams St., Dorchester, Mass. + +Ferrell, Cullom Holmes, Washington, D. C. + +Ferrell, L. C., Supt. of Documents, Washington, D. C. + +Ferrell, Mrs. L. C., Washington, D. C. + +Field, Walter T., Library Dept. Ginn & Co., 378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, + Ill. + +Field, Mrs. Walter T., Chicago, Ill. + +Fitzgerald, Eva M., Ln. P. L., Kokomo, Ind. + +Fletcher, William I., Ln. Amherst Coll. L., Amherst, Mass. + +Flint, Col. Weston, Ln. P. L. of the District of Columbia, Washington, + D. C. + +Forstall, Gertrude, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Foss, Sam Walter, Ln. P. L., Somerville, Mass. + +Foster, Mary Stuart, As. Wis. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Foye, Charlotte H., As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Frame, Hon. A. J., Waukesha, Wis. + +Frame, Walter, Waukesha, Wis. + +Freeman, Marilla Waite, Ln. P. L., Michigan City, Ind. + +Gainer, Mrs. C. A., Ln. State L., Boise, Idaho. + +Galbreath, C. B., Ln. State L., Columbus, O. + +Gale, Ellen, Ln. P. L., Rock Island, Ill. + +Ganley, Marie, Cataloger P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +George, Helene Thekla, Ln. F. P. L., Sioux Falls, S. D. + +Gerould, James Thayer, Ln. Univ. of Missouri L., Columbia, Mo. + +Glatfelter, Mr. J. H., L. Bldg. Committee, State Normal School, + Emporia, Kan.; Supt. City School, Atchison, Kan. + +Godard, George S., Ln. State L., Hartford, Conn. + +Goding, Sarah E., As. Ln. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Goldberger, Ottilie, Clerk P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Gould, H. A., L. Dept. A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, Ill. + +Goulding, Philip S., Head Cataloger Univ. of Missouri L., Columbia, Mo. + +Gove, Hon. P. L., Mayor, Waukesha, Wis. + +Graham, Emma, Ln. P. L., Sidney, O. + +Gray, John H., Tr. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Greene, Janet M., Organizer, 4812 Indiana Ave., Chicago. + +Gunthorp, Pauline, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hackett, Irene A., Ln. Y. M. C. A. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Hafner, Alfred, Bookseller, 9 E. 16th St, New York, N. Y. + +Hafner, Mrs. Alfred, New York, N. Y. + +Haines, Helen E., Managing Ed. _Library Journal_, N. Y. City. Recorder + A. L. A. + +Hall, Howard J., Ln. Univ. of Arizona L., Tucson, Ariz. + +Haller, F. L., Trav. L. Commissioner, care Lininger & Metcalf Co., + Omaha, Neb. + +Hamilton, Ella A., Ln. P. L., Whitewater, Wis. + +Hanna, Belle S., Ln. P. L., Greencastle, Ind. + +Hanson, James Christian Meinich, Chief Catalog Division, L. of + Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Hardy, E. A., Sec. P. L., Lindsay, Ont. + +Harpole, Minnie P., As. Ln. Library Bureau, Chicago. + +Harris, George William, Ln. Cornell Univ. L., Ithaca, N. Y. + +Harrison, Joseph Le Roy, Ln. Providence Athenæum, Providence, R. I. + +Harter, Lyle, Ln. P. L., Huntington, Ind. + +Hartswick, Howard B., 1st As. State L., Harrisburg, Pa. + +Hartswick, Mrs. Jennie Betts, Clearfield, Pa. + +Hawley, Emma A., As. Ln. State Hist Soc., Madison. Wis. + +Hawley, Mary E., As. Cataloger The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hayes, Rutherford Platt, Asheville, N. C. + +Henderson, Mrs. Kate A., Ln. P. L., Joliet, Ill. + +Henneberry, Kate M., As. Ln. P. L., Chicago. + +Hensel, Martin, Ln. P. School L., Columbus, O. + +Henry, W. E., Ln. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hild, Frederick H., Ln. P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hill, Cora M., Supt. Circulating Dept. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Hill, Prof. J. H., Latin Professor; Chairman L. Committee, State Normal + School, Emporia, Kan. + +Hilligoss, Gertrude, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hine, J. W., Art Metal Construction Co., Boston. + +Hine, Mrs. J. W., Boston. + +Hoagland, Merica, L. Organizer of Indiana, Office of P. L. Com., State + House, Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hock, Mrs. Maggie, Kokomo, Ind. + +Hodges, Nathaniel Dana Carlile, Ln. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Hoover, Anna F., Ln. P. L., Galesburg, Ill. + +Hopkins, Anderson Hoyt, As. Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Horne, Miss Lulu, As. City L., Lincoln, Neb. + +Hornor, Martha, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Hosmer, Prof. James Kendall, Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Hostetter, A. B., Supt. and Sec'y Illinois Farmers' Institute, + Springfield, Ill. + +Hostetter, Mrs. A. B., Springfield, Ill. + +Hough, Georgia Rodman, Ln. P. L., Madison, Wis. + +Howard, Clara E., Student Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Howey, Mrs. Laura E., Ln. Hist. Dept. State L., Helena, Mont. + +Hoyt, Jessie F., As. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. + +Hubbard, Anna G., Ref. Ln. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hubbell, Jennie P., Ln. P. L., Rockford, Ill. + +Huse, Hiram A., Ln. State L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Hutchins, Frank A., Sec. Wisconsin F. L. Commission, Madison, Wis. + +Hyer, F. S., Agent Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, + Ill. + +Iles, George, Journalist, Park Ave. Hotel, N. Y. City. + +Ingalls, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Fort Madison, Ia. + +Johnson, Mary Hannah, Ln. Howard L., Nashville, Tenn. + +Jones, Elizabeth D., Pasadena, Cal. + +Jones, Gardner Maynard, Ln. P. L., Salem, Mass. Treasurer A. L. A. + +Jones, Mary Letitia, Ln. P. L., Los Angeles, Cal. + +Jones, Olive, Ln. Ohio State Univ. L., Columbus, O. + +Josephson, Aksel Gustav Salomon, Cataloger The John Crerar L., Chicago, + Ill. + +Jutton, Emma R., Reviser Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Kautz, F. R., Tr. Butler Coll. L., Irvington, Ind. + +Kealhofer, William, Tr. Washington Co. F. L., Hagerstown, Md. + +Keefer, Jessie G., As. P. L., Scranton, Pa. + +Kellogg, Myra, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Kelso, Tessa L., with Baker, Taylor Co., N. Y. City. + +Kennedy, John Pendleton, L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Keogh, Andrew, Ln. Linonian & Brothers L., Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn. + +Kercheval, Margaret McE., 1st As. Howard L., Nashville, Tenn. + +Kerr, Willis Holmes, Acting Vice-Pres. Bellevue Coll., Bellevue, Neb. + +Knudson, Signa, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Kohler, Minnie, Ln. P. L., Moline, Ill. + +Krengel, F. W., Adv. Dept. _Public Libraries_, Library Bureau, Chicago, + Ill. + +Kroeger, Miss Alice Bertha, Ln. Drexel Inst. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Lamb, Mary J., As. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis. + +Lane, Harriet, Ln. P. L., Freeport, Ill. + +Lane, Lucius Page, As. P. L., Boston, Mass. + +Langton, Joseph F., As. Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Larson, Charles A., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Lawson, Publius V., Vice-Pres. L. Board, Menasha, Wis. Pres. Fox River + Valley L. Assoc. Pres. Winnebago County Board of Libraries. + +Leach, Davis Parker, Ln. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. + +Leavitt, Charlotte D., Ln. McClymonds P. L., Massillon, O. + +Leipziger, Dr. Henry M., Consulting Ln. Aguilar F. L., New York, N. Y. + +Leipziger, Pauline, Ln. Aguilar F. L., New York, N. Y. + +Leonard, Charles H., 414 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Leonard, Mrs. Charles H., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Lewis, Kate, West Superior, Wis. + +Light, Matilda M., As. P. L., Dayton, O. + +Lindsay, Mary Boyden, Ln. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Little, George T., Ln. Bowdoin Coll. L., Brunswick, Me. + +Lucas, Stella, Ln. Memorial F. L., Menomonie, Wis. + +Luce, Cyrus G., Pres. Michigan L. Com., Coldwater, Mich. + +Luce, Mrs. Cyrus G., Coldwater, Mich. + +Lyman, Edna. Children Ln. Scoville Inst., Oak Park, Ill. + +McCaine, Mrs. Helen J., Ln. P. L., St. Paul, Minn. + +McCormick, Lilian, Ln. Superior P. L., West Superior, Wis. + +McCrory, Harriette L., Ln. F. P. L., Cedar Rapids, Ia. + +McCullough, Elizabeth, Ln. P. L., Logansport, Ind. + +MacDonald, Katharine A., As. Sec. F. L. Com., Madison, Wis. + +McDonnell, Pearl, As. Ln. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash. + +McElroy, E. P., Ln. F. P. L., Algona, Ia. + +McIlvaine, Caroline M., As. Newberry L., Chicago. + +McIlvaine, Mabel, As. Newberry L., Chicago. + +McIntosh, Margaret, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +McKee, Horace A., Library Bureau, Chicago. + +McKee, Syrena, Ln. P. L., Leavenworth, Kan. + +McKillop, Samuel, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +McLane, Mary, Ln. Joseph Dessert P. L., Mosinee, Wis. + +McLoney, Ella M., Ln. P. L., Des Moines, Ia. + +McMahon, Joseph H., Cathedral L., New York City. + +McNeil, Anne H., Ln. St. Supt. Office, Madison, Wis. + +Macomber, Mary E., Ln. Kellogg-Hubbard L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Macpherson, Maud R., As. Ln. Gilbert M. Simmons L., Kenosha, Wis. + +Manchester, Bessie I., As. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Mann, Margaret, As. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., Champaign, Ill. + +Martin, Deborah B., Ln. Kellogg P. L., Green Bay, Wis. + +Marvin, Cornelia, Instructor F. L. Com., Madison, Wis. + +Marvin, Mabel, Head Cataloger, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. + +Marx, Bertha, Ln. P. L., Sheboygan, Wis. + +Mattison, Olinia May, As. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Mealey, Edward W., Pres. Trustees Washington Co. F. L., Hagerstown, Md. + +Meleney, G. B., Manager Library Bureau, Chicago, Ill. + +Meleney, Harriet E., Chicago. + +Melvill, Jessie D., Substitute Ln. P. L., Galena, Ill. + +Menzies, Mrs. Minnie, Children's Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Merrill, Julia Wright, As. Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Merrill, William Stetson, Chief Classifier Newberry L., Chicago, Ill. + +Merryman, Bertha, Marinette, Wis. + +Meyer, Emma, Ln. P. L., Delphi, Ind. + +Miller, Else, Supt. Delivery Stations, P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Mills, M. Emily, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Miner, Mrs. Sarah H., Cataloger Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison, Wis. + +Mitchell, Tryphena G., Ln. Vaughn L., Ashland, Wis. + +Montgomery. Thomas L., Ln. Wagner F. Inst. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Montross, Elizabeth, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Moody, Katharine Twining, As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Moore, Evva L., Ln. Scoville Inst., Oak Park, Ill. + +Morris, F. M., Bookseller, 171 Madison St., Chicago. + +Moulton, John Grant, Ln. P. L., Haverhill, Mass. + +Mudge, Isadore G., Ref. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., Urbana, Ill. + +Neisser, Emma Rittenhouse, Travelling Libraries, F. L., Philadelphia, + Pa. + +Nelson, E. A., Ln. State L., St. Paul, Minn. + +Newman, L. M., Chippewa Falls, Wis. + +Nicholl, Mary Wylie, Ln. Bellevue Coll., Bellevue, Neb. + +Nicholson, Mrs. George T., 4009 Lake Ave., Chicago. + +Nunns, Anne E., As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Oakley, Minnie M., As. Ln. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +O'Brien, Margaret A., As. Ln. P. L., Omaha, Neb. + +Ogden, Miss J. F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Ogilvie, Jane, Ln. P. L., Antigo, Wis. + +Olcott, Florence, As. Ln. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Paddock, Catherine D., Library Organizer, 5451 Cornell Ave., Chicago. + +Palmer, W. Millard, Bookseller, 20 Monroe St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Parham, Nellie E., Ln. Withers P. L., Bloomington, Ill. + +Parker, H. W., Ln. Mechanics' Inst. L., New York City. + +Parker, Keta B., Acting Ln. Virginia L. McCormick Theological Seminary, + Chicago. + +Parmele, Ella Goodwin, Ln. State Normal School L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Parsons, N. B., Library Bureau, Chicago. + +Parsons, Mrs. N. B., Chicago. + +Patenaude, Rose E., Ln. Peter White P. L., Marquette, Mich. + +Patten, Katharine, As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Patton, Adah, Student Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Patton, Normand S., Architect, Chicago. + +Payne, W. P., Pres. Trustees P. L., Nevada, Ia. + +Payne, Mrs. W. P., Nevada, Ia. + +Perley, Clarence W., As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Perry, Chesley R., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Pierce, Mary, Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Pifer, Ida F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Plummer, Mary Wright, Director Pratt Inst. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Poirier, Lydia M., Ln. P. L., Duluth, Minn. + +Pollard, Annie A., 2d As. P. L., Grand Rapids. Mich. + +Porter, Washington T., Tr. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Potter, Kate M., Ln. City L., Baraboo, Wis. + +Potter, Lucy A., As. Ln. State Normal School L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Pray, T. B., State Normal S., Stevens Point, Wis. + +Price, Anna M., Ln. Univ. of S. Dakota L., Vermillion, S. D. + +Price, Helen L., L. Organizer, Urbana, Ill. + +Putnam, Mrs. Hannah, Canton, Ill. + +Putnam, Herbert, Ln. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Radcliffe, Alice, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Rankin, Julia Toombs, As. Ln. Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga. + +Reed, Mrs. Adele C. Paxton, Ill. + +Reeve, Dr. J. T., Secy. F. P. L., Appleton, Wis. + +Remmer, Mary E., Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Resor, Mrs. Josephine H., Ln. Parlin L., Canton, Ill. + +Riblet, L. E., Waukesha. Wis. + +Ringier, Margaret, Deputy Ln. P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Robertson, Josephine Chester, Head Cataloger Univ. of Chicago, Chicago. + +Robinson, Lydia G., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Roddy, Marie Louise, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Roden, Carl B., Supt. Order Dept. P. L., Chicago. + +Rommeiss, Emma, As. P. L., Chicago. + +Root, Azariah Smith, Ln. Oberlin Coll, L., Oberlin, O. + +Roper, Eleanor, Senior As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Rose, Emma E., Ln. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis. + +Russel, J. R., Ln. P. L., Butte, Mont. + +Russell, Janet, Ln. P. L., Merrill, Wis. + +Ryerson, E. Egerton, As. Ln. P. L., Toronto, Can. + +Sacksteder, M. A., Open Court Publishing Co., Chicago. + +Salisbury, Grace E., As. Ln. State Normal S., Whitewater, Wis. + +Salisbury, O. M., Agent Ginn & Co., Madison, Wis. + +Sanders, Mrs. Minerva A., Ln. F. P. L., Pawtucket, R. I. + +Sawyer, Ida E., Cataloger Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Schmidt, Eliza, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Sears, Minnie E., As. Cataloger Univ. of Illinois L., Champaign, Ill. + +Seely, Blanche, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Seeman, Samuel, William G. Johnson & Co., Pittsburg, Pa. + +Seeman, Mrs. Samuel, Pittsburg, Pa. + +Scott, Mrs. Frances Hanna, Ln. Mich. Coll. of Mines, Houghton, Mich. + +Sharp, Katharine Lucinda, Head Ln. and Director State L. S. Univ. of + Illinois, Champaign, Ill. + +Shaw, R. K., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Shepard, Rhoda C., Ln. Shortridge High S., Indianapolis. Ind. + +Silverthorn, Nellie C., Ln. P. L., Wausau, Wis. + +Simonds, May, As. Mercantile L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Simonson, Roger A., Library Bureau, Chicago + +Simpson, Frances, Cataloger Univ. of Illinois L., Champaign, Ill. + +Skavlem, Gertrude J., As. Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Skinner, Marie A., Ln. P. L., Lake Forest, Ill. + +Smith, Elizabeth, Sec'y L. Board, De Pere, Wis. + +Smith, Elizabeth Church, As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Smith, Faith E., Ln. P. L., Sedalia, Mo. + +Smith, Laura, Chief Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Smith, Susan T., Ln. State Normal S., Chico, Cal. + +Smith, Walter McMynn. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison. Wis. + +Smythe, Elizabeth Harris, Circulating L., 31 Washington St., Chicago. + +Soule, Charles Carroll, ex-Trustee, Pres. The Boston Book Co., Boston, + Mass. + +Sperry, Ethel, Waterbury, Conn. + +Sperry, Helen, Ln. Bronson L., Waterbury, Conn. + +Stearns, Lutie E., Library Organizer Wisconsin F. L. Com., Madison, + Wis. + +Steiner, Dr. Bernard C., Ln. Enoch Pratt F. L., Baltimore, Md. + +Stern, Renée B., 5515 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago. + +Stevens, Edith, Boone, Ia. + +Stevens, Olive, As. Ln. Iowa State College L., Ames, Ia. + +Stevenson, William Marshall, Ln. Carnegie F. L., Allegheny, Pa. + +Stewart, Rose Gemmill, Cataloger F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Stillman, Mary Louise, Supt. Issue Dept. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Stites, Katherine, Ln. F. P. L., Hoopeston, Ill. + +Stout, Hon. J. H., Trustee Mabel Tainter L., Menomonie, Wis. + +Strohm, Adam, Ln. Armour Inst, of Technology, Chicago. + +Stuart, William H., Leary, Stuart & Co., 9 S. 9th St., Philadelphia, + Pa. + +Stuart, Mrs. William H., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Stuntz, Steve C., As. Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison, Wis. + +Swan, L. P., Ln. State Normal School L., Whitewater, Mo. + +Thayer, Maude, As. Ln. State L., Springfield, Ill. + +Thorne, Elizabeth G., Ln. F. L., Port Jervis, N. Y. + +Thwaites, Reuben Gold, Sec. and Supt. State Hist. Soc, Madison, Wis. + +Thwaites, Mrs. R. G., Madison, Wis. + +Todd, Marie A., As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Tuttle, Elizabeth, As. Ln. L. I. Hist. Soc, Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Tyler, Alice S., Sec. Iowa L. Com., Des Moines, Ia. + +Urban, Gertrude, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Utley, Henry M., Ln. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Van Valkenburgh, Agnes E., Head Cataloger P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Vincent, Mrs. Anna C., As. Ln. P. L., Rockford, Ill. + +Voges, Aug., Bookseller, Chicago. + +Waddell, Nina T., 2d As. Ln. P. L., Kansas City, Mo. + +Wagner, Sula, Cataloger P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Wales, Elizabeth B., Ln. P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Walker, Evelyn H., Ln. All Souls Church, 3939 Langley Ave., Chicago. + +Wall, Lenore, Cataloger P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Wallace, Anne, Ln. Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga. + +Wallace, Charlotte Elizabeth, Ln. Hazelwood Br. Carnegie L., Pittsburg, + Pa. + +Warren, Irene, Ln. Univ. of Chicago School of Education, Chicago. + +Waters, W. O., Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Watson, Carrie M., Ln. Univ. of Kansas L., Lawrence, Kan. + +Weber, Mrs. Jessie Palmer, Ln. State Hist. L., Springfield, Ill. + +Weber, Linda, Springfield. Ill. + +Webster, Ida M., Ln. P. L., Lincoln, Ill. + +Wellman, Hiller Crowell, Ln. P. L., Brookline, Mass. + +Welsh, Robert Gilbert, Manager Library Dept. Charles Scribner's Sons, + New York City. + +Wescoat, Lulu M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +West, Mabel G., Cataloger Knox College L., Galesburg, Ill. + +Wheelock, Mary E., Ln. P. L., Grinnell, Ia. + +Whitaker, Alfred E., Ln. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, Col. + +White, Peter, State L. Commission, Marquette, Mich. + +Whitten, Robert H., Sociology Ln. State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Whitten, Mrs. Robert H., Albany, N. Y. + +Whitney, Mrs. Carrie Westlake, Ln. P. L., Kansas City, Mo. + +Wilkerson, Elizabeth B., Cataloger Cossitt L., Memphis, Tenn. + +Williams, Lizzie Annie, Ln. P. L., Malden, Mass. + +Williams, Mary, As. Hampton Inst. L., Hampton, Va. + +Wilson, Halsey W., Cumulative Book Index, Minneapolis, Minn. + +Windsor, Phineas L., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Wing, Florence S., Student Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Wire, Dr. G. E., Deputy Ln. Worcester County Law L., Worcester, Mass. + +Wood, Harriet Ann, Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Wood, Mary Whistler, Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Woods, Henry F., Ln. P. L., East St. Louis, Ill. + +Wright, Charles Edward, Ln. Andrew Carnegie F. L., Carnegie, Pa. + +Wright, Mrs. Mary L., Ln. P. L. Streator, Ill. + +Wright, Purd B., Ln. F. P. L., St. Joseph, Mo. + +Wyer, James Ingersoll, Jr., Ln. Univ. of Nebraska L., Lincoln, Neb. + +Wyer, Malcolm G., Excelsior, Minn. + +Youmans, Mrs. Henry M., Pres. Wisconsin State Federation of Women's + Clubs, Waukesha, Wis. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote K: The State Library Section held no meeting, as such, but its +interests were represented in the meeting of the National Association of +State Librarians, held simultaneously with the A. L. A. meeting, and +reported in _Library Journal_, July, 1901, p. 397.] + + + + + ATTENDANCE SUMMARIES. + + BY NINA E. BROWNE, _Registrar; Librarian of Library Bureau, Boston; + Secretary A. L. A. Publishing Board_. + + + BY POSITION AND SEX. + + Men. Women. Total. + + Trustees and other officers 24 11 35 + Chief librarians 56 118 174 + Assistants 31 136 167 + Library Bureau, booksellers, + etc. 23 4 27 + Library school students 3 3 + Others 14 40 54 + --- --- --- + Total 148 312 460 + + + BY GEOGRAPHICAL SECTIONS. + + 9 of the 9 No. Atlantic states sent 87 + 6 " 9 So. " " " 23 + 2 " 8 So. Central " " 4 + 8 " 8 No. " " " 318 + 5 " 8 Western " " 16 + 5 " 8 Pacific " " 9 + Canada sent 3 + --- + Total 460 + + + BY STATES. + + Me. 4 + N. H. 1 + Vt. 3 + Mass. 22 + R. I. 3 + Conn. 4 + N. Y. 28 + Pa. 22 + Del. 2 + Md. 3 + D. C. 14 + Va. 1 + N. C. 1 + Ga. 2 + La. 1 + Tenn. 3 + Ohio. 18 + Ind. 27 + Ill. 119 + Mich. 14 + Wis. 93 + Minn. 13 + Ia. 18 + Mo. 16 + Kan. 5 + Neb. 6 + S. D. 2 + Mont. 2 + Col. 1 + Ariz. 1 + Cal. 3 + Oregon 2 + Idaho 2 + Wash. 1 + Canada 3 + --- + Total 460 + + NUMBER OF LIBRARIES REPRESENTED FROM EACH STATE. + + Me. 3 libraries represented by 4 + N. H. 1 " " 1 + Vt. 2 " " 3 + Mass. 9 " " 10 + R. I. 2 " " 2 + Conn. 3 " " 3 + N. Y. 13 " " 17 + Pa. 8 " " 16 + Del. 1 " " 1 + Md. 2 " " 3 + D. C. 4 " " 11 + Va. 1 " " 1 + Ga. 1 " " 2 + La. 1 " " 1 + Tenn. 2 " " 3 + Ohio. 9 " " 17 + Ind. 16 " " 24 + Ill. 38 " " 86 + Mich. 4 " " 8 + Wis. 35 " " 76 + Minn. 5 " " 9 + Ia. 12 " " 14 + Mo. 6 " " 16 + Kan. 2 " " 2 + Neb. 4 " " 5 + S. D. 2 " " 2 + Mont. 2 " " 2 + Col. 1 " " 1 + Ariz. 1 " " 1 + Cal. 2 " " 2 + Oregon. 1 " " 2 + Idaho. 1 " " 1 + Wash. 1 " " 1 + Canada. 2 " " 3 + + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +Some inconsistencies and obvious errors in punctuation and +capitalization have been corrected without further note. + +Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. + +Unusual spellings have been retained, except as noted below. + +Inconsistencies in spelling have been fixed in cases where there was a +clear majority of a given spelling, and otherwise retained. + +On p. 7, the word "multimillionaires" was broken between lines in the +original; it has been arbitrarily rendered as "multimillionaires" as +opposed to "multi-millionaires". + +On p. 22, the phrase "to have so-called expert opinions expressed +concerning books" had "concernings" in the original. + +On p. 43, "expense" was "exepense" in the original. + +On p. 48, the phrase "independent and autonomous institutions" had +"autonymous" in the original. + +On p. 62, the phrase "The best reviews of children's books ever written" +had "childen's" in the original. + +On p. 67, "unquestionable" was "unqestionable" in the original. + +On p. 68, there is mention of "'The pink hen,' by Cuthbert Sterling. +There is a fairy tale called "The Pink Hen", by Cuthbert Spurling; this +may be what was meant. + +On p. 71, "expressing" was "experssing" in the original. + +On p. 79, the word "summer-school" was split across lines; +"summer-school" was arbitrarily chosen instead of "summerschool". + +On p. 82, the word "handbooks" was split across lines; "handbooks" was +arbitrarily chosen instead of "hand-books"; both were in use at the time. + +On p. 86, "questions" was "questtions" in the original. + +On p. 109, the phrase "have examined the accounts of the treasurer" had +"trueasurer" in the original. + +On p. 111, in the obituary numbered "8", the word "died" was surmised; +the original is unclear. + +On p. 114, the phrase "the demand which would otherwise exist" had +"exists" in the original. + +On. p. 117, the phrase "although with very inadequate force" appeared in +the original on a line ending in "in-" followed by a line starting with +"dequate"; hence, "indequate". + +On p. 120, the word "inter-oceanic" was split across lines; it was +arbitrarily made "inter-oceanic" as opposed to "interoceanic". + +On p. 130, in §8, "...meeting of the Association appoint a +committee..." was "...meeting of the Association appoint a a +committee..." in the original. + +On p. 138, the phrase "and, secondly, when we are sure" appeared in the +original on a line ending in "sec-" followed by a line starting with +"condly"; hence, "seccondly". + +On p. 144, the phrase "wished that a complete bibliography" appeared in +the original on a line ending in "con-" followed by a line starting with +"plete"; hence, "conplete". + +On p. 152, the phrase "These subject headings are simply suggestive" had +"heading" in the original. + +On p. 155, the phrase "purely bibliographical notation" had +"biliographical" in the original. + +On p. 156, the word "letterpress" was split between lines once, and +written as "letter-press" once; these have been changed to "letterpress" +for consistency with previous usage. + +On p. 159, the phrase "the purpose of the author arrangement" had +"arangement" in the original. + +On p. 162, the phrase "regardless of whether it was as author" had +"regardlesss" in the original. + +On p. 190, the phrase "the frailest of our sex" had "frailiest" in the +original. + +On p. 191, the phrase "the support and maintenance of public libraries" +appeared in the original on a line ending in "pub-" followed by a line +starting with "lib"; hence, "publib". + +On p. 199, the phrase "AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN" had "GOTTINGEN" +in the original. + +On p. 210, the phrase "at 9 p.m. Mr. Eastman's" was missing the full +stop after the "m" in the original. + +On p. 210, the phrase "the monotony of work" had "monotany" in the +original. + +On p. 213, the phrase "Craver, Harrison Warwick" had "Harison" in the +original. + +On p. 217, the phrase "Shortridge High S." had "Shortbridge" in the +original. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers and Proceedings of the +Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + +***** This file should be named 44406-8.txt or 44406-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/4/0/44406/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. 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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: Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association + Held at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Jul 4-10, 1901 + +Author: Various + +Editor: American Library Association + +Release Date: December 11, 2013 [EBook #44406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. Kendall and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1 class="spacy"> +<span class="em1point2">PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point4">OF THE<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point7">TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL MEETING<br /></span> +<span class="em0point4">OF THE<br /></span> + +<span class="em2point3">AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point4">HELD AT<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point9">WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point7 dropj">J</span><span class="em0point4">ULY 4-10<br /></span> + +<span class="em0point7">1901</span></h1> + + +<p class="center"><span class="em0point8"><span class="smcap">Published by the<br /></span></span> + +<span class="center em1point1">AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="em0point8">1901</span></p> + + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> +<hr class="twenty" /> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<col width="32%" /><col width="32%" /><col width="27%" /><col width="9%" /> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"> <span class="smcap">Title.</span> </td><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Author.</span> + </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Page.</span> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#ADDRESS_OF_THE_PRESIDENT"> +Address of the President</a></td><td align="left"><i>Henry J. Carr</i></td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_CITY"> +What may be done for libraries by the city</a></td><td align="left"><i>T. L. Montgomery</i></td><td align="right">5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_STATEA"> +What may be done for libraries by the state</a></td><td align="left"><i>E. A. Birge</i></td><td align="right">7</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_NATION"> +What may be done for libraries by the nation</a></td><td align="left"><i>Herbert Putnam</i></td><td align="right">9</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" ><a href="#THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I"> +The trusteeship of literature—</a></td><td align="left">I.</td><td align="left"><i>George Iles</i></td><td align="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" ><a href="#THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_II"> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"> +" +" +" +" </span></a></td><td align="left"> +II. </td><td align="left"><i>R. T. Ely</i></td><td align="right">22</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#BOOK_COPYRIGHT"> +Book copyright</a></td><td align="left"><i>Thorvald Solberg</i></td><td align="right">24</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS"> +The relationship of publishers, booksellers and librarians</a></td><td align="left"><i>W. Millard Palmer</i></td><td align="right"> 31</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#LIBRARY_BUILDINGS"> +Library buildings</a></td><td align="left"><i>W. R. Eastman</i></td><td align="right">38</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_RELATION_OF_THE_ARCHITECT_TO_THE_LIBRARIAN"> +The relationship of the architect to the librarian </a></td><td align="left"><i>J. L. Mauran</i></td><td align="right">43</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_DEPARTMENTAL_LIBRARY"> +The departmental library</a></td><td align="left"><i>J. T. Gerould</i></td><td align="right">46</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SUGGESTIONS_FOR_AN_ANNUAL_LIST_OF_AMERICAN_THESES_FOR_THE"> +Suggestions for an annual list of American theses for<br /> the degree of doctor of philosophy</a></td> +<td align="left"><i>W. W. Bishop</i></td><td align="right">50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#OPPORTUNITIES"> +Opportunities</a></td><td align="left"><i>Gratia Countryman</i></td><td align="right">52</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SOME_PRINCIPLES_OF_BOOK_AND_PICTURE_SELECTION"> +Some principles of book and picture selection</a></td><td align="left"><i>G. E. Wire</i></td><td align="right">54</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#BOOK_REVIEWS_BOOK_LISTS_AND_ARTICLES_ON_CHILDRENS_READING"> +Book reviews, book lists, and articles on children's<br /> reading: Are they of practical value to the children's<br /> + librarian?</a></td> +<td> <i>Caroline M. Hewins</i></td><td align="right">57</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#BOOKS_FOR_CHILDREN"> +Books for children:</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#FICTION"> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"> +I. Fiction </span> </a></td><td align="left"><i>Winifred L. Taylor</i></td><td align="right">63</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#FAIRY_TALES"><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"> +II. Fairy tales </span></a> </td><td align="left"><i>Abby L. Sargent</i> </td><td align="right">66</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#SCIENCE"> +III. Science </a></span> </td><td align="left"><i>Ella A. Holmes</i></td><td align="right"> 69</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#BULLETIN_WORK_FOR_CHILDREN"> +Bulletin work for children</a></td><td align="left"><i>Charlotte E. Wallace</i></td><td align="right"> 72</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#REFERENCE_WORK_WITH_CHILDREN"> +Reference work with children</a></td><td align="left"><i>Harriet H. Stanley</i></td><td align="right">74</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#VITALIZING_THE_RELATION_BETWEEN_THE_LIBRARY_AND_THE_SCHOOL"> +Vitalizing the relation between the library and the school:</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SCHOOL"> +I. The school </a></span></td><td><i>May L. Prentice</i></td><td align="right">78</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><a href="#THE_LIBRARY"> +II. The library </a></span></td><td align="left"><i>Irene Warren</i> </td><td align="right">81</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#OPENING_A_CHILDRENS_ROOM"> +Opening a children's room</a></td><td align="left"><i>Clara W. Hunt</i></td><td align="right">83</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_TO_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES_1900-1901"> +Report on gifts and bequests, 1900-1901</a></td><td align="left"><i>G. W. Cole</i></td><td align="right">87</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#REPORT_OF_THE_A_L_A_PUBLISHING_BOARD"> +Report of the A. L. A. Publishing Board</a></td><td align="left"><i>J. Le Roy Harrison</i></td><td align="right">103</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_PROCEEDINGS"> +Proceedings</a></td><td></td><td align="right">107-141</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#FIRST_SESSION"> +First Session: Public meeting</a></td><td></td><td align="right">107</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SECOND_SESSION"> +Second Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">107-118</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#SECRETARYS_REPORT"> +Secretary's report </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right">107</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#TREASURERS_REPORT"> +Treasurer's report and necrology </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right">108</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_TRUSTEES_OF_ENDOWMENT_FUND"> +Report of Trustees of Endowment Fund </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right">111</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_CO-OPERATION_COMMITTEE"> +Report of Co-operation Committee </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right">113</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_FOREIGN_DOCUMENTS"> +Report of Committee on Foreign Documents </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right">113</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_TITLE-PAGES_AND_INDEXES"> +Report of Committee on Title-pages and Indexes +<br /> of Periodical Volumes</a> </span></td> +<td></td><td align="right">114</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CATALOGUE_OF_SCIENTIFIC_LITERATURE"> +Report of Committee on "International Catalogue +<br /> of Scientific Literature"</a></span></td><td></td><td align="right">116</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE"> +Memorial to John Fiske </a></span></td><td></td><td align="right">117</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THIRD_SESSION"> +Third Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">118-125</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_PUBLIC_DOCUMENTS"> +Report of Committee on Public Documents </a></span></td><td></td><td align="right"> 118</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_CO-OPERATION_WITH_N._E._A."> +Report of Committee on Co-operation with N. E. A. </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 120</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CO-OPERATION"> +Report of Committee on International Co-operation </a> </span></td><td></td><td align="right"> 122</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_LIBRARY_TRAINING"> +Report of Committee on Library Training </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 124</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#COLLECTION_AND_CATALOGING_OF_EARLY_NEWSPAPERS"> +Collection and cataloging of early newspapers.</a></span></td> + <td align="left"> <i>W. Beer</i></td><td align="right">124</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#FOURTH_SESSION"> +Fourth Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">125-127</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#SOME_EXPERIENCES_IN_FOREIGN_LIBRARIES"> +Some experiences in foreign libraries. </a></span></td><td> <i>Mary W. Plummer</i> </td><td align="right">125</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#FROM_THE_READERS_POINT_OF_VIEW"> +From the reader's point of view, and the era +<br /> of the placard.</a></span></td><td align="left"><i>J. K. Hosmer</i></td><td align="right">127</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#FIFTH_SESSION"> +Fifth Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">127-137</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +<a href="#REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_2"> +Report on gifts and bequests </a></span></td><td></td><td align="right">127</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +<a href="#REPORT_OF_A._L._A._PUBLISHING_BOARD_2"> +Report of A. L. A. Publishing Board </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 127</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#INVITATION_FROM_L._A._U._K."> +Invitation from L. A. U. K. </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 128</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_HANDBOOK_OF_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES"> +Report of Committee on Handbook of American libraries</a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 128</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#BY-LAWS"> +By-laws </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 129</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE_2"> +Memorial to John Fiske </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right">130</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#COOPERATIVE_LIST_OF_CHILDRENS_BOOKS"> +Co-operative list of children's books</a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 130</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#PRINTED_CATALOG_CARDS"> +Printed catalog cards </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 131</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#BOOK_COPYRIGHT_2"> +Book copyright </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right">131</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +<a href="#THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I_2"> +Trusteeship of literature </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right"> 131</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +<a href="#RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_2"> +Relationship of publishers, booksellers and librarians</a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right">134</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SIXTH_SESSION"> +Sixth Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">137-140</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_CONTINUED"> +Relationship of publishers, booksellers and librarians, +<br /> <i>continued</i></a> </span></td> + <td></td><td align="right">137</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SEVENTH_SESSION"> +Seventh Session</a></td><td></td><td align="right">141-142</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#ELECTION_OF_OFFICERS"> +Election of officers </a></span> </td><td></td><td align="right">141</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_RESOLUTIONS"> +Report of Committee on Resolutions </a> </span> </td><td></td><td align="right">141</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#COLLEGE_AND_REFERENCE_SECTION"> +College and Reference Section</a></td><td></td><td align="right">142-145</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#CATALOG_SECTION"> +Catalog Section</a></td><td></td><td align="right">146-162</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#SECTION_FOR_CHILDRENS_LIBRARIANSG"> +Section for Children's Librarians</a></td><td></td><td align="right">163-170</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#STATE_LIBRARY_COMMISSIONS_AND_TRAVELLING_LIBRARIES_ROUND"> +Round Table Meeting: State Library Commissions and +<br /> Traveling Libraries </a></td><td></td><td align="right"> 171-183</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#WORK_OF_STATE_LIBRARY_ASSOCIATIONS_AND_WOMENS_CLUBS_IN_ADVANCING"> +Round Table Meeting: Work of State Library Associations +<br /> + and Women's Clubs in Advancing Library Interests </a></td><td></td><td align="right">183-195</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#TRUSTEES_SECTION"> +Trustees' Section</a></td><td></td><td align="right">196</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#PROFESSIONAL_INSTRUCTION_IN_BIBLIOGRAPHY_ROUND_TABLE"> +Round Table Meeting: Professional Instruction in +<br /> Bibliography</a></td><td></td><td align="right"> 197-205</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#TRANSACTIONS_OF_COUNCIL_AND_EXECUTIVE_BOARD"> +Transactions of Council and Executive Board</a></td><td></td><td align="right">206-208</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#ELEMENTARY_INSTITUTE"> +Elementary Institute</a></td><td></td><td align="right">208</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#ILLINOIS_STATE_LIBRARY_SCHOOL_ALUMNI_ASSOCIATION"> +Illinois State Library School Alumni Association</a></td><td></td><td align="right">208</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_SOCIAL_SIDE_OF_THE_WAUKESHA_CONFERENCE"> +The social side of the Waukesha conference</a></td><td align="left"><i>Julia T. Rankin</i> </td><td align="right">209</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#OFFICERS_AND_COMMITTEES"> +Officers and Committees</a></td><td></td><td align="right">211</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#ATTENDANCE_REGISTER"> +Attendance register</a></td><td></td><td align="right">212</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><a href="#ATTENDANCE_SUMMARIES"> +Attendance summaries.</a></td><td align="left"> <i>Nina E. Browne</i></td><td align="right">218</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<h2>CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS.</h2> + +<p class="center em1point4"><i>WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN.</i></p> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="em1point4 dropj">J</span><span class="em0point8">ULY 4-10, 1901.<br /></span></p> + +<h3><a name="ADDRESS_OF_THE_PRESIDENT" id="ADDRESS_OF_THE_PRESIDENT"> +BEING A LIBRARIAN: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Henry J. Carr</span>, <i>Librarian Scranton (Pa.) Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>In your presence, and in addressing you to-night +as presiding officer, I feel to a far +greater extent than I can express in words +the high honor that has been conferred in +each instance upon all who from time to time +have been chosen to serve as a president of +this particular association.</p> + +<p>There is in this present age, to be sure, no +lack of those popular and peculiar entities +termed associations—associations of many +kinds, and for almost every conceivable purpose. +Throughout the entire continent there +exist few, perhaps none, whose history, objects, +and work, have warranted a more justifiable +pride in being a member thereof, than +is found in being a member of the American +Library Association.</p> + +<p>It may here be said that conditions and circumstances +have been favorable to the success +of the A. L. A.; not the least of which has +been the faithful loyalty of its individual +members. We realize, too, that even time has +dealt leniently with it, upon noting that of the +64 members who attended its first meeting, +held at Philadelphia twenty-five years ago, but +18 have died, and that 20 persons are yet +included in its membership list out of the 69 +who joined the association in 1876, that initial +year. Some of that original number, much +to our gratification, are present with us at this +23d general meeting.</p> + +<p>Considering its purely voluntary nature, the +migratory holding of its successive meetings +in different parts of the land, and the notable +avoidance of fads, or any tendency towards +selfish ends that might otherwise mark its +united efforts, it becomes almost a matter of +surprise that so many persons have unfalteringly +kept up their allegiance from year to +year ever since the time of their joining the +association. But, as a matter of fact, the +A. L. A. has at no time fallen off in its total +membership; and at this date it numbers nearly +one thousand contributing members paying +dues for the current year.</p> + +<p>The American Library Association has now +attained a period of twenty-five years in its +history—a quarter of a century. During that +time, in the addresses given at its general +meetings, as well as in the multiplicity of +noteworthy and valuable papers contributed +to its Proceedings, and the sundry publications +devoted to library interests, it would appear +as if there must have been presented almost +every conceivable phase of library thought +and sentiment. Can anything new be said, or +old ideas placed in a new light, so as to be +worthy of hearing and attention at this time? +I fear not, except as some lessons may be +drawn from the experience of one's past work, +perhaps, that shall serve to aid yet others who +are to tread like paths in life.</p> + +<p>I beg, therefore, that you will bear with me +for a short space of time while I give expression +to some thoughts drawn from the +experience of myself and others while Being +a Librarian.</p> + +<p>Without now restricting their application +to particular phases of librarianship, let us at +the outset consider them as relating to any +and all conditions of it as a vocation. "Why +did you take up library work?" is a question +not infrequently asked. To that query various +answer may be given, according to the individual +views of the persons replying. Perhaps +one general reason, that in a certain way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +has had its unconscious influence upon many +of us, is best stated in the following characteristic +passage from the "Book-hunter:"</p> + +<p>"To every man of our Saxon race endowed +with full health and strength, there is committed +the custody of a restless demon, for +which he is doomed to find ceaseless excitement, +either in honest work, or some less +profitable or more mischievous occupation. +Countless have been the projects of man to +open up for this fiend fields of exertion great +enough for the absorption of its tireless energies, +and none of them is more hopeful than +the great world of books, if the demon is +docile enough to be coaxed into it."</p> + +<p>Since Burton's day the "great world of +books" has taken on many phases of which he +never dreamed. And we, as librarians, may +reasonably believe that if not entirely a part +and parcel of it, we are nevertheless called +upon to deal with that "world" in almost +every form, and are ourselves more or less +important factors in it. We may not be called +upon to adopt the "strenuous life," or seek +to impart it to the conduct and activities of +others. But necessarily we are and must be +accustomed to "doing things"; and, by that +very doing, will in some degree, each in our +own field, inspire and influence others also.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, do we not find <i>our</i> "restless +demon of work" more agreeably inclined and +contentedly occupied in the library field than +in other lines of life which we may have previously +entered into? I, for one, certainly +think so, even though we may not have had +that idea in mind at the outset, or when making +the change. And, too, that we derive a +certain feeling of encouragement akin to inspiration, +that in itself renders <i>us</i> contented +and happy, when responding to the varied +demands on our time and energy that are entailed +by our positions as librarians. That is +half the battle, the rest being but a question of +persistence in the application of means and +ability.</p> + +<p>Therefore, in the consoling words of one of +Elbert Hubbard's salient sayings: "Blessed +is that man who has found his work."</p> + +<p>It is not the purpose of these present remarks +to set forth particularly the compensations +in a librarian's work; neither the advantages +or disadvantages, the opportunities +or drawbacks therein. Those factors have all +been frequently and well discussed in prior +years, by some of our well-known associates +and various contributors to library literature. +I desire, rather, to suggest some features and +relationships connected with our work as a +profession, from which an occasional lesson +may be taken, and possibly a word of encouragement, +if such be needed.</p> + +<p>First of all, is librarianship a profession? +Does it possess the characteristics that make +it such; and is that work more nearly professional +than otherwise, which lies at its +hands to be done? Some such queries were +propounded to me by the president of a state +library association one day last fall, as we +were journeying together to an annual meeting. +He, himself, had been a teacher and an +educational administrator for a number of +years before becoming a librarian; and of the +recognized professional standing of his <i>former</i> +occupation there could be no doubt.</p> + +<p>My first, and off-hand, answer was to the +effect that librarianship certainly has many +professional features, even though its being a +true and undoubted profession in every respect +might be disputed now and then. Going +further into this question of professional +status, however, it will be found that the literature +of views and discussions thereon, pro +and con, is by no means small. For one of us +to now express a doubt that librarianship, as +a whole, is a profession, would be almost presumptuous; +and I, for one, do not propose to +do so. My thesis, so far as it relates to the +present remarks, is in affirmation of the claim; +not only that it is a profession—our profession—but +really the profession of professions!</p> + +<p>All other professions now depend to a considerable +extent upon that of the librarian for +the custodianship of their literature, without +whose care much of it might be lost. We +may not be able to transmit to future eras +such enduring records of antiquity as has been +done by the librarian of old in his collection of +clay tablets (which now serve to tell us of +the affairs of mankind as transacted thousands +of years ago), but it is certain that we are +doing our part towards making modern literature +available in disseminating it, and in preserving +it as far as lies in our power.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cotemporaneous with the organization of +this association Melvil Dewey made the following +decided and well-supported assertion: +"The time has at last come when a librarian, +may, without assumption, speak of his occupation +as a profession." I cite Mr. Dewey's +words, not as necessarily conclusive, but because +he has ever been an active and constant +supporter of that doctrine in both his work +as a librarian, as a noted stimulator of the +library movement, and as an originator of +professional instruction of other librarians. +Similar enthusiastic and persistent efforts on +the part of librarians generally may do much +towards the furtherance of such features, and +the consequent development of librarianship +as a profession in all its aspects.</p> + +<p>Let us now consider for a few moments +some features of resemblance and diversity +between the library profession and others +quite as well or better known. It has been +said that the library exists chiefly for the use +of its patrons, and that the librarian is necessarily +and essentially a servant. Therefore +the librarian must, of equal necessity, earn a +livelihood or receive compensation of some +kind for his services. All of which, in the +main, is true of the professions generally, as +will be seen from a brief statement of circumstances.</p> + +<p>Doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, artists, +etc., are engaged by and receive pay from +their respective clients. The clergy are supported +by contributions of their church members +or from denominational resources. +Teachers in the public schools are paid from +public taxes, while those of private schools, +or endowed institutions, receive their compensation +from various sources.</p> + +<p>The clergy and teachers, as a rule, like most +librarians, no matter how willing or how +well qualified, are under the further necessity +of obtaining a "call," or position, as a prerequisite +to the exercise of their professional +faculties. In that respect they are at a disadvantage +in comparison with those practitioners +in the other professions, already named, +who can go to any locality, solicit clients and +seek business opportunities, with reasonable +assurance of obtaining both according to place +and the circumstances of supply and demand.</p> + +<p>In some of the professions, both the so-called +"learned" and the practical ones, there +have been developed certain well recognized +differentiations and specializations of professional +work. Those lines have usually been +taken up in response to what has seemed a +reasonable demand for them; and in their +exercise have not unfrequently brought both +reputation and corresponding remuneration to +the specialists.</p> + +<p>Possibly the time has arrived for doing much +more of that nature in the library profession +than has yet been customary. And there +are those among us, possessing a due amount +of working experience coupled with knowledge +of other and allied affairs, who might now +do well to devote themselves to some special +features of library enterprise as a matter of +desirable business opportunity. Some from +the library schools, and a few others, have +gone out as "organizers," and found more or +less of a field for the exercise of their limited +special qualifications. The field ought to be a +growing one, it would seem, if recourse to +incompetent aid is carefully avoided.</p> + +<p>But the offices of "consulting librarianship," +while possessing many desirable and +much needed features, do not appear to be +practised as a specific function. Something of +the kind has been urged in past years, to be +sure, and several well-known librarians did +undertake at different times to supply such +services. Sooner or later, however, each one +was persuaded into a more certain, or better +compensated, and permanent, position of local +librarianship, and thereupon abandoned +that special line of work.</p> + +<p>In this era of the establishment of so many +new libraries, small and great, and of the gift +of hundreds of buildings for such purposes, +there is a decided need for the effective services +which a consulting librarian might render; +and this to a greater extent than is yet +fully understood or appreciated. Lacking +such, some librarians and more library trustees +work too often at a disadvantage. Many +more, too, are burdened with repeated calls +for information which more properly ought +to be obtained from an independent expert; +one so situated as to take an unbiased view of +circumstances and equally able to give advice +best suited to the particular case in hand. +Serious mistakes are sometimes made in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +preliminary details of new library enterprises +that might be just as easily avoided by the +employment of a competent and paid professional +adviser.</p> + +<p>Turning now to another side of our subject, +and considering the relation of the individual +librarians rather than of the profession as a +class, a few words upon personal actions may +not be out of place. A librarian's position is +usually of a public or semi-public nature; +ability for its duties is implied; and the compensation +received is for present services as +a rule, rather than as a reward of merit. In +order that the library shall perform all that +is expected of it, not only in being to some extent +an ever-running machine but equally in +respect to its recognized higher functions, +there must be the application of watchful +care, constant attention, foresight, and unremitting +work. The direction of all of which, +and perhaps much of its actual execution, +must depend upon the person placed in charge +of the institution as its librarian.</p> + +<p>It is true that, having a well-trained body +of assistants, a library may be able to run on +for a time in the prolonged absence of, or +when lacking, a chief; because impetus and the +effects of past direction are not lost at once, +provided that no demoralization has taken +place. But it is not a safe policy to allow a +library, or other working institution that depends +largely upon the work of trained employees +for its effectiveness, to go long at a +time without the presence and oversight of an +actual and capable head.</p> + +<p>Yet it does not follow that the working +hours of chief librarians should be absorbed +in attending to innumerable and trivial items +of detail which might be delegated to and done +quite as well, or better, by their assistants. +Not only is "genius a capacity for evading +hard work," as has been said, but one of the +proper duties of the executive of a library is +to obtain the best results possible from the +respective capacities of those through whom +the library does its work. All of which should +imply the exercise of a kindly and broad-minded +disposition towards one's assistants, +just as truly as of respect and obedience to +one's superiors, or of courtesy and suavity in +dealing with customers and the public. It +may be only human for one to desire to be +that "king of his world," of whom Carlyle +speaks; but any policy which reduces the assistants +to mere machines is not a true professional +one, since it tends to rob the library +world of talent which is needed and, except +for such repression, might be developed and +brought forward.</p> + +<p>On the other hand I might plead no less for +corresponding loyalty and fidelity on the part +of all library workers, both to their respective +chiefs and the institutions that employ them. +As a matter of fact, however, action of that +kind is the prevailing practice in this country, +with hardly an exception, and that phase needs +no extended discussion. A chief is, of course, +entitled to credit for acts done by subordinates +at his direction and for which he is responsible. +But chiefs, in turn, can well afford +to give recognition to the ability and deeds +of their assistants, and will seldom, if ever, +lose by doing so.</p> + +<p>There are one or two other features of librarianship +which merit passing mention. +Among them are what may be termed library +succession, or the librarian's duty to his successor. +Some few librarians "die in the harness"; +while quite as many more change +from one place to another at times. Occasionally +they are succeeded by those who +come new into the work; and, gaining experience, +become a credit to the profession. +Advancement of those trained in smaller libraries +to places in larger ones, or from the +position of assistant in a library to the head +thereof, has also brought forward quite as +many more of those whose progress we watch +with cordial interest.</p> + +<p>Although conscious of those facts, and of +the inevitable changes and successions that +must occur from year to year, do we recognize +our duty to our successor? I have asked +the question, but its consideration must be +left to some future time and opportunity.</p> + +<p>Impartiality in enforcing rules, and in dispensing +the privileges of the library to all +comers, should be deemed an important feature +of librarianship, quite as essential to the +welfare of the institution as to the professional +success of the librarian. And this suggests +a query, which has before now been +raised, as to how far librarians should go in +aiding persons who expect to use information<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +obtained at the library, solely for the furtherance +of personal interests or for purposes of +pecuniary profit. Impartial and confidential +treatment of all readers and seekers, who +come to the library after information, would +appear to be the only safe practice and criterion, +regardless of their particular motives. +Care should be taken, of course, to assist them +in gaining the desired information by means +of their own study, and in their own way, +rather than through the efforts of library employees +applied to searching out the exact and +final facts for them.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, I would direct your attention +very briefly to yet another side of librarianship +which ought to have an occasional +bearing so far as ethical principles may apply.</p> + +<p>Since we regard librarianship as a profession +it would seem that there must needs be +some recognized principles of an ethical nature +relating to it. Like many of our working +methods, however, they must probably +exist chiefly as "unwritten laws." It is always +a difficult matter to put our ideals into +words. They may be quite real to the sensibilities +and yet hardly admit of being formulated. +And, too, the evident contrast between +the ideals aimed at, and the results attained, +is often so great that one hesitates to say in +so many words just what is his ideal.</p> + +<p>Still there have been developed in the other +leading professions, those that are regarded +as the most reputable and noteworthy, certain +recognized principles which serve to +guide their members in many ways. The full +comprehension of such principles as an authoritative +guide tends to a correct measurement +of the real value of one's professional +work. Likewise, while supplying certain +ideals at the outset, they may aid in determining +the lines of effort and action which will +tend to elevate the profession itself and to +the attainment of individual success in its +pursuits.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it is too soon in the history of so +young a profession to expect very much in +the nature of such formulations. To properly +enumerate and determine the essential principles +must call for the attention of many +minds, working each in their own channel but +aimed in the same general direction, until the +final outcome shall be a fully developed and +rounded code of library ethics which will thus +be entitled to and gain well deserved recognition +and observance.</p> + +<p>If, in the views and various thoughts, which +I have presumed to set forth at this time, +such ideas as have a bearing on this last +named topic shall serve as hints to spur on +some abler and more philosophically versed +person or persons to undertake the task, or +serve as a ground upon which to build a +foundation code, I shall be greatly pleased.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_CITY" id="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_CITY">WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE CITY.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Thomas L. Montgomery</span>, <i>Trustee Free Library of Philadelphia</i>.</p> + + +<p>When, in the course of human events, it +became necessary for our people to +dissolve the political bonds which connected +them with another, pretty much everything +was declared a free and an inalienable right +with the exception of the public library. +Whether it would have escaped the attention +of that founder of circulating libraries and +everything else that is useful, had it not been +a time of extraordinary pressure of business, +or whether he purposely neglected it in the +belief that a people that had expressed such +lofty sentiments as to life, liberty and the pursuit +of happiness might well be trusted to +consider such matters in due time it is not +our purpose to discuss. He does not hesitate +to give credit to the libraries in his autobiography +for making the common tradesmen and +farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen in +other countries, and for contributing in some +degree to the stand so generally made throughout +the colonies in defense of their privileges. +It was not until about 1850 that the desirability +of a city library was suggested to the +City Council of Boston by Josiah Quincy, then +mayor. The council cautiously Resolved,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> "That it would accept any +donation from citizens +or others for the purpose of commencing +a public city library and that whenever +the library shall be of the value of $30,000 +it will be expedient for the city to provide a +suitable place and arrangements to enable it +to be used by the citizens with as great a +degree of freedom as the security of the property +will permit." In July, 1852, the trustees +made a report "that in their opinion the finances +of the city will not permit of the erecting +of a building and the purchase of an +ample library." They suggest "a moderate +expenditure on the part of the city for the +purchase of books and the compensation of a +librarian." It was soon after this that Mr. +Bates made his famous gift of $50,000 worth +of books "on condition that the city provide +an adequate building which shall be an ornament +to the city." A complete history of this +institution would seem to be the best possible +answer which could be made to the question +before us. What can the city do for the +free library. With a magnificent collection of +700,000 books, selected under the administration +of some of the best men who have dignified +our profession, and housed in the most +expensive building ever erected by a city for +such a purpose, it would appear that the citizen +of Boston might rightly exclaim "Si +monumentum quaeris, circumspice."</p> + +<p>The things that can be done by a city are +innumerable; what it <i>ought</i> to do and what +it <i>will</i> do are perhaps more easily dealt with. +Thinking I might obtain some information on +the subject I asked the question of the librarian +of the Free Library of Philadelphia. He +settled himself in his chair and assuming the +tone of an oracle said that there were three +things that the city should do for its library. +1. Provide an adequate appropriation for its +maintenance; 2. Provide an extra appropriation +for emergencies; and 3. Provide a special +appropriation for some particular work which +the librarian might be particularly interested +in at the time. I asked several other prominent +librarians the same question and their +answers were to the same purport—namely, +if the city could furnish sufficient money they +felt themselves fully competent to build up an +ideal institution.</p> + +<p>We all know as a matter of fact that the +strong libraries of the country have been +built up by other means than the mere appropriation +of money by city councils, and it is +not unreasonable to mention as the first of +these the librarian. The city should see to +it that this individual is a man (or woman) +strong, intellectual and vigorous, without +bumptiousness, which is often mistaken for +vigor, and with those qualities which will +procure for him respectful attention from even +those who may be opposed to him. I have +often heard addresses made before this Association +bewailing the fact that the city librarian +had to deal with certain political +elements which very much hampered him. I +should regard this state of affairs as belonging +to the time when the college president was +necessarily a professor of moral philosophy +whose duties consisted of receiving the senior +class for one hour a week to discuss Whewell's +"Elements." Such an officer must now be an +active administrative power as well as an intellectual +entity to at all meet the modern +requirements, and in like manner the public +librarian should deem it a privilege to meet +the representatives of the city government +and to have the opportunity of impressing the +needs of his institution upon them. There is +no better test of the capacity of the man for +the great work in which he is engaged.</p> + +<p>Speaking practically I would state that in +the building up of the Philadelphia Free Library +in which I have taken an active interest, +the political elements have always responded +most generously to our requests, and that the +library has been more inconvenienced by the +writings and personal influence of certain +well-to-do-citizens upon whom the word "paternalism" +has acted as a nightmare than by +any difficulty with the city government.</p> + +<p>While the city should provide means and a +proper official to conduct the institution it +should take much more care in the selection of +the board of trustees than is usually the case. +They should be representative men, who not +only should be able to assist the librarian in +the formation of an educational institution, +but also be able to devote a considerable +amount of time to matters relating to its policy. +If the librarian is not a systematic business +man, one of the board or a committee +should be delegated to attend to the financial<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +affairs, as it is absolutely necessary that the +accounts shall be at all times in as good +condition as in the most punctilious business +house.</p> + +<p>I would also suggest that a certain modesty +be observed in the carrying out of such work +by a municipality. It is hard to think of anything +that could be said for this proposition +when the magnificent buildings of Boston, +Chicago and Pittsburgh are taken into consideration; +but I would respectfully submit +that the feeling of unrest among the great +army of industrial workers throughout the +civilized world is growing. With the tremendous +progress in science and industry +these people are claiming that they can see no +gain in the position of the common people. +This discontent has manifested itself lately in +the opposition of the labor organizations of +certain towns to the munificent proposition +made by one of the most conscientious men +who has ever been numbered among the <a name="multim" id="multim">multimillionaires</a> +of the world. While it is not always +wise to consider too seriously the socialistic +murmurings of a few negative people, I +submit that it is our duty to consider the +effect produced upon the poorest and most +scantily clad patron of our libraries.</p> + +<p>It is necessary that the library should be +housed in a fireproof building as soon as possible, +and the owners of valuable books will +always choose such an institution for such +gifts as they may make. I believe that the +Boston Library has received donations equal +to half the cost of the building since it has +been housed in Copley square.</p> + +<p>Finally, the city should insist that the library +be an educational institution and not receive +its appropriation for recreation mainly. +The extraordinary demand for light fiction in +public libraries has led to a very unsatisfactory +condition of affairs, and it is not uncommon +to find 300 copies of a new novel +necessary to at all meet the demand. There +is every indication that the public library will +be furnished with a happy release from this +call upon their resources by the institution of +the Book Lovers' Library which has now extended +its branches to all the important cities. +If this system can be extended on good business +principles, the happiness of public libraries +would be complete notwithstanding the +slight falling off in circulation that might follow.</p> + +<p>The motto of every such institution should +be: <i>Libri libere liberis,</i> which being freely +translated, means: "A free people should have +open shelves if possible."</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_STATEA" + id="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_STATEA"> +WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE STATE.</a> +<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By E. A. Birge</span>, <i>President Board of Directors, Madison (Wis.) Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>The relation of the state to libraries may be +considered from three points of view. +The first and oldest library function of the +state has been the maintenance of a state library, +usually begun for the convenience of the +legislature and in many states enlarged into a +general library. With this function has also +gone the indirect support of libraries for historical +and scientific societies, incorporated +by the state and in some degree representing +it. Much might be said on possible lines of +work for the state in this direction, but as +this function is the oldest and best understood, +it may be named and passed without +further discussion.</p> + +<p>Second, the state holds a relation to the +local libraries in communities which are supporting +free libraries without aid from the +state. The state aids these libraries by enacting +proper laws for their organization. In +general, the statutes should be such as will +give the local library the best opportunity for +organization, and will leave it when organized +the largest amount of freedom in doing its +work. The earlier library laws of the states +have very generally contained the provision +that, in order to establish a library in a community, +the proposition must be accepted by +a majority of the voters at an election. This +provision has been found disadvantageous in +Wisconsin, and was eliminated from our library</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> +<p>law in 1897. Experience has shown +that it is better to leave the establishment of +a library, like other public works of necessity +and utility, to the common council, or other +representatives of the people in the larger +towns and cities, rather than to commit the +proposition to the chance of a general election.</p> + +<p>The third function of the state with reference +to libraries is that which may be called +library extension. Here the state acts directly +to aid in the establishment of libraries and +the extension of library work in the communities +which would otherwise lack libraries. +The necessity for this work has become apparent +to the more progressive states of the +Union within recent years. The justification +of this work lies in two main reasons. First, +libraries continue for the older youth of the +community and for adults the education which +the state requires for children. It is neither +fair nor right for the state to maintain a system +of education which develops a love of +knowledge and of reading, and then leave the +community without the means for continuing +in later youth the development begun in +childhood. Second, it is known that the intellectual +isolation of the rural communities +is one of the main reasons for the much-lamented +drift from the country into the +cities, and it has been found that the establishment +of libraries affords one of the most +important means of bringing these small communities +into intellectual touch with the +world.</p> + +<p>The states then which have undertaken this +work of library extension have usually done +so by means of the library commission. The +first commission was established by Massachusetts +in 1890. Seventeen states had established +such commissions by the end of +1900—more than half of them in the two +years preceding that date. I have no statistics +regarding the establishment of such commissions +in 1901. The work of these commissions +may be either advisory or missionary, +aiding in the establishment of libraries +in the smaller communities which are able to +establish and maintain them under the guidance +and advice of the commission, and directly +furnishing library facilities to the smallest +and weakest communities. In certain +states direct state aid is given to the smaller +libraries, notably in Massachusetts, where +each town library established under the rules +of the commission receives books to the +amount of $100. In some states aid is given +in the purchase of books. The direct furnishing +of libraries is done mainly by means of +travelling libraries. So far as I can learn, +these are now distributed by six states. The +system has grown throughout the Union, in +various manifestations, and its influence in +bringing books to the communities that most +lack and need them has been of the utmost +value. This work is one of the greatest importance, +and yet I believe it is one which will +ultimately pass into the hands of the counties +or smaller governmental bodies than the state.</p> + +<p>Lastly, the commissions are aiding in the +library work by the establishment of library +schools. In Wisconsin a summer school for +library training has been held for the past +seven years, and represents a class of work +which it seems important that each state +should undertake, namely: the training of librarians +for the smaller libraries in which the +salaries paid are necessarily so small that the +librarians cannot afford the expense of a +complete course in library training. This instruction +applies especially to persons already +in charge of small libraries throughout the +state, who have not had the opportunity to secure +professional training for their work, and +it is of great value in bringing them in touch +with library effort and setting higher standards +of purpose and efficiency. Experience +has shown that in a two months' summer session +instruction can be given of the greatest +value to those who are to have charge of +this class of libraries.</p> + +<p>In this department of library extension +which the states have been entering upon during +the past decade lies the most important +work which the state can undertake for libraries. +The work of the library commissions +means a systematic employment of the library +as an educational and social factor in the +progress of the people. This is the true mission +of the library, and the most important +function of the state lies in effectively aiding +it to perform this work.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_NATION" id="WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_NATION">WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE NATION.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Herbert Putnam</span>, <i>Librarian of Congress</i>.</p> + + +<p>You have had suggestions as to what may +be done for libraries by the city and what +by the state. Whatever is left over—if there is +anything left over—I am to treat as something +that may be done by the nation—the nation +not as an aggregate of its parts, but as a unit, +acting through its central authority. There +is a disposition to contend that <i>everything</i> +which may be more effectively or more economically +done by a central authority for the +larger area should be undertaken by that authority. +I am not prepared to go so far. +There may be a value in local effort that will +repay its greater cost. But in an educational +work which involves the accumulation of material +some of which is exceedingly costly, +only part of which is constantly in use, and +little of which perishes by use; a work whose +processes are capable of organization on a +large scale and the application of co-operative +effort: there must be certain undertakings +which, relatively speaking, are possible only +if assumed by a central authority. It is such +undertakings, for the largest area, that I am +asked to discover and set forth.</p> + +<p>To do so involves consequences which may +be inconvenient. For a possible service means +a correlative duty. And as I myself to a degree +represent here the central authority in +question, whatever I state as a service appropriate +for that authority, I shall have to admit +as a duty in which I must share. I shall +try to be candid. But under the circumstances +I cannot be expected to be more than candid.</p> + +<p>In some respects the Federal Government of +the United States has already influenced the +constitution, resources and service of our +public libraries. It has enacted laws which, +having for their primary purpose the protection +of authors and publishers, benefit libraries +by encouraging the manufacture of +books soundly, substantially and honestly +made. It has favored public libraries by exempting +from tariff duty books imported for +their use. It has encouraged the study of the +classics by laying a penalty upon the general +importation of books less than twenty years +old. In its executive capacity it is itself investigator, +author, publisher, manufacturer, +distributor, statistician, bibliographer, and librarian. +It maintains at Washington, with a +generosity not paralleled by any other government, +bureaus for scientific research; it compiles, +publishes, and freely distributes the results +of this research. It is the greatest publisher +in the world, and the largest manufacturer +of books. In a single publication, +repeated each year, it consumes over a million +pounds of paper stock; and it maintains +a bureau whose purpose is to replenish the +forests which as publisher it thus depletes. +It distributes gratuitously to the libraries of +the United States each year over 300,000 volumes, +embodying the results of its research, +its legislative proceedings, and an account of +its administrative activities. It maintains a +bureau for the investigation of problems in +education, for the accumulation and dissemination +of information concerning the work of +educational institutions; and it has included +the public libraries of this country among +such educational institutions. This bureau +has issued three reports tabulating statistics +concerning them, one also (in 1876) summarizing +their history and two (in 1876 and in +1893) containing essays which embody the +best contemporary opinion as to library equipment +and methods. It has published as a +document the A. L. A. list of best books to +form the basis of a public library.</p> + +<p>Through its bureau of documents it is seeking +to index and adequately to exhibit its +own publications, to facilitate their distribution +to libraries and to afford to libraries as +to federal documents a clearing house for duplicates.</p> + +<p>All such services are obviously appropriate +for the national authority and may doubtless +be continued and extended. If the interchange +of books among libraries is to be facilitated +by special postal regulations this can be accomplished +by the national authority alone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>But in the case of a state a service has been +described which is to be rendered to local libraries +by the library which the state itself +owns and maintains. Now the federal government +also owns and maintains libraries. +What may be demanded of these? Certain +precedents have already been established. The +library of the Surgeon General's office—the +most comprehensive in the world within its +special field—sends its books to members of +the medical profession throughout the United +States, relieving just so much the burden upon +local libraries; and it has issued a catalog +which is not merely in form and method +efficient, but is so nearly an exhibit of the +entire literature of the medical sciences that +it renders unnecessary duplication of cataloging +and analytical work within the field which +it covers. This catalog has conferred a general +benefit not equalled by any bibliographic +work within any other department of literature. +It is perhaps the most eminent bibliographic +work yet accomplished by any government. +The cost of its mere publication—which +is the cost chargeable to the general +benefit—has already exceeded $250,000.</p> + +<p>But this library is but one of several collections +maintained by the Federal Government; +the aggregate of which is already nearly +two million volumes. In each federal department +and bureau there is a library. And +there is a central collection which in itself is +already the largest on the western hemisphere. +It was created as a legislative library—for the +use of both Houses of Congress. It is still +called the Library of Congress. But it is now +being referred to as something more. The +government has erected for it a building +which is the largest, most elaborate, and most +costly yet erected for library purposes. The +seven million dollars which it cost has been +paid not by the District of Columbia, but by +the country at large. No such sum would +have been requisite for a building to serve +Congress alone. It seems to intend a library +that shall serve the country at large, if there +is any such thing possible. In fact the library +is already being referred to as the National +Library of the United States. What +does this mean? or rather, what <i>may</i> this +mean? One naturally looks abroad—to the +foremost of national libraries.</p> + +<p>The British Museum is a huge repository +of material. In scope it is universal. Its +purpose is accumulation, preservation, and the +aid of research by accredited persons, upon +its own premises. Its service is purely responsive. +It has printed catalogs of its own +collections, but does not undertake bibliographic +work general in nature, nor engage in +co-operative bibliographic undertakings. It +lends no books.</p> + +<p>But I fear you will hardly be satisfied with +the analogy. The British Museum, you will +say, is placed in a city which is not merely +the capital of the British Empire, but the +metropolis; the literary metropolis also of the +Anglo-Saxon race. The Library of Congress +is at the capital of the United States. But +this capital is not itself a metropolis. No +student in Great Britain has to travel over +500 miles to reach the British Museum. A +student in the United States may have to +travel as much as 3000 miles to reach the +Library of Congress. The area which supports +the national library of Great Britain is +but 100,000 square miles; that which supports +the National Library of the United States is +ever 3,000,000 square miles. The conditions +differ, and therefore, you will say, the obligation. +If there is any way in which our +National Library may "reach out" from Washington +it should reach out. Its first duty is +no doubt as a legislative library—to Congress. +Its next is as a federal library to aid +the executive and judicial departments of the +government and the scientific undertakings +under governmental auspices. Its next is to +that general research which may be carried on +at Washington by resident and visiting students +and scholars: which in American history, +political and social science, public administration, +jurisprudence and international +law is likely to make Washington its center, +and which, under the auspices of the Washington +Memorial Institution—that new project +for post graduate study involving the use +of the scientific collections and scientific experts +at Washington—is likely to be organized +in various branches of the natural and +physical sciences as well. But this should not +be the limit. There should be possible also +a service to the country at large: a service to +be extended through the libraries which are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +the local centers of research involving the use +of books. That claim may be made. Now +what at Washington might be useful to these +libraries?</p> + +<p>(A lively imagination is not requisite.) +Suppose there could be a collection of books +universal in scope, as no local library with +limited funds and limited space can hope to +be: a collection that shall contain also particularly +(1) original sources, (2) works of +high importance for occasional reference, but +whose cost to procure and maintain precludes +their acquisition by a local library pressed to +secure the material of ordinary and constant +need, and (3) the "useless" books; books not +costly to acquire, but of so little general concern +as not to justify cataloging, space and +care in each local library if only they are +known to be preserved and accessible somewhere.</p> + +<p>Such a collection must include also the general +mass of books sought and held by local +libraries—the books for the ordinary reader; +the daily tools of research. Its maintenance +will involve processes—of classification and +cataloging—highly costly. Suppose the results +of these processes could be made generally +available, so as to save duplication of +such expenditure upon identical material held +by local libraries?</p> + +<p>A collection universal in scope will afford +opportunity for bibliographic work not +equalled elsewhere. Such work centered there +might advance the general interest with the +least aggregate effort. The adequate interpretation +of such a collection will involve the +maintenance of a corps of specialists. Suppose +these specialists could be available to +answer inquiries from all parts of the country +as to what material exists on any particular +subject, where it is, how it may be +had, how most effectively it may be used?</p> + +<p>There are special collections already existent +in various localities in the United States +and likely to come into being through special +local advantage or incentive, or the interest +of private collectors, or private endowment—which +cannot be duplicated at Washington. +Suppose there could be at Washington a +bibliographic statement of that which is peculiar +to each of these collections; in brief, a +catalog of the books in the United States—not +of every library, not of every copy of +every book, but of every <i>book</i> available for an +investigator?</p> + +<p>There are various bibliographic undertakings +which may be co-operative. Suppose +there could be at Washington a central +bureau—with approved methods, standard +forms, adequate editorial capacity, and liberal +facilities for publication—which could organize +and co-ordinate this work among the libraries +of the United States and represent +them in such of it as—like the new Royal +Society index—is to be international?</p> + +<p>There is the exchange of material duplicated +in one library, needed by another. Suppose +there could be at Washington a bureau which +would serve as a clearing house for miscellaneous +duplicates as the Bureau of Documents +serves for documents? It might accomplish +much without handling a single article; +it might, like a clearing house proper +as it were, set debit against credit, <i>i. e.,</i> compare +the deficiencies in one library with the +surplus in another and communicate the results +to the institutions interested. It might +do this upon slip lists sent in by each—of +duplicates and of particular deficiencies—in +sets, for instance. One of my associates +has been guilty of this very suggestion. It +is likely to bring something upon his head. +He may have his choice between live coals +and the ashes of repentance.</p> + +<p>Now those are some of the things which +might be asserted as the duty of Washington +to the country at large. I have touched them +as lightly as possible: but there they are. +And we may not be able to avoid them. Nay, +we seem to be drifting toward them. To +some of them we are apparently already committed.</p> + +<p>There is the building: that in itself seems +to commit us. There is equipment. There +are books. As regards any national service +the federal libraries should be one library. +They contain nearly two million volumes. +The Library of Congress contains net some +700,000 books and a half million other items. +It has for increase (1) deposits under the +copyright law, (2) documents acquired +through distribution of the federal documents +placed at its disposal for exchange—formerly +50 copies of each, now 100, (3) books and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +society publications acquired by the Smithsonian +through its exchanges, (4) miscellaneous +gifts and exchanges, and, (5) purchases +from appropriations. These have increased +from $10,000 a year prior to 1897 to $70,000 +for the year 1901-2.</p> + +<p>Such resources are by no means omnipotent. +<i>No</i> resources can make absolutely comprehensive +a library starting its deliberate accumulations +at the end of the 19th century. +Too much material has already been absorbed +into collections from which it will never +emerge.</p> + +<p>But universality in scope does not mean +absolute comprehensiveness in detail. With +its purchasing funds and other resources the +Library of Congress bids fair to become the +strongest collection in the United States in +bibliography, in Americana (omitting the earliest), +in political and social science, public +administration, jurisprudence. If any American +library can secure the documents which +will exhibit completely legislation proposed +and legislation enacted it should be able to. +As depository of the library of the Smithsonian +it will have the most important collection—perhaps +in the world—of the transactions +and proceedings of learned societies; +and, adding its own exchanges and subscriptions, +of serials in general. With theology it +may not especially concern itself nor with +philology to the degree appropriate to a university +library. Medicine it will leave as a +specialty to the library of the Surgeon-General's +office, already pre-eminent, Geology to +the library of the Geological Survey. Two +extremes it may have to abstain from—so +far as deliberate purchase is concerned: (1) +the books merely popular, (2) the books merely +curious. Of the first many will come to +it through copyright; of the second many +should come through gift. (Perhaps in time +the public spirit of American collectors and +donors may turn to it as the public spirit of the +British turns to the National Library of Great +Britain.) Original sources must come to it, +if at all, chiefly by gift. Manuscript material +relating to American history it has, however, +bought, and will buy.</p> + +<p>Otherwise, chiefly printed books. Of these, +the useful books; of these again, the books +useful rather for the establishment of the fact +than for the mere presentation of it—the +books for the advancement of learning, rather +than those for the mere diffusion of knowledge.</p> + +<p>Lastly there is an organization. Instead of +42 persons, for all manner of service, there +are now 261, irrespective of printers, binders, +and the force attending to the care of the +building itself.</p> + +<p>The copyright work is set off and interferes +no longer with the energies of the library +proper. There is a separate division having +to do with the acquisition of material, another—of +67 persons—to classify and catalog +it. There are 42 persons attending to the ordinary +service of the reading room as supplied +from the stacks, and there are eight +special divisions handling severally the current +newspapers and periodicals, the documents, +manuscripts, maps, music, prints, the +scientific publications forming the Smithsonian +deposit, and the books for the blind. +There is a Division of Bibliography whose +function is to assist in research too elaborate +for the routine service of the reading room, +to edit the library publications, and to represent +the library in co-operative bibliographic +undertakings. There is now within the building, +besides a bindery, with a force of 45 +employees, a printing office, with a force of +21. The allotment for printing and binding, +in 1896 only $15,000, is for the coming year +$90,000.</p> + +<p>The immediate duty of this organization is +near at hand. There is a huge arrear of work +upon the existing collection—necessary for +its effective use, and its intelligent growth. +It must be newly classified throughout; and +shelf listed. The old author slip catalog must +be revised and reduced to print. There must +be compiled a subject catalog, of which none +now exists. Innumerable gaps—that which +is crooked can be made straight, but that +which is wanting cannot be numbered—innumerable +gaps are to be ascertained and +filled. A collection of reference books must +be placed back at the Capitol, with suitable +apparatus, to bring the library once more into +touch with Congress and enable it to render +the service to Congress which is its first duty. +The other libraries of the District must be +brought into association—not by gathering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +their collections into the Library of Congress, +but by co-ordinating processes and service. +The Library of Congress as the center of the +system can aid in this. It can strengthen each +departmental library by relieving it of material +not necessary to its special work. It +can aid toward specialization in these departmental +libraries by exhibiting present unnecessary +duplication. (It is just issuing a +union list of serials currently taken by the +libraries of the District which has this very +purpose.) It can very likely print the catalog +cards for all the government libraries—incidentally +securing uniformity, and a copy +for its own use of each card—which in time +will result in a complete statement within its +own walls of the resources of every departmental +library in Washington. It will supply +to each such library a copy of every card +which it prints of a book in its own collections +relating to the work of the bureau +which such library serves.</p> + +<p>To reduce to order the present collection, +incorporating the current accessions, to fill +the most inconvenient gaps, to supply the most +necessary apparatus in catalogs and to bring +about a relation among the libraries of Washington +which shall form them into an organic +<i>system:</i> this work will of itself be a huge one. +I have spoken of the equipment of the Library +of Congress as elaborate, the force as large, +and the appropriations as generous. All are +so in contrast to antecedent conditions. In +proportion to the work to be done, however, +they are not merely not excessive, but in some +respects far short of the need. To proceed +beyond those immediate undertakings to projects +of general service will require certain +equipment, service, and funds not yet secured, +and which can be secured only by a general +effort. But the question is not what can be +done, but what <i>may</i> be done—in due time, +eventually.</p> + +<p>A general distribution of the printed cards: +That has been suggested. It was suggested +a half century ago by the Federal Government +through the Smithsonian Institution. Professor +Jewett's proposal then was a central +bureau to compile, print and distribute cards +which might serve to local libraries as a +catalog of their own collections. Such a project +is now before this Association. It may +not be feasible: that is, it might not result +in the economy which it suggests. It assumes +a large number of books to be acquired, in +the same editions, by many libraries, at the +same time. In fact, the enthusiasm for the +proposal at the Montreal meeting last year +has resulted in but sixty subscriptions to the +actual project.</p> + +<p>It may not be feasible. But if such a +scheme can be operated at all it may perhaps +be operated most effectively through the library +which for its own uses is cataloging and +printing a card for every book currently copyrighted +in the United States, and for a larger +number of others than any other single institution. +Such must be confessed of the Library +of Congress. It is printing a card for every +book currently copyrighted, for every other +book currently added—for every book reached +in re-classification—and thus in the end for +every book in its collection. It is now printing, +at the rate of over 200 titles a day—60,000 +titles a year. The entry is an author +entry, in form and type accepted by the committee +on cataloging of the A. L. A. The +cards are of the standard size—3 × 5 inches—of +the best linen ledger stock. From 15 to +100 copies of each are now printed. It would +be uncandid to say that such a number is +necessary for the use of the library itself, or +of the combined libraries at Washington. The +usefulness of copies of them to any other library +for incorporation in its catalogs must +depend upon local conditions: the style, form, +and size of its own cards, the number of books +which it adds yearly, the proportion of these +which are current, and other related matters. +On these points we have sought statistics from +254 libraries. We have them from 202. With +them we have samples of the cards in use by +each, with a complete author entry. Having +them we are in a position really to estimate +the chances. I will not enter into details. +Summarily, it appears that our cards might +effect a great saving to certain libraries and +some saving to others, and would entail a +mere expense without benefit to the remainder—all +of which is as might have been guessed.</p> + +<p>The distribution suggested by Professor +Jewett and proposed by the A. L. A. had in +view a saving to the recipient library of cataloging +and printing on its own account. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +assumed a subscription by each recipient to +cover the cost of the extra stock and presswork. +There is conceivable a distribution +more limited in range, having another purpose. +The national library wishes to get into +touch with the local libraries which are centers +for important research. It wishes the +fullest information as to their contents; it +may justifiably supply them with the fullest +information as to its own contents. Suppose +it should supply them with a copy of every +card which it prints, getting in return a copy +of every card which they print? I am obliged +to disclose this suggestion: for such an exchange +has already been begun. A copy of +every card printed by the Library of Congress +goes out to the New York Public Library: +a copy of every card printed by the New York +Public Library comes to the Library of Congress. +In the new building of the New York +Public Library there will be a section of the +public card catalog designated The Catalog +of the Library of Congress. It will contain +at least every title in the Library of Congress +not to be found in any library of the metropolis. +In the Library of Congress a section of +the great card catalog of American libraries +outside the District will be a catalog of the +New York Public Library.</p> + +<p>I have here a letter from the librarian of +Cornell University forwarding a resolution of +the Library Council (composed in part of faculty +members) which requests for the university +library a set of these cards. Mr. Harris +states that the purpose would be to fit up +cases of drawers in the catalog room, which +is freely accessible to any one desiring to +consult bibliographical aids, and arrange the +cards in alphabetical order by authors, thus +making an author catalog of the set. He +adds "The whole question has been rather +carefully considered and the unanimous sense +of the council was that the usefulness of the +catalog to us would be well worth the cost +of the cases, the space they would occupy, and +the time it would take to arrange and keep in +order the cards."</p> + +<p>There is a limit to such a distribution. But +I suspect that it will not stop with New York +and Ithaca.</p> + +<p>There is some expense attendant on it. +There is the extra stock, the presswork, the +labor of sorting and despatching. No postage, +however, for the Library of Congress has +the franking privilege, in and out. The results +however: one cannot deny them to be +attractive. At Washington a statement of at +least the distinctive contents of every great +local collection. At each local center of research +a statement of the distinctive contents +of the national collection. An inquirer in +Wisconsin writes to Washington: is such a +book to be had in the United States; must he +come to Washington for it, or to New York?—No, +he will find it in Chicago at the Newberry +or the Crerar.</p> + +<p>If there can be such a thing as a bibliographic +bureau for the United States, the +Library of Congress is in a way to become +one; to a degree, in fact, a bureau of information +for the United States. Besides routine +workers efficient as a body, it has already +some expert bibliographers and within certain +lines specialists. It has not a complete +corps of these. It cannot have until Congress +can be made to understand the need of them. +Besides its own employees, however, it has +within reach by telephone a multitude of experts. +They are maintained by the very government +which maintains it. They are learned +men, efficient men, specially trained, willing to +give freely of their special knowledge. They +enter the government employ and remain +there, not for the pecuniary compensation, +which is shamefully meagre, but for the love +of the work itself and for the opportunity for +public service which it affords. Of these men, +in the scientific bureaus at Washington, the +National Library can take counsel: it can secure +their aid to develop its collections and to +answer inquiries of moment. This will be +within the field of the natural and physical sciences. +Meantime within its walls it possesses +already excellent capacity for miscellaneous +research, and special capacity for meeting inquiries +in history and topography, in general +literature, and in the special literature of +economics, mathematics and physics. It has +still Ainsworth Spofford and the other men, +who with him, under extraordinary disadvantages, +for thirty-five years made the library +useful at the Capitol.</p> + +<p>The library is already issuing publications +in book form. In part these are catalogs of its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +own contents; in part an exhibit of the more +important material in existence on some subject +of current interest, particularly, of course, +in connection with national affairs. Even during +the period of organization fifteen such +lists have already been issued. They are distributed +freely to libraries and even to individual +inquirers.</p> + +<p>But there may be something further. The +distribution of cards which exhibit its own +contents or save duplication of expense elsewhere, +the publication of bibliographies which +aid to research, expert service which in answer +to inquiry points out the best sources +and the most effective methods of research: +all these may have their use. But how about +the books themselves? Must the use of this +great collection be limited to Washington? +How many of the students who need some +book in the Library of Congress—perhaps +there alone—can come to Washington to +consult it at the moment of need? A case is +conceivable: a university professor at Madison +or Berkeley or San Antonio, in connection +with research important to scholarship, requires +some volume in an unusual set. The +set is not in the university library. It is too +costly for that library to acquire for the infrequent +need. The volume is in the National +Library. It is not at the moment in use at +Washington. The university library requests +the loan of it. If the National Library is to +<i>be</i> the national library——?</p> + +<p>There might result some inconvenience. +There would be also the peril of transit. +Some volumes might be lost to posterity. +But after all we are ourselves a posterity. +Some respect is due to the ancestors who +have saved for <i>our</i> use. And if one copy of +a book possessed by the federal government +and within reasonable limits subject to call +by different institutions, might suffice for the +entire United States—what does logic seem +to require—and expediency—and the good +of the greater number?</p> + +<p>The Library of Congress is now primarily +a reference library. But if there be any citizen +who thinks that it should never lend a +book—to another library—in aid of the +higher research—when the book can be +spared from Washington and is not a book +within the proper duty of the local library to +supply—if there be any citizen who thinks +that for the National Library to lend under +these circumstances would be a misuse of its +resources and, therefore, an abuse of trust—he +had better speak quickly, or he may be too +late. Precedents may be created which it +would be awkward to ignore.</p> + +<p>Really I have been speaking of the Library +of Congress as if it were the only activity +of the federal government of interest to libraries. +That, however, is the fault of the +topic. It was not what might be done for +science, for literature, for the advance of +learning, for the diffusion of knowledge. It +was merely what might be done for <i>libraries;</i> +as it were, not for the glory of God, but for +the advancement of the church. We have +confidence in the mission of libraries and consider +anything in aid of it as good in itself.</p> + +<p>Their most stimulating, most fruitful service +must be the direct service. The service +of the national authority must in large part +be merely indirect. It can meet the reader at +large only through the local authority. It +can serve the great body of readers chiefly +through the local libraries which meet them +face to face, know their needs, supply their +most ordinary needs. Its natural agent—we +librarians at least must think this—is its +own library—the library which if there is to +be a national library not merely of, but <i>for</i> +the United States—must be that library.</p> + +<p><i>Must become</i> such, I should have said. For +we are not yet arrived. We cannot arrive until +much preliminary work has been done, and +much additional resource secured from Congress. +We shall arrive the sooner in proportion +as you who have in charge the municipal +and collegiate libraries of the United States +will urge upon Congress the advantage to the +interests you represent, of undertakings such +as I have described. To this point we have +not asked your aid. In the equipment of the +library, in the reconstruction of its service, +in the addition of more expert service, in the +improvement of immediate facilities, our appeal +to Congress has been based on the work to be +done near at hand. I have admitted to you +the possibility of these other undertakings of +more general concern. If they commend +themselves to you as proper and useful—the +appeal for them must be primarily your appeal.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I" id="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I">THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE—I.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By George Iles</span>, <i>New York City</i>.</p> + + +<p>Six months ago the curtain descended upon +what is likely to be accounted the most +memorable century in the annals of mankind. +So salient are three of its characteristics that +they challenge the eye of the most casual retrospection. +First of all, we see that knowledge +was increased at a pace beyond precedent, +to be diffused throughout the world +with a new thoroughness and fidelity. Next +we must observe how republican government +passed from the slender ties spun in the times +of Washington, Jefferson and Adams, to the +intimate and pervasive cords of to-day, when, +as never before, the good of the bee is bound +up with the welfare of the hive. Parallel +with this political union of each and all there +was a growth of free organization which, in +every phase of life, has secured uncounted +benefits which only joined hands may receive. +Fresh torches of light fraternally borne from +the centers of civilization to its circumference +have tended to bring the arts and ideals of life +everywhere to the level of the best. These +distinctive features of the nineteenth century +were in little evidence at its dawn, but they +became more and more manifest with each +succeeding decade. In American librarianship, +as in many another sphere of labor, +more was accomplished in the last quarter of +the century than in the seventy-five preceding +years.</p> + +<p>It is as recently as 1852 that Boston opened +the doors of the first free public library established +in an American city. Its founders +were convinced that what was good for the +students at Harvard, the subscribers to the +Athenæum, was good for everybody else. Literature, +they felt, was a trust to be administered +not for a few, but for the many, to be, +indeed, hospitably proffered to all. To this +hour, by a wise and generous responsiveness +to its ever-growing duties, the Boston foundation +remains a model of what a metropolitan +library should be. As with the capital, so +with the state; to-day Massachusetts is better +provided with free public libraries than any +other commonwealth on the globe; only one +in two hundred of her people are unserved +by them, while within her borders the civic +piety of her sons and daughters has reared +more than six score library buildings. The +library commission of the state is another +model in its kind; its powers are in the main +advisory, but when a struggling community +desires to establish a library, and contributes +to that end, the commission tenders judicious +aid. The population of Massachusetts is +chiefly urban, an exceptional case, for taking +the Union as a whole, notwithstanding the +constant drift to the cities, much more than +half the people are still to be found in the +country. For their behoof village libraries +have appeared in thousands. Still more effective, +because linked with one another, are +the travelling libraries, inaugurated by Mr. +Melvil Dewey in New York in 1893, and since +adopted in many other states of the Union, +and several provinces of Canada. All this +registers how the democracy of letters has +come to its own. Schools public and free ensure +to the American child its birthright of +instruction; libraries, also public and free, are +rising to supplement that instruction, to yield +the light and lift, the entertainment and stimulus +that literature stands ready to bestow. +The old-time librarian, who was content to +be a mere custodian of books, has passed from +the stage forever; in his stead we find an officer +anxious that his store shall do all the +people the utmost possible good. To that end +he combines the zeal of the missionary with +the address of a consummate man of business. +Little children are invited to cheery rooms +with kind and intelligent hospitality; teachers +and pupils from the public schools are +welcomed to classrooms where everything is +gathered that the library can offer for their +use; helpful bulletins and consecutive reading +lists are issued for the home circle; every +book, magazine and newspaper is bought, as +far as feasible, with an eye to the special +wants and interests of the community; infor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>mation +desks are set up; and partnerships +are formed with expositors of acknowledged +merit, with museums of industry, of natural +history, of the fine arts. Not the borrowers +only, but the buyers of books are remembered. +The Standard Library, brought together by +Mr. W. E. Foster, in Providence, is a shining +example in this regard.</p> + +<p>The sense of trusteeship thus variously displayed +has had a good many sources; let us +confine our attention to one of them. During +the past hundred years the treasure committed +to the keeping of librarians has undergone enrichment +without parallel in any preceding +age. We have more and better books than +ever before; they mean more than in any former +time for right living and sound thinking. +A rough and ready classification of literature, +true enough in substance, divides it into books +of power, of information, and of entertainment. +Let us look at these three departments +a little in detail. Restricting our purview +to the English tongue, we find the honor +roll of its literature lengthened by the names +of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Matthew Arnold, +Carlyle and Ruskin, Emerson and +Lowell. And not only to authors such as +these must our debt be acknowledged. We +owe scholarly editors nearly as much. In +Spedding's Bacon, the Shakesperean studies +of Mr. Furniss, and the Chaucer of Professor +Skeat, we have typical examples of services +not enjoyed by any former age. To-day +the supreme poets, seers and sages of all time +are set before us in the clearest sunshine; +their gold, refined from all admixture, is +minted for a currency impossible before. In +their original, unedited forms, the masterpieces +of our language are now cheap enough +to find their way to the lowliest cottage of the +cross-roads.</p> + +<p>It is not, however, in the field of literature +pure and simple that the manna fell most +abundantly during the past hundred years. +Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace, the last of the +great students who took all natural history +for their province, declares that the advances +in discovery, invention and generalization +during the nineteenth century outweigh those +of all preceding time. Admit this judgment, +and at once is explained why the records and +the spirit of science dominate the literature +of the last ten decades. And let us note that +while books of knowledge have increased beyond +measure, they have appeared with a +helpfulness and with merits wholly new. For +the first time in the history of letters, men +and women of successful experience, of practised +and skilful pens, write books which, +placed in the hands of the people, enlighten +their toil, diminish their drudgery, and sweeten +their lives. Cross the threshold of the +home and there is not a task, from choosing +a carpet to rearing a baby, that has not been +illuminated by at least one good woman of +authority in her theme. On the heights of the +literature of science we have a quality and +distinction unknown before these later days. +The modern war on evil and pain displays +weapons of an edge and force of which our +forefathers never dared to dream; its armies +march forward not in ignorant hope, but with +the assured expectation of victory. All this +inspires leaders like Huxley, Spencer and +Fiske with an eloquence, a power to convince +and persuade, new in the annals of human +expression and as characteristic of the nineteenth +century as the English poetry of the +sixteenth, in the glorious era of Elizabeth. +The literature of knowledge is not only fuller +and better than of old, it is more wisely employed. +In the classroom, and when school +days are done, we now understand how the +printed page may best direct and piece out the +work of the hand, the eye and the ear; not +for a moment deluding ourselves with the notion +that we have grasped truth merely because +we can spell the word. To-day we +first consider the lilies of the field, not the +lilies of the printer; that done it is time +enough to take up a formal treatise which +will clarify and frame our knowledge. If a +boy is by nature a mechanic, a book of the +right sort shows him how to construct a simple +steam engine or an electric motor. Is he +an amateur photographer, other books, excellently +illustrated, give him capital hints for +work with his camera. It is in thus rounding +out the circle which springs from the school +desk that the public library justifies its equal +claim to support from the public treasury.</p> + +<p>In the third and last domain of letters, that +of fiction, there is a veritable embarrassment +of riches. During the three generations past<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +the art of story-telling culminated in works of +all but Shakesperean depth and charm. We +have only to recall Scott and Thackeray, +Hawthorne, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy, +to be reminded that an age of science may +justly boast of novelists and romancers such +as the world never knew before. No phase +of life but has been limned with photographic +fidelity, no realm of imagination but has been +bodied forth as if by experience on fire, so +that many a book which bears the name of +fiction might well be labelled as essential +truth. Within the past decade, however, the +old veins have approached their bounds, while +new lodes do not as yet appear. Of this the +tokens are the eager sifting of the rubbish +heap, the elaborate picturing of the abnormal +and the gross. Pens unable to afford either +delight or cheer have abundant capacity, often +with evident malice, to strike the nerves of +horror and of pain. If at the present hour +high achievement in fiction is rare, if we hear +more echoes than ever and fewer voices, +quantity abounds to the point of surfeit. With +an output in America alone of 616 works for +1900, all fears of famine may well be allayed.</p> + +<p>The main fact of the situation then is that +the librarian's trust has of late years undergone +stupendous increase; this at once broadens +his opportunities and adds to his burdens. +Gold and silver, iron and lead, together with +much dross, are commingled in a heap which +rises every hour. Before a trust can be rightly +and gainfully administered, its trustees +must know in detail what it is that they +guard, what its several items are worth, what +they are good for. And let us remember that +literature consists in but small part of metals +which declare themselves to all men as gold +or lead; much commoner are alloys of every +conceivable degree of worth or worthlessness. +There is plainly nothing for it but to have +recourse to the crucibles of the professional +assayer, it becomes necessary to add to the +titles of our catalogs some responsible word +as to what books are and what rank they occupy +in an order of just precedence.</p> + +<p>This task of a competent and candid appraisal +of literature, as a necessity of its trusteeship, +has been before the minds of this +Association for a good many years. A notable +Step toward its accomplishment was taken +when Mr. Samuel S. Green, in 1879, allied +himself with the teachers of Worcester, Massachusetts, +that they and he together might +select books for the public schools of that city. +The work began and has proceeded upon +comprehensive lines. Such literature has been +chosen as may usefully and acceptably form +part of the daily instruction, there is a liberal +choice of books of entertainment and inspiration +worthily to buttress and relieve the formal +lessons. The whole work goes forward +with intent to cultivate the taste, to widen the +horizons, to elevate the impulses of the young +reader. Mr. Green's methods, with the modifications +needful in transplanting, have been +adopted far and wide throughout the Union. +Already they have borne fruit in heightening +the standards of free choice when readers +have passed from the school bench to the +work-a-day world.</p> + +<p>Thus thoughtfully to lay the foundation of +the reading habit is a task beyond praise; +upon a basis so sound it falls to our lot to +rear, if we can, a worthy and durable superstructure. +It is time that we passed from +books for boys and girls to books for the +youth, the man and the woman. And how +amid the volume and variety of the accumulated +literature of the ages shall we proceed? +For light and comfort let us go back a little +in the history of education, we shall there find +a method substantially that of our friend, +Mr. Green. Long before there were any free +libraries at all, we had in America a small +band of readers and learners who enjoyed +unfailing pilotage in the sea of literature. +These readers and learners were in the colleges, +where the teachers from examination +and comparison in the study, the class-room +and the laboratory were able to say that such +an author was the best in his field, that such +another had useful chapters, and that a third +was unreliable or superseded. While literature +has been growing from much to more, +this bench of judicature has been so enlarged +as to keep steadily abreast of it. At Harvard +there are twenty-six sub-libraries of astronomy, +zoology, political economy, and so on; +at hand are the teachers who can tell how the +books may be used with most profit. Of the +best critics of books in America the larger +part are to be found at Harvard, at its sister<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +universities and colleges, at the technological +institutes and art schools of our great cities. +We see their signed reviews in such periodicals +as the <i>Political Science Quarterly</i> and +the <i>Physical Review;</i> or unsigned in journals +of the stamp of the <i>Nation</i>. Fortunately, we +can call upon reinforcements of this vanguard +of criticism. It would be difficult to +name a branch of learning, an art, a science, +an exploration, from folk-lore to forestry, +from psychical research to geological surveys, +whose votaries are not to-day banded to promote +the cause they have at heart. These organizations +include not only the foremost +teachers in the Union, but also their peers, +outside the teaching profession, of equal authority +in bringing literature to the balances. +And the point for us is that these societies, +through their publications and discussions, +enable these laymen to be known for what +they are. Because the American Historical +Association is thus comprehensive, its membership +has opened the door for an initial task +of appraisal, important in itself and significant +for the future.</p> + +<p>Drawing his two score contributors almost +wholly from that Association, Mr. J. N. +Larned, of Buffalo, an honored leader of ours, +has, without fee or reward, acted as chief +editor of an annotated Bibliography of American +History. The work is now passing +through the composing room of Houghton, +Mifflin & Co., of Boston; its contributors include +professors of history at Bowdoin, Bryn +Mawr, Columbia, Harvard, McGill, Toronto, +Tulane and Yale, as well as the Universities +of Michigan, Wisconsin and Chicago; our +own Association is worthily represented by +Messrs. James Bain, Clarence S. Brigham, V. +L. Collins, W. E. Foster, J. K. Hosmer, E. C. +Richardson and R. G. Thwaites. As a rule +the notes are signed. Where for any reason a +book demanding notice could not be allotted +to a contributor, Mr. Larned has quoted the +fairest review he could find in print. He has +included not only good books, but such other +works as have found an acceptance they do +not deserve. All told his pages will offer us +about 3400 titles; a syllabus of the sources of +American history is prefixed by Mr. Paul +Leicester Ford; as an appendix will appear a +feature also of great value. In their "Guide +to American history," published in 1896, Professors +Channing and Hart, of Harvard University, +recommended such collections of +books as may be had for $5, $10, $20, $50 or +$100. Professor Channing is kind enough to +say that he will revise these lists and bring +them down to date as a contribution to Mr. +Larned's work. Professor Channing may, we +trust, name the books in each collection in the +order in which they may be most gainfully +read.</p> + +<p>In times past our bibliographies have begun +to need enlargement the moment they left the +bindery; in the present case that need is for +the first time to be supplied. Mr. Larned's +titles come to the close of 1899; beyond that +period current literature is to be chosen from +and appraised with the editorship of Philip P. +Wells, librarian of the Yale Law Library, +who will issue his series in card form. We +hope that he may be ready with his cards for +1900 at the time that Mr. Larned's book appears. +Thereafter Mr. Wells' series will +probably be published quarter by quarter. Beginning +with 1897, Mr. W. Dawson Johnston, +now of the Library of Congress, has edited +for us a series of annotated cards dealing +with the contemporary literature of English +history. Both the form and substance of his +series are capital. In so far as his cards go +directly into catalog cases, where readers and +students must of necessity see them, they render +the utmost possible aid. If subscribers in +sufficient array come forward, Mr. Larned's +book may be remolded for issue in similar +card form, with a like opportunity for service +in catalog cases. In the Cleveland Public Library +and its branches useful notes are pasted +within the lids of a good many volumes. It +is well thus to put immediately under the +reader's eye the word which points him directly +to his goal, or prevents him wasting time in +wanderings of little value or no value at all.</p> + +<p>With Mr. Larned's achievement a new +chapter is opened in American librarianship; +he breaks a path which should be followed up +with a discernment and patience emulous of +his example. If the whole working round of +our literature were sifted and labelled after +his method, the worth of that literature, because +clearly brought into evidence, might well +be doubled at least. Every increase in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +availability of our books, every removal of +fences, every setting-up of guide-posts, has +had a heartening public response. So it will +be if we proceed with this effort to bring together +the seekers and the knowers, to obtain +the best available judgments for the behoof of +readers and students everywhere. Economics +and politics, so closely interwoven with American +history, might well afford the second field +for appraisal. A good many libraries still find +aid in the "Reader's guide" in this department, +although it appeared as long ago as 1891. +Next might follow the literature of the +sciences pure and applied, together with the +useful arts. Among useful arts those of the +household might well have the lead, for we +must not be academic, or ever lose sight of +the duties nearest at hand to the great body +of the plain people. Mr. Sturgis and Mr. +Krehbiel, in 1897, did an excellent piece of +work for us in their "Bibliography of the +fine arts"; their guide might profitably be +revised and enlarged in its several divisions, +not omitting the introductory paragraphs +which make the book unique in its class. +These tasks well in hand, we might come to +such accessions of strength and insight as to +nerve us for labors of wider range and greater +difficulty, where personal equations may baffle +even the highest court of appeal, where it +is opinion rather than fact that is brought to +the scales. I refer to the debatable ground +of ethics, philosophy and theology; and, at +the other pole of letters, to the vast stretches +of fiction and belles lettres in our own and +foreign tongues. With regard to fiction and +belles lettres, one of Mr. Larned's methods +has a hint for us. In some cases he has +found it best to quote Mr. Francis Parkman, +Mr. Justin Winsor, or the pages of the <i>Nation,</i> +the <i>Dial,</i> the <i>American Historical Review,</i> +and similar trustworthy sources. With +respect to novels and romances, essays and +literary interpretation, it does not seem feasible +to engage a special corps of reviewers. +It may be a good plan to appoint judicious +editors to give us composite photographs of +what the critics best worth heeding have said +in the responsible press.</p> + +<p>It is in the preponderant circulation of fiction, +and fiction for the most part of poor +quality, that the critics of public libraries find +most warrant for attack. They point to the +fact that many readers of this fiction are comparatively +well-to-do, and are exempted by +public taxation from supporting the subscription +library and the bookseller. The difficulty +has been met chiefly in two ways; by +curtailing the supply of mediocre and trashy +fiction; by exacting a small fee on issuing the +novels brought for a season to a huge demand +by advertising of a new address and +prodigality. Appraisal, just and thorough, +may be expected to render aid more important +because radical instead of superficial. In +the first place, the best books of recreation, +now overlaid by new and inferior writing, can +be brought into prominence; secondly, an emphasis, +as persuasive as it can be made, ought +to be placed upon the more solid stores of our +literature. "Business," said Bagehot long ago, +"is really more agreeable than pleasure; it +interests the whole mind, the aggregate nature +of man more continuously and deeply, +but it does not look as if it did." Let it be +our purpose to reveal what admirable substance +underlies appearances not always seductive +to the casual glance. Lowell and +Matthew Arnold, Huxley and John Fiske, +Lecky and Goldwin Smith are solid enough, +yet with no lack of wit or humor to relieve +their argument and elucidation. A New +York publisher of wide experience estimates +that the average American family, apart from +school purchases, buys less than two books a +year. Newspapers and magazines form the +staple of the popular literary diet. What fills +the newspapers is mainly news; their other departments +of information are often extensive +and admirable, but within the limits of the +hastily penned paragraph or column they cannot +rise to the completeness and quality of a +book carefully written and faithfully revised. +The plain fact is, and it behooves us to reckon +with it, the average man, to whom we bear +our credentials as missionaries, looks upon a +book as having something biblical about it. +To sit down deliberately and surrender himself +to its chapters is a task he waves away +with strangely mingled awe and dislike. So +he misses the consecutive instruction, as delightful +as profitable to an educated taste, +which authors, publishers and librarians are +ready and even anxious to impart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>We hear a good deal in these days about the +need of recreation, and not a word more than +is true, but let us remember that the best +recreation may consist in a simple change of +work. Behold the arduous toil of the city +lawyer, or banker, as on a holiday tour he +climbs a peak of the Alps or the Adirondacks, +or wades the chilly streams of Scotland or +Canada a salmon rod in his hands. Why +does he undergo fatigues so severe? Partly +because they are freely chosen, partly because +they are fatigues of an unwonted and therefore +refreshing kind. So in the field before +us to-day. Truth is not only stranger than +fiction, it is more fascinating when once its +charms are recognized and entertained. Our +public schools throughout the land prove +that a true story of exploration, of invention +or discovery, of heroism or adventure, has +only to be well told to rivet a boy's attention +as firmly as ever did Robinson Crusoe +or Treasure Island. When readers take up +from instinctive appetite, or wise incitement, +the best books about flowers or birds, minerals +or trees, an art, a science, a research, +they come to joys in new knowledge, in +judgments informed and corrected, unknown +to the tipplers and topers whose staple is the +novel, good, bad and indifferent. And why, +if we can help it, should public money ever +be spent for aught but the public good?</p> + +<p>With a new sense of what is implied in the +trusteeship of literature, if we endeavor in +the future to ally ourselves with the worthiest +critics of books, we must bid good-bye +to the temporary expedients which have +cramped and burdened our initial labors. The +work of the appraisal of literature requires a +home, a Central Bureau, with a permanent +and adequately paid staff of editors and assistants. +The training of such a staff has already +begun; in addition to the experience +acquired by those enlisted in our present bibliographical +tasks, instruction is now given +in advanced bibliography at the New York +State Library School at Albany, and doubtless +also at other library schools. And at the +Central Bureau, which we are bold enough to +figure to ourselves, much more should be +done than to bring books to the balances. At +such a home, in New York, Washington, or +elsewhere, every other task should proceed +which aims at furthering the good that literature +can do all the people. There might be +conducted the co-operative cataloging now +fast taking form; there should be extended +the series of useful tracts begun by that of +Dr. G. E. Wire on "How to start a library," +by Mr. F. A. Hutchins on "Travelling libraries." +At such a center should be exhibited +everything to inform the founder of a public +library; everything to direct the legislator +who would create a library commission on +the soundest lines or recast library laws in +the light of national experience; there, moreover, +should be gathered everything to arouse +and instruct the librarian who would bring +his methods to the highest plane. Thence, too, +should go forth the speakers and organizers +intent upon awakening torpid communities to +a sense of what they miss so long as they +stand outside our ranks, or lag at the rear of +our movement. In the fulness of time such +a bureau might copy the Franklin Society, of +Paris, and call into existence a needed book, +to find within this Association a sale which, +though small, would be adequate, because free +from the advertising taxes of ordinary publishing. +To found and endow such a bureau +would undoubtedly cost a great deal, and where +is the money to come from? We may, I +think, expect it from the sources which have +given us thousands of public libraries, great +and small. Here is an opportunity for our +friends, whether their surpluses be large or +little. When a gift can be accompanied by +personal aid and counsel, it comes enriched. +It is much when a goodly gift provides a city +with a library, it would be yet more if the +donation were to establish and maintain an +agency to lift libraries everywhere to the +highest efficiency possible, to give literature +for the first time its fullest acceptance, its utmost +fruitage.</p> + +<p>In a retrospective glance at nineteenth century +science, Professor Haeckel has said that +the hundred years before us are not likely to +witness such victories as those which have +signalized the era just at an end. Assume for +a moment that his forecast is sound, and that +it applies beyond the immediate bounds of science, +what does it mean for librarianship? It +simply reinforces what in any case is clear, +namely, that it is high time that the truth and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +beauty of literature known to the few made +its way to all the people, for their enlightenment, +consolation and delight. If the future +battles of science are to be waged less +strenuously than of yore, if scholarship has +measurably exhausted its richest mines, let us +give the broadest diffusion to the fruits of +their triumphs past. In thus diffusing the +leaven of culture the public library should +take a leading, not a subordinate part. Its +treasure is vaster and more precious than +ever before. The world's literature grows +much like the world's stock of gold, every +year's winning is added to the mass already +heaped together at the year's first day. In the +instruction, entertainment and inspiration of +every man and woman there is a three-fold +ministry, that of art, of science, and of letters. +Because letters bring to public appreciation, +to popular sympathy, both art and science, +and this in addition to their own priceless +argosies, may we not say that of art, +science and letters, the greatest of these is +letters?</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_II" id="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_II">THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE—II.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Richard T. Ely</span>, <i>Director School of Economics, University of Wisconsin</i>.</p> + + +<p>It is my purpose to speak plainly and, if possible, +forcibly, concerning what seems to +me a grave menace to the progress of science, +but in all that I shall say, I would have it +understood that I have only the friendliest +feelings personally for the gentleman who has +brought forward what seem to me dangerous +proposals. I appreciate his zeal for progress +and his self-sacrificing efforts for human advancement +in various directions, but I think +that in this particular case—namely, the +evaluation of literature, or the establishment +of a judicature of letters, my friend is working +against his own ideals.</p> + +<p>I admit freely that the readers in our public +libraries very generally need help in the selection +of books, and that great assistance +may be rendered them by judicious advice. +Much time is wasted by those who read scientific +and serious works which do not present +the results of recent investigations: furthermore, +as another consequence effort is +misdirected and instead of producing beneficial +results may do positive damage. The +question may be asked: "Shall I read Adam +Smith's 'Wealth of nations?' I hear it mentioned +as one of the great works in the world's +history." Probably many a librarian has had +this precise question asked him. In giving +an affirmative answer it will be most helpful +to offer a few words explaining the circumstances +under which it appeared one hundred +and twenty-five years ago, and its relation to +the subsequent development of economic +schools and tendencies. Doubtless this work +is frequently perused as if it were fresh from +the press and were to be judged as a work +appearing in 1901.</p> + +<p>I further admit the harm which has come +to individuals from the study of the so-called +"crank" literature in economics and sociology, +as well as in other branches of learning. +Doubtless many a man is working vigorously +in a wrong way and attempting to force society +into false channels who might be doing +a good work had his reading been well directed +in a formative period.</p> + +<p>But the magnitude of the interests involved +in the proposal which greets us requires caution +and conservatism in action. We must +take a long, not a short, view of the matter, +inquiring into remote and permanent results.</p> + +<p>It is proposed, as I understand it, to have +so-called expert opinions expressed <a name="concerning" id="concerning">concerning +books</a>, new and old; to secure as precise +and definite estimates of their value as possible, +and then by means of printed guides, +and even card catalogs, to bring these opinions +and evaluations before the readers in our +libraries.</p> + +<p>Let us reflect for a moment on what this +implies. It means, first of all a judicial body +of men from whom these estimates are to +proceed. Have we such a body? Is it in the +nature of things possible that we should have +such a body? I say that so far as contem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>porary +literature is concerned, the history of +knowledge gives us a positive and conclusive +negative answer—a most emphatic "No." +Let anyone who knows the circumstances and +conditions under which reviews are prepared +and published reflect on what the attempt to +secure this evaluation of literature implies. +Many of us know a great deal about these +circumstances and conditions. We have written +reviews, we have asked others to write +reviews, and we have for years been in contact +with a host of reviewers. We may in +this connection first direct out attention to the +general character of the periodicals from +which quotations are frequently made in the +evaluation of literature. I say nothing about +my own view, but I simply express an opinion +of many men whose judgment should have +great weight when I say that one of the most +brilliant of these periodicals has been marked +by a narrow policy, having severe tests of +orthodoxy along economic, social and political +lines, and displaying a bitterness and vindictiveness +reaching beyond the grave. I +mention no names, and the opinion may or +may not be a just one; but it should be carefully +weighed whether or not, or to what extent, +the evaluations of such a periodical ought +to be crystallized as it were: that is, taken +from the periodical press and made part of a +working library apparatus, to last for years.</p> + +<p>Another periodical, an able magazine, which +makes much of reviews is under the control of +a strong body of men, but they stand for +scarcely more than one line of thought among +many lines. And sometimes very sharp and +very hard things are said about those who +believe that scientific truth is moving along +one of these other lines. Indeed, the discreet +person, knowing personally the reviewer +and the reviewed, will not be convinced that +there is always in the reviews, here as elsewhere, +an absence of personal animosity. Let +us for a moment reflect on this personal element +in reviews, as it has surely fallen under +the notice of every man with wide experience +in these matters. As a rule, the reviewers are +comparatively young and inexperienced men, +frequently zealous for some sect or faction. +Sometimes great leaders of thought write reviews, +but generally they are unable to find +the time to do so. As a result in our reviews +in the best periodicals it will frequently be +found that an inferior is passing judgment +on a superior, and furthermore, reviewers +share in our common human nature, and the +amount of personal bias and even at times +personal malignity found in reviews and estimates +of books is something sad to contemplate. +An unsuccessful candidate for a position +held by an author has been known to +initiate a scandalous and altogether malicious +attack in a review.</p> + +<p>In the next place, I would call your attention +to the absence of objective standards. +Necessarily are the standards personal and +subjective; particularly and above all in economics, +but in high degree in sociology, ethics +and philosophy in general, and religion. Biological +reviews have displayed in marked degree +the subjective personal element. Chemistry, +physics, astronomy and mathematics +probably are best of all fitted for evaluations +free from personal bias.</p> + +<p>It may be asked what damage will result +from evaluation. Passing over grave injustice +to individuals, we observe that they must +lead to the formation of what Bagehot aptly +called a crust, preventing the free development +of science. We have been laboring for years +to obtain scientific freedom, freedom in teaching, +freedom in learning, freedom in expression. +For this end many a battle has been +fought by noble leaders of thought. Indeed, +every new movement of thought has to struggle +to make itself felt, and to struggle precisely +against those who control the most respectable +avenues of publication; against the +very ones who would be selected to give expert +opinions and make evaluations of literature. +Call to mind the opposition to Darwin +and Huxley—although they were especially +and particularly fortunate in early gaining the +adherence of scientific men—also the opposition +to Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo and +John Stuart Mill—and to the last named, +even now, some would on a scale of 100 give +an evaluation perhaps of 50, others of 65—still +others 80 and 90. Recently an economic +book appeared of which one widely quoted +periodical said that it illustrated a <i>reductio +ad absurdum</i> of false tendencies, while another +expert opinion inclined to place it among +the great works of the age. It would seem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +to me that if we are to have formal evaluations, +they should at least be restricted to +works which have been before the public for +a period of fifty years.</p> + +<p>We have in this proposal, as I take it, an +attack on liberty, proceeding from one who +would not willingly attack it, but illustrating +the truth of the saying "Eternal vigilance is +the price of liberty." It is proposed to publish +virtually an <i>index librorum prohibitorum</i> +and an <i>index expurgatorius</i>. And of all +efforts ever conceived along this line, this is +precisely the worst because of its apparently +impersonal character. Let the ordinary reader +go to a guide and find a book described +as unscientific and superficial, and what weight +can it have for him. The authority has spoken. +It is well enough for librarians personally +to guide and direct their constituencies, +and one review may be weighed against another +review. The old methods even must be +used by librarians cautiously, and they are +ample for the purpose to be attained. The +great point is that there should be a fluid current +of opinion, and every facility for a revision +of judgment should be maintained. +Reviewers themselves change their views. I, +myself, remember reviews which I wrote of +works by two distinguished American authors, +which I now regret, as my estimates were, I +believe, not altogether sound and did an injustice +to the authors, namely John Fiske and +Lester F. Ward. But after all, I suppose no +special harm was done, but if extracts from +these reviews had been made part of a system +of evaluation it would have been different.</p> + +<p>Librarians as librarians must watch with +impartiality the struggles among tendencies +and schools of thought, and above all things, +endeavor to keep open a free way for new +truth.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="BOOK_COPYRIGHT" id="BOOK_COPYRIGHT">BOOK COPYRIGHT.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Thorvald Solberg</span>, <i>Register of Copyright, Washington. D. C.</i></p> + + +<p>In order to keep within the time limit provided +in the program I have been obliged +to refrain from even touching upon many +points, but have endeavored to present certain +general principles governing copyright +in books. I shall, therefore, only attempt to +make clear, as briefly as possible:</p> + +<p>1. What is copyrighted, <i>i.e.,</i> what can properly +be designated as a "book" in order to secure +copyright protection thereon;</p> + +<p>2. What is the nature of the protection secured +under the copyright law;</p> + +<p>3. The limitation in time during which the +protection applies, and its territorial limitations;</p> + +<p>4. Who may obtain protection—the difference +between an "author" and a "proprietor";</p> + +<p>5. International copyright;</p> + +<p>6. What conditions and formalities are required +to be complied with in order to secure +copyright;</p> + +<p>7. The functions of the Copyright Office; +and</p> + +<p>8. Possible copyright law amendment.</p> + +<p>1. <i>What is copyrighted?</i></p> + +<p>The copyright statutes enumerate the articles +or classes of articles subject-matter of +copyright, and first in the list stands "book." +The first consideration is, therefore, What is +to be understood by the term "book" as thus +used? or, in other words, What is a "book," +as that designation is employed in the copyright +law?</p> + +<p>The answer is indicated in the provision of +the federal constitution upon which our copyright +legislation is founded. This paragraph +of the constitution (section 8 of article 1) +grants to Congress—"in order to promote +the progress of science and useful arts"—the +right to enact laws to secure "to authors ... the +exclusive right to their ... writings...." +This provision is, of course, to +be broadly interpreted, but, using the exact +wording of the law, it is the <i>writing</i> of an author—his +literary composition—the prose or +poetical expression of his thought—which +makes his "book," as the term is used in the +copyright law. In order to be a "book," sub<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>ject +to protection under the copyright law, +the author's production must have this literary +characteristic. The <i>quality</i> of the literary +ingredient is not tested, but its presence is +requisite. Hence not everything which may +ordinarily be called a book is fitly so nominated, +in order to indicate the subject-matter +of copyright; while some productions not ordinarily +designated as "books" may properly +be thus classified in order to be registered as +a preliminary to copyright protection.</p> + +<p>That an article possesses the corporeal +characteristics of a book is of little consequence. +The <i>literary</i> substance, not the material +form, primarily determines the matter. +An article contributed to a newspaper or a +periodical—although but a few paragraphs +in length—is a "book" under the copyright +law, while a bookkeeper's ledger, to all outward +appearance answering the description, +is not a "book" so far as registering its title +to secure copyright is concerned. A calendar +whose main features are literary may doubtless +be properly registered as a "book," but a +pack of playing cards with pictures on the +backs, even though each card may be furnished +with a linen guard and all bound up, +with a plausible title-page, so as to resemble +a book, is not a "book" in the meaning of the +copyright law.</p> + +<p>Orderly arranged information produced in +a form which would commonly be termed a +chart cannot be registered under that designation +which in the copyright law is applicable +only to a chartographical work, but may +properly be called a "book"; while a so-called +book of coupons, or railway tickets, or of +blank forms, cannot be thus entitled.</p> + +<p>In brief, it should be a book in the ordinary +understanding of a work of <i>literature</i> or +art, and may not include a production whose +main feature is some original idea, however +ingenious or fanciful its form may be, or is +of the character of something invented. Invention +must look for protection to the patent law.</p> + +<p>2. <i>The nature of the protection secured.</i></p> + +<p>What is the nature of the protection secured? +Copy-right, <i>i. e.,</i> the right of copy—the +right to make copies. According to the +words of our own statute, the author of a +book "shall have the <i>sole</i> liberty of printing, +reprinting, publishing, completing, copying, +executing, finishing and vending the same." +The <i>exclusive</i> liberty of reproducing his work, +and the restriction of the liberty of every one +except the author to multiply copies constitute +the literary property. It is a much-discussed +question whether the author's privilege +of copyright is a natural right or was +created by legislation. Granting the production +a proper one, it would seem that the author +of a literary creation has a natural right +to the unrestricted use and enjoyment of it. +As Professor Langdell recently put it: "he +has the right of use and enjoyment, because +he can exercise such right without committing +any wrong against any other person, and +because no other person can prevent his exercising +such right without committing a +wrong against him." The author's creation +is his own, and he has a natural right to the +use of it without interference. The state does +not create this right, but recognizes it and +protects it. Protection is secured by restricting +the liberty of other people in the use of the +author's creation. Just how far this restriction +should go is still a moot question. The +law says, however, that you may not reproduce +in whole or in part an author's book +without his written consent, signed in the +presence of two witnesses. It does not say +that you may not read the book, nor are you +forbidden to read it in public, even for profit, +although in the case of musical and dramatic +compositions public performance or representation +for profit without the author's special—not +implied—consent is not only directly +prohibited, but is punishable by imprisonment. +The International Publishers' Congress, which +met in Paris in June, 1896, passed a resolution +to the effect that the reproduction of a +literary work by means of public readings, +in case such readings were held for purposes +of profit, ought not to be permitted without +the consent of the copyright proprietor. By +the Act of March 3, 1891, the exclusive right +to translate or dramatize his book is reserved +to the author. In this unrestricted and unlimited +exclusive right of translation and +dramatization our law has exceeded the usual +trend of legislation in regard to the author's +control over his work in these directions. +Foreign legislation usually only reserves to +the author the exclusive right to translate or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +dramatize for a limited fixed period of time, +and if he has not himself produced a translation +or dramatization within that period, another +person may.</p> + +<p>It has occasionally been intimated that the +efforts made by the public libraries to secure +the constant circulation of the same book is a +trespass upon the rights of the author, as he +is presumably thus subjected to the loss of +readers who would otherwise also become +purchasers of his book. A case has just been +decided to test an author's right to object to +having copies of his own copyright editions +of his books sold in a manner not indicated +by himself as volumes of a so-called collected +edition of his works. The decision, on first +hearing, was adverse to the author's contention.</p> + +<p>It is the <i>literary expression</i> of the author's +thoughts and ideas which is the subject-matter +of the protection, and not primarily the +thoughts and ideas themselves. These last +may or may not be original with the author, +but once he has made public a thought or an +idea he has given it away; he cannot control +its use or application. The author of a translation +of a book—the original work being +in the public domain—may obtain a copyright +upon his own translation, but doing so +will not debar another from producing an +original translation of his own of the same +work and obtaining copyright registration for +the same.</p> + +<p>Copyright does not give to any one monopoly +in the use of the <i>title</i> of a book, nor can a +title <i>per se</i> be subject-matter of copyright. +It is the book itself, the literary substance +which is protected, the title being recorded +for the identification of the work.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Time and territorial limitations of copyright.</i></p> + +<p>A few countries still grant copyright in perpetuity, +but usually the term of protection is +limited either to a certain number of years, +or to a term of years beyond the date of the +author's death. This last provision is the +more general, and the term varies from seven +years after the author's death in England, for +instance, to eighty years after the author's +death in Spain. The two most common +terms are thirty years to fifty years beyond +the life of the author. Our own legislation +provides for two possible terms of protection. +The first being for twenty-eight years +from the date of the recording of the title in +the Copyright Office, and the second, an extension +of fourteen years from the expiration +of the first term.</p> + +<p>Besides the time limit, copyright—especially +as far as the authors of the United +States are concerned—is limited territorially, +not extending beyond the boundaries of the +United States. Whether the protection which +follows registration and deposit shall extend +so as to include Porto Rico, Hawaii and the +Philippines is a matter of some question. +Probably as regards the Philippines the answer +would be in the negative, but as concerns +Porto Rico, since the passage of the +"Act temporarily to provide revenue and a +civil government for Porto Rico" (April 12, +1900) and Hawaii, since the taking effect +(June 14, 1900) of the "Act to provide a government +for the territory of Hawaii," the response +would be in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>The obtaining of copyright protection by a +compliance with the United States statutory +requirements as to registration of title, deposit +of copies, and printing of notice of copyright, +does not secure extension of this protection +in the territory of any foreign country, +the United States not being a member of +the International Copyright Union. An American +author must comply with the requirements +of the copyright laws of a foreign +country, just as if he were a citizen or subject +of that country, in order to obtain copyright +protection within its borders. Presumably, +however, the obtaining of valid copyright +protection in one of the countries of the +International Copyright Union, England for +example, would secure protection throughout +the various countries of that Union.</p> + +<p>4. <i>Who may obtain copyright.</i></p> + +<p>It is the <i>author</i> of the work who is privileged +to obtain copyright protection for it. +As I have already pointed out, the constitutional +provision enacts that Congress is to legislate +to secure to <i>authors</i> the exclusive right +to their <i>writings</i>. When, therefore, the law +states that the author "or proprietor" of any +book may obtain a copyright for it, the term +"proprietor" must be construed to mean the +author's assignee, <i>i.e.,</i> the person to whom he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +has legally transferred his copyright privilege. +It is not necessarily transferred by the +sale of the book, <i>i.e.,</i> the manuscript of the +author's work, as the purchase alone of an author's +manuscript does not secure to the proprietor +of the manuscript copyright privileges. +Prior to July 1, 1891, no foreign author could +obtain copyright protection in the United +States, hence the purchase by a publisher of +one of Dickens's novels in manuscript, for +example, would not enable the buyer to obtain +copyright on the book in this country. +No author who has not the privilege of copyright +in the United States can transfer to another +either a copyright or the right to obtain +one. He cannot sell what he does not himself +possess. Under the United States law +copyright comes through <i>authorship</i> only. It +is not a right attaching to the thing—the +book—but is a right vested in the creator +of the literary production, hence does not +pass to a second person by the transference +of the material thing, the book, and evidence +must be offered showing that the transference +of the book carried with it the author's consent +to a conveyance of the privilege of copyright.</p> + +<p>This same principle is embodied in the provisions +of the law as to renewal of the copyright. +The second term of protection must +also start with the author, or if he be dead, +with his natural heirs, his widow or children, +but not with his assigns, the "proprietors." +The right to the extension term is in the author +if he be living at the period during +which registration for the second term may +take place, <i>viz.,</i> within six months prior to +the expiration of the first term of twenty-eight +years. If the author be dead, the privilege +of renewal rests with his widow or children. +Whether the author may dispose of his +right of renewal so that the transference may +be effective for the second term, even though +the author should have died before the date +of the beginning of that term, is a question +upon which the authorities differ. The language +of the statute would seem to give to the +author an inchoate right which reverts to his +widow or children should he be married and +die before the expiration of the first term of +the copyright.</p> + +<p>5. <i>International copyright.</i></p> + +<p>The idea of nationality or citizenship governed +our copyright legislation for more than +a century, from the earliest American copyright +statute of 1783 to July 1, 1891, so that +until the latter date copyright protection in +the United States was limited to the works +of authors who were citizens or residents. By +the Act of March 3, 1891, commonly called +the international-copyright law, which went +into effect on July 1 of that year, the privileges +of copyright in this country were extended +to the productions of authors who +were citizens or subjects of other countries +which by their laws permitted American citizens +to obtain copyright upon substantially +the same basis as their own subjects. The +existence of these conditions is made known +by presidential proclamation, and up to this +time ten such proclamations have been issued +extending copyright in the United States to +the citizen authors of Belgium, Chile, Costa +Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Great +Britain and her possessions (including India, +Canada, the Australias, etc.), Italy, Mexico, +the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. +The privilege of copyright in the +United States is extended only to authors who +are subjects of some country in whose behalf +a presidential proclamation as to copyright +has been issued.</p> + +<p>It is well to point out, perhaps, that these +copyright proclamations are not equivalent to +copyright treaties, but are only notices that +certain conditions exist. Only in the case of +one country, <i>viz.,</i> Germany, has anything been +entered into approaching a convention or +treaty. Under date of Jan. 15, 1892, an +"agreement" was signed with that country to +issue a proclamation extending copyright in +the United States to German subjects upon +an assurance that "Citizens of the United +States of America shall enjoy, in the German +Empire, the protection of copyright as regards +works of literature and art, as well as photographs, +against illegal reproduction, on the +same basis on which such protection is granted +to subjects of the empire."</p> + +<p>In order to obtain copyright abroad, therefore, +an American citizen must ascertain the +requirements of the law of each country in +which he desires to protect his book or other +production and comply explicitly with such +requirements. He can, of course, only avail<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +himself of the legal protection accorded, so +far as it is within his power to thus comply, +and therein lies the difference between the +privileges secured under the present international-copyright +arrangements, and such as +would be obtainable under copyright conventions +or treaties. A citizen of the United +States may find himself unable to meet the +obligations or conditions of the statutes, just +as a foreign author may find it practically impossible +to comply with the requirements of +the United States law, and in either case +there would be a failure to secure the protection +desired. In the case of a photograph, for +example, the English law requires that the +"author" of the photograph must be a British +subject or actually "resident within the Dominions +of the Crown," and the United States +law requires that the two copies of the photograph +to be deposited in the Copyright +Office "shall be printed from <i>negatives made +within the limits</i> of the United States," two +sets of conditions difficult of fulfilment. By +means of a copyright convention exemption +could be obtained in either case from these +onerous conditions.</p> + +<p>6. <i>Conditions and formalities required by +the copyright law.</i></p> + +<p>Two steps are made prerequisites to valid +copyright by the laws now in force in the +United States. The first of these is the recording +of the title in the Copyright Office. +For this purpose the statute requires the deposit +of "a <i>printed</i> copy" of the title-page, +"on or before the day of publication in this +or any foreign country." For a number of +years it has been the practice of the Copyright +Office to accept a typewritten title in lieu of +the <i>printed</i> title-page, but in this, as with all +other requirements of the law regarding copyright, +the preferable course is a strict compliance +with the letter as well as the spirit of +the law.</p> + +<p>The clerical service for thus recording the +title requires the payment of a fee, which +should accompany the title-page when transmitted +to the Copyright Office. The fee for +this, as fixed by law, is 50 cents in the case +of the title of a book whose author is a citizen +of the United States, and $1 in the case +of a book whose author is not an American +but is a citizen or subject of some country to +whose citizens the privilege of copyright in +the United States has been extended, under +the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1891. If a +copy of the record thus made of the title (commonly +called a certificate) is desired, an additional +fee of 50 cents is required in all cases.</p> + +<p>In order to have this essential record of +title properly made, in the form exactly prescribed +by the statute, it is necessary to furnish +the Copyright Office with certain information, +namely:</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> The name of the claimant of the copyright. +(This should be the real name of the +person, not a <i>nom de plume</i> or pseudonym.) +<i>b.</i> Whether copyright is claimed by applicant +as the "author" or the "proprietor" of the +book. <i>c.</i> The nationality or citizenship of the +<i>author</i> of the book. (This is required to determine +whether the book is by an author +who is privileged to copyright protection in +this country, and, also, the amount of the fee +to be charged for recording the title.) <i>d.</i> +The application should state that the title-page +is the title of a "book." <i>e.</i> A statement +should be made that the book is or will be +"printed from type set within the limits of the +United States."</p> + +<p>The second prerequisite to copyright protection +is the deposit in the Copyright Office +of two copies of the book whose title-page has +been recorded. These copies must be printed +from "type set within the limits of the United +States," and the deposit must be made "not +later than the day of publication thereof, in +this or any foreign country." The stipulation +as to American typesetting applies to +works by American authors as well as to +those written by foreign authors.</p> + +<p>The statute provides, as regards both the +printed title and the printed copies, that the +articles are to be delivered at the office of +the Librarian of Congress, or "deposited in +the mail, within the United States, addressed +to the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, +D. C." Just what would be held to have been +secured under the latter provision in case the +deposit in the mail were made and the book +failed to reach the Copyright Office has not +been determined by judicial decision. The +law provides for the giving of a receipt by the +postmaster in the case of the title and the +copies, if such receipt is requested.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>The third step required for obtaining a defendable +copyright is to print upon the title-page +or the page immediately following it in +each copy of the book the statutory notice +of copyright. The form of this notice must +be either "Entered according to Act of Congress, +in the year ——, by A. B., in the office +of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington;" +or, "Copyright, 19——, by A. B." The +name printed in this notice must be the real, +legal name of the proprietor of the copyright, +and must be the same as that in which the +entry of title has been made; the date, also, +must be the year date of the record of the +filing of the title-page. A judicial decision +is on record to the effect that printing the +year date in this notice one year later than +the date of actual recording of title barred +the defence of the copyright. A penalty of +$100 is imposed on "every person who shall +insert or impress such notice, <i>or words of the +same purport</i> in or upon any book ... +whether subject to copyright or otherwise, +for which he has not obtained a copyright."</p> + +<p>An American author may obtain for his book +copyright protection in Great Britain, by a +compliance with the official instructions as to +publication, deposit of copies and registration. +The protection, under English law, +dates from the day of <i>first</i> publication, but +such first publication must be on English territory, +and registration may follow, but cannot +precede publication. The term of protection +in the United States, on the contrary, +dates from the day of registration of title in +our Copyright Office, which must precede +publication, and be followed by deposit of copies +made "not later than the day of publication +thereof in this or any foreign country." The +point to guard, therefore, is <i>simultaneous +publication</i> in this country and in Great +Britain. Registration in England is a secondary +matter. As stated in the official circulars +of instructions issued by the English Copyright +Office, "Copyright is created by the +statute, and does not depend upon registration, +which is permissive only, and not compulsory, +but no proprietor of copyright in any +book can take any proceedings in respect of +any infringement of his copyright unless he +has, before commencing his proceedings, registered +his book."</p> + +<p>Under existing legal conditions, in order to +secure valid copyright on a book in this country +and in England, the following steps should +be taken, and in the order stated. 1. Record +title in the United States Copyright Office. +2. Print book from type set within the limits +of the United States. 3. Deposit two copies +of such book in the United States Copyright +Office. 4. Send sufficient copies to London to</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="hangingindent"><i>a.</i> Place copies on sale and take such usual +steps as are understood, under English +law, to constitute "publication" on +a prearranged day, on which same day +the book is published in the United +States.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent"><i>b.</i> Deposit copies: one copy of the best edition +at the British Museum, and four +copies of the usual edition at Stationers' +Hall for distribution to the Bodleian +Library at Oxford, the University +Library at Cambridge, the Faculty +of Advocates Library at Edinburgh, +and the Trinity College Library at +Dublin.</p> + +<p class="hangingindent"><i>c.</i> Register title of book and day of first +publication at Stationers' Hall, London.</p></blockquote> + +<p>7. <i>The United States Copyright Office.</i></p> + +<p>One frequently hears the expressions "has +obtained a copyright," "issued a copyright," +etc., giving the impression that copyrights can +be granted somewhat after the manner in +which the Patent Office issues letters-patent. +But Congress has established no office authorized +to furnish any such guarantee of <i>literary</i> +property as is done in the case of patent +monopoly. The Copyright Office is purely an +office of record and simply registers <i>claims</i> +to copyright. The form of record prescribed +by law being the effect that A. B. "hath deposited +the title of a book the right whereof +he <i>claims</i> as author or proprietor in conformity +with the laws of the United States respecting +copyrights." The Copyright Office +has no authority to question any claim as to +authorship or proprietorship, nor can it determine +between conflicting claims. It registers +the claim presented in the prescribed form +for a proper subject of copyright by any person +legally entitled to such registration without +investigation as to the truthfulness of the +representations, and would be obliged to record, +not only the same title for different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +books, but the same title for the same work +on behalf of two or more different persons, +even against the protest of either one, were +such registrations asked for. No examination +is therefore made when a title reaches +the office as to whether the same or a similar +title has been used before. As I have already +stated, the title <i>per se</i> is not subject to copyright, +and no one can secure a monopoly of +the use of a title by merely having it recorded +at a nominal fee at the Copyright Office.</p> + +<p>If any one, wishing to use a given form of +title but desiring to avoid possible duplication +of one previously used, writes to the Copyright +Office asking whether such a title has +already been recorded, an answer is made +stating what is disclosed by the indexes of the +office. It must be frankly explained, however, +that an absolutely conclusive statement +as to whether a given title has been previously +used cannot always be given. The copyright +records of entries of title previous to July 10, +1870, are but indifferently indexed and rarely +by title, usually only under names of proprietors +of the copyright. The copyright entries +since July 10, 1870, to May 31, 1901, number +1,217,075. The index to these entries consists +of more than 600,000 cards, many of which +contain a number of entries. These cards index +the entries primarily under the names of +the proprietors of the copyright, and this proprietor's +index is understood to have been +kept up continuously and to be complete, so +that under the name of each copyright proprietor +there is a card or cards showing the +titles of all articles upon which copyright is +claimed. In addition to the proprietor's index +there are cards under the titles of periodicals +and under the leading catchwords of the titles +of other articles, besides cards under the authors' +names for books. Unhappily there are +periods of time when what may be called the +subsidiary index cards were not kept up.</p> + +<p>In addition to cards under the proprietors' +names, cards are now made: for <i>books,</i> under +the names of their authors; for <i>anonymous +books,</i> <i>periodicals</i> and <i>dramatic compositions,</i> +under the first words of the titles (not a, an, +or the), and for <i>maps,</i> under the leading subject +words of the titles, <i>i.e.,</i> the names of the +localities mapped. It is doubtful if an absolutely +complete index of all copyright entries +by the <i>title</i> of the book and other article—in +addition to the cards at present made—could +be justified by even a possibly legitimate +use of such an index. When it is remembered +that the copyright entries last year +numbered 97,967, the magnitude of the task +of making several cards for each entry is +easily conceived, and it is a question whether +it could be rightfully imposed upon the Copyright +Office under the present provisions of +the law and so long as the registration of a +title does not secure the use of that title +to some one person to the exclusion of all +others.</p> + +<p>8. <i>Amendment of the copyright law.</i></p> + +<p>The possible amendment of the copyright +laws is a subject which my time does not permit +me to consider in detail, even were that +deemed desirable. The law now in force consists +of the Act of July 8, 1870, as edited to +become title 60, chapter 3 of the Revised +Statutes, and ten amendatory acts passed subsequently. +Naturally there is lacking the +consistency and homogeneousness of a single +well-considered copyright statute. It is possible +that Congress will presently be willing to +take under consideration, if not the re-codification +of the copyright laws, then, at least, some +amendment of them. An increase in the period +of protection has frequently been urged, +with some advocacy of perpetual copyright. +As the Federal constitution, however, distinctly +provides that the protection granted +the writings of an author is to be for a <i>limited +time,</i> an amendment of the constitution +would be necessary before Congress could +enact perpetual copyright, and such alteration +of the fundamental law of the land is not +probable.</p> + +<p>Much might be said for an increase in the +period of protection. It is for a shorter term +of years than that provided by most modern +copyright legislation, and the trend of such +lawmaking has been in the direction of an increase +in the length of time during which the +author or his heirs could control the reproduction +of his work. It should be borne in +mind that for books of little value the length +of the term of protection is of no great consequence. +"Dead" books are not affected by +the length of the term of copyright. In the +case also of popular new books, the great sales<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +and consequent disproportionate remuneration +comes within a short period of time after +publication, and are not likely to continue +during a long term of copyright. On the +other hand, many books of great and permanent +value not unfrequently make their way +slowly into popular favor, and are not fully +appreciated until many years after publication. +For such books—the results, perhaps, +of long years of study and labor—an equitable +return cannot be secured except by a +long term of protection.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most urgently desirable forward +step in respect to copyright is the adhesion +of the United States to the Berne convention, +thus securing the inclusion in the International +Copyright Union of our country, +the leading one of the three great states not +yet members of this admirable association of +nations. Were the United States a member +of the Berne Union a compliance with the +statutory provisions of our own laws alone +would secure copyright protection not only +within the limits of the United States, but +practically throughout the whole book-reading +world—Great Britain, all Europe (except +temporarily Russia, Austria, and Scandinavia), +Canada and Australia, India, Japan +and South Africa—thus increasing the possible +reading public of American authors +many fold. It would seem that considerations +of justice to our large and constantly increasing +national contingent of literary and +artistic producers requires this advance of +such great practical importance. It is the +easier of accomplishment because it involves +the adoption of no new principle, but only the +extension of the principle embodied in the +Act of March 3, 1891, namely, reciprocal international +exchange of copyright privileges, +and in return for the advantages which would +accrue to our own citizens, only obligates the +extension of copyright in the United States to +the subjects of such countries as are members +of the Union. Of the members of the International +Copyright Union, all the great nations +already enjoy copyright in the United +States, and it would only remain to extend +this privilege to the citizen authors of the +six minor states that are members of the +Union, namely, Hayti, Japan, Luxembourg, +Monaco, Norway and Tunis.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS" id="THE_RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS">THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By W. Millard Palmer</span>, <i>Grand Rapids, Mich.</i></p> + + +<p>In accepting the president's suggestion to +give "expression of the <i>business</i> side of +the subject rather than the theoretical or sentimental," +I wish at the outset to recall certain +functions performed by publishers, booksellers +and librarians, and to acknowledge +my indebtedness to Mr. J. W. Nichols, secretary +of the American Booksellers' Association, +for material along this line.</p> + +<p>Casual observers have come to regard publishers +as bookmakers or manufacturers, who +merely put the product of authors into merchantable +form, and distribute it to dealers, +for sale to the reading public. If this were +the only function of the publisher, his task +would be an easy one; indeed we might soon +expect to see all publishers supplanted by one +great co-operative factory, to which authors +might take their manuscripts, and have them +transformed into books and distributed +through the ordinary channels of commerce, +like any other commodities. Some superficial +observers have recently made bold to +conjecture that this will be the final outcome +of the present troubled state of the general +trade of publishing and selling books. But, +alas! the actual making of the book—giving +to it an appropriate, artistic and really attractive +form—is perhaps the least of the publishers' +trials, though this, in itself, is a difficult +task, requiring an artistic taste, well trained +and skilful judgment, and much technical +knowledge.</p> + +<p>To one who has had an insight into the +publishing business, the enormous mass of +manuscript that is annually submitted to each +of the great publishers is simply appalling. +They are compelled to employ a corps of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +"readers" to cull out that which is worthy of +consideration by an intelligent and skilled +publisher. Much that come to hand has been +hastily prepared by persons who lacked the +time, experience or special training necessary +to enable an author to prepare an acceptable +manuscript, while the great majority of young +authors have really no message to tell that is +worth recording. Here comes the most difficult +and trying task of the successful publisher—<i>the +selection of proper material for +publication</i>. It often happens that a rejected +manuscript contains some good work—a promise +of something better to come. Then the +publisher points out the best features and encourages +the incipient author to try again.</p> + +<p>Thus books are made, not after a given pattern, +like certain fabrics, but each is a creation +in itself. The responsibility of the publisher, +for the character of the creation, is by +no means unimportant. He acts as arbiter of +the standard of excellence that must be attained +by an author before he is introduced to +the public. The publishers' criterion is simply +a question of cash. "Will the public buy the +book and pay for it?" Nor can any other +standard be adopted with safety. The whole +question of supply must always depend upon +public demand.</p> + +<p>But the publisher is not infallible. He +often makes mistakes. Between him and the +readers is the dealer. The retail bookseller +stands closest to the reading public. He acquaints +himself with the essential character of +the new book, points out to his customer +enough of interest to cause him to glance +through it, and finally sells it to him; for the +intelligent bookseller knows the taste and +reading habits of his customers. He has his +leading customers in mind from the time he +orders a new book till he has shown it and +sold it to them. If they are pleased with it, +and recommend it to their friends, who call +at the store for it, the bookseller re-orders it, +and, if he is so fortunate as not to be restrained +by unfair local competition, he advertises +the book and pushes its sale with energy, +so long as interest in it can be kept +alive.</p> + +<p>Thus the retail booksellers in every city and +hamlet throughout the country, standing close +to the reading public, knowing what their customers +will buy, are the real monitors of the +publishers.</p> + +<p>When the publisher considers the advisability +of bringing out a new book, he cannot undertake +to look beyond a few hundred booksellers. +It is through them, and only through +them, that he has learned to gauge the taste +of the reading public. The paramount question +for him to decide is, "How many copies +of this particular book can I sell to dealer A, +dealer B and dealer C; how many copies of +this book can I hope with certainty to sell to +all of my customers in the trade?" The publisher +well knows that the dealer is governed +by the same criterion as himself: "Will it +pay; will this book be a ready seller, or will +it cost me all of the profit I make on it to +sell it?"</p> + +<p>Thus the product of the author is subject +to the immutable laws of supply and demand +from the time he submits his first immature +manuscript until he makes two, three, four +or more trials, and finally has a manuscript +accepted. But even then the publishers prepares +only a small edition for a new author, +and the dealers are very conservative in ordering +a new book—especially by an unknown +author. The conscientious bookseller awaits +the verdict of certain patrons, knowing that, +if the book is commended by one whose judgment +is respected by local readers, he can +safely re-order a goodly number.</p> + +<p>Thus the author is dependent upon the publisher +for the standard of excellence he must +attain in order to achieve success; the publisher +is dependent upon the dealer, not only +in forming his judgment of the character of +books that will sell, but also for the number +that he may safely print; while the dealer is +dependent upon his best and most critical patrons. +Hence the relation of author, publisher +and dealer is so close—indeed they are so mutually +interdependent—that one factor could not +be removed without vitally crippling the other.</p> + +<p>A distinguished librarian, who has been a +pioneer of progress in the library movement, +has recently suggested the propriety of abolishing +book stores (<i>see Publishers' Weekly,</i> +May 11, '01, p. 1149) and allowing public librarians +to receive orders and forward them +to the publishers. If the distinguished gentleman +did not have in view visions of personal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +gain for public librarians, he should have carried +his philanthropic suggestion farther, and +proposed to abolish both booksellers and librarians, +and to allow the public to procure +their books directly from the publishers, thus +saving that moiety of gain that would be made +by either in return for the service rendered. +It cannot be supposed that so able and conscientious +an administrative officer ever contemplated +maintaining an extra corps of assistants, +at an extra expense to the municipality +or to those liberal benefactors who have +endowed public libraries, in order that opulent +citizens may still further indulge their +tastes by purchasing larger private libraries, +without paying the small commission or profit +that is usually allowed to retail booksellers. +On the other hand, if this proposal was made +for the purpose of allowing libraries maintained +by taxing the municipality, to engage +in gainful occupation, this is carrying the socialistic +idea farther than even our populistic +friends have ever yet proposed.</p> + +<p>However, inasmuch as this question has +been raised, we are bound to treat it from an +economic point of view. The question is, +"Shall the bookseller be abolished and his office +merged into that of the librarian, and can +the librarian perform the offices of the bookseller?"</p> + +<p>No one has ever questioned the value of +the public library from the burning of the +Alexandrian Library to the present day. The +value of a library, as a <i>librarium,</i> or storehouse +for the permanent preservation of +books, has always been manifest.</p> + +<p>Again, the public library gives a larger opportunity +and a wider range than is possible +in the private collection; and scholars, historians +and students of all classes are daily +made grateful to the trained, professional librarian, +who has so classified the contents of +the library as to make the whole available at +a moment's notice.</p> + +<p>Still another inestimable feature of the public +library is that it maintains a public reading +room for children as well as adults.</p> + +<p>Finally, the library furnishes reading at +home to those who are not yet in a position +to become owners of books. The benefit derived +from reading of this character is often +of questionable value. The <i>habitué</i> of the circulating +library makes his selections from +misleading or sensational titles. Little care and +less intelligence is exercised in choosing either +title or author. As a result librarians are constantly +complaining that only the trashiest +and most worthless books are read.</p> + +<p>The circulating department of the public library +is now supplemented by others that are +conducted for cash profit. These have sprung +up in many cities. And now we have the +"Book-Lovers' Library," a corporation with +capital stock, engaging in business for profit. +It has the advantage of certain trust features. +It proposes to organize branches in all of the +principal cities and towns in the country. For +five dollars a year it proposes to supply fifty +dollars' worth of reading to each subscriber. +An automobile is employed, with an attendant +to deliver the books to subscribers each week +and take up those that have been read. Having +paid five, ten or more dollars, at the beginning +of the year, the subscriber can read +from morning till night, while the new books +come and go with the lightning speed of the +automobile.</p> + +<p>As in many other circulating libraries, new +copyrighted fiction is the chief staple supplied +by the "Book-Lovers' Library"—the sweetest +pabulum automatically administered.</p> + +<p>After a season of such dissipation call in a +neurologist to diagnose your patient, and he +will advise you that by continuing the treatment +the mind will be reduced to a sieve, if +not ultimately to absolute imbecility. Having +abandoned the more serious literature that +calls into use all the faculties of the mind, the +reader of nothing but fiction converts what +would otherwise be a healthful recreation into +dissipation, that is enervating and permanently +debilitating to all the faculties of the +mind, when carried to an extreme. Had the +reader been denied the use of this automatic +machine, and been compelled, as formerly, to +browse through the book store in search of +something to read, more serious books would +have been selected—history, travel, descriptive +writing or popular science, with an occasional +novel by way of recreation.</p> + +<p>But to continue the argument, suppose we +abolish the bookseller, as has been proposed. +This would not be a difficult matter. Most +of them would gladly be "abolished" if they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +could sell out their stock for anything near +what it cost them. Their profits have been +so reduced by unfair competition that they +are not sufficient to pay the cost of doing +business. They have been compelled to carry +side lines, as stationery, newspapers, periodicals, +sporting goods, <i>bric-a-brac,</i> wall paper, +etc., in order to make a living. By this means +they have learned that other lines of merchandise +yield a better profit than books. As a +result most of them have greatly reduced +their book stock, or entirely abandoned the +sale of books, and put in more profitable lines +of merchandise.</p> + +<p>The causes that have led up to this result +are manifold: 1st. They were strenuously +urged, and they finally consented to allow +discounts:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) To ministers of the gospel, since they +are public benefactors.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) To school teachers, since they are public +educators and benefactors.</p> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) To public libraries, since they are for the +most part eleemosynary institutions, and +hence entitled to charity.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Indeed, when I recount the charitable benefactions +that have been exacted and received +at the hands of the retail bookseller, he seems +to me to have been the most saintly character +that has lived in my day and generation. And +right here it is of interest to note that these +ministers, these teachers, these physicians, +these public librarians were actually receiving +out of the hands of the public stated salaries +that exceeded by far the annual net profit of +the average bookseller.</p> + +<p>2d. Having secured from the local dealer +a discount equal to the best part of his profit, +many librarians have gone behind him and appealed +directly to the publishers for a larger +discount. This has been granted in most +cases, so that most librarians have recently +been receiving as large a discount as local +dealers.</p> + +<p>3d. Commission agents have purchased +complete editions of popular-selling books +from the publishers, and re-sold them at a +slight advance:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) To dry-goods stores, where they have +been put on "bargain counters" and sold at +less than cost, to attract customers to their +stores.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) To publishers of local newspapers, who +give the books away as premiums or sell +them at cost prices, to increase the local +circulation of their papers.</p> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) To mail-order agencies, who advertise +the books at less than they are usually sold +for by dealers.</p></blockquote> + +<p>4th. Many publishers have been advertising +and mailing their books directly to retail customers +at reduced prices, or at the same price +they recommended local dealers to ask for +them, and they have prepaid the postage, thus +<i>competing directly with their distributing +agents, the booksellers, in their own field</i>.</p> + +<p>5th. Finally, some local librarians, who a +few years ago were appealing to local booksellers +for a discount, having been granted the +discount, have recently been supplying books +"at cost prices" to other patrons of the local +booksellers. Thus our friends, the librarians, +having inverted the good old practice of returning +good for evil, having helped to rob +the local bookseller of his livelihood, now +propose to abolish his office.</p> + +<p>To carry the proposition to its conclusions, +suppose we abolish the bookseller. Can the +librarian take his place and send the orders +in to the publishers? If so, if this is all there +is to the bookselling business, why should the +publisher pay a commission to the librarian +for doing what the people could as readily do +for themselves? But a general business cannot +be carried on in this way. Publishers +have tried it for years, yet only comparatively +few people are willing to order books that +they have not had an opportunity to examine, +and of this class librarians are the most conservative. +They, too, want to know what they +are buying before they place their orders. +Hence, this postulate: If the librarian is to +succeed the bookseller, he must become a merchant; +he must order stocks of books and +take the speculative chance of selling them. +But the librarian has had no experience or +training in merchandising. Can he afford to +hazard his own capital in an untried field; +can he induce his friends to supply him with +capital to invest in a business of which he +confessedly has no knowledge? It would +manifestly be a perversion of the funds of the +institution in charge of the librarian, to invest +them in a gainful occupation.</p> + +<p>From what I have said, it must be apparent +that booksellers, as well as librarians, have a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +province of their own, and perform a service +that cannot be delegated to another. And +hence it is desirable that we live and dwell +together in peace and amity.</p> + +<p>But in these days of combinations, reorganizations +and revolutions in the conduct of business, +the publishers have looked farther, in +their quest for more economical purveying +agents. For the past ten years they have been +trying to induce the dry-goods merchants to +carry books. But, after all this time, not +more than half a dozen department stores +carry fairly representative stocks of books. +They confine themselves, for the most part, to +new copyrighted fiction, and of this they handle +only that which is widely advertised.</p> + +<p>Of late, department stores and dry-goods +stores have met severe competition in clothing +stores, that make no pretext of carrying a +book stock. They simply buy an edition of a +popular-selling book and advertise it for less +money than it actually cost. They do this +simply as an advertising dodge, to attract +customers to their stores. Then, too, the +mail-order agencies have cut the price of the +most popular books so low that it is no longer +profitable to handle them. The result of this +has been that many of the most promising +new novels have been killed before they were +fairly put on the market; for <i>as soon as they +ceased to be profitable no one could afford to +re-order them</i>.</p> + +<p>The effect of this recent drift of the trade +has been to stimulate the frothy side of literature +to an extreme degree. The more serious +literature is being neglected. The latest +novel is the fad. Its average life is reduced to +little more than one year, though the copyright +lasts for twenty-eight years, and with a +renewal it may be extended to forty-two +years.</p> + +<p>This shortening of the life of books has had +a baneful effect:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) Baneful to the bookseller, since it frequently +leaves him with a dead stock of +books on hand that cannot be turned without +loss.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) Baneful to the publisher, since the book +stops selling and the plates become valueless +before he has had time fairly to recoup +himself for the expense of bringing it out, +advertising it, and putting it on the market.</p> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) Baneful to the author, since by shortening +the life of his books the value of his +property in them is reduced.</p></blockquote> + +<p>But perhaps the most baneful effect of this +craze for ephemeral literature is upon the +people themselves. As the standard or degree +of civilization for a given age is marked +by the character of the literature the people +produce and read, we cannot hope for a golden +age in American letters, unless the present +system is reversed. Work of real merit is +never done by accident, nor is it the product +of mediocre talents. If we are to develop a +national literature that shall fitly characterize +the sterling qualities of the American people +in this, the full strength of the early manhood +of the nation; at the time when the nation has +taken its place in the vanguard of civilization; +at the time when the consumptive power of the +nation is equal to one-third of that of the entire +civilized world; at the time when men of +talents and genius are annually earning and +expending, for their comfort and pleasure, +more munificent sums than were ever lavished +on the most opulent princes; I say, if we are +to produce a literature that shall fitly characterize +this age of our nation, we must hold +forth such rewards for the pursuits of literature +as will attract men of genius, men of the +most lustrous talents, men who are the peers +of their co-workers in other walks of life. +But this will not be possible so long as the +present strife to furnish cheap literature to the +people continues.</p> + +<p>It should be observed that the bookseller +has not suffered alone in this cheapening process. +The publisher has suffered. Within +the past few months two names that for half +a century were household words, synonyms +of all that is excellent in the publishing world, +have met with disaster, and others were approaching +a crisis.</p> + +<p>Fortunately one firm stood out so prominently, +as a bulwark of financial strength and +security, that its president, Mr. Charles +Scribner, of Charles Scribner's Sons, could +afford to take the initiative in calling for reform. +He invited the co-operation of other +publishers, and a year ago this month they +met in New York and organized the American +Publishers' Association. Their organization +now includes practically all of the general +publishers who contribute anything of real +value to current literature.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>The publishers canvassed thoroughly the +causes that had led to the decline of the +trade, and they appointed a committee to draft +reform measures.</p> + +<p>In reviewing the decline of the trade, two +facts stood out so prominently that it was +impossible to disassociate them as cause and +effect. The three thousand booksellers, upon +whom, as purveying agents, the publishers had +depended a generation ago, had shrunk in +number until only about five hundred could +be counted who were worthy to be called booksellers. +The other fact, which doubtless made +quite as deep an impression upon the minds +of the publishers, was that the long line of +books, on each of their published catalogs, +was practically dead. Those books of high +standard character, by eminent authors, books +that for years had had a good annual sale, no +longer moved. These standard books have +been a large source of revenue to publishers +and their authors for many years. But now +so few of them are sold that it hardly pays the +publishers to send their travellers over the +road.</p> + +<p>Few dry-goods merchants, druggists, newsdealers +and stationers, that have recently been +induced to carry a small number of books, +feel sufficiently well acquainted with salable +literature to warrant their carrying anything +more than the most popular-selling new copyrighted +novels and cheap reprints of non-copyrighted +books that sell for twenty-five +cents or less. As stated above, there are a +few large department stores that carry a more +general stock, but they are so few that the +support received from them is not sufficient to +compensate, in any measure, the loss sustained +through the sacrifice of the regular +booksellers. Moreover, the regular booksellers +that still remain in the business have not +been buying many standard books of late. +Seeing their profit in fiction sacrificed by unfair +competition, many of them have ordered +only enough of the new copyrighted novels to +keep alive their accumulated stocks of standard +books, until they can sell them out or reduce +them to a point where they can afford +to abandon the book business.</p> + +<p>From the character of the reform measures +adopted by the American Publishers' Association, +which went into effect on the first of +May, it is evident that the publishers have determined +to restore the old-time bookseller. +This can be done only by the publishers enforcing +the maintenance of retail prices, the +same as is done by the proprietors of the +Earl & Wilson collar, the Waterman fountain +pen, the Eastman kodak, and many other +special lines of which the retail price is listed.</p> + +<p>When dry-goods stores and clothing stores +bought these special lines and retailed them +at or below the cost price, in <i>contrast to the +list price</i> asked in the special furnishing +stores, in order to attract customers to their +stores because of their wonderful "bargain +counters," the manufacturers realized that the +dry-goods stores were simply using up these +wares to advertise their other business. They +cut off the supply of their goods to these +price-cutting dry-goods stores, and refused to +supply any more goods, except under a substantial +undertaking on the part of the dry-goods +stores to maintain the full list price.</p> + +<p>This, in a word, is the substance of the publishers' +plan. They have agreed to cut off +absolutely the supply of all of their books, +net, copyrighted and otherwise, to any dealer +who cuts the retail price of a book published +under the net-price system.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the nearly eight hundred +members of the American Booksellers' Association +have entered into a mutual agreement +to push with energy the sale of the books of +all publishers who co-operate with them for +the maintenance of retail prices, and not to +buy, nor put in stock, nor offer for sale, the +books of any publisher who fails to co-operate +with them. This is substantially the same +system that was adopted in Germany in 1887, +in France a few years later, and in England +in 1900.</p> + +<p>The effect of this system in Germany has +been to lift up the trade from a condition +even more deplorable, if possible, than that +into which it has fallen in this country, and +to make it a prosperous and profitable business. +It has proved beneficent and satisfactory, +not only to dealers and publishers, but +also to authors and to the reading public, for +every city, town and village in Germany now +sustains a book shop that carries a fairly +representative stock of books, so that the people +are able to examine promptly every book +as soon as it comes from the press, and the +authors are sure of having their books<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +promptly submitted to the examination of +every possible purchaser.</p> + +<p>The results in France and England are +equally encouraging, and it is believed that +as soon as the American system is fully understood, +and as soon as enough books are included +under the net-price system, so that a +bookseller can once more make a living on the +sale of books, many of the old-time booksellers +will again put in a stock of books and +help to re-establish the book trade in America.</p> + +<p>Having tried to define the present relation +of publishers and booksellers, I beg leave to +say frankly that I know of no reason why +publishers and booksellers should maintain +any different relations with librarians than +they maintain with any other retail customers.</p> + +<p>For example, let us take the new "Book-Lovers' +Library," so called. Their plan is +to sell memberships, and to deliver to each +member one book a week for five dollars a +year, or three books a week for ten dollars a +year. They take up the books at the end of +each week and supply new ones.</p> + +<p>If this plan could be carried out successfully, +it would result in making one book do +the service now performed by ten or fifteen +books. In other words, this circulating library +proposes to furnish its members with +ten or fifteen books for the same amount of +money they now pay for one book by simply +passing the book around from one to another.</p> + +<p>The effect of this scheme, if carried into all +cities and towns as proposed, would be to reduce +the number of books manufactured and +sold to about <i>one-tenth</i> of its present magnitude. +From a business point of view, publishers +and dealers cannot be called upon to make +special discounts to encourage such an enterprise.</p> + +<p>The encouragement and support given to +authors, by patrons of literature, would be reduced +by this scheme to about one-tenth of +the present amount. The effect of this withdrawal +of support to American authors can +easily be imagined.</p> + +<p>But I do not believe that real book-lovers, +intelligent and conservative readers, will be +carried away by this passing craze. On the +contrary, they have studiously avoided forming +that careless, slip-shod habit of reading +that characterizes patrons of circulating libraries. +The real book-lover selects his books +like his friends, with caution, and with discriminating +and painstaking care.</p> + +<p>From a bookseller's point of view, the +"Book-Lovers' Library" is not founded on +practical lines. However, as the plan also includes +the selling of capital stocks to its patrons, +it is probable that the money received +from subscriptions, together with the annual +membership fees, will be sufficient to keep the +enterprise going for some time. But since +this is a corporation organized for the purpose +of making money, a failure to earn +money and to pay dividends will discourage +its patrons, cause them to feel that they +have been deceived, and finally to withdraw +from membership. When the members realize +that they are paying five or ten dollars a +year for privileges that can be had free at the +local library, in most cases they will withdraw +their support.</p> + +<p>Thus, while in some respects I regard this +enterprise as an evil factor, it contains, I +think, inherent weaknesses that will finally +compass its own end.</p> + +<p>But what is said of the relation of publishers +and dealers to the Book-Lovers' Library +is true in a measure of all circulating and +other public libraries. They do not increase, +but they positively contract the number of +sales that are made in the interest of authors, +publishers and dealers.</p> + +<p>Under the German system, of which I have +spoken, public libraries were at first allowed +ten per cent. discount; but recently this has +been reduced to five per cent.</p> + +<p>Under the English system, profiting by the +experience of German publishers, no discount +is allowed to public libraries, schools or +institutions.</p> + +<p>The American system, however, is modelled +largely after the German, and it permits the +dealers to allow a discount of ten per cent. to +local libraries. In doing this local dealers are +protected from competition by the publishers, +in that the publishers have agreed to add to +the net price the cost of transportation on all +books sold at retail outside of the cities in +which they are doing business. Thus public +libraries can buy net books cheaper of the local +booksellers than they can buy them of the +publishers by just the cost of transportation.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="LIBRARY_BUILDINGS" id="LIBRARY_BUILDINGS">LIBRARY BUILDINGS.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By W. R. Eastman</span>, <i>New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.</i></p> + + +<p>A building is not the first requisite of a +public library. A good collection of +books with a capable librarian will be of great +service in a hired room or in one corner of a +store. First the librarian, then the books and +after that the building.</p> + +<p>But when the building is occupied the value +of the library is doubled. The item of rent +is dropped. The library is no longer dependent +on the favor of some other institution +and is not cramped by the effort to include +two or three departments in a single room. +It will not only give far better service to the +community, but will command their respect, +interest and support to a greater degree than +before.</p> + +<p>The following hints are intended as a reply +to many library boards who are asking for +building plans.</p> + +<p>The vital point in successful building is to +group all the parts of a modern library in +their true relations. To understand a particular +case it will be necessary to ask some +preliminary questions.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>1. <i>Books.</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes in library?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Average yearly increase?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes in 20 years?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes to go in reference +room?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes to go in children's +room?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes to go in other +departments?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Number of volumes to go in main book +room?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">If the library is large will there be an +open shelf room separate from the +main book room?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Is a stack needed?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Will public access to the shelves be allowed?</p> +</blockquote> +<p>By answers to such questions a fair idea of +the character and size of the book room may +be obtained.</p> + +<p><i>Rules for calculation.</i> In a popular library, +outside the reference room, for each foot of +wall space available 80 books can be placed +on eight shelves. Floor cases having two +sides will hold 160 books for each running +foot, and in a close stack 25 books, approximately, +can be shelved for each square foot +of floor space. But the latter rule will be +materially modified by ledges, varying width +of passages, stairs, etc.</p> + +<p>The above figures give full capacity. In +practical work, to provide for convenient +classification, expansion, oversized books and +working facilities, the shelves of a library +should be sufficient for twice the actual number +of books and the lines of future enlargement +should be fully determined.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>2. <i>Departments.</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Is the library for free circulation?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Is the library for free reference?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Are special rooms needed for<br /> +high school students?<br /> +children?<br /> +ladies?<br /> +magazine readers?<br /> +newspaper readers?<br /> +</p> + +<p class="hangingindent p0">How many square feet for each of the +above rooms?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Are class rooms needed as in a college +library?<br /> + Club rooms?<br /> + Lecture rooms?<br /> + Museum?<br /> + Art gallery?<br /> + Other departments?<br /> +</p> + +<p>3. <i>Community.</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">In city or country?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Population?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">By what class will library be chiefly +used? <br /> + School children?<br /> + Students?<br /> + Mechanics?<br /> + Reading circles?<br /> + Ladies?<br /> +</p> + +<p>4. <i>Resources and conditions.</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Money available?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p class="hangingindent p0">Money annually for maintenance?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Size of building lot?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Location and surroundings?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">How many stories?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Elevators?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Heat?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Light?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Ventilation?</p> +<p>5. <i>Administration.</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Is library to be in charge of one person?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">How many assistants?</p> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Is a work room needed?<br /> + unpacking room?<br /> + bindery?<br /> + librarian's office?<br /> + trustees' room?<br /> +</p> +</blockquote> +<p>By careful study of these points a clear +conception of the problem is gained and the +building committee is prepared to draw an +outline sketch indicating in a general way +their needs and views. They are not likely +to secure what they want by copying or even +by competition. The best architects have not +the time nor the disposition to compete with +each other. A better way is to choose an architect, +one who has succeeded in library work +if possible, who will faithfully study the special +problems, consult freely with the library +board, propose plans and change them freely +till they are right. And if such plans are also +submitted for revision to some librarian of +experience or to the library commission of the +state, whose business and pleasure it is to +give disinterested advice, so much the better.</p> + +<p>The following outlines taken from actual +library buildings are offered by way of suggestion.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Square plan.</i></p> + +<p>An inexpensive building for a small country +neighborhood may have one square room +with book shelves on the side and rear walls. +A convenient entrance is from a square porch +on one side of the front corner and a librarian's +alcove is at the opposite corner leaving +the entire front like a store window which +may be filled with plants or picture bulletins. +With a stone foundation the wooden frame +may be finished with stained shingles.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Oblong plan.</i></p> + +<p>A somewhat larger building may have a +wider front with entrance at the center.</p> + +<p>Book shelves under high windows may +cover the side and rear walls and tables may +stand in the open space.</p> + +<p>It will be convenient to bring together the +books most in demand for circulation on one +side of the room and those needed most for +study on the opposite side. One corner may +contain juvenile books. In this way confusion +between readers, borrowers and children will +be avoided. Each class of patrons will go by +a direct line to its own quarter. This is the +beginning of the plan of departments which +will be of great importance in the larger +building.</p> + +<p>The number of books for circulation will +increase rapidly and it may soon be necessary +to provide double faced floor cases. These +will be placed with passages running from the +center of the room towards the end and that +end will become the book or delivery room +and the opposite side will be the study or reference +room.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>T-shape plan.</i></p> + +<p>The next step is to add space to the rear +giving a third department to the still open +room. If the book room is at the back the +student readers may be at tables in the right +hand space and the children in the space on +the left. The librarian at a desk in the center +is equally near to all departments and +may exercise full supervision.</p> + +<p>The presence of a considerable number of +other busy persons has a sobering and quieting +effect on all and the impression of such a +library having all its departments in one is +dignified and wholesome. It may be well to +separate the departments by light open hand +rails, screens, cords or low book cases. It is +a mistake to divide a small building into three +or four small rooms.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Separate rooms.</i></p> + +<p>For a larger library these rails must be +made into partitions, giving to each department +a separate room. Partitions of glass set +in wooden frames and possibly only eight feet +high may answer an excellent purpose, adding +to the impression of extent, admitting light +to the interior of the building and allowing +some supervision from the center. With partitions +on each side, the entrance becomes a +central hallway with a department at each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +side and the book room at the end. This is +the best position for the book room for two +special reasons. Overlapping the departments +in both wings it is equally accessible from +either, and at the back of the house a plainer +and cheaper wall can be built admitting of +easy removal when the growth of the library +requires enlargement.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the angles between the book +room and the main building may be filled to +advantage by work room and office. These +working rooms though not large and not conspicuous +are of vital consequence and should +be carefully planned.</p> + +<p>We have now reached a type of building +which, for lack of a better word, I may call +the "butterfly plan," having two spread wings +and a body extending to the back. Others +call it the "trefoil." This general type is +being substantially followed in most new libraries +of moderate size. From one entrance +hall direct access is given to three distinct +departments, or perhaps to five, by placing +two rooms in each wing.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Modifications required by limited space.</i></p> + +<p>If we have an open park to build in we +shall be tempted to expand the hallway to a +great central court or rotunda. Perhaps the +importance of the library may justify it, but +we should be on our guard against separating +departments by spaces so great as to make +supervision difficult or passing from one to +another inconvenient. We should aim to concentrate +rather than scatter.</p> + +<p>More frequently the lot will be too narrow. +We must draw in the wings and make +the narrower rooms longer from front to +back. With a corner lot we can enter on the +side street, leaving a grand reading room on +the main front and turning at right angles as +we enter the house pass between other rooms +to the book room at the extreme end of the +lot. Or again, we shall be obliged to dispense +entirely with one wing of our plan, and +have but two department rooms instead of +three on the floor. Every location must be +studied by itself.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Other stories.</i></p> + +<p>Basement rooms are of great service for +work rooms and storage. A basement directly +under the main book room is specially valuable +to receive the overflow of books not in +great demand.</p> + +<p>A second and even a third story will be useful +for special collections, class and lecture +rooms or a large audience hall. In a library +of moderate size it will often be found convenient +to build a book room about 16 feet +high to cover two stories of bookcases and +wholly independent of the level of the second +floor of the main building.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Extension.</i></p> + +<p>To meet the needs of a rapidly growing +library it is important at the beginning to fix +the lines of extension.</p> + +<p>A building with a front of two rooms and a +passage between may add a third room at +the rear, and at a later stage, add a second +building as large as the first and parallel to +it, the two being connected by the room first +added.</p> + +<p>This is the architect's plan for the Omaha +Public Library.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Open court.</i></p> + +<p>When a library is so large that one book +room is not enough, two such rooms may be +built to the rear, one from each end of the +building with open space between, and these +two wings may be carried back equally and +joined at the back by another building, thus +completing the square around an open court.</p> + +<p>This gives wide interior space for light and +air, or grass and flowers. Such is the plan of +the Boston Public and Princeton University +libraries. It will be the same in Minneapolis +when that library is complete. In the plan of +the new library at Newark, N. J., the central +court is roofed over with glass becoming a +stairway court with surrounding galleries +opening on all rooms. In Columbia University, +New York, as in the British Museum, +the center is a great reading room capped by +a dome high above the surrounding roofs and +lighted by great clerestory windows.</p> + +<p>If the street front is very long there may be +three extensions to the rear, one opposite the +center and one from each end, leaving two +open courts as in the plan for the New York +Public or the Utica Public; and this general +scheme may be repeated and carried still +farther back leaving four open courts as in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +Library of Congress. This plan can be extended +as far as space can be provided.</p> + +<p>When the general plan of the large building +is fixed, passages will be introduced, +parallel to the front and sides, and departments +will be located as may be judged most +convenient, always having regard to the convenience +of the patrons of each department +in finding ready access to the books they need +and providing for supervision and attendance +at least cost of time, effort and money. Extravagance +in library building is not so often +found in lavish ornament as in that unfortunate +arrangement of departments which requires +three attendants to do the work of one +or two.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Light.</i></p> + +<p>Natural light should be secured if possible +for every room. Windows should be frequent +and extend well up toward the ceiling terminating +in a straight line so as to afford +large supply of light from the top. Windows +like those in an ordinary house or office building, +coming within two or three feet of the +floor are more satisfactory both for inside and +outside appearance than those which leave a +high blank wall beneath them. From the +street a blank wall has a prison-like effect; +on the inside it cuts off communication with +the rest of the world and the impression is +unpleasant. The proper object of library windows +six or eight feet above the floor is to +allow unbroken wall space for book shelves +beneath them. There is no serious objection +to this at the back of the room or sometimes +at the sides of the house where the windows +are not conspicuous from the street, but every +room of any size, if it is next to the outer +wall, should have windows to look out of on +at least one side.</p> + +<p>A book room at the back of a building +may secure excellent light from side windows +eight feet above the floor with lower windows +at the back.</p> + +<p>The lighting of large interior rooms is often +a difficult problem. Light will not penetrate +to advantage more than 30 feet. Skylights, +domes and clerestory windows are used. In +the case of the dome or clerestory the room to +be lighted must be higher than those immediately +surrounding it. The clerestory plan +with upright windows is most satisfactory +when available, being cheaper and giving better +security against the weather than the skylight. +In a large building with interior courts, +the lower story of the court is sometimes +covered with a skylight and used as a room.</p> + +<p>This appears in the plans for the New York +Public and the Utica Public libraries. Skylights +must be constructed with special care +to protect rooms against the weather.</p> + +<p>The problem of light is peculiarly difficult +in the crowded blocks of cities. A library +front may sometimes touch the walls of adjoining +buildings so that light can enter only +from the front and rear. If extending more +than 40 feet back from the street, it will be +necessary to narrow the rest of the building +so as to leave open spaces on each side, or to +introduce a little light by the device of light +wells. Occasionally a large city library is +found on the upper floors of an office building, +where light and air are better than below, +and the cost of accommodation is less. +The use of elevators makes this feasible.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Shelving.</i></p> + +<p>The general scheme of book shelves should +be fixed before the plan of the building is +drawn. Otherwise the space for books can +not be determined and serious mistakes may +be made. Between the two extremes of open +wall shelves and the close stack a compromise +is necessary. The large library will put the +bulk of its books in a stack and bring a considerable +selection of the best books into an +open room. The small library will begin with +books along the walls and provide cases for +additions from time to time as needed. Its +patrons will enjoy at first the generous spaces +of the open room without an array of empty +cases to offend the eye and cumber the floor. +When walls are covered with books a floor +case will be introduced and others when +needed will be placed according to plan, till +at last the floor is as full as it was meant to +be, and the basement beneath having served +for a time to hold the overflow, a second story +of cases is put on the top of the first. This +process should be planned in advance for a +term of 20 years.</p> + +<p>For public access passages between cases +should be five feet wide. Cases have some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>times +been set on radial lines so as to bring +all parts under supervision from the center. +This arrangement, specially if bounded by a +semi-circular wall, is expensive, wasteful of +space and of doubtful value, except in peculiar +conditions. It is not adapted to further +extension of the building.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Size of shelf.</i></p> + +<p>For ordinary books in a popular library the +shelf should not be more than eight inches +wide with an upright space of ten inches. +Eight shelves of this height with a base of +four inches and crown finish of five inches will +fill eight feet from the floor and the upper +shelf may be reached at a height of 81 inches +or six feet nine inches. Ordinary shelves +should not exceed three feet in length. A +length of two and a half feet is preferred by +many. A shelf more than three feet long is +apt to bend under the weight of books. For +books of larger size a limited number of +shelves with 12 inches upright space and a +few still larger should be provided. The proportion +of oversize books will vary greatly +according to the kind of library, a college or +scientific collection having many more than +the circulating library. Any reference room +will contain a large number of such books and +its shelves should correspond.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Movable shelves.</i></p> + +<p>Much attention has been given to devices +for adjustment of shelves. Some of these +are quite ingenious and a few are satisfactory. +No device should be introduced that will +seriously break the smooth surface at the side. +Notches, cross bars, iron horns or hooks or +ornamental brackets expose the last book to +damage. If pins are used they should be so +held to their places that they cannot fall out. +Heads of pins or bars should be sunk in the +wood and the place for books left, as near as +possible, absolutely smooth on all sides. It is +at least a question whether the importance of +making shelves adjustable and absolutely adjustable +has not been greatly overrated. As +a fact the shelves of the circulating library are +very seldom adjusted. They may have all the +usual appliances gained at large expense but +there is no occasion to adjust them outside +the reference room. They remain as they +were put up. It is probably well to have the +second and third shelf movable so that one +can be dropped to the bottom and two spaces +left where there were three at first. But all +other shelves might as well be fixed at intervals +of 10 inches without the least real inconvenience +and the cases be stronger for it +and far cheaper. A perfectly adjustable shelf +is interesting as a study in mechanics, but is +practically disappointing. Its very perfection +is a snare because it is so impossible to set +it true without a spirit level and a machinist. +All shelves in a reference room should be +adjustable. Bound magazines might have +special cases.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Wood or iron shelves.</i></p> + +<p>Iron shelf construction has the advantage +of lightness and strength, filling the least +space and admitting light and air. Where +three or more stories of cases are stacked +one upon another iron is a necessity. It also +offers the best facilities for adjustment of +shelves and is most durable.</p> + +<p>On the other hand it is more difficult to get, +can be had only of the manufacturers in fixed +patterns, and costs at least twice as much as +any wood, even oak, unless carved for ornament, +and four or five times as much as +some very good wooden shelves. This great +cost raises the question whether the advantages +named are really important. Few village +libraries need more than two stories of +shelves in a stack. If iron is more durable +we can buy two sets of wooden shelves for +the cost of one of iron—and when we buy +the second set will know better what we want. +The importance of shelf adjustment has been +exaggerated.</p> + +<p>A more important consideration, to my +mind, is that iron is not so well adapted to +the changing conditions of a growing library. +It is made at a factory and to be ordered +complete. It is bolted to the floor and wall +at fixed intervals. But we have seen that a +gradual accumulation of bookcases is better +than to put all shelving in position at first.</p> + +<p>Wooden cases are movable. You begin with +those you need and add others as you have +more books, you can change and alter them +at any time with only the aid of the village +carpenter, and enjoy the wide open spaces till +the time for filling them comes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>Iron with all its ornaments belongs in the +shop. It is not the furniture you prefer in +your home. The item of cost will usually decide +the question. For libraries of less than +30,000 volumes, where close storage is not imperative, +wood has the advantage.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Miscellaneous notes.</i></p> + +<p>A floor of hard wood is good enough for +most libraries. Wood covered with corticene +or linoleum tends to insure the needed quiet. +Floors of tile, marble or concrete are very +noisy and should have strips of carpet laid +in the passages.</p> + +<p>On the walls of reading rooms it is neither +necessary nor desirable to have an ornamental +wainscot, nor indeed any wainscot at all, not +even a base board. Book cases will cover the +lower walls and books are the best ornament.</p> + +<p>Small tables for four are preferred in a +reading room to long common tables. They +give the reader an agreeable feeling of privacy.</p> + +<p>Do not make tables too high. 30 inches are +enough.</p> + +<p>Light bent wood chairs are easy to handle.</p> + +<p>Steam or hot water give the best heat and +incandescent electric lamps give the best light.</p> + +<p>Be sure that you have sufficient ventilation.</p> + +<p>Windows should be made to slide up and +down, not to swing on hinges or pivots.</p> + +<p>Without dwelling further on details let us +be sure 1, That we have room within the walls +for all the books we now have or are likely +to have in 20 years; provide the first outfit of +shelves for twice the number of books expected +at the end of one year and add bookcases +as we need them, leaving always a liberal +margin of empty space on every shelf. +We must plan for the location of additional +cases for 20 years with due consideration of +the question of public access.</p> + +<p>2, That all needed departments are provided +in harmonious relation with each other and +so located as to serve the public to the best +advantage and at least cost of time, strength +and money.</p> + +<p>3, That the best use of the location is +made and the building suited to the constituency +and local conditions.</p> + +<p>4, That the estimated cost is well within +the limit named, for new objects of <a name="expense" id="expense">expense</a> +are certain to appear during the process of +building and debt must not be thought of.</p> + +<p>5, That the building is convenient for work +and supervision, a point at which many an +elegant and costly building has conspicuously +failed.</p> + +<p>Make it also neat and beautiful, for it is +to be the abiding place of all that is best +in human thought and experience and is to be +a home in which all inquiring souls are to be +welcomed. Since the people are to be our +guests let us make the place of their reception +worthy of its purpose.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_RELATION_OF_THE_ARCHITECT_TO_THE_LIBRARIAN" id="THE_RELATION_OF_THE_ARCHITECT_TO_THE_LIBRARIAN">THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By John Lawrence Mauran</span>, <i>Architect, St. Louis, Mo.</i></p> + +<p>The public library, as we understand the +name to-day, has had but a brief existence +compared with the mere housing of +collections of books which has gone on +through countless ages.</p> + +<p>With the change from the old ideas of +safeguarding the precious books themselves to +the advanced theory of placing their priceless +contents within the easy reach of all, has come +an equally important change in the character +of the custodian of the books. The duties of +the modern librarian are such that he must +be not only something of a scholar, in the best +sense of the word, but he must be capable +also of properly directing others in the pursuit +of learning, and, withal, combine executive +ability with a highly specialized professional +facility. The result of carefully conceived +courses of training is apparent in the +wonderful results achieved through the devoted +and untiring efforts of the members of +this Association towards a constant betterment +of their charges, and a closer bonding, +through affection, between the masses of the +people and that portion of the books which +lies between the covers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>My purpose in recalling to your memory +the wonderful advance made by training in +your profession in a comparatively short time, +is to give point to an analogy I wish to draw, +showing a corresponding advance in the profession +of architecture. Not so very many +years ago there were ample grounds for the +recalling by Mr. David P. Todd of Lord +Bacon's warning against the sacrifice of utility +to mere artistic composition in the following +words: "Houses are built to Live in, and not +to Looke on: Therefore let Use bee preferred +before Uniformitie; Except where both may +be had Leave the Goodly Fabrickes of Houses, +for Beautie only, to the Enchanted Pallaces +of the Poets; Who build them with small +Cost": but to-day, thanks to the munificence +of the French government and the untiring +energy of some of those who have profited +by it, in fostering the growth of our own architectural +schools, there are few sections of +this broad land which have not one or more +worthy followers of Palladio and Michael +Angelo. Hunt, Richardson and Post were +among the first to receive the training of the +Ecole des Beaux Arts, and they, moreover, +had the rare judgment to take the training +only, adapting their designs to the climatic +and other local conditions rather than attempting +the importation of French forms as well +as method of design. Their example and the +impetus they were able to impart to the technical +schools have been potent factors in the +development of the talent of American architects. +While it is true, and more the pity, +that some students return from Paris with +the idea that because Paris is a beautiful city +architecturally, the simple injection of some +of their own masterpieces into our diverse +city street fronts, is going to reincarnate our +municipalities, the major portion are sufficiently +discriminating to realize that Paris +owes much of its charm to a symmetry under +governmental control which we, free born +Americans, can never hope to attain, and +leave behind them the mere forms and symbols +of their alma mater to use that which is +best and most profitable in their training; +that is, a breadth of conception of the problem +and a logical method of sequential study +of it which ensures a creditable if not an +ideal solution. The modern architect, to be +successful, must be conversant with a vast +amount of information which is apparently +outside his chosen profession—such as the +minutiae of hospitals, churches, libraries, railroad +stations and the like. As a case in point +I recall the address of a certain railroad president +at the dedication of a large terminal +depot, in which he said: "while we have had +the co-operation of engineers and specialists +in every branch of the work, I must give great +credit to our architect who is responsible for +the conception of the entire system of the +handling of passengers, although he was employed +solely to enclose the space designated +by our engineers." It is not my purpose to +laud the profession of architecture, but rather +to show its preparedness to <i>co-operate</i> with +you in achieving the best in library construction +and design.</p> + +<p>May I add to Mr. Todd's advice to library +boards about to build, "first appoint your librarian," +the suggestion that second, in consultation +with him, <i>appoint</i> your architect. +It is not disbelief in competition which has +led the American Institute of Architects to +advise against competitions, for the former is +a constant condition, while the latter they believe +to result in more evil than good. It is +a popular notion among laymen that a competition +will bring out <i>ideas</i> and mayhap develop +some hidden genius, but in answer to +the first I can say, I know of but one building +erected from successful competitive plans +without modification, and for the second, the +major portion of American originality in +building designs is unworthy the name of +architecture. Aside from the needless expense +and loss of time entailed on library +board, as well as architect, by the holding of +competitions a greater evil lies in the well +proven fact, that in their desire to win approval +for their design, most architects endeavor +to find out the librarian's predilections +and follow them in their plans rather than to +submit a scholarly solution of the problem +studied from an unprejudiced standpoint. It +is not often the good fortune of competitors +to have their submitted work judged with +such unbiased intelligence as that which permitted +the best conceived plan to win in the +competition for the new library in New York +City. Few men would have dared in compe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>tition +to remove that imposing architectural +feature, the reading room, from their main +façade and put it frankly where it belongs, +in direct touch with the stacks which serve it, +as Carrere & Hastings did.</p> + +<p>Not long ago a member of a certain library +board of trustees wrote to us that we were +being considered, among others, as architects +for their new building, and he suggested that +we send to them as many water colors as we +could collect and <i>as large as possible,</i> to impress +the board; for, as he added, "some of +us appreciate your plans, but most laymen +are caught by the colored pictures, the larger +the better."</p> + +<p>As a rule librarians have very decided ideas +as to the plan desired in so far as it relates +to the correlation of rooms and departments, +and it, therefore, seems manifestly proper that +having selected a librarian on account of +merit, the next step should be the selection of +an architect on the same basis, to the end +that in consultation the theory of the one may +either be studied into shape or proved inferior +to the theory of the other. Under the +discussion of two broad minds, the wheat is +easily separated from the chaff with the much +to be desired result of the assemblying of a +well ordered plan to present to the board, +which has had such study that few criticisms +cannot be answered from the store of experience +gathered in the making. This ideal +crystallization of ideas, this development of +the problem working hand in hand precludes +the need of such advice as is found in the +following quotation from a paper on library +buildings:</p> + +<p>"Taking into account the practical uses of +the modern library it is readily seen that it +needs a building planned from inside, not +from without, dictated by convenience and +not by taste no matter how good. The order +should be to require the architect to put a +presentable exterior on an interior having +only use in view and not as is so often done +to require the librarian to make the best he +can of an interior imposed by the exigencies +of the architect's taste or the demand of the +building committee for a monumental structure."</p> + +<p>Such an anomalous relationship between interior +and exterior is absolutely opposed to +the fundamental training of the architect of +to-day. Often have I heard my professor of +design, a Frenchman of rare judgment, fly +out at a student caught working on his exterior +before the interior was complete: +"Work on your plan, finish your plan, and +when that is perfect, the rest will <i>come</i>."</p> + +<p>Architects of experience, who have been +students of library development in its every +branch, who have followed the changes in +the relations of the library to the people, have +reached the same conclusions along broad +lines, as have the librarians, with respect to +lighting, access, oversight and administration, +as well as the general correlation of universally +important departments, and it is therefore +my purpose to state our relationship rather +than attempt the raising of issues on details +of library arrangement, and to show if possible, +that the skilled architect's method of procedure +tends to settle mooted points by +weighing values and considering relations of +parts in a logical and broad minded study of +the particular set of conditions pertaining to +his problem.</p> + +<p>Either owing to the size, shape or contour +of the site, its particular exposure, local climatic +conditions, the particular character of +the library itself or the people whom it serves, +the problem presented to an architect by a +library board is <i>always</i> essentially a <i>new</i> one. +Certain fundamental rules may obtain through +their universal applicability, but every step in +the working out of a successful plan must be +influenced by the particular conditions referred +to, and here the co-operation of the librarian +is of inestimable value to the architect, +no matter how wide his experience may be.</p> + +<p>Desired correlation, like most results, can +be achieved in divers ways, and in most cases +nothing of utility need be sacrificed to secure +a dignified plan, which is as much to be desired +as a dignified exterior. Realizing the importance +of accomplishing successful results, a +scholarly architect will strive to mould his +plan with an eye to symmetry, without losing +sight for an instant of the conditions of use, +and never sacrificing practical relationship to +gain an <i>absolutely</i> symmetrical arrangement +of plan.</p> + +<p>The French architect will, if necessary, +waste space or inject needless rooms into his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +plan to secure perfect balance, while his +American student will gain all the value of +the <i>effect</i> without diminishing the practical +value of his building one iota.</p> + +<p>Along with symmetry, the logical development +of the plan in study keeps in mind something +of the rough form of the exterior design, +with particular reference to the grouping +of its masses to secure the maximum of +air and the best light for the various departments. +With the best designers, it is an unwritten +law, that the next step after completing +a satisfactory plan, is to sketch a section +through the building, not only to ensure a +proper proportion in the enclosed rooms, but +most important of all to secure a system of +fenestration, allowing wall space where needed +and introducing the light as near the top of +the rooms as the finish will permit. Having +settled then all the details of plans and section, +wherein are comprised all of the matter +of greatest moment to the practical librarian, +it only remains for the architect to prepare a +suitable exterior and I certainly agree with +my old preceptor that "it will come." The +American people believe that education is the +corner stone of manhood and good citizenship, +and next to our public schools, if not before +them, the most potent educational factor is +our public library. The librarians are responsible +in a great measure for the good work +which is being accomplished in the dissemination +of knowledge and culture among the people, +but let me ask, are we not as responsible +for our share, as co-workers with them, to +perpetuate in lasting masonry the best which +in us lies for the same great cause of the +education of the people?</p> + +<p>What renaissance has failed to find literature +and architecture quickened alike? The +awakening of a love of the beautiful brings +a thirst for knowledge concerning the beautiful; +as the records will show, the interest excited +by that marvellous assemblage of architectural +masterpieces at the Chicago Fair, +created a demand on the libraries almost beyond +belief for books on architecture and the +allied arts.</p> + +<p>Every conscientious architect must feel his +responsibility to his clients as well as to the +people and strive he must, to combine the +ideal in convenience with simple beauty in +design; my one plea is that such a combination +is not only <i>possible,</i> but in intelligent +hands, should be universal, and if my beliefs, +hopes and expectations find sympathy with +you, I shall feel repaid in the security of a +harmonious co-operation between architect +and librarian in the great work which +stretches ahead of us into the future.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_DEPARTMENTAL_LIBRARY" id="THE_DEPARTMENTAL_LIBRARY">THE DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARY.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By James Thayer Gerould</span>, <i>University of Missouri, Columbia</i>.</p> + + +<p>The recent discussion of the departmental +library system at the University of Chicago +and the consequent restatement of the +position of that university in reference to +such libraries, together with the consideration +of the problem in the annual reports of +Dr. Canfield and Mr. Lane, have called up +anew the question of the expediency of the +system. Is the departmental library to be a +permanent feature of the university library? +Is the highest effectiveness of a library to be +secured by a policy of decentralization?</p> + +<p>The public library has answered the question, +finally, it seems, in the affirmative. Do +the arguments which have induced the public +librarian to establish branches and delivery +stations apply in the case of the university +library? Is the university library of the future +to be housed in a single building, or is it +to be scattered about in class rooms and laboratories? +To my mind, there is no more +important question of administration before +those of us who are trying to render the university +library an efficient instrument of instruction +than this.</p> + +<p>With many librarians there is an element of +necessity entering into the question. Mr. +Lane is facing a condition where the library +has altogether outgrown its building, and +some place must be found where books can be +stored and used. The situation is much the +same in many other places. Shall the facili<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>ties +of the library be enlarged by building or +shall the books be transferred to the various +departmental libraries? Mr. Lane, speaking +for his own library, says of the latter alternative: +"It would commit the library to an entirely +different policy from what it has pursued +hitherto, and such a change would be little +short of a revolution for this library."</p> + +<p>At the University of Missouri we are expecting +in the near future to begin the construction +of a library building, but, before +adopting any definite plans, we are trying to +work out the problems that have just been +stated, and to make ourselves reasonably sure +that we are right before we go ahead.</p> + +<p>There are arguments enough on all sides of +this question, of which Dr. Canfield says that +it has not two sides only, but a dozen. We +must premise that no two departments use +their books in exactly the same way, and that, +consequently, methods of administration must +differ. It is generally for the advantage of +all, for example, in a university where there +is a law school, that the books on private law +should be separated from the main collection +and treated as a branch library. Similarly +medicine, theology and possibly a few other +subjects may be withdrawn and administered +separately.</p> + +<p>In some of our universities one or more of +the departments are several miles away from +the main body of the institution. It is obviously +necessary that the books most used +in those departments should be near enough +so that the students can have access to them +without too much inconvenience and loss of +time. In the ordinary institution, however, +most of the buildings are grouped in a comparatively +small area, and it is seldom more +than five minutes' walk from the most remote +building to the library. In a condition such +as this, and with the exceptions noted above, +I am inclined to the opinion that the university +is best served by a central library containing +the main collection, and small, rigidly +selected laboratory libraries comprising books +which from their very nature are most useful +in the laboratory as manuals of work.</p> + +<p>The arguments generally advanced in favor +of the system are these:</p> + +<p>1. The instructor needs to be able to refer, +at a moment's notice, to any book relating to +his subject.</p> + +<p>2. The system enables the instructor to keep +a more careful watch over the reading of his +students.</p> + +<p>3. The best interests of the library demand +that each division of the library shall be directly +under the eye of the men most interested +in it, that is to say, the instructors in +the various departments; that they should +direct its growth and watch over its interests.</p> + +<p>That the first and second of these arguments +have great weight cannot be denied, +but with a properly constructed library building +and most careful administration the requirements +of both instructor and student can +be met quite as well by a central system.</p> + +<p>It is, of course, quite impossible for each +instructor to have in his office all the books +necessary for his work. The duplication +necessary for this purpose would be impracticable +even for the most wealthy university. +He must, therefore, go from his office or class +room to the department library and search +for the book himself. With the confusion +which generally reigns in a library of this +sort, and with the lack of effective registration +of loans, this is quite often a matter of +some difficulty.</p> + +<p>At Columbia University the office of each +professor is in telephonic communication with +the central library. When a book is wanted +the library is notified by telephone, the book +is found and sent out at once. Within ten +minutes from the time that the request +reaches the library the book is generally in +the instructor's hands. He may lose two or +three minutes' time, but the amount lost is +more than compensated by the readiness with +which others can use the books of the department, +and by other advantages to be considered +later. At Columbia, too, the system of +stack study rooms provides in a very satisfactory +way for the second objection. There, +as many of you have seen, the stacks are distributed +through a series of small rooms, the +light side of which is supplied with tables and +used for study rooms and for seminar purposes. +If the instructor can use the departmental +library for his work room, he can certainly +use this room to as good advantage, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +here he has the entire collection and not a +selected few of his books. I believe fully that +an instructor who is sufficiently interested in +the reading of his students to watch over it +carefully in his departmental library, will find +that he is able to keep just as close a relation +to it, if his students are working in a central +library. He may be obliged to make slight +changes in his methods, but the result ought +to be the same.</p> + +<p>The third argument in favor of the departmental +library system is of a different nature. +Is the librarian or the professor best qualified +to direct the growth and watch over the interests +of the different departments of the library? +So far as I know, this argument is given +more consideration at Chicago than anywhere +else. It may be true, in certain cases, that the +professor has the greater qualification for this +work, but when this is the case it argues that +the professor is an exceptional one or that the +university has been unfortunate in the selection +of its librarian.</p> + +<p>It is quite needless to say that the librarian +should be in constant conference with the +teaching force regarding purchases, but that +he should delegate all of his powers of purchase +in any given field, admits of the gravest +doubt. Laude, in his recent work on the +university library system of Germany, attributes +a great deal of the success of those +libraries to the fact that they are independent +and <a name="autonomous" id="autonomous">autonomous</a> institutions, enjoying a much +greater measure of freedom than is accorded +to any similar American institution. Too +many professors are apt to buy books in their +special field and slight other lines of research +in their own subject. For example, a zoologist, +who is doing research work along the +lines of embryology, is very apt to overload +the collection at that point and neglect other +equally important lines.</p> + +<p>Again, very few instructors, even granting +them the qualifications necessary for the work, +have the time or patience for it. If the +amount appropriated to the department is at +all large, a considerable portion of the sum +is quite frequently unexpended at the end of +the year. Some interesting tables, prepared +by Mr. Winsor for his report for the year +1894-95, show that in seven selected departments +the amount of books ordered, including +continuations, was only about 50 per cent. of +the appropriation, plus one quarter, the allowance +for orders not filled. While this proportion +would probably not hold good in all departments +or in all places, it exhibits an almost +uniform tendency and a tendency which +must be corrected if a well-rounded out library +is to be secured.</p> + +<p>The system of departmental control is very +sure to create a feeling of departmental ownership, +a feeling that the books, bought out +of the moneys appropriated to a particular library, +should remain permanently in that +library, and that any one from outside who +wishes to use the books is more or less of an +intruder. Pin any one of these men down, +and they will admit that the books are for the +use of all, but the feeling exists, notwithstanding, +and is the cause of constant friction.</p> + +<p>The departmental library renders the books +difficult of access. If the library is large +enough to warrant the setting apart of a +separate room for its use, this room can seldom +be open for as large a portion of the +day as the central library, and when it is open +the books cannot be obtained as readily by the +great body of the students as if they were in +a central building. Most students are working +in several lines at once. They are compelled, +by this system, to go from one room +to another, and to accommodate themselves +to differing hours of opening and to varying +rules for the use of the books. Then, too, +it frequently happens in the case of small libraries +that the books are kept in the office +of the head of the department, and can only +be consulted when he is in his office and at +liberty. The difficulty is here greatly increased. +I know of cases where even the instructors +in the same department have found +difficulty in getting at the books, and the library +was, in effect, a private library for the +head professor, supported out of university +funds. If instructors cannot use the books, +how can the student be expected to do so?</p> + +<p>There is a sentiment, false, perhaps, but +nevertheless existing in the minds of many +students, that any attempt to use the books +under these circumstances is an endeavor to +curry favor with the professor. This feeling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +does not exist in connection with the use of +the books at a central library.</p> + +<p>If a book in a departmental library is +needed by a student in another department, +he must either go to the department and put +the custodian to the inconvenience of looking +it up for him, or he must wait at the central +library while a messenger goes for the book. +His need of the book must be very pressing +before he will do either.</p> + +<p>If the different fields of knowledge were +sharply defined, the departmental system +might be a practicable one, but such is not the +case. The psychologist needs books bearing +on philosophy, sociology, zoology and physics, +the sociologist gathers his data from almost +the whole field of human knowledge, the +economist must use books on history and the +historian books on economics. The system +hampers him exceedingly in the selection and +use of his material, or it compels the university +to purchase a large body of duplicate material, +and restricts, by so much, the growth +of the real resources of the library.</p> + +<p>The system, it seems to me, induces narrowness +of vision and a sort of specialization +which is anything but scientific. Trending +in the same direction is the separation of the +books, in any given field, into two categories. +The undergraduate may need some such selection, +but any student who has gone beyond +the elements of his subject should have at his +command the entire resources of the library. +The needs of the elementary student can be +met by direct reference to certain books, or +by setting aside the volumes required as special +reference books and allowing free access +to them.</p> + +<p>A large amount of our most valuable material +is found in the publications of scientific +and literary societies and in periodicals. +In many cases these must be kept at the central +library. They will be much more frequently +read if the readers are using the central +library and availing themselves of the information +given in the catalog.</p> + +<p>From the administrative point of view, +there is nothing impossible in the organization +of the departmental system, provided that +finances of the library admit of the increased +expenditure. As Mr. Bishop has pointed out +in a recent number of the <i>Library Journal,</i> +the element of cost seems to have been utterly +left out of consideration in the recent +discussions at the University of Chicago. It +is possible that, with the immense resources +of that institution, they may be able to ignore +that factor, but most of us are compelled to +reduce administrative expenditures to the +lowest point consistent with good work.</p> + +<p>Aside from the cost of the duplication of +books already noted, necessitated by the division +of the books among the different departments, +there are the items of space and +labor to be considered. It needs no argument +to show that there is a great economy of +space gained by the consolidation of all libraries, +with the exceptions previously referred +to, into one central building. An entire room +is frequently given up to a departmental library +of three or four hundred volumes, when +a few extra shelves and possibly a slight increase +in the seating capacity of the reading +room would accommodate it in the central +library. The cost of maintenance, of heating +and of lighting is also undoubtedly greater +under the departmental arrangement.</p> + +<p>The greatest increase in expense is, however, +in the item of service. In order properly +to control a branch of this sort, an employe +of the library must be in constant attendance. +The duties and responsibilities of +such a position are so small that only the +lowest paid grade of service can be employed +with economy. The amount necessary to pay +the salaries of such persons could, with much +greater advantage to the whole institution, be +used for the employment of a few specialists, +highly trained in different lines, who would +act as reference librarians in their respective +fields. Our American libraries are, as a +class, compared with those of foreign universities, +singularly deficient in this quality of +assistance. Sooner or later we must supply +this lack, and every move which tends in another +direction must be examined with care.</p> + +<p>The university library exists for the whole +university—all of it for the whole university. +In an ideal condition, every book in it should +be available, at a moment's notice, if it is not +actually in use. This should be our aim, and +it should be from this viewpoint that we +should judge the efficiency of our administration +and the value of any proposed change.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="SUGGESTIONS_FOR_AN_ANNUAL_LIST_OF_AMERICAN_THESES_FOR_THE" id="SUGGESTIONS_FOR_AN_ANNUAL_LIST_OF_AMERICAN_THESES_FOR_THE">SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE +DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By William Warner Bishop</span>, <i>Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y.</i></p> + + +<p>Graduate instruction and the degree of +doctor of philosophy as its reward are +not so novel and recent in America as to call +for either explanation or definition. Neither +are they so old as to require a history. Most +of us can well remember when it became a +common thing for American universities to +have numerous candidates for the doctorate. +At the present time there are several hundred +students in our universities who are candidates +for the doctor's degree and the number +is increasing rapidly.</p> + +<p>A degree implies a dissertation, or, as it is +more commonly and less correctly termed, a +thesis. I need not here express any opinion +as to the merits or defects of these documents +as a class. What I wish to speak of is +their value to university and college libraries, +and the difficulty of discovering what dissertations +are produced annually, and, for +reference libraries, of procuring them when +discovered. I presume the librarian who +knows the specialist's insatiate greed for dissertations, +<i>programmen,</i> and small pamphlets +generally will need no words of mine to bring +home to him the need of procuring as many +of these documents as he can. Whatever we +may say in derogation of doctors' dissertations—and +they have their faults—they at +least represent long-continued and careful +investigation under supposedly competent direction, +and the specialist must have them.</p> + +<p>It is a comparatively easy task to get +him German and other foreign dissertations. +The new ones are listed annually and the old +ones load the shelves of the second-hand +stores of Europe. But to find what is being +produced here in this country is by no means +a simple undertaking. And it behooves us, +unless we tacitly admit that our American +dissertations are not worth having, to take +some steps toward bettering the present situation.</p> + +<p>In order to ascertain the exact condition of +things I have selected fifteen representative +institutions which confer the degree of Doctor +of Philosophy and have studied their requirements +and conducted some correspondence +with their librarians. These institutions +have been selected purely as representing +various geographical and educational conditions, +and omissions from the list are not +to be taken <i>in malam partem</i>. They are: (1) +Brown, (2) Bryn Mawr, (3) California, (4) +Chicago, (5) Columbia, (6) Cornell, (7) +Harvard, (8) Johns Hopkins, (9) Michigan, +(10) Nebraska, (11) Pennsylvania, (12) +Princeton, (13) Stanford, (14) Wisconsin, +and (15) Yale.</p> + +<p>The majority of these universities require +that before the degree is conferred the thesis +shall be printed and a fixed number of copies, +ranging from 50 to 250, shall be deposited +with some officer of the university or in the +library. The statistics are as follows:</p> + +<p class="p0">California requires 150 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Chicago requires 100 copies. "Accepted +theses become the property of the university."</p> + +<p class="p0">Columbia requires 150 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Cornell requires 50 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Michigan requires 150 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Nebraska requires 150 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Pennsylvania requires 250 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Stanford requires 100 copies.</p> + +<p class="p0">Wisconsin requires 100 copies.</p> + +<p>Two institutions, Bryn Mawr and Princeton, +require the printing of the thesis, but +make no requirement, so far as can be ascertained +from the catalogs, that there shall be +any deposit of copies.</p> + +<p>Johns Hopkins and Pennsylvania allow the +thesis to be either written or printed; if +printed, Johns Hopkins requires the deposit +of 150 copies, Pennsylvania of 250, except under +certain conditions which will appear later.</p> + +<p>Brown makes no requirement for deposit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +or for printing. Harvard provides that one +copy either printed or written must be deposited +in the library. Yale requires that the +"thesis must be deposited at the library for +public inspection not later than May 1st" of +the year in which the candidate expects to receive +the degree.</p> + +<p>Of these universities two only, Brown and +California, print the titles of theses in the +university catalog.</p> + +<p>The foregoing statements are taken from +the annual catalogs for 1899-1900 of the universities +named, except in the case of Pennsylvania, +where the statement made in the +catalog is supplemented from a letter received +from the Dean.</p> + +<p>Although I presumed that most of the +copies deposited in the libraries of the universities +were used for exchange, I wrote +to the librarians of those universities which +require the deposit of a number of printed +copies, making inquiry regarding their systems +of exchange and provisions for the sale +of copies not exchanged. I received replies +from almost all. [These letters were read, +the common condition being shown to be that +most of the copies received by the libraries +were exchanged with foreign institutions and +other American universities. Varying conditions +ranging from a refusal to sell any copies +to a free distribution of copies not exchanged, +was found to exist with regard to sale of +theses by the libraries.]</p> + +<p>It will be seen from these replies that, if +a library does not happen to be on the exchange +list of the university in which a thesis +is written, and if the thesis is not printed in +some journal or in the proceedings of some +learned society, such a library stands very +little chance either of learning of the publication +of a thesis or of procuring it from +the author or from the university. That this +is not much of an affliction in most cases I +cheerfully admit. Still the small colleges +which deliberately refuse to attempt graduate +work—and, be it said to their honor, +there are not a few of these—and the large +reference libraries which do not publish, have +as much need of certain theses as the large +universities, and they have no means of getting +them easily.</p> + +<p>It appears to me, and I trust to you, that, +if our American dissertations are worth anything, +if they are valuable enough to preserve, +if they are real contributions to knowledge—and +I believe that they are all of these—then +it is worth while to secure the publication of +some list which will tell librarians and specialists +where to go to get copies, either +from the author or from the university. It +should not be difficult to secure co-operation +in this matter. The number of theses printed +and deposited in any one university in any one +year is not large, and it certainly would not +be a burden of alarming proportions to send +titles to some central bureau. The difficulty +will be to secure an editor and the funds for +publishing the list. It would seem to me that +some one of the large institutions whose libraries +publish bulletins and other matter, +or possibly the Library of Congress might +assume the expense as a matter of patriotic +service to learning in the United States. And +it might not be out of place for this section, +should it care to follow up the matter, to +enter into communication with them on the +subject. It might be also, that some enterprising +publisher would be glad to undertake +the task of both editing and publishing, if it +could be shown him that he would thus do a +favor to American libraries.</p> + +<p>One final word should be said before closing. +The inevitable delays incident to the +publication of such a list would be more than +offset by the delays in publishing theses. +Many a man is called "Doctor" who has never +received his diploma for that degree because +his thesis remains unpublished. The laxity +in this matter in some quarters is very great. +It may be that such a publication of titles as +I have proposed might perceptibly hasten the +publication of theses.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="OPPORTUNITIES" id="OPPORTUNITIES">OPPORTUNITIES.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Gratia Countryman</span>, <i>Minneapolis (Minn.) Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>If I were to sum up in these short moments +the opportunities which lie before library +workers, it would have to be an epitome of +all that has been said at this conference and +all previous conferences, and of all that has +been written on library extension and influence. +Even then the opportunity which lies +before you might not even be mentioned.</p> + +<p>I will not even try to enumerate the almost +endless ways in which library usefulness may +express itself, for these various ways are, +after all, only different directions in which to +use our one great opportunity of service to +mankind.</p> + +<p>May we not think of a library as a dynamic +force in the community, to be used for +lifting the common level. There are so many +forces at work in the nation pulling down +and scattering; but the hundreds of large and +small libraries dotted over the country stand +for social regeneration, stand for the building +up and perfecting of human society, stand +for the joy and happiness of individual lives. +And no matter how limited seems our own +small field, it is a piece of the great domain +of helpful activity.</p> + +<p>It is not always easy, after a hard and tiresome +day of small and perplexing duties, to +see beyond our wall of weariness. Yet nothing +is more restful than to feel that we are +contributing our part to a great work, and +that we, in our place, are a part of one of the +great building-up movements of the century.</p> + +<p>I will not soon forget what Mr. Lane said +in his president's address at the Atlanta conference. +I would like to quote largely, but +this sentence serves. He said: "What a privilege +that we are always free to place ourselves +at the service of another. Most professions +are so engrossed by their own work +that they have no time to serve the needs of +others, but it is the <i>business</i> of the librarian +to serve. He is paid for knowing how."</p> + +<p>It is peculiarly true that the librarian's +business is to put himself and the library under +his custody at the complete disposal of +the people. It is his <i>business</i> to watch their +interests and to think in advance for their +needs.</p> + +<p>The librarian must have, in Mrs. Browning's +words,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"... both head and heart;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Both active, both complete and both in earnest."</span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Our opportunities, then, are not something +which lie to one side, to be especially thought +of, but are the very heart of our business—of +our profession.</p> + +<p>I have been wondering if there is not an +element of discouragement to the librarian of +the small library, in such a conference as this, +or even to us who fill subordinate places in +large libraries. We get so many new ideas, +we get so many plans which other libraries +are putting into operation. We know we cannot +put them into practice, we know well +enough that we shall go home and do just +what we have been doing, with small quarters, +with cramped revenues, with possibly +unsympathetic trustees who take unkindly to +our new-born enthusiasm. There seems to be +the possibility of so much, but the opportunity +for doing so little, and then our limitations +seem more apparent than our opportunities. +The assistant in the larger library says, "I +wish I could be the librarian of a small library, +they have so much better an opportunity +for coming into close contact with the +people," and the librarian of the little library +who does her own accessioning, cataloging, +record keeping, charging, reference +work, etc., with one brain and one pair of +hands, says, "Oh, if we were only a little +larger library, with more money, and with +more help, I might do so many things that +other libraries do."</p> + +<p>Carlyle says, "Not what I have, but what +I do, is my kingdom," and I take that to +mean in library work that my opportunity is +not what I could do if I held some other position +in some other library, but what I can do +under present conditions with present means. +Success does not lie with those who contin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>ually +wish for something they haven't got, +but with those who do the best possible thing +with the things they have. "It is not so much +the ship as the skilful sailing that assures a +prosperous voyage." It is not so much a +great collection of books and a fine technical +organization as the personal character of the +man or woman who stands as a bridge between +the books and the people. Your opportunity +and mine does not lie in our circumstances, +but in ourselves, and in our ability +to see and to grasp the coveted opportunity. +We are reminded of the pious darkey +who prayed every night just before Christmas, +"Dear Lord, send dis darkey a turkey." +Christmas came dangerously near, and there +was no prospect of a turkey. So the night +before Christmas he grew desperate, and +prayed, "Dear Lord, send dis darkey to a turkey." +That night the turkey came. Even so +it is with our opportunities.</p> + +<p>There are three classes of people toward +whom the library has a special mission: the +children, the foreigner, and the working classes.</p> + +<p>1. As to the children, we have been hearing +considerably about them in this conference. +Mr. Hutchins in the Wisconsin meeting said +that a good book did more good in a country +boy's home than in the city boy's. When the +country boy takes a book home he and all his +family devour it, but the town boy reads his +book and exchanges it, and no one in the +house perhaps even knows that he has read +it. Well, that is a subject for thought. If +his family or teachers do not watch his reading, +it becomes a serious thing for the librarian +who chooses and buys his books for him. +Perhaps the library is not large enough to +have a children's department or to send books +into the schools, or to do any specialized +children's work, but it can make judicious +selection of books, and being small can know +individual cases among the children. It is +not so hard to find out the children one by +one who need some care and interest, to learn +their names and to find out something about +their families. They say that letters cut lightly +in the bark of a sapling show even more +plainly in the grown tree. A boy whom no +one has reached comes into your library. By +a little watchful care he reads some wonderful +life, learns some of the marvellous forces +in God's creation, opens his eyes to the glowing +sunsets or to the springing blades of +grass; suddenly knows the dignity of human +nature and his own growing self. His aspirations +are born, his ambition is awakened, +his life is changed. Library records have not +one, but many such cases.</p> + +<p>The home library is a method of reaching +children which is not used enough by the +smaller libraries. Branches and stations may +not be practicable, but a group of 15 to 25 +books taken into sections of a town by some +friendly woman, on the plan of the home libraries, +could be carried out in almost any +town. The librarian might not have time, but +she could find people who would do it, if she +set the work to going.</p> + +<p>2. As to the foreigners, Europe has used +us for a dumping ground for considerable +moral and political refuse. We have the +problem of making good citizens out of much +wretched material, and next to the children +there is no greater opportunity for the library. +Even the smallest library ought to study ways +and means of getting at the foreign element. +It would almost pay to make a canvass of the +town, to see that these people are reached and +that they know about the library. If books +in their own language are necessary to draw +them, then it is the best investment you can +make.</p> + +<p>3. But in reality the library does its great +work among the mass of common working +people. It is the quiet side which makes no +showing, but it has always been the telling +side. From the common people spring most +of our readers. They do our work, they fight +our battles, they need our inspiration. For +them you make your libraries attractive, for +them you make careful selections of books—the +student does not need your pains—for +their sake you identify yourself with every +local interest. You fix your hours for opening +and closing to accommodate these working +people. You make your rules and regulations +just as elastic as possible, that they +may not be debarred from any privilege. They +do not ask favors, but after all this great mass +of common people whose lives are more or +less barren and empty are the ones to which +the library caters in a quiet, unadvertised way. +It is the great opportunity which we scarcely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +think of as an opportunity at all. It is just the +daily routine. Millions of people know little +more than a mechanical life, what they shall +eat, drink and wear. Many can touch +their horizons all around with a sweep of +their hands, so narrow is their circle. They +live in the basements of their spiritual temples, +and never rise to the level of their best +ability. They have no joy of life, of abundant +life. The library performs a great service to +society when it has furnished information to +the people, when it has been an educational +factor, but it has performed a greater one +when it has awakened a man and put him into +possession of his own powers.</p> + +<p>Well, this is not a very specific setting +forth of the ways in which we can extend the +work of a small library. The way must vary +greatly with the conditions, but the spirit of +the work runs through all conditions. If I +should name the qualifications of a good librarian, +I would give them in the following +order, according to importance:</p> + +<p>1. Genuine character, with broad natural +sympathies.</p> + +<p>2. Courteous, kindly manners.</p> + +<p>3. Education, general and technical.</p> + +<p>Any such librarian, with only a fairly +equipped library, will find her opportunity at +her hand.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="SOME_PRINCIPLES_OF_BOOK_AND_PICTURE_SELECTION" id="SOME_PRINCIPLES_OF_BOOK_AND_PICTURE_SELECTION">SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE SELECTION.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By G. E. Wire</span>, M.D., LL.B., <i>Worcester County (Mass.) Law Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>1. <i>Books and pictures should be suited to +the constituency.</i>—This may seem so trite, so +self-evident as to need no statement, much +less any argument to support it. But on sober +second thought, all will agree that it needs +constant reiteration and appreciation. All of +us are familiar with libraries—of course not +our own—in which we detect glaring inconsistencies +in book selection. The story used +to be told of one library commission that in +its first epoch it used to send the books on +agriculture to the sea-coast, and books on +fish curing to the hill country. This is now +strenuously denied but there may be more +truth than poetry in it after all.</p> + +<p>In the case of large, 50,000 v. libraries and +over, less care need be taken, both on account +of expenditure of money and on account +of worthlessness of the book itself. A few +hundred dollars' worth of rubbish, more or +less, does not count and almost any book +no matter how poor comes in use some time. +But in the case of the small, 5000 v. library or +under, with little money to expend and the +whole realm of knowledge to cover, it is different. +Of course the covering will be scanty +and thin, but it will do for the first layer. +They should buy but few books in philosophy +and religion, more in sociology, only the +latest and most popular in the arts and sciences, +comparatively fewer in literature and +more in history, biography and travel.</p> + +<p>Of course fiction, adult and juvenile, must +also be bought and at first a disproportionately +larger amount in many cases. Too much reliance +should not be placed on what some +larger library has or on what the neighboring +library has.</p> + +<p>Avoid imitation and duplication, especially +the latter. Now that inter-library loans are +coming in, each small library in the more +thickly settled portions of the country may be +able to supplement its neighbor. Travelling +libraries should also help out the smaller libraries +which can ill afford to sink a large +part of their annual book-fund in evanescent +fiction, which soon moulds on the shelves.</p> + +<p>As the commissions become better organized, +they should also be able to send expensive +reference works for the use of study +clubs, and so help the small libraries all the +more.</p> + +<p>The needs of the constituency should be +carefully studied and the most pressing should +be attended to at first, others can wait. As +to buying technical books for those engaged +in manufacturing, I think a more conservative +policy is now favored. Better wait a +while and feel your way before spending much +on these high priced books which rapidly go +out of date. Theoretically the operatives of a +cotton mill should be much interested in all +that relates to cotton, but practically when +their hours of drudgery are over they are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +more inclined to a novel, if inclined to read +anything. And how much encouragement have +they to read in most factories? Better begin +with the owners, who may be on your board, +or the superintendent, who may live on your +street. As liberal purchases as possible +should be made in reference books—always +selecting the latest and freshest to start on. +For example Seyffert's "Antiquities," Bulfinch's +"Age of fable," and Murray's "Mythology" +will serve better than Smith's books, +now out of date and expensive beyond all +return for the money invested in them. More +will be said along this line under head of +cost. Of course in a library of this size, no +foreign books should be bought other than +perhaps some fiction.</p> + +<p>I thoroughly believe in America for Americans. +Foreigners would not buy our books +under the same circumstances and why should +we buy theirs? Reciprocity is good policy. +Even in the case of English books most of +those on geology, botany, zoology, on fishing +and hunting, are valueless to us, by reason of +climatic, or other local conditions. Their local +history and antiquities are quite as unprofitable +for most of our public libraries.</p> + +<p>2. <i>As to the matter of outside experts.</i>—Most +of us have seen bad examples of the +work of outside experts, in fact I think we are +safe in saying there are more bad than good +examples. In the case of arts and sciences +it is quite the fashion to refer the book list +to the nearest high school or college professor, +with the idea that in his line he knows +all there is to be known about these books. +In some cases he is practically given <i>carte +blanche</i> and his selection is bought without +a murmur. The natural consequence is that +in many libraries are to be found high priced +technical works of momentary interest, fit +only for class-room or laboratory use, too deep +for general reading and soon out of date. +Most of these so-called experts are not even +competent to select works for their own department, +let alone the public library.</p> + +<p>Personal bias, the quarrels of investigators, +loyalty to instructors, jealousy of other workers +in the same lines are powerful factors +which far outweigh the question of real merit. +In New England many of the libraries are +overloaded with good, blue, orthodox theology, +bought on the suggestion and for the +sole use of the dominie who was on the library +committee. It was a glorious opportunity +for him and it has rarely been neglected. +These libraries are now really addicted +to this habit; it has become a species +of intoxication with them and they continue +the pernicious practice.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Choice by committee.</i>—One of the latest +fads is selection by voting or by committee. +This usually results in a mediocre selection, all +the really good books or pictures being left +out, or else a preponderance of votes for a +few favorites. Voting choice is seen in the +list of books sent out each year from New +York State Library as a result of voting by +members of the New York State Library Association. +This is a list of the 50 best books +for a village library from a list of 500 books, +including fiction, adult and juvenile. Of +course fiction takes a large per cent., while +the remaining few books make a most patchy +lot. The first list is too large and the last +list is too small. Another publication by the +Regents of the State of New York is a list +of pictures for schools—not so much selected +as neglected by a jury of 75 persons. Between +religious prejudice, prudishness, peace policy +and finical art criticism only the husks of +architecture and stately ruins are left for +the youths of the Empire State to gaze upon. +Think of leaving out the "Sistine Madonna," +"1807," "Christ in the Temple," "Queen +Louise" and the "Horse fair." Some of these +were omitted in cold blood because they were +"poor and popular" and "pupils would like +them and should not." Most of us, however, +have gotten beyond the idea of trying to make +people read George Eliot when they want +Mary Jane Holmes. Nothing I have seen in +the nature of criticism is so cold, hard and repelling +as this. It is to be hoped no other +state will follow this example, but that is +just the perniciousness of such lists made out +by people who are supposed to be experts, +but who too often fail worse than common +mortals. This whole matter of selection by +committee is virtually begging the question of +individual responsibility.</p> + +<p>4. <i>Choice by librarian experts.</i>—This seems +to be the most satisfactory solution of the +problem. It is true that many if not most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +of the existing small (5000-10,000) libraries +have not or can not afford a trained librarian. +But it is also true that more and +more are employing trained people as organizers +and an increasing number are retaining +their organizer as librarian. It is their study +and their business to know what books are +best suited to the needs of the community. +Even should we go beyond that into the larger +public library, the reference library or the +college library I still hold that the librarian is +the best judge of books for the library. His +taste is sure to be more catholic, wholly unbiassed +and he makes a more even and better +rounded selection on the whole. In the small +public library he is able to carefully study the +constituency and then knowing what books +are standard in other places he makes the +necessary allowances for the case in hand. +The time has, I trust, wholly gone by when the +local editor, local clergyman, and local schoolmaster +have the pleasure of picking out their +favorite books, or of ordering "standard sets" +or the "classics" in history and literature at +the public expense. Most of these books are +on the shelves to-day faded but not worn, +the leaves not even cut and usually only the +first volume slightly used.</p> + +<p>Of course books in useful art and sciences +were largely overlooked. Nowadays library +committees are turning more and more to +the librarian, knowing that he has made a +study of book selection and that they will get +better results to leave it with him. This is +as it should be and the librarian should not +lower himself by going outside for assistance +on any line. I count it as slipshod and a confession +of ignorance for any librarian to +tag around after outside "experts." Let him +study up his subject and master it himself. +There are only a few in which he cannot +easily surpass outsiders, and profiting by his +knowledge of the many, which enables him +to do that part quickly and easily, let him +pay more attention to the hard and less familiar +subjects. The librarian who delights in +religion, philosophy or folklore says of lists +on biology, botany, steam-engineering or sanitation—"I +leave all that to Professor So and +So—of course he knows all about it." Why +should he, more than the librarian? What is +the librarian for, if not to know things? Is +it not time to turn from the material things +and concern ourselves more with a higher +standard of scholarship and more outside +work in our profession? And for the small +libraries of 5000 v. or under there are the +library commissions who are supposed to, and +do, advise them. There is difference with the +commissions, some are in closer touch with +the local situation than others, some are more +conscientious than others about costly books, +and some are given to this "expert" business +which I have named, but on the whole they +are doing good work and bid fair to do better.</p> + +<p>5. <i>Matter of cost.</i>—This should be carefully +considered. I hold it to be little short +of criminal to recommend high priced books +for libraries of limited means. By high priced +books I mean those costing over $5 a volume. +This of course does not apply to reference +books. And yet in one annual list such books +constantly appear, as not only suggestions but, +considering the source, as recommendations +or even commands. I am thankful the Wisconsin +Library Commission has taken up this +work systematically and is doing all it can to +discourage such foolish waste of money. The +worst example is the "Encyclopædia Britannica" +now from 25 to 10 years behind the +times and never a satisfactory book of reference +at its best. Take De Bry's "Mycetazoa," +it stands on the shelves of dozens of libraries, +leaves uncut, totally unused, each copy +meaning at least four dollars wasted money. +These are only given as an example—there +might be hundreds of them. There are scores +of books now published and more coming out +every day on various questions of philosophy, +sociology, science, art and particularly literature +and history priced from $1 to $2.50 which +are far superior for practical purposes to the +heavy weight monographs at $5 a volume and +upwards. You thus get two or three books on +the same subject for the money, and in a +small library this is a vital question. The +money must bring in the largest possible number +of good books.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="BOOK_REVIEWS_BOOK_LISTS_AND_ARTICLES_ON_CHILDRENS_READING" id="BOOK_REVIEWS_BOOK_LISTS_AND_ARTICLES_ON_CHILDRENS_READING">BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK LISTS, AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: +ARE THEY OF PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN?</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Caroline M. Hewins</span>, <i>Hartford (Ct.) Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>A children's librarian has three +sources of reliance in the choice or +purchase of books. They are: 1, Book reviews +in current or earlier periodicals; 2, +Lists, graded or ungraded, for libraries; 3, +Articles on children's reading in books or +periodicals.</p> + +<p>1. The children's librarian, or any librarian, +who orders children's books from reviews +often finds the books entirely different from +what the description has led her to suppose. +Even if there is no positive untruth in a notice, +it is often misleading from the lack of +a standard of comparison with the best books +for children.</p> + +<p>The papers oftenest taken in a country +household or small library are a daily or +semi-weekly from the nearest large town or +city, a religious weekly, and an agricultural +weekly or monthly, sometimes all three, +oftener only one or two, and it is from the +notices and advertisements with quoted notices +in these papers that estimates of books +must often be formed. Libraries and library +trustees who send book lists from such +sources as these to a state public library commission +are often surprised that they do not +receive what they ask for, and write anxious +inquiries as to why certain books have not +been bought. "There surely can be no objection +to them," they say, "for we took the +titles from reviews in the —— or —— or ——," +naming denominational papers. Now, lest +the Children's Section should be accused +of unfairness and denominational prejudices, +I shall quote no reviews from these papers, +except one which came from a leading religious +weekly taken by the household in +whose pew I have a seat. It is of Eden Phillpotts' +"Human boy," a series of sketches of +English schoolboy life, which is dismissed with +this remarkable sentence: "The scene here, +too, is in the west, and various hunting experiences +are recorded." The librarian who +orders that book for boys greedy for big +game will be disappointed!</p> + +<p>Such a mistake as this is not common, but +reviews in both religious and secular papers +are often perfunctory and meaningless. One +reason of this is that many books are published +for the Christmas trade, between the +15th of September and the 15th of December, +when they come into newspaper offices with +a rush, until they are piled in stacks on the +desk of the hapless reviewer, and hastily noticed, +sometimes by title only. In a new edition +of Elizabeth Sheppard's fine, but forgotten +novel, "Rumour," whose keynote is the +quotation from "Lycidas" on the title-page,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor in the glistering foil<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Set off to the world, nor in broad Rumour lies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But lives and spreads aloft in those pure eyes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And perfect witness of all-judging Jove," </span> +</div></div> + +<p>the reviewer did not understand the meaning +of the lines, and called the book "a good example +of the working, influence, and effect of +rumour." On one of our own local papers +not long ago there was a review of Mrs. +Barr's "Maid of Maiden Lane," which was +referred to as the sequel to her "Beau of +Orange River." Even in newspapers fortunate +enough to command the services of specialists +for history and science, and an additional +critic for novels, the children's books +are hastily noticed, sometimes by the youngest +reporter in his spare minutes. In smaller +offices the task of reviewing all books falls to +the hard-worked editor, who is, like Jacob +Riis, also his own "reporter, publisher and +advertising agent," but whose sense of literary +values is often not in proportion to his +knowledge of state politics or local reforms.</p> + +<p>It is unfortunate that in the newspapers of +as high a class as the <i>Outlook,</i> <i>Independent</i> +and <i>Dial</i> the notices of children's books are +often carelessly written, and show the lack of +a standard of comparison. In the <i>Outlook</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +for Nov. 27, 1897, Richard Pryce's "Elementary +Jane," a most unchildlike book, is classed +among books for children, and "Pansy" and +"Elsie" are recommended in other numbers.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Independent,</i> where notices of books +for older readers are written with discrimination, +Ellis's "Klondike nuggets" is described: +"Full of lively adventures and exciting +experiences, and is told in a straightforward, +off-hand style just suited to the +purpose." (Oct. 6, 1898.) There is nothing +absolutely untrue in this, but there is nothing +to guide a reader in comparing it with +better books. One of Alger's heroes is mentioned +as "An admirable boy with wonderful +ability to take care of himself" (Oct. 20, +1898), and a book by Stratemeyer as "a stirring +tale, told with enthusiasm." (Oct. 6, +1898.) Stratemeyer is an author who mixes +"would" and "should," has the phraseology of a +country newspaper, as when he calls a supper +"an elegant affair" and a girl "a fashionable +miss," and follows Oliver Optic closely in his +plots and conversations.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cheever's "Little Mr. Van Vere of +China," with its cheap sentiment and well-worn +plot of a stolen child coming to his own +at last, is commended as "well made, well +illustrated." (<i>Dial,</i> Dec. 6, 1898.) A notice +in the religious paper mentioned above says, +"He is a thoroughly fascinating little fellow, +and his story is told most acceptably." One +of Amanda Douglas's tales is spoken of as +"A story with a fine moral influence, yet not +preachy, in the end leaving in the reader's +mind the sense of having been in good company." +(<i>Independent,</i> Dec. 15, 1898.)</p> + +<p>One notice of "Elsie on the Hudson" is: +"The multitude of young people who have +read the Elsie books, by Martha Finley, will +eagerly welcome this volume by the same author. +It has to do with American history in +the days of the Revolutionary war, and the +style is simple and pleasing." In another: +"Miss Martha Finley continues also the instruction +which is mixed up with that young +woman's experiences." (<i>Dial,</i> Dec. 6, 1898.)</p> + +<p>It is, I think, the same periodical, though +I have not been able to verify the quotation, +which commends Harry Steele Morrison's +"Yankee boy's success" thus: "The book is +interesting, full of push and go. Boys will +read it with a gusto; yet they must remember +that what this lucky Yankee boy did is +not what they all can do." Another number +which puts a just estimate on Master Morrison +as a "very unlovely and unpleasant sort +of boy, whose impudence and enterprise +ought later to fit him for a place on a yellow +journal," entirely mistakes the purpose of +Pugh's "Tony Drum," a realistic story of +London slum life, and classes it as a book for +boys. (<i>Dial,</i> Dec. 16, 1898.)</p> + +<p>The <i>Outlook</i> says of Frances Hodgson Burnett's +mawkish "Editha's burglar," which was +well parodied in <i>Punch</i> by Anstey in his +"Burglar Bill": "This story of the queer, +loving little girl and her daring and successful +effort to protect her mother, and the +equally queer burglar, is too well known in +play and story to need comment." (Dec. 10, +1898.) This story is in almost all library and +school lists, even the best selected and classified. +The same number calls "Mr. Van Vere" +"a charming story." (The adjective is used +for four different works for young people in +that week's grist.)</p> + +<p>Even Noah Brooks, in a signed article in +the <i>Bookbuyer</i> (Dec., 1898), gives praise to +Drysdale and Stratemeyer, commends the uninteresting +Chilhowee books, refers to Pansy's +as "strong and helpful," and one of Amanda +Douglas's as "rich in chastened and refined +sentiment." He mentions Oliver P. Tunk's +"Awful alphabet" as "a fit companion for 'A +coon alphabet.'" Perhaps it is, but when libraries +and schools are circulating Jane Andrews's +"Seven little sisters" to teach the +brotherhood and sisterhood of all nations, and +teachers, in the language of Professor Thurston, +of the Chicago Normal School, are "encouraging +each nationality to contribute the +best it has of song, story, game, home customs +and occupations to the life of the +school," it is wrong to buy a book for a white +child in which black children are held up to +ridicule, as they have been many times in +<i>Harper's Young People</i>. "Blackberries" and +"Comical Coons" are also recommended in +the <i>Dial</i> (Dec. 16, 1897), where Gertrude +Smith's "Ten little comedies," a book entirely +different in spirit from her "Arabella +and Araminta" stories; Marion Harland's +"Old-field school girl," which has a story of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +horrible cruelty of a schoolmaster to a child, +and is not meant for children; the silly +"Elaine" book, and the equally silly and sometimes +coarse "Father Goose" are favorably +reviewed.</p> + +<p>The <i>Nation's</i> reviews of children books +have lately not been up to the old standard, +as for instance a review of Sydney Reid's +would-be funny "Josey and the chipmunk" +(Dec. 13, 1900), which is called "a perfectly +delightful child's book, nearly as good as the +'Alice' books, and, indeed, might be pronounced +quite as good if Lewis Carroll, like +Shakespeare, had not 'thought of it first.'"</p> + +<p>It will be seen by these instances that reviews +help children's librarians very little, +and that it is impossible under present conditions +for a library to determine the worth of +a book without seeing it.</p> + +<p>2. There have been in the last 25 years +many lists of children's books by libraries, +schools, denominational societies and other +organizations. The earlier lists, although interesting +to a student of the evolution of +the Children's Section, have so many books +out of print or superseded that they do not +concern us now, except in that they are not +made for very young children, and often have +a profusion of material which is over the +heads of boys and girls below, or even in, the +high school age. Some of them are made +from hearsay or from other book lists, without +an intimate knowledge, or indeed any +knowledge at all, of books recommended, as +in the following instance: A paper read at a +library meeting and afterward printed in the +report of a state librarian describes the "library +ladder" as "a list of books beginning +with a tale of adventure. From this the +reader's attention will be drawn to the next +in order, leading on and out, until finally the +child will be unconsciously delving into the +mysteries of science; for example, we could +first take Butterworth's Indian story, 'The +wampum belt': next, Brooks's 'Story of the +American Indian'; from this lead to Bancroft's +'Native races,' and finally various +United States histories."</p> + +<p>Any one who has ever seen the five ponderous +volumes of Bancroft's "Native races +of the Pacific States" knows that although it +has some value as a work of reference, not +as a history, for older readers, it is entirely +useless as a stepping-stone for children, who +can easily go without its aid from Brooks's, +or better, Grinnell's "Story of the Indian" to +a good one-volume United States history, or +even to John Fiske or Parkman. It is no +more meant for boys and girls than the other +thirty-four volumes on the history of the +Pacific coast completed by Bancroft and his +corps of assistants.</p> + +<p>Some tests of a library or school list are: +Are the books in it chosen for their permanent +value? Has the maker of the list read +them? Will it tell an overworked teacher or +librarian what the best modern straightforward +stories in simple English are, the +best life of Lafayette without any long words +like "evacuation," or the best account of a +salamander in language that a child of 10 can +understand? A list for teachers is not a help +in choosing books for children, unless from +the point of view of child-study, which has +another place than on the shelves of a children's +room.</p> + +<p>In one list the "Dotty Dimple" and +"Flaxie Frizzle" books are recommended for +the third-reader grade. Children who are in +this grade cannot read the ungrammatical +baby-talk easily, and if they could it would +demoralize their English.</p> + +<p>Another has for the seventh grade a part +of the "Library of wonders," translated from +the French, and out of date 20 years ago. +Teachers should be careful in buying books +of popular science that they are modern, and +also written in a style that makes them attractive +to boys and girls. In a long experience +in libraries I have never found that boys +and girls liked the "Library of wonders."</p> + +<p>A third, for children under 10 years of age, +includes Miss Plympton's "Dear daughter +Dorothy," and even in one of the best and +most recent graded lists it is annotated as a +"story of devotion and comradeship between +a father and his young daughter." Now +"Dear daughter Dorothy" is the best specimen +I have ever seen of a kind of book to be +kept out of libraries and homes, the story of +a little eight-year-old girl, who has the entire +control of the $1200 earned yearly by her +father, a bookkeeper with literary aspirations. +He is arrested on a charge of em<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>bezzlement, +found guilty in the face of his +daughter's testimony, but at last acquitted +through the confession of the real criminal, +and he and that important little personage, +Dorothy, who takes all hearts by storm, sail +for England escorted to the ship by a crowd +of admiring friends, including the judge who +sentenced him.</p> + +<p>The next list has Mrs. Burnett's "Little +Saint Elizabeth," a morbid tale, and with it a +reproduction of "Prince Fairyfoot," a story +which the author read when she was a child +in a book that she never could find again. +In order to understand the pertness and flippancy +of her style in this story, one has only +to compare it with the original, reprinted +within a few months in Frances Browne's +"Wonderful chair," or "Granny's wonderful +chair," as it is called in one edition. A few +lines in the simple, direct English of the old +fairy tales, are expanded by Mrs. Burnett +into eight or 10 pages, with attempts at wit +and allusions to unhappy married life, which +should be kept out of books for children.</p> + +<p>The same article in the <i>Nation</i> which gives +high praise to "Josey and the chipmunk" +thinks "The wonderful chair" prosy, but I +have tested it on children who do not enjoy +stories unless they are simply told, and have +found that it holds their attention.</p> + +<p>Books on differences of religious belief, +books written in a style or on subjects beyond +the years of boys and girls, scientific books +that are inaccurate or out of date, books that +make children despise their elders, or have an +overweening sense of their own importance, +and books that are cheap, slangy, flippant, or +written in bad English, dialect or baby-talk, +should have no place in a school list, and +books on poor paper and in poor type and binding +should also be kept out. There are books +that tell stories of wholesome, well-bred children; +fairy tales in the simple, old-fashioned +style; out-of-door books that are not dull or +aggressively instructive; and selections from +the best poetry to choose from. There is +room yet for the right kind of histories that +are interesting without being babyish, and accurate +without being dull.</p> + +<p>Lists are often made in entire ignorance of +the limitations of the children who are to use +the books recommended in them. A well-intentioned +paper suggests for children of +eight or over Ebers' "Uarda" and Thiers' +"French Revolution" as attractive historical +works. In science it mentions Hooker's books, +which are quite out of date, and in biography +Lockhart's Scott and Forster's Dickens, which +not one boy or girl in a hundred would read +through, great as is their charm. Bryce's +"American commonwealth" is also named. +This list has either been made up from books +that the compiler has heard of as classics, or +else she is not in the habit of associating on +familiar terms with boys and girls, even of +high school age. This paper recommends +Sophie May for very young children, and +also the "Story of liberty," which a mother +in the New York <i>Times</i> says is in the library +of her daughter of eight. This is a mother +who would not allow a child to read Scott's +novels till 14 or 15, and thinks Dickens too +sad for even that age!</p> + +<p>The hundred books recommended in the +<i>St. Nicholas</i> for March, 1900, made up from +many competing lists, are nearly all good. A +few, like Mrs. Richards' "Captain January," +Mrs. Wiggin's "The Birds' Christmas Carol," +and Munroe's "Through swamp and glade" +have no permanent value. If one of Munroe's +books is to be included it should be +"The flamingo feather," or "Derrick Sterling," +both of which are well worth reading +many times and are great favorites with children. +The defect in the list is the same just +spoken of, that too many of the books are for +boys and girls from 10 to 14 years old of +bookish families, and that little attention is +paid to younger or less carefully trained children.</p> + +<p>One list puts into the first primary grade, +or fourth year of school, for children nine +or 10 years old, Abbott's "Cyrus," "Darius," +"Xerxes," and other heroes, and Fiske's "War +of independence," all of which are entirely +beyond the grasp of 499 children out of 500 +under 12 or 14. Lists should be shorter, and +not too closely divided. A division, "Easy +books," should include whatever children need +until they can read without difficulty, and +should contain books like Longman's adapted +stories from the "Blue fairy book" and the +earlier volumes of the "Ship" English history, +Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories retold"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +and Eggleston's "Great Americans for little +Americans."</p> + +<p>In one case where books are not classified +by grade, Horace Bushnell's "Woman suffrage," +Hinsdale's "President Garfield and +education," and Wright's "Industrial evolution +of the United States" are in the same +class with Emilie Poulsson's "Through the +farmyard gate," with no discrimination as to +the age for which any one of the four is intended. +Three are beyond the understanding +of boys and girls below high school age, and +if in school libraries should be for teachers +only, and the fourth is a book of kindergarten +stories.</p> + +<p>A book which is often commended by teachers +and librarians is Coffin's "Story of liberty," +which I said nearly 20 years ago "is so +fierce in its Protestantism and so bloody in +its details that it causes pain to many a sensitive +child." The pictures are too horrible for +a child to see, and the book, like any other +which wars against any form of religious +belief, should not be allowed in a public +school.</p> + +<p>Some lists admit the "Elsie" books, tearfully +sentimental and priggish, where the +heroine is held up as a saint and martyr for +refusing to obey an entirely reasonable request +of her father, and where money, fine +clothes, and love-making at an early age hold +too prominent a place.</p> + +<p>In one list, one of Mayne Reid's books is +annotated, "To read carefully any volume of +this author is to acquire a considerable knowledge +of the trees, the flowers, the animals, +the insects, and the human creatures existing +in the region where the story takes place." +In Mayne Reid's "Desert home" maple sugar +trees are tapped in the autumn and yield +nearly a hundred pounds of sugar. Emerson's +"Trees and shrubs of Massachusetts" +states that although sap will flow in summer +and early autumn, it has but little saccharine +matter. Mayne Reid's stories as stories are +delightful for children to read, but should +never be used as aids to geography lessons.</p> + +<p>One library offers its boy-and-girl readers +Bushnell's "Moral uses of dark things," Mrs. +Campbell's "Problems of poverty," Ely's +"Labor movement in America" and Shinn's +"Mining camps."</p> + +<p>The lists made by James M. Sawin, of +Providence, are good and suggestive, but better +for older than younger children, including, +however, for beginners in reading some +excellent old favorites like Mrs. Follen's +"Twilight stories," and for children a little +older a book that ought to be in print, Paul +de Musset's "Mr. Wind and Madam Rain."</p> + +<p>The Milwaukee list for children under 10 +is good for the most part, but includes "Dear +daughter Dorothy" and "Editha's burglar."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Whitney's list of "Books not usually +selected by young people" (first published in +the <i>Bulletin of Bibliography</i>) is for the most +part beyond the grammar-school age, including +such books as Sismondi's "Literature of +the south of Europe" and Ragozin's "Vedic +India." It is unclassified, good and not too +American.</p> + +<p>The Buffalo Public Library lists are the +best that I have found, thoroughly practical, +well chosen, and in the pamphlet entitled +"Classroom libraries for public schools" well +graded as far as one can judge. The grading of +schools varies so much in different cities that it +is impossible unless one knows exactly what +"four" or "eight" or "nine" represents to say +whether books are suitable for it. A list of +this kind cannot be made without a thorough +understanding between librarian and teachers, +a thorough knowledge of the condition of the +schools and the home-life of the children on +the part of the librarian, and a knowledge of +books on the part of the teachers.</p> + +<p>The graded and annotated list from the +Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is for teachers, +not children, and has many suggestive +notes, but will bear weeding.</p> + +<p>Many lists are almost entirely American, +and seem at first sight narrow and one-sided. +A little thought and knowledge of the conditions +under which they are made shows the +cause of this apparent fault. City lists are +made for schools which are full of children +of newly-arrived emigrants, whose first desire, +as soon as they can read English at all, +is to know something of the great free country +to which they have come. It is to supply +this demand that many simple United States +histories and historical stories relating to this +country have been put upon the market in the +last five years, almost to the exclusion of +other books of the kind. Teachers and librarians +should remember in making lists that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +there are other countries in the world, and +good histories of them, like Longmans' "Ship" +series.</p> + +<p>The books suggested by public library commissions +are usually published in this country, +partly for the reasons that it is easier to +find them, that they are cheaper than imported +books, and that they are in demand in small +libraries. The New York State Library lists +are of this kind, and the books for children +are carefully chosen as far as they can be +from this country alone.</p> + +<p>With regard to scientific books for children, +the Springfield (Mass.) City Library has +printed a short list of books on science and +useful arts that children really enjoy. This +list has been prepared by the children's librarian +in connection with the supervisor of +science in the Springfield public schools and +an out-of-town librarian. The list is the best +I have seen, but is open to criticism on account +of one or two of the books being out +of date. The list for third-grade teachers +compiled by Miss May H. Prentice for the +Cleveland Library is excellent for supplementary +reading and nature-stories and poems.</p> + +<p>3. The value of articles on children's reading +is variable, but a fair specimen may be +found in the <i>Contemporary Review</i> for June, +where H. V. Weisse states in his "Reading +for the young" that a generation ago the number +of published books was small, magazines +were high in tone, and in the realm of juvenile +literature Ballantyne was "monarch of all +he surveyed." On account of the limited +supply of children's books, boys and girls +were thus driven to standard authors. "Now +magazines and so-called 'historical stories' are +issued in such quantities that young people +read nothing else. They should be trained to +better things, and teachers and mothers should +read to their children and see that they read +good books for themselves, if need be rewarding +for a clear reproduction of the sense of +any good book, never punishing for a failure +to understand, at first hearing or reading, that +which involves 'a new form of mental effort.'" +We have all heard something like this before! +Even Agnes Repplier, with her charm of +style and her denunciation of the "little Pharisee +in fiction," and the too-important Rose +in Bloom in contrast to the well-kept-under +Rosamond, makes few suggestions of books +which are good for children to read.</p> + +<p>The reading lists in the New York <i>Times</i> +are based on the experience of the writers, who +have often been precocious, over-stimulated +children of bookish families without companions +of their own age, and have no idea +of the needs, wants and limitations of the +public library children of to-day, many of +whom have few or no books at home. "I +have quite a library," wrote one such child. +"I have three books, Longfellow's poems, a +geography, and a book of fairy tales."</p> + +<p>A dreamy boy like "The child in the library" +of a recent <i>Atlantic Monthly</i> and the +keen little newsboy who snatches a half hour +after school is over and he has sold his papers +to spell out a simple life of Columbus or the +"Story of the chosen people" have little in +common, and need different books, but they +both need the very best of their kind.</p> + +<p>A book reviewer or maker of book lists for +children should have an intimate knowledge +of the best books which have been written +for them, and the unconscious training which +this knowledge gives in good taste and a +critical sense of style. He (or she) should +have also the intimate knowledge of all sorts +and conditions of children and their limitations +that a teacher or a settlement worker +or a wise mother has. More than 20 years +ago, in the meeting of the American Library +Association in Boston, Mrs. Kate Gannett +Wells said: "I would like to have mothers +prepare lists, whose headings should vary +from any yet given; such as: books that +make children cry; books of adventure for +unexcitable and unimaginative children; unlovesick +novels."</p> + +<p><a name="childen" id="childen">The best reviews of children's books ever +written</a> in this country were the work of a +woman and a mother—Lucy McKim Garrison, +who, in the earlier volumes of the <i>Nation,</i> +put into her work broad-mindedness, +high ideals, and an understanding of children. +It is such work as this that should be a +model for the reviewers and a guide to the +librarians of to-day, and one of the most important +duties of the Children's Section is to +insist upon higher standards, both in reviewers +and through them in the writers of children's +books, and upon trained critical knowledge +in the makers of children's lists.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="BOOKS_FOR_CHILDREN" id="BOOKS_FOR_CHILDREN">BOOKS FOR CHILDREN:</a></h3> + +<p class="center">I. FICTION, II. FAIRY TALES, III. SCIENCE.</p> + + +<p>It seems to have been fairly demonstrated +that we have as yet no proper standard +of values to guide us in the selection of <a name="children" id="children">children's</a> +books. Reviews fail: they either do +not evaluate the book at all, or they lack appreciation +of it or of the children who are to +read it—or both. Book lists fail, as a rule, +through eagerness to get something printed +before we know what to print. Articles upon +children's reading fail because the people who +have written them are not always familiar +with children's books or are not acquainted +with the "public library child." We turn to +the books themselves, but, having no standard +of values, how shall we judge? How +are we to know whether a book is good or +poor?</p> + +<p>It is not possible to reduce the appreciation +of literature—whether books for children +or for all time—to an exact science. +It is difficult to conceive of any formula for +the evaluation of books in general or the books +of a particular class which would not fail +again and again when applied to the individual +book through the medium of a personal +judgment. We shall not attempt, therefore, +to answer the questions which form the substance +of our topic. We have endeavored +merely to state a question which to all children's +librarians seems to be of paramount +importance, trusting that we may eventually +reach a partial solution of this problem by +bringing the thought of many minds to bear +upon it.</p> + +<p>This collective paper, or, more properly, this +collection of ideas upon different classes of +books, requires a word of explanation. The +contributors were not asked to prepare papers +but to furnish ideas and opinions, which +should form the basis for discussion of the +general principles of selection and of individual +books in the several classes considered. +The purpose was to present briefly the principles +that should apply in each class, and to +emphasize these by citation of specific books.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>I. <a name="FICTION" id="FICTION">FICTION.</a></i></p> + +<p>We were recently asked to make out a list +of a dozen books suitable as prizes for a +Sunday-school class of boys and girls from +12 to 16 years of age. We studied a long and +carefully prepared list of stories written for +girls of this age and supposed to include what +was most desirable. Assuming that the girls +had read Mrs. Whitney and Miss Alcott, we +did not consider them, and we found not one +story which we could recommend as possessing +permanent interest and literary value. +There were many books which girls read and +like but they did not reach a fair standard +for this purpose. We filled out the desired +number for the girls with books written for +older readers. Far different was our experience +with the books for the boys. It was only a +matter of choice between a large number, both +suitable and desirable, and yet the lists which +we consulted had been compiled by the same +hand.</p> + +<p>In making selections of books for her readers, +the children's librarian encounters at the +first step this difference in the quality of the +books written for boys and those written for +girls. Judged purely by the standard of taste, +she must reject the greater proportion of +those written for girls. When she finds so +few that reach her standard she may blame +herself for ignorance of the better books, but +she must ultimately reach the conclusion that +whatever her own shortcomings there is a +lack of desirable books for girls. However, +another most important factor comes into the +case on the reader's side of the question. If +the librarian is going to meet the needs of +her readers she must understand what they +are instinctively seeking in books, and she +must enlist herself on the side of human nature. +She will find at once that a distinct +division in the reading of boys and girls +springs from the fact that, generally speaking, +the mental life of the boy is objective, that +of the girl subjective. The boy seeks action +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +in fiction, the girl is attracted by that which +moves her emotionally or relates itself directly +to her own consciousness, and the last thing +that either of them cares about is the literary +value of the book. Hundreds—no doubt +thousands—of our college graduates look +back to the period when, according to their +sex, the "Oliver Optic" series, or the "Elsie +Dinsmore" series, played a very important +part in their existence. The love of adventure +in the boy gave the charm to the books. Adventure +he must have, whether he finds it in +the tinsel setting of Oliver Optic or the refined +gold of Robert Louis Stevenson. And +the magnet in the nature of the girl draws to +herself something helpful even from Martha +Finley; otherwise, she would not speak of the +"Elsie" books as "beautiful": there is something +in them which to her represents "beauty." +Nevertheless, while justly condemning +the Oliver Optic and the Elsie books as cheap, +tawdry things, the librarian must seek among +better authors the holding quality on the nature +of the child which these books possess. +She must search for books in which these elements +of interest are incarnated in what we +call literature—books which, while rivalling +these in attraction, will at the same time refine +and broaden the taste of the reader.</p> + +<p>Now, the lovers of Oliver Optic and Mrs. +Finley do not take kindly to the classics and +as, in the modern stories for young people, +few will pass muster as literature, all that +the librarian of to-day can do is to use +her judgment and discrimination among those +the writers have provided. The boys are +readily turned from Oliver Optic to Henty, +Tomlinson, Jules Verne, and on to "Ivanhoe," +but with the girls the case is hard. The girl +tells us that she likes stories about boarding-school. +It is a capital subject: in the hands +of a writer sympathetic with girls, of fertile +imagination and vigorous power of characterization, +boarding-school life affords material +for most entertaining combinations—but +the literature of the boarding-school has +yet to be written. The average boarding-school +story has three main characters—the +attractive, impulsive heroine, always getting +into trouble; the cruel, cold-blooded, unscrupulous +rival, habitually dealing in falsehood, +and the teacher who is singularly devoid of +discernment or intuition. The heroine inevitably +falls into the snare of the rival, and +things are usually set right all around by a +death-bed scene—although actual death is +sometimes averted. "Louie's last term at St. +Mary's" is one of the better stories of this +kind, and Mrs. Spofford's "Hester Stanley at +St. Mark's" is fairly well written, with a +touch of the charm of the author's personality. +"Chums," by Maria Louise Pool, is one +of the worst of its kind, where envy, hatred, +and malice run riot through the pages and +the actors in the story are wholly lacking in +vitality. The experiences of Miss Phelps's +"Gypsy Breynton" and Susan Coolidge's +"Katy" are as satisfactory pictures of boarding +school life as we have; and Helen Dawes +Brown's "Two college girls" is a good story. +"Brenda, her school and her club," by Helen +L. Reed, is a recent valuable addition to books +for girls.</p> + +<p>In stories of home life Miss Alcott still +easily takes the lead, with Susan Coolidge and +Sophie May following in merit and popularity. +The boys have an excellent story of home +life in Rossiter Johnson's "Phaeton Rogers." +The setting is perfectly simple, every day surroundings, +but the characters have the abounding +vitality that keeps things moving. The +entertaining succession of events proceeds directly +and naturally from the ingenuity and +healthy activity of the young people grouped +together. The book is a model in this respect +as well as in the use of colloquial English +which never loses a certain refinement. Every +boy, while reading "Phaeton Rogers," finds +himself in touch with good companions—and +this is true as well, in Charles Talbot's books +for boys and girls.</p> + +<p>The most important books for boys are the +historical stories, appealing at once to the +hero worship and the love of adventure common +to boyhood; at the same time they should +give a good general idea of history. The +story in historical setting is, also, most desirable +for girls—in that it balances the too +subjective tendency; it carries the mind of +the reader beyond the emotional condition of +the heroine—indeed the heroine has no time +to study her own emotions when brought into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +vital relation with stirring events. Apart +from the value of the historical facts imparted +is the indirect but more valuable habit +of mind cultivated in the girl reader. Vivid, +stirring, absorbing stories for girls can be and +should be written in this field, which is practically +unlimited. Miss Yonge has done some +good service here. "The prince and the pauper" +and the "Last days of Pompeii" are also +illustrations of the kind of work that should +be done—they are both strong in the direct +interrelation between the imaginary characters +and real history—and both appeal alike +to the boy and the girl.</p> + +<p>Books written with a direct moral purpose +seldom achieve popularity with boys—and yet +one of the most popular of all their books is +"Captains courageous," which is of the highest +moral value though without one line of +religious preaching in its pages. Here the +boys are in touch with a real, living character, +acted upon and developed, through the moulding +pressure of life itself—from first to last +the aim of the story is the boy; and yet the +moral outcome is simple, natural, inevitable +and manly; it appeals to the common sense +which is strong in boys.</p> + +<p>Now when a woman writes for girls on the +subject of the transformation of a frivolous +butterfly into a girl of sense, instead of giving +us character and action with a moral outcome, +we have a religious setting with the action of +the story and the conduct of the characters +bent in every direction to illustrate the motive +of the story—the religious idea.</p> + +<p>The plastic nature of the young girl wrought +upon by life, fresh faculties brought into activity +by the hard knocks of fate or the sunbursts +of good luck—although these things +are happening every day in the real life of +young girls, we yet await the writer who will +put them into literature without sentimentalizing. +What we want is the novel simplified; the +story told directly, without byways of description +or analysis; where healthy young people, +neither saints nor prigs, nor creatures of affectation, +jealousy, or malice, are acted upon +by life and each other in a natural fashion.</p> + +<p>Let boys and girls be brought together as in +real life; brothers are a good element in girls' +stories, and love affairs need not be excluded, +if handled with delicacy, common sense and +true feeling. Many books classed as novels +are merely stories simply and clearly told, intended +for older readers, but far better for +young girls than the stories usually written +for them. Miss Jeanie Gould Lincoln's stories +and Mrs. J. G. Austin's historical novels, +some of Mrs. Barr's and Mrs. Oliphant's +novels and a wide range of other interesting, +well-told stories can be substituted, if care +and discrimination are used in the selection. +Fortunately, too, many girls of twelve are +ready for Dickens and other standard writers.</p> + +<p>However it is not only through the emotions +that these aspirations and desires are +ministered to—when the writer can develop +this emotion into spiritual enthusiasm—or +when she portrays a character of active spiritual +force, she has put something valuable +into the life of the reader. Here, as always, +it is the personality of the writer—the soul +back of the words that most counts, and it is +just this quality of true spirituality which +gives value to Mrs. Whitney's stories, in spite +of their wordiness, lack of proportion and +forced symbolism; as it is the genuine goodness +and pure idealism of Miss Mulock which +forms the very atmosphere in which her characters +move.</p> + +<p>While it is impossible to offer a practical +guide to the selection of books a few suggestions +can be made. In the religious stories, +for instance, there must be discrimination between +those encouraging morbid self-examination +or religious sentimentalizing, and those +cultivating optimism and the perception of +true values and ideals.</p> + +<p>In books of adventure the dividing line +would fall between, on the one side, those stories +where the hero is actuated by pure love +of adventure or where the adventure is worth +while in itself—as in "Foul play"; and, on +the other side, those stories where the hero +is merely seeking to exploit himself and in +which the tendency might be to incite boys +to reckless escapades for the sake of notoriety.</p> + +<p>In the <i>purchase</i> of books one must consider +the range of the average reader, but in <i>recommending</i> +books to the individual boy and +girl, appreciation of differences in temperament +and culture is indispensable.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Winifred L. Taylor</span>, <br /> +<i>Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, N. Y.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center"><i>II. <a name="FAIRY_TALES" id="FAIRY_TALES">FAIRY TALES.</a></i></p> + +<p>Fairy tales must appeal to the love of the +marvellous, and must yet be told with a simplicity +that precludes all doubt of their reality +in the mind of the child, no matter how +improbable the circumstances to our prosaic +minds. The language must be simple and dignified. +To write a fairy tale, one must first +of all be a poet, at least must have the poetic +instinct. The child very early absorbs the +idea of rhyme. He is sung to sleep with cradle +songs, and soothed by jingles, and he does +not soon outgrow their influence.</p> + +<p>These tales from the librarian's standpoint, +fall naturally into two classes: the folklore +legends adapted for children (in which, regardless +of classification, we include mythological +tales) and the purely literary, imaginative +story.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Fairy tales derived from folk-lore.</i></p> + +<p>Fairy tales derived from folk-lore—stories +drifted down from the childhood of the world, +were not originally written for children, and +perhaps for this very reason, they have claimed +them for their own. They are not "the artless +appeals to all little masters and misses who +are good or intend to be good" of John Newbery's +time. They have a naturalness which +these first books printed especially for children +lack; the moral is not too strongly urged. +Different versions of the old, old tales reflect +in a measure the manners and customs +of the country in which they are collected. +Fairies are stolid or clever, mischievous or +amiable, according to the characters of the +people to whom the stories were told.</p> + +<p>To this class belong the Grimm brothers' +"Household tales," "Icelandic tales," edited +by Mrs. A. W. Hall (tales in which it is +the princess or the peasant maiden who rescues +the prince, instead of being rescued); +the Norwegian tales of Asbjörnsen and Moë, +the Grimm brothers of the far North. The +collections of Lang, Baring-Gould; and Cruikshank, +because of illustrations; Miss Mulock's +"Book of fairies" and William Canton's "True +annals of fairyland" should be in all libraries.</p> + +<p>Collections of tales derived from Greek and +Roman mythology, such as Kingsley's "Heroes," +Hawthorne's "Wonder book" and "Tanglewood +tales," may also be considered as +fairy tales derived from folk-lore.</p> + +<p>One of the most exquisitely told of the old +Greek fairy tales is that of "Eros and Psyche," +adapted by Paul Carus from Apuleius. The +story appeals to children, regardless of the +religious significance indicated in the preface +of the book.</p> + +<p>"Fairy tales from far Japan," translated by +Susan Ballard, is excellent, particularly the +story of the "Magic mirror," which is also +found in a charming set of booklets published +in Tokio, in English. This set is called the +"Japanese fairy tale series," the type, paper +and colored illustrations being all of Japanese +manufacture.</p> + +<p>"Fairy stories from the little mountain," +by John Finnemore, is a good collection of +Welsh stories as is Frere's "Old Deccan days" +of Indian folk-lore.</p> + +<p>"Wigwam stories," edited by Mary Catherine +Judd, are told by Indians, or adapted +from ethnological reports and original sources.</p> + +<p>Mabie's "Norse stories retold from the +Eddas," Keary's "Heroes of Asgard," "The +wonder-world stories" of Marie Pabke and +Margery Deane, Scudder's "Book of folk tales" +and Wiltse's "Folk-lore and proverb stories," +both of the latter for the youngest readers, +the Countess d'Aulnoy's fairy tales, the collections +of Laboulaye and the immortal tales +of Perrault, we cannot afford to be without, as +well as Howard Pyle's "Wonder clock" and +"Pepper and salt," which retain the old-time +flavor and are much enhanced by the author's +illustrations.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Literary fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>Hans Christian Andersen's stories, while +based often upon tradition, are excluded by +Hartland from the list of pure fairy tales and +classed as literary. Yet even the old, old +fairy tales cannot, with justice, rival his in the +hearts of the children. Their feeling for him +has been expressed by John White Chadwick, +in writing of another:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But as I muse, I seem at heaven's door<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To hear a sound which there I heard before.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When Danish Hans that way did softly wend—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A sound of children making merriest din<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of welcome, as the old man entered in."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mary S. Claude, in "Twilight thoughts," has +shown herself a graceful follower in the footsteps +of Andersen. Such stories create a tenderness +for plants and animals not easily effaced.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>It detracts nothing from the interest of the +story that what a child calls a fairy tale we +call literature. Even Dr. Johnson recognized +that "babies do not want to hear about babies." +It is a great pity that a child should never +meet the knights of the Round Table, or the +Charlemagne legends—half history, half romance—or +the Homeric tales, outside the +dissecting room of a literature class. Small +wonder that a child who heard them there for +the first time should exclaim with considerable +animus, "I like to read, but I hate literature."</p> + +<p>Here is a good field for the "story hour" so +successfully introduced in the Carnegie Library, +Pittsburgh. That edition which follows +most closely the original, or is told in +graphic clear-cut English, such as Morris uses +in the "Earthly paradise" or the "Life and +death of Jason," or Butcher and Lang's translation +of the Odyssey, is the best. Such a +version read aloud is infinitely better than +the best dilution by any well-meaning attendant. +Skip judiciously, but do not weaken the +story. It is not only the plot but the charm +of style which we wish to introduce. The argument +may of course first be given, that the +child be put in sympathy with the situation.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Modern fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>A good modern fairy tale is a rare article. +One may search far and long before finding +it. If it is not worth reading twice, it is not +worth reading once. In many of these modern +tales there is an atmosphere of haste +wholly lacking in the good old tales. Fairyland +has a government of its own, where +neither time nor space has value. It lies "east +of the sun and west of the moon."</p> + +<p>One of the best collections is "Granny's +wonderful chair," by Frances Browne—in +the American edition "The wonderful chair." +It is well written, the interest is well kept up, +and the language is befitting the subject. The +surest way to test a poor fairy tale is to first +read one of <a name="unquestionable" id="unquestionable">unquestionable</a> merit, and to get +thoroughly into its atmosphere.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Good modern fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>"Princess Ilse," by Marie Petersen; a +gracefully told story of a discontented mountain +brook.</p> + +<p>"Mopsa the fairy," by Jean Ingelow, and +"The little lame prince," by Dinah Maria +Craik.</p> + +<p>"Lob-lie-by-the-fire," by Mrs. Ewing, and +"At the back of the North wind" and "The +Princess and Curdie," by George Macdonald.</p> + +<p>The average modern fairy tale is a jumble +of impossibilities, with no continuity of incident, +well enough or poorly written, according +to the ability of the writer.</p> + +<p>"The magic fruit garden," by Marion Wallace +Dunlop, is an illustration of this kind. +Two very small children, in abbreviated pinafores, +are studying their Monday lessons; one +is writing an essay on Perseverance, the other +is copying geographical names. By the illustrations, +one may judge the children to be +of kindergarten age. It is not surprising that +they fall asleep, and, to dreamland sent, meet +with adventures enough to make the strongest +head whirl—a case of literary delirium tremens.</p> + +<p>"Snow garden," by Elizabeth Wordsworth, +is on the whole a good collection; the stories, +however, are of unequal merit.</p> + +<p>"The other side of the sun," by Evelyn +Sharp, is of negative goodness. The witches +and wizards are mild and amiable, especial +care evidently being taken that no child should +be kept awake at night. It does no harm for +children occasionally to shiver and shake as +poor Hans in the Grimm collection longed to +do. The author's satisfaction at the expression +the "wymps wimpled" is insisted upon +a little too frequently.</p> + +<p>"Fairy folk of Blue Hill," by Lily F. Wesselhoeft, +is of especial interest to children +about Boston, since it accounts for the granite +quarries and pudding stone of the region. It +is smoothly written and is not spoiled by +slang or pertness.</p> + +<p>"Summer legends," by Rudolph Baumbach. +The stories are not altogether fairy tales nor +are they written for the youngest readers. +They are gracefully written although they lose +somewhat by translation. The book is in +some parts amusing and all the stories are +peopled with the wonderful creatures of fairyland.</p> + +<p>Other tales seem invented only for the +purpose of forcing religious sentiment, or +pointing a moral in inverse proportion to the +size of the reader. Their authors seem some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>times +to have reached Mark Twain's conclusion +that "every one being born with an equal +amount of original sin, the pressure on the +square inch must needs be greater in a baby."</p> + +<p>"Pixie and Elaine stories," by Carrie E. +Morrison, is a mixture of fairy tale and religious +story. The author speaks in her preface +of the stories having been carefully +pruned. One shudders at thinking what they +must have been before, with such chapters as +"The Elaines' picture of heaven," and "The +pixie transforms an Elaine" left in.</p> + +<p>"New book of the fairies," by Beatrice +Harraden, is marred by the suggestion of cruelty +to animals. In one story, in place of rubbing +the Aladdin lamp, that what one wishes +may happen, one must pull the black cat's tail. +It is gratifying to reflect that black cats have +their own peculiar method of retaliation for +such experiments.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Burlesque fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>Burlesque fairy tales are the most atrocious +of all. They are apt to be broad in their humor, +full of <i>fin de siècle</i> jokes or puns, and +modern allusions which mar the poetry of the +tale if there is any in it, and create an appetite +for facetiousness in books. "Lips wagging, +and never a wise word," one is tempted +to say with Ben Jonson.... Copyright fees +should be trebled on this class of books.</p> + +<p>Under this head come:</p> + +<p>"The book of dragons," by E. Nesbit.</p> + +<p>"Here they are!" by James F. Sullivan; +full of modern allusions and puns.</p> + +<p><a name="pinkhen" id="pinkhen">"The pink hen,"</a> by Cuthbert Sterling; a +sort of "continuous performance." The pink +hen is hatched from a forgotten Easter egg, +is driven from the barnyard by her associates +and forced to seek her fortune. She links her +fate with that of a little girl who has escaped +from an ogre, and together they redeem a +prince from the curses of bad fairies. The +pink hen is continually punning, and the prince +while still in the cradle is addicted to smoking.</p> + +<p>It is hard to tell how the author of Jewett's +"More bunny stories" would classify them. +We hope not as fairy tales. They are poor +from any point of view. The bunnies might +as well be ordinary children as anything. +They go to lawn parties, play golf, dance the +Virginia reel, go to West Point, tell folk-lore +stories, repeat Bible verses and say their +prayers. We are sometimes asked for a Sunday +book. For one who must have a special +book for that day, this might possibly answer; +it is certainly full of moral reflections and +pious sentiment; but there is no reason at +all for reading it on Monday or Tuesday or +Wednesday. The story closes with a wedding +where the happy bunnies are united under a +bridal bell, while the strains of the march +from "Lohengrin" float in the air.</p> + +<p>Humor is not early developed in all children, +which is perhaps why a great many do +not care for "Alice in Wonderland," and for +Stockton's fairy tales—"The bee man of +Orn," "The griffin and the minor canon," etc.</p> + +<p>Laura E. Richards' "Chop-chin and the +golden dragon" must also be classed as humorous. +It is not as good as the Toto stories.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Animal folk-lore.</i></p> + +<p>Animal folk tales as exemplified in Joel +Chandler Harris's stories, "Little Mr. Thimble-finger," +"Mr. Rabbit at home," "Daddy +Jake," "Uncle Remus," "Story of Aaron," etc., +are excellent. Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, the +black stallion and all the animal characters +are quite as much realities to the children as +Buster John, Sweetest Susan and the Little +Master.</p> + +<p>Ortoli's "Evening tales," follows the same +general line.</p> + +<p>Kipling, too, in the "Jungle books" has won +the hearts of the children, and here there is +no hint of the "garlic flavor," mentioned by +Higginson.</p> + +<p>Fraser's "Mooswa" also belongs to this +class.</p> + +<p>A common practice in modern fairy stories +is for the author to open the tale in this way: +A child falls asleep and enters fairyland via +the dream country. Often the child has been +sent to bed for some misdemeanor, as in the +"Dream fox story book," by Mabel Osgood +Wright, or has fallen asleep over his tasks, +as in the case of the "One-eyed griffin," by +Herbert E. Inman, the fairy tales being offered +by way of consolation; a reprehensible practice +in itself, besides putting one out of touch +with the real fairyland. It is too conspicuously +"make believe" and leads one to suspect +that the author has little confidence in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +own production. As "good wine needs no +bush," so a good fairy tale needs no introduction +or apology. In the real fairyland one +cannot easily be ungraceful.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Nature fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>Nature fairy tales are more than apt to be +failures, and often include a great deal of pertness +and cheap talk, in their effort to teach +by stealth. (Charles Lamb writes to Coleridge +in regard to Goody Two Shoes in this +way: "Think what you would have been now, +if, instead of being fed with tales and old +wives' fables, you had been crammed with +geography and natural history.")</p> + +<p>A conspicuous example of the faults of this +class of story is found in "Sylvia in flowerland," +by Linda Gardner. The heroine is introduced +as a high-school girl, well-advanced +in Latin and mathematics, and amply able to +supplement very largely the information which +the flowers give her about themselves. Linda +strolls into the fields and is told all sorts of +facts about the habits of plants by the flowers. +The story where the author forgets to +interject puns is interestingly told, certainly +enough so to attract a girl of fourteen, who +has any fondness for flowers. Besides the +numerous puns, such glaring sentences as the +following, condemn it. "I don't know who +you mean." "Why it is a nasty nettle"! said +Sylvia. "Nasty, yourself," ejaculated the nettle +sharply, "why do you come shoving against +me?"</p> + +<p>McCook's "Old farm fairies," gives what +Mrs. Malaprop calls "a supercilious knowledge" +in its attempt to interest children in insect +life, by introducing different insects in the +form of pixies, brownies and fairies. While +it has not the faults of "Sylvia in flowerland," +the information is mainly crowded into footnotes +and appendices, which as a rule are +carefully avoided by children.</p> + +<p>Mabel Osgood Wright's "Tommy Anne" +and "Wabeno" are more successful; but the +same amount of energy spent in making the +facts of nature interesting in themselves +would be preferable.</p> + +<p>While not assuming an absolute censorship +in this department, the principle of natural +selection may be applied in discarding such +books as are characterized by the faults here +cited, that we may do our share towards +discouraging a taste for facetiousness, flippancy +and poor style in literature. For while +these modern, sham, soulless fairy tales soon +lose themselves in the overwhelming mass of +printed matter, in their brief existence they +have time to accomplish considerable harm. +Far better to encourage re-reading the imperishable +tales, than to gratify an insatiable +desire for more. Did not we ourselves again +and again shed fresh tears over Cinderella's +hard fate, or gasp with bated breath while +watching with Sister Ann for that distant +speck on the horizon? If children are different +to-day, it is partly because we are +helping to make them so.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Abby L. Sargent</span>, <br /> +<i>Medford</i> (<i>Mass.</i>) <i>Public Library</i>. <br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>III. <a name="SCIENCE" id="SCIENCE">SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN.</a></i></p> + +<p>In the selection of books for children's libraries +it is necessary to understand the difference +between the aims and methods of the +old education and the new.</p> + +<p>Until recently the schools have centered +their work about man, studying his language, +literature, methods of reasoning, and the manner +in which he has partitioned off the earth +into countries. No importance whatever was +attached to his physical surroundings, which +form so great a factor in his life and by which +he is so profoundly affected. In history, the +study of dates, battles and leaders was all +that was required. In geography, the work +was almost exclusively confined to a description +of the earth, the location of mountains, +rivers, cities, and political divisions. Before +the establishment of the national Weather +Bureau there was scarcely any public interest +manifested in the phenomena of the atmosphere +and its relation to various weather +elements. Many of us can recall from our +own experience the picture of the earth divided +into zones, but why such a division was +made did not come up for consideration.</p> + +<p>What are we now aiming to do for the +child? We are looking beyond the mere cultivation +of memory; and we desire to increase +the child's point of contact with the +world, to bring him into closer relationship +with the life about him, to broaden his sympathies +and to develop the powers of observation +and reason. In so far as we are able +to accomplish these results, we shall make him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +happier by enabling him to understand the +great laws that govern the universe. The child +is learning that the facts of history are the results +of causes, that they are the working out +of great principles and that by the comparison +of the past with the present he may be +able to judge of the future. From a study of +the physical features of the earth he learns +that slopes determine the course of rivers and +that cities are dependent for their growth +upon physical environment. The consideration +of the weather enables him to understand +the state of the atmosphere about him, its +effect on climate, the cause of storms, and the +different action of solar energy on air, land, +and water, which renders possible life upon +the earth. Science demands an investigation +of the growth and habits of plants and animals, +the relationship of one form to another, +the function and adaptation of parts, the effect +of surroundings, while form and structure are +results, not ends.</p> + +<p>We want to lead the child from results +back to causes. The possession of a vast +number of facts, unrelated among themselves, +is valueless and even harmful, for the child +does not look upon nature as a whole. Nature-study, +perhaps more than any other subject, +leads the child into sympathy with his +environment. He observes carefully and +thoughtfully and thus the individual is developed. +From personal contact with nature +he gains the power of accurate observation, +correct thinking and judgment; thus strengthening +his moral character. If this is the effect +of nature-study upon the development of the +child, the question comes to the librarian—What +principles shall guide me in the selection +of books that the library with which I +am connected may be of assistance in accomplishing +these results, and meet the demand of +modern education?</p> + +<p>A book for children should be attractive. +The exterior should present a harmony of +color and tasteful decoration. The text should +be printed with clear type upon good paper +and should be well illustrated. Colored plates +are preferable, provided the coloring is good, +otherwise uncolored illustrations are far more +desirable. The text should be clear, simple, +and scientifically correct.</p> + +<p>The new scientific book differs from the old. +The old style book gave dead results, no sympathy +in or interest for life was aroused, no +suggestions were given for first-hand observations +of nature, consequently the book failed +to stimulate a desire for personal investigation +that could be verified by the recorded work +of others. The new scientific book not only +gives results but a detailed account of the +methods employed in obtaining those results. +The reader is interested in trying the same +experiments, gains a sympathy and interest in +the wonderful life history of a plant, bird, or +insect, develops a tenderness for life and feels +that all nature is a sympathetic unit.</p> + +<p>Within the last few years the interest that +has been aroused throughout the country in +"nature-study," has caused a great demand for +this class of books. Writers and publishers +have hastened to meet the demand and as a +result the market has been flooded with books +that were made to sell. Too often the writers +have not been scientific persons, and as a result +the books have been mere compilations, +or were not true to facts. They lacked the +true spirit of science. Other authors have not +separated the element of fiction from that of +science, thinking that the child could only be +interested in nature by means of a story. The +writer of this paper does not believe that science +books should be made story books. +"Tenants of an old farm," by McCook, is a +good illustration of the combination of the +science and story element. The author is a +naturalist and whatever facts are presented +may be accepted as being as nearly correct +as it is possible to make them since they represent +the results of careful personal observation. +The author himself did not believe +that the truths of nature were so unattractive +that they needed to be woven into a story in +order that the book might find its way to the +general reader. Then why did he employ this +method? He was persuaded by his friends to +change the original plan of the book and presented +it, after much hesitation, in its present +form. The book has thereby lost much +of its usefulness.</p> + +<p>Another element that many authors have +employed to a greater or less extent is personification. +That the value of a book is lessened +thereby and its power over the reader +greatly decreased, is beyond question. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +may be some excuse for a limited amount of +personification in the treatment of bees, wasps, +or ants, but the majority of forms of plant +and animal life does not need the human +factor in order to make clear life-relationships. +Grant Allen, in his "Story of the plants," has +described the use of the stamens and pistils +as "how plants marry" and the modes of fertilization +as "various marriage customs." Allen +Gould, in "Mother Nature's children," +speaks of the "snakehead" fish and its young +as "Mr. and Mrs. Snakehead and their babies" +and of the seed-vessels of plants as +"ways the mother plants have of cradling +their babies." This method of treating nature's +truths does not make the facts any +clearer to the child; it only tends to diminish +the grandeur of that truth. Some writers +have considered it desirable to embody the +thought in terms that are already, or are supposed +to be, familiar to the child, that he +may be able to grasp the truth. The author +forces upon the child a double task, since +he must first get the thought as it appears +and then search for the concealed fact. This +process is not liable to be successful. Mrs. +Dana, in "Plants and her children," uses the +term "sweet stuff" for nectar, "watery-broth" +for the cell-sap of plants. The food of plants +is spoken of as the "plant's bill of fare," and +in <a name="expressing" id="expressing">expressing</a> the fact that the crude sap +which is taken up by the roots needs to be +converted into elaborated sap before it may +be used as food, she says "When the watery +broth is cooked in the sun, the heat of the +sun's rays causes the water to pass off through +the little leaf mouths. Thus the broth is +made fit for plant food." Must not the child +possess some scientific knowledge before he +will be able to understand the author's meaning? +"Plants and her children" is a valuable +book, but would not its merits be greatly +enhanced if the scientific facts were told in +simple language? They certainly have interest +enough in themselves to be attractive to +the child. Books like Hooker's "Child's book +of nature" should be discarded. They represent +the old scientific thought. No sympathy +or interest in life is aroused, no relationships +are suggested, no adaptation to environment +is shown, no incentive is given for personal +observation. Why should we cling to +the old when a book can be obtained that will +more nearly satisfy our needs?</p> + +<p>There is often a great difference in the individual +merits of books by the same author. +Mabel Osgood Wright's "Birdcraft" is valuable, +while "Tommy Anne and the three +hearts" and "Wabeno" are the reverse. The +last two represent a type of book that should +not be included in a science library. The +fairy and story element so greatly exceeds the +scientific as to render the books absolutely +valueless, nor are they a success from a literary +standpoint. No book in which the author +wanders from one subject to another, +in such rapid succession that the reader has +difficulty in following the thought, or is so +vague that an effort must be made to understand +the topic treated, can be of much practical +value. The greater number of the Appleton's +"Home reading books" possess little +merit. The selections were not written for +children; they lack simplicity, are not attractive +and are too technical. The article "The +life of plants" in "Plant world" would require +two or three readings by an adult in +order to understand what the author was +discussing. The best books in this series +are Weed's "Insect world" and Holden's +"Family of the sun" and "Stories of great astronomers." +Such books as Fanny Bergen's +"Glimpses at the plant world," Carpenter's +"Geographies," Kearton's "Our bird friends," +and Weed's "Stories of Insect life" represent +the style of book that the elementary science +of to-day demands. We do not wish to make +scientists of the children, but by means of the +best books on nature-study we would prepare +the way for elementary science. <i>Nature-study</i> +is not <i>science,</i> for science is classified +knowledge. So far as possible let the elements +of personification and fiction be omitted, +do not select books that are too technical or +vague, that are not well illustrated, and that +are not true to science.</p> + +<p>Then our libraries will contain books that +will incite the self-activity of the child and +arouse the spirit of investigation; books that +will stimulate observation and inculcate a +spirit of tenderness and love for all life.</p> + +<p class="center p0"> +<span class="smcap">Ella A. Holmes</span>, <i>Assistant curator,</i></p> +<p class="hangingindent p0"> +<i>Children's Museum of the Brooklyn Institute +of Arts and Sciences</i>. +</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="BULLETIN_WORK_FOR_CHILDREN" id="BULLETIN_WORK_FOR_CHILDREN">BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Charlotte Elizabeth Wallace</span>, <i>Hazelwood Branch, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh</i>.</p> + + +<p>The primary object of bulletin work is to +direct the attention of the children to +the books. The bulletin, like a poster, attracts +the eye, arouses interest in a subject, +and advertises the books treating of it. By +means of picture bulletins interest may be +awakened in topics before unnoticed; the children +are curious to learn more about the pictures +displayed, their curiosity is further excited +by the short descriptive text, and as a +result books relating to the subject are read. +Thus, without rousing the children's suspicions, +we are able to guide their reading.</p> + +<p>The second object is the cultivation of the +children's appreciation for pictures. If we can +catch the eye by attractive pictures, we may +add to the children's store of ideas, and aside +from broadening their knowledge, bring them +under the beneficent influence of beauty. Pictures +of æsthetic value placed in a children's +room in which harmony of decoration, furniture, +and arrangement have been considered, +exert a vitally refining influence. When we +realize how painfully lacking in refinement +are many of the homes of the children who +visit the library, how blinded are their eyes +to beauty because of their sordid surroundings, +we shall then see how essential it is to +enrich their lives by every means of cultivation +appropriate to our field of work.</p> + +<p>Whatever we may do in bulletin work must +accord with the high standard of taste evidenced +in all of the fittings of a dignified +library. While we are to aim to attract the +children by bulletins which are simple and +childlike in spirit, we must keep a sharp lookout +that in our effort to please them our +bulletins do not become tawdry and fussy in +style. We are to meet the children on their +level and yet educate their taste to a higher +standard.</p> + +<p>The first practical consideration of bulletin-making +is the collection of material. Pictures +may be obtained from a variety of sources. +Old magazines, book announcements, publishers' +catalogues, book covers, book plates, railroad +guides, advertising sheets, posters, special +prints, etc., form the main sources of +supply. In addition to a stock of good-toned +gray mounting-board for regular use, colored +mounting-board may be employed as a suitable +background for colored prints, or to express +the main idea of the bulletin—a delicate +shade of green making an effective mount +for certain pictures for bulletins on "Spring."</p> + +<p>The choice of subject is of supreme importance. +We should study the children whom +we are trying to benefit, that we may discover +their tastes and learn their interests. We may +select a subject in line with the course of +school study. This serves not only to illustrate +a subject in which the children are already interested, +but is an incidental means of making +known to the teacher and pupils the usefulness +of the library in furnishing reading supplementary +to the school studies. We may +bulletin a subject of transient interest, thus +informing the children along this particular +line; or, we may choose a topic which by the +novelty of its presentation, may arouse interest +in an unfamiliar subject, providing we +make sure in choosing that we relate the unknown +to the known. We always have a +chance of illustrating some one of the universal +interests of childhood. Spring and autumn +exhibits, bulletins on birds, flowers, and +animals, certain anniversaries, etc., invariably +prove attractive to children. The bulletins +should be such as to satisfy a catholicity of +taste and cover a wide range in age and understanding. +But whatever be one's choice of +subject, let it be carefully thought and wrought +out, definite in plan and purpose, and worthy +the necessary expenditure of time, material, +and effort.</p> + +<p>It is well to read thoroughly on a subject +before attempting to plan a bulletin. The +reading of sketchy accounts in children's +books is not a sufficient preparation for this +work. It is better to turn to more substantial +sources that we may penetrate the meaning +of the subject for the children, and reflect +this in the selection and arrangement of the +pictures in the text, and in the talks with the +children about the bulletin. We may thus +reinforce the message of the bulletin and lead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +the children to the best book where the information +they are seeking may be found.</p> + +<p>The explanatory text of the bulletin should +be direct and simple. Accuracy of statement +is essential; this is especially important in +scientific subjects. Experiment has proved +that a concise and simple account will be read, +when a longer statement is passed unnoticed.</p> + +<p>Poetry may be appropriately introduced to +illustrate the thought of the bulletin. We +should select the very best poems which will +serve the purpose, making sure they are simple +and clear enough in meaning to be readily +understood by the children. In bulletin +work we have an opportunity to acquaint the +children with the choicest poetry. In addition +to displaying pictures which please the +eye, we may also present word-pictures, thus +making a double appeal to the mind.</p> + +<p>An annotated book list is of great service +in connection with the bulletin. This enables +the children to gain an idea of the subject +matter of the various books, and, if the notes +are attractive, induces them to read a book +which otherwise might be ignored. In teaching +the children the use of lists we are also +preparing them for independent work later. +The books, it possible, should be placed on a +shelf near the bulletin, that they may be conspicuous +and easily accessible.</p> + +<p>No matter how beautiful the collection of +pictures, nor how happy the choice of subject, +a bulletin will not be successful unless +it is well executed. Technical skill is also +necessary in carrying out the idea. Not only +should the bulletin direct attention to books +but it should nourish æsthetic taste as well. +Form is as important as subject. Slipshod +mounting, unequal margins, untidy work in +general, detract from the appearance of the +bulletin, and are most disastrous object lessons +to children.</p> + +<p>We must collect only material which is +worth while and even from this select with the +greatest care. Sometimes it may be necessary +to make use of weak or faulty prints in reference +work, if a subject is sparingly illustrated, +but such material should be reserved for this +purpose rather than posted on bulletins.</p> + +<p>There is danger in exhibiting more than +one bulletin at a time—exception being made, +of course, for such bulletins as illustrate allied +subjects, thus forming an exhibition. The +display of too many pictures on any one bulletin +is equally inadvisable. Have we not all +of us at times felt oppressed and confused by +the seemingly endless array of pictures at a +large art exhibit? The mind is overtaxed in +the effort to grasp it all. Knowing the patience +with which little children study a picture, +even dwelling on the smallest detail with +delight, it would be better to choose with discrimination, +and avoid bewildering the minds +of the children, and fatiguing their attention +by a large collection of pictures. A miscellany +of pictures or bulletins defeats its one +purpose—that of making a definite impression +which should lead to further investigation +of a subject.</p> + +<p>The arrangement of the bulletin should +make its central thought and object apparent. +A bulletin on Lincoln's life if properly arranged +could easily tell the story of the experiences +between the log-cabin and White +House. The pictures should have some logical +grouping, whether by succession of events, +or according to some natural relationship, +as bringing a collection of wild flowers +together in the order of their appearance, +birds and animals by families, etc.</p> + +<p>Concerning the composition of the bulletin, +we may borrow the rules of pictorial composition +and adapt them to bulletin purposes. +According to John C. Van Dyke, "Pictorial +composition may be defined as the proportionate +arranging and unifying of the different +features and objects of a picture.... There +must be an exercise of judgment on the part +of the artist as to fitness and position, as to +harmony of relation, proportion, color, light; +and there must be a skilful uniting of all the +parts into one perfect whole." In a bulletin +as in a picture there must be a center of interest. +We should strive to effect this by +selecting for this purpose a picture which has +earned its place, because it best suggests the +subject, or because pictorially, either through +tone or color, it best adapts itself to the principles +of composition. The other pictures +should be grouped accordingly, always taking +account of the subject and artistic value of +each in placing them. The bulletin should +be built up architecturally as well, letting the +heavy pieces support the light. Such a picture +as Rosa Bonheur's "Ploughing" should +not surmount Breton's "Song of the lark."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>Color has its legitimate place in bulletin +work as children are keenly alive to its attractiveness. +It is because they are so sensitive +and impressionable in this regard that our +responsibility is proportionately greater; this +alone should make us most discreet and careful +in its use. Van Dyke cautions us in the +following terms: "Beware of your natural +taste, beware of bright pictures for they are +generally bad." He tells us "That 'color' +does not mean brightness alone; and that a +'colorist' is not one who deals in flaming +colors with the recklessness of a crazy-quilt +maker, but one who justly regards the relationship, +the qualities, and the suitableness +of his colors one to another...." Harmony +strives to associate colors which are congenial +to each other; however, it cannot be comprehended +in the abstract. We bring to our bulletin +work the results of our previous standards +of taste, be these high or low. But +we may raise our standards by holding +ourselves receptive to the influence of art, +whether it be decorative, ceramic, textile, +or pictorial, and appropriate the lessons +which it teaches in blending color into +harmony. The love of prime colors is characteristic +of primitive man, while the appreciation +of the neutral tones is the acquirement +of civilization. Intellectual development conforms +to the epochs of racial progress. Children +love crude and elementary colors. But +while we make concession to their taste we +should also educate it to an appreciation of +the refined in color.</p> + +<p>The question of economy often arises in +connection with bulletin work. Are bulletins +sufficiently useful and effective to pay for the +outlay of time and money? In a system of +central and branch libraries this is not so +serious a problem as the same bulletin may be +of service in the various libraries. The tendency +toward extravagance would appear in +the excessive quantity of bulletins exhibited, +rather than in the expensive quality of any +one of them. Certainly we should strive to +be economical in the sense of planning the +material without loss or waste, but "whatever +is worth doing at all is worth doing well," +and the main question is, are bulletins worth +doing at all? The bulletin justifies itself +by the results it accomplishes in calling +attention to subjects, guiding the reading, +circulating books, and increasing the children's +observation and enjoyment of pictures.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="REFERENCE_WORK_WITH_CHILDREN" id="REFERENCE_WORK_WITH_CHILDREN">REFERENCE WORK WITH CHILDREN.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Harriet H. Stanley</span>, <i>Brookline</i> (<i>Mass.</i>) <i>Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>Preliminary to preparing this report, +a list of 15 questions was sent to a number +of libraries in different parts of the United +States, from 24 of which replies were received. +So far as space would permit, the facts and +opinions obtained have been embodied in this +paper.</p> + +<p>Reference work with grown people consists +in supplying material on various topics; we +consider it sufficiently well done when the +best available matter is furnished with as little +cost of time and trouble to the inquirer as +is consistent with the service we owe to other +patrons of the library. To a certain extent +this statement is true also of reference work +with children, but I think we are agreed that +for them our aim reaches further—reaches +to a familiarity with reference tools, to knowing +how to hunt down a subject, to being able +to use to best advantage the material found. +In a word, we are concerned not so much to +supply information as to educate in the use +of the library. Seventeen of the 24 libraries +reporting judge children to be sent to them +primarily, if not wholly, for information. One +of the first steps towards improving and developing +reference work with children will +have been taken when the teacher appreciates +the larger purpose, since the point of view +must materially affect the character and scope +of the work. Another forward step is for +the library to have definitely in mind some +plan for accomplishing these ends. Whatever +the plan, it will in likelihood have to be +modified to accord with the teacher's judgment +and needs, but a definite proposal ought +at least to give impetus to the undertaking.</p> + +<p>Six libraries state that a considerable part of +the inquiries they receive from children are +apparently prompted by their individual inter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>ests, +and not suggested by the teacher. These +inquiries relate chiefly to sports, mechanical +occupations and pets. This paper is confined +to the discussion of reference work connected +with the schools.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Library facilities.</i></p> + +<p>In selecting reference books for the purpose, +certain familiar ones come at once to +our minds. Beyond those there have been +suggested: Chase and Clow's "Stories of industry," +"Information readers," Brown's +"Manual of commerce," Boyd's "Triumphs +and wonders of the 19th century," Patton's +"Resources of the United States," Geographical +readers, <i>Youth's Companion</i> geographical +series, Spofford's "Library of historic +characters," Larned's "History for ready +reference," Ellis's "Youth's dictionary of +mythology," Macomber's "Our authors and +great inventors," Baldwin's "Fifty famous +stories," "Riverside natural history," Wright's +"Seaside and wayside," bound volumes of the +<i>Great Round World,</i> and text-books on various +subjects.</p> + +<p>A dictionary catalog will be useful in teaching +the child to look up subjects for himself. +If a separate catalog is provided for children, +the question arises whether it is wiser to follow +closely the A. L. A. headings or to modify +them where they differ from topics commonly +asked for by children or used as headings in +text-books. This question suggests also the +advisability of a modified classification for a +children's library.</p> + +<p>Last and not least, children should have +room and service adapted to their needs, so +that they may not constantly have to be put +aside in deference to the rightful demands of +adult readers.</p> + +<p>So far as the writer knows, the Public Library +of Boston was the first library to open +a reference room expressly for children, well +equipped and separate from the children's +reading room or circulating department, and +from the general reference department for +adults.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Choice of topics.</i></p> + +<p>Many libraries report that they find the +topics habitually well chosen. The gist of the +criticisms is as follows:</p> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) The teacher should make clear to the +child just what he is to look up and how to +ask for it. An eastern library furnishes this +incident:</p> + +<p>"I want a book about flowers."</p> + +<p>"Do you want a special flower?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I want the rose."</p> + +<p>A book on the cultivation of roses is handed +her. Her companion, looking over, exclaims, +"Why, she wants the <i>Wars of the roses!</i>" +The same librarian was invited to provide +something on <i>American privileges;</i> whether +social, religious, political, or otherwise, the +child did not know.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) The teacher should be reasonably sure +that there is on the topic something in print, +in usable shape, that can be gotten at with +a reasonable amount of labor.</p> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) The subject when found should be +within the child's comprehension. The topic +<i>Grasses</i> is manifestly unfit for children, since +grasses are difficult to study, and the description +of them in encyclopedias and botanies is +too technical. An eight-year-old had to investigate +the <i>Abyssinian war</i>. Pupils under +16 were assigned the topic <i>Syncretism in the +later pagan movement</i>. A western librarian +was asked by some girls for Kipling's "Many +inventions" and "Day's work." Both were out. +"Well, what other books of Kipling's on <i>agriculture</i> +have you?" "Why, Kipling hasn't +written any books on <i>agriculture;</i> he writes +stories and poems." "But we have to debate +on whether agriculture or manufacturing has +done more for the welfare of the country, and +we want a book on both sides."</p> + +<p>(<i>d</i>) The topic should be definite and not +too broad, and should be subdivided when +necessary. The briefest comprehensive description +of <i>Rome</i> is probably that in Champlin's +"Persons and places," where the six +columns, already much condensed, would take +more than an hour to copy. A young girl +came to find out about Italian painters. None +of the several encyclopedias treated them +collectively under either <i>Italy</i> or <i>Art</i>. Mrs. +Bolton's book of 10 artists includes four Italians, +but it takes some time and skill to discover +them, as the fact of their nationality +does not introduce the narrative. How should +a sixth grade pupil make a selection from +the 60 painters in Mrs. Jameson's book? +Three names were furnished by the librarian, +and the child made notes from their biog<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>raphies. +The next day she returned and said +she hadn't enough artists.</p> + +<p>(<i>e</i>) The question should preferably be of +such nature that the child can be helped to +find it rather than be obliged to wait while +the librarian does the work. One inquiry +was, "What eastern plant is sometimes sold +for its weight in gold?" This is not in the +book of "Curious questions."</p> + +<p>(<i>f</i>) The topic should be worth spending +time upon. The <i>genealogy of Ellen Douglas</i> +will hardly linger long in the average memory.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Use made of the material by the child.</i></p> + +<p>Suppose the topic to be good and suitable +material to have been found; for older children +there are two good ways of using it—one +to read through and make notes on the +substance, the other to copy in selection. +Children need practice in doing both. The +first method suits broad description and narration, +the second detailed description. There +seems to be a prevailing tendency to copy +simply, without sufficient neglect of minor +points, a process which should be left to the +youngest children, since it furnishes little +mental training, uses a great deal of time, +keeps the writer needlessly indoors, and fosters +habits of inattention, because it is easy to +copy with one's mind elsewhere. The necessity +for using judgment after the article has +been found is illustrated by the case of some +children who came for the life of Homer. +Champlin, in about a column, mentions the +limits within which the conjectures as to the +time of Homer's birth lie, the places which +claim to be his birthplace, and tells of the +tradition of the blind harper. The children, +provided with the book, plunged at once into +copying until persuaded just to read the column +through. "When you finish reading," I +said, "come to me and tell me what it says." +They came and recounted the items, and only +after questioning did they at all grasp the +gist of the matter, that nothing is known +about Homer. Even then their sense of responsibility +to produce something tangible was +so great that they would copy the details, +and from the children who came next day I +judged that the teacher had required some +facts as to time and place and tradition. +While it is true that we learn by doing and it +is well that children should rely upon themselves, +it is evident that young pupils need +some direction. Even when provided with +sub-topics, they often need help in selecting +and fitting together the appropriate facts, +since no article exactly suits their needs. +About half of the reporting librarians are of +the opinion that it is the teacher's business to +instruct pupils in the use of books; they consider +the library to have done its share when +the child has been helped to find the material. +The other half believe such direction +as is suggested above to be rightly within the +librarian's province; several, however, who +express a willingness to give such help, add +that under their present library conditions it +is impracticable. We can easily see that time +would not permit nor would it be otherwise +feasible for the teacher to examine every collection +of notes made at the library, but there +ought to be some systematic work where the +topics are thoughtfully chosen, the librarian +informed of them in advance, and the notes +criticised. A moderate amount of reference +work so conducted would be of greater benefit +than a large quantity of the random sort +which we now commonly have. Five librarians +state that they are usually given the +topics beforehand. Several others are provided +with courses of study or attend grade +meetings in which the course is discussed.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Systematic instruction in the use of the library.</i></p> + +<p>While a general effort is being made to instruct +children individually, only a few libraries +report any systematic lessons. In Providence +each visiting class is given a short description +of books of reference. In Hartford +an attempt at instruction was made following +the vacation book talks. In Springfield, +Mass., last year the senior class of the literature +department was given a lesson on the +use of the library, followed by two practice +questions on the card catalog. In one of the +Cleveland branches talks are given to both +teachers and pupils. At the Central High +School of Detroit the school librarian has for +the past three years met the new pupils for 40 +minutes' instruction, and test questions are +given. A detailed account of similar work +done in other high school libraries is to be +found in the proceedings of the Chautauqua +conference. Cambridge has given a lecture +to a class or classes of the Latin school. In +the current library report of Cedar Rapids,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +Ia., is outlined in detail a course of 12 lessons +on bookmaking, the card catalog, and +reference books. The librarian of Michigan +City, Ind., writes: "Each grade of the schools, +from the fifth to the eighth, has the use of +our class room for an afternoon session each +month. Each child is assigned a topic on +which to write a short composition or give a +brief oral report. When a pupil has found +all he can from one source, books are exchanged, +and thus each child comes into contact +with several books. At these monthly +library afternoons I give short talks to the +pupils on the use of the library, the reference +books, and the card catalog, accompanied by +practical object lessons and tests." At Brookline +our plan is to have each class of the +eighth and ninth grades come once a year to +our school reference room at the library. The +teacher accompanies them, and they come in +school hours. The school reference librarian +gives the lesson. For the eighth grade we +consider the make-up of the book—the title-page +in detail, the importance of noting the +author, the significance of place and date and +copyright, the origin of the dedication, the +use of contents and index. This is followed +by a description of bookmaking, folding, sewing +and binding, illustrated by books pulled +to pieces for the purpose. The lesson closes +with remarks on the care of books. The +ninth grade lesson is on reference books, and +is conducted largely by means of questioning. +A set of test questions at the end emphasizes +the description of the books. In these lessons +the pupils have shown an unexpected degree +of interest and responsiveness. The course +brought about 400 children to the library, a +few of whom had never been there before. +These were escorted about a little, and shown +the catalog, charging desk, bulletins, new +book shelves, etc. Every one not already holding +a card was given an opportunity to sign a +registration slip. The following year the +eighth grade, having become the ninth, has +the second lesson. With these lessons the attitude +of the children towards the library has +visibly improved, and we are confident that +their idea of its use has been enlarged.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Bibliographical work.</i></p> + +<p>The inquiry was made of the reporting libraries +whether any bibliographical work was +being done by the high school. The question +was not well put, and was sometimes misunderstood. +Almost no such work was reported. +At Evanston, Ill., one high school +teacher has taught her class to prepare bibliographies, +the librarian assisting. At Brookline +we have ambitions, not yet realized, of +getting each high school class to prepare one +bibliography a year (we begin modestly) on +some subject along their lines of study. Last +May the principals of two grammar schools +offered to try their ninth grades on a simple +bibliography. The school reference librarian +selected some 60 topics of English history—Bretwalda, +Sir Isaac Newton, East India +Company, the Great Commoner, etc. Each +bibliography was to include every reference +by author, title and page to be found in the +books of the school reference collection of +the public library. The pupils displayed no +little zest and enjoyment in the undertaking, +and some creditable lists were made. Observation +of the work confirmed my belief in its +great practical value. Pupils became more +keen and more thorough than in the usual +getting of material from one or two references +on a subject. Such training will smooth +the way and save the time of those students +who are to make use of a college library, and +is even more to be desired for those others +whose formal education ends with the high +or grammar schools.</p> + +<p>The practice of sending collections of books +from the public library to the schools is becoming +general. When these collections are +along the lines of subjects studied, it would +seem as if the reference use of the library by +pupils might be somewhat diminished thereby. +No doubt it is a convenience to both +teacher and pupils to have books at hand to +which to refer. The possession of an independent +school library also tends to keep the +reference work in the school. But in neither +case ought the reference use of the public library +or its branches to be wholly or materially +overlooked, since it is on that that +pupils must depend in after years, and therefore +to that they must now be directed. We +recognize that the people of modest means +need the library. As for the very well-to-do, +the library needs them. Other things being +equal, the pupil who has learned to know and +to know how to use his public library ought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +later so to appreciate its needs and so to recognize +the benefits it bestows that he will be +concerned to have it generously supported +and wisely administered.</p> + +<p>Even we librarians claim for our public +collections no such fine service as is rendered +by those private treasures that stand on a +person's own shelves, round which "our pastime +and our happiness will grow." Books +for casual entertainment are more and more +easily come by. But so far as our imagination +reaches, what private library will for +most readers supplant a public collection of +books for purposes of study and reference? +Is it not then fitting that we spend time and +effort to educate young people to the use of +the public library? Do not the methods for +realizing this end seem to be as deserving of +systematic study as the details of classification +and of cataloging? We have learned that +to bring school authorities to our assistance +our faith must be sufficient to convince and +our patience must be tempered by a kindly appreciation +of the large demands already made +upon the schools. Have we not yet to learn +by just what lessons and what practice work +the reference use of the public library can +best be taught to children?</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="VITALIZING_THE_RELATION_BETWEEN_THE_LIBRARY_AND_THE_SCHOOL" id="VITALIZING_THE_RELATION_BETWEEN_THE_LIBRARY_AND_THE_SCHOOL">VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">I. <a name="THE_SCHOOL" id="THE_SCHOOL">THE SCHOOL.</a></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By May L. Prentice</span>, <i>City Normal School, Cleveland, O.</i></p> + + +<p>Years ago a little girl ran down a country +road to meet the light wagon returning +from town with the purpose of climbing into +the back and so getting a ride. Without turning, +the wise elder brother spoke from the +driver's seat: "I wouldn't undertake that if I +were you." And over his shoulder a breathless +but dignified voice answered, "But I +have already undertooken it!"</p> + +<p>A similar answer might reasonably be expected +from the library to any well-meant but +tardy advice from the school-side in regard to +the vitalization of the relation between the +school and the library. It has already been +accomplished, and comparatively small thanks +are due to the school for its doing.</p> + +<p>Graded lists of books, special lists of materials +for occasions, library league work, the +establishment of school branch libraries, all +these have been the work of the library in a +much larger measure than of the school.</p> + +<p>However, there are many teachers who +share the library's buoyant faith in the blessing +which books bring. These have been first +to appreciate all which the library has offered +them. They have accepted all that has been +offered them and asked for more. They have +circulated library books through their own +schools, sometimes at considerable cost and +trouble to themselves, and for years have +done all in their power to make their pupils +wise and discriminating patrons of the library. +That the children of their care and love +might have life and have it more abundantly—that +is why they have done these things.</p> + +<p>These teachers are comparatively few.</p> + +<p>That it is any function of the school to give +joy to its children is an idea of slow growth. +A child's school-time is usually thought of as +preparation for living and not as living itself. +Hence the rebuke of the teacher to the child +who interrupts the "nature-lesson" to blow +the thistle-down which waves over his head, +or to watch the bee which booms against the +window-pane, or the hawk which floats lazily +against the blue sky. Life is such a wild, wilful, +irregular thing. Quietude, prudent inaction, +is so much safer.</p> + +<p>So with books. It is the old search for +life, life, more abundant life—for knowledge +of it, for entrance into it—which sends the +child to the fairy-story, the boy to the tale +of adventure, the young girl to the story of +romance, the older man and woman to the +realistic novel. And it is the instinctive feeling +of the teacher and parent that life is a +dangerous force and difficult of control which +has made school and home look askance upon +reading which the child finds too enjoyable.</p> + +<p>There is another feeling or belief which lies +back of our doubt of work or study or reading +which is too enjoyable. It is in regard to +the part which love of ease plays in human +enjoyment. Love of ease is strong in human<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +nature, and the man who tries to get his +knowledge of human life mainly through the +novel has indeed sought a short-cut to his +end which will bring him but a short distance +on his way. This is not the time nor +place for the discussion of the value of fiction, +but undoubtedly we are inclined to believe +that man's indolence is a strong factor in +man's enjoyment of certain lines of reading, +and indolence is a bad thing. Therefore, we distrust +the value of such reading. Whether we +like or dislike it, however, we are obliged to +admit that fiction is a permanent form of literature, +that our children will read it, and that +the question for us to settle is shall it be good +or poor.</p> + +<p>What, then, has the teacher to do? Two +things: To <i>be</i> the atmosphere from which the +child breathes in love for and delight in good +books. This is first. All things in the way of +learning are possible after this. Second, to +be the pupil's guide and director in what may +be called his "laboratory practice" with books.</p> + +<p>The Autocrat, mellowest of men of ideas, +once suggested that every college and university +should have a professorship of books. +The Autocrat was an ingrained aristocrat, although +one most mild and kind. The true +democratic idea is that a professorship of +books should be established in every school-room.</p> + +<p>But how shall the blind lead the blind? +How shall the teacher who herself never has +learned to know, to enjoy, and to choose good +books guide others to do so?</p> + +<p>The library is a storehouse of great thought, +an unfailing source of healthful recreation, +but also the library is the mine in which the +practical man and woman, the lawyer, the +machinist, the scientist, the teacher, must dig +deep for information, if he is to keep near the +head in his own line of work.</p> + +<p>So far, as I have said before, nearly all +organized effort to teach the teachers along +these lines has come from the library. Certain +normal school and college librarians have +done much, but to a large extent the work +has been on sufferance. Odds and ends of the +students' time and attention have been given +to it.</p> + +<p>The desirable thing is that the study of juvenile +literature and the use of the library shall +take equal rank with other studies in the preparation +of prospective teachers; that the normal +school, the pedagogical department of the +college and university, the teachers' <a name="summerschool" id="summerschool">summer-school</a> +and institute, shall recognize this subject +in their curricula.</p> + +<p>The practical side of library use—its use +for information—is easily seen by the public, +and schools for teachers can quite readily +be induced to make room for the course of +study suggested.</p> + +<p>In the Cleveland City Normal Training +School an attempt to carry out such a course +of study has been made. A term's work is +given in juvenile literature and the use of the +library. Moreover, this subject is placed upon +an equality with the philosophy of teaching, +history of education and psychology.</p> + +<p>As yet the work is not thoroughly organized. +We feel, however, that some things of +value have been already accomplished.</p> + +<p>In a twelve-weeks' term a class of 116 +prospective teachers (the junior class of the +school) have taken notes on a series of talks +on reference books. They have learned something +of the comparative value of various +standard encyclopædias, gazetteers, dictionaries +and indexes, and they have been sent to +the public library a half-day at a time to do +work which required the use of these.</p> + +<p>For instance, a study of the life of Robert +Louis Stevenson was made for the purpose of +giving a talk on the subject to fifth-grade +pupils. The students were required to look +up all the available material in the library, +looking not only in the printed and card +catalogs for individual and collective biography, +but in the various indexes—Poole's, the +Annual, the Cumulative—for magazine articles. +They were required to select the four or +five articles found most valuable and to estimate +their comparative value for the purpose +in hand, making definite statements of +the points of value. They were required to +make careful and well-worded notes from the +best material available, either books or periodicals, +always giving the source, and to read +these notes in class subject to the criticism of +their instructor and school mates. And, lastly, +they were required to write the story of +Stevenson's life as they would tell it to the +children.</p> + +<p>Careful instruction in the use of the printed +and card catalogs and of indexes had pre<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>ceded +this assignment. We were fortunate in +possessing quite a large number of issues of +the Cumulative index unbound. It was thus +possible to place one of these in the hands of +each student during instruction on the subject. +This was a considerable aid.</p> + +<p>There was too much work with the less-used +ready-reference books. Next year the +number will be largely reduced.</p> + +<p>A study of fairy stories was made. An attempt +was made to find a philosophical basis +for the love of children for fairy stories. An +attempt was made to discriminate between the +good and the bad fairy story. Felix Adler's +"Moral instruction of children" was helpful +here, but the study of the fairy stories at +first hand is still more helpful.</p> + +<p>The following books were read by the +whole class:</p> + +<p>(1) Alcott's "Little Women." Lessons were +given on reading it with the children.</p> + +<p>(2) Mara L. Pratt's "History stories," +vol. 3.</p> + +<p>(3) Eggleston's "First lessons in American +history." The Pratt and Eggleston books +were read in succession for the purpose of +contrasting them. A yet better contrast would +have been Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories."</p> + +<p>(4) Frau Spyri's "Heidi." Some of our +girls read this story in the original German +but most in the translation published by +Ginn & Co. It is a charming story of a +breezy little maiden whose home was in the +Swiss Alps, and one of the rather scarce desirable +books for the fourth grade.</p> + +<p>(5) Mrs. Burnett's "Sara Crewe." This +was read as a type of the "child novel" and +for the sake of a study of the charms, dangers +and benefits of this class of books.</p> + +<p>(6) Howard Pyle's "Men of iron" was +read as a study of the worthy historical story.</p> + +<p>The following outline was given the students +as an aid in judging the books read: +<i>Outline to aid in estimating a juvenile book</i>.</p> + + +<p class="hangingindent">1. Written when? By whom? For children +or adults? [e.g., "Robinson Crusoe" +and "Gulliver's travels" were written +for adults.] If for children, of what +age? (Consider both manner and matter.)</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">2. Essential purpose of the book: Recreative? +Instructive? Moral? Is the recreation +afforded wholesome? The instruction +reliable? The moral lessons +sound?</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">3. Style: Is it clear? Correct? Beautiful? +Suitable?</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">4. If a story, What is the strongest character +in it? The most effective passage? +Give reasons for thinking so. Is it +true to life?</p> + +<p class="hangingindent">5. Is the book a creator of ideals? How so? +Along what lines?</p> + +<p>An effort was made that there should be +no formal adherence to this outline. Papers +on the books read were required in which the +outline could not be used. For example, +after reading "Men of iron" the students were +required to write, in class, a paper on "The +education of a boy in chivalry" based on the +story of Myles Falworth.</p> + +<p>The oral discussions of these books were +often very animated.</p> + +<p>Each student was also required to hand +in an annotated list of at least 20 books actually +read by the student and judged by +her suitable for the grade in which she is to +train. An oral discussion of these lists took +place, and the student in many cases was +required to justify her judgment, and to +answer questions in regard to the books read.</p> + +<p>Some of these lists were very cheering. +One excellent list for the sixth grade, with +very original annotations contained 60 instead +of 20 books actually read, and 30 more +which the student had listed to be read at +her convenience.</p> + +<p>Not all of the lists were of that character. +A list for the third grade recommended "Gulliver's +travels, by Gulliver" as a valuable aid +in geography.</p> + +<p>The instance is eloquent of the value of a +course of study which results in the illumination +or the elimination of such a student.</p> + +<p>Much remains to be worked out, but a beginning +has been made.</p> + +<p>Ours is one instance of the awakening of the +school to the value of the privileges which +the library gives it. And as the reward of +doing work well is invariably to have more +work to do, from the school fully awakened +the library shall receive its exceeding great +reward in more work to be done.</p> + +<p>Except for the hearty co-operation of the +Cleveland Public Library the little experiment +here outlined could not have been undertaken.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3>VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL.</h3> + +<p class="center">II. <a name="THE_LIBRARY" id="THE_LIBRARY">THE LIBRARY.</a></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Irene Warren</span>, <i>Librarian University of Chicago School of Education</i>.</p> + + +<p>The establishment of the Library Section +of the National Educational Association +was proof that the thoughtful librarians +and school men of this country believed that +an effective co-operation between public +schools and public libraries was possible. In +many states library sections of the state teachers' +associations have been formed. Many +public libraries have for some time past systematically +sent both books and lists of books +to the public schools.</p> + +<p>No sooner had this been done than librarians +and teachers both saw that they had +made but a beginning, and the next steps, +and, indeed, the present needs, are to bring +about a more intelligent use of both books and +libraries and to place larger and better arranged +collections within easy access of the +pupils. Rarely do the teachers find the libraries +adequate to the reference work or the +collateral reading they wish the pupils to do. +The funds are seldom sufficient to keep the +libraries up to date. There is no one person +in the school who knows how to organize and +administer the library, and therefore whatever +work the teachers do in this line is at a greater +expense of both time, energy and material +than it would be were it done by one having +had a library training. The school buildings +are frequently closed to the students shortly +after the school session, usually by five o'clock, +and always on holidays and during vacations. +Most of the pupils' reading and research must +therefore be done in the one or two books +which he carries home with him. The Buffalo +Public Library made another step in organization +when it offered to take the collections of +books from any of the public schools in the +city and in return mend, rebind, catalog, classify +them, furnish such schools as agreed to +this arrangement with the books they needed, +either from their own collections or from +that of the public library, and appoint two +attendants to look after the school work.</p> + +<p>The public school began with the one central +school in the community, but it soon +found that it must establish branches if it +reached all of the children of the city. To-day +there is no town of any considerable size +but has its central school with a high school +usually, and its branches on the north, east, +south and west sides. The public library, +following the public schools, has found that +it cannot reach the people of the community +unless it delivers books to the various parts +of the town, and moreover establishes branch +reading rooms where at least reference books +may be consulted and magazines read.</p> + +<p>As in the history of the schools, so in the +history of the libraries, provision was first +made for the mature student. Educators have +been slow to see that they should begin with +the child before he has established habits of +thought and action. Not until the public library +is considered a vital factor in the educational +scheme of a city can it hope to secure +its best results, nor is this possible when the +central library and its few branches are removed, +as at present, from the public schools. +The libraries and the schools should be +housed in close proximity to do the most effective +work.</p> + +<p>It is with keen interest that the experiment +in New York City is being watched. It certainly +seems as if the most economical arrangement +would be to have the branch of +the public library so placed in a school building +that the students would have free access +to it, and the public also, not only during +school hours but public library hours. It +seems the logical duty of the board of education +to furnish the few necessary reference +books that are in continual demand in every +school room and also the sets of books which +are used for supplementary reading. It does, +on the other hand, seem that the public library +can furnish a larger general collection, +in better editions and keep them in better +condition for less money and with better results +than can the public schools.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>The already crowded curriculum in most +of our public schools made many an educator +hesitate when a course in library economy +was suggested. One can indeed see a time +not far distant, it is hoped, when such a +course will not be thought necessary. Such +a time will be when instructors have awakened +to a much greater appreciation of the +value and use of bibliography and the need of +training students in this line. Along with +this will develop a desire in the student to +keep his own references and material so +arranged that he will be able to use them +easily. There will still be considerable of +a general bibliographical character, <a name="handbooks" id="handbooks">handbooks</a>, +etc., which would be of value in all +subjects and yet perhaps be overlooked by the +specialists, that could be called to the students' +attention through such a pamphlet as was recently +compiled by Mr. Andrew Keogh, of +Yale University Library, under the title, +"Some general bibliographical works of value +to the students of English."</p> + +<p>There is a phase of library economy that +every teacher should know, and which it +seems must always have its proper place in +the curriculum of the normal school. That +is the knowledge of how to obtain books. +Every teacher should know what the laws of +his state are regarding the establishment and +maintenance of the public library and the +public school library, and how these laws +compare with those of other states. He should +know what aid he can gain through the travelling +library system, should he be in a village +or country district, and the possible co-operation +between the public library and the +public schools should he be assigned to a city. +Just as the public schools are finding that they +must adapt their curriculum to the needs of +the children of a certain district or class, so +the public library has the same lesson to learn. +The Carnegie Public Library of Pittsburgh +has been one of the first to recognize this in +the establishment of home libraries. It has +thus reached a class of children that could be +reached in no other way, and why should not +the public library as well as the public school +aim to reach these less fortunate children?</p> + +<p>The subject of children's literature should +be a serious one with every teacher of children. +The best writers for children, best +illustrators, and best editions should be part +of the normal school student's knowledge +when he completes his course and goes out to +teach. It is a great problem with him now +how he shall keep this information up to date, +when there are hundreds of books coming out +every year and his school-room duties absorb +so much of his time. Here is the librarian's +opportunity to be of great aid to the public +school teacher by issuing lists of the best +children's books on various subjects, exhibiting +them in the library from time to time, and +to the schools for trial, as so many libraries +are now doing. In the country districts the +library commissions must supply this information +through annotated lists.</p> + +<p>It has been shown in a number of schools +that children love to make books, and that the +making of books quite successfully lends itself +to the constructive work as carried on in the +schools of to-day. The materials for this +work are not so costly as to make it impossible +for the average school. Every child at +the completion of the graded schools should +know the value of a title-page, the use of the +preface and introductory notes, the difference +between the table of contents and the index, +the best books in the several subjects which he +has studied, and where and how he can obtain +more books on these subjects later, should he +wish them. It would doubtless be a great +surprise to one who has not tried the experiment +to ask the pupils in our graded and high +schools even, for such simple information as +the author, title and date of the text-books +they are using daily.</p> + +<p>If the suggestions in this paper be accepted, +and most of them have already been successfully +tried, it will be seen at once how great +is the importance of having trained librarians +in our normal schools and institutions of +higher learning. The time has now come in +a number of cities which we hope is prophetic +of the future, when the public library stands +equally important as an educational institution +with the public school, each supplementing +the other in work and still distinct in +function and administration. It is therefore +necessary that our teachers should be trained +to use libraries, and that our librarians should +be acquainted with the great educational +movements of the day.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="OPENING_A_CHILDRENS_ROOM" id="OPENING_A_CHILDRENS_ROOM">OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Clara Whitehill Hunt</span>, <i>Newark (N. J.) Free Public Library</i>.</p> + + +<p>In writing this paper on the opening of a +children's room, I am presupposing the following +conditions: That in a library whose +work with the children has been confined to +the general delivery desk, and the divided attention +of clerks whose time an adult public +would monopolize, there is to be set aside a +commodious apartment to be known as the +Children's Room; that, considering this work +of enough importance to demand such a department, +the trustees are prepared to support +it by a reasonable outlay for new books, +necessary and convenient furnishings, and especially +by placing in its charge one who, by +natural fitness and special training they believe +to be so thoroughly capable of supervising +the work, that she is to be given a free +hand in deciding both how the room is to be +made ready for opening, and how managed +after it is opened. This being the case, I +imagine the children's librarian, with opening +day a few weeks or months ahead, planning +her campaign with such wise foresight and +attention to the smallest detail that, in the +rush of the first weeks, there may be the least +possible wear and tear on nerves and temper +from petty inconveniences which assume gigantic +proportions when one is hurried and +tired, and the smallest amount of undoing +and beginning over again as time goes on.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to be clear in speaking of furnishings +without something more than verbal +description for illustrating mistakes and excellences, +but so much power can be lost by +not having the parts of the machine properly +fitted and well oiled that how to furnish the +children's room becomes one of the most important +topics under this subject.</p> + +<p>To begin with, the children's librarian must +cultivate, if she does not already possess, the +architect's faculty of seeing a completed structure +in a flat piece of paper marked off by +lines labelled 20 ft., 50 ft., etc. If 20 ft. does +not mean anything to her she would do well +to take a tape measure to an empty lot and +measure off the exact dimensions of her room +to be, until she can see its floor space clearly. +She should live in her room before its existence, +locating every door and window, the +height of the windows from the floor, every +corner and cupboard, the relation of her room +to the other departments of the library. In +proceeding to furnish the room she will learn +what to adopt and what to avoid by visiting +other children's rooms and asking if the tables +and chairs are the correct height, if the exit +is satisfactorily guarded, what working space +is necessary for a certain circulation, whether +the electric light fixtures are easily broken, +and many other things. If she cannot make +such visits, her knowledge of children and a +study of conditions in her own library will +answer.</p> + +<p>Limited to a small space the children's +room is nevertheless a circulating department, +a reading room, a reference room, perhaps a +repair room, and a cataloging department all +in one; and if the children's librarian has not +had actual work in each of these departments +of her library, she should serve an apprenticeship +at the receiving and charging desks, +the registration desk, the slip rack, not only +for the sake of knowing the routine of each +department, but for studying improvements in +planning her furnishings. The registration +clerk will tell her that she has not enough +elbow room, that the application drawers are +too narrow or too heavy; the attendants at +the charging desk find every present arrangement +so satisfactory that they advise exact +reproduction. Armed with pad and tape +measure the children's librarian notes all these +points.</p> + +<p>The problem how with a minimum of help +to "run" all departments, to see all parts of +the room, to keep your eye on the entrance +so as to nip in the bud any tendency to boisterousness +as the children come in, and to +watch the exit so that no book goes out uncharged, +how to keep all unfinished work out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +of the children's reach but to give them perfectly +free access to the books, in short, how +to arrange your working space so that one +person on a moderately busy day can attend +to all these things, may be answered, I think, +in this way. All wall space will sooner or +later be needed for books. Taking an oblong +floor space (dimensions proportionate to size +of room and circulation) and surrounding +this by a counter 30 inches high and two feet +wide, is a simple way of accomplishing these +things. The counter opposite the entrance is +the receiving and charging desk; at another +place it is the registration desk; books after +"slipping" are piled in another part ready for +return to shelves; books waiting to be marked +occupy a fourth section; the catalog case, notices +to children, call-slip holders, etc., stand +on the counter. The space under the counter +is available for supply cupboards and drawers. +The height of the counter is such that a +grown person sitting in an ordinary chair +works comfortably behind it, but it is so low +that no small child feels frowningly walled +out in standing on the other side. Thus all +the work of the room is concentrated and +supervision is easy. A few details are worth +noticing. First, don't let the carpenter give +you drawers instead of cupboards. Drawers +are wasteful of room for packing supplies, +and of time in hunting for them. Next, have +the cupboard doors slide, not swing, open, for +economy of your working floor space. Underneath +registration and charging desks leave +space empty for your feet. Just under counter +near the registration desk have a row of +drawers, sliding easily but fastened so they +cannot fall out, made of the exact size to hold +your application blanks and cards, with guide +cards. A work table within the counter will +be necessary.</p> + +<p>In addition to this working space, every +large children's room should have a locked +closet, or better still, a work room opening +from it. In busy times things <i>will</i> accumulate +which must be kept out of reach, and it +would not be sensible to take valuable space +out of the children's room to hold such accumulations +until you have time to attend to +them.</p> + +<p>The height of the children's chairs and +tables seems to have reached a standard in +children's rooms—tables 22 and 28 inches high, +with chairs 14 and 16 inches to go with them. +I think it best to have very few tables of the +smaller size, for tall boys take the strangest +delight in crouching over them, snarling their +long legs around the short table legs and trying, +apparently, to get a permanent twist to +their shoulders. Small children do not stay +long, and it is less harmful, if necessary, for +them to sit in a chair a little too high than to +compel large children to spend a holiday afternoon +with bodies contorted to fit a small +chair and table.</p> + +<p>By all means have the electric light <i>fixed</i> +in the center of the table so that each child +gets an equal share of light, and have the +connections so made that jarring the table +and the movements of restless feet will not +put the fixtures out of order. Be very careful +not to have the shade so high that the +glare of the lamp instead of the restful green +shade is opposite the child's eyes.</p> + +<p>When you see a chair that you like, find +out before purchasing whether it is very easily +tipped over. You will know why, if you +are not wise, on some rainy day, when the +room is full of readers and the reports of +chairs suddenly knocked over sound like a +fusillade of cannon balls.</p> + +<p>Leaving this hasty and most unsatisfactory +discussion on getting the <i>place</i> ready for +opening, I would say a word about getting +the <i>books</i> ready—not about buying a large +quantity of new, and putting the old into the +best possible condition of repair and cleanliness, +for that will naturally be done. But +from experience I know that the moment is +golden for weeding out, never to return, authors +you think objectionable.</p> + +<p>Suppose a girl reads nothing but the Elsie +books. Very likely one reason is that she +knows little about any other kind. In a +printed catalog with a scattering "j" between +many titles of adult books it is easier to +make lists of numbers from the long sets of +prolific writers, and those excellent authors +who have produced only a few books for +children are oftenest overlooked. Suppose in +the process of moving the Elsie books are left +behind. The little girl comes into the beau<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>tiful +new children's room. She sees the shining +new furniture, the pictures, the comfortable +tables and chairs and book cases so +planned that any child can reach any book. +She finds that there is perfect freedom for +every child in this room—that no stern +Olympian comes and says, "Don't do this," +and "You can't have that," and "Those books +aren't for you," but that among all these +hundreds of fresh new covers she may take +her pick, may sit anywhere, or stand or kneel +as she chooses. Do you imagine that, as these +unaccustomed delights sink into her mind, +any child is going off in a huff when she finds +one author is lacking, if the children's librarian +uses any tact in introducing her to others +adapted to her tastes? I have been asked for +Alger and Optic and Elsie, of course, though +much less often than I anticipated, but I am +perfectly certain that I have never lost a +"customer" because I did not display these +wares. One little girl exclaimed in doleful +tones, "Oh, haven't you the Elsie books? +Oh, I'm <i>terribly</i> disappointed! I think those +are <i>grand</i> books!" But in spite of this tragic +appeal her curiosity and interest proved +stronger than her disappointment, and I have +the satisfaction of seeing a more wholesome +taste develop in a child who must have been +on the high road to softening of the brain and +moral perversion from association with the +insufferable Elsie. If you once put these +books on the open shelves, however, and later +attempted the weeding out process, a howl +would arise which would not be silenced +without consequences which I, for one, would +not like to face.</p> + +<p>Furniture and books are comparatively simple +matters to make ready, but to prepare +your assistant or assistants for opening day +and the time that follows is harder. The external +preparation for the rush of the first +weeks consists in drill in the routine to be +observed. Assigning a place and certain +duties to each person, foreseeing as far as +possible all questions that may arise and +making sure that each attendant understands +what to do in any case, having a place for +everything, and everything in its place, and +every person knowing what that place is, so +that there will be no frantic search for an +extra set of daters when a long line of people +stands waiting—this also requires only foresight +and firmness. But so deeply to imbue +your chief assistant with your spirit and principles +of management that she will not simply +obey your directions, but be inwardly guided +by your desires, and there may be no break +in the steady march to a definite end—this +demands that rare species of assistant who +is born, not made, for the position, and a +leader who possesses strength, tact, contagious +enthusiasm, a likeable personality, and +other qualities difficult to attain.</p> + +<p>This brings us to the consideration of what +the guiding principles of the new department +are to be—a question which must be pondered +and settled by the children's librarian +before making the external preparations. If +the senior members of the American Library +Association, the librarians-in-chief, would +consider the children's room of enough importance +to give us their ideas of what it +should stand for, what its scope should be, +the result might be more uniformity of +thought among members of the library profession +in this regard, and a more sensible +attitude toward the children's room in the +library. Between those who, on the one hand, +take themselves so very seriously, pondering +with anxious care what probable effect on the +child's future career as a reader the selection +of a blue or a green mat for mounting the +picture bulletin would have, and those who +look upon the children's room merely as an +interesting plaything, driving the big boys +away in disgust by encouraging visitors who +exclaim, "Oh, what cunning little chairs and +tables! Why, you have a regular kindergarten +here, haven't you?"—from either point +of view, the discussions on children's rooms +in libraries seem almost to lose sight of +the very word library and all it carries +with it.</p> + +<p>The children's room is only one room in a +great dignified library. As the newspaper +room, the catalog room, and all the rest are +fitted up with furnishings suited to their peculiar +needs, so the children's room is furnished +with tables and chairs and books +suited to its constituents. Apart from this, +all its management and spirit should corre<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>spond +as closely as possible to that of the +other departments. The same dignity, the +same freedom, the same courteous attention +to every want without fussy attentions which +by grown people would be called intrusiveness +should prevail. Make the selection of books +what it should be, provide guides and catalogs, +perfectly clear but not patronizingly +written down, show the children that you are +always willing to respond in every way to +their <a name="questions" id="questions">questions</a>, and then—let them alone!</p> + +<p>Some one has asked me to speak on the +question of discipline. After the first two or +three weeks, if one begins properly, there +will be no such question. Allowing something +for the noise of small feet which have +not learned to control themselves as they will +later on, and expecting more "talking over" +an interesting "find" than is common with +adults, one should aim for library order. +Teach the children what a library reading +room means. If in the first days there is a +disposition on the part of any boy to be rough +or unruly, or if a group of girls make a visiting-and-gum-chewing +rendezvous of your +tables, don't waste any time in Sunday-school +methods of discipline, trying to keep a hold +on the child at any cost to the library. A +sentence in a report of Pratt Institute children's +room is worth adopting as a guiding +principle. "The work of the children's room +should be educative, not reformatory." Give +one decided warning and then if a child does +not behave, send him out at once. Do not be +afraid of seeming stern at first. The fascinations +of the room are such that a child who +has been turned away for disobedience comes +back a subdued and chastened young person +and your best friend forever after; then with +your aim and your firmness early settled, you +will have no more thought of discipline than +the reference librarian with his tables full of +studious adults. After the first a little care +about the way a child enters the room will be +all that is necessary. Your courteous manner, +low tones, a little reminder about caps +and clean hands while discharging his book, +will give him the cue as to what is expected, +and he will have a pride in living up to what +is expected of him as a gentleman, not demanded +of him as a child under authority.</p> + +<p>Many other points will engage the thought +of the children's librarian, for example, what +shall be the attitude of the children's room +toward the other departments—whether it is +to encourage the children to make use of the +adults' reference room, to take out cards in +the main delivery department, and get into +the way of reading standard works from suggestions +of the children's librarian; or whether +the line of separation is to be rigid and she +will be jealous of their "graduating" from her +care. How to prepare the public, especially +the school-teaching public, for the opening, so +as to secure their hearty co-operation from +the beginning is worth constant effort. The +question of blanks and forms for the children's +room is a minor matter which is after +all not a small thing. To make as few +changes as possible in the forms already in +use, so that any assistant from the main delivery +room can in emergencies quickly take +up the clerical work of the children's room +without needing to learn a new routine may +save much confusion should the children's +staff all happen to be stricken with grippe at +the same time!</p> + +<p>Beginning early to plan, profiting by other +people's mistakes, getting the routine of each +department at one's finger tips, foreseeing +every probable obstacle and removing each in +imagination, beforehand, proceeding with +calmness and common sense, thus the new +machinery will move as smoothly during +opening weeks as if it had been running for +years, and, as "well begun is half done," +every thought given to preparation while the +room exists only on paper will have a far-reaching +effect on the permanent influences of +the children's room.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_TO_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES_1900-1901" id="REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_TO_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES_1900-1901">REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES; 1900-1901.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By George Watson Cole.</span></p> + + +<p>The period covered by this report is from +June 1, 1900, to July 1, 1901, and includes +all gifts and bequests of $500 or more, +as well as all gifts of 250 volumes and over, +given by any single individual. A few gifts +have been included which fall below these figures +where the importance or value of the gift +seemed to require mention. This report has +been increased by the addition of over 50 +gifts, information of which was received too +late to be inserted before its presentation to +the Waukesha conference. A few others, +which have been announced since July 1, have +also been inserted.</p> + +<p>Much of the information here given has +been obtained by a careful examination of the +<i>Library Journal</i> and <i>Public Libraries</i>. Communications +were sent to all the state library +commissions, several state library associations +and clubs, and to the librarian of libraries +known to have 50,000 volumes or more. +The responses to these communications have +been quite general, and the information contained +in the replies has been embodied in +this report. The thanks of the compiler are +herewith extended to all who have assisted +him in collecting the material for this list.</p> + +<p>It was suggested by Miss Hewins in 1896 +that it would be desirable to have the library +commission of each state appoint some librarian, +or library trustee, who should be responsible +for the collection of information +regarding the gifts and bequests made within +his state. Judging from the replies received +this year the suggestion has never been carried +out.</p> + +<p>Following the example of my predecessor, +I wish to emphasize the importance of the +suggestion, and would further recommend +that the information so gathered be divided +as nearly as possible into the following +classes:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="p0 hangingindent">1. Buildings, giving value or cost;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">2. Sites, giving value or cost;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">3. Cash for buildings, with accompanying +conditions, if any;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">4. Cash for sites, with accompanying conditions, +if any;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">5. Books, pamphlets, periodicals, prints, +maps, etc., giving number of each kind, +with value or cost of the whole, if +known;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">6. Cash for books, etc., with accompanying +conditions, if any;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">7. Cash for endowment funds, giving purpose +for which income is to be expended;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">8. Cash to be expended, with specified purposes +for which it is to be spent;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">9. Cash given unconditionally;</p> + +<p class="p0 hangingindent">10. Miscellaneous gifts, specifying their nature +and value.</p></blockquote> + +<p>It will be observed that the first four of the +above headings relate to gifts of real estate, +which should also include gifts for fixtures of +any kind, such as plants for lighting, heating, +and ventilation; mural decorations, such as +frescoes; furniture, so constructed as to be +an essential part of the building; landscape +gardening, etc. The remaining headings include +books, endowment funds for various purposes +(excepting building funds and the other +objects just mentioned), and gifts of money +for administration, current expenses, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Then, too, information should be given as +to whether a gift has been offered, accepted, +or received.</p> + +<p>It seems desirable that information relating +to such old and moribund libraries as have +been absorbed or merged with newer and +more vigorous institutions should somewhere +find a record. As such transfers are usually +made as gifts, there seems to be no more +suitable place for such a record than in the +annual report of Gifts and Bequests. It is +to be hoped that, in the future, the tables of +statistics issued from time to time by the state +library commissions, the U. S. Bureau of +Education, and others will contain a record +of the final disposition of such libraries.</p> + +<p>In the report of Gifts and Bequests made +by Mr. Stockwell, a year ago, covering a pe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>riod +of two years, there were given 458 separate +gifts, amounting to over $10,500,000, +and distributed among 36 states and the District +of Columbia. This report, covering 13 +months, includes 482 separate gifts, amounting +to $19,786,465.16, and is distributed as +follows: 468 in 39 of the United States, 10 +in the British provinces, and three in Scotland. +To that princely philanthropist, Mr. +Andrew Carnegie, we are indebted, during +the past year, for gifts reaching the enormous +aggregate of $13,704,700, over $12,500,000 of +which was given for the erection of library +buildings. In every case the gift, except where +otherwise specified, was made upon the condition +that the city or town receiving it should +furnish a site for the building and appropriate +yearly for the maintenance of the library a +sum equivalent to 10 per cent. of the gift.</p> + +<p>The most notable gifts of the year are due +to the ever-increasingly generous hand of Mr. +Carnegie. That to the city of New York of +$5,200,000, for the erection of 65, or more, +branch libraries, is probably the largest library +gift ever made at one time to a single +city. His gift of $1,000,000 to the city of St. +Louis for library buildings and an equal sum, +placed in trust as an endowment fund, for +the Carnegie libraries at Braddock, Duquesne, +and Homestead, Pa., occupy the second +and third positions, by reason of their +amounts. His recent gifts of $750,000 each to +the cities of Detroit and San Francisco, though +announced since July 1, have been included in +this report. Mr. Carnegie's gifts during the +year number 121; 112 in the United States, six +in Canada, and three in Scotland. One hundred +and seven of these gifts in the United States +were for library buildings. Of the remaining +five, amounting to $1,028,000, one of $25,000 +will probably be used for a building.</p> + +<p>The transfer of the John Carter Brown +Library to Brown University by the trustees +of the estate of the late John Nicholas Brown, +recently announced, is one of the most important +library events of the year. This library +contains, if not the finest, at least one +of the finest collections of early Americana +in this country, and possesses many books +not to be found in any other library on this +side of the Atlantic. Its collector, after whom +it is named, was a competitor with Lenox, +Brinley, and other early collectors of Americana +for many a choice nugget which Henry +Stevens and other European dealers had secured +for their American patrons. The library +is estimated to be worth at least $1,000,000, +and the gift carries with it two legacies, +one of $150,000 for a library building, and another +of $500,000 as an endowment fund for +its increase and maintenance.</p> + +<p>The gift of four public-spirited citizens of +St. Louis, who have jointly contributed $400,000 +to lift an incumbrance on the block to be +used for the new Carnegie library in that city, +is a noble example of public spirit, and one +of which the friends of that city may justly +feel proud.</p> + +<p>The collection of Oriental literature of +Yale University has been enriched by the gift +of 842 Arabic manuscripts, many of which +are extremely rare. The collection covers the +whole range of Arabic history and literature, +dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.</p> + +<p>This collection, formed by Count Landberg, +was purchased by Mr. Morris K. Jesup, of +New York, at a cost of $20,000, and was presented +by him to the university library. This +library has also received, as a bequest, the +private library of the late Prof. Othniel C. +Marsh, consisting of about 5000 volumes and +10,000 pamphlets, dealing mainly with palæontological +subjects.</p> + +<p>The New York Public Library—Astor, +Lenox, and Tilden foundations—through +the generosity of Mr. Charles Stewart Smith, +has come into possession of a large and valuable +collection of Japanese engravings and +chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, +of the <i>Japanese Mail</i>.</p> + +<p>I regret that I do not have the pleasure to +record any addition, during the year, to the +Publication Fund of the American Library +Association. The Publishing Board is much +hampered by lack of funds from carrying on +its important work. If some philanthropically +inclined person would present a fund, say +$100,000, upon condition that all publications +issued from its income should bear the name +of the fund, it would not only be of inestimable +benefit to the cause of libraries, but +would also be a most enduring monument to +its donor.</p> + +<p>An examination of the following list will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +disclose other gifts worthy of special mention +if space permitted. The main list has been +arranged alphabetically by states, as being the +most convenient for reference. A tabulated +summary, arranged by the geographical sections +of the country, will show how widely +scattered have been the benefactions of the +year, extending from Alabama in the south +to Montreal in the north, and from Bangor +in the east to "where rolls the Oregon" in the +far west.</p> + + +<blockquote> + +<h4>ALABAMA.</h4> + +<p><i>Montgomery.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of books forming its library, from the +Montgomery Library Association.</p> + +<p><i>Tuskegee.</i> Tuskegee Normal and Industrial +Institute. Gift of $20,000, for a library +building, from Andrew Carnegie. The +building will be erected entirely by student +labor.</p> + + +<h4>CALIFORNIA.</h4> + +<p><i>Alameda.</i> Public Library. Gift of $35,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Berkeley.</i> University of California. Gift of +$10,000, as a fund for the purchase of +books for the law library, from Mrs. Jane +Krom Sather, of Oakland, Cal.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, from Col. E. A. Denicke.</p> + +<p>— Gift of about 2500 volumes, being the private +library of the late Regent, A. S. Hallidie, +from Mrs. M. E. Hallidie.</p> + +<p><i>Fresno.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000 for +a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Napa.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for +free public library building, from George +E. Goodman.</p> + +<p><i>San Francisco.</i> Public Library. Gift of $750,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of building and fixtures for Branch Library, +No. 5, estimated to cost $20,000, +from Hon. James D. Phelan, Mayor of San +Francisco.</p> + +<p><i>San Jose.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Stanford University.</i> Leland Stanford University. +Gift of $2000, $1000 for books on +sociology and $1000 for books on bibliography, +special gift from Mrs. J. L. Stanford.</p> + + +<h4>COLORADO.</h4> + +<p><i>Grand Junction.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$8000, increased from $5000, for a library +building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Leadville.</i> City Library Association. Gift of +$100,000, for a public library, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Ouray.</i> Walsh Library. Gift of a library +building, costing $20,000, from Thomas F. +Walsh.</p> + + +<h4>CONNECTICUT.</h4> + +<p><i>Branford.</i> Blackstone Memorial Library. +Bequest of $100,000, from Timothy B. Blackstone, +of Chicago, founder of the library.</p> + +<p><i>Danielsonville.</i> Edwin H. Bugbee Memorial +Building. Bequest of $15,000, for the erection +of a building, also the donor's private +library and cases, from Edwin H. Bugbee.</p> + +<p><i>Derby.</i> Public Library. Gift of a fully +equipped public library building, by Col. +and Mrs. H. Holton Wood, of Boston, the +city to agree to maintain the library and +raise a book fund of $5000, to which sum +the donors will add an equal amount.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $12,000, raised by popular subscription, +towards book fund, from interested +citizens. Nearly $75 was given by public +school children.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $5000, towards a book fund, from +Col. and Mrs. H. Holton Wood.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 900 volumes, from Derby Reading +Circle.</p> + +<p><i>Greenwich.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +as an endowment, from wealthy New +Yorkers.</p> + +<p><i>Hartford.</i> Case Memorial Library, Hartford +Theological Seminary. Gift of $2000 +towards fund for purchase of periodicals, +from Mrs. Charles B. Smith.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $500 for book purchases, from Miss +Anna M. Hills.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 365 volumes, pertaining to missions, +from Rev. A. C. Thompson, D.D.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $5000, from F. B. +Brown.</p> + +<p><i>Kensington.</i> Library Association. Gift of +$10,000, for a new library building, from S. +A. Galpin, of California.</p> + +<p><i>Litchfield.</i> Wolcott Library. Bequest of +$1000, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott, +of Boston, Mass.</p> + +<p><i>Middletown.</i> Wesleyan University. Gifts of +$3604, to be added to Alumni Library Fund.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $483, to be added to the Hunt Library +Endowment. This addition has been +increased to $1000 by the reservation of the +income of the fund.</p> + +<p><i>New Haven.</i> Yale University. Gift of $10,000, +for a fund for the Seminary library +in the department of Philosophy, from Mrs. +John S. Camp, of Hartford, Conn.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1500, a contribution towards an +administration fund, from Charles J. Harris.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1300, for purchases in the department +of Folk-music, from an anonymous +donor.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, for purchases in department +of English literature, from Edward Wells +Southworth, of New York.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $500, a contribution towards an +administration fund, from the Hon. William<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of +Education.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of about 5000 volumes and 10,000 +pamphlets, forming the private library of the +testator, from Prof. Othniel C. Marsh.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, collected +by Count Landberg; bought for $20,000 by +Morris K. Jesup and presented by him to +the University. Many of these Mss. are +very rare. The collection covers the whole +range of Arabic history and literature, dating +back to the 12th and 13th centuries.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a collection of musical manuscripts, +number not stated, from Morris Steinert.</p> + +<p><i>Norwalk.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>South Norwalk.</i> Public Library and Free +Reading Room. Bequest of $1000, for permanent +fund, from R. H. Rowan.</p> + +<p><i>Southington.</i> Public Library. Gift of $5000, +towards a library building, from L. V. +Walkley.</p> + +<p><i>Torrington.</i> Library Association. Bequest +of $100,000, by Elisha Turner. From this +amount is to be deducted the cost of the +library building, about $70,000, which was +being erected by the testator at the time of +his death.</p> + +<p><i>Wallingford.</i> Public Library. Gift of library +building, cost value not stated, from the +late Samuel Simpson, as a memorial to his +daughter.</p> + +<p><i>Windsor.</i> Library Association. Gift of $4000, +towards a library building fund, from Miss +Olivia Pierson.</p> + + +<h4>GEORGIA.</h4> + +<p><i>Atlanta.</i> Carnegie Library. Gift of $20,000, +for furnishings and equipment of new +building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Travelling Libraries for Schools.</i> Gift of 960 +volumes for 16 travelling libraries for country +schools, for that number of counties in +the state, from the Hon. Hoke Smith. It is +planned to have each library remain in a +school for about two months.</p> + + +<h4>ILLINOIS.</h4> + +<p><i>Aurora.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie, +the city to furnish a site and guarantee +$6000 a year maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Centralia.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, the city to provide a site and +$2000 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Chicago.</i> John Crerar Library. Bequest of +$1000, from the late President, Huntington +W. Jackson.</p> + +<p>— Rush Medical College. Gift of 4000 volumes +of medical and surgical books, from +Dr. Christian Fenger. This gift contains a +practically complete collection of German +theses for the past fifty years.</p> + +<p>— University of Chicago. Gift of $30,000, to +endow the history library, from Mrs. Delia +Gallup.</p> + +<p><i>Decatur.</i> Public Library. Gift of $60,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Young Men's Christian Association Library. +Gift of $500, from Miss Helen Gould, +of New York.</p> + +<p><i>Dixon.</i> Dodge Library. Gift of a valuable +and extensive collection of art books, value +and number not stated, from George C. +Loveland.</p> + +<p><i>Evanston.</i> Northwestern University. Gift of +$750, for the purchase of books in political +economy, from Norman Waite Harris, of +Chicago.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $543.50, to be known as the "Class +of '95 Library Fund," the income of at +least 4 per cent. to be used for the increase +of the university library, from the class of +1895.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward library +site fund, from William Deering.</p> + +<p><i>Freeport.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Galesburg.</i> Knox College. Gift of $50,000, +for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public +library building, from Andrew Carnegie. +The city already appropriates $6000 +for library maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Grossdale.</i> Public Library. Gift of $35,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Havana.</i> Public Library. Gift of $5000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Jacksonville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $40,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Kewanee.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Lake Forest.</i> Lake Forest College. Gift of +the Arthur Somerville Reid Memorial Library +building; cost about $30,000, from +Mrs. Simon Reid.</p> + +<p><i>Lincoln.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Maywood.</i> Public Library. Gift of $100, being +surplus campaign funds remaining after +the election, from Republican Committee +of that town.</p> + +<p><i>Pekin.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city has appropriated $1500.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a site for the proposed Carnegie +library building, value not stated, from +George Herget.</p> + +<p><i>Rock Island.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, +for book stacks and furniture, from +Frederick Weyerhauser, of St. Paul.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Rockford.</i> Public Library. Gift of $60,000, +for a new public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, the city to furnish site and +"not less than $8000" yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Springfield.</i> Public Library. Gift of $75,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The City Council appropriated +$10,000 annually in hope that the gift might +be increased to $100,000. The library will +be known as the "Lincoln Library."</p> + +<p><i>Streator.</i> Public Library. Gift of $35,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Sycamore.</i> Public Library. Gift of a library +building, to cost about $25,000, from +Mrs. Everill F. Dutton, as a memorial to +her late husband, Gen. Everill F. Dutton.</p> + +<p><i>Waukegan.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city already appropriates +$2000 for library maintenance.</p> + + +<h4>INDIANA.</h4> + +<p><i>Crawsfordsville.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$25,000, for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Wabash College Library. Gift of the +original manuscript of "The prince of India," +from General and Mrs. Lew Wallace.</p> + +<p><i>Elkhart.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city, in advance, has +pledged $3500 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Elwood.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1000, +through the local Women's Club, from +President Reid, of the American Tin Plate +Co., of New York.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $200, the results of a benefit, from +The Women's Club.</p> + +<p><i>Fort Wayne.</i> Public Library. Gift of $75,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Goshen.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +a library building, from Andrew Carnegie, +the city to furnish $2500 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Indianapolis.</i> Butler College. Gift of $20,000, +for a library building, also a site for +the same, from Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. +Thompson, in memory of their daughter.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of 275 volumes on +music, in memory of her son, Harry S. +Duncan, deceased, from Mrs. Ella S. Duncan. +This collection includes musical scores +of the most famous operas and oratorios, +as well as the best critical works on music.</p> + +<p><i>Lafayette.</i> Public Library. Gift of property, +valued at $15,000, from Mrs. Robert R. +Hitt, of Illinois.</p> + +<p><i>Logansport.</i> Public Library. Gift of a fine +library of historical material relating to the +Mississippi Valley, collected by the late +Judge Horace P. Biddle. This collection +was the result of 60 years of historical research, +and contains originals of maps, +drafts, etc., of great value.</p> + +<p><i>Madison.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Marion.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. A site was purchased some time +ago, and the offer was promptly accepted.</p> + +<p><i>Michigan City.</i> Public Library. Gift of $500, +for books, from Mrs. J. H. Barker.</p> + +<p><i>Muncie.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $6000, from the heirs of an estate, +name not given.</p> + +<p><i>New Harmony.</i> Workingmen's Institute +Public Library. Bequest of $72,000, from +Dr. Edward Murphy. In the final settlement +the amount may exceed these figures.</p> + +<p><i>Peru.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city already appropriates +$2700 yearly for library maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Portland.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Wabash.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 5000 volumes, from Woman's Library +Association. The library has been +turned over to the city to be maintained as +a public library.</p> + +<p><i>Washington.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>IOWA.</h4> + +<p><i>Burlington.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +from Philip M. Crapo.</p> + +<p><i>Cedar Rapids.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Centerville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building and site, from +ex-Governor F. M. Drake, on condition +that a two mills tax be laid for the perpetual +and proper care of the property.</p> + +<p><i>Davenport.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, thereby increasing +former gift to $75,000, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Dubuque.</i> Carnegie-Stout Free Library. Gift +of $50,000, from Andrew Carnegie, on condition +that the Young Men's Library Association +be made the nucleus of a free +public library, and that the city furnish a +site and maintain the institution.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a suitable site for the library building +offered by Andrew Carnegie, valued at +$17,000, from F. D. Stout, given in memory +of his father.</p> + +<p><i>Fayette.</i> Upper Iowa University. Gift of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +$25,000, which will be devoted to library +purposes, probably for a new building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Fort Dodge.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Grinnell.</i> Stewart Library. Gift of a new +library building, costing $15,000, from Joel +Stewart.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a site for new library building, +value not stated, from The Congregational +Church.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $4000, for books, raised by popular +subscription by the citizens of Grinnell.</p> + +<p><i>Iowa Falls.</i> Public Library. Gift of a public +library building, if the city will provide +a suitable site, from E. S. Ellsworth.</p> + +<p><i>Mt. Vernon.</i> Cornell College. Gift of $40,000, +for a library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. Conditions, if any, not stated.</p> + +<p><i>Muscatine.</i> Public Library. A new library +building, to cost about $30,000, by P. M. +Musser, provided the city vote to establish +and maintain the library.</p> + + +<h4>KANSAS.</h4> + +<p><i>Dodge City.</i> Railroad Library and Reading +Room. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa +Fé Railroad Co. are fitting up a library and +reading room at this place for its employés.</p> + +<p><i>Fort Scott.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Kansas City.</i> Public Library. Bequest of +about $6000, from Mrs. Sarah Richart.</p> + +<p><i>Lawrence.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>KENTUCKY.</h4> + +<p><i>Lexington.</i> State College. Gift of $50,000, +from President James K. Patterson.</p> + + +<h4>LOUISIANA.</h4> + +<p><i>New Orleans.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000 +and a valuable collection of books, from +Abram Holker.</p> + + +<h4>MAINE.</h4> + +<p><i>Bangor.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $18,347.26, +towards the building fund, from A. +D. Mason.</p> + +<p>— Gift of building site, costing $7500, from +Nathan C. Ayer.</p> + +<p><i>Belfast.</i> Free Library. Gift of $3000, as a +fund for the purchase of books on history +and biography, in memory of Albert Boyd +Otis, from Albert Crane.</p> + +<p><i>Brunswick.</i> Bowdoin College. The new library +building, given by Gen. Thomas H. +Hubbard, of New York City, reported last +year, at over $150,000, will cost over $200,000.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $2000, from Captain John Clifford +Brown, of Portland.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1200, from an unknown donor, +through a Boston friend.</p> + +<p><i>Fairfield.</i> Public Library. Gift of a library +building, to cost between $8000 and $10,000, +from E. J. Lawrence.</p> + +<p><i>Farmington.</i> Public Library Association. +Gift of $10,000, for a public library building, +from Hon. Isaac Cutler, of Boston, +Mass.</p> + +<p><i>Lewiston.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>MARYLAND.</h4> + +<p><i>Cumberland.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Hagerstown.</i> Washington County Free Library. +Gift of $50,000 and accrued interest +$1250, from B. F. Newcomer, of Baltimore, +the town to furnish a site for building, +which will cost about $25,000.</p> + + +<h4>MASSACHUSETTS.</h4> + +<p><i>Amherst.</i> Amherst College. Gift of $500, to +form a fund for the purchase of Spanish +books, from Hon. John S. Brayton, of Fall +River, Mass.</p> + +<p><i>Bolton.</i> Parker Library. Devise of a dwelling +house and one-half acre of land, on +condition that within one year from the +allowance of the will the town shall establish +a free public library to be known as +the Parker Library, from Louisa Parker.</p> + +<p><i>Boston.</i> Lang Memorial Library. Gift of a +free public library of musical scores, +founded by B. J. Lang, as a memorial to +Ruth Burrage.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Bequest of $4000, from +Abram E. Cutter.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 599 volumes of text-books used +in the public schools of Boston, from the +Boston School Committee, in co-operation +with the publishers.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 597 volumes, relating to music, +scores, etc., from Allen A. Brown.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 576 volumes, relating to music, including +operas, oratorios, collections of +school and college song books, etc., from +The Oliver Ditson Co.</p> + +<p><i>Cambridge.</i> Harvard University. Bequest +of $10,000, to increase fund, already established +by him, for purchase of works of +history, political economy, and sociology, +from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1250, for purchase of books relating +to the history of the Ottoman Empire, +from Prof. A. C. Coolidge.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $800, for the purchase of books on +ecclesiastical history in the Riant Library, +from J. Harvey Treat, of Lawrence.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $500, for purchase of books relating +to Scandinavian subjects, from Mrs. +Emil E. Hammer.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of 1920 volumes, mainly English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +and French literature, from Edward Ray +Thompson, of Troy, N. Y.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 700 volumes from the library of +James Russell Lowell, to form the Lowell +Memorial Library for the use of the Romance +Departments of the University, from +various subscribers.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 549 volumes, the library of Alphonse +Marsigny, from The J. C. Ayer +Company, of Lowell.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 317 volumes, belonging to the library +of her late husband, from Mrs. John E. +Hudson.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of 250 volumes of Sanskrit and +other Oriental works, from Henry C. Warren, +Esq.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Bequest of 550 volumes, +consisting chiefly of Maine and New Hampshire +local histories, genealogies, etc., from +Cyrus Woodman.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a collection of art works, valued +at about $500, from Nathaniel Cushing +Nash.</p> + +<p><i>Clinton.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Conway.</i> Field Memorial Library. Gift of +a library building to cost $100,000, as a +memorial to the donor's father and mother, +from Marshall Field, of Chicago. It will +also be endowed by Mr. Field.</p> + +<p><i>Fairhaven.</i> Millicent Library. Gift of Fairhaven +Waterworks, valued at from $100,000 +to $125,000, and producing an annual +income of about $8000, from Henry H. +Rogers.</p> + +<p><i>Groveland.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $5000, +from J. G. B. Adams.</p> + +<p><i>Hinsdale.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $5000, +to be known as "Curtice fund," the income +to be used for the purchase of books, from +John W. Curtice, of Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p><i>Lynn.</i> Free Public Library. Gift of a library +building, erected largely from the bequest +of Mrs. Elizabeth Shute.</p> + +<p>—Gift of large mural painting, by F. Luis +Mora, from Joseph N. Smith.</p> + +<p>— Gift of copy in marble of the Venus of +Milo, from Charles W. Bubier, of Providence, +R. I.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a bronze bust of the late Charles +J. Van Depoele, from his family.</p> + +<p><i>Malden.</i> Public Library. Gift of $125,000, +to be known as the Elisha and Mary D. +Converse Endowment Fund, from Hon. +Elisha D. Converse. "The income from +this fund will be 'used freely in any direction +in which it may conduce to the welfare +of the library.'"</p> + +<p><i>Milton.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $2000, +from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott, of Boston, +Mass.</p> + +<p><i>Newburyport.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for the purchase of books, from John +Rand Spring, of San Francisco.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $4500, from Stephen W. Marston, +of Boston.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $3000, from E. S. Moseley.</p> + +<p><i>North Adams.</i> Public Library. Gift of furnishings +and decorations of children's room, +value not stated, from William Arthur Gallup, +as a memorial to his children.</p> + +<p><i>Petersham.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $12,000, +from Lucy F. Willis.</p> + +<p><i>Plymouth.</i> Public Library. Gift of a new +library building, to cost about $20,000, from +the heirs of the late William G. Russell, +of Boston, as a memorial to their father +and mother.</p> + +<p><i>Salem.</i> Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, +from Walter S. Dickson.</p> + +<p><i>Somerville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $4000, +from Mrs. Harriet Minot Laughlin, in +memory of her father, Isaac Pitman, the +first librarian of the institution, the income +to be used for the purchase of "works of +art, illustrative, decorative, and otherwise."</p> + +<p><i>Springfield.</i> City Library. Bequest of about +$70,000, from the estate of David Ames +Wells, of Norwich, Conn., his son David +Dwight Wells having died June 15, 1900, +without issue. One-half of the income is +to be expended for publications on economic, +fiscal, or social subjects.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 450 volumes, from Miss Frances +Fowler.</p> + +<p><i>Sunderland.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, +for a library and its equipment, from +John L. Graves, of Boston.</p> + +<p><i>Swansea.</i> Public Library. Bequest of a library +building, cost not stated, from Frank +Shaw Stevens.</p> + +<p><i>Woburn.</i> Eunice Thompson Memorial Library. +By his last will Jonathan Thompson, +of Woburn, left a plot of ground and the +residue of his estate for the erection and +maintenance of a suitable building by the +city, to be known by the above name. Value +of bequest about $70,000.</p> + +<p><i>Worcester.</i> American Antiquarian Society. +Gift of $3000, for a fund, the interest of +which is to be expended for literature relating +to the Civil War of 1861-65. This +fund is in memory of Hon. John Davis, +President of the Society from 1853-54, and +was given by John C. B. Davis, of Washington, +D. C., Horace Davis, of San Francisco, +and Andrew McF. Davis, of Cambridge.</p> + +<p>— Clark University. Bequest of $150,000, +from Jonas G. Clark, for the erection and +maintenance of a library.</p> + + +<h4>MICHIGAN.</h4> + +<p><i>Albion.</i> Albion College. Gift of $10,000, to +be devoted to a library building, as a memorial +to the donor's daughter, Lottie T. +Gassett, from Mrs. C. T. Gassett.</p> + +<p><i>Ann Arbor.</i> Ladies' Library Association. +Bequest of $3000, from Mrs. L. M. Palmer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>— University of Michigan. Gift of about +1600 volumes, belonging to the library of +the late Prof. George A. Hench, from his +mother, Mrs. Rebecca A. Hench. The +greater number refer to Germanic philology.</p> + +<p><i>Delray.</i> Public Library. Gift of property, +valued at $15,000, for a public library, from +The Solvay Process Company, of that place.</p> + +<p><i>Detroit.</i> Public Library. Gift of $750,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 477 volumes and 1932 pamphlets, +from the heirs of the late Gov. John J. Bagley. +"This collection was notable in being +almost wholly available, useful, and valuable +to the library."</p> + +<p>— Gift of 418 volumes and 1435 pamphlets, +from Herbert Bowen, formerly a member +of the Library Board. "All were of a historical +character, mostly local and relating +to Michigan, or institutions and localities +in the state."</p> + +<p><i>Grand Rapids.</i> Public Library. Gift of $150,000, +for the erection and furnishing of a +library building, from Martin A. Ryerson, +of Chicago, the city to provide site and +maintenance. The offer was made Feb. 14, +1901, and was at once accepted by the +Mayor.</p> + +<p><i>Iron Mountain.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$15,000, for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Ishpeming.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Jackson.</i> Public Library. Gift of $70,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city already appropriates +$7000 yearly for library support.</p> + +<p><i>Marquette.</i> Public Library. Gift of $5000, +toward a new library building, from an +anonymous donor.</p> + +<p><i>Muskegon.</i> Hackley Public Library. Gift of +$25,000, for a new two-story stack room, +from Charles Henry Hackley.</p> + +<p><i>Sault Ste. Marie.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$30,000, for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>MINNESOTA.</h4> + +<p><i>Cloquet.</i> Public Library. Gift of a site for +a library building, valued at $2500, from +Cloquet Lumber Company.</p> + +<p><i>Duluth.</i> Carnegie Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a new library building, in addition to +a former gift of $50,000, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Mankato.</i> Public Library. Gift of $40,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Minneapolis.</i> Public Library. Gift of $60,000, +for the erection of a branch library +building, from ex-Governor J. S. Pillsbury.</p> + +<p><i>St. Cloud.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2000, towards the purchase of a +site for the new Carnegie library building, +from J. J. Hill, of St. Paul.</p> + +<p><i>St. Paul.</i> Public Library. Gift of $500, for +purchase of children's books, from various +friends of the library.</p> + +<p>— Gift of their library of 430 volumes, from +St. Paul Teacher's Association.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 38 photographs of paintings, two +pictures and a large cast of the Victory of +Samothrace, from four donors.</p> + +<p><i>Sleepy Eye.</i> Dyckman Free Library. Gift +of $8000, being the cost of the completed +library building, from F. H. Dyckman.</p> + + +<h4>MISSISSIPPI.</h4> + +<p><i>Natchez.</i> Fisk Library Association. Gift of +$25,000, from Mrs. Christian Schwartz, on +condition that the Association raise an additional +$10,000.</p> + +<p>— Gift of site, valued at $3000, and a library +building, to cost $10,000, from Mrs. Christian +Schwartz.</p> + +<p><i>Yazoo.</i> Public Library. Gift of a library +building, to cost $25,000, as a memorial to +the late Gen. B. S. Ricks, from his widow.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, from Mrs. K. C. Gardner.</p> + + +<h4>MISSOURI.</h4> + +<p><i>De Soto.</i> Railroad Library. Gift of $1000, +for a library for railroad employes, from +Miss Helen Gould, of New York.</p> + +<p><i>Hannibal.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for the erection of a library building, to be +known as the John H. Garth Public Library, +from Mrs. John H. Garth and her +daughter, Mrs. R. M. Goodlet.</p> + +<p><i>Jefferson City.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a new library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, upon condition that the city +secures a site and appropriates $3000 a +year for the maintenance of the library.</p> + +<p><i>St. Joseph.</i> Free Library. Bequest of $20,000, +from Jarvis Ford.</p> + +<p><i>St. Louis.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1,000,000, +for public library buildings, from Andrew +Carnegie, provided the city will contribute +the site and appropriate $150,000 +yearly for the support of the library.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $400,000, to lift incumbrance on +block to be used for the new Carnegie Library, +from four St. Louis citizens.</p> + +<p><i>South St. Joseph.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$25,000, for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>NEBRASKA.</h4> + +<p><i>Crete.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for +a public library building, from T. H. Miller, +provided the city furnish a site approved +by the donor.</p> + +<p><i>Lincoln.</i> University of Nebraska. Bequest +of 2000 volumes, of history, literature, and +works on education, forming the library of +the donor, from Simon Kerl, of Oakland,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +Neb. The books are never to be loaned +outside the library rooms.</p> + +<p><i>South Omaha.</i> Public Library. Gift of $60,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>NEW HAMPSHIRE.</h4> + +<p><i>Derry.</i> Benjamin Adams Memorial Library. +Bequest of $10,000, for the erection of a +town-hall and public library building, from +Benjamin Adams.</p> + +<p><i>Hanover.</i> Dartmouth College. Bequest of +$10,000, as a library fund for the Department +of Philosophy, from Mrs. Susan A. +Brown.</p> + +<p><i>Pittsfield.</i> Public Library. Gift of a library +building, to be erected, value not stated, +from Josiah Carpenter, of Manchester.</p> + +<p><i>Rindge.</i> Ingalls Memorial Library. Gift of +$1000, as a fund, the interest to be used +for the benefit of the library, from the Hon. +Ezra S. Stearns.</p> + + +<h4>NEW JERSEY.</h4> + +<p><i>Jersey City.</i> Free Public Library. Gift of +819 volumes and 381 pamphlets, forming +the medical library of the late Dr. S. W. +Clark, from his widow.</p> + +<p><i>Montclair.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Newark.</i> Free Public Library. Gifts of 1125 +periodicals and pamphlets, from three persons.</p> + +<p><i>Perth Amboy.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates +$1200 yearly.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a site for a public library building, +value not stated, from J. C. McCoy.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, with which to purchase books +when needed, from Adolph Lewisohn.</p> + +<p><i>Princeton.</i> Princeton University. Gift of +$50,000, for library maintenance, from +anonymous donor.</p> + +<p>— Gifts of cash aggregating at least $16,000, +from various sources.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $5000, for library of Germanics, +from the class of 1891.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of 2739 volumes and 860 pamphlets, +from Prof. William Henry Green.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 1000 volumes, from the library of +the late Dr. Samuel Miller, presented by +Samuel Miller Breckinridge.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 310 volumes, from D. H. Smith, +of New York.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 255 volumes, from Prof. Henry +Van Dyke.</p> + +<p><i>Trenton.</i> Public Library. Gift of books, +forming the Women's Christian Temperance +Union Library, to the Public Library.</p> + +<p>— Gift of about 2500 volumes, comprising +books in "A. L. A. catalog" not already +in library, from Ferdinand W. Roebling, +president of the board.</p> + + +<h4>NEW MEXICO.</h4> + +<p><i>Albuquerque.</i> Free Public Library. Gift of +a two-story brick building, valued at $25,000, +on condition that it be used forever +as a public library and that $1000 additional +be raised by the citizens, from J. S. Reynolds.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2000, for the purchase of books, +raised by popular subscription.</p> + + +<h4>NEW YORK.</h4> + +<p><i>Albany.</i> Young Men's Association Library—Pruyn +Branch Library. Gift of building, +furniture, and equipment, cost about $20,000, +from Mrs. William G. Rice, in memory +of her father, the late Chancellor J. V. L. +Pruyn.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $525, from various persons.</p> + +<p><i>Angelica.</i> Free Library. Gift of $12,000, for +a library building, from Mrs. Frank Smith.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a building lot for a library building, +value not stated, from Frank S. Smith.</p> + +<p><i>Brooklyn.</i> The Brooklyn Library. Bequest +from Mr. James A. H. Bell of sixteen-seventy-fifths +of his estate. This bequest +is estimated to be worth about $10,000. Mr. +Bell also left the library 1523 volumes, collected +since he gave his library of 10,425 +volumes, three years ago.</p> + +<p>— Long Island Historical Society. Gift of +$6500. This amount was raised by popular +subscription, and is to be known as the +"Storrs Memorial Fund," the income to be +devoted to the increase of the library.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $1000, the income to be expended +in "the enlargement of the department +of ecclesiastical history," from Richard +S. Storrs, D.D., late President of the +Society.</p> + +<p><i>Caldwell, Lake George.</i> Dewitt C. Hay Library +Association. Bequest, valued at +about $13,300, consisting of 100 shares of +Amer. Bank Note Co. stock, 35 shares of +C. M. and St. Paul R. R. stock, and $2000 +in Duluth and Iron Range R. R. stock, +to be held in trust, the income to be spent +for new books, pictures, and objects of art, +from Mrs. Marietta C. Hay, of Tarrytown, +N. Y. This library is established in memory +of the donor's husband.</p> + +<p><i>Catskill.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Cohoes.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Gloversville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for new library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city already appropriates +$3000 for library maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Greene.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for +a public library building, from William H. +and James H. Moore, founders of the Diamond +Match Co., of Chicago.</p> + +<p><i>Hempstead, L. I.</i> Public Library. Gift of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +$25,000, for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Homer.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for +the erection of a public library building, +from George W. Phillips.</p> + +<p><i>Ithaca.</i> Cornell University. Gift of $12,000, +as an endowment fund for the Flower +Veterinary Library, the income alone to be +used for the increase of the collection, from +Mrs. Roswell P. Flower.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1126, as a contribution toward +printing the catalogue of the Dante collection, +from Willard Fiske.</p> + +<p>— Bequest, estimated at about $2000, from +C. H. Howland, class of 1901. This is to +form an endowment fund, the income to be +used for the purchase of works in the English +language for a circulating library for the use +of students and officers of the university, +and is not payable until after the death of +the testator's father, who is still living.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $575, for the increase of the White +Historical Library, from the Hon. Andrew +D. White.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 330 volumes, from the family of the +late Prof. S. G. Williams.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 300 volumes, from Theodore Stanton, +class of '76.</p> + +<p><i>Johnstown.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, the city to furnish site and +appropriate $2500 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Middletown.</i> Thrall Library. Bequest of +$31,500, with which a fine library building +has been erected, from Mrs. S. Marietta +Thrall.</p> + +<p><i>Mount Vernon.</i> Public Library. Gift of $35,000, +for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>New Rochelle.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city must furnish site +and a yearly maintenance of $4000.</p> + +<p><i>New York City.</i> American Geographical Society. +Gift of $4455 to building fund, from +various persons.</p> + +<p>— Am. Institute of Electrical Engineers. +Gift of Latimer Clark collection of electrical +works, 6000 v., from Dr. S. S. Wheeler.</p> + +<p>— American Museum of Natural History. +Gift of 4539 volumes, pamphlets, etc., on +Natural History, including 73 maps, of a +value of not less than $4200, from Gen. +Egbert L. Viele.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 3166 volumes of Bibles, dictionaries, +travels, cyclopædias, etc., valued at $6500, +from N. Y. Ecumenical Council.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 243 volumes and 33 pamphlets, +handsomely bound and valued at $2000, +from Frederick A Constable.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 45 rare volumes on Mineralogy, +valued at $250, from Ernest Schernikow.</p> + +<p>— Association of the Bar. Gift of $10,000, +received Jan. 1, 1901, source not given.</p> + +<p>— Columbia University. Gift of $10,000, from +"A Friend of the University," for additions +to the library.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $5000, from "A Friend of the University" +(another friend), for special purposes.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2250, with which to complete the +library's set of English Parliamentary Papers, +from the Hon. William S. Schermerhorn.</p> + +<p>— Gift of the "Garden Library" of 2279 volumes +and 145 pamphlets, consisting of +works by Southern authors or bearing on +Southern history, from The New York +Southern Society.</p> + +<p>— Deposit of the library of the Holland Society, +consisting of books and pamphlets, +mostly in the Dutch language, many of +which are rare.</p> + +<p>— General Theological Seminary. Gift of +2700 volumes, a part of the library of the +Rev. B. I. Haight, D.D., from C. C. Haight, +Esq.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 1000 volumes, a part of the library +of the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., from +Prof. William B. Potter.</p> + +<p>— Gift of books, number not stated, to the +value of $3850, from the Society for Promoting +Religion and Learning in the State +of New York.</p> + +<p>— Mechanics' Institute Library. (General +Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen.) +Bequest of $5000, from estate of Charles +P. Haughan.</p> + +<p>— New York Free Circulating Library. (New +York Public Library.) Bequest of $20,000, +from Oswald Ottendorfer.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $11,250, from Proudfit Estate. +This library is now absorbed by the New +York Public Library—Astor, Lenox, and +Tilden Foundations.</p> + +<p>— New York University. Gift of over 1200 +volumes, from the library of the late Prof. +Ezra Hall Gillett, D.D., from his two sons.</p> + +<p>— Public Library—Astor, Lenox, and Tilden +Foundations. Gift of $5,200,000, for +the erection of 65 branch library buildings, +the city to furnish the sites and guarantee +the maintenance of the libraries, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 1304 volumes, from the Union +League Club.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 738 volumes, from Hon. Robert +P. Porter.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 592 volumes, from the Misses Ely.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 497 volumes, from Mrs. Gertrude +King Schuyler.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 393 volumes, from estate of S. V. +R. Townsend.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 343 volumes, from Dr. R. G. +Wiener.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 287 volumes, from H. V. and H. +W. Poor.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 280 volumes, from Edmond Bruwaert.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 923 groups of steel engravings, all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +"engravers' proofs," chiefly the works of +the donor's father, from James D. Smillie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a large and valuable collection of +Japanese engravings and chromo-xylographs, +formed by Captain Brinkley, of the +<i>Japan Mail,</i> from Charles Stewart Smith.</p> + +<p>— New York Society Library. Bequest of +$1000, from Maria B. Mount.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $20,004.86, from Charles H. +Contoit; during the previous year $137,000 +was paid to the library by this estate.</p> + +<p>— Union Theological Seminary. Gift of 559 +volumes, from the library of the late president, +Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, LL.D.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 519 volumes, from the library of the +late Prof. Ezra Hall Gillett, D.D., from his +two sons.</p> + +<p>— Washington Heights Free Library. Gift +of $1700 by Andrew Carnegie towards completing +sum required by conditional gift +for new building.</p> + +<p>— Young Men's Christian Association. Gift +of $5000, to prepare catalogue of circulating +library, from Frederick E. Hyde.</p> + +<p><i>Newark.</i> Gift of a library building, costing +nearly $25,000; also, $1000 to send out travelling +libraries in the neighborhood and the +salary of the librarian for a year, from Mr. +Henry C. Rew, of Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p><i>Niagara Falls.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site +and a yearly maintenance of $7000.</p> + +<p><i>Oxford.</i> Public Library. Gift of a public library, +from children of the late Eli L. Corbin.</p> + +<p><i>Oyster Bay, L. I.</i> Public Library. Gift of +$1000, towards a public library building, by +Andrew Carnegie. No conditions were attached +to this gift.</p> + +<p><i>Peekskill.</i> Public Library. Gift of the old +Henry Ward Beecher residence, fully +equipped for a public library, from Dr. +John Newell Tilton.</p> + +<p><i>Port Jervis.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, the city to furnish site and appropriate +$3000 yearly maintenance.</p> + +<p>— Gift of plot of ground for library site, +value not stated, from Peter E. Farnum.</p> + +<p><i>Rochester.</i> Reynolds Library. Gift of 900 +volumes of United States public documents, +from Hon. Charles S. Baker.</p> + +<p><i>St. George, S. I.</i> Arthur Winter Memorial +Library of the Staten Island Academy. Gift +of $500, from Andrew Carnegie, without +conditions.</p> + +<p><i>Schenectady.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city council had already +appropriated $5000 a year for library +maintenance provisionally in hope of securing +a Carnegie gift. A site is under consideration, +at a probable cost of $14,000.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $15,000, with which to purchase a +site for the new Carnegie library, from the +General Electric Company.</p> + +<p><i>Syracuse.</i> Public Library. Gift of $260,000, +for a new library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, the city to furnish site and guarantee +$30,000 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Watertown.</i> Flower Memorial Library. Gift +of $60,000, from Mrs. Emma Flower Taylor, +for a public library to commemorate +her father, the late Governor Roswell P. +Flower.</p> + +<p><i>Yonkers.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>NORTH CAROLINA.</h4> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i> Public Library. Gift of $20,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Durham.</i> Trinity College. Gift of $50,000, +for a library building, from James K. +Duke, president of the American Tobacco +Co.</p> + +<p><i>Raleigh.</i> Olivia Raney Memorial Library. +Gift of 5000 volumes, also services of a +trained librarian to organize the work, from +Richard B. Raney.</p> + + +<h4>NORTH DAKOTA.</h4> + +<p><i>Fargo.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for +public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>OHIO.</h4> + +<p><i>Akron.</i> Public Library. Gift of a building +for the public library, to cost not less than +$50,000, from Col. George T. Perkins.</p> + +<p>— Gift of library of music (1898), valued at +$600, name of donor not stated.</p> + +<p><i>Ashtabula.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Bucyrus.</i> Memorial Library. Gift of $500, +for purchase of books, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Canton.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for +public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of property, valued at $10,000, from +W. W. Clark.</p> + +<p><i>Cincinnati.</i> Natural History Library. Gift +of $60,000, for a new library building, name +of donor not stated.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 14,000 volumes, donor not named.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $1000, for the purchase +of books for the blind, raised by popular +subscription.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 500 volumes in raised type for the +blind, name of donor not given.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 416 volumes and 1600 pamphlets, +from H. L. Wehmer.</p> + +<p>— University Library. Gift of 6782 volumes; +the Robert Clarke collection.</p> + +<p><i>Cleveland.</i> Adelbert College, of Western Reserve +University. Gift of $15,000, name of +donor not given.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>— Case Library. Library property condemned +by U. S. government for new public building; +award, including damages, fixed at +$507,000.</p> + +<p>— Cleveland Hardware Co.'s Library. Gift +of 300 volumes, from famous people all over +the world, many with autographs.</p> + +<p>— Medical Library Association; The Vance +Library. Gift of 2000 volumes, from Drs. +Dudley P. Allen and A. C. Hamman.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of 306 bound and 217 +unbound volumes, on Oriental religions, +folk-lore and allied subjects, from John G. +White.</p> + +<p><i>Columbus.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1000, +for maintenance of the Kilbourne alcove; +also 750 volumes, from James Kilbourne.</p> + +<p><i>Conneaut.</i> Public Library. Gift of $100,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Delaware.</i> Ohio Wesleyan University. Gift +of 4179 volumes, including the complete library +of the late Prof. Karl Little, from +Prof. John Williams White, of Harvard +University.</p> + +<p><i>Gambier.</i> Kenyon College Library. Gifts of +$15,000, names of donors not given.</p> + +<p><i>Geneva.</i> Platt R. Spencer Memorial Library. +Gifts of $1577, names of donors not given.</p> + +<p><i>Granville.</i> Dennison University Library. +Gifts of $525, names of donors not given.</p> + +<p><i>Greenville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie, a yearly maintenance of $2000 +required. The site has already been secured.</p> + +<p><i>Hamilton.</i> Lane Free Library. Gift of $500, +donated by citizens.</p> + +<p><i>Marietta.</i> Marietta College. Gift of 18,712 +volumes, from his private library, by Hon. +R. M. Stimson; to be kept together and in +reasonable repair. The collection is especially +rich in Americana relating to the +Mississippi Valley.</p> + +<p><i>Massillon.</i> McClymonds Public Library. +Gift of library building, valued at $20,000, +name of donor not given.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $10,000, as an endowment for +books, name of donor not given.</p> + +<p><i>Painesville.</i> Public Library. Gift of new library +building, neither value nor name of +donor given.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 385 volumes, name of donor not +given.</p> + +<p><i>Sandusky.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Shelby.</i> Public Library. Gift of property +valued at $6500, for a public library, from +Daniel S. Marvin.</p> + +<p><i>Steubenville.</i> Carnegie Public Library. Gift +of $50,000, for a public library building, +from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Toledo.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1800, from +Mr. Hardy.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, from Mrs. J. R. Locke.</p> + +<p>— Gifts of 1223 volumes, names of donors not +given.</p> + +<p><i>Van Wert.</i> Brumback Library. Gift of new +library building, costing about $50,000, from +family of the late John S. Brumback, thus +carrying out his intentions in completing and +furnishing it and presenting it to the +county.</p> + +<p><i>Wooster.</i> University Library. Gift of a $35,000 +library building, from H. C. Frick, of +Pittsburg, Pa. "This beautiful building is +fitted up with the latest improvements."</p> + +<p><i>Youngstown.</i> Reuben McMillan Free Library. +Bequest of $5000, received from +Charles D. Arms.</p> + + +<h4>OREGON.</h4> + +<p><i>Portland.</i> Library Association. Gift of $25,050, +from the three daughters of the late +Henry Failing.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $2500, the income to be used +for maintenance of the donor's private library +of nearly 9000 volumes, also bequeathed +to this institution, from John Wilson.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of his private library of nearly +9000 volumes, valued at $2500, from John +Wilson. This library is rich in art works +and examples of early printing, and is to +be kept as a separate collection for reference +only.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1100, for work of cataloging the +Wilson Library, provided for by private +subscription, by the directors.</p> + + +<h4>PENNSYLVANIA.</h4> + +<p><i>Braddock,</i> <i>Duquesne,</i> and <i>Homestead</i>. Carnegie +Libraries. Gift of $1,000,000, from +Andrew Carnegie. This amount has been +placed in trust with the Carnegie Company, +of Pittsburg, the income of which is to be +devoted to maintaining the above libraries, +founded by Mr. Carnegie. It will be distributed +from time to time, according to the +work done or needed.</p> + +<p><i>Carbondale.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Duquesne.</i> <i>See</i> Braddock.</p> + +<p><i>Easton.</i> Lafayette College. The Van Wickle +Memorial Library building, erected at a +cost of $30,000, from a legacy of Augustus +S. Van Wickle, of Hazleton. Pa.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public +library building, from Andrew Carnegie. +The gift was declined March 14, 1901, because +of maintenance requirement, and +afterwards accepted (April 11) on assurance +that the site would be given to the city.</p> + +<p>— Gift of money to purchase a site for the +building offered by Mr. Carnegie, amount +not stated, raised by popular subscription.</p> + +<p><i>Homestead.</i> <i>See</i> Braddock.</p> + +<p><i>Huntingdon.</i> Gift of $20,000, for a public library +building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Idlewood.</i> Chartiers Township Free Library. +Gift of $1500, for the purchase of books, +from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Newcastle.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. If the yearly maintenance is +made $4000 the gift will be raised to $40,000. +Gift rejected, June 27, 1901.</p> + +<p><i>Philadelphia.</i> Academy of Natural Sciences. +Bequest of about $500,000, from Dr. Robert +B. Lamborn. Though bequeathed to the +academy, its library will be benefited by the +bequest.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of about $75,000, and a valuable +collection of botanical books and dried +plants, from Charles E. Smith. The library +will be benefited by this bequest.</p> + +<p> +— College of Physicians. Gifts and bequests amounting to $27,500<br /> +towards a "Library Endowment Fund," raised through the efforts of the<br /> +president of the college, Dr. W.W. Keen, within a period of eighteen<br /> +months, as follows:<br /> +Trustees of the William F. Jenks Memorial Fund, $7000.<br /> +Mr. William W. Frazier, $5000.<br /> +Estate of Esther F. Wistar, $5000.<br /> +Mrs. William T. Carter, $5000.<br /> +Dr. William W. Keen, $1000.<br /> +Charles C. Harrison, $1000.<br /> +J. Percy Keating, $1000.<br /> +Major Luther S. Bent, $1000.<br /> +John H. Converse, $1000.<br /> +George H. McFadden, $500.<br /> +</p> + +<p>— Gift of 2466 volumes, from Dr. J. M. Da +Costa.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 1500 volumes, from Dr. John +Ashurst, Jr.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 272 volumes, from the daughters +of the late Dr. William T. Taylor.</p> + +<p>— The Franklin Institute. 844 volumes and +899 pamphlets, relating to iron, coal, mining, +railroads, and statistics, from the late +Charles E. Smith, at one time president of +the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Co.</p> + +<p>— Free Library. Bequest of 1215 volumes +and 1806 unbound books, pamphlets and +magazines, through Stevenson Hockley +Walsh, from Mrs. Annie Hockley.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 464 volumes, for H. Josephine Widener +Branch Library, from Mr. P. A. B. +Widener.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 245 volumes, from estate of George +B. Roberts.</p> + +<p>— Gift of several volumes in embossed type +for the blind, from Dr. David D. Wood.</p> + +<p>— Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Gift +of $5000, from Mrs. Mifflin Wistar.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2041, from Miss Ellen Waln.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $500, from Carl Edelheim.</p> + +<p>— Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift +of 900 volumes, from the Hon. Richard +Vaux.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 406 volumes, from Henry Carey +Baird, Esq.</p> + +<p>— University of Pennsylvania. Gift of $1750, +to be spent in purchase of philosophical +books, from Class of 1889.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $615, for purchase of files of botanical +periodicals, from Robert B. Buist.</p> + +<p>— Gift of about 2500 volumes exceedingly +valuable in works of Travels and Archæology, +from the heirs of Robert H. Lamborn, +and the Academy of Natural Sciences.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 1300 volumes, secured at Hunter +sale, from contributions of friends of the +University.</p> + +<p><i>Phoenixville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $15,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Reading.</i> Public Library. Gift of $2000, +for purchase of books, from friends.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 681 volumes, from same source.</p> + +<p>— Gift of 356 volumes, forming his library, +from Henry S. Comstock.</p> + +<p><i>Sharon.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Washington.</i> Washington and Jefferson College. +Gift of $10,000 (added to the $50,000 +given by her husband, William R. Thompson, +for a new library building), from Mrs. +Mary Thow Thompson, of Pittsburg. The +building will cost $40,000, the balance, $20,000, +will be held as a book fund, the income +only to be spent. Mr. Thompson's +gift is intended as a memorial to his +mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Donaldson Thompson.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $30,000, towards the erection and +maintenance of a new library building, from +W. P. Thompson, making in all from Mr. +and Mrs. Thompson $60,000.</p> + +<p><i>Wilkinsburg.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>RHODE ISLAND.</h4> + +<p><i>Central Falls.</i> Adams Library. Bequest of +$35,000 from Stephen Ludlow Adams, as a +special trust for the establishment of a library, +to be named as above; $25,000 to be +spent on building, the income of $10,000 for +its maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Newport.</i> Redwood Library. Bequest of +$1000, from Miss Martha Maria Anderson.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $5000, to be paid at the expiration +of three years, from John Nicholas +Brown. This is to be used as a fund, the +income to be used for the purchase of +books.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $2000, from Mrs. Orleana Ellery +Redwood Pell (Mrs. Walden Pell).</p> + +<p>— Gift of 316 volumes on angling and hunting, +from Daniel B. Fearing.</p> + +<p><i>Providence.</i> Brown University. By the will +of the late John Nicholas Brown it is provided +that the John Carter Brown Library +of Americana previous to 1801, the estimated +value of which is at least $1,000,000, +shall be maintained as a permanent me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>morial. +The testator sets aside $150,000 +for a building and $500,000 as an endowment +fund for its increase and maintenance. +This library and its endowments have been +presented, by the trustees of the estate, to +Brown University.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, for purchase of American +poetry and drama, at the McKee sale, from +William Goddard, Chancellor of the University.</p> + +<p>— Gift of over 250 volumes on international +law, from William Vail Kellen, a trustee +of the University.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, from +Ada L. Steere.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $3000, to be invested and income +used for purchase of books. The name of +the donor is not made public.</p> + + +<h4>SOUTH DAKOTA.</h4> + +<p><i>Aberdeen.</i> Alexander Mitchell Library. Gift +of $15,000, for public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie requests +that the library be called after his friend, +Alexander Mitchell. Accepted March 20, +1901.</p> + +<p><i>Sioux Falls.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>TENNESSEE.</h4> + +<p><i>Chattanooga.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. It is reported that the amount +of the gift will be raised to $100,000, provided +the city agrees to appropriate $10,000 +yearly.</p> + +<p><i>Jackson.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for +public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Memphis.</i> Cossitt Library. Bequest of 942 +volumes and 423 pamphlets especially strong +in social science and history, from Gen. +Colton Greene.</p> + + +<h4>TEXAS.</h4> + +<p><i>Dallas.</i> Public Library. Gift of over 1100 +volumes, from various persons, at a book +reception, held Dec. 11, 1900.</p> + +<p><i>San Antonio.</i> Carnegie Library. Collection +of books, valued at $3500, from San Antonio +Library Association. To be turned +over to the Carnegie Library on the completion +of its building, and provided that the +city contribute $50 a month towards expenses +until so turned over.</p> + +<p><i>Waco.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1000, by +Andrew Carnegie, towards the library.</p> + + +<h4>UTAH.</h4> + +<p><i>Ogden.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for +a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Salt Lake City.</i> Free Public Library. Gift +of $75,000, to erect a free public library +building, and a building site worth $25,000, +from John Q. Packard.</p> + + +<h4>VERMONT.</h4> + +<p><i>Middlebury.</i> Middlebury College. Gift of +the Starr Library building, erected from a +bequest of $50,000, from Egbert Starr, of +New York City.</p> + +<p><i>Windsor.</i> Library Association. Bequest of +$2000, from Charles C. Beaman, of New +York.</p> + + +<h4>VIRGINIA.</h4> + +<p><i>Hampton.</i> Hampton Normal and Industrial +Institute. Gift of a new library building, +cost not stated, as a memorial to Collis P. +Huntington, from Mrs. C. P. Huntington.</p> + +<p><i>Lexington.</i> Washington and Lee University. +Bequest of his law library (1884), made +available by death of his widow, from +Prof. Vincent L. Bradford, of Philadelphia.</p> + +<p><i>Norfolk.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— <i>Seaboard Air Line Travelling Libraries.</i> +Gift of $1000, from Andrew Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Richmond.</i> Public Library. Gift of $100,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p><i>Winchester.</i> Public Library. Bequest of +$250,000, from Judge John Handley, of +Scranton, Pa.</p> + + +<p>WASHINGTON.</p> + +<p><i>Seattle.</i> Public Library. Gift of $200,000, +for a new library building, to replace the +one destroyed by fire Jan. 2, 1901, from Andrew +Carnegie, on condition that the city +make a guarantee to provide $50,000 yearly +for maintenance and improvement.</p> + +<p><i>Tacoma.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. Accepted with the proviso that +$7500 will be appropriated for maintenance +annually if the gift is increased to $75,000. +A site has already been selected.</p> + + +<h4>WEST VIRGINIA.</h4> + +<p><i>Wheeling.</i> Public Library. Gift of $75,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + + +<h4>WISCONSIN.</h4> + +<p><i>Appleton.</i> Public Library. Gift of $663.54, +from directors of Prescott Hospital.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $500, for furnishing room, from +women's clubs.</p> + +<p><i>Ashland.</i> Vaughn Library. Bequest of the +Vaughn Library, valued at $60,000; also +property which will give it an income of +$1200 a year, from Mrs. Vaughn-Marquis, +of Chicago.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of 540 volumes, from Mrs. E. +Vaughn-Marquis.</p> + +<p><i>Columbus.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1300, +$1000 for endowment and $300 for immediate +use, from Mrs. C. A. Chadbourne and +F. A. Chadbourne.</p> + +<p><i>De Pere.</i> Public Library. Gift of $2000, towards +furnishing a library of 10,000 vol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>umes +and upwards, if accepted before September, +1902, from A. G. Wells.</p> + +<p><i>Green Bay.</i> Kellogg Public Library. Gift of +$20,000, for public library building, from +Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site +and $2500 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p>— Gift of a building site for new Carnegie +Library, worth $2000, from Bishop Messmer.</p> + +<p><i>Janesville.</i> Public Library. Gift of $30,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie. The city council voted March 19, +1901, to appropriate $3500 yearly for maintenance.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $10,000, for a public library +building, from F. S. Eldred.</p> + +<p><i>Kenosha.</i> Gilbert M. Simmons Library. Gift +of a library building and furniture, costing +about $150,000, from Z. G. Simmons, in +memory of his son, Gilbert M. Simmons.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $20,000, for purchase of books, +from Z. G. Simmons.</p> + +<p><i>La Crosse.</i> Washburn Library. Gift of the +Albert Boehm collection of stuffed birds, +valuable but cost not stated, from citizens +of the city.</p> + +<p><i>Lake Geneva.</i> Public Library. Gift of 750 +volumes, from several ladies.</p> + +<p><i>Lake Mills.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1000, +in addition, for building, from L. D. Fargo.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1700, for building site, from citizens +of the place.</p> + +<p><i>Madison.</i> Free Library Commission. Gift of +$35, for German travelling library, from +citizens of Milwaukee.</p> + +<p>— University of Wisconsin. The Germanic +Seminary Library, comprising 1700 volumes, +relating especially to Germanic philology +and literature; purchased from a +fund of $3146, raised by German-American +citizens of Milwaukee and presented Jan. +1, 1899.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2645 for purchase of books for +School of Economics and Political Science, +from gentlemen in New York, Milwaukee, +Madison, and other Wisconsin cities.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $2350, for the purchase of books +for School of Commerce, from five citizens +of Milwaukee.</p> + +<p>— Gift to the Germanic Seminary Library of +268 volumes, from the house of F. A. +Brockhaus, of Leipzig.</p> + +<p><i>Marshfield.</i> Public Library. Gift of $2500, +one-fifth to be expended annually for five +years for books, from W. D. Connor.</p> + +<p><i>Menomonie.</i> Memorial Free Library. Gift +of about $2000, for running expenses pending +settlement of the estate of Captain A. +Tainter, from his son and daughter, L. S. +Tainter and Mrs. Fanny Macmillan.</p> + +<p><i>Milwaukee.</i> Law Library. Bequest of $10,000, +one-half for endowment and one-half +for the purchase of books, from A. R. R. +Butler.</p> + +<p>— Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a collection +of books on literary subjects, from +Mrs. A. A. Keenan, as a memorial to her +husband, the late Matthew Keenan.</p> + +<p><i>Oconomowoc.</i> Public Library. Gift of $1500, +toward library building, from Mrs. P. D. +Armour.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1500, toward library building, from +Mrs. P. D. Armour, Jr.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1500, toward library building, +from Mrs. Bullen.</p> + +<p><i>Oshkosh.</i> Harris-Sawyer Library. Bequest +of $75,000, toward new library building, +from Marshall Harris.</p> + +<p>— Bequest of $25,000, towards new library +building, from Philetus Sawyer. The bequests +of Mr. Harris and Mr. Sawyer were +supplemented by $50,000 from the city. The +Harris bequest of $75,000 was made in 1895 +by Mrs. Abby S. Harris, to carry out the intentions +of her husband. It was made on +condition that within three years an equal +amount should be raised for the same purpose. +The bequest of $25,000 by Hon. Philetus +Sawyer was made to assist in raising +the latter amount, the balance of which was +secured by the issue of city bonds. $90,000 +remains as a trust fund.</p> + +<p>— Gift of paintings, valued at $5000, from +Leander Choate.</p> + +<p><i>Racine.</i> Public Library. Gift of $10,000, towards +a public library, from citizens of that +city.</p> + +<p><i>Sheboygan.</i> Public Library. Gift of $25,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $1000, or his salary of $500 per annum +for two years, for a site for library +building, from the mayor, Fred Dennett.</p> + +<p><i>Stanley.</i> Public Library. Gift of $12,000, +$8000 for building and $4000 for equipment, +from Mrs. D. R. Moon.</p> + +<p><i>Superior.</i> Public Library. Gift of $50,000, +for a public library building, from Andrew +Carnegie.</p> + +<p>— Gift of $5500, for a library building site, +from citizens of the town.</p> + +<p><i>Waukesha.</i> Carroll College. Gift of $20,000, +for a library endowment fund, from donor +whose name is not given.</p> + +<p><i>Whitewater.</i> Public Library. Gift of $3000, +for a memorial collection of books, from +Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Cook.</p></blockquote> + +<hr class="full"/> +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Foreign gifts include: For British provinces, +Vancouver Public Library, $50,000 from Andrew +Carnegie—For Canada, McGill University of +Montreal four gifts ($14,000, $1300, $1000, $500) for +various purposes: Ottawa Public Library, $100,000 +from Andrew Carnegie; Windsor Public Library, +$20,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Sidney Public Library, +$15,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Winnipeg +Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; +Halifax Art School and Public Library, $75,000 from +Andrew Carnegie—For Trinidad, Cuba, bequest for +public library from Mary B. Carret—For Scotland, +Glasgow district libraries, £100,000 from Andrew +Carnegie; Greenock, £5000 from Andrew Carnegie; +Hawick, £10,000 from Andrew Carnegie.</p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="right"> +<p class="center">SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS.</p> +<table border="1" width="100%" style="border-top: double; border-right: 0; border-left: 0;" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="nl"></td><td align="center">No.</td><td colspan="2" align="center">Gifts in money.</td><td align="center" colspan="2">Money for<br />buildings.</td> + <td colspan="2" align="center">Books.</td><td>Miscellaneous.</td><td class="nr" >Carnegie gifts. </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="rt" align="left">N. Atlantic Division</td><td class="nb"></td><td class="lt"></td> + <td class="rt"> </td><td class="lt"></td><td class="rt"></td> + <td colspan="2" class="nb"></td><td class="nb"></td><td class="lt"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Maine</td><td class="lr"> 9</td><td class="lo"> $6,200</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> $145,847</td><td class="ro" align="left">.26</td> + <td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em;">$50,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">New Hampshire</td><td class="lr"> 4</td><td class="lo"> 11,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 10,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td> + <td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Vermont</td><td class="lr"> 2</td><td class="lo"> 2,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 50,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Massachusetts</td><td class="lr"> 44</td><td class="lo"> 280,550</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 500,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">6,508</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td><td class="lr" align="center" >art works, etc.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em;">25,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Rhode Island</td><td class="lr"> 10</td><td class="lo"> 532,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 175,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 566</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Connecticut</td><td class="lr"> 28</td><td class="lo"> 199,887</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 154,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 6,265</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td><td class="lr" align="center" >842 mss.+</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em;">50,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 10,000</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">New York</td><td class="lr"> 74</td><td class="lo"> 128,030</td><td class="ro" align="left">.86</td><td class="lo"> 6,025,655</td> + <td class="ro" align="left">+</td><td class="lo"> 29,737</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class="lr" align="center" >engravings.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">5,808,200</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 178</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">New Jersey</td><td class="lr"> 15</td><td class="lo"> 72,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 50,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td> + <td class="lo"> 7,623</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">50,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 2,366</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Pennsylvania</td><td class="lr"> 45</td><td class="lo"> 1,635,906</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 285,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td> + <td class="lo"> 13,149</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class= "lr" align="center">dried plants.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">1,216,500</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">2,705</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">S. Atlantic Division</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> + <td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td> </tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Delaware</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Maryland</td><td class="lr"> 2</td><td class="lo"> 26,250</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 50,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">25,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">District of Columbia</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Virginia</td><td class="lr"> 6</td><td class="lo"> 251,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 150,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr" align="center" >law library.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">151,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">West Virginia</td><td class="lr"> 1</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 75,000</td><td class="ro"></td> <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">75,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">North Carolina</td><td class="lr"> 3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 70,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">5,000</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="lr" align="center" >services.</td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">20,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">South Carolina</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Georgia</td><td class="lr"> 2</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 20,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">960</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">20,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Florida</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Southern Cen. Div.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td> </tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Kentucky</td><td class="lr"> 1</td><td class="lo"> 50,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Tennessee</td><td class="lr"> 3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 80,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">942</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">80,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">423</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Alabama</td><td class="lr"> 3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 70,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" align ="center">yes.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">70,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Mississippi</td><td class="lr"> 4</td><td class="lo"> 26,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 38,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Louisiana</td><td class="lr"> 1</td><td class="lo"> 10,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2" align="center" >yes.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Texas</td><td class="lr"> 3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lo"> 1,000</td><td class="ro"></td> + <td class="lo">1,100</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">1,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Arkansas</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Oklahoma Territory</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Indian Territory</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">N. Central Division</td><td class="lr"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td> </tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Ohio</td><td class="lr"> 39</td><td class="lo"> 69,402</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 1,002,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">49,553</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">280,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 1,817</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Indiana</td><td class="lr"> 22</td><td class="lo"> 94,700</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 370,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td> + <td class="lo"> 5,275</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td><td class="lr" align="center" >ms.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">350,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Illinois</td><td class="lr"> 29</td><td class="lo"> 32,893</td><td class="ro" align="left">.50</td><td class="lo"> 685,000</td><td class="ro"></td> + <td class="lo">4,000</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.+</td><td class="lo"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">615,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Michigan</td><td class="lr"> 14</td><td class="lo"> 3,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"> 1,090,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 2,495</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right: 1em">885,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 3,367</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Wisconsin</td><td class="lr"> 40</td><td class="lo"> 90,993</td><td class="ro" align="left">.54</td><td class="lo"> 543,700</td><td class="ro"></td> + <td class="lo">3,258</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="lr" align="center" >paintings, etc.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">200,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Minnesota</td><td class="lr"> 10</td><td class="lo">500</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">162,500</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 430</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class="lr" align="center" >art works, etc.</td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">90,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Iowa</td><td class="lr"> 14</td><td class="lo">24,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">307,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">220,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Missouri</td><td class="lr"> 7</td><td class="lo"> 21,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">1,475,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">1,050,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">North Dakota</td><td class="lr"> 1</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">50,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">50,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">South Dakota</td><td class="lr"> 2</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 40,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">40,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Nebraska</td><td class="lr"> 3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"> 70,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 2,000</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">60,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Kansas</td><td class="lr"> 4</td><td class="lo"> 6,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo"> 40,000</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">40,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Western Division</td> + <td class="lr"></td> <!--No. --><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> <td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td> </tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Montana</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Wyoming</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Colorado</td><td class="lr">3</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">128,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">108,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">New Mexico</td><td class="lr">2</td><td class="lo">2,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">25,000</td><td class="ro"></td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Arizona</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Utah</td><td class="lr">2</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">125,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">25,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Nevada</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Idaho</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Washington</td><td class="lr">2</td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lo">250,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">250,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Oregon</td><td class="lr">4</td><td class="lo">28,650</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lo">9,000</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">California</td><td class="lr">10</td><td class="lo">13,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">905,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">2,500</td> + <td class="ro" align="left"> v.</td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">865,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro"> </td> + <td class="lr"></td> <!--No. --><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Cuba</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr" align="center" >public library.</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">British Provinces</td><td class="lr">10</td><td class="lo">2,800</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">374,000</td><td class="ro"></td> + <td class="lr" colspan="2" ></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">360,000</span></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="br" align="left">Scotland</td><td class="nt">3</td><td class="nt" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="bl">575,000</td><td class="br"></td><td class="nt" colspan="2" ></td> + <td class="nt"></td><td class="bl"><span style="margin-right:1em">575,000</span></td></tr> +</table> +<p class="center">SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY.<br /></p> +<table border="1" width="100%" style="border-top: double; border-right: 0; border-left: 0;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">North Atlantic Division</td><td class="lr"> 231</td><td class="lo"> $2,867,573</td><td class="ro" align="left">.86</td> +<td class="lo"> $7,395,502</td><td class="ro" align="left">.26+</td><td class="lo">63,848</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr" align="center">art works, mss.,</td> +<td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">$7,199,700</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> +<td class="lr" colspan="2"></td><td class="lo">15,249</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr" align="center">engravings, etc.</td> +<td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">South Atlantic Division</td><td class="lr">14</td><td class="lo"> 277,250</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo">365,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">960</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr" align="center">services.</td> +<td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">291,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">South Central Division</td><td class="lr">15</td><td class="lo"> 86,000</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo">189,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">2,042</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr" ></td> +<td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">151,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro"> </td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> +<td class="lr" colspan="2"></td><td class="lo">423</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td><td class="lr" > </td> +<td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">North Central Division</td><td class="lr">185</td><td class="lo"> 342,489</td><td class="ro" align="left">.04 </td> +<td class="lo">5,835,200</td><td class="ro" align="left">+</td><td class="lo">67,011</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr" align="center">art works, mss.,</td> +<td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">3,880,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> +<td class="lr" colspan="2"></td><td class="lo">5,184</td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td> + <td class="lr" align="center">etc.</td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Western Division</td><td class="lr">23</td><td class="lo">43,650 </td> + <td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">1,433,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">11,500</td> + <td class="ro" align="left">v. </td><td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">1,248,000</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro"></td><td class="lr">468</td><td class="lo">$3,616,962</td> +<td align="left" class="ro">.90</td><td class="lo">$15,217,702</td> +<td align="left" class="ro">.26+</td><td class="lo">145,361</td><td class="ro" align="left"> v.++</td><td class="lr"></td> +<td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">$12,769,700</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Cuba</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr" colspan="2"></td> + <td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td class="lo">20,856 </td><td class="ro" align="left"> pm.</td> +<td align="center" class="lr">1 library.</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">British Provinces</td><td class="lr">10</td><td class="lo">2,800</td> + <td class="ro"></td><td class="lo">374,000</td><td class="ro"></td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td> +<td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"><span style="margin-right:1em">360,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ro" align="left">Scotland</td><td class="nt">3</td><td colspan="2" class="nt"></td><td class="bl">575,000</td><td class="br"></td><td colspan="2" class="nt"></td><td class="nt"></td> +<td class="bl"><span style="margin-right:1em">575,000</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="br"></td><td>482</td><td class="nr">$3,619,762</td><td class="nl">.90</td><td class="nr">$16,166,702</td><td class="nl">.26+</td> +<td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td class="nr"><span style="margin-right:1em">$13,704,700</span></td></tr> + +</table></div> + + + + +<p>Total Gifts and Bequests to American libraries from all sources, $19,786,465.16, 145,361 volumes, and 20,856 +pamphlets. The above figures do not include several buildings and other gifts, the value of which was not +stated. Statistics of this nature must ever remain mere approximations until some uniform system of gathering +them is devised and carried out.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="REPORT_OF_THE_A_L_A_PUBLISHING_BOARD" id="REPORT_OF_THE_A_L_A_PUBLISHING_BOARD">REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Joseph L. Harrison</span>, <i>Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.) Athenæum</i>.</p> + + +<p>In accordance with the requirement of the +constitution I have the honor to present +herewith the report of the Publishing Board +for the year 1900. The table of the financial +operations of the board is essentially a trial +balance, but divided into two sections to +bring out more clearly the condition of the +board's undertakings. The first section +shows in the last two columns the net balance +of loss or profit on each of our publications, +June, 1901. In general it is true that +our book publications, except the "List of subject +headings," have not brought in what was +expended on them, while our card publications +have more than offset these losses by +their profits, for although the final balance +of all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures +over receipts of $830.74, yet it +should be noticed that the two largest items +in the expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 +are on account of publications which have +not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., +the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" +and the "Portrait index." If these are left +out of consideration our other publications +show a net profit to date of $927.12. The +second section of the table shows what means +we have in hand or can count upon. The unpaid +bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), $627.71, +are just about offset by the amount of bills +and subscriptions due us, $636.82; leaving +the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount +sunk in publications, $830.74, to represent the +sum still remaining in our hands of money +appropriated to our use by the trustees of the +Endowment Fund or received from other +sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the balances +still standing on the old membership +accounts, $46.41. It should be remembered +that the office expenses of the year having +been heavier than usual, over $1800, have not +been all charged to the account of our different +publications, but a balance of $345.55 has +been allowed to remain, reducing by so much +the balance on this account of the previous +year.</p> + +<p>As a complement and supplement to the +table the following statements concerning the +board's publications and work may be of interest:</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Books.</i></p> + +<p><i>A. L. A. proceedings.</i>—The board has in +stock at its headquarters, 10-1/2 Beacon street, +Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference +proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to +date. There are a very limited number of +copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, +and it is suggested that libraries desiring to +complete sets in order to bind the proceedings +by themselves would do well to give the matter +early consideration.</p> + +<p><i>Annotated bibliography of fine art.</i>—The +"Bibliography of fine art," prepared by Mr. +Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. +Iles, which has become so favorably known +because of the value of its descriptive, critical +and comparative notes, was among the +board's publications transferred to Messrs. +Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the +regular publishers of the board), in January, +1900, and may be obtained directly from them. +The sales of the book, last year amounting to +84 copies, are gradually reducing the deficit +incurred in its publication, which at the end +of the year amounted to less than $400.</p> + +<p><i>Books for boys and girls.</i>—The little, inexpensive, +paper-covered handbook which bears +this title, with its carefully annotated lists, +prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford +Public Library, for the home use of fathers, +mothers and teachers, continues in such active +demand that less than 700 copies are now +left of an original edition of 3000. It remains +in the hands of the Publishing Board.</p> + +<p><i>Library tracts.</i>—Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin +& Co. have published for the board dur<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>ing +the year three library primers, an edition +of 1000 of each tract being printed. The first, +"Why do we need a public library?" was +compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. +This was followed by "How to start a public +library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester +County Law Library, and "Travelling libraries," +by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary +of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. +They have been well received, and others on +practical library subjects will follow as soon +as possible. A very low price has been fixed +for the tracts, and it is hoped that they will +be generously used by clubs, commissions and +individuals interested in promoting the advancement +of library interests.</p> + +<p><i>List of books for girls and women and their +clubs.</i>—This carefully selected list of some +2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by +girls and women" should now be ordered directly +of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. +Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold +during the year, showing a continued though +not increased demand.</p> + +<p><i>List of French fiction.</i>—Nearly 1000 copies +of this convenient list, chosen and annotated +by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. +Beer, of New Orleans, were sold during the +year, reducing the stock on hand at the board's +Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, +to less than 500 copies.</p> + +<p><i>List of subject headings for use in dictionary +catalogs.</i>—"Subject headings" continues to +be one of the most lucrative publications of +the board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in +1900, and the accounts of the year show a +balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the +demand for the book comes almost exclusively +from libraries, it still remains in the +hands of the Library Bureau, where orders +should be sent.</p> + +<p><i>Reading for the young.</i>—Sargent's "Reading +for the young" is offered by Messrs. +Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the +original edition, compiled by Mr. John F. +Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss +Mary E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the +original and supplement bound together. +During the current year the original edition +has become exhausted. It is probable that +a limited number of copies will be printed +at once to supply the immediate demand and +that a reprint, with additional matter, will be +undertaken in the near future.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Printed cards.</i></p> + +<p><i>Current books.</i>—It need simply be stated +under the head of "Printed cards for current +books" that the entire reorganization of this +part of the board's work has been the subject +of active discussion during the year, and that +the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively +will be fully explained to the conference +by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the +Publishing Board. It may be appropriately +added that, as in past years, the thanks of +the Association are due to the publishers for +their courtesy in sending books, and to Miss +Browne for her earnest work in getting the +cards to subscribers with—under often adverse +conditions—most commendable promptness.</p> + +<p><i>English history.</i>—The annotated cards on +English history continue to be printed at a +loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, +however, to edit the cards for the current +year, and it is hoped that in the end their +usefulness will be found to justify the work, +at least to the extent of making them self-supporting.</p> + +<p><i>Periodical and society publications.</i>—The +Publishing Board is now printing cards for +nearly 250 periodical and society publications. +During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 +cards, were sent out. This represents the +largest single item of the board's work and +an expenditure of more than $1700, which is +nearly met by receipts from the sales.</p> + +<p><i>Miscellaneous sets.</i>—The board has now +printed 16 of the so-called "Miscellaneous +sets," which are, together with the years or +volumes covered, as follows: American Association +for the Advancement of Science—Proceedings, +1875-1898; American Historical +Association—Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American +Historical Association—Reports, 1889-98; +New York State Museum—Bulletin, +1892-98, nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical +Society—Collections, 1792-1899; Old South +Leaflets—series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution—Annual +reports, 1886-96; Smithsonian In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>stitution—Contributions +to knowledge, 1862-97; +Smithsonian Institution—Miscellaneous +collections, 1862-97; U. S. Bureau of Ethnology—Annual +reports, 1879-95; U. S. National +Museum—Annual reports, 1886-95; U. +S. National Museum—Bulletin, 1875-98, and +(books) Depew, "One hundred years of +American commerce"; Authors Club, "Liber +scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of +America."</p> + +<p>These sets simply cover the back numbers +of what are now grouped in the board's work +as "periodicals and society publications"—completed +works like "Liber scriptorum," of +course, being excepted. Subscriptions to +these periodicals and publications as current +continuations begin with the date of the receipt +of the subscription, so that unless one +has been a subscriber from the beginning +there will of necessity (because of the limited +number of the cards printed) be a break between +the last year covered by the "Miscellaneous +set" and the beginning of the subscription.</p> + +<p>The sets have met with a warm welcome +from the libraries, and the board is prepared +to print cards during 1901 for the following +additional sets, providing a sufficient number +of orders are received to justify the work: +American Academy of Political and Social +Science—Annals, 1900 to date; American +Economic Association—Economic studies, +1896-97; American Economic Association—Publications, +1887-96; <i>Bibliographica,</i> 1895-97; +Bureau of American Republics—Publications; +Columbia University Studies in History, +Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; +Johns Hopkins University Studies in History +and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. Geological +Survey—Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological +Survey—Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. +Geological and Geographical Survey of the +Territories—Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological +and Geographical Survey of the Territories—Miscellaneous +publications, 12 nos.</p> + +<p>These brief statements show concisely the +bibliographical work which the Publishing +Board has completed and is now carrying on, +and for which it needs the continued moral +and financial support of the libraries of the +Association.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>In preparation and under consideration.</i></p> + +<p>Other important work is in active progress. +The "Literature of American history," being +edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles +has so generously donated $10,000, is well +along, and may be announced as a fall book. +Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the +second edition of the "A. L. A. index" has +advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready +for distribution before the end of the year. +Mr. Dewey has promised that the long-delayed +"Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being +edited, as was the original, by Mrs. Salome +Cutler Fairchild, will be out this summer. +It is expected that active work on the +"Portrait index" will be continued, and that +under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss +Browne the index will be pushed to rapid +completion.</p> + +<p>Among the pieces of valuable work under +consideration, on which the board hopes soon +to be able to take final and definite action, +may be mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook +of libraries of the United States," an "Index +to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference +books," cards to current books recommended +by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission +and the Massachusetts Library Club +index to the Massachusetts public documents.</p> + +<p>In conclusion it remains to express the deep +and sincere regret with which the board accepted +the resignation of Mr. William C. +Lane as its secretary and treasurer, tendered +in December of last year on account of ill +health and after a long period of most earnest, +faithful and valuable service, and to repeat +here the suggestion with which he closed his +report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion +made, it must be remembered, after years +of closest attention to the workings of the +board:</p> + +<p>"The desirability of taking some definite +steps toward putting the work of the Publishing +Board on a broader and stronger basis +is as evident as ever. In addition to the efficient +service rendered by the assistant secretary, +the Publishing Board could with advantage +employ a portion, say half, of the +time of a capable man who should combine +business judgment and alertness with bibliographical +tastes and knowledge of library<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +interests. The time has come when both for +its own sake and in justice to those who serve +it the Publishing Board should have salaried +officers. To make the change successfully, +however, requires a better financial condition +than it yet has."</p> + +<hr class="full"/> +<hr class="full"/> + +<p class="center">STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.</p> + +<div class="right"> + + <table border="1" width="100%" style=" border-right: 0; border-left: 0;" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + + +<tr><td rowspan="2" class="nl" align="center">PUBLICATIONS.</td> +<td rowspan="2" colspan="3" align="center">Copies sold in 1900.</td><td rowspan="2" colspan="2" align="center">Copies on hand Dec. 31, 1900.</td> +<td colspan="3" align="center">Balances, Jan. 1, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date.</td><td colspan="2" align="center">Operations, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1900.</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center" class="nr">Balances, Dec. 31, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">Spent.</td><td align="center">Received.</td><td align="center">Expenses.</td><td align="center">Receipts.</td><td align="center">Spent.</td> +<td align="center" class="nr">Received.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="rt">A. L. A. Proceedings</td> +<td class="lt"></td><td class="to">2 </td><td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt">1829</td><td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td><td class="to"></td><td class="nb">$5.56</td> +<td class="nb">$1.24</td><td class="nb">$2.00</td><td class="nb"></td><td class="lt">$6.32</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Books for boys and girls</td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="none"> 188</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> 643</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"> $13.47</td> +<td class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">8.60</td><td class="lr">$4.87</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Bibliography of fine art</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none" > 84</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> 209</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro" > 415.87</td> +<td class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">47.50</td><td class="lr">368.37</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">List of French fiction</td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="none">991</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> 440</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lr"> 8.51</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">20.64</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo">29.15</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Books for girls and women</td> +<td class="lo"><div style='float:left;'><div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'><p style='font-size:233%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>{ </p></div></div> </td><td class="none">107<br />218 </td><td class="ro" align="left"> <br />pts.</td> +<td class="lo">474<br />4064</td><td class="ro" ><br />pts.</td> +<td class="lo" align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'><p style='font-size:233%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">66.19</td><td class="lr">66.19</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td style="vertical-align:middle" align="left" class="ro">Reading for the young</td> +<td class="lo"> <div style='float:left;padding-right:8px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>{ </p> </div></td><td class="none">6<br />32<br />24</td> + <td align="left" class="ro">orig.<br />supp.<br />compl.</td> +<td class="lo">24<br />899<br />5</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo" align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td class="ro"> 418.58 </td> +<td class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">48.39</td><td class="lr">370.19</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">List of subject-headings</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none">296</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo">55</td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lr">227.85</td><td class="lr">144.17</td><td class="lr">390.36</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo">474.04</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">A. L. A. index, 2d edition</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none"></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro">242.84</td> +<td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr">225.00</td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr">467.84</td><td class="lo"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Portrait index</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none"> </td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> </td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro">728.94</td> +<td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr">561.08</td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr">1290.02</td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Current book cards</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none"> </td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> </td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"> </td> +<td class="lr">467.37</td><td class="lr">719.16</td><td class="lr">860.39</td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lo">608.60</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">English history cards</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none"> </td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> </td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"> </td> +<td class="lr">16.41</td><td class="lr">134.00</td><td class="lr">55.76</td><td class="lr">61.83</td><td class="lo"> </td></tr> + + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Periodical cards</td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="none">170,344</td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="ro">438.37</td><td class="lr">1795.75</td><td class="lr">1688.26</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lo">330.88</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Miscellaneous sets</td> +<td class="lo"></td> <td class="none"> </td><td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"> </td> <td class="ro"></td> +<td class="lo"></td><td class="ro">41.85</td> +<td class="lr"> </td><td class="lr">235.48</td><td class="lr">644.67</td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lo">367.34</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="br">Library tracts</td> +<td class="bl"></td> <td class="bo">824</td><td class="br"></td> +<td class="bl">2174</td> <td class="br"></td> +<td class="bl"></td><td class="br"> </td> +<td class="nt"> </td><td class="nt">125.15</td><td class="nt">41.20</td><td class="nt">83.95</td><td class="bl"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="rt">Totals</td> +<td class="lt"></td> <td class="to"></td><td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td> <td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td><td class="rt">$1861.55 </td> +<td class="nb">$1164.07 </td><td class="nb">$4007.22</td><td class="nb">$3873.26</td><td class="nb">$2647.07</td><td class="lt">$1816.33 </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="br">General balance</td> +<td class="bl"></td> <td class="bo"></td><td class="br"></td> +<td class="bl"></td> <td class="br"></td> +<td class="bl"></td><td class="br"></td> +<td class="nt">697.48</td><td class="nt"></td><td class="nt">133.26</td><td class="nt"></td><td class="bl">930.74 </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td> <td class="to"></td><td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td> <td class="rt"></td> +<td class="lt"></td><td class="rt">$1861.55 </td> +<td class="nb">$1861.55 </td><td class="nb">$4007.22</td><td class="nb">$4007.22</td><td class="nb">$2647.07</td><td class="lt">$2647.07 </td></tr> +</table> + <table border="1" width="100%" style=" border-right: 0; border-left: 0;" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="nl" rowspan="2" align="center">OTHER ACCOUNTS</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">Bal.Jan. 1, 1900.</td><td colspan="2" align="center">Operations of 1900.</td><td class="nr" colspan="2" align="center"> +Bal. Dec. 31, 1900.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Dr.</td><td align="center">Cr.</td><td align="center">Dr.</td><td align="center">Cr.</td><td align="center">Dr.</td><td class="nr" align="center">Cr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="rt">General expense and income account</td><td class="nb"></td><td class="nb"> $1960.48 </td><td class="nb">$345.55</td><td class="nb">$2.15</td> +<td class="nb"></td><td class="lt">$1617.08</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Old members account </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">49.25</td> <td class="lr">2.84</td> <td class="lr"></td> + <td class="lr"></td> <td class="lo">46.41</td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="ro"> Library Bureau account</td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">455.00</td> <td class="lr">1413.23</td> <td class="lr">1327.75</td> + <td class="lr"></td> <td class="lo">369.52</td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="ro"> Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr"></td> <td class="lr">159.12</td> <td class="lr">175.62</td> + <td class="lr"></td> <td class="lo">16.50</td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="ro"> Other charges unpaid </td><td class="lr"></td><td class="lr">69.41</td> <td class="lr">69.41</td> <td class="lr">241.69</td> + <td class="lr"></td> <td class="lo">241.69</td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="ro">Balance of cash </td><td class="lr">$1100.66</td><td class="lr"></td> <td class="lr">3019.67</td> <td class="lr">3296.69</td> + <td class="lr">$823.64</td> <td class="lo"></td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"> Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions </td><td class="nt">736.00</td><td class="nt"></td> <td class="nt">2717.26</td> <td class="nt">2816.44</td> + <td class="nt">636.82</td> <td class="bl"></td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="rt">Totals </td><td class="nb">$1836.66</td><td class="nb">$2534.14</td> <td class="nb"></td> <td class="nb"></td> + <td class="nb">$1460.46</td> <td class="lt">$2291.20</td> </tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br">Balances </td><td class="nt">697.48</td><td class="nt"></td> <td class="nt"></td> <td class="nt"></td> + <td class="nt">830.74</td> <td class="bl"></td> </tr> +<tr><td class="nl"> </td><td >$2534.14</td><td >$2534.14</td> <td ></td> <td ></td> + <td >$2291.20</td> <td class="nr">$2291.20</td> </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_PROCEEDINGS" id="THE_PROCEEDINGS">THE PROCEEDINGS.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Waukesha, Wis., Thursday, July 4</span>—<span class="smcap">Wednesday, July 10, 1901.</span></p> + + +<h4><i><a name="FIRST_SESSION" id="FIRST_SESSION">FIRST SESSION.</a></i><a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></h4> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Methodist Church, Waukesha, Thursday +evening, July 4.</span>)</p> + +<p class="center">PUBLIC MEETING.</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order at 8.15 by +President <span class="smcap">Carr</span>, who announced that the +American Library Association would take up +the program prepared for its 23d annual meeting. +The president then introduced <span class="smcap">Andrew +J. Frame</span>, of Waukesha, who extended a cordial +welcome to Waukesha on behalf of the +local committee, referring to the advance +made in library development throughout Wisconsin, +largely through the efforts of such men +as Senator Stout, of Menominee, and Z. G. +Simmons, of Kenosha, and the enthusiasm of +the state commission.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Carr</span> then delivered the</p> + +<p class="center"> +PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.<br /> +(<i>See</i> <a href="#ADDRESS_OF_THE_PRESIDENT">p. 1.</a>) +</p> + +<p>The subject</p> + +<p class="center"> +WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES<br /> +</p> + +<p>was presented by three speakers, <span class="smcap">T. L. Montgomery</span> +presenting</p> + +<p class="center"> +WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE CITY,<br /> +(<i>See</i> <a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_CITY">p. 5</a>), +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. E. A. Birge</span> reviewing</p> + +<p class="center"> +WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE STATE,<br /> +(<i>See</i> <a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_STATEA">p. 7</a>), +</p> + +<p>and <span class="smcap">Herbert Putnam</span> outlining</p> + +<p class="center"> +WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE NATION,<br /> +(<i>See</i> <a href="#WHAT_MAY_BE_DONE_FOR_LIBRARIES_BY_THE_NATION">p. 9.</a>) +</p> + +<p>Adjourned at 10 p.m.</p> + + +<h4><i><a name="SECOND_SESSION" id="SECOND_SESSION">SECOND SESSION.</a></i></h4> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Assembly Room, Fountain Spring House, +Friday morning, July 5.</span>)</p> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span> called the meeting to order +at 10.25, and announced that the usual reports +of officers and committees would be taken up +in due order.</p> + +<p>The <span class="smcap">PRINTED REPORT OF 1900 MEETING</span> was +approved as presented and distributed.</p> + +<p>The <span class="smcap">AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION</span>, as approved +at the Montreal meeting was submitted +for ratification, and was adopted. It +provides that in section 17, line 10, of the +constitution the words "of the association," +shall be stricken out, thus making the final +sentence of that section read as follows: "It +may, by a two-thirds vote, promulgate recommendations +relating to library matters, and +no resolutions except votes of thanks and on +local arrangements shall be otherwise promulgated."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">F. W. Faxon</span> presented his</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="SECRETARYS_REPORT" id="SECRETARYS_REPORT">SECRETARY'S REPORT</a></p> + +<p>During the 13 months since the Association +met at Montreal the number of new members +added has been 167.<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> Including with the new +those who have rejoined (for they are practically +new members), we have over 225, the +largest year's increase in the history of the +A. L. A. The system of giving to each person +who joins an accession number, and after +a lapse of membership for one or more years +reverting to the old number when he again +joins, is not to my mind quite fair to the +regular continued membership. One of the +charter members, to take an extreme case, +may, after paying dues for 1876 only, come +in again this year by paying for 1901 and yet +appear on a par with the 1876 members who +have faithfully kept up their membership for +25 years. Those rejoining members should +be included with the total of new names +added. There is a chance here for our statistician +to devise a better system of accession. +In March, 1901, the active membership reached +the 1000 mark, an achievement which may well +be recorded at the opening of a new century.</p> + +<p>In January 4000 copies of preliminary announcements +were mailed to members, and +others supposed to be interested. The secretary +compiled for this purpose a card catalog</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>of names, including in it members of all +the state associations and local clubs.</p> + +<p>In May a new handbook (68 pages and +cover) 3-1/4 × 5-3/4 in., practically following the +size of last issue, was sent out, giving list +of members, officers and committees, statistical +tables, lists of state and local library associations +and state library commissions, necrology +for the year, and other information of +value to members and of use in extending the +work of the A. L. A.</p> + +<p>An edition of 4500 was printed at an expense +of $160.60, and about half were mailed, +in connection with circular no. 2 regarding +the Waukesha meeting. The remainder should +suffice for the coming year, with a small supplement +to include the new members, and +the by-laws to be passed at Waukesha, thus +completing the new constitution.</p> + +<p>Early in June the final announcement was +sent out, with private post card enclosed, requesting +advance registration. This was entirely +successful, 476 persons registering for +attendance, up to June 28. A printed list of +these, for distribution at the early sessions of +the meeting, will, it is confidently expected, +more than justify the expense of its compilation. +(800 copies, 24 pages, same size as +handbook, $32.75.)</p> + +<p>2000 copies of program (16 pages, handbook +size) were printed and a copy mailed to +each person who registered for attendance at +the meeting, and to all members of the +Association.</p> + +<p>The secretary's expenses for the year, exclusive +of handbook, will be about $400, the +chief items being postage and printing. This +seems justified, as it has been the means of +increasing the income of the A. L. A. by +more than the amount expended.</p> + +<p>Number of letters and postcards written +during the year 956, number received about +1000.</p> + +<p>Gifts to the A. L. A. during the year have +included:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>Current issues of the New York Public Library +<i>Bulletin,</i> and the <i>Library Journal,</i> from +the publishers.</p> + +<p>Reports of the Bristol meeting of the L. A. +U. K., from the Honorable Secretary.</p> + +<p>Report of the trustees of the Public Library +of Victoria, Australia, 1900.</p> + +<p>Catalogue of books on art, from the +Newcastle-upon-Tyne Library.</p> + +<p>Statistics of labor, Conn., Report, 1901.</p> + +<p><i>World</i> Almanac, 1901.</p> + +<p>Annual reports of several American libraries, +including Philadelphia Free, Haverhill +Public, Somerville Public, and Bowdoin College +libraries.</p></blockquote> + +<p>In closing I wish to thank all upon whom I +have called for information or help, for the +promptness and cordiality of their response.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Gardner M. Jones</span> presented the<br /> +<a name="TREASURERS_REPORT" id="TREASURERS_REPORT"><span class="smcap">treasurer's report.</span> </a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="4">Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1900 (Montreal conference, p. 107)</td><td align="right">$54 75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="5"><span class="smcap">Receipts, Jan.-Dec., 1900.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Fees from annual members:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td ><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 3</td><td> members for 1898</td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 61</td><td> members for 1899</td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 780</td><td>members for 1900</td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 12</td><td>members for 1901</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>–—</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right">856</td><td> members at $2</td><td align="right"> $1712 00 </td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="3"><span style="margin-left: 4em;"> Fees from annual fellows: </span></td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 1</td><td> fellow for 1899</td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 9</td><td>fellows for 1900</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>–—</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right">10</td><td> fellows at $5</td><td><span style="margin-left: 10em;"> 50 00</span></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"><span style="margin-left: 4em;"> Fees from library members: </span></td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 1</td><td> library for 1899</td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">From</span></td><td align="right"> 29</td><td>libraries for 1900</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>–—</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right">30</td><td> libraries at $5</td><td><span style="margin-left: 10em;"> 150 00</span></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td><td> </td><td align="right">$1912 00</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="5"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Life membership: </span></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Alfred Hafner</span></td> </tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Emma R. Neisser</span></td> </tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right">2</td><td> life memberships at $25</td><td></td><td align="right">$50 00</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="4"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Interest on deposit, New England Trust Co.</span></td> <td align="right" >11 64</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="4"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Donation</span></td> <td align="right">1 00</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td align="right" >————</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td align="right"> $2029 39</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td align="right" style="vertical-align:top">=======</td></tr> + +</table> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Payments, Jan.-Dec., 1900.</span></p> +<div class="right"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="5" align="left">Proceedings, including delivery:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jan.</span> </td><td>15.</td><td align="left"> <i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> balance on printing and binding +Atlanta Proceedings </td><td >$142 92 </td></tr> + +<tr><td ></td><td></td><td align="left"><i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> delivery Atlanta Proceedings </td><td >66 27</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mar.</span></td><td> 17.</td><td align="left"> <i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> cartage</td><td>50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oct.</span></td><td> 2.</td><td align="left"> + <i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> Montreal Proceedings and delivery </td><td >881 34 </td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>———</td><td> $1091 03</td></tr> + + <tr><td align="left" colspan="5">Stenographer:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">June</span></td><td> 30.</td><td align="left"> J. H. Kenehan</td><td> $30 75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">July</span></td><td> 7.</td><td align="left"> G. D. Robinson </td><td> 73 69</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>———</td><td> $104 44</td></tr> + + <tr><td colspan="5" align="left">Secretary and conference expenses:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">April</span></td><td>24.</td><td align="left">F. H. Gerlock & Co., printing handbook </td><td >$59 00</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td align="left"> F. H. Gerlock & Co., circulars, etc.</td><td> 35 25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">May</span></td><td> 29.</td><td align="left">Henry J. Carr, postage, etc.</td><td>112 90</td></tr> + <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">June</span></td><td> 30.</td><td align="left"> F. H. Gerlock & Co., programs and circulars </td><td >37 75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">July</span></td><td> 24.</td><td align="left"> Henry J. Carr, travel secretaries' expenses</td><td> 67 92</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oct.</span></td><td> 18. </td><td align="left">F. W. Faxon, stamped envelopes, etc. </td><td> 15 60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dec.</span></td><td> 12. </td><td align="left">F. W. Faxon, salary, on account</td><td> 50 00</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>———</td><td> $378 42</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="5" align="left">Treasurer's expenses:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">May</span></td><td> 29.</td><td align="left">Gardner M. Jones, postage, etc. </td><td >$14 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oct.</span></td><td> 2.</td><td align="left">Salem Press Co., printing bills, etc. </td><td>5 50</td></tr> + +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes, etc. </td><td >46 85</td></tr> + + +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dec.</span></td><td> 24.</td><td align="left">Gardner M. Jones, expenses</td><td> 31 55</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>———</td><td> $97 90</td></tr> + + + <tr><td colspan="4" align="left">Trustees of the Endowment Fund, life membership for investment</td><td >$50 00</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> ————</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> $1721 79</td></tr> + + +<tr><td></td><td align="left" colspan="4">Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1900:</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="left"> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Deposit in New England Trust Co. Boston</span></td><td>$201 55</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="left"> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Deposit in Merchants' Bank, Salem, Mass.</span></td><td >106 05 </td><td >$307 60</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>———— </td><td> ————</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td> $2029 39</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td>=======</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>From Jan. 1 to July 1, 1901, the receipts +have been $1650.00 and the payments $781.32, +the balance on hand July 1 being $1176.28. +The membership, hence the income, of the +Association is increasing from year to year, +but it should be borne in mind that increased +membership means increased expenses. The +secretary and treasurer are obliged to ask for +more money for postage, stationery, printing, +etc., and it is only by the most rigid condensation +that the recorder is able to keep our conference +Proceedings within our means.</p> + +<p>The number of members in good standing +on Dec. 31, 1900, was as follows:</p> + + +<div class="right"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Honorary members</td><td >3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Perpetual member</td><td>1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Life fellows</td><td >2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Life members</td><td >34</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Annual fellows (paid for 1900)</td><td >9</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Annual members (paid for 1900)</td><td >796</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Library members (paid for 1900)</td><td >29</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>—— </td></tr> +<tr><td ></td><td>874 </td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>During the year 1900, 208 new members joined the Association and seven died.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap" >Gardner M. Jones</span>, <i>Treasurer</i>. </p> + +<p>The following report of audit was appended:</p> + +<p>The Finance Committee have performed +the duties laid down in the constitution; they +<a name="treasurer" id="treasurer">have examined the accounts of the treasurer,</a> +during the period covered by his report, and +find them properly kept and vouched for.</p> + + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">James L. Whitney <br /> + Charles K. Bolton <br /> + Geo. T. Little</span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td> <i>Finance Committee. </i></td></tr></table> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--otherwise the following text will "flow around" the table, at least in Firefox, which is not what we want. --> + +<p class="center"><i>Necrology.</i></p> + +<p>1. Eleanor Arnold Angell (A. L. A. no. +1631, 1897) assistant librarian American Society +of Civil Engineers, New York City. +Born Jan. 23, 1874; died in New York City +May 18, 1900. Miss Angell graduated from +the Pratt Institute Library School in 1896 +and was a member of the Pratt Institute Library +staff until July, 1897. From Dec., +1897, to the time of her death she was as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>sistant +librarian of the American Society of +Civil Engineers.</p> + +<p>2. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain (A. L. A. no. +335, 1879) ex-librarian, Boston Public Library. +Born in Pembroke, N. H., June 4, 1821; +died in Chelsea, Mass., June 25, 1900. He was +graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844, +taught school at Brattleboro, Vt., entered the +Harvard Law School in 1846, was graduated +and admitted to the bar in 1849. In the same +year he took up his residence in Chelsea and +began the practice of law in Boston. He held +several municipal offices and was a member +of both houses of the state legislature. From +1866 to 1870 he was an associate justice of the +Municipal Court of Boston, then chief justice +of the same court until his resignation in 1878. +He was librarian of the Boston Public Library +from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 1890. During +his administration the library's collection +of Americana was largely increased and the +preliminary plans for the new building were +developed. The remainder of his life was +devoted to literary and historical work. Judge +Chamberlain was recognized as one of the +foremost students of American colonial history +and his collection of autographic documents +relating to American history was one +of the finest in the country. This collection was +deposited in the Boston Public Library in +1893 and became its property on the death +of Judge Chamberlain.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(<i>See "Brief description of the Chamberlain collection +of autographs," published by the Boston Public +Library.</i>)</p></blockquote> + +<p>3. Henry Barnard (A. L. A. no. 104, 1877.) +Born in Hartford, Ct., Jan. 24, 1811; died July +5, 1900. He graduated from Yale College in +1830 and in 1835 was admitted to the bar. +From 1837-40 he was a member of the Connecticut +legislature and during his term of service +advocated reforms in insane asylums, prisons +and the common schools. From 1838 to +1842 he was secretary of the board of school +commissioners in Connecticut; from 1842 to +1849 school commissioner of Rhode Island; +from 1850 to 1854 state superintendent of the +Connecticut schools, and from 1857 to 1859 +president of the State University of Wisconsin. +From 1865 to 1867 he was president of St. +John's College, and from 1867 to 1870 U. S. +Commissioner of Education. He wrote and +compiled many educational books and edited +several educational periodicals, the most important +being the <i>American Journal of Education</i>. +In 1886 he published a collected edition of his +works comprising 52 volumes and over 800 +original treatises. Dr. Barnard received the +degree of LL.D. from Yale and Union in 1851 +and from Harvard in 1852. He was always +greatly interested in libraries. In 1823 or 1824 +he served as assistant librarian and made his +first donation to the library of Monson Academy, +and from 1828 to 1830 was librarian of +the Linonian Society of Yale College, giving +twice the amount of the small salary back to +the library in books. During his connection +with the legislature and common schools of +Connecticut, 1837 to 1842, the district school +library system was established and the power +of taxation for libraries was given to every +school society in the state. During his +sojourn in Rhode Island he started a library +in every town in the state. He joined the +A. L. A. in 1877, and was made an honorary +member at Chicago in 1893. He attended the +conferences of 1876, 1877, and 1893.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>("<i>National cyclopedia of American biography," vol. +I;</i> <i>L. J.,</i> 4:289.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>4. Enos L. Doan (A. L. A. no. 1909, 1899), +librarian of the Wilmington (Del.) Institute +Free Library. Born in Indiana about 40 years +ago; died in Wilmington, Dec. 18, 1900. He +was a graduate of Haverford College and was +for several years connected with the Friends' +School in Wilmington, first as teacher and +later as assistant principal and principal. In +the spring of 1899 he resigned that office to +accept the appointment of librarian of the +Wilmington Institute Free Library. He had +previously been active in the development of +the library, and as chairman of the library +committee had aided in the reorganization of +the former subscription library into a free +public library.</p> + +<p class="right"> +(<i>L. J., Jan., 1901.</i>)^nbsp; +</p> + +<p>5. Josiah Norris Wing (A. L. A. no. 585, +1886), librarian New York Free Circulating +Library. Born near Lynchburg, Va., Sept. +29, 1848; died in New York City, Dec. 20, +1900. His father, E. N. Wing, was engineer +of the East Tenn. and Va. R. R. He was +a Union man and after the siege of Knoxville +removed to New York City. Here young +Wing attended the public schools and entered +the College of the City of New York, but before +the close of the first year he became a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +clerk in the Mercantile Library. He was +connected with the library for 13 years and +became first assistant librarian, but his unceasing +work and devotion to details injured +his health and he was obliged to retire from +active work. In 1880 he took charge of the +library department of Charles Scribner's +Sons, for which his library training well fitted +him. In April, 1899, he was elected chief +librarian of the New York Free Circulating +Library. During the years he was in the +book business Mr. Wing kept in close touch +with library interests. He was a member of +the A. L. A. for 14 years, and was almost +from its beginning an active member of the +New York Library Club. He had been treasurer +of the New York Library Association for +seven years, holding that office at the time of +his death. He was also prominent in book +trade organizations and in various civic reform +movements in New York City. He was +always ready to give help and service in any +good cause and he will be missed by many +friends among librarians and bookbuyers.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(<i>Publishers' Weekly, Dec. 29, 1900;</i><i> L. J., Jan., +1901.</i>)</p></blockquote> + +<p>6. Huntington Wolcott Jackson (A. L. A. +no. 884, 1890), president board of directors of +the John Crerar Library. Born in Newark, +N. J., Jan. 28, 1841; died in Chicago, Jan. 3, +1901. He attended Phillips Academy, Andover, +Mass., and entered Princeton College. +At the end of his junior year he enlisted in +the army, where he secured rapid promotion. +After a year at the Harvard Law School and a +year spent in European travel and study, he +finished his studies in Chicago and was admitted +to the bar in 1868. He practiced law in +Chicago and in 1888 was elected president of +the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Jackson +was a warm and trusted friend of the late +John Crerar. At Mr. Crerar's death he +was, with Mr. Norman Williams, one of the +executors of the will and a co-trustee of +the John Crerar Library, then to be founded. +For many years Mr. Jackson was chairman +of the committee on administration and practically +all of the details of administration were +passed upon by him and some quite important +changes were made by him. Mr. Jackson +was a member of the A. L. A. from 1890 until +his death, but there is no record of his +attendance at any conference.</p> + +<p class="right"> +(<i>See Report of John Crerar Library, 1900.</i>) +</p> + +<p>7. Robert Crossman Ingraham (A. L. A. no. +205, 1879), librarian of the New Bedford +(Mass.) Free Public Library. Born in New +Bedford, Feb. 11, 1827; died there March 3, +1901. The New Bedford Free Public Library +was instituted in 1852 and Mr. Ingraham was +chosen its first librarian, then taking up the +work to which he gave nearly half a century. +Under his management the library grew from +its nucleus of 5500 volumes to 72,000 volumes, +and the strength and good proportions of the +collection are due to his scholarship, unsparing +labor, and discernment of local needs. +For many years Mr. Ingraham had little or no +assistance in the library, yet for more than 30 +years he cataloged every book added to its +shelves. He kept in touch with changes +in library administration and was not prevented +by conservatism from adopting those +which his good judgment approved. Mr. Ingraham +was a man of retiring disposition and +simple tastes, a hard student with a marvellous +memory. In addition to his great fund of +general information, and knowledge of the +books in his library, he was thoroughly posted +in everything relating to the history of New +Bedford, and had few equals in his knowledge +of mosses and liverworts. He devoted his life +to his library and his fund of erudition was +always at the service of every one who sought +his assistance.</p> + +<p class="right"> +(<i>See W. R. L. Gifford in L. J., April, 1901.</i>) +</p> + +<p>8. Eugene Francis Malcouronne (A. L. A. +no. 1973, 1900), for the last 10 years secretary-treasurer +and librarian of the Fraser Institute +Free Public Library, of Montreal, <a name="died" id="died">died</a> +April 11, 1901. Mr. Malcouronne will be +pleasantly remembered by many who attended +the Montreal conference.</p> + +<p>The treasurer's report was accepted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">C. C. Soule</span> read the</p> + + +<p><a name="REPORT_OF_TRUSTEES_OF_ENDOWMENT_FUND" id="REPORT_OF_TRUSTEES_OF_ENDOWMENT_FUND">REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT +FUND.</a></p> + + +<p><i>To the Secretary of the American Library +Association.</i></p> + +<p>I submit herewith a report of the receipts +and expenditures from the date of last report, +June 6, 1900, to July 1, 1901, together +with a schedule of assets, and an estimate of +income for the ensuing year.</p> + +<p>There are no donations to report. The permanent +fund has been increased by the fees +for three (3) life memberships, $75 in all.</p> + +<p>In March, 1901, the mortgagor on a loan of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +$1000, bearing interest at six per cent., and +falling due Aug. 1, 1903, asked leave to pay +off the mortgage. He was allowed to do so +on paying $53.97, being the difference between +the six per cent. he was to have paid, up to +maturity of the mortgage, and the four per +cent. which the trustees can expect to get on +reinvestment of the $1000 repaid. This repayment +to the fund has been kept in bank +until after this conference. If not needed by +the Publishing Board as a loan, it can be invested +at, say, four per cent. Of the $2102.18 +now on deposit, subject to check, $655.04 is +on interest account, available for expenditure +as the Council may direct. (In addition to +this, $301.03 income may be expected during +the year 1901-2.) $1437.14 is on principal account +to be invested as opportunity offers.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Charles C. Soule </span>,<br /> +<i>Treasurer A. L. A. Endowment Fund</i>. +</p> + +<p class="center">ENDOWMENT FUND STATEMENT, JUNE 6, 1900-JULY 1, 1901.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="6" align="center"> <i>Cash account—Received.</i> </td></tr> +<tr><td>1900, </td><td>June</td> <td align="right"> 6. </td><td >Balance on hand, </td> <td></td><td align="right">$619.27</td></tr> +<tr><td>1901, </td><td>March</td> <td align="right"> 8. </td><td >Repayment of mortgage loan, </td><td></td><td align="right">1000.00</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="6" align="center"> <i>For permanent fund—life memberships.</i> </td></tr> +<tr><td>1901, </td><td>March</td> <td align="right"> 5. </td><td >E. P. Thurston,</td> <td align="right"> $25.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td align="center">"</td><td></td> <td >S. H. Ranck, </td> <td align="right"> 25.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>June</td> <td align="right">21. </td><td >B. C. Steiner, </td> <td align="right"> 25.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="4"></td> <td align="right"> ———</td> + <td align="right"> $75.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="6"><i>On interest account.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>1900, </td><td>June</td> <td align="right">28. </td><td>Interest mortgage loan,</td> <td align="right"> $75.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td align="center">"</td><td align="right">29. </td><td> " International Trust Co.'s deposit,</td> + <td align="right"> 6.82</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Aug.</td> <td align="right">14. </td><td> " Mortgage loan,</td> + <td align="right"> 30.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Oct.</td> <td align="right"> 1. </td><td> " + " "</td> <td align="right"> 24.50</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Dec.</td> <td align="right">27. </td><td> " " +"</td> <td align="right"> 75.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>1901, </td><td>Jan.</td> <td align="right">14. </td><td> " Brookline Savings Bank deposit,</td> + <td align="right"> 40.80</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Feb.</td> <td align="right"> 6. </td><td> " Mortgage loan,</td> + <td align="right"> 30.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td align="center">"</td><td align="right"> "</td> <td> " Int. Trust Co.,</td> + <td align="right"> 6.82</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>March</td> <td align="right"> 8. </td><td> " Mortgage loan,</td> + <td align="right"> 53.79</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Apr.</td> <td align="right"> 6. </td><td> " " + "</td> <td align="right"> 24.50</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>June</td> <td align="right">26. </td><td> " " + "</td> <td align="right"> 75.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td align="center">" </td><td align="right">29. </td><td> " +International Trust Co. deposit,</td> <td align="right"> 16.48</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="4"></td> <td>———</td><td align="right">458.71</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td> <td align="right">————</td> </tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td> <td align="right">$2152.98</td> </tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="6" align="center"><i>Paid out.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>1901, </td><td>Jan.</td> <td align="right">14. </td><td >Interest added to deposit in Brookline Savings Bank,</td> + <td align="right"> $40.80</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td> <td>Apr.</td> <td align="right">18. </td><td >Rent of safe box for securities,</td> + <td align="right">10.00</td> <td align="right">50.80</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td> <td align="right">————</td> </tr> +<tr><td>1901, </td><td>July</td> <td align="right"> 1. </td><td>Balance on deposit with International Trust Co., Boston,</td> + <td></td> <td align="right">$2102.18</td></tr> + + +<tr><td align="center" colspan="6" ><i>Assets.</i></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="5">Loan on mortgage at 7%, due Oct. 1, 1902,</td><td align="right"> $700.00</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"> " " " + " + 5% " Jan. 24, 1902,</td><td align="right"> 3000.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5">Deposit with Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, 4% interest</td><td align="right"> 1050.80</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"> " " International Trust Co., Boston, 2% "</td><td align="right">2102.18</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td><td align="right">————</td> </tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"></td><td align="right">Total,</td><td></td><td align="right">$6852.98</td><td></td></tr> + + +<tr><td></td><td colspan="5">[Of this amount $6187.94 is principal, to be left intact, $665.04 is interest, available for use.]</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td colspan="5"> Liabilities, none.</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td colspan="5">Annual expense, $10 for safe deposit box.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center" colspan="6"><i>Available for appropriation by the Council, 1901-1902.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="5">Cash on hand July 1, 1901 (interest account),</td><td align="right">$665.04</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5">Interest on $700.00 @ 7%, </td><td align="right">49.00</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"> " + " 3000.00 @ 5%,</td><td align="right"> 150.00</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"> " " + 1050.80 @ 4%,</td><td align="right"> 42.03</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td><td align="right">———-</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td><td align="right"> $906.07</td> </tr> + +<tr><td></td><td colspan="5">(If no part of the principal is needed as a loan by the Publishing Board, + add also)</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5">Interest on (say) $1500.00 invested at 4%,</td><td align="right">60.00</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="5"></td><td align="right">———</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"></td><td align="right">Estimated total,</td><td></td> + <td align="right">$966.07</td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +The following report of audit was appended:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>At the request of Charles C. Soule, treasurer +of the Endowment Fund, we have examined +his accounts and securities, and find +evidence of investment of $3700 in mortgage +loans, of deposit of $1050.80 in the Brookline +(Mass.) Savings Bank, and of $2102.18 in the +International Trust Company, of Boston. We +also find his accounts correctly cast, with +proper vouchers for all expenditures.</p></blockquote> + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">James L. Whitney <br /> + Charles K. Bolton <br /></span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:233%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td align="center"> <i>of the<br />Finance Committee. </i></td></tr></table> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--otherwise the following text will "flow around" the table, at least in Firefox, which is not what we want. --> + + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Soule</span>: In submitting this report, I +would call the attention of the Association to +the fact that the permanent fund is not as +large as it ought to be. If you will remember, +the attempt at collection, made with much +vigor at first, had to be abandoned on account +of general financial trouble through the +country. No systematic effort has since been +made to increase the fund. The work of the +Association would be very much furthered if +this fund were large enough to provide $5000 +or $6000 of income, so that the Association +could have two or three, or one or two, permanent +paid officers, with a good allowance +for travelling and incidental expenses. If any +of you should be asked where an amount of +say $100,000 could be placed with advantage +to the general library cause, I hope you will +bear in mind the inadequate funds of the Association.</p> + +<p>The report was accepted.</p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">W. L. R. Gifford</span>, chairman, +the secretary read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_CO-OPERATION_COMMITTEE" id="REPORT_OF_CO-OPERATION_COMMITTEE"> +REPORT OF THE CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE.</a></p> + +<p>The exhaustive report on co-operative cataloging +rendered by the Co-operation Committee +of last year has disposed for the present, +so far as this committee is concerned, of +the most important subject which has of late +years been brought to its attention.</p> + +<p>Dr. Richardson reports that the index to +theological periodicals is progressing rapidly, +and will probably be published before the +next conference of the A. L. A. The index +will cover the years 1891-1900, and will include +all the standard theological periodicals, +of Poole rank and upwards, in all languages +of which there are representatives in American +libraries, together with many references +to theological articles in general periodicals, +in all not less than 25,000 references. It will +be an alphabetical subject index like Poole, +but will differ from Poole in giving regular +author-title entry, and will be more bibliographical +in character through the select references +to general periodicals. A feature of +the index will be a very brief definition of each +subject. Dr. Richardson has at present seven +clerks engaged in the work, and is pushing it +as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>The dictionary of historical fiction, in preparation +by the Free Library of Philadelphia, +is making satisfactory progress, and will +probably be issued within the coming year. +Since the announcement was made at the Atlanta +conference that this dictionary was in +preparation there have been many inquiries +concerning it, and the prospect of its publication +will be welcome.</p> + +<p>The committee has received no new information +during the past year in regard to plans +for bibliographical work, and it would emphasize +the recommendations of previous +years that all such plans be reported promptly +to the committee, so that they may be published +in its annual report.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap" >William L. R. Gifford</span>, <i>Chairman</i>. </p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">C. H. Gould</span>, chairman, +<span class="smcap">C. W. Andrews</span> read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_FOREIGN_DOCUMENTS" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_FOREIGN_DOCUMENTS">REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN DOCUMENTS.</a></p> + +<p>The committee begs to report, with considerable +confidence, that this is positively its +last appearance in connection with the list +of French government serials, which has +been long in course of compilation and publication. +This work is now in its final stage, +and as it will soon be in the hands of the reviewer, +to say much in regard to it at present +seems hardly necessary. Two points, however, +require a word:</p> + +<p>1. Recognizing the difficulties in the way of +attaining anything like completeness in an +enumeration of this nature, the committee +deliberately decided to omit certain documents +in favor of others. Thus it happens +that no reference is made to the legislative +proceedings of the several Revolutionary Assemblies, +nor to other publications of equal +importance.</p> + +<p>2. In addition to enumerating documents, +this list indicates particular libraries where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +they may be consulted. It was, of course, +unnecessary, even had it been possible, to +mention all the libraries in the country which +possess sets more or less complete. But it is +hoped that the libraries chosen are so widely +distributed as to save a would-be reader from +undertaking a long journey when a shorter +one would serve.</p> + +<p>Such other features as call for notice will +be referred to in the preface.</p> + +<p>It would, however, be unbecoming if the +committee failed now to recognize and thank +Miss Adelaide R. Hasse for the pains and +labor she has bestowed upon the list. She has +co-operated with the committee from the first, +and to her and to Mr. Andrews the committee +is under special obligations.</p> + +<p>The committee would further report that it +now has on hand a considerable amount of +raw material for a German list similar to the +French; and it is hoped that progress may be +made in arranging this during the present +summer.</p> + +<p class="center"> +Respectfully submitted,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap" >C. H. Gould</span>, <i>Chairman</i>. </p> + + + +<p><span class="smcap">W. I. Fletcher</span> read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_TITLE-PAGES_AND_INDEXES" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_TITLE-PAGES_AND_INDEXES">REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TITLE-PAGES AND INDEXES +OF PERIODICAL VOLUMES.</a></p> + +<p>Your committee have understood their business +to be the preparation of a note to be +addressed to the publishers of periodicals, setting +forth the views of librarians in regard to +the issue of title-pages, etc., with periodicals. +They, therefore, submit as their report the +accompanying draft of such a note, with the +recommendation that it be sent to the publishers +of all leading periodicals, and that a committee +on this subject be continued, to receive +and act upon any correspondence that may be +called out.</p> + + + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Thorvald Solberg<br /> +W. I. Fletcher<br /></span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:233%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td align="center"> <i>Committee. </i></td></tr></table> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--otherwise the following text will "flow around" the table, at least in Firefox, which is not what we want. --> + + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>Note to publishers of periodicals, as to the furnishing +in proper form of title-pages and contents. This +note was drawn up by a Committee of the American +Library Association and was approved by the Association.</i></p></blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p>As a result of much dissatisfaction among +librarians with the irregularities and uncertainties +connected with the issue, by publishers +of periodicals, of title-pages and "contents" +of volumes, the American Library Association +has had a special committee considering +the subject with a view to drawing up a +suitable memorial to be presented to such publishers, +looking to the securing of more uniformity +and propriety in this matter. After +mature consideration the committee have prepared +the following recommendations as embodying +the minimum of improvement which +may reasonably be hoped for.</p> + +<p>1. Title-pages and tables of contents should +always accompany <i>the number completing a +volume,</i> and not the first number of a new +volume. [They should be <i>stitched in, and not +sent loose</i>.] There are several cogent reasons +for this recommendation:</p> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) In many cases it is a serious detriment +to the usefulness of a set in a library, if a +completed volume cannot be bound until the +receipt of the next number.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) More important is the need that the +numbers of a volume shall constitute the volume +in its entirety, so that as they are bought +and sold there shall not be the necessity of +handling also another number belonging to a +different volume in order to complete the first. +Now that libraries are buying periodical sets +and volumes in such large numbers for use +with Poole's and other indexes, it is of great +importance to the book trade, as well as librarians, +and must have a real bearing on the +business interests of the publishers, that this +matter, often trifled with, shall receive due +attention. Publishers must come to feel that +if it is necessary (which it generally proves +not to be) to delay a completing number a +day or two in its issue in order to insure its +completeness in this respect, the delay is +abundantly compensated for.</p> + +<p>2. Title-pages and contents should be furnished +<i>with every copy</i> of the issue of a completing +number. We earnestly believe that by +inserting title-pages and contents in all cases +publishers will at once put a premium on the +preservation and binding of their magazines, +suggesting it to many who otherwise would +not think of it. In the long run the demand +for back numbers to make up volumes must +more than compensate for the extra expense +of putting in the additional leaves.</p> + +<p>The policy of sending title-pages and contents +only to those calling for them is suicidal, +as it results in flooding the market with +numbers from which volumes cannot be made +up and by destroying the hope of making up +sets weakens the <a name="demand" id="demand">demand</a> which would otherwise +exist for volumes and numbers of the +periodical in question.</p> + +<p>If an alphabetical index, in addition to a +table of contents, is furnished, which is the +preferable practice, the former should be +paged to go at the end of the volume. When +such an index is furnished, and no table of +contents, the index should be printed to follow +the title-page.</p> + +<p>3. As to the form in which title-pages and +contents should be issued: they should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +printed on a two-, four-, or eight-leaved section, +separate from other printed matter, +either advertising or reading. Nothing is +more important in binding volumes to stand +the hard wear of our public libraries than that +none of the earlier leaves in the volume shall +be single leaves pasted in. One of the greatest +abuses of the book trade at present is the +disposition to have title and other preliminary +leaves pasted in. Librarians find to their cost +(what is not so obvious to the book manufacturer) +that this does not work. An absolute +requirement for good bookmaking is that the +first and last portions of the book especially +shall be good solid sections—no single leaves, +nor do most librarians or owners of private +libraries like to include advertisements, in order +to secure these solid sections for binding. +We feel sure that it is abundantly worth while +for the publishers to squarely meet this demand.</p> + +<p>4. Admitting that there may be cases in +which it is practically impossible to furnish +title and contents with the completing number +of a volume, we would recommend for +such cases that such a separate section as has +been described be made and furnished with the +first number of the new volume, stitched in +<i>at its end,</i> not at its beginning. The last-named +practice is likely to cause more trouble +to librarians than any other that is common, +as it is difficult to remove the section without +making the number unfit to place in the reading +room.</p> + +<p>We would like to call the attention of periodical +publishers to the difficulties arising from +the common practice of printing some first or +last leaves of reading matter on the same section +with some pages of advertising. Most +librarians prefer to remove the advertising +leaves before binding the magazines. The +practice referred to makes it necessary to +bind in some advertising leaves or else take +off and paste in single leaves of reading matter, +sometimes three or four in one place, +which is very inimical to good binding. Publishers +are advised to have all advertising +pages printed on separate sections if possible.</p> + +<p>Desiring to meet, so far as possible, the +views of publishers in regard to the matters +referred to above, the committee will be +pleased to hear from any to whom this note +may come.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: The committee have corresponded +with some of the magazine publishers, +and if any are disposed to consider +what is here proposed an ideal system, your +attention may be called to the fact that several +of our magazine publishers are carrying it +out. For instance, Houghton, Mifflin & Co.—I +am not mentioning them as superior to +others; others might be mentioned—but in +their reply to a tentative letter Houghton, +Mifflin & Co. say that "in all of our publications +every one of these recommendations is +strictly carried out." They took pride in replying +to us that they believed they were doing +exactly what we wanted—and several +other publishers.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">G. M. Jones</span>: I understand the report to +recommend that title-pages and indexes be +fastened into the last number of the volume. +Now it seems that in many cases it would be +very much better to have them left loose. +The case is this: In almost all public libraries +of any size periodicals are put into some +kind of a binder. On many accounts binders +which perforate are the best, but we do not +wish to perforate title-page and index, if we +can help it, especially the title-page, and I +would like to inquire why the committee considered +it so essential that the title-page and +index should be fastened into the number?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: These questions were all +considered by the committee, and I would say +when I first drew up my suggestion on this +point it was that title-page and index should +be sent loose; but I found an overwhelming +argument against that, when we came to consider +that they were desired to be with every +completing number; that those completing +numbers are sold to the people in railroad +trains and elsewhere and are coming into the +second-hand periodical market, where we +must look for many to make up our sets. Now +as to the point which Mr. Jones has spoken of. +If the magazine is to be perforated to be put in +the binder, as the completing number is to have +the title and index, as we proposed, in a separate +section, it can be removed by undoing +the stitching, or sewing, if it is sewed. That +can be done before it is put into the binder. +Of course there is no necessity for ruining, +the stitching in its entirety. There may be +some little objection there, but it is so slight +that it seemed to the committee entirely +counterbalanced.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: Mr. Fletcher's reply is perfectly +satisfactory on that point.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. S. Biscoe</span>: One other suggestion: Do +I understand from Mr. Fletcher, if there is a +table of contents, that the index be put after +the title-page?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: No, the suggestion is that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +if there is an alphabetical index and a table +of contents, the index should be planned and +arranged at the end of the volume, but that +if only an index is furnished, and no table of +contents, that would be in accordance with +the usual practice in such cases—the index +should go, like a table of contents, after the +title-page.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Biscoe</span>: If there is no table of contents +the alphabetical index is to go after the title-page? +It seems to me desirable that it should +always go at the end of the volume.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I am very glad that point +has been called attention to. I should like it if +Mr. Biscoe would suggest an amendment. +According to the report, when such an index +is furnished, and no table of contents, the +index should be printed to follow the title-page. +We might say: if an alphabetical index +is furnished, it should be paged to go at the +end of the volume.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">T. L. Montgomery</span>: Was not the committee's +report to provide for the printing of the +alphabetical index in the place of a table of +contents, thereby making it one section?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: The advantage of that +would be that there would be something to go +with the title-page to make up the section. +The title-page should be part of a section for +binding as a separate section. I wonder if +most of the librarians present haven't had the +same exasperating experience which I have +so often had with those title-pages which are +separate leaves, and have to be pasted into +the volume. There is hardly any practice so +vicious in bookmaking as having the title-page +pasted in. It almost always pulls out +before the book is in any other respect at all +dilapidated.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A. G. Josephson</span>: I would suggest that the +committee recommend that both a table of +contents and an index should be furnished.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: The committee would entirely +agree to that, and it could very easily +be done. If an alphabetical index, in addition +to the table of contents, is furnished, a +practice to be preferred might be to consolidate +them.</p> + +<p>Pres. <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: I think, Mr. Fletcher, you +should be able to modify your report, before +printing, to incorporate those suggestions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">F. W. Faxon</span>: If the committee is trying +to get at an ideal arrangement, it might be +well to suggest that the publishers of magazines +have some one who knows something +about the contents make the index. We have +a magazine in Boston that persists in indexing +articles under "a" and "the," and proper +names under "John" and "James." But if +the committee is trying to get a rule that the +publishers will be most likely to adopt, it +seems to me they might suggest that the index +be published in each concluding number +of a volume, even though the index is put in +place of that many pages of text. Of course +it would not do to suggest that these pages be +taken out of advertising, but as the text usually +costs the magazine something, publishers +would probably be willing to devote four of +the pages they would have to pay for to an +index, which would cost them much less.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I think it would interest the +Association to know of an example that Mrs. +Fairchild sent me some time ago of the way +these indexes are made. Some periodical in +New York had an article on motive power +for the canals, and in the index it appeared +under "Mule, Must the Canal Go?"</p> + +<p>The report was approved and referred to +the Council.</p> + +<p>In the absence of Dr. <span class="smcap">J. S. Billings</span> the +secretary read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CATALOGUE_OF_SCIENTIFIC_LITERATURE" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CATALOGUE_OF_SCIENTIFIC_LITERATURE"> +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON "INTERNATIONAL +CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE."</a></p> + +<p>Your committee begs to report that the final +conference of delegates of the various governments +for the purpose of considering an International +Catalogue of Scientific Literature +was held in London on June 12 and 13, 1900, +and, as intimated in the report of your committee +last year, owing to the failure of Congress +to make it possible for delegates with +power to attend, no representatives of the +United States were present. Mr. Herbert +Putnam, Librarian of Congress, who was visiting +England at the time was informally in +conference with various members of the Royal +Society and rendered effective service in enabling +them to reach a conclusion.</p> + +<p>The conference decided to undertake the +issuing of the Catalogue provided 300 complete +subscriptions were received by October +1st, the quota of the United States in this +being 45. During the summer the Smith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>sonian +Institution issued a circular to American +libraries and universities and learned societies +and scientific men, announcing the fact, +with the very gratifying result of the subscription +to the equivalent of over 70 complete +sets for a period of five years.</p> + +<p>A meeting of the International Council to +finally arrange for the beginning of the work +was held in London on December 12 and 13, +1900, at which the necessary financial arrangements +were agreed to, the Royal Society advancing +certain sums and agreeing to act as +publisher, and being authorized to enter into +contracts, etc. Doctor H. Foster Morley +was elected director and offices were secured +at 34 and 35 Southampton street, Strand, +London, W. C. The initial work has begun. +The preparation of a list of periodicals to be +indexed and a more careful revision of the +schedules was the first work to be done. Thus +far the periodical lists for Germany, Great +Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, +Japan, Portugal, Canada, India and Ceylon +have been printed. That for the United +States is expected to be ready for transmission +to London about August 1st.</p> + +<p>In the absence of any provision, the Smithsonian +Institution is carrying on the work +for the United States, <a name="indequate" id="indequate">although with very inadequate +force</a>. It would be very desirable if +legislation could be had to enable the Smithsonian +Institution to prosecute this work more +vigorously and without drawing upon its own +funds.</p> + + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap" >J. S. Billings</span>, <i>Chairman</i>. <br /> +<span class="smcap" >Cyrus Adler</span>, <i>Secretary</i>. </p> + + + +<p>Pres. <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: Dr. Hosmer has, I think, a +communication to make that is of concern to +us all.</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE" id="MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE">MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE.</a></p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Hosmer</span>: Mr. President, and Ladies and +Gentlemen:</p> + +<p>We meet here in the midst of beautiful surroundings, +but with considerable discomfort. +Perhaps we hardly make it real to ourselves +that this is in our country a time of calamity. +Never in the course of a somewhat long experience, +can I remember so many fatalities +from the terrible heat of the summer. The +newspapers have come to us from day to day +with the list of victims from the great cities, +and this morning comes in intelligence of a +death which touches us librarians very closely—the +death of John Fiske. He died yesterday +at Gloucester, Mass., overcome by the +heat; and I think it entirely right to say that +in the death of John Fiske comes the extinction +of the greatest force in American literature +at the present moment. John Fiske, while +not a member of our association, was at one +time a librarian; he had a great interest in the +Association; he was the personal friend of +many of its members. It is perhaps quite +right to say that no author at the present +time is so frequently in the mouths and in the +hands of the librarians. It has been thought +fitting by the executive committee that we +should make an exception in his case, and +that there should be some formal mention of +his passing. I regret very much that the time +is so brief. What I have to say must be unconsidered.</p> + +<p>In several directions, John Fiske was a great +writer. First as regards the doctrine of evolution, +the great idea which has come to the +world in our day. What a great and solemn +thing it is! The slow process through the +lapse of ages from the monad to that which +crawls, then to that which swims, then to +that which flies, until we come at last to that +which walks erect with brow expanded broadly +to the light of heaven; the slow increment +of intelligence in the brain, as species becomes +merged in constantly higher species; +the extension of infancy, with its beautiful +sequence of humanity, of love, of spirituality. +This has come to be accepted by scientific +minds as the path which the divine energy +chooses to follow in the work of creation. +Now, among our American writers, I suppose +there is no one who has had so much to do +with the development of the doctrine of evolution +as John Fiske. He was the intimate +friend and counsellor of Darwin, of Huxley, +of Herbert Spencer, of Tyndall. They recognized +in him their peer, and if it is the +case—and I believe it to be the case—that +John Fiske contributed to the doctrine of +evolution the idea of the "extension of infancy" +as being the cause of what is most gentle +and lovely in humanity he deserves to be +named with the first of those who have been +connected with that great theory.</p> + +<p>In the second place as a historian, this won<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>derfully +versatile man stands among the very +first of the country. As a historian, John +Fiske is not to be spoken of without discrimination. +He had his limitations. I do not +think that he had the power of picturesque +description to the extent that Motley or Prescott +possessed it. I do not think that he had +the power of indefatigable research to the extent +that it was possessed by our honored +fellow-member, Justin Winsor. I do not +think that he had the faculty of character-drawing +as it was possessed for instance by +the great historian, Clarendon, of the seventeenth +century. But John Fiske had his gift, +and it was a remarkable one. Taking a +chaotic mass of facts, I know of no other +American writer who had such genius to go +in among them, to discern the vital links that +connected one with another, to get order and +system out of it, and then to present the result +with a lucidity and a beauty which carried +captive every reader. That was his faculty, +as a historian; and he possessed it to +such an extent and he used it in such a way +that he is entitled to a place among our greatest +historians.</p> + +<p>Nor are these the only claims to distinction +of this great man who has gone. As a religious +leader, John Fiske is one of the foremost +men of the time. His "Destiny of man," +his "Idea of God," his latest noble address on +the immortality of the soul, not yet published, +are priceless writings, and men and women +among the very best and brightest find in +these books the best expression and guidance +for their religious feelings.</p> + +<p>Every one here has had opportunity, abundant +opportunity, to know the greatness of +John Fiske's mind. Few here, perhaps no +other one, has had such opportunity as I have +had to know the warmth and the generosity +of his heart. For ten years in the Washington +University, at St. Louis, we were colleagues; +for 35 years we have been friends, +and as I stand here before you to speak of +him, my emotions fairly overcome me and I +can do nothing but take my seat; but it is +appropriate that in the American Library Association +there should be some recognition +taken of the passing from the midst of us of +this great and noble figure.</p> + +<p>Pres. <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: After these fitting and touching +words, we can hardly have it in our hearts to +transact any further business this session, and +therefore, if there is no objection, we will +proceed to take an adjournment.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Crunden</span>: I think a fitting action, on +the suggestion of Dr. Hosmer, would be the +appointment of a committee, with Dr. Hosmer +as chairman, to draw up memorial resolutions. +I make a motion to that effect.</p> + +<p>The motion was adopted, and a committee +was appointed, of J. K. Hosmer, George Iles, +and R. G. Thwaites.</p> + +<p>Adjourned 12 m.</p> + +<h4><a name="THIRD_SESSION" id="THIRD_SESSION"><i>THIRD SESSION.</i></a></h4> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Fountain Spring House, Saturday morning, +July 6.</span>)</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order by President +<span class="smcap">Carr</span> at 10.20.</p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker</span>, chairman, +<span class="smcap">W. E. Henry</span> read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_PUBLIC_DOCUMENTS" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_PUBLIC_DOCUMENTS"> +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.</a></p> + +<p>The Committee on Public Documents this +year makes an exclusively negative report. +The Congress was occupied so exclusively +with matters of larger public policy, particularly +in relation with new territorial developments, +that no attention was given in either +house to public documents measures. A bill +was presented in the House of Representatives +by Mr. Heatwole, on somewhat different lines +from the Platt bill offered in the Senate last +year, but like that in essential conformity with +the general position taken by the American +Library Association. This bill did not, however, +progress beyond the introductory steps.</p> + +<p>Within the past twelvemonth the Indiana +State Library has issued its useful "Subject +catalog of U. S. public documents in the Indiana +State Library," as an appendix to the +23d biennial report of the state library, covering +289 pages, and presenting a useful conspectus +within its field. This index, while +serving helpfully as a general key for the use +of other libraries through the range of documents +contained in each specific library, suggests +the greater importance of an adequate +subject index to U. S. government publications +in general, which could be made a checklist +by several state and other libraries. The +Indiana State Library has also prepared an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +index to the <i>Documentary Journal</i> of Indiana +from the beginning of that publication in 1835 +to 1899, which is included in the 23d report +of that library.</p> + +<p>There is also little to report as to state +publications, although there is evident a +growth of interest in state bibliography, particularly +in the state libraries. Part second +of the bibliography of "State publications" is +promised for the present year, including the +states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, +Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and +Wisconsin.</p> + +<p>A contribution of interest within this field +has been made by the Acorn Club, of Connecticut, +which has issued an elaborate bibliographical +record of "Connecticut state laws," +from the earliest times to 1836, compiled by +A.C. Bates, librarian of the Connecticut Historical +Society, a useful feature of the work +being the indication, when possible, of some +library in which each issue recorded may be +found. Record may also be made, in this +connection, of the work accomplished or accomplishing +by the Public Archives Commission +of the American Historical Association, +headed by Prof. William McDonald, of Bowdoin +College, as chairman, in which Professors +Robinson, of Columbia, Caldwell, of Nebraska, +Bugbee, of Texas, who are his associates +on the committee, have the co-operation of +representatives in the several states. While +this commission does not concern itself specifically +with bibliography, it is preparing the +way for a better bibliography of state publications +than has hitherto been possible, by investigating +the conditions of the public archives +of each state, with a view to inducing the systematic +and more complete collection in each +state of its own archives, including its printed +documents as well as manuscript records.</p> + + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker<br /> +W. E. Henry<br />Johnson Brigham</span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td align="center"> <i>Committee. </i></td></tr></table> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--otherwise the following text will "flow around" the table, at least in Firefox, which is not what we want. --> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Herbert Putnam</span>: I would suggest that the +Superintendent of Documents is here, and that +possibly he might have some suggestion or +recommendation to make on the subject of this +report.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. C. Ferrell</span>: I suppose anything I may +have to say will be in addition to what was +said in the report of the committee on public +documents, as the report was rather negative. +The matter of bringing about any legislation +requires time and involves a great deal of +hard work upon somebody. This is especially +so if the subject is one in which no member +of Congress, in particular, has a personal interest. +It generally takes 10 or 12 years to +pass any bill of interest to the people that no +member of Congress will take care of personally. +If it is a matter like saving the country, +you can get a fifty million dollar bill +passed in half an hour, but you cannot get +a member of Congress to take up and pass a +bill changing the method of printing and the +distribution of documents without a great deal +of pressure. Now, if Mr. Heatwole, chairman +of the House Committee on Printing, +was here, I think we might accomplish something +to advantage on that subject, because I +think if he could meet this great body of librarians +face to face, we might get him to +commit himself as to what he will do next +session. He has promised me to take up this +matter next winter and revise the printing +laws from "A" to "Z," as he expressed it, +but whether he will do so or not, I cannot say. +Now, I shall prepare another bill, or have +the old bill introduced again, I do not know +which, and, as long as I remain in the office +of Superintendent of Documents, I shall endeavor +to bring about legislation on the lines +proposed in the bills heretofore presented to +Congress. In the first place, I want all the +government periodicals taken out of the Congressional +series and bound in cloth, so that +they can be distributed to the libraries as soon +as they are printed. But one edition of any +document ought to be printed, and that edition +ought to have the same endorsement on +the back and the same title on the inside. +If we continue to print duplicate and triplicate +editions—departmental, bureau, and congressional—librarians +will always have trouble +in classifying and cataloging them. As far +as my record is concerned, I suppose most +of you are familiar with it. I am constantly +endeavoring to improve the service. I have +adopted a cumulative index for the monthly +catalog; cumulative for six months, with a +consolidated index for the entire year, in the +December number. That was done mainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +because the annual catalog cannot be printed +so as to be distributed promptly, and the +monthly catalog fully indexed can be made to +answer all temporary purposes. Now, we have +three series of catalogs, as you all know, perhaps, +each one serving a distinctive purpose. +The document catalog, or comprehensive index—its +official title—is intended for permanent +use. It includes all documents printed +during a fiscal year—July 1 to June 30, following. +The document index is a subject, +title, and author index of all congressional +documents, indicating the number of each +document and the volume in which it is bound +up. In the monthly catalog all documents are +arranged alphabetically under the author of +the document, and everything related to the +same subject is brought together in the index. +Now, we are broadening out a little in our +work; probably doing something Congress +never contemplated we should do when the +office was established. We are doing a good +deal of bibliographical work, and I intend to +enlarge upon it as I have the opportunity. +We have published "Reports of explorations +printed in the documents of the United States +government, a contribution toward a bibliography," +by Miss Hasse; a "Bibliography of +U. S. public documents relating to <a name="interoceanic" id="interoceanic">inter-oceanic</a> +communication across Nicaragua, +Panama, etc.," and we expect soon to take +up the subject of documents relating to +the various states, the purpose being to make +a complete bibliography of everything printed +in the U. S. public documents concerning each +state and territory. We propose to take up +the matter of documents relating to the Louisiana +purchase first, because we are going to +have a great exposition two years from now +at St. Louis to commemorate that great event.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">J. C. Dana</span> presented the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_CO-OPERATION_WITH_N._E._A." id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_CO-OPERATION_WITH_N._E._A."> +REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION +WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.</a></p> + +<p>Early last winter I secured from librarians, +library assistants and teachers about 25 brief +articles on co-operation between libraries and +schools. These articles were written with +special reference to teachers. I made a descriptive +list of them and sent this list to leading +educational journals in this country, with +the request that the editors thereof select +from it one or more of the articles and publish +them prior to July 1, 1901. Largely through +the kindness of Mr. Winship, editor of the +<i>Journal of Education</i> of Boston, I got the +promise of publication of these articles from +educational editors to the number of 25. The +articles were duly sent out. I regret to have +to report that I have received notice of the +publication of less than half a dozen of the +whole number. A few others may have been +published, but the editors have never notified +me of the fact. The articles were brief and +chiefly written by persons prominent in library +work in this country, they were of general interest, +and seemed to deserve publication. The +fact that they did not get it is to my mind +somewhat indicative of the comparative unimportance +of libraries in the opinion of educational +people of this country.</p> + +<p>Since coming here I have learned of another +little incident which throws some light +on our relation to the educational profession +of this country. From the office of <i>Public Libraries</i> +the program of the meeting of the +library department of the N. E. A. at Detroit +was sent to 32 leading educational journals in +this country with the request that they print +it. Of these 32 papers two only printed the +program as requested, or at least two only +printed it and gave due notice of the fact.</p> + +<p>From all this we may learn, as I have stated +more than once before, that libraries and librarians +are as yet held in small esteem by +the educational people of this country. Our +influence among them is not great. It is not +considered that we are connected in any important +way with educational work. This is +the opinion held by the rank and file. I believe +this to be true in spite of the fact that +the leaders of the N. E. A. have themselves +been more than generous to the library department. +Those leaders, largely through the +influence of Mr. Hutchins of Wisconsin, gave +a special appropriation of over $500 to a committee +of this department for the publication +of a report on the relation of libraries and +schools. This report has been quite widely +circulated and has been well received by both +teachers and librarians. We owe that to the +N. E. A. We owe it to the appreciation of +library work by the leaders of the N. E. A.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +Nevertheless, taking the teaching profession at +large, I think it safe to assume that our experience +with the educational journals during +the past winter is indicative of the teacher's +attitude toward libraries and their possible +helpfulness in the school room. This fact +should not discourage us. On the contrary +it should stimulate us to make our collections +and our work with them of still more consequence +until it becomes quite impossible for +anyone in the educational world to be ignorant +of, or to fail to take advantage of, the +assistance to every day teaching work which +we believe our libraries can give.</p> + +<p>It is quite difficult, of course, if not impossible, +for us to produce any great effect +on the teachers of the present day save +through individual work in our respective +communities. No one can ask for a better opportunity +to see the result of such work than +I have had myself. I have seen two or three +hundred teachers in the course of four or five +years changed from an attitude of indifference +toward the library as an aid in every day +school room work, to one of readiness not to +say eagerness, to take advantage of every opportunity +the library could possibly offer. +Many other librarians have had similar experiences. +But this work does not go on rapidly +enough to influence the profession as a +whole. The teaching profession as it now +stands is, as I have said, indifferent toward +us. One thing we can do, and that is, arouse +an interest among those who are to become +teachers. After individual work in our own +towns the best thing we can do, and especially +the best thing we can do as an association, +is to stimulate an interest in library training +in the normal schools of this country. Interest +in this phase of practical work has increased +very much in normal schools the last +few years. This is especially true in the west; +and perhaps more true in Wisconsin than in +any other state.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dewey has recently given this matter +consideration and I shall be much pleased if +he will say something further by way of supplementing +this informal report of mine, on +what has been done and what can be done +in normal schools toward interesting teachers +in the use of libraries in teaching.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Melvil Dewey</span>: What Mr. Dana has said, +though perhaps a little discouraging in its +tone, is pretty nearly the truth; but we ought +to remember this—the public school teachers +and the other teachers of this country are a +badly overworked class. Many a man and +woman has broken down of nervous prostration +in school, who has entered a library and +worked hard and kept well. Our friends on +the school side of educational work have a +strain that comes from the disciplinary side. +Worry kills more than work, and teachers +have to meet this question of discipline; they +have to take responsibility in the place of +parents; they have an interminable number of +reports to fill out; they have a mass of examination +papers to read and deal with; and +they have examinations to make until they +are driven almost wild. Now, we go to them +and present our case, our arguments for co-operation +with the library. They admit it; +they are convinced of it; but they have not +vital energy and force enough to take up the +matter and do much work in our cause. It is +not that they doubt. They won't question +the high plane on which we want to put the +library, and they want to fulfil all their duties. +I believe if we were to change places and were +put into their routine, the majority of us +would do just what they do—put it off until +a more convenient season. I think that is the +real trouble with our teachers. They are overworked, +many of them; they are in certain +ruts; and my suggestion is to try to reach +them when they begin their work, through the +normal schools. If we can get the normal +school authorities to give the right kind of +instruction and the right kind of a start to the +teachers, we will accomplish a great deal +more. We can do twice as much in working +with the student teacher; it is like working +in plaster of paris—easy while in a soft and +plastic stage, but you leave it awhile and it +hardens. So I should say, in considering this +report, that we ought not to be discouraged. +It is what we should expect, and we should +turn our attention to, doing all we can to +reach the young teachers who are now in a +plastic state, ready to be moulded, but who in +ten years will be dominant forces in education.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">M. E. Ahern</span>: I wish to call attention +to the fact that the program of the Library +Department of the National Educational As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>sociation +calls for a greeting from some representative +of the A. L. A., and I therefore +request, as secretary of that section and as an +earnest member of the A. L. A., that you appoint +some member to carry such greetings +to the Library Department of the N. E. A.</p> + +<p>It was voted that Mr. Crunden be appointed +to represent the Library Association at the +N. E. A. meeting.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">F. M. Crunden</span>: Touching the subject before +this meeting, I want to corroborate the +statement made by Mr. Dana regarding the +progress that comes quickly if you once induce +the teachers of a city to accept, even in +a small measure, the co-operation of the library. +Only a few years ago we almost had to +beg the teachers to use our books. We had +to offer every inducement to them, and they +did it, most of them, rather reluctantly. Now +the great majority of our schools use the library +books. Not long ago I asked three +questions of the teachers using the library in +their work: What value do you place upon +the library in supplementary reading? What +effect has it had thus far on the progress of +your pupils in their studies? Is it an aid to +the pupils? All these question were answered +most satisfactorily to us. Several say the library +books are worth as much as any study +in the curriculum, while two of them say that +the library books are worth all the rest. And +regarding discipline, the universal testimony +is that the library is an aid to the discipline. +In the school where most reading is done, +the principal tells me that the problem of discipline +has been practically eliminated; they +give no more thought to it, because the children +are interested and pleasantly occupied, +so they do not get into mischief. The library +has aided in all studies, is the basis of language +work, has improved the language of the children, +and has given an interest to the school +work that it did not have before. Now if the +teachers can only understand that this is going +to lighten their work instead of increasing +it, they will accept the co-operation of the library.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Canfield</span>: Just one word to express my +appreciation of the fairness with which Mr. +Dewey put before you the position of the +teachers and to add this statement: You are +all likely to forget that you determine the lines +of your own work and that a teacher's work +is laid out for her by other people, and it +takes about all the time and strength of the +pupil to meet the immediate demands of the +curriculum, which is often very unwisely laid +out. I want to add to that, as a proof of the +interest taken by teachers, I know of my personal +knowledge that the teachers of the high +schools of New York have frequently placed +their personal endorsement upon library cards +for the pupils they have sent to the libraries +and for whose books they are personally responsible. +They cannot prove their interest +in any better way than that.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dana</span>: I just want a moment to correct +a possible impression that I was finding fault +with the educational profession of this country. +I was not finding fault with them, but +finding fault with ourselves. If we are not +yet a power to the teachers of this country, +then it is our own fault. We do not as yet +understand our own fitness, especially in relation +to schools and reading in the schools, +and we do not even know what we want to do, +or what books to recommend. We do not +know what the field of work in the schools is. +How, then, can we expect to teach it; to urge +a thing in regard to which we are not yet +free of all doubts? The fault is our own possibly, +and yet it is not all our own fault. It +is largely a question of necessary time.</p> + +<p>In the absence of Dr. <span class="smcap">E. C. Richardson</span>, +chairman, the secretary read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CO-OPERATION" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_INTERNATIONAL_CO-OPERATION"> +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION.</a></p> + +<p>The Committee on International Co-operation +in taking up the work referred to it by +the Association has limited itself this year to +a consideration of the question of a uniform +standard of book statistics. This question is +a two-fold one, first, what should be called a +book, second, when statistics are classified, +what are the most practical and useful classes?</p> + +<p>In respect of the first matter, it recommends +that all books for statistical purposes +be divided into two or three classes. (1) +Books of 50 pages or over; (2) books under +50 pages; or, where books of under eight +pages are regarded at all, books of from eight +to 49 pages; and (3) books under eight pages.</p> + +<p>In respect of the second question, the chairman +has prepared a comparative table of the +usage of the <i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> <i>Bookseller</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +<i>and Newsdealer,</i> <i>Publishers' Circular,</i> <i>Bibliografia +Italiana,</i> <i>Hinrichs</i> and <i>Reinwald,</i> arranging +these in the order of the Dewey +classification. This was printed by Mr. Bowker +for the use of the committee, and is herewith +submitted.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Table showing classification of book trade statistics.</i></p> + +<p>Some of the chief matters for attention are the questions of <i>Biography,</i> whether by itself or scattered in classes; +<i>Literary History and Art,</i> by itself or under Philology, or under Bibliography, or scattered; <i>Juveniles,</i> by itself +or divided among Fiction, Poetry, Education, etc.; <i>Scientific School Books,</i> <i>Geographies,</i> <i>etc.,</i> under subject or under +Education; <i>Art of War,</i> <i>Commerce,</i> <i>etc.,</i> under Economics or Technology. All these conflict somewhere in usage +shown and in the judgment of the various members of the committee, although there is a majority for keeping +Biography as a separate class—contrary to unanimous foreign usage.</p> +<div class="left"> + +<table border="1" width="100%" style="border-top: double; border-right: 0; border-left: 0;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + + + <tr><td class="nl" colspan="2" align="center"><span class="smcap">DEWEY (order).</span></td><td colspan="2" align="center"><span class="smcap">pub. weekly.</span></td> + <td align="center"><span class="smcap">bookseller and newsdealer</span></td> + <td class="nr" align="center" colspan="2" > <span class="smcap">publisher's circular</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="to" align="right">00 </td><td class="rt">Collected and mis. works.</td><td colspan="2" class="nb"> Literature and coll. works.</td> + <td class="nb"> Unclassified.</td> <td class="lt" colspan="2" > Misc. includ. pamphlets,<br /> not sermons</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">010 </td><td class="ro">Bibliography.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"></td><td class="lr" ></td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Period. and proceedings</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Year b'ks and serials in vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">070 </td><td class="ro">Newspapers.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" ></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">100 </td><td class="ro">Philosophy.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Philosophy.</td> + <td class="lr"> Philosophy.</td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">230 </td><td class="ro">Theology.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Theology and religion</td> + <td class="lr"> Religion. Christ sci., occultism, theosophy</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Theol. sermons, Biblical.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">320 </td><td class="ro">Polit. Sci. and Law.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Law.</td><td class="lr"> Law, tech. Politics</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Law, jurisp.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Economics and social rel.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Polit. and soc. sci.</td><td class="lr"> Sociological subj. </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Polit. and soc. sci. Trade and commerce</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">370 </td><td class="ro">Education.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Education.</td><td class="lr"> Education.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Education, classical and philological</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">400 </td><td class="ro">Philology.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">500 </td><td class="ro">Natural science</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Physics and math. sci.</td><td class="lr"> Mathematics, chem. and physic. sci. Biology. Nat. history</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > (See below).</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">600 </td><td class="ro">Useful arts, Gen.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Useful arts.</td><td class="lr"> Technology.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">610 </td><td class="ro">Medicine.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Medicine and hyg.</td><td class="lr"> Medicine.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Medicine, surgery.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">630 </td><td class="ro">Agriculture.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Domestic and rural.</td><td class="lr"> Farming and gardening.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Art of war.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">700 </td><td class="ro">Fine arts, Gen. </td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Fine arts, il. gift books.</td><td class="lr"> Art, architecture.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Art, science and il.books.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">780 </td><td class="ro">Music.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> On music and musicians</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">790 </td><td class="ro">Games and sports</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Sports and amusements.</td><td class="lr"> Sports and games</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">800 </td><td class="ro">Literary hist. and crit.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > (See below).</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Poetry and drama</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Poetry and drama.</td><td class="lr"> Poetry and drama.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Poetry and the drama.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Fiction.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Fiction.</td><td class="lr"> Fiction.</td> + <td class="lo" rowspan="2"><span style='font-size:220%;font-weight: lighter; margin:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; + position:relative; bottom: 5px;'>{</span></td> + <td class="none" rowspan="2">Novels, tales, juvenile works and other fiction</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Juveniles.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Juvenile.</td><td class="lo"> Juveniles.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Other forms.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Humor and satire.</td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Belles lettres, essays, monographs, etc.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">900 </td><td class="ro">History.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> History.</td><td class="lr"> History.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Hist., biog., etc.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">920 </td><td class="ro">Biography.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Biog. and correspond.</td><td class="lr"> Biography.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">910 </td><td class="ro">Geog. travels and descrip.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Descrip., geog., trav.</td><td class="lr"> Travel.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Voyages, travels, geographical research</td></tr> +<tr> <td class="bo"></td><td class="br"> </td><td colspan="2" class="nt"> </td><td class="nt"> </td><td class="bl" colspan="2" > </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="nl" colspan="2" align="center"><span class="smcap">DEWEY (order).</span></td><td colspan="2" align="center"><span class="smcap">bibliog. ital.</span></td> + <td align="center"><span class="smcap">hinrich.</span></td> + <td class="nr" align="center" colspan="2" ><span class="smcap">reinwald.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="to" align="right">00 <br />010 <br /><br />070 <br />100 </td> + <td class="rt"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Collected and mis. works.<br /> + Bibliography.<br />Period. and proceedings.<br />Newspapers.<br />Philosophy.</span></td> + <td class="lt"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Enciclopedia.<br />Bibliografia.<br /> + Atti accademici.<br />Giornale politici.<br />Filosofia-Teologia.</span></td> + <td class="rt"><div style='float:left;'> <span style='font-size:550%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; position:relative; bottom: 10px;'>{ </span> </div></td> + <td class="nb"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">Bibliothekswesen, encyklopädien,</span> Gesammt. werke. Sammel werke, Schriften Gelehrten. Gesellschaften<br /> + Universatätswesen, etc.</td> + <td class="lt" colspan="2" >Divers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">230 </td><td class="ro">Theology</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Pubbl. relig. e pie. lett.</td><td class="lr"> Theologie.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" ><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> Religion ((Philos. morale)</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">320 </td><td class="ro">Polit. Sci. and Law.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Legislazione, Guirisp., Atti del senato, atti duputati.</td> + <td class="lr"> Rechts u. Staatswiss.</td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > Droit et économie polit.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Economics and social rel.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Scienze polit. soc. Stat. bilanci ecc.</td><td class="lr"> Handel, Gewerbe Verkehrswesen. </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" ></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">370 </td><td class="ro">Education.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Instruzione. Educaz. Libri scolastici.</td> + <td class="lr"> Erziehung u. Unterricht. Jugendschriften.</td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > Education.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">400 </td><td class="ro">Philology.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Filologia storia lett.</td><td class="lr"> Sprach u. Litteraturwissen.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Linguistique.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">500 </td><td class="ro">Natural science</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Scienze fisiche, mate. e nat.</td> + <td class="lr"> Naturwiss. Math.</td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > Sciences, medicales et naturelles.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">600 </td><td class="ro">Useful arts, Gen.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Ingegneria-Ferrovie.</td><td class="lr"> Bau u. Ingenieurwissenschaft.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Technologie.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">610 </td><td class="ro">Medicine.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Medicina.</td><td class="lr"> Heilwissenschaft.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" ></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">630 </td><td class="ro">Agriculture.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Agricolt. Industr. comm.</td><td class="lr"> Haus, Land u. Forstwiss.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" ></td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Art of war.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Guerra Marina.</td><td class="lr"> Kriegswissenschaft</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Art militaire et marine.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">700 </td><td class="ro">Fine arts, Gen.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Belle arti.</td><td class="lr"> Kunst.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Beaux arts.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">780 </td><td class="ro">Music.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">790 </td><td class="ro">Games and sports.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">800 </td><td class="ro">Literary hist. and crit.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Poetry and drama</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Lett. contemp. Poesie. Teatro.</td><td class="lr"> Schöne Litteratur.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Littérature.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Fiction.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Romanzi e nov.</td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Juveniles.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> </td><td class="lr"> </td><td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none"></td><td class="ro">Other forms.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Misc. e lett. popol.</td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">900 </td><td class="ro">History.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Storia-Geografia.</td><td class="lr"> Geschichte.</td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > Histoire, Biog. polit.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="none" align="right">920 </td><td class="ro">Biography.</td><td colspan="2" class="lr"> Biografia contemp.</td><td class="lr"> </td> + <td class="lo" colspan="2" > </td></tr> +<tr><td class="bo" align="right">910 </td><td class="br">Geog. travels and descrip.</td> + <td colspan="2" class="nt"></td> + <td class="nt"> Erdbeschreibung, Karten.</td> + <td class="bl" colspan="2" > Geographie.</td></tr> + </table> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Mr. Bowker, in behalf of the committee, has +submitted the matter, through Mr. G. H. Putnam, +to the International Congress of Booksellers, +and it is hoped that there may be a +committee appointed or empowered to confer +with this committee, and that some practical +result may be reached in spite of various difficulties. +This committee therefore recommends +for the purpose of library reports, etc., +the use of the Dewey order and divisions +given in the accompanying table, with such +modification as may be necessary to meet book +trade requirements, but in the case of all +recommendations begs to make them subject +to an international understanding, and asks +that the committee be continued and given full +power to adopt a recommended order, providing +an understanding can be reached with +a representative of the booksellers. If such +an understanding is reached, efforts should be +made to get the further concurrence of other +library associations and bibliographical bodies +generally.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap" >Ernest C. Richardson</span>, <i>Chairman, <br /> + for the Committee</i>. </p> + + + +<p><span class="smcap">J. C. Dana</span> for the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_LIBRARY_TRAINING" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_LIBRARY_TRAINING"> +COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING</a></p> + +<p>made a brief statement, that the committee +as a whole had been unable this year to visit +and report upon the schools. He presented, +as the report of the committee, a letter from +Dr. E. C. Richardson, one of its members +who had visited several of the schools as lecturer.<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">William Beer</span> spoke briefly on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="COLLECTION_AND_CATALOGING_OF_EARLY_NEWSPAPERS" id="COLLECTION_AND_CATALOGING_OF_EARLY_NEWSPAPERS"> +COLLECTION AND CATALOGING OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS.</a></p> + +<p>The few remarks I have to make on this +subject are prompted by a recent effort to collect +from printed catalogs the scattered newspaper +material for the first 15 years of the +19th century. The collection of information +on the locality of files of newspapers up to +1800 has been commenced, and will in time +be completed by Mr. Nelson, who publishes +his results in the "Archives of the State of +New Jersey." Many corrections will be necessary +to his list, but it will even in its present +shape be of great advantage to historical +students.</p> + +<p>The difficulty of the work increases almost +in geometrical proportion as the dates approach +the present era. The great increase +of newspapers renders it necessary to divide +the work into decades. I have chosen to +carry it to 1815 on account of the importance +to Louisiana history of the reports on the battle +of New Orleans.</p> + +<p>The particular feature in cataloging which +I would fain see carried out in every library +is the chronological conspectus, of which so +admirable an example exists in Bolton's catalog +of scientific documents, which is, or +ought to be, familiar to all present.</p> + +<p>It is exceedingly simple and easy to prepare +and is of the greatest possible service, +both to the librarian and the student.</p> + +<p>Take any folio book ruled in wide columns +with an ample margin. For my purpose I +start by heading the first column 1800, and so +on to the end of the page. Taking material +from Mr. Galbreath's useful compilation, I +find that in the libraries of Ohio there is only +one title which will appear under this head, +the <i>Western Spy</i> in the collection of the Cincinnati +Young Men's Mercantile Library. +Enter in the marginal column the full details +of the publication of this newspaper and +draw a horizontal line across the column. +The years 1802-3-4, etc., present an increasing +number of titles. The horizontal lines in +the columns present an immediate summary +of all the newspaper literature on the subject.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">G. E. Wire</span> read a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center"> +SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE +SELECTION. </p> + + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i> <a href="#SOME_PRINCIPLES_OF_BOOK_AND_PICTURE_SELECTION"> p. 54.</a>)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Melvil Dewey</span>: I want to say a word about +that New York list of pictures. When we +printed that bulletin a great chorus of criticism +arose from among the newspapers, and +we smiled; we said it was characteristic of +newspapers to discuss a thing without knowing +at all what they were talking about. But +I did not suppose that same characteristic +would appear in this Association. Our bulletin + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> + states very distinctly what it is for, and +it makes its own case absolutely infallible. +We had to meet the problem in the state of +New York, of circulating pictures bought +with the taxpayers' money, to be put on the +walls of the school houses—Jewish schools, +Roman Catholic schools and schools of many +denominations. Under those peculiar conditions +it was a question whether we could carry +the movement at all, and we selected about 50 +people, whose judgment was most reliable, +and asked them, out of several hundred pictures, +to select 100 that would be open to no +objection of any kind. There was no effort +whatever to select the hundred <i>best</i> pictures. +They simply made a list that would pass the +legislature. It included pictures that people +ridiculed sadly; and yet we had on file letters +from prominent people in the state to the effect +that they would protest against certain +well-known pictures, and we thought it wiser +not to raise issues over minor details. Our +bulletin is simply a list of pictures that have +been passed by representatives of various religious +and ethical interests. You may think +it most absurd that certain pictures, perhaps +the most famous, should have been voted out +of such a list, but if you were to go through +the schools of the state of New York or any +other state you would find that there are conscientious +mothers and fathers, who have had +no opportunity for art training, who would +get down on their knees and pray that some of +these pictures might not be put on the walls +of the school room. If you do not know that, +you are not familiar with the sentiment in the +rural districts. There was a specific purpose +in our action; we heard all of these criticisms, +and we did the thing that seemed right +and best under the circumstances. There are +about a hundred of us on the state library +staff, but we do not yet, as a body, venture to +feel as omniscient as some single individuals +regard themselves. I strongly believe that +it is not a bad thing to take the opinion of experts. +We are perfectly willing to show respect +to the specialist in his own field, and I +think it is mighty unwise advice to give young +librarians, when they are told not to ask the +opinion of a good specialist, whose verdict +commands the confidence of the public.</p> + +<p>Adjourned at 12.05 p.m.</p> + +<h4><i><a name="FOURTH_SESSION" id="FOURTH_SESSION">FOURTH SESSION.</a></i></h4> + + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Library Hall, Madison, Wis., Monday +afternoon, July 8.</span>)</p> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span> called the meeting to order +at 2.25 p.m., and in a few words expressed +the appreciation of the Association for the delightful +arrangements that had made "Madison +day" so interesting and enjoyable.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Mary W. Plummer</span> then spoke on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="SOME_EXPERIENCES_IN_FOREIGN_LIBRARIES" id="SOME_EXPERIENCES_IN_FOREIGN_LIBRARIES"> +SOME EXPERIENCES IN FOREIGN LIBRARIES</a><a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a></p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Plummer</span> deprecated any desire to +make a comparison between foreign and +American libraries. They served so different +a purpose, for the most part, that comparison +was impossible. Libraries, like systems +of education, were an outcome of the history, +of the race-temperament and characteristics, +and of the social conditions of a people. And +it was according to one's point of view +whether such a comparison would be favorable +to one side or the other. One thing +seemed almost predicable—that, wherever +democracy was making its way, there the library +supported by the people and for the use +of the people had a tendency to appear patterned +more or less after those of England +and America.</p> + +<p>English libraries were not touched upon, +but the leading collections of Germany, +France and Italy were briefly described. +At the Bayreuth and Nuremberg libraries +books were secured without formality, and +all privileges were extended to the visiting +colleague, with entire trustingness and fraternity. +In Italy more formality was required, +the libraries being government institutions +for reference use, but courtesy and +a desire to be of service prevailed throughout. +Considering the question, "What do people +do who want to read fiction in Italy—the +same people who are always wanting the new +novels in this country?" Miss Plummer said: +"Apparently, these people do not exist in sufficiently +large numbers to be considered in the +libraries. If a work of note comes out, such +as a new novel by d'Annunzio or Fogazzaro, +it can be had at the book shops in paper for +two lire or two and a half, <i>i.e.,</i> 40 to 50 cents, +and people buy it and lend it. In some of the</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<p>little book shops books circulate for a small +fee, but not by any means the best class of +books. The government libraries may purchase +the novels of such authors as those I +have mentioned, but they do not make haste +about it, and in one library (a municipal, circulating +library) no book can go out that has +not been in the library's possession three +months. The novel-reading class is chiefly +composed of visiting or resident English and +Americans, and in all Italian cities of any +size there is a subscription library where +books in English can be had."</p> + +<p>At Florence, when one discovers the large +and enterprising subscription library which the +Viesseux, father and son, have carried on +for several generations, one's troubles in getting +books seem ended, for they have all the +books that the government libraries cannot +and do not buy—a large subscription list of +periodicals, open shelves, late books separated +from the rest, and they will get what one +asks for if they haven't it already. If American +publishers sent their lists regularly to +Viesseux one would probably find more +American books there. Further than this, +one's subscription entitles one to a book or +books by mail to any place in Italy or in the +surrounding countries where one may be staying. +Of the Florentine libraries, the Marucellian +is the nearest our ideal of a modern reference +library in its collections as in its methods. +It has, as its chief field of purchase, the best +modern books in belles-lettres, and as it is +open in the evening its rooms are often +crowded with students and readers until closing +time. It has a card catalog by subjects +and a duplicate card catalog of part of the +collection of the National Library of Florence; +a ms. catalog in book form by author, which +is accessible to readers; a room set apart for +women students, with a woman, a university +graduate, to preside over it. The National +Library is a much greater collection and older, +in its 87 rooms; and its periodical room is +the most modern of all, with its magazines +from all countries, even our own <i>Harper</i> and +<i>Century</i> showing their familiar faces on the +racks. A special room here is devoted to the +catalogs, which were partly in ms. book form +and partly on cards, and students were always +searching the pages or the cards without +let or hindrance.</p> + +<p>At Rome the Victor Emanuel Library had +a small room shelved with the Leyden catalogs, +in constant consultation. As in most of +the government libraries, there was a table +reserved for women, though it did not seem +to be much used.</p> + +<p>Among the Paris libraries described were +the Ste. Geneviève, the Sorbonne, and one of +the ward or "arondissement" libraries. The +latter was in the Mairie, and open at 8 p.m. +only. The books were in floor cases, with a +counter between them and the people, and on +the counter lay small pamphlet finding lists. It +is not hard to keep these up to date, since the +libraries themselves are far from being so, +and new books are not often added. The librarian, +who had some other occupation during +the day and served here in the evening, +to add a trifle to his income, got books and +charged them in a book as people asked for +them. Use of the library was permitted only +after obtaining as guarantor a citizen living +in the same arondissement with the would-be +borrower. While this kind of library is of +course much better than none, and the situation +in Paris is that much better than in Italian +cities, the fact that the hours of opening +are only in the evening is a barrier to much +usefulness. On the other hand, a library to +each arondissement is a fair allowance, and +no one has to go very far to reach his library. +For the most part they are patronized by the +small tradesmen of the neighborhood and +their families. A large proportion of our +reading public is missing from these municipal +libraries—they buy their own books, +in paper, at the department stores, and make +no use whatever of the government libraries +or of these small circulating centers.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, Miss Plummer said: "If I +were asked what sort of library was most +needed in France and Italy, I should say first +<i>good</i> libraries for children and young people. +The children of these countries read earlier +than ours, the language presenting fewer difficulties +of spelling and pronunciation, and many +of them are fond of reading. Good material +is not plentiful, and what there is the child +has no help in getting hold of. Bad reading +there is in abundance, in the shape of so-called +comic papers, etc., at every turn and +for an infinitesimal price. One is ready to +say that it is better not to know how to read<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +than to be induced by one's knowledge to +make such acquaintance as this."</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">J. K. Hosmer</span> followed with an amusing +fable, entitled</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="FROM_THE_READERS_POINT_OF_VIEW" id="FROM_THE_READERS_POINT_OF_VIEW"> +FROM THE READER'S POINT OF VIEW, AND THE ERA +OF THE PLACARD.</a><a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a></p> + +<p>The subject was presented in the form of +a clever parable, satirizing the present-day +"booming" of popular books, and the unseemliness +and vulgarities of modern advertising +methods. It concluded with an "imaginary +conversation" between a librarian and a +reader, as follows:</p> + +<p>"'A fellow-librarian?' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Not quite that,' said he, 'but one who uses +libraries—a reader, in fact.'</p> + +<p>"I felt a sudden thrill of satisfaction. Here +at last I had found my reader, and I faithfully +proceeded at once to get at his point of +view. 'Well,' said I, 'is it not an inspiration +to live in the era of the placard; and what do +you mean to do for the Great American Bill +Board Trust?'</p> + +<p>"We walked down the street arm in arm, +and this is the rather unsympathetic monologue +in which the reader indulged:</p> + +<p>"'The bill-board—and I mean by the bill-board +coarse and obtrusive advertising in +general, whether shown in this defacement of +natural objects, road-signs, street car panels, +or in newspaper columns—an evil from which +even the public library is not free—the bill-board +is an evil, but after all only a minor +evil. If we had nothing worse than that +among our social problems to vex us, we +should indeed be fortunate. Advertising is a +legitimate incident of commerce. The merchant +who has wares to sell may properly +make his commodities known. I own I study +the advertising pages of my <i>Century</i> and +<i>Scribner</i> with scarcely less interest than I do +the text. But the world is so full of bad +taste! There is no sanctity or silence through +which the coarse scream of the huckster may +not at any time penetrate. The loud bill-board +is but the scream of the huckster transmuted +so that it may attack still another +sense. The wonder is that this bill-board, +and its fellow enormities in the street car +panel and the newspaper columns, do not repel +instead of attract. In the case of refined +minds certainly repulsion must be felt. Now +for myself,' said the reader, and here I +thought he spoke conceitedly, 'the fact that +a thing is coarsely and loudly advertised is +a strong, almost invincible reason for my not +buying it, however necessary it may seem. +With the world in general, however, the +standard of taste is low. Coarseness does not +offend; also, it pays to use it.</p> + +<p>"'I have sometimes seen on library walls +placards sent in with the demand, 'Please display +this prominently,' that have exercised +upon me an immediate deterrent effect. Still,' +said the reader, with his superior air, 'do not +think me ill-natured. The best thing we can +do is to keep our temper, stamp down as we +can what becomes too outrageous and indecent, +and labor and pray for the refinement of +the world's taste. This no doubt will come +very slowly.'</p> + +<p>"'Can we help the thing forward at all?' +said I, falling in for the moment with his +humor.</p> + +<p>"'Only as we can promote in general the +diffusion of sweetness and light,' said the +reader. 'If a man should be aroused to attack +directly I believe he might strike a more effective +blow through ridicule than through denunciation. +Keep denunciation for the more +weighty and ghastly evils that beset us; a +mere annoyance it is better to laugh away +if we can do it.'"</p> + +<p>Adjourned at 3.30 p.m.</p> + +<h4><i><a name="FIFTH_SESSION" id="FIFTH_SESSION">FIFTH SESSION.</a></i></h4> + + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Fountain Spring House, Tuesday morning, +July 9.</span>)</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order by President +<span class="smcap">Carr</span> at 10.20 a.m.</p> + +<p>The president announced the receipt in +pamphlet form of the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_2" id="REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_2"> +REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS.</a></p> + + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i> <a href="#REPORT_ON_GIFTS_AND_BEQUESTS_TO_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES_1900-1901"> p. 87.</a>)</p> + + +<p>This was read by title, and filed for publication +in the Proceedings.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. I. Fletcher</span> presented the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_A._L._A._PUBLISHING_BOARD_2" +id="REPORT_OF_A._L._A._PUBLISHING_BOARD_2"> +REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD.</a></p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#REPORT_OF_THE_A_L_A_PUBLISHING_BOARD"> p. 103.</a>)</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: I wish to remind some of you +who were with us 25 years ago in Philadelphia, +when we organized the A. L. A., and +who, during that whole period, have studied +its interests so closely, that the time has come +at last when we are really on the way to secure +one of the things we have always thought +most important—co-operative printed catalog +cards. This will make for all of us less +drudgery and more inspiration, for there is +not much inspiration in writing out author's +names; it will relieve us of a considerable +burden; it will produce economy and increase +efficiency; and it appeals strongly to our trustees +and business men. It is perhaps the most +important thing we have to do, and there have +been apparently insuperable obstacles to success; +but we have always hoped for one complete +solution. And this was that it could be +done at the National Library in Washington, +with its printing presses, post-office facilities, +copyright department and great central collection. +You remember that when the Pacific +railroad was built, and as the ends came together +to make the connection, a great celebration +was held through the country, a thrill +that the work was at last done; and I feel +to-day, now that we hear in this able report +that printed catalog cards are really to be undertaken +at the National Library, that what +we have waited for over 20 years and what +we have been dreaming about has come to +pass at last. After serving my term on the +Publishing Board—this is my valedictory—I +feel to-day that I must say just this: Now +that we have reached this point, that every +one has hoped for so long, we must see to it +that this agency is utilized and appreciated. +Every one of us ought to watch those printed +cards, and make suggestions as to their use. +If we utilize them, and prove their value and +their economy, we can rely on the great support +of the National Library in many other +movements.</p> + +<p>The secretary read a letter from the Hon. +Secretary of the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="INVITATION_FROM_L._A._U._K." id="INVITATION_FROM_L._A._U._K."> +LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM,</a></p> + +<p>inviting the A. L. A. to be represented at its +annual meeting, to be held in Plymouth, England, +Aug. 27-30, 1901; and, on recommendation +from the Council, it was voted that members +of the A. L. A. abroad at the time of the +English meeting be authorized to represent +the American Library Association on that +occasion.</p> + +<p>The president announced that the polls +would be open for</p> + + +<p class="center">ELECTION OF OFFICERS</p> + +<p>in the library exhibit room at the Fountain +House from 8 to 10 Tuesday evening, and +that J. I. Wyer and J. G. Moulton would +serve as tellers.</p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">F. J. Teggart</span>, chairman, +the secretary read the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_HANDBOOK_OF_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES" + id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_HANDBOOK_OF_AMERICAN_LIBRARIES"> +REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN +LIBRARIES.</a></p> + +<p>Since its appointment this committee has +worked steadily towards the accomplishment +of the object of the handbook. Specifically +this object is the collection of the statistics, +history and bibliography of all libraries in +the United States having 10,000 or more volumes +on Dec. 31, 1900.</p> + +<p>While about 80 per cent. of the circulars +sent out in 1899 were returned, the cases in +which the bibliographical and historical data +was supplied were too few in number to be of +much assistance. The work which has therefore +fallen on the chairman of this committee +is neither more or less than the preparation +of a check list of all the publications of American +libraries. The need of this work must +be apparent to any librarian who considers +that there is at present no bibliographical +source in which information regarding library +publications may be found. The "American +catalogue," for example, ignores such publications +altogether.</p> + +<p>In beginning this work the chairman of +your committee indexed the set of the <i>Library +Journal</i> and all available bulletins and catalogs +of libraries for library publications, and +cataloged the similar material existing in the +libraries of San Francisco. Approximately +the list now includes between 8000 and 9000 +cards.</p> + +<p>This large body of material has been reduced +to shape, and the greater part has been +typewritten on sheets. What now remains to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +be done is that some person conversant with +the library literature of a state or city should +take the sheets representing that district and +carefully compare the entries with the books +themselves, supplying omissions and correcting +errors. This certainly is no light piece +of work, but it is essential to the success of +the undertaking.</p> + +<p>The historical notices have been prepared +in part, but the statistics obtained in 1899 +must of necessity be renewed to bring the entire +work down to the end of the century.</p> + +<p>As the manuscript can be completed by +Jan. 1 next, there is every reason to believe +that this large piece of work can be presented +in completed form to the Association in 1902, +with one proviso. When the committee was +appointed in 1899 it was given a general authorization +to incur expenditure—in fact, +without doing so no work could have been +done. Again, in 1900, an authorization for +expenditure was passed by the Association. +Up to the present the chairman of the committee +has expended directly on this work on +postage and printing about $150. Owing apparently +to the general terms in which the +authorizations for expenditure were made at +previous meetings, the officers of the Association +have not so far made any appropriation +towards this amount, and it would seem +proper that some definite provision should be +made by the Association at this meeting to +cover a part at least of this expenditure if the +handbook is to be considered an "A. L. A." +undertaking.</p> + + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Frederick J. Teggart</span>, <i>Chairman</i>. +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">C. W. Andrews</span>: As the third member of +the committee, I may supplement this report, +and state that the matter of obtaining the consent +of the Bureau of Education to undertake +the publication of this handbook was left to +me, and that I have pleasure in informing the +Association that there seems every prospect +that at least a portion of this material will be +published by the Bureau of Education, and +that we may hope to have made available in +this way a much-needed tool for practical use +and a mass of information which cannot fail +to be of value outside of this country.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. I. Fletcher</span>: The matter of the publication +of this handbook was referred to the +Publishing Board, but if the plan for its publication +by the government is carried out, the +Publishing Board understands that will take +the publication out of its hands. I move that +the executive board be requested to inquire +into the matter of the expense incurred by +Mr. Teggart, and provide for meeting it, if +this is found possible. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p>The secretary read the by-laws to the constitution, +prepared by special committee and +adopted by the Council, as follows:</p> + + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center"><a name="BY-LAWS" id="BY-LAWS"> +BY-LAWS.</a></p> + +<p>§1. The annual dues of the Association +shall be $2 for individuals and $5 for libraries +and other institutions, payable in advance in +January. Members who are one year in arrears +shall, after proper notification by the +treasurer, be dropped from the roll of membership.</p> + +<p>§2. Nine members shall constitute a quorum +of the Council for the transaction of +routine business, but no sections of the Association +shall be established and no recommendations +relating to library matters shall be +promulgated at any meeting at which there +are less than 17 members present. The records +of the Council, so far as of general interest, +shall be printed with the Proceedings +of the Association.</p> + +<p>§3. In case of a vacancy in any office, except +that of president, the Executive Board +may designate some person to discharge the +duties of the same <i>pro tempore</i>.</p> + +<p>§4. No person shall be president, first or second +vice-president, or councillor of the Association +for two consecutive terms.</p> + +<p>§5. The president and secretary, with one +other member appointed by the executive +board, shall constitute a program committee, +which shall, under the supervision of the executive +board, arrange the program for each +annual meeting and designate persons to prepare +papers, open discussions, etc., and shall +decide whether any paper which may be offered +shall be accepted or rejected, and if accepted, +whether it shall be read entire, by abstract +or by title. It shall recommend to the +executive board printing accepted papers entire, +or to such extent as may be considered +desirable.</p> + +<p>§6. The executive board shall appoint annually +a committee of five on library training, +which shall investigate the whole subject of +library schools and courses of study, and report +the results of its investigations, with its +recommendations.</p> + +<p>§7. The executive board shall appoint annually +a committee of three on library administration, +to consider and report improvements +in any department of library economy, and +make recommendations looking to harmony, +uniformity, and co-operation, with a view to +economical administration.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>§8. The executive board shall at each annual meeting of the +Association appoint a committee of three on resolutions, which +shall prepare and report to the Association suitable resolutions of +acknowledgments and thanks. To this committee shall be referred all +such resolutions offered in meetings of the Association.</p> + +<p>§9. The objects of sections which may be +established by the Council under the provisions +of section 17 of the constitution, shall be +discussion, comparison of views, etc., upon +subjects of interest to the members. No authority +is granted any section to incur expense +on the account of the Association or to +commit the Association by any declaration of +policy. A member of the Association eligible +under the rules of the section may become a +member thereof by registering his or her +name with the secretary of the section.</p> + +<p>§10. Provisions shall be made by the executive +board for sessions of the various sections +at annual meetings of the Association, +and the programs for the same shall be prepared +by the officers of sections in consultation +with the program committee. Sessions +of sections shall be open to any member of the +Association, but no person may vote in any +section unless registered as a member of the +same. The registered members of each section +shall, at the final session of each annual +meeting, choose a chairman and secretary, to +serve until the close of the next annual +meeting.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">J. K. Hosmer</span> reported for the committee +on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE_2" id="MEMORIAL_TO_JOHN_FISKE_2"> +MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE.</a></p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Hosmer</span>: The committee to whom this +matter was referred thought it best to prepare, +instead of a formal preamble and resolution, +a minute to be entered upon the Proceedings +of the convention. That received +the approval of the Council. The minute is as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The news having reached us of the untimely +death of John Fiske, once our professional +associate, we, the American Library +Association, desire to make record of our +profound grief at the departure of a writer +who was a dominant force in American literature, +and to express our sense that in this +passing of a great thinker, historian, and +spiritual leader, our land and our time have +sustained irreparable loss."</p></blockquote> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: This minute will be spread +upon the record of the Proceedings, having +taken the regular course.</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="COOPERATIVE_LIST_OF_CHILDRENS_BOOKS" id="COOPERATIVE_LIST_OF_CHILDRENS_BOOKS"> +CO-OPERATIVE LIST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">C. R. Perry</span>: At the last session of the +Children's Librarians' Section action was taken +looking towards a co-operative list of books +for children. There were some features connected +with it that were of such a general +character that we thought it essential that the +plan come before the Association in general +session, to secure proper authority for us to +proceed with the work; furthermore, there +was no further session of the Children's Librarians' +Section, so if a report was made at +all it would have to be made to the A. L. A. +in general session. The report is as follows:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>To the American Library Association:</i></p> + +<p>At the last session of the Children's Librarians' +Section a committee was appointed to +formulate some plan whereby a co-operative +list of children's books may be produced, this +committee to report at some general session. +We now are ready and beg leave to report +progress.</p> + +<p>We have interviewed over 50 members of +the A. L. A. within the last two days, and +find a general desire for such a list. Moreover, +the people interviewed have expressed +their willingness to subscribe among themselves +a sum of money necessary to cover the +cost of preparing such list (postage, typewriting, +stationery, printing, etc.).</p> + +<p>Your committee have found that one or +two days are hardly sufficient to enable us to +bring our plan into perfection. We desire +very strongly to accomplish the results for +which we were appointed, and therefore ask +for more time. We do respectfully recommend +and ask that authority be given to our +committee to proceed with the following plan:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>(1) Committee on co-operative children's +list to appoint six people to collect the +subscriptions which have been promised.</p> + +<p>(2) Some one experienced and well-known +librarian to be appointed by our committee +to undertake the preparation +of the said list.</p> + +<p>(3) When such person has been appointed +and has accepted, the money raised +to be turned over to that librarian.</p> + +<p>(4) Our committee to suggest to the person +undertaking this work a plan +whereby not only may be secured the +approval or disapproval of librarians +and teachers as to the books of the +tentative list, but also a report as to +the manner in which these books have +been received by the children in all +parts of the nation.</p> + +<p>(5) A final and definite report to be submitted +at the next conference. This +report to include the books generally +accepted and those rejected as well.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"> + Respectfully submitted,</p> + +<table class="right" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chesley R. Perry</span>,</td><td> <i>Chairman,</i> <br /></td></tr> +<tr><td> <span class="smcap">J. C. Dana</span>,</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td> <span class="smcap">Eliza G. Browning</span></td><td></td></tr> +</table> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: This report comes before +you in the nature of a recommendation, and +suitable action would be to move that the Association +appoint a general committee to carry +out the recommendations of the report. That +committee might consist of the members of +the present committee, who drew this report—Mr. +Perry, Mr. Dana and Miss Browning.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker</span>: Is not this a matter which +should come under the jurisdiction of the +Publishing Board? It would then give this +proposed committee somewhat the relation to +the Publishing Board that is borne by the advisory +committee on printed catalog cards. +Otherwise we might have a confusion of results.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Perry</span>: That matter was discussed, but +we felt that we were preparing something +which at the next convention might be submitted +to the Association, and then referred +to the Publishing Board. We are not expecting +to prepare a list for general printing and +circulation, but a list which may be brought +up at the next conference as something definite +to be referred to the Publishing Board.</p> + +<p>It was <i>Voted,</i> That the committee acting +for the Children's Librarians' Section be appointed +to carry out the work outlined.</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="PRINTED_CATALOG_CARDS" id="PRINTED_CATALOG_CARDS"> +PRINTED CATALOG CARDS.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Herbert Putnam</span>: I ask your indulgence, +Mr. President, for a few words. The readiness +of the Library of Congress to take up the +work of supplying printed cards has been +stated. For the Library of Congress, I wish +to say that we do not repudiate anything of +what has been stated as to our readiness; it +must be understood, however, that we are +justified in entering upon this undertaking +only in case it presents a reasonable probability +of success. Now, for that probability three +elements are essential. First, some body that +should represent judgment and experience, in +such co-operative work, and be in touch with +the interests at large of the Library Association. +That body is furnished by the Publishing +Board. Second, there was necessary some +office that was directly in relation with the +publishers of this country. That office is the +<i>Publishers' Weekly,</i> and the <i>Publishers' +Weekly</i> has generously offered to place at our +disposal all of its facilities for securing +prompt information as to every recent publication. +Third, there is a strong probability +that during the first year at least there will +be some deficit, while the experiment is +merely beginning. That danger has been met. +Mr. Bowker, personally, has tendered a guaranty +amounting, if necessary, to $1000, to +meet the possible deficit of the undertaking +during the present calendar year. Repudiating +nothing of what has been said about the readiness +of the Library of Congress to serve in +this undertaking, I nevertheless wish this +matter to appear in its proper proportions, and +we should not be willing to have these other +elements overlooked.</p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">Thorvald Solberg</span>, <span class="smcap">J. C. +Hanson</span> read Mr. Solberg's paper on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="BOOK_COPYRIGHT_2" id="BOOK_COPYRIGHT_2">BOOK COPYRIGHT.</a></p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#BOOK_COPYRIGHT"> p. 24.</a>)</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">George Iles</span> read a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I_2" id="THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I_2"> +THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE.</a></p> + + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_I"> p. 16.</a>)</p> + + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Iles</span>: I may add, that when I was in +England three years ago and talked about this +scheme, one or two asked me, "Who is going +to meet your libel suits?" I explained that +there was already a very large body of responsible +critics who contribute in this country, +especially in this field; as, for instance, +the critics of the <i>American Historical Review,</i> +and the notes that I have in mind are very +much of the color of the notes one reads in +such reviews—not many of them very black, +not many of them very white; most of them +a whitey brown. I have never heard yet of +any libel suits against the editors of the <i>American +Historical Review,</i> even when their reviews +have not been particularly amiable. I +do not think we need to dread any litigation. +Mr. Larned went to work in organizing his +staff of contributors with great caution and +good judgment. He did not choose them +from any one particular university, but when +he heard that at University "A" there was a +man who was acknowledged to know the literature +of the Columbian period of American +history better than anybody else, he sought to +enlist that man. And Mr. Larned has been +limited, of course, in various ways that you +can readily understand, as for instance when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +sometimes a contributor has given him notes which he has felt obliged to +discard. And let me say also that in the main the most important work +has been done by the professors of history in the colleges and +universities, except for the period of the Civil War, where the late +General Cox, who had made a special study of that field, was his +contributor. Mr. Larned's idea is simply to find throughout this country +in any particular field—the Civil War period, or the pre-Columbian +period, or the settlement of the Northwest period, or the war of +1812—the most authoritative and trustworthy man and enlarge his +audience to take in all the readers and students in this country, +instead of having him speak merely to the students of a particular +university or to the readers of a particular review.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Richard T. Ely</span> read a paper on the +same subject.</p> + + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_TRUSTEESHIP_OF_LITERATURE_II"> p. 22.</a>)</p> + + + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Can't we have a word from Mr. Thwaites on this question?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. G. Thwaites</span>: I do not suppose I ought +to speak on this matter, for I am one of Mr. +Larned's contributors. I have done a good +deal of annotation, or evaluation, of this sort, +upon request; I have a fair acquaintance with +reviewers, and have done a good deal of reviewing +myself. I know the limitations of +reviewers, and there is, I think, a great deal +of truth in what Dr. Ely says. I always want +to know, when I read a review, who wrote +the review; after I know the individual who +has written the review, I make up my mind +more or less regarding its verdict. Often, in +writing annotations for this work of Mr. +Larned's I have felt the very serious responsibility +which rested upon me as an individual +contributor, in seeming to crystallize judgment +for generations perhaps—if this book +is to be used for generations—and the possible +harm that might result from such crystallization. +I know that my point of view will +be entirely different from another man's point +of view. You take four or five men and ask +them to write a note on the same book for +this annotated list, and you will have four +or five different judgments—absolutely, radically +different. It is perhaps, a dangerous +thing to crystallize these judgments; and yet, +after all, I sympathize very greatly with Mr. +Iles' position. I think the thing should be +done. Librarians are asked for such judgments +all the time. All of us who write text-books +are continually asked for annotated +bibliographies for students to follow, and we +are always passing judgments—other people +might call them "snap" judgments—upon +various books. Great wisdom is necessary in +this matter. For instance, the other day Mr. +Larned sent a note to two of us who are contributing +to this annotated bibliography. It +happened through some editorial mistake that +two notes, asking for comment on a certain +book, were written to different individuals. +It was Dr. Davis Dewey, of the Institute of +Technology, who happened to cross my path +and wrote a note on the same book. Now we +had two absolutely different opinions about +this book. And yet it was very natural. I +had looked at this book as the story of an exploring +tour down the Mississippi valley; he +had looked at it as a study in sociology from +an economic standpoint. It was exceedingly +interesting from my standpoint; it was filled +with fallacies and whims from the standpoint +of an economist and sociologist. Well, I threw +up my note and let his stand. What are we +going to do about it? Some work of this kind +ought to be done, because it is most useful; +but after all, I think Dr. Ely's word of warning +is one that we should take to heart very +thoroughly. Personally I really don't know +whether we ought to "evaluate" literature or +not; and yet I am doing it all the time.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Iles</span>: We expect that this bibliography +of Mr. Larned's, and any others in the same +series which may follow, will appear also in +card form, and I very much desire when the +central bureau finds that a particular note can +be replaced by a better one, in the light of further +developments, that that particular note +should be withdrawn, and a better and more +nearly just note be substituted; all gratuitously +to the subscribing libraries.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">F. M. Crunden</span>: I realize the force of what +Dr. Ely has said, but I still believe that this +work is worth doing, because it is exceedingly +valuable to us. We have got to have some +guide. We cannot all of us read in all lines +and so far as the contradictory notes referred +to go, it seems to me that all that was necessary +was for the editor to apply to those two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +divergent notes just the remark that Mr. +Thwaites made—that one was written from +the standpoint of the sociologist and economist, +the other from that of the historian and +geographer. From one side it was a good +book; from the other side a bad book.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Putnam</span>: I speak on such a subject as +this with very great reluctance, and yet, as a +librarian who has had occasion in times past +to select—I do not have so much occasion +now, because so much matter comes to us +without inspection—I wish to draw a distinction +between selection and exclusion. Now, +when Dr. Ely speaks of an <i>index librorum +prohibitorum</i> or an <i>index expurgatorius,</i> the +implication is that the libraries of this country, +on advice or of their own motion without advice, +are deliberately excluding from their +collection books of which they disapprove. +The librarian, however, approaches the matter +in an entirely different way. He has at his +disposal, for purchase, a very limited sum of +money; a very limited sum of money, no matter +how large his library, for the amount of +literature put upon the market is practically +limitless. Men of science themselves, after +contending for liberty of expression, do not +always use that liberty with discretion or to +the advantage of the community. Now, there +must be a selection. That is the point we +start from as librarians; that is the duty laid +upon us—to get, with the means at our command, +the books that will be most useful to +our constituents. Now, that means choice. +How are we to make a choice? I do not believe +there is a librarian in the United States +who would set himself up as an arbiter or an +expert in every department of literature; who +would claim to determine the value of doctrine, +either in religion or in economics, the +two departments of literature as to which the +discrimination must be most difficult and most +dangerous; and yet even in those departments +we must choose. That means a selection. +What is the alternative, in case we have no +guide? What would Dr. Ely offer us? Dr. +Ely, of course, as any university professor, +has his students, who are studying not merely +one subject in which they wish to get the best +and final opinion, but all opinions, from which +they are to draw conclusions. Now, the duty +of the librarian is simply to represent all opinions, +and not his own opinion, or his notion of +the best opinion, or somebody else's notion of +the best opinion; but, given a doctrine which +is important, which is attracting attention, he +assumes that this doctrine must be represented +in his collection. It is only a question of what +represents this doctrine best—not whether +the doctrine is right or wrong. If there is a +book regarding which there are two opinions, +the appraisal may give the two opinions, as all +appraisals should, so far as it can be done. +The substance of what I wish to say is this: +our duty is not one of exclusion; it is one of +selection, and that fact is as little understood +as any element in library administration to-day—and +I am sorry to say that the misunderstanding +is apt to be countenanced by the +librarian. Take for instance the case of the +Boston Public Library, berated all over the +country for excluding certain books from its +collection. Now, the Boston Public Library +deliberately excludes, to my knowledge, almost +no book. Its process is of selection. +It receives about seven hundred volumes of +recent fiction a year, to consider for purchase. +It believes that it is for the best interests of +its constituents to buy less than two hundred +titles and multiply copies. Now, how is it +going to dispose of the other five hundred? +They are neither rebuked, disapproved of or +placed in an index. They are simply left out, +because in the process of selection, the first +two hundred seem most useful for the purpose +of the library.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Ely</span>: I was not thinking about the librarians +in my remarks. They must, of +course, make their selections of books, but +what I had in mind was the bringing, especially +in the form of a card catalog, these judgments +and these appraisals before the reading +public all over the entire country, and so possibly +forming opinion, along one line. Formerly +librarians have had a great many facilities +to aid them in making this selection of +which Mr. Putnam has spoken. They have +had the various periodicals with their reviews; +they could read these and base their +selections upon these. I had especially in +mind the objections to crystallizing opinion +and bringing a one-sided opinion, or one kind +of an opinion, before the entire United States, +instead of having opinions of one sort in one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +place and opinions of another sort in another +place. Also, it is the impartial nature, or the +apparently impartial nature, of the proposed +"evaluations" which seems to me especially +objectionable. Of course, in our college classrooms, +we give our estimates of books, but +Professor A will give one estimate, and then +the students go to Professor B's class-room, +and they hear another estimate, so that they +soon learn the personal inclinations and preferences +of the various professors, and can +soon offer some explanation of the conditions +and the circumstances under which these estimates +are formed. And the views expressed +in one university are criticised very largely +by another university. Not so I take it with +the person who ordinarily consults the card +catalog of a public library.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker</span>: May I take a moment from +my own paper to say just a word on this subject? +Questions are asked of the librarians, +and they must be answered. To answer them +in the fullest light instead of the scantiest is, +as I understand, the purpose of what Mr. +Iles calls "evaluation." If Miss Smith—I +think there are six of her, so that my remarks +are not personal—comes from the library +school, or after the library school training, +to a public library desk, she is sure to be +asked questions, we will say, in American history. +There may be an information clerk to +refer them to, or there may not; but, as I +understand, this work of Mr. Iles is intended, +not to exclude other sources of information, +but to give Miss Smith opportunity to inquire +and obtain the best and widest available information +as to the character of a particular +book, or as to its rating. If this book were +to be the sole and exclusive authority, then +of course we might have a censorship in literature, +but I do not understand that in the +minds of the promotors of this plan there is +any such design to make an exclusive and +solely authoritative work.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. Millard Palmer</span> read a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_2" + id="RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_2"> +THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS, +AND LIBRARIANS.</a></p> + + <p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS"> p. 31.</a>)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker</span>: There is, or should be, I +take it, a large purpose common to all who +have to deal with books, as intermediaries between +the author and the reader, whether +from the altruistic side, as the librarian, or +from the commercial side, as the publisher +and bookseller. We are familiar with one expression +of that purpose, to get "the best reading +for the largest number at the least cost"; +and I, for one, am firmly of the opinion that +that function is properly shared by the two +classes of whom I have spoken, that they are +not in competition but in co-operation; I +mean the librarian and the bookseller. It is +a narrow view, it would seem, which puts the +two in opposition, or even in the position of +competitors. And just as it seems that the +bookseller is wrong in feeling that the librarian +is interfering with his business, so I +think it is wrong for the librarian to feel that +the bookseller should in any way be limited +or hampered or belittled in his kind of work +of getting books to the people. It seems to +me a truism, indeed, that there is one thing +better than a book loaned, and that is a book +owned. The ideal library community is, after +all, one in which the people are so well supplied +with books in their own homes that the +function of the library is not so much a great +circulation, however fine that may look in the +statistics, but rather that of guide and helper +to readers in the selection, and, if you please, +in the "evaluation" of books. The board of +health in a city or in a state is, perhaps, a +fair illustration of the final function of the librarian; +a health board, in its ideal, is a +body to promote sanitation, to warn people +against errors, to get rid of the mistake that +tuberculosis is a hereditary disease from +which people have to suffer, instead of one +which is communicated and which can be +avoided; rather than a body to furnish free +medical attendance like a dispensary. So I +start with the proposition, that it is desirable +for librarians, for public librarians, as such, +to encourage most of all the formation and +owning of private libraries throughout their +bailiwicks.</p> + +<p>Now, there has been one difficulty of late +years in bringing about this result, in the +most effective way, and that difficulty has +been felt not only in this country, but throughout +most countries—the fact that competition, +not in quality but in "cut rate" price, has +practically taken away the living of the com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>mercial +intermediary in the distribution of +books, the hire of the laborer who is working +in that particular vineyard. That has been +true in Germany, in France, in England, and +in this country. It has not prevented the sale +of books; it <i>seems</i> not to have limited the sale +of books; but it is probably true that the dissemination +of the best literature among the +mass of the people, in private libraries, while +it has been immensely improved by the library +system, has not been promoted by the bookselling +system under present conditions as it +should be. In Germany, a movement has +been on foot for a few years past, and has +been quite successful, to give that particular +kind of librarian, the bookseller, a fee more +worthy of his function; a profit which makes +it possible for him to keep that sort of +library which is distributed into private libraries, +<i>i.e.,</i> the book store. In France a +very curious difficulty is in illustration. There +the price of books had come to be very +low, so low that when a rise in the price +of paper came, the publisher's business was +found to be almost impossible. The remedy +naturally took the shape of a general +rise in price, a considerable rise in price in +cheaper books, sufficient to meet that particular +difficulty and to make possible at the same +time a better recompense, a living wage, to +the intermediary. Now, the whole tendency +of modern industrial development is to get +rid of the intermediary as much as possible; +<i>i. e.,</i> to have as few steps, of person and of +cost, between the producer and the consumer +as is practicable. This we may take as fundamental +to-day. It remains true, nevertheless, +that there must, as a rule, be somebody +between the producer and the consumer, between +the person in the great manufacturing +center and the remote distributing points on +the circumference to bring the thing wanted to +the person who wants it; and it is only in +view of that requirement that the bookseller +is to be considered. In that sense, as I have +said, he seems a complement of the librarian, +and the book store the complement of the library. +Now, a librarian cannot live without +salary, though many live on very small salaries, +in the hope of better things—and one of +the accomplishments of the American Library +Association has been to bring better things to +the librarian. Both the dignity and the emolument +of the library profession have been, I +believe, increased greatly by the existence of +this Association. The librarian receives a +salary, and it is not true, as we all know, +that books can be circulated freely from public +libraries in the sense of their being circulated +without cost. Indeed, we have occasion +to lament often that the cost of circulating a +single volume is so great. It is a fair question +whether the cost of shelving, preparing +for the public, and in many cases, of circulating +a volume, is not greater than the fee +which the bookseller asks as his profit, his +wage in transferring that volume from the +publisher to the reader. Therefore it seems +to me that the suggestion of which Mr. Dewey +is the apostle, that the public library should +take the place of the book store, that it should +exhibit recent books to the public and take +the public's orders for those books, rests both +on an economic and on a social fallacy. In a +word, work cannot be done for nothing, and +whether that work is paid for by the public +in the shape of salaries or by the private +buyer in the shape of profits is a matter of +comparison.</p> + +<p>About the time at which the A. L. A. was +organized, in 1876, there was an attempt on +the part of the book trade to deal with this +question, and at Philadelphia, in 1876, a +meeting was held at which a reform plan was +initiated. That plan, it seemed to me then as +it seems to me now, involved a fundamental +mistake, in that it did not deal with the question +of published prices. It is evident that +books cannot be increased in price, unless +there is a specific reason in the price of paper +or some such reason, without interference +with their sale and wide distribution. It is +poor policy for the publisher to limit the sale +of his ware by putting a higher price on it +than the traffic will bear. At that meeting it +was proposed not to alter the published prices +of books, but to recognize formally the custom +of giving twenty per cent. discount to the +retail buyer. The reform proceeded upon +that basis, and the system presently broke +down. Within a year past there have been +shaped two organizations, the American Publishers' +Association and the American Booksellers' +Association, which are working in harmony +on another plan. That plan is that new +books, new copyright books (fiction and some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +special classes excepted for the time), should +be published at a price which recognizes the +fact that the published price hitherto has not +been the real or standard price. In other +words, a book which was priced at $1.50 it is +expected to publish at twenty per cent., more +or less, below that price, and to make a $1.50 +book, say, $1.25 or $1.20; a $2 book $1.60 or +$1.50, and a $1 book 75 or 80 cents. This +plan recognizes the existing situation, and the +proposal is that the plan shall be enforced by +the publishers declining to supply books to +booksellers who fail to maintain those standard +prices. The plan has worked out with +other classes of specially owned articles, in +that respect similar to books, and it has +worked with fair success.</p> + +<p>There is only one exception which the +bookseller is permitted under the proposed +regulations to make, and that is a discount to +the library. That discount is limited to ten +per cent., and I think it should fairly be +stated that this may increase, perhaps by five +or ten per cent., the actual prices which some +libraries, at least, have been paying for their +books. That is a disadvantage from the library +point of view which must be faced. I +do not know that it will increase the price in +the case of libraries generally. In the case +of the public, it has been true that while many +have paid the lower price for the books, others +have been asked the full published price, so +that there has been an inequality of price +where the person best equipped in one sense, +least equipped in another, has had the advantage +of the lower price. In other words, +the person who had most books and knew +most about them, got the book at a very +low price, and the person who was really +most in need of the book, because he knew +less, had to pay the full price for it. I do +not believe myself that that is the right or a +good way of doing business. It would not be +the method which you would permit in libraries, +of treating one person differently from +another, because the fundamental proposition +of this Association is that the public should +be treated equally and justly. Take it altogether, +I for one believe that although in +some cases there may be this slight rise in +cost to the library, the whole library situation, +or, I should say, the whole book situation, +would be so much improved by the proposed +change that it would be to the general advantage +of the libraries to suffer that specific disadvantage.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, there is a good deal of +grasping in human nature, and it might be +very wise for the American Library Association, +in one sense representing the public, to +come into official relation with this matter +and be the guardian of the buying interests, +to the extent of making sure that there is a +real reduction in the prices of books on this +scheme. The large-minded publishers will +doubtless see their interests in making the reduction +throughout on the copyright books +which are to be published on this plan. There +are others who may not see this advantage, +and who may attempt, under the new plan, to +set as high a price on the book as under the +old plan. If we had a committee of this Association +on relations with the book trade, it +might be possible for such a committee, known +to be on the alert, to prevent or remedy cases +of that sort, and I trust such a committee will +be appointed by this body, or by its Council, +as I shall take the liberty of moving.</p> + +<p>I should feel some hesitancy in speaking +to this Association from the two points of +view, of relation with the book trade and of +relation with the library interests; <i>i.e.,</i> of +speaking as the editor of the <i>Publishers' +Weekly</i> and as the editor of the <i>Library +Journal,</i> but for the fact that I believe the +interests to be one. I may, however, make +the personal explanation that while it seems +to me that a journalist cannot write that in +which he does not believe, on the other hand, +a journalist who is responsible for the conduct +of a representative journal cannot interpolate +his own opinion to the exclusion of the +opinion of the class whom he is supposed to +represent; for that reason I have taken the +position in my own office that in case the library +interests should come in conflict with +the publishing interests, I will give over that +particular subject to some librarian, who, +using the editorial columns of the <i>Library +Journal,</i> will represent distinctively, free from +any interest in the book trade, the views of +the Library Association and of the library interests +at large. I take this opportunity to +say that in case the opinion of this Association +is adverse to the plan which I have been +outlining, the <i>Library Journal</i> will take that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +course in presenting fairly and fully the +views of the profession. When the whole +question is threshed out; when such a committee +has discussed, perhaps with the publishers' +association itself, whether there should +not be a somewhat greater discount to the +librarian, to equalize the old rates; when such +a committee expostulates with individual publishers +against an abuse of this plan, I believe +that the result will be, on the whole, to promote +the wide and useful dissemination of +books, and I trust that any action which is +taken, if action should be taken by the Association +or by its Council, will be in view of +the wider co-operation in which these two interests +should work. Let me remind you that +the bookseller cannot live without earning his +living any more than the librarian, and it is +not quite fair perhaps for those of us who are +protected by salaries to impeach the fair living +which the bookseller earns in another +way. The book store should exist in every +community, alongside the library. We know +as a matter of fact that even our large +cities, certainly our small cities, even more +our towns, are very ill equipped with book +stores; that in many places they are notable +for their absence rather than for their presence. +This element of active work in the distribution +of books should, I believe, come +back more to our American life. It cannot +come back, apparently, under present conditions, +and any movement, it seems to me, +should have the helping hand of the A. L. A. +that tends to put the American bookseller on +a plane with the librarian as an agent for the +dissemination of the best books at the least +cost to the most people, and I emphasize "at +the least cost," meaning the least cost at +which the service can be rightfully performed.</p> + +<p>Adjourned at 12.45 p.m.</p> + + +<h4><a name="SIXTH_SESSION" id="SIXTH_SESSION"> +<i>SIXTH SESSION.</i></a></h4> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Fountain Spring House, Tuesday afternoon, +July 9.</span>)</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order at 2.15 p.m. +by President <span class="smcap">Carr</span>, who announced that the +discussion would be continued from the morning +session, on the subject</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_CONTINUED" id="RELATIONSHIP_OF_PUBLISHERS_BOOKSELLERS_AND_LIBRARIANS_CONTINUED"> +THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS +AND LIBRARIANS.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Melvil Dewey</span>: There seems to be an impression +on the part of some that the attitude +I have taken in regard to this question is for +the sake of starting up discussion. I am quite +sincere in what I say and in what I believe in +regard to it. In the first place, I think nothing +could be more unfortunate than for any of +us to get into an attitude of antagonism with +the publishers and booksellers. There was +something like that twenty-five years ago; +their organization and ours began at the same +time. There were some who wanted to fight +with the booksellers and publishers. I think +that is all wrong. I am heartily in sympathy +with nearly everything that Mr. Bowker said +this morning, and with what has appeared in +the columns of the <i>Publishers' Weekly</i>. I +read every page of it. I believe so profoundly +in the value of the bookman's work +that, when formulating definitions of our +university studies, as to what a full-fledged +university should be, I insisted it should +include publishing research and publication, +not only the preservation of learning. It +is because I have so profound a respect +for what may be done by the book trade, +as we call it, that I believe in these things. +But the discussion this morning seemed to +be very much on the line of Ruskin's attack +on railroads, which he said always were +devices of the devil, and he said it very eloquently. +You heard the same talk about the +trolley lines—about the whitening bones of the +young innocents that had been killed by them. +We were assured that bicycles were to destroy +the horse trade entirely, yet horses now bring +double what they did before. Twenty-five +years ago, I remember a very prominent man +most earnestly pointing out just what was +pointed out this morning—that the A. L. A. +and the public libraries were simply devices to +injure the interests of publishers and booksellers. +And the attitude of men on these things +is based on what Mr. Bowker called "an economic +and social fallacy." I like the phrase; +only he was fitting it to me, and I fit it to him, +and it is for you to decide which is right. The +question hinges on what we understand the +library to be. If the library is like a blacksmith +shop, or shoe store, or something of +that kind, then he is right. If the library is +an essential part in our system of education +and a necessity for our civilization, then I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +am right. In New York we still have the +plank road and the toll-gate, and we are just +taking them over for public use—buying them +and abolishing the tolls, so that the public's +right to use the roads has come back to them. +All the arguments we heard this morning +would fit the question of abolishing the +toll-roads. A great many people keep no +horses. Why should they be taxed to maintain +the roads? We have the fire department. +We do not tax only the people whose houses +are on fire. It is a public necessity. We +have the best illustration of the case in our +schools. The tax-supported high school has +killed off a number of private schools, and +estimable people who were earning their living +that way were thrown out of employment. +And the tax-supported high school +is in analogy with the public library. It has +offered instruction free and has ruined the +business of others. It is so with many +professional schools. A transition has been +going on very rapidly. The last big fight we +have been having is over the business colleges, +some of which are directed by mere +charlatans, and others by those who are giving +admirable instruction, doing their work +well. But they have outlived their time. The +public demanded that certain instruction of +this kind should be made available cheaply to +all the people.</p> + +<p>Now, we have been charged with wanting +to abolish the bookseller. I never said anything +about abolishing him. It is like saying +that because the tadpole is going to be a +frog we are abolishing the tadpoles. It is +nature that does it; it is a matter of growth. +Or it is like saying that the entomologist in +pointing out that the moth is going to develop +into the butterfly, is abolishing all the moths. +So the good booksellers, if they go on with +the work of supplying the public with good +reading, will do it through the agency of the +public library, where they can do it cheaper. +When we are sure that a certain thing ought +to be done; that it is a good thing; <a name="secondly" id="secondly">and, secondly, +when we are sure</a> that it can be done +cheaper than in any other way, we are not +inclined to waste a great deal of time theorizing +over anybody's philosophy as to whether +it is a proper thing to do or not. We want +the right things done in the best and cheapest +way. I am sorry to see the old-time +bookseller, who did good work, crowded out +of the field. I do not see any way in which +he can save himself, except in the largest +cities. I am sorry to see a great many of the +old schools, the secondary schools, crowded +out of business and entirely replaced by the +tax-supported schools. I do not understand +that it is our purpose, either in this Association, +or in life, to be studying how we are +going to feed every man after the system +which has fed him up to the present time is +abolished. If the man is good for anything, +he will earn his wages; and it is utterly fallacious +to say a thing is wrong because somebody +is going to lose his business. When +the railroad was built a great many worthy +men who drove stage coaches were driven +out of business in just that way. Every modern +improvement does that; new machinery +of all kinds has the effect of driving people +out of employment; but, in the long run, it +pays.</p> + +<p>I ought to say in the first place that the +suggestion that the librarian would sell books +for a profit is one of those queer things that +crop out in connection with all great movements. +I never yet heard of any library that +was buying books and distributing them. I +believe that the library will order books in +connection with other work. My thesis is +this: the book owned is a great deal better +than the book loaned. I believe it is better +for a man to own a book than to borrow it; +that it is legitimate, at public expense, to show +him that book in the library and hand it to +him as his book—just as legitimate an expense, +every way, as it is to employ a man to +sell people books so that they won't patronize +the Booklovers' Library. I think the whole +thing hinges there. It is not a matter of theory, +but of fact. If that is what we want to +accomplish, can we do it best with the book +store or with the library? I contend that it +is impossible to rehabilitate the old bookseller, +any more than the old private school, which +could be done only by endless means in +endowment. I do not believe we should try, +because it can be done better and cheaper in +another way; because the library has the books +on its shelves. The statistics this morning +showed that the bookseller is dying out. I +believe it to be entirely impossible to rehabilitate +that profession. If in the library it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +becomes a recognized principle that the library +is supported at public expense for the purpose +of lending books. I am confident that the public +will demand it to be done in that way. I am +confident of another thing. You have only to +consult your catalogs to see the remarkable +development of the last decade in publishing +which is done by endowed universities and +colleges and of learned societies. See the +great body of technical journals that have been +turned over the university presses. Every +university that pretends to accomplish much +now has a press, and is developing it with +great rapidity. It was said this morning that +the publisher hinged on the cash; that the +bookseller hinged on that. Ladies and gentlemen, +the cash profit is not a proper scale in +which to weigh the questions in which we are +interested. When you take questions of education, +or religion, or philanthropy, and put +them on a question of cash profit, you are in an +absolutely false attitude. I do not mean by +that that we must not regard business conditions. +We must know how to pay for our +coal and our rent, but not a dividend in dollars +and cents. And the moment my antagonist +says that this question is to be measured by a +cash dividend, I say he is ruled out of court +in any body of librarians who are giving their +lives and their work at salaries not at all commensurate, +but who make dividends on a +higher plane. There is no occasion for an attitude +of hostility; nor, I take it, for me to +take issue on this new proposition in regard +to prices to libraries. There is not a librarian +in this room who has all the money he wants. +If prices rise ten per cent., it will diminish +the number of books he can buy. I followed +the argument this morning. If it is correct, +there is only one thing we can do. We, as +librarians, are cutting into the revenues of +these men, and we ought not only not to ask +a discount but librarians ought to pay twenty-five +per cent. in addition, because we are +cutting into their revenues. We ought to appoint +a committee, which without a bit of the +spirit of antagonism, should meet the publishers +and booksellers and point out all over +the United States large consumers who buy +for cash. I think it is a practical mistake to +try to force up the price, and that we are +bound as custodians of this money that is put +in our hands, firmly and courteously, but, I +am sure, with the most friendly relations on +both sides, to see that the prices of our books +shall not be cut down.</p> + +<p>I say, therefore, in summing up, after an +observation of thirty years, that I am confident +that the library of this century is going +to assume those educational functions, +and that among the most prominent of these +is the putting into the hands of the people who +wish to make their lives wealthier in arts or +trades the books of power and of inspiration. +The public library cannot afford not to put +into their hands at a minimum price the books +they want to read. And, logically we shall +be forced in that direction. You will find that +this tendency is growing all the while, and we +will have to put the library squarely alongside +the high school. Indeed the library in its +development is following exactly the line of +development of the tax-supported high school +and for that same reason, that in the high +school we now offer instruction free, the library +will offer books for sale without profit—there +should be no profit in the library—and +will lend books freely, and will with regret +kill the local book store and supplant it by +something that is worth a great deal more.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. I. Fletcher</span>: I have been so long on +the Publishing Board with Mr. Dewey that I +have got thoroughly in the habit, when he gets +through, of saying something on the other +side. It seems to me that a few words might +be said to clarify this subject. It is undoubtedly +true, as Mr. Dewey has said, that a +book store that is worth anything could not +be established in every place in the country. +There ought to be something of the sort, +even if it is a public library. The book stores +exist only in places where it is commercially +possible, and that number of places is very +limited. Now I suppose that if we could ascertain +the communities where it is not commercially +possible for a book store to be carried +on, we should none of us have any objection—it +seems to me most of us would +favor the idea—that the public library should, +to some extent, take the place of the book +store in supplying books to the would-be owners +in such a community. That leaves the +question confined to those places where a book +store is commercially impossible, probably to +those places where book stores have been, +even with difficulty, maintained under past<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +conditions. I should be willing, for my own +part, to do all I could in securing the establishment +of a good book store where there is +not one, where it is commercially possible to +maintain one. Where it is not, it would be a +good thing to let the library sell the books. +I am greatly impressed with the argument as +to the advantages of a book store in a community +where it can be maintained. So it +seems to me that there is not very much difference +of opinion among us, after all, as I dare +say those who spoke this morning would not +object seriously to the distribution of books +for sale through the libraries, where there +is no hope of having a local book store. As +to the amount of discount under this new arrangement, +I am entirely in accord with Mr. +Dewey in wishing that the Association might +present whatever are the views of the Association. +On the subject of the amount of +discount that we ought to have, I should hardly +feel that the booksellers were treating us +right in this country if they should follow the +custom of the German publishing trade and +refuse any discount at all; and it is a question +whether the ten per cent. which they propose +to allow under this new system is enough. I +have advised our library committee to express +a hearty readiness to accede to the proposed +arrangement, to take the ten per cent. discount, +and we have given our adhesion to it. +Perhaps that was somewhat hasty, before the +librarians in general had an opportunity to +act; but I do not believe anything very different +from that will be the attitude of the librarians +at large. We might in time, for example, +make it fifteen per cent., but I am sure +that could not be done at present. I am +heartily in sympathy with the movement that +will make it possible to have a good book +store, which I believe every librarian would +like to have in his place.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. M. Palmer</span>: I wish to say just this: +Of course in the lack of time that was accorded +me, it is difficult to say all that can be +said on the subject, and explain the by-paths, +and so forth; but, as I intimated at the introduction +of my paper, I simply stated what +I said as facts, and while we wish a great +many things to be different, we realize that +they cannot be reached in a certain direction +all at once. In order to bring the bookselling +business to a basis which will enable the bookseller +to live, some reform had to take place. +The publishers have seen fit to institute the +reform which has been outlined to-day. When +I spoke this morning, for instance, of the fact +that some librarians ordered books for friends +and others at the discounts which the library +and they themselves received from the booksellers, +I did not wish to impute any wrong +motive to the librarian in doing that. It is a +matter within the knowledge of the booksellers, +and the booksellers wink at it. I do not +think there was any element of dishonesty in +it, because the bookseller who sold the book to +the librarian knew it was again to be sold to +some friend of the librarian.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. R. Bowker</span>: In offering a resolution, +I wish to say just a word or two. I had not +expected Mr. Dewey to make an argument in +favor of the public library, for certainly there +would be no disagreement on that point in +this room. Where he went further and suggested +that the salaried librarian should become +the commercial bookseller, I think and +I hope that there are few to follow him to +that length of argument. As to the Booklovers' +Library, of course that is not at all in +analogy with the public library, and I want +to take this opportunity to call attention to +what seems to me an admirable use of the +Booklovers' Library scheme, so long as it can +hold out. Mr. Carr has told me that he has +looked upon the Booklovers' Library as a +very useful overflow or safety-valve for the +public library. When thirty-five people come +at once and want "Quincy Adams Sawyer," +and a librarian sees that the two copies that +could be put on the shelves would not meet +the demand, he would say to himself "I cannot +rightly spend the money for thirty-five copies," +and therefore he would say to the thirty-three, +"You can go to the Booklovers' Library +and get these new books just when you +want them." So this library may be a relief +to the librarian who is conscientious in the +spending of his money.</p> + +<p>The resolution which I now ask to move is +that the Council be requested to appoint a +committee on relations with the book trade, +to which this question shall be referred.</p> + +<p>The resolution was carried.</p> + +<p>The general session was then adjourned, +and there followed a Round Table meeting on</p> + + +<p class="center">THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#WORK_OF_STATE_LIBRARY_ASSOCIATIONS_AND_WOMENS_CLUBS_IN_ADVANCING"> p. 171.</a>)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><a name="SEVENTH_SESSION" id="SEVENTH_SESSION"> +<i>SEVENTH SESSION.</i></a></h4> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Fountain Spring House, Wednesday +morning, July 10.</span>)</p> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span> called the meeting to order +at 10 a.m., and after local announcements by +the secretary called upon the tellers to report +upon</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="ELECTION_OF_OFFICERS" id="ELECTION_OF_OFFICERS"> +ELECTION OF OFFICERS.</a></p> + +<p>The result of the balloting was announced +by the secretary as follows:</p> + +<p><i>President:</i> John S. Billings, 103.</p> + +<p><i>1st Vice-president:</i> J. K. Hosmer, 103.</p> + +<p><i>2d Vice-president:</i> Electra C. Doren, 104.</p> + +<p><i>Secretary:</i> Frederick W. Faxon, 104.</p> + +<p><i>Treasurer:</i> Gardner M. Jones, 105.</p> + +<p><i>Recorder:</i> Helen E. Haines, 105.</p> + +<p><i>Trustee of Endowment Fund:</i> Charles C. +Soule, 81.</p> + +<p><i>A. L. A. Council:</i> M. E. Ahern, 101; E. H. +Anderson, 104; Johnson Brigham, 104; John +Thomson, 104; H. M. Utley, 105.</p> + +<p>The president then announced that the Association +would be glad to hear from Mr. +<span class="smcap">Putnam</span>, as chairman of the</p> + + +<p class="center"><a name="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_RESOLUTIONS" id="REPORT_OF_COMMITTEE_ON_RESOLUTIONS"> +COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.</a></p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Putnam</span>: The Committee on Resolutions +has suffered the usual embarrassments +of committees on resolutions. It has been +compelled to abstain from expressions which +might seem hyperbole, and from designating +by name many services that prefer to remain +anonymous.</p> + +<p>It is the custom of certain associations to +make acknowledgment to those speakers on +the program not members of the conference. +That is not customary with the A. L. A. Had +it been, I should have had a special pleasure +in proposing an acknowledgment to Professor +Ely for his presence and paper yesterday. It +is no slight compliment to the Association +when a thinker and writer so eminent as Dr. +Ely is willing to lay his views before it. It +is, in a sense, a greater compliment when his +views prove unfavorable to some undertaking +which the Association is inclined to approve. +It implies that our action may be important, +and therefore our judgment worth convincing. +Could the Association convince Dr. Ely, +great advantage indeed might result. For +should a selected list of books in economics +be undertaken with helpful notes—I will not +say "evaluations," or "appraisals"—but helpful +<i>notes,</i> Dr. Ely's aid would be one of those +first sought.</p> + +<p>The resolutions follow:</p> + + +<p class="center">REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.</p> + + +<p><i>Resolved,</i> That the American Library Association, +in concluding a meeting that has +been one of the most largely attended and +most successful in its history, desires to express +its hearty obligation to the various committees +and individuals who have made considerate +arrangements for its comfort, and in +many an agreeable incident acted as its hosts. +In particular:</p> + +<p>To the Wisconsin Free Library Commission +for its efficient general arrangements for +the conference;</p> + +<p>To the Citizens' Executive Committee and +Women's Clubs of Waukesha, for the attractive +drives about the city, for the pleasant +evening reception at the Fountain Spring +House, and for various attentive courtesies;</p> + +<p>To the members of the Methodist Church +of Waukesha, for the use of the church for +the public meeting on July 4;</p> + +<p>To Senator A. M. Jones, for the opportunity +to visit Bethesda Park and enjoy there +the concert given by him complimentary to +the Association;</p> + +<p>To the trustees, librarian and staff of the +Milwaukee Public Library, for the opportunity +to inspect the library under most favorable +conditions, and to the junior members of +the staff for the appetizing refreshments +served in connection with the visit;</p> + +<p>To the resident librarians of Madison, the +Forty Thousand Club, and various citizens, +for the drive through the city and delightful +parkways of Madison; to the resident women +librarians, the Madison Woman's Club, and +the Emily Bishop League, for the luncheon +which was provided so substantially for the +great company of visitors; and in general to +the chairmen and members of the several local +committees representing the state, the city, +and various institutions and organizations, +who contrived so excellently for the accommodation +and enjoyment of the Association +in its visit to Madison.</p> + +<p>The Association deems itself fortunate indeed +in having held its meeting within reach +of two achievements in library architecture so +notable as the library buildings at Madison +and at Milwaukee.</p> + +<p>The Association would add its appreciation +of the endeavor of the management of +the Fountain Spring House to convenience in +every way the business of the conference; and +its obligation for the special provision made by +the management for its entertainment on two +evenings of the conference.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Association is aware that in addition to +the hospitalities which it has enjoyed, many +have been proffered which could not be accepted +without injustice to the affairs of business +which were the proper purpose of the conference. +It desires to record its acknowledgment +of these also, and of the kindly consideration +of the hosts who in deference to this +purpose have been willing to forego inclinations +which it would have been a generous +pleasure to themselves to have carried into +effect.</p> + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Herbert Putnam<br /> +J. C. Dana<br />Mary Wright Plummer</span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td align="center"> <i>Committee. <br />on Resolutions.</i></td></tr></table> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--to prevent the following text from flowing around the table --> + + + + +<p>The report of the committee was unanimously +adopted by a rising vote.</p> + +<p>President <span class="smcap">Carr</span>: This report having brought +to a conclusion the general business of the +Association, I may perhaps be permitted just +a word before we dissolve this general session, +which is to be followed by a round table +meeting in this room. The chair can only +say to you that he appreciates more than he +can express, even had he more vigorous and +full command of language than he possesses, +all that has been done by members, officers, +chairmen of committees, one and all, to aid +in the transaction of business and in the success +of this conference. The chair also +wishes to congratulate you upon what you +yourselves have done to make this meeting a +happy one, and trusts that it may long be remembered +by us all, and that we may all long +continue to work together in the A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Adjourned at 10.30 a.m.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="COLLEGE_AND_REFERENCE_SECTION" id="COLLEGE_AND_REFERENCE_SECTION">COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION.</a></h3> + + +<p>The College and Reference Section of the +American Library Association was called +to order in the parlors of the Fountain Spring +House at 2.40 p.m. on July 6, Mr. <span class="smcap">W. I. +Fletcher</span> being in the chair.</p> + +<p>The program was opened by an address by +the chairman on</p> + + +<p class="center">SOME 20TH CENTURY LIBRARY PROBLEMS.</p> + +<p>The 20th century is undoubtedly something +of a fad already with public speakers. I +should hesitate to speak of 20th century problems +in library work were there not a special +justification for noting chronologic epochs in +connection with the modern library movement. +It was almost precisely at the middle +of the century that this movement took its +rise in the passage of the first public library +laws in England and in New England. And +again it was at the very middle of the last +half century, in the year 1876, that this Association +was formed and the <i>Library Journal</i> +started. (I may be excused for merely alluding +to the fact, parenthetically, that Melvil +Dewey graduated from Amherst College in +1874.) And now at the very beginning of the +new century the library movement receives +an enormous impetus from the benefactions of +Andrew Carnegie, not only in themselves +multiplying and increasing libraries, but serving +as a great stimulus to towns and cities +and states as well as to individuals, so that +his indirect contribution to the cause of libraries +will probably far outweigh his direct +gifts, princely as they are.</p> + +<p>The library problems of the 20th century +sum themselves up in one, the problem of expansion, +and we may perhaps best regard +them from the point of view of the obstacles +to expansion, these obstacles constituting the +problems.</p> + +<p>First, we must notice our library buildings, +and admit that many of them, and most of +the ideas heretofore cherished about the building +of libraries, present such an obstacle. +When we note that since the plans were +drawn on which nearly all of our most recent +large library buildings have been erected, +three new ideas in library administration have +come into general acceptance which must +powerfully affect library construction, we +can but feel that great foresight and wisdom +are needed to erect libraries that shall not +very soon be obstacles to proper and necessary +expansion. These three new ideas are, +first, access of readers to the bookshelves; +second, children's rooms, and third, the distribution +of books through schools, branches, +delivery stations, home libraries, and inter-library +loans, this third new idea involving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +provision for business offices, packing rooms, +etc., unthought of formerly. To meet not +simply these new ideas, but others with which +the new century is pregnant, care must be +taken that great sums of money, leaving the +securing of more for a long time hopeless, +are not expended on structures in which instead +of provision for expansion we seem to +have provision against it.</p> + +<p>Another obstacle to expansion is found in +elaborate systems of shelf-marks connected +with systematic schemes of classification, representing +carefully arranged subordination +and co-ordination of the parts. For two +things are certain: first, accepted classifications +of books rapidly become obsolete, and +second, no library will long be content with +an out-of-date arrangement. Especially will +my successor, or yours, be sure to feel the +necessity of signalizing his accession to office +by introducing what is in his day the latest +classification. And in this he will be right. +Now, if we have a fair sense of our duty to +our successor, which is merely an extension +forward of our duty to the library itself, we +shall be unwilling to tie the library by an intricate +notation to a present system of classification. +I think we must take more pains +than is done by either the Decimal or Expansive +schemes to provide a somewhat elastic +notation. I regard the classification of the +University of California Library as the best +(available in print) for libraries of our class, +because it employs designations which indicate +mere sequence of classes. A little thought +will, I am sure, show you how this is true. +At any rate, a little experience in attempting +more or less reclassification with, for example, +the Decimal classification, will prepare you to +believe that a less highly involved and articulated +method of designation would be in the +interest of reasonable expansion, and save +such expansion from the odium of upsetting +the classification. Through the logic of events +forcing those considerations to the front more +and more, I anticipate that the larger and +rapidly growing libraries will increasingly +shun all such systems as the "D. C." and the +"E. C.," of which the paradox is certainly true, +that the better they are made the worse they +become. The scheme of numbering classes +recently adopted by Princeton University Library +points in this direction, while the reclassification +of Harvard University Library, +which has been slowly carried forward during +the last 20 years or more, represents a complete +departure from the idea of any correlation +between classes, as indicated in the notation, +the order of minor divisions being a +numerical sequence easily changed or modified, +while each main class bears a mark suggesting +no relation to another. For example, +the military and naval sciences have lately +been reclassified and brought under the designation +War, which may be called (to represent +a certain harmony with other designations) +W-a-r. The location of any main class +in the library is subject to change at any time, +and is known to the attendants by a chart, +which may be somewhat altered to-day, and +replaced by a new one with large differences +to-morrow or next year. Not that such +changes would be made except for real occasion, +but under this system, when they are +necessary they are not deferred or regarded +as hopeless as they must be under any highly +organized system.</p> + +<p>Another obstacle to expansion closely related +to elaborate methods of notation is +found in the common practice of inserting the +call-numbers in catalogs of all kinds, written +or printed. When the Boston Public Library +was moved into the new building it was naturally +supposed that it would be completely +rearranged to suit its ampler and entirely different +shelf-room, particularly as much fault +had already been found with its existing classification, +which seemed quite outgrown. But +when it is observed how the library was tied +to its old numbering by an endless variety of +catalogs, printed as well as written, it ceases +to seem strange that it was thought best to +transfer the old arrangement to the new +building, with all its infelicities heightened by +its new location and surroundings. And in +this respect that library should serve as a +warning to others to avoid, by any available +means, such an entanglement. If it be asked +what means of avoiding it are available, I +would say that I am inclined to think that if +I were starting with a new library I would +try the experiment of putting no shelf-numbers +or call-marks in any catalog, but rather +have a key by which they could be found by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +means of the accession numbers which alone +would be given in the author-catalog.</p> + +<p>I can only refer hastily to one feature of library +expansion which is coming in with the +new century, and which has to do with the +catalog. I mean the introduction of printed +cards, and would say that I look to see these +work a revolution in library methods. If we +can procure at low cost an indefinite number +of these cards for each book we shall come to +use them in many ways, as, for example, the +accession record, the shelf list, bulletins and +special lists, and charging cards. For the +latter purpose they would have the advantage +of absolutely identifying the book.</p> + +<p>I am sure I have said enough to set you +thinking, and I hope when time is given for +discussion you will freely express your +thoughts.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">J. T. Gerould</span> read a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARIES.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_DEPARTMENTAL_LIBRARY"> p. 46.</a>)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. P. Cutter</span> read a letter from <span class="smcap">R. C. +Davis</span> on the</p> + + +<p class="center">RECLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY +OF MICHIGAN.</p> + +<p>I am conscious that this report of our adoption +of the Decimal classification is, as far as +I am concerned, premature. I look upon the +work in its present state as just from the +broad-axe or the saw-mill. There is planing +to be done and sand-papering. Except to +discuss now and then some fundamental principle +in classification, I have had little to do +with the work. Other duties, which I must +necessarily perform, have occupied every hour +of my time. I am hoping that now the rough +part of this work is off our hands, I can make +a readjustment of the work in general that +will give me time next year to participate in +the finishing process. The history of the +matter is very brief. Our old fixed location +had become impossible, and a point was +reached where it was necessary to begin at +once with whatever movable method we might +adopt. I had been at work for some time on +a substitution of relative markings for fixed +ones, which would, without any change of +classification, set our books free. This was +interrupted by sickness at the critical time, +and it was determined to adopt the Decimal +classification as the most generally used and +the most susceptible of modification. Also, +my assistants, on whom the work would fall, +were familiar with this method, and had experience +in working it. The changes that had +been made were made largely in deference to +the desires of heads of departments. It was +not always easy to act on these suggestions +inasmuch as a general adoption of them +would be fatal to uniformity. In consequence +some of the changes are in the nature of a +compromise, and are tentative. The change +now so nearly accomplished has been made +economically and, considering all things, expeditiously. +The credit of this is due to my +assistants. They have been untiring in their +industry and their management of the differences +of opinion that they have encountered +has been wise and tactful. Mr. Jordan, my +cataloger, has made a brief catalog of the +changes, which I enclose. You can make such +use of this matter as you may desire at your +meeting, but I would prefer that nothing go +upon record. By next year we shall have the +matter better digested, and I hope some of us +may be present at the meeting to discuss it. +It is a subject which has a perennial interest.</p> + +<p>In the absence of <span class="smcap">W. W. Bishop</span>, <span class="smcap">J. I. +Wyer</span> read Mr. <span class="smcap">Bishop's</span> paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN +THESES FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#SUGGESTIONS_FOR_AN_ANNUAL_LIST_OF_AMERICAN_THESES_FOR_THE"> p. 50.</a>)</p> + +<p>After the reading of Mr. Bishop's paper +there was some discussion in regard to the +great desirability of having published each +year a list of the dissertations presented to +American universities. On the motion of Dr. +B. C. Steiner it was resolved that a committee +of three be appointed by the chair to consider +the question of the section taking steps +to secure such an annual list. Mr. Fletcher +appointed Dr. B. C. Steiner, W. M. Smith and +C. W. Andrews to form the committee.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">A. G. S. Josephson</span> <a name="conplete" id="conplete">wished that a complete +bibliography</a> of university theses could +be made.</p> + +<p>The chairman announced that the election +of officers for the next year would take place, +and called for nominations.</p> + +<p>Mr. Josephson nominated Mr. A. S. Root +for chairman. Mr. Root was elected. Dr. +Canfield nominated for secretary Mr. W. M.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +Smith, and Mr. Smith nominated Miss Emma +A. Hawley. Mr. Smith was elected.</p> + +<p>After the election there followed a general +discussion of the topics presented during the +afternoon, those receiving special notice being +classification, notation, the use of call +numbers, department libraries and university +theses.</p> + +<p>In the discussion Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span> said:</p> + +<p>My thought about dispensing with shelf-marks +in the card and other catalogs (not +really my thought, for I had it from one of +our leading librarians, who has not, however, +put it in practice himself) is that the great +difficulties connected with the changing of +shelf-marks in catalogs when books are reclassified +may be avoided by placing on the +card only the accession number (in case of a +set the accession number of the first volume), +and then maintaining a key, consisting of a +book closely ruled in double columns, where +for each book in the library the shelf-mark is +written in pencil against the accession number +and changed whenever the book is renumbered. +Such a scheme could not be satisfactorily +applied in a library where the looking-up +of the shelf-mark is involved in the calling +for books in most cases. I am prepared to +favor it only where (as is now the case in our +own library) a majority of the calls for books +are made orally and answered by the attendant +without reference to shelf-mark. In our +case these calls amount to seven-eighths of +all the calls, and in addition to this it should +be said that at least one-half the books drawn +under our open-shelf system are drawn without +any "call" at all, so that we may say, +that if we had the "key" system it would +come into play for perhaps one-sixteenth of +the books drawn. In libraries of moderate +circulation like our college and university libraries, +and (for all but certain classes which +are most used) even in the large public libraries, +it seems to me that the key plan may +work well. Of course the key if subjected to +constant use would be difficult and expensive +to maintain, owing to wear and tear. We +should not fail to observe that three separate +and distinct features of modern library progress +are each and all working against the +necessity, <i>i.e.,</i> tending to minimize the necessity, +of shelf-marks in the catalog.</p> + +<p>These are, first, the open-shelf system; +second, minute classification and alphabetical +arrangement in classes, and third, book-card +charging systems. Without enlarging upon +these points, I would like to suggest them to +you as worthy of consideration.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hodges</span> described briefly the classification +of the scientific books at Harvard. First, +the serial publications of the broad learned +societies, the societies taking cognizance of all +branches of learning, are brought together +arranged alphabetically by country and city. +Secondly, the general scientific serials and the +special scientific serials, however published, +are arranged in a group; the general coming +first, the others following according to subject, +astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, +natural history, zoology, botany, etc. +When suggesting the separation of the serials +in pure science from the handbooks at +the very outset of his work at Harvard, Mr. +Hodges urged that the serials constitute a +record literature to which the investigator +must refer when carrying on original work, +while the handbooks are used by the pedagog +when preparing for his classwork. The general +designation for the learned society group +is L. Soc.; for the scientific serials, Sci. The +handbooks on physics are in a group designated +Phys.; the general treatises by Phys. +357-360. A treatise published in 1892 is +marked Phys. 358-92; another of the same +year, by Phys. 358.92.3.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Root</span> said: It may possibly have interest +in this connection to note that the catalog +of the University of Göttingen, which +was established about 1750, has the feature +which has been mentioned here as characteristic +of the Harvard system. The books are +grouped in large classes with an abbreviated +heading, with minute sub-classification. Just +when this system was introduced I do not +know, but I suppose it to have been in use a +hundred years or so, which I judge to be a +longer life than Mr. Fletcher is willing to allow +to the D. C.</p> + +<p>Interesting remarks were made by several +others, notably Mr. Andrews, Dr. Steiner and +Dr. Canfield. It is to be regretted that the +revision of their remarks has not been received +in time for publication.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Olive Jones</span>, <i>Secretary</i>. +</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="CATALOG_SECTION" id="CATALOG_SECTION">CATALOG SECTION.</a></h3> + + +<p>The Catalog Section of the American Library +Association held two meetings in +connection with the Waukesha conference.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>FIRST SESSION.</i></p> + +<p>The first session was held in one of the +parlors of the Fountain Spring House, on the +afternoon of Tuesday, July 9. The chairman, +<span class="smcap">Anderson H. Hopkins</span>, called the meeting to +order.</p> + +<p>It was <i>Voted,</i> That the section waive the +formality of registration of members preliminary +to voting.</p> + +<p>It was <i>Voted,</i> That the chairman appoint a +nominating committee of three, to report at +the close of the session. This committee was +appointed as follows: Miss Sula Wagner, Mr. +Jones, Mr. Roden.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A. H. Hopkins</span>: When the round table session +on this subject was held last year its object +was, of course, to find out whether there +was a demand for a section of this kind. We +found it out pretty soon. Now we have the +section. Then came the question, when I was +asked to assume the chairmanship for one +more year, of how it might best be occupied. +It seemed to me for a time that perhaps the +best plan would be to go to the opposite +extreme—from having been informal last +year—and have set papers, especially as the +Association had decided not to take stenographic +reports of the meetings. However, a +change came about in my views when the interstate +meeting was called at Atlantic City +last March. A meeting was held there of the +Publishing Board's committee on rules for a +printed card catalog. The members of that +committee were at that time all of the opinion +that no better plan could be followed for this +year's meeting of the Catalog Section than to +have another discussion similar to that of last +year, but confining the talk chiefly to knotty +points which they met in the course of their +work. That has been done; but there have +been added a few questions which have come +to your chairman in the course of the year +from persons interested in the section.</p> + +<p>The Publishing Board, in taking up the task +of producing printed cards, found that widely +divergent practices must be shaped so that +they would work together. To this end they +appointed a committee of seven and set them +the task of producing harmony among the +jarring elements of practice in all the libraries +of this country, barring none. The head +of the catalog department of the Library of +Congress was made chairman of this committee; +and, as you know, this great library +and its chief, to whom we all turn so gladly, +are lending their cordial support to the project, +and realization now seems near at hand.</p> + +<p>Now what do we want? We want an arrangement +whereby any one may be able at a +reasonable cost to get accurately made and +well printed cards for any book at any time. +This and nothing else will do. (Applause.)</p> + +<p>The members of the Committee on Rules +thought this session could not be better occupied, +as I said before, than in a discussion of +certain points, met by them in their attempts +to produce a workable scheme which would +meet adequate support, it having at that time +become evident that the enthusiasm so manifest +at Montreal had largely evaporated; +probably because it had not been made clear +that the proposed plan was really a workable +scheme. Some of these points the chairman +of the committee and myself have selected +and graded roughly into three classes, and I +will lay some of these before you.</p> + +<p>One of the chief troubles is going to lie between +the <i>32 and 33 size cards</i>. Let us hear +from you on this subject, if you have anything +you wish to say about it.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: Perhaps those present may +be interested to know something about the 32 +and 33 card from the point of view of the +Publishing Board. The Publishing Board has +been supplying the 32 or 33 size card as required +by subscribers for cards for current +books. I cannot speak authoritatively, but I +think the board is nearly prepared to say that +in future, if these cards are prepared at the +Library of Congress and distributed from +there, it will be found very much the wisest +plan from the beginning to use only the 33 +size. It has not been declared impossible at +the Library of Congress to print the cards in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +such shape that enough could be cut off to +make the card a 32 card; neither has it been +decided by the board that it is not worth +while to try earnestly to bring that about; +but the present impression, I think, is that +the 32 size will have to be left aside in the +co-operative work. If there is a strong sentiment +here to retain the 32 size card, let us +hear of it now.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Couldn't Mr. Hanson, of the +Library of Congress, give us a report on the +letters they received there in regard to the +size of cards used? And let me emphasize +this thought, that in coming to a uniform system +we must approach as near uniformity as +possible. It is impossible to meet all the variances +of cards in the several libraries, but +we must look towards drawing all the using +libraries into as close uniformity as possible. +And I think the prevailing practice is shown +best by the statistics which I believe Mr. Hanson +has with him.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: The statistics Mr. Bowker +refers to I have not with me. As I recall the +figures there are something like 19 out of 100 +that use the 32 card.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: I have Mr. Putnam's figures. +I was astonished to find the percentage +that were using the larger card. Out of +185 reporting 138 used the 33 card, 38 used +the 32 card and only 19 (true those 19 are the +older, better established and larger libraries) +used odd sizes.</p> + +<p>I will take occasion to ask Mr. Hanson to +answer another question on this point. I had +an interview in his company last winter with +the representative of the Harvard Library, +which uses the smaller card. We then came +to a satisfactory compromise, and I am surprised +to hear Mr. Fletcher say it is all in the +air. It was understood that the Library of +Congress wanted for its subject headings, and +we wanted for our subject headings, a sufficient +amount of space, and that they were not willing +to print below the punched hole. That +leaves exactly the width of the 32 card in the +center of the 33. And the proposition agreed +to by all of us in this conversation was to +print the 33 card with the broad margin above +and never go below the hole, so any library +that wanted to could buy the cards and cut +them down on both top and bottom and have +a 32 card. It was understood to be satisfactory +to all the 32 users that I consulted, including +Harvard, the largest, I believe, of +them all. It is that point that I would like +to ask Mr. Hanson to report on—whether +he now feels that he must go higher or lower +than the lines we then indicated.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I don't feel it absolutely necessary; +in fact we are following out the measurements +laid down by the Publishing Board +now. I have in my hand two cards—the +title runs over on the second card at considerable +waste of space, as you can see. But +the printers have their measurements which +provide for cutting away the space above and +below to accommodate the 32 card. But I believe +it is going to be objectionable, in the +end, when it runs over on the second card. +That is the only objection I can see.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I should like to have Mr. +Andrews state whether this card, if it has to +be cut down at the top as well as at the bottom, +will allow room for headings?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Browne</span>: Instead of having to print +a second card I don't see why we can't print +the 33 card; then if the 32 card libraries want +it in their catalog why can't they transcribe +the extra line or so by hand on a second card +and cut off the bottom. In nine cases out of +10 it would not make any difference. In one +case in 10 where they would have to transcribe +on the second card, is there any reason +why it could not be done?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Doren</span>: I am not a user of the 32 card. +The only objection I see, if I were to use it, +would be that perhaps I should have to pay +a little more for my card than those that use +the 33 card, and it would make the catalog a +little more bulky.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: Talking with Miss Crawford +it was evident that the Dayton library +wanted a broad margin for analyticals and +headings above the print in the 33 card. That +is exactly what we want. We don't want it +as much as they do, but I want to emphasize +the necessity for a broad top margin. That +is the point which makes it desirable for 33 +people as well as for 32.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Doren</span>: I did not understand the +question as referring to analytical headings. +We do want those above all things, and if we +are to use the card at all we need the broad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +margin at the top. Our use of the card depends +upon having a broad margin at the top.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: I should like a show of +hands on this point. Are those present, +whether 33-card or 32-card people, of the +opinion that, after dropping the heading so as +to leave ample room at the top to permit the +32 card to be cut out from the 33 card, as +stated by Mr. Andrews, it would be better +to run the type down farther than the hole, +if necessary, on either side, and then cut and +recopy for the 32 size, or to make a double +card both for the 33 and 32 size?</p> + +<p>I suggest that the show of hands be first +from those who prefer to have one card furnished +for a title when possible, and then to +transcribe the lower part, if necessary, for the +32 card; and then from those who prefer to +have a second card wherever it is not possible +to put the material on the space of the 32 +card as printed on the 33 size. Is that clear?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I believe so. It includes, however, +both the users of the 32 and 33 cards, +and instead of a show of hands let us have a +rising vote, and give time to count them.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those who are in favor of +printing below the 32-card limit on the 33 +card, rather than furnishing two cards to a +title, please rise. 56 persons rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those who are in favor of +confining the print to the 32 size and having +a second overflow card printed for the same +title, please rise. 17 persons rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I should like to call for a +rising vote to learn how many would like to +urge that arrangements be made by which 32-size +cards can be furnished. Three persons +rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I cannot think of any library +printing cards that would care to print any +lower than the round hole. On the other +hand, the library must have three-quarters +of an inch at the top of the card for headings. +Will that leave sufficient space for taking +away from top and bottom?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: They accepted it by that +first vote.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Then they must punch the +hole in the margin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Or lose the part they punch +out. If you will excuse me, I will put forth +a little argument of my own.</p> + +<p>Apropos of another report I had to make +some time ago, I had heard that the greatest +library in this country, certainly in some respects, +was changing its plan to accommodate +itself to the 33 card. I wrote to Mr. Whitney, +of the Boston Public Library, which as +you know uses a card larger than the 33, and +it is a fact that with their immense catalog +running for so many years, and with so large +a number of cards which they cannot now +cut down to the 33 size, they have found it +advisable so to modify their plan for titles +henceforth that the cards may be cut down to +the 33 size on reprinting the old titles. Here +is the letter, the report from his cataloger. +[Mr. Hopkins here read the letter.] If they +do not think it likely that ultimately they will +use the 33 card why should they take all that +trouble? Now, the problem they had to deal +with was 10 times more difficult than that +which the users of the 32 cards have to deal +with. All you have to do with a 32 card to +make it a 33 size is to paste it on something +big enough and provide space to hold it. With +such evidence as this before us why should +we fret ourselves to provide a 32 card when +the change to the 33 can be so easily and so +cheaply made?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: May I add a word which Dr. +Billings said to me? He said that he preferred +a printed catalog card to a written catalog +card any time, without reference to any +question of uniformity. So he was actually +replacing his written catalog cards with the +Library of Congress cards or Library Bureau +cards. I think that there is growing in the +great libraries a desire for some general +method which will supply printed catalog +cards.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Is there any further discussion +on this topic? If not we will pass to the next.</p> + +<p><i>Notes and Contents.</i> I read from the official +report made by the Committee on Rules +to the Publishing Board: "The position of the +collation and series note to be on a separate +line immediately after the date and preceding +other notes." Now we cannot take up the +whole question of notes, nor the question of +the minority report which Mr. Hopkins was +asked to submit; but the question I would +submit to you is this: Is not the contents +note really, logically, sensibly, a part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +title? Is it not actually, in almost nine cases +out of ten, more important than the title itself? +If it were not, would it not be nonsense +to print the contents note? If it is so, +why separate the contents note from the title +by other relatively unimportant matter? Has +anybody anything to say?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: It seems to me it would be +well to say here, collation is used for pagination, +illustrations, maps, plates, etc., and size. +That is the imprint, as we have for convenience's +sake called collation; and the idea is +that this information is to be paragraphed, +on a separate line, so as to set out the date +and make the date end the line in twelve +point.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Biscoe</span>: I want to say a word on the +other side. It seems to me that it would be +unfortunate to put the collation after the contents, +particularly where the contents are +long. It would throw the collation on the +second card. To find out whether you had +more than one volume you would have to turn +to another card. If you are looking for duplicates +you want to see at once not only the +author of the book, but also the number of +pages, to show whether the edition is the +same. And if for all those purposes you have +got to turn to a second card, it seems to me +it would be unfortunate.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: I agree strongly with Mr. Biscoe. +I think the number of volumes, size, etc., +range in properly with the date, while the +contents should come afterward and range in +with such matter as critical or descriptive +notes. Ordinarily you want those parts that +I speak of first, then your contents, like any +other kind of descriptive or explanatory notes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Mr. Biscoe's position appears +at first sight very solid and plausible but there +is nothing in it. The reason for this is that +there is only a small class of books that will +call for a contents note. I deprecate mentioning +any institution, particularly The John +Crerar Library, but that calls for contents +notes probably as often as any, and I should +like our cataloger to answer if he knows about +how many cases run over on the second card.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: We have printed so far +about 25,000 cards and the number of titles +that run over to second cards is considerably +below 1000; it is nearer 500 than 1000.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: I should like to ask the chairman +whether in foreign bibliographies we do +not find that the data, as to volumes, size, etc.—called +the collation—always come first. +Should not we be setting ourselves up in opposition +to other catalogers if we put the collation +after the contents?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Possibly that it so; but if we +gain a truth, what then? Tradition is powerful, +but it is not all. Sometimes it is very +little indeed. And this is one of the cases in +which I believe it is very little.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I hold in my hand one of +the sample cards which have been distributed, +which has this arrangement. That represents +what we now call the old practice, which we +are proposing to depart from—Cutter's Rules +say that the imprint, strictly, is place, date +and form of printing; and then goes on to +say that for practical purposes the imprint is +considered as being enlarged so as to contain +not only place, date and form of printing, but +also publisher, number of pages and number +of volumes. It seems to have been agreed +some time ago by the Committee on Rules +and the Publishing Board that it was wise +to bring back the imprint to the old idea of +giving the place, date and form of printing +and publisher. It was also pretty generally +agreed that form—or size as we now call it—number +of pages and number of volumes, +and anything else that might describe the +book from an exterior point of view, should +be called collation—we have not exactly +agreed it should be called that—and that this +should be put in a statement by itself in +smaller type, after the title and imprint, the +imprint being printed in the same type as the +title and even completing the line the title +ends on. Now the question is whether that +line of smaller type should be printed immediately +after the title and imprint or whether +it should follow contents; that is to say, +whether contents (called "contents" and not +"contents note") should not be attached immediately +to the title—which is Mr. Hopkins's +idea, I understand, as he thinks logically +it belongs there. The card I have in my +hand has contents occupying four lines, because +while it is one volume it contains four +different lectures. That brings before us the +"contents note" and the other notes. Now I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +understand the new proposition is that the +collation should follow the contents note, but +precede other notes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: The thing I want is that the +contents note should follow the title. I called +it "contents note" merely because it appeared +in the smaller type with the other note.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I wish to express my preference +in accord with Mr. Jones and one or +two others, that the collation note should continue +to occupy the place it has always occupied, +of immediate juxtaposition with the imprint, +and other notes should go below.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: In explanation, permit me to +take the floor again——</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Has not the officer of The +John Crerar Library given the best argument +for placing the collation before the contents? +Mr. Josephson has told us that probably the +number of cards including contents would be +less than three per cent. Why should we not +follow the old practice and let the cataloger +and the public continue to use the usual thing?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: I did not say how many +cards give contents notes, but how many titles +need more than one card.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: That is the strong point. It is +not three per cent. nor anywhere near it. +Those cards that ran over were not all contents +notes. The actual number of contents +notes that run over is very small indeed. +And moreover, you have this bibliographical +note on every card. You are going to put it +between the contents note and the title every +time.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Harris</span>: I would like to ask what proportion +of cards have contents notes at all.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: I don't think I can answer +that. It is between ten and twenty-five per +cent.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Harris</span>: The point I was about to make +was that I think it is well to sacrifice something +for the sake of uniformity, for the aid +of persons who consult the catalog; and as +Mr. Josephson says only fifteen to twenty-five +per cent. of the cards have contents notes, in +seventy-five per cent. the collation would immediately +follow the title. And therefore it +seems to me it is desirable not to have the +contents note follow the title.</p> + +<p>A show of hands was called for.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Before we have the show of +hands, may I say one thing more? I don't +believe that most of you that have not been +using these cards know how useful the contents +note is or what it is for. It is to furnish +your analyticals. If you want to analyze +a volume of essays, for example, your contents +note does it all for you with just a little +bit of clerical work when the cards come in. +You have fifty items that you would like to +represent in your catalog, and the card does +it all for you. It is costing you one to three +cents instead of fifty or sixty cents.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: I have learned a good deal +since I have been in the Boston Public Library +by observing the practices which that library +has departed from. I know the library +did in times past print contents and have an +entry designed to fit one particular item of +contents and then underline that item on the +card. That has been found so unsatisfactory +that when we now recatalog anything and +deem any item of contents worthy a separate +entry we catalog that item separately and +print a second card.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: If the Library of Congress +will do this we do not care for many contents +notes. I didn't understand the Library +of Congress proposed to print analyticals, but +rather to print contents notes; that they, and +most of the libraries that print cards, found +their economy on this point. But it is really +the Library of Congress that must be consulted +as to the desirability of many contents +notes.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: That has been one of the perplexing +questions with us in printing cards. +We do use the contents as analyticals to some +extent, underscoring the particular item on +the heading given. But where an analytical is +what we catalogers call an imprint analytical, +that is, with separate title and pagination, we +find it more economical to print a separate +card for that title. In other cases and where +we find it very inconvenient to use the contents +card, we print analyticals.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: My own opinion is that it is +best to put the collation at the end. It is +easiest found there. The thing I want to see +is to have it go below the contents. I want +to say one thing more. The reason you think +more than one per cent. consult the note is +because you are librarians. Take your popu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>lar +libraries, and they deserve to be considered, +how many readers are going to look +for that note?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: I am somewhat undecided +in mind between the two standpoints. It +seems to me that the contents, from the nature +of the case and from the accessibility of the +catalog, belongs rather at the top. I believe +you are right when you say that ninety per +cent. would use the contents first, rather than +the bibliographical note. But the critical +notes and any other general information +should come right next to the contents.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: I wish to repeat that "collation" +is a bibliographical description of the book; +if you want to describe a book or to order +from a bookseller you turn to that data. Collation, +it seems to me, comes naturally after the +title, and I still hold that to separate it from +the title is not in accord with the general +bibliographical practice of the world.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as are in favor of +placing contents note immediately following +the title, please rise. Three persons rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as are in favor of +placing contents note after collation, please +rise. 52 persons rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: The next question is a recommendation +from the committee: "<i>That a column +be set aside in the Library Journal for +notifications to libraries of decisions on doubtful +points; e. g., 'Kate Douglass Wiggin +should not be changed to Riggs; or, Automobiles +should be classified ...'</i>"</p> + +<p>In other words, that a kind of department +be created, when the Central Bureau is created, +for giving librarians throughout the +country a notion of how these matters are to +be treated. What is the opinion? Is there +any discussion? If not we will go on to the +next point.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A member</span>: No discussion means that we +agree to it, I understand.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I suppose so. If it doesn't you +should say so quickly.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A member</span>: Does this recommendation say +<i>Journal</i> or journals?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: <i>Journal</i> is the word used. The +<i>Library Journal</i> is the official organ of the +A. L. A. Probably if the committee had gone +beyond that it would have been exceeding its +province.</p> + +<p>"<i>The committee earnestly recommends that +the practice of giving dates of birth and death +be used extensively. It is convinced that a +very large share of the work has already been +done and may be easily obtained for the use +of the Central Bureau. Expressions from +various members of the committee have shown +a great readiness to assist in this.</i>"</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Merrill</span>: I would like to inquire +whether that means that dates shall be given +only to distinguish men of the same name or +whether they shall be used in every case.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: It is not designed that the use +of dates be intended only for distinguishing +writers, but it is urged that dates be given +extensively.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Doesn't that mean that the +dates should be used where the authors are +not of the same names?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Yes.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: In the case of living authors, +is it intended to give date of birth if possible?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Yes.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Browne</span>: At the Boston Athenæum +for years they have been giving those dates +on their cards, and now they are scratching +them off.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Does anybody know why?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Browne</span>: I believe they consider they +are not as desirable as a means of distinction +as some phrase might be, and so they scratch +off the date and give, for instance, "Henry +James, <i>Novelist;</i> Emerson, <i>Essayist</i>."</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: How would they classify +William Morris?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A member</span>: Or Andrew Lang?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: The next question is the following +recommendation of the committee: +"<i>The committee recommends that the Central +Bureau prepare a biographical card giving the +fullest form of name, dates, official and honorary +titles and degrees, membership of academies, +etc., and all forms of names and pseudonyms +used.</i>"</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I suppose the idea is to prepare +a biographical card for each author for +whom any card is issued. I don't know exactly +how it should be worked. I want to +call your attention to the fact that the Advocates' +Library of Edinburgh tried this in preparing +the first two volumes of their catalog; +and when they got the two volumes printed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +they concluded it was too expensive, and gave +it up. I wonder how many libraries would +advocate that the Library of Congress shall +furnish us cards, not only for the books, but +whenever an author comes for whom they +have not furnished such a card that they shall +furnish us a biographical card, which we shall +pay for? I do not understand that the Library +of Congress is preparing such a card +now. It may be worthy of discussion whether +we want such a card prepared.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: It seems to me a card of +that kind would be extremely helpful in smaller +libraries that are limited in biographical +books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: I would suggest that in the +case of authors for whom we most need those +facts, new authors, the facts would not be +available. Could we have a copyright note +by which each author should furnish the desired +facts?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Mr. Hanson could answer that, +perhaps.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I have familiarity with copyright +authors that many librarians do not +meet with, but whom we must have information +about to distinguish from other well-known +authors of the same name. We have +a method of getting at them through the copyright +records, and we write them, sending a +blank, and occasionally ask them to give information +of their other works. That is put +on a preliminary card, and before every new +author such a biographical card is inserted. +I believe this is an old practice, used in many +libraries.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: The Publishing Board would +like a show of hands on how many libraries +would like such a biographical card. At first +sight this struck me as a most valuable suggestion. +It would, of course, cost the extra +half cent or cent—whatever it might be—for +the card; on the other hand, it might be +of great value to the reader. I suggest that +we have a show of hands, not <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>—simply +<i>pro</i>.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Van Valkenburgh</span>: I am especially +interested in this, because we tried such a +card in our library. We thought an information +card was going to be a desirable thing. +We tried it for about two years, and we found +it was very little used indeed for biographical +purposes. People wanted more information +than we could give on a biographical card. +Of course it is very desirable to differentiate +authors of the same name.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: Have those cards a distinct +purpose, as of assisting the catalogers aside +from the public?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Van Valkenburgh</span>: From the standpoint +of a cataloger who has done it, we didn't +find it useful to us. It was more work than +help.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brett</span>: Wouldn't it be more valuable +to the small library than to the larger library? +A great many of the smaller libraries haven't +time to look up authors. It seems to me it +would be of value in our library.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: I think those cards would +be of use not only to small libraries, but to +readers in larger libraries. I do not say, +though, that I think it was the purpose to +print a card for every author. If the heading +used on the Library of Congress card gave all +the information desirable, I don't see any use +of printing it again. I hope the proposition +will be put in three forms: Those who want +such a card for every author; those who only +want a distinctive card in cases where distinction +is desired; and those who do not care +for such a card at all.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as favor such a card +for general use, please rise. 16 persons +rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as favor such a card +for distinctive purposes only, please rise.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Van Valkenburgh</span>: If we are going +to have the same material on the other cards +we won't need it here.</p> + +<p>One person rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as do not care for +such a card at all, please rise. None voted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: We have still another of these +topics: "<i>The committee recommends as +strongly as it can the importance of placing +the subject headings and classification numbers +(D.C. and E.C.) on the bottom of the +card.</i>"</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Browne</span>: <a name="headings" id="headings">These subject headings are +simply suggestive</a>. If any cataloger has already +started with, for example, "Birds" instead +of "Ornithology," he can simply go on +as he has begun. The same way with the +D.C. and E.C. numbers. There are certain ones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +that perhaps are absolute; others are suggested +to go in one place, but would go perfectly well +in three or four other places; you take the one +that fits in with your scheme; if you have no +scheme you can use the one that is suggested.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: The Committee on Rules +has recommended this, and unless objection +is presented here this meeting might endorse +this recommendation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. M. Smith</span>: I don't see how these marks +could be put on without preliminary classifying.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: If the work is done at the +Library of Congress, of course the book has +to be classified, and it is very easy to translate +any classification mark into either D.C. +or E.C. It would be an additional cost, of +course, to print two or three headings at the +bottom of the card, but it has to be done.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: In other words, the work has +to be done for the Library of Congress.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: The subject headings are +the most expensive part of the catalog. It +would be a mistake to leave off the marks.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: A show of hands is called for. +As many as favor recommendation of this +rule, please rise. 70 persons rose; contrary, +none.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: I would like to say a word +upon the question which was raised of printing +certain matter in the <i>Library Journal</i>. +While the <i>Library Journal</i> is technically the +official organ of the A. L. A. it would seem +desirable to send such material to all the library +periodicals, and I should suppose that it +would be understood that the committee might +so do.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: In the formal report of the +committee to the Publishing Board the same +plan of numbering is followed that was followed +in the last issue, or edition, of Cutter's +rules, of the A. L. A. rules. A number of +changes, additions, excisions and emendations +have been made. I will read the first.</p> + +<p>"1a. Enter books under surnames of authors +when ascertained, the abbreviation +<i>Anon.</i> being added to the titles of works or +editions published anonymously."</p> + +<p>Now the question has been raised since, by +a member of the committee, and it was desired +that it be placed before this section for decision, +If the heading of an anonymous book +is always bracketed is it necessary to add the +abbreviation "<i>Anon.</i>" to the end of the title?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: It sometimes happens that +an author signs his name at the end of the +preface. In that case the name is not on the +title-page, and should be bracketed on the +heading. We have to distinguish those from +the really anonymous books in some way. +You have to do one of two things, either put +the abbreviation "Anon." or the full word +"Anonymous" on the top line, or, as we do in +The John Crerar Library, put a note at the +bottom.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: It has been my experience +that the word "Anon." at the end of the line +is sometimes confusing to the reader and +brings up all sorts of questions, and is taking +space that might be needed for something +else. I do not see its value, and sometimes +it is positively misleading. The bracket expresses +all that is of real use, and it doesn't +matter whether the author's name appears in +some other place in the book; at any rate it +was not on the title-page. The brackets tell +that, and I don't see the use of the abbreviation.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: I don't see that the public +are interested in brackets or in the word +"Anon." It is for the public that the card is +being made, I understand.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: When I spoke I went on +the supposition that the title entry would, as +is now usual, give the title only and omit the +author's name from the title. But if, as I +hope, the Publishing Board will decide to +have the title-page copied exactly, giving the +author's name in the title as it is done on the +title-page, then you don't need to distinguish +the anonymous authors from those who have +signed in any other place than the title-page, +except that in the former case you put a +bracket around the name. As to the objection +that the public is not concerned with the +brackets, that may be true; but the librarian +is very much concerned with knowing whether +a book is published anonymously or not. I +should like to have instead of brackets a footnote, +telling "published anonymously" or +"signed at the end of title-page" or "signed +at end of the book."</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I would like to call atten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>tion +to one or two things. In the first place, +many popular libraries might like to have +extremely simple cards. They will have to +realize that they must take a good deal of information +they do not want if they are to +take the cards made for all libraries. Mr. +Josephson's idea is a good one, that technicalities +shall be avoided in favor of good, +plain English notes. "Anon." is obscure to a +great many people, while "published anonymously" +is pretty plain English. If such a +note follows it is not necessary to use any +brackets.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: I rise to suggest that we +should discuss the question of <i>size notation</i>.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: What we have to consider +here is whether this meeting would favor one +method or the other in size notation; and a +consideration of that question might be largely +affected by the further question, Is either +of these methods to be followed for the +printed cards? If you should be told that in +all probability neither of them would be followed, +it would prevent a good deal of waste +of time in discussing one as against the other. +We have two old methods that are mentioned +in the reports. The third method, +which finds a great deal of favor and which +may be adopted by the Publishing Board, is +that the size notation shall be represented by +a mark giving the absolute measurement of +the book, perhaps in centimeters, perhaps in +inches and fractions.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: These three questions came +before the committee at the meeting at Atlantic +City; one was to give the fold symbol, +as is used all over Europe and in the larger +libraries of this country; the other was to give +the letter symbol adopted by the A. L. A. in +1877; the third, presented by Mr. Hopkins, +was to give measurements in centimeters of +the letterpress and of the page—not of the +binding. A minority report was submitted by +Mr. Currier, Miss Kroeger and myself urging +the fold symbol. Mrs. Fairchild, Mr. Cutter +and Miss Browne are the majority, because I +understood Mr. Hopkins to stand with them.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: Mrs. Fairchild was undecided, +saying she was inclined to the exact +measurement in centimeters; Miss Browne +and Mr. Cutter voted for the old letter symbol; +so there was no majority of the committee. +Mr. Hopkins's vote was for the exact +size. It was left with the Publishing +Board to decide.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: The report is for the figure, +but with a strong predilection of the members +who signed it towards exact measurement, +providing that should be adopted by the +Publishing Board. Three of us argued in +favor of the fold symbol. There were too +main reasons argued, one that the great majority +of readers in this country were familiar +with the figure; the 4to, 8vo and 12mo gave +them the size of the book; and that the majority +of libraries used that rather than the +letter. The other was in favor of uniformity. +We found that the fold symbol as a measure +of height, not in the old sense, was advocated +by the Prussian, the Italian and the +French university libraries and others. But +if the Publishing Board should decide to adopt +size measurement in centimeters I do not +believe there is anyone of the committee who +will insist very strongly on the retention of +the one or the other.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Harris</span>: I think that bibliographically +it is a mistake to take the old fold symbol +and apply it to size notation. It is not size—it +represents form notation. It is much simpler +to give size in inches or in centimeters, +whichever you prefer, rather than to use the +symbol which denotes fold.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: It was said that the fold +symbol was now almost never used to indicate +the fold. In the Boston Public Library +we use it to indicate the fold for foreign books +and old books. We also use the same symbol +in the case of American books to indicate +size. There is considerable dissatisfaction +with the practice and some of the cataloging +staff would prefer to give the size in inches. +How would that apply to books not in the +condition in which they were published? Also +I should like to ask whether it might not +be possible where the fold is easily distinguished, +to give both size and fold.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: That is really the practice of +the Prussian university libraries.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Browne</span>: My thesis for defending the +size letter is that 25 years ago the A. L. A. +thrashed this matter all over and decided on +the size symbol. Mr. Bowker has used that +letter symbol from that time on. Miss Kroe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>ger +found a very large proportion of the libraries +using the letter symbol; library classes +are teaching the letter symbol. My chief objection +to the fold symbol is that we are making +one sign serve two uses, which I think is +always bad.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: If the Library Association +25 years ago decided to use one symbol or another +symbol, that is no reason why we should +do so now. The objection to using the fold +symbol to denote size is, among other things, +as Mr. Lane suggested, that you need it in +case of old books to tell the fold. The only +rational designation of size is by centimeters, +or inches, if you prefer. There is of +course one difficulty in using accurate measurement +in centimeters, if you have a book +that has been bound and cut down. But +that can be overcome, I think, by letting the +measurement mean letterpress and nothing +else. In ordinary cases you know about how +wide a margin is if you know the side of +the letterpress; it is always a certain proportion. +You don't need the size to tell on what +shelf the book is put, because that is given by +the call number. So in order to find a book +you don't need the size notation; you need it +to see what size the page is. It is a <a name="biliographical" id="biliographical">purely +bibliographical notation</a>.</p> + +<p>[Mr. Hanson here read rule for size notation +for books "notable for age or rarity."]</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: In the days of our youth, in +fact almost as soon as we were born, this Association, +as Miss Browne has indicated, +adopted the letter symbol; and it seems to me +that the reasons that operated for the choice +of the letter symbol are stronger now than +they were then, because the symbol has in the +meantime come into quite general, if not universal +use. The Association at that time had +a phrase to indicate size. The objections to +the old fold symbol still remain, and I think +one very strong one has been stated. It is +not only that the numerical system of 8vo, +12mo, etc., has ceased to mean what it originally +meant and is confused with measurement +size, but that it is used in England and America +with utterly different meanings; and that +difference continues. That is to say, the English +use crown octavo and post octavo and +two or three names for 12mo, in such a way +as to cross our use of the word 8vo and 12mo +and make a double confusion. I feel very +strongly, for one, that the method of breaking +over from the octavo and duodecimo, etc., +the figure designation, into a definite and accurate +letter designation was a very ingenious +and very useful move. It is difficult to get +general adoption of a modification of that sort, +but the adoption has been quite general, and to +me it would seem a very great retrogression +to go back to the old figure symbol; we had +better adhere to the A. L. A. notation of 25 +years ago and custom since, and give a symbol +which is in no sense confusing or misleading, +following that, if you please, with +the actual size measurement in centimeters.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Roden</span>: I understand, of course, that +we cannot legislate upon the subject, and possibly +our discussion will not influence the legislature. +At the same time, as a representative +of a popular library in the middle west, +I cannot help but regard with apprehension +the small but insidious innovations which +these rules seem to display. Mr. Josephson +has said measurement is a bibliographical detail; +in popular libraries it is a gratuitous detail. +It could very well, as the chairman suggests, +be placed at the end. In the public I +am dealing with I should say the old fold +symbol is most commonly used and means +most. It occurs to me that a combination of +fold and letter symbols might be used. I suggest +this as a little concession to the popular +library, and it is the first I have heard this +afternoon.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Jones</span>: An objection to exact measurement +is, that so far as the greater mass of +books that we have to deal with are concerned, +it is not very important whether they +are a few centimeters larger or smaller, and +such books are often rebound in such a way +that if we have an exact description our copies +do not correspond. I agree with Mr. Bowker +that the symbols adopted by the A. L. A. +25 years ago are sufficiently well known by +people who are handling books to be recommended +as a system to be adopted.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: I have been teaching in the +library school according to A. L. A. measurements, +yet it has always seemed to me somewhat +absurd. None of the publishers have +adopted it; I suppose the newer libraries have. +The replies received to the questions sent to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +the various libraries last June, except for +the newer libraries, indicate that the majority +are using the fold symbol, and they would like +to know why, if the letter symbol is such a +good thing, the publishers are still marking +their books 8vo, 12mo and 4to. The fold +symbol means more to the mass of the people +than do the letters O or D.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: If I remember correctly the +London <i>Bookseller</i> is giving the exact size +and measurement now.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Harris</span>: Many literary and critical +journals give the size of all books recorded in +inches.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: The Publishing Board is extremely +interested in getting the feeling of +those here on the question. I want to suggest +that when it comes to the rising vote or +show of hands, we take a somewhat complicated +vote: those who are in favor of the +present A. L. A. letter; those in favor of +returning to the fold (I mean not in the +usual sense); those in favor of exact measurement +in centimeters; those in favor of a +combination of letter symbol and centimeter; +and those in favor of the fold symbol and centimeter. +The board wants all the information +it can get.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I will ask Mr. Bowker to state +the first proposition.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those in favor of the letter +symbol, the present A. L. A. method, please +rise. Twenty-four rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those in favor of returning +to the fold symbol, the 8vo, 12mo and 4to +please rise. Ten rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those who prefer a designation +of actual measurement, please rise—with +the understanding that those voting for this +will then vote their preference as to either +inches or centimeters. Seventeen rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Your next proposition, Mr. +Bowker.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those who would prefer centimeters +if exact measurement should be +adopted, please rise. Thirty-two rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Now those who would prefer +inches if an exact measurement were adopted. +Three rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As many as are in favor of the +exact measurement coupled with the A. L. A. +symbol, in case there is to be a combination—letter +and exact size—please rise. Thirty-two +rose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Now those who would prefer +the combination of exact size with figure symbol. +Sixteen rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: We might have another +vote on whether the size should mean letterpress +or book.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Before this is done I want to +call attention to the effect of binding after +cataloging. If this scheme is going to take +in foreign books, and you are going to get +cards promptly, a large share of the books +will be cataloged before they are bound. If a +good binder does his work conscientiously and +as it should be done, if you give the page you +will have a more satisfactory measurement.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I have looked into this question +recently, and I find, where libraries do +measure in centimeters they measure the +paper. If the book is bound they measure +the outside cover, for the reason that when the +unbound book is trimmed down for binding +what is lost is regained in the binding. I +have found no instance yet where the practice +that is advocated by yourself, the measurement +of the letterpress, is followed in actual +work.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: Let all those who want an +exact measurement of the <a name="letterpress" id="letterpress">letterpress</a> please +rise. Two rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: Now those who want size +to mean the outside of the book. Fifty-five +rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: I think it might clarify things +if we take the vote of those who favor the +use of the symbol alone as against those who +favor the use of the symbol and exact measurement +in centimeters.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Those who favor the use of the +symbol alone as against the combination of +symbol with measurement please rise. Twenty-three +rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Those who favor combination +of symbol with exact measurement, please +rise. Fifteen rose.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: If there is no other business I +wish to move the very cordial appreciation of +the Catalog Section of the admirable report +which has been presented in such detail by +the advisory committee of the Publishing +Board. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowker</span>: Mr. Hanson, as chairman of +the committee, I have great pleasure in conveying +to you and to your associates this appreciation, +which I know is most thorough +on the part of all here.</p> + +<p>I would also like to move a vote of thanks +to the chairman for his admirable presiding +during the session. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: I move that the program committee +be requested to assign a time before the +end of the conference when there may be a +continued meeting of this section; and if such +a time be found, that when we adjourn we adjourn +to that time. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Let me announce again that at +the close of this session the secretary, Miss +Van Valkenburgh, will be ready to begin the +registry of persons who express themselves +as willing to become members of this section.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>: I would call attention to the +fact that under the by-laws, if the section +wants to, it can adopt rules restricting membership; +if it doesn't adopt rules any member +of the Association may be a member of this +section. It is a question whether we wish to +confine this section to catalogers.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: It is an important point or +might easily become an important point. For +the ordinary run of affairs it would be a matter +of no consequence, but it may be that this +section will sometime wish to promulgate +some proposition and a little logrolling might +vote it down. What does the section wish to +do in this matter?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Windsor</span>: I think we can safely leave +it open to all who are interested in the subject +of cataloging. I don't see that there is +anything gained by leaving out anybody who +is interested in the work.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: I move that a vote on this +question be postponed. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: In the points that were outlined +last year for discussion at this meeting +there were a great many details; we have not +reached a fifth of them. May I ask catalogers +to get copies of the rules recommended by +the Committee on Rules and look them over +and communicate with any one of the members +of the committee—Mr. Hopkins, Miss Kroeger, +Miss Brown or myself. It would be of +the greatest assistance to us.</p> + +<p>[Miss Kroeger objected to giving out +copies of the rules, because they were incomplete.]</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I think we have no right to +make a general distribution yet, to do so +would perhaps exceed the province of the +committee; but we might lend copies to those +who want to look them over.</p> + +<p>I will now call for the report of the <i>Committee +on Nominations</i>.</p> + +<p>[The committee reported the names of Mr. +Hanson, of the Library of Congress, for chairman, +and Miss Mary E. Hawley, Chicago +Public Library, for secretary.]</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I am the chairman of the +advisory committee and we have a great deal +of hard work before us. I would ask the +section to accept my resignation. I really do +not feel I can give the time necessary to make +this section a success at the next meeting.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: There are no rules governing +us, Mr. Hanson, but I beg that you do not insist +on this, or if you feel you must resign that +you do so between now and the next session.</p> + +<p>The names submitted were unanimously +elected, and adjournment was taken subject to +call of chair.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>SECOND SESSION.</i></p> + +<p>The second session of the Catalog Section +was called to order on Wednesday, July 10, +<span class="smcap">Anderson H. Hopkins</span> presiding.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: The matters that were of first +importance to be brought before the section +were discussed yesterday. At the same time +there are other things that I am sure would +be interesting; and perhaps you would prefer +to bring up your own topics, and each present +something you would like to talk about.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: Is the Y. M. C. A. question +proper for discussion?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I believe that question was received; +please read it, Mr. Hanson.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span> (reading): Young Men's +Christian Associations, mercantile library associations +and the like are to be entered under +place. That is 1 i 21 of the rules suggested.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: It is our practice to put the +Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A.; Y. M. C. A., +Boston; Y. M. C. A., New York; instead of +putting it under place. There is a separate +association which has a distinctive being and +the local associations are branches. It seems<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +this is much more logical, and where the +public would expect to find reports of the +Y. M. C. A.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I wish to state in support of +Miss Wagner's contention that Mr. Cutter in +his new edition, which is now in manuscript, +was rather in favor of changing his rule, +which reads as this one does. He has always +advised entering under the place; but he was +now inclined to enter under Young Men's +Christian Association, not only for the general +association of the United States, but for the +associations of the various states. A majority +of the committee, however, seemed inclined +to enter the local Y. M. C. A. under +the place, on the ground that 99 per cent. +would look for Chicago Y. M. C. A. under +Chicago, Philadelphia Y. M. C. A. under +Philadelphia, rather than under Y. M. C. A.; +and that the same was true of the mercantile +library associations.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: Was any argument brought +forth to substantiate that statement that nine-tenths +of the people would look under the +local name?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: No contention, except that +it seemed to be the general experience.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: It seems to me if the committee +would correspond with public libraries +there might be some change of opinion +on the matter.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: I find that Chicago enters +Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A., as the St. +Louis Public Library does.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: The logical thing has always +seemed the fair thing in this matter—to +ask one's self the question, Has the organization +a national existence? And if so, to +enter it under the generic name. The Y. M. +C. A. has a national existence, which is more +important as a governing body than any one +of the local associations. And the same is +true of other organizations. If they have no +national organization, then I enter them under +the local name; but if there is a national +association, then I enter under the generic +name.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: Would you follow the same +reasoning for entries under Methodist Episcopal +church, or would you put them under +the place? It seems to me the same reasoning +would apply.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: I shouldn't wish this logical +process to supersede the better rule of entering +under the best known form. And I +think in the case Miss Ambrose mentions the +best known form would be the locality.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Miss Wagner's question has +launched us into the center of the most difficult +problem of all—that is, corporate entry, +entry of societies and institutions. There is +an underlying principle which governs our +distinctions, I believe. There is a distinction +to be made between societies, and to some extent +institutions; societies, including royal +academies, which are societies, to be entered +under the first word not an article; on the +other hand, institutions, galleries, museums, +libraries, etc., which generally have buildings +and are affiliated closely with the place, to be +entered under place, unless they have other +distinctive names—that is to say, names +from persons or geographical locations. That +principle would to some extent affect the +Young Men's Christian Associations and mercantile +libraries.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: Would that override the +other rule of entering under the best known +form? Would the institution entry override +the principle of entering under best known +form?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: That rule we have not formulated. +We have not considered as broad +a rule as that—entry under best known form. +We have tried to lay down some rule that +should govern entry under place and entry +under name; and what we are really trying +to get at is best known form.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: I appreciate that, and there +ought to be some ground on which to make +exceptions. I think your distinction between +institutions and societies is a good one. Is +not the Y. M. C. A. a good case to make an +exception?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Yes, that is the 21st exception, +is it not, under the rule? The general +rule is, "Enter societies under the first word +not an article or serial number, of its corporate +name." Then there are 22 exceptions, +and we began with the 21st.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: I don't know whether the +practice of the Boston Public Library is of +interest, but personally I incline to the views +Miss Crawford has expressed. The Boston<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +Public Library strives to use the corporate +name where there is a corporate name, carrying +that practice, I think, to an extreme degree, +so that they enter Chamber of Commerce +under Chamber of Commerce, so and +so. I understand under this rule Chamber of +Commerce would be entered under the name +of the place.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Yes. We propose to enter +all boards of trade, all chambers of commerce +under the name of the city or state.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: That comes under rule 1 i 9: +If a body's name begins with such words as +"board," "corporation," "trustees," enter that +part of the name by which they are usually +known.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: This will be very helpful to +the committee, because it shows that in the +case of exception 21 there is a strong sentiment +of entering it under name instead of under +place.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: Would you make that same +application to mercantile libraries? It seems +to me in that case the place is what people +would look for, just as they would for a +public library.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Yes, personally I should feel +disposed to give in on the Y. M. C. A. question, +but not on the mercantile library.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: The mercantile library has +no general organization. If you enter the +local Y. M. C. A. under the city you are forcing +the people to look in perhaps 30 or 40 +places.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Biscoe</span>: Is it <a name="arangement" id="arangement">the purpose of the author arrangement</a> to show what the +library has on Y. M. C. A.?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: It is the purpose to show +what the library owns under the authorship +of the Y. M. C. A. And to find that you +force the person to look into as many different +places as there are Y. M. C. A.'s represented +in your catalog. The person who comes to +your catalog wanting to know what Y. M. C. +A. publications you have has a right to find +them in one place.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: He could always find it by +cross-reference under the general Y. M. C. A. +to every local Y. M. C. A. represented in the +catalog. The contention at the meeting of the +committee was that in a great majority of +cases a man is interested in a particular Y. +M. C. A. If he comes to study all Y. M. C. +A.'s the catalog must make provision to help +him.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I am one who maintains the +thesis that no one has a right to expect to find +everything pertaining to Y. M. C. A. under +Y. M. C. A. in the author catalog.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: It seems to me in the author +catalog you have a right to expect to find +what the author has written, therefore you +have a right to find what the Y. M. C. A. is +responsible for.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Biscoe</span>: Why isn't it the same thing to +expect to find out everything about the Episcopal +church under "Episcopal church"? +Isn't every branch of the Episcopal church a +part of the general Episcopal church?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: The answer in our library +would be that nobody asks for that information, +as they do for the Y. M. C. A.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Are you sure the reason they +ask for the Y. M. C. A. in that way is not because +you catalog it that way, and they have +learned to look for it there?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>: My answer is that for the +last seven years we entered Y. M. C. A. under +place. The change was made in agreement +with the demand at the issue desk.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: That is just the kind of thing +we want to find out.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: Under 1 i 12 what would +you advise regarding the Carnegie libraries +which in large numbers have assumed the +name Carnegie since the endowment of the +building? Would you give them all as Carnegie +libraries of so-and-so, or would you +still preserve the form showing the library +was supported by the city in which it was? +For example, Pittsburgh Carnegie Library and +Atlanta Carnegie Library—introducing the +word Carnegie right after the city? Or +would you advise putting the word Carnegie +for all of these libraries?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I have not had to deal with +that question. I should think they would be +entered under the name of the city, and then +if you want to bring the entire Carnegie +record together you can make a second entry.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: This raises the question whether +or not the designation "Carnegie library" is an +official one. If it is not, then it is a name<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +which has come up by common consent, and +it seems to me that nothing but time would +enable us to determine exactly how it should +be treated; the conservative thing would be to +use the name of the place.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: I would like to hear an expression +of opinion—it is the same principle +in three different places, 1 i 4, 1 i 5 and 1 i 16—as +to entering professional schools, libraries +and observatories separately if they have distinctive +names separate from the corporations +that they belong to.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I think it would be better to +enter the colleges of American universities +under the name of the university. It is an +easy rule to follow and a rule that has been +followed in American libraries. On the other +hand we have peculiar cases—the medical +schools, for instance, which have distinctive +names and are often situated a hundred miles +from the mother school. "College libraries +and local college societies under the name of +the college, but the Bodleian library may be +put under Bodleian. Intercollegiate societies +and Greek letter fraternities under the name." +I think all will agree with that. 1 i 16, "Observatories +under the name of the place, except +that those having distinctive names are +to be entered under that name. Refer for +university observatories from the university." +I personally think that is unfortunate; I +would prefer to see university and observatories +under university. For instance, for +Washburn observatory I would say, "Wisconsin +university, Washburn observatory."</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: Under 1 h 1, "Enter Government +bureaus or offices subordinate to a +department directly under the country not as +sub-heading under departments." Is it proposed +to invert the name of the bureau or +office so as to bring the distinctive name to +the fore or let it read in its natural way?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: The practice of inverting has +been followed, I think, in the majority of +American catalogs. We have not as yet inverted +our headings. We are printing them +in the order in which they read, as "Bureau +of Education"; but that does not mean we +may not arrange entries under United States, +<i>Education</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: It seems to me it would be +most desirable to harmonize the practice of +the Superintendent of Documents with the Library +of Congress in this matter. In the +"Comprehensive catalogue" there is this inversion, +and it seems to me it has been very +judiciously done. In the present practice of +the Boston Public Library, however, it is not +done.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: I should like a definition of +the word "local" in 1 i 20.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: 1 i 20: "Purely local benevolent +or moral or similar societies under the +place."</p> + +<p>Mr. Cutter said that he had more trouble +with this rule than with any other. He had, +in fact, I believe decided to enter under name, +not under place, but it seems during the discussion +he changed back to the old rule.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: That was in deference to the +majority vote. Mr. Cutter's opinion favored +entry under name.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: His reason seemed to be that +those referring to these local societies were +the citizens of the place where they were situated +and they sought the name of the society. +If the people in other states, using other catalogs, +were looking for the societies, they would +not remember the name. In fact, the only +thing that remains in one's memory is the +name of the place, and one naturally would +look under the place for it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: As I understand Miss Ambrose +she raises the question how large a locality +might be meant—whether it should go to +the limits of a county or a state. I should +have supposed it meant a narrower locality +and would apply to a city or town—a vicinage.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>: Perhaps it might be well to +let the word "local" mean here what it means +in "local geography"—anything belonging to +the state—not taking in towns.</p> + +<p>I should like to bring up 1 k: "Enter commentaries +accompanied by the full text of the +work under the name of the author." And +then exceptions only when the text is not to +be readily distinguished from the commentary. +We have a good many cases where the text +is particularly short—a text of from four or +five or ten pages—and then comes a commentary +of several hundred pages. It seems absurd +to catalog a text of five or ten pages accompanied +by a commentary of five or six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +hundred pages under the name of the author +of the text.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: That is provided for in the +rule. "Except when the text is distributed +through the commentary in such a manner as +not to be readily recognized or is insignificant +as compared with the commentary." That is +designed to fit just such cases.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: There is another rule, on +laws, 1 h 3: "Laws on one or more particular +subjects, whether digested or merely collected, +to be entered under the collector or digester, +with added entry under country."</p> + +<p>I think that is a departure from the present +practice, which has been to enter New York +laws on state taxation under New York, State +Legislature, and secondly under compiler or +collector.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: If you had a compilation of +road laws of Illinois, you would put that under +the compiler first and secondly under Illinois +State Legislature?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: Yes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">L. P. Lane</span>: Under 1 h and 1 q I would +like to ask whether a proclamation by the +king of England would be put under England, +or Great Britain, King, or under Edward +<span class="smcap">VII.</span>?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: We enter such publications +in two places; the official proclamations or +edicts under the name of the country with a +subdivision for king or sovereign, and then +their private publications under their names.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: 1 j: "Enter a periodical +under the first word, not an article or serial +number, of its title."</p> + +<p>What is the judgment of the committee +upon newspapers? Should they always be entered +under the first word of their title, or +would it be better to enter under the name of +the place?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: We consulted Mr. Fletcher +about the rules, and he suggested this very +point, bringing up the question of newspapers. +And we have a rough draft of a rule to enter +newspapers under the name of the place, putting +the name of the place in brackets and not +in the title. 1 j also brings up the question as +to whether it is to be under the first word of +the current title or of the original title.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Graham</span>: 1 i 15: "Exhibitions under +the name of the place where they are held."</p> + +<p>It would seem to me that in the case of the +Pan-American Exposition, that should be +first, rather than Buffalo. Also the Columbian +Exposition.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: I think a majority of the expositions +in this country have specific names. +In the discussion of the committee I think +Mr. Cutter proposed the rule as follows: +"Enter under the name of the place in case of +expositions, always making a cross-reference +from the special name of the exposition, if it +has one." In all cases it would be necessary +that the cross-reference should be made from +the special name by which it is known—as +the Cotton States, Pan-American, World's +Columbian.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: Is there anything more to say +on this subject? If not, Miss Graham, you +might bring up that question you spoke to me +about this morning.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Graham</span>: The matter Mr. Hopkins +refers to was regarding the revision of the +"A. L. A. catalog" of the 5000 best books. +We feel the need in small libraries, and I +think the need is felt where libraries are trying +to organize, for a revision of that catalog. +We all use that in small libraries when making +out lists of standard works. There are +many of them out of print. If we could have +a revision of that catalog on printed cards it +seems to me it would be a great help in the +work of library extension as well as to smaller +libraries which have little cataloging force—where +the librarian has to be cataloger.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I thought perhaps enough +would be interested in this to raise the question +in such a way that the Publishing Board +would take it up. It may be cards are in existence +that might be reprinted for this work.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ambrose</span>: There is a supplement to +this catalog just about ready to come out. +Would that include new editions or simply +new books?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: The matter has been put off +to such a large extent that the State Library +at Albany has undertaken to publish this supplement; +but it has been delayed. They intend +to print it for their own state use, but +allow the Publishing Board to distribute it to +other places. As to a revision, I do not know +whether it has been undertaken. I think that +the original edition was not electrotyped, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +that there are no plates existing to reprint it +from.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chairman</span>: I will read a question from the +Hartford Public Library on the arrangement +of author, editor and translator in a card catalog—whether +to be put in one alphabet or +arranged separately?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: That hits upon a very +practical experience which we had in Dayton. +We arranged the works of an author under +the author's own works; then the author as +editor; and then author as joint author; and +then the author as translator; alphabeting +by the word which happened to follow the +name of the author at the top of the line. +We tried that for three or four years, and at +the end of that time we ourselves in our own +use of the catalog were so continually running +up against our own arrangement as a +thing which we never used and which was a +constant blunder to us that last year we set +about rearranging all the authors so as to +bring them in one alphabeting order by the +first word of the title, <a name="regardlesss" id="regardlesss">regardless of whether +it was as author</a>, editor or compiler. Of +course when translator or editor of a specific +person's work, that entry was placed after +the others.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: That is our practice, after +having used the other for some time. We +now undertake to put all the works of an author +in a general series, whether he is author, +or editor, or collector, or whatever it be, if +the work is significant as his work. We put +those all in one alphabet, as if there was no +such addition after his name, and then we +put at the end the two notes which are in the +nature of cross-reference. If a man is translator +of somebody else's work we cannot very +well put those in as his works. Everything +else we put in one series.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Perley</span>: In the library of the Institute +of Technology, of Boston, we arranged the +authors, joint authors, translators and editors +all in one common alphabet. It seems to me +in a library of this kind such an arrangement +is especially good, because the public patrons +of the library never seem to take very kindly +to distinctions, however interesting they may +be to the librarians; and it happens very often +that the American translator is a good deal +more important to the American reader than +the original author from whom it was translated. +And in the same way a joint author +may take equal rank with the author in the +main entry.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Crawford</span>: 1 o: "Enter under highest +title unless family name or lower title is decidedly +better known." Will you keep the +title in the vernacular in all cases? For example, +will you always say "Fürst von" instead +of the English form, and "Graf von," +etc.?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>: There is a varying practice +as to that. I will say for the Library of Congress, +where they are purely titles of honor +or minor noblemen, we use the vernacular; +but we have found it advisable for kings, in +fact for sovereigns, to use the designation +king, emperor, pope, etc., in English.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>: Has anything been said +about entering sovereigns and popes in the +vernacular or English form? The rule says, +"<i>May</i> be given in the English form."</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Fletcher</span>: I think we should generally +feel, as Mr. Cutter expresses it in his rule, +that this is a matter of progress; and before +long our library committees will not tolerate +"Henry" instead of "Henri" for king of +France, or "Lewis" instead of "Louis." We +are in a transition stage, and this "May be" +means that it is considered allowable while +we are in the transition stage to use the English +form instead of the vernacular. But give +names of sovereigns in the vernacular. The +same thing is true of names of cities. Some +librarians are leading us a little and giving +Wien for Vienna.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Perley</span>: It seems to me the use of the +English form would largely depend upon the +length of the custom. I think for the names of +the Italian cities which have been given common +English names since the Middle Ages we +are justified in using the English forms, and +the names of persons in the same way.</p> + +<p>Adjourned without day.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="SECTION_FOR_CHILDRENS_LIBRARIANSG" id="SECTION_FOR_CHILDRENS_LIBRARIANSG"> +SECTION FOR CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS.</a><a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a></h3> + + +<p>The A. L. A. Section for Children's Librarians +held two sessions during the +Waukesha conference. In the absence of +Miss Annie Carroll Moore, chairman of the +section, the chair was occupied by Miss <span class="smcap">L. E. +Stearns</span>, who presided as honorary chairman.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>FIRST SESSION.</i></p> + +<p>The first session of the section was called +to order at 2.15 p.m., Friday, July 5.</p> + +<p>The secretary read a communication from +the chairman, Miss Moore, who extended her +cordial greeting to the Children's Librarians' +Section, and expressed regret that she was +unable to be present. She also expressed her +satisfaction that the meetings should be conducted +by one whose contributions to the work +of children's librarians, both by the pen and +the power of her magnetic personality, have +been so far-reaching in their influence. Miss +Stearns' paper given at the Lake Placid conference, +1894, she believed to be one of the +most important contributions to the development +of work with children, as it set people +thinking and talking, and stimulated activity +along the lines indicated. In regard to the +establishment of a separate section of the A. +L. A., Miss Moore said: "It is most encouraging +and gratifying to feel that we have the +support of those whose interest in library +work for children precedes our own, and +whose wise counsel may be counted upon in +considering the problems which have arisen +out of a practical experience.</p> + +<p>"It has been the chief object in the construction +of this first program to define certain +phases of our work in order that we may +proceed with a clearer vision of its significance +and with a better idea of how we are to +accomplish the results at which we seem to be +aiming. It is hoped that succeeding meetings +may be rich in profitable discussions of practical +problems, but let us plan our programs +with the utmost care, that we may gather a +body of matter which shall prove valuable for +the future as well as enlightening in the +present.</p> + +<p>"Most hearty thanks are due to all who have +assisted in the making of the program, and +to those who have volunteered to carry it to +a successful issue.</p> + +<p>"We feel especially grateful to the librarians +at large who have so generously responded +by the preparation of papers, or by +participating in the discussions, to this special +claim of ours upon their time and thought."</p> + +<p>The secretary read a statement regarding</p> + + +<p class="center">THE CLUB OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS.</p> + +<p>At the A. L. A. conference in Montreal in +1900 an informal meeting was held for the +purpose of personal acquaintance and co-operation +among those actively engaged in +library work with children.</p> + +<p>As a result of this meeting an organization +was formed, to be known as the Club of +Children's Librarians, of which Miss A. C. +Moore was made chairman, and Miss M. E. +Dousman secretary. In order to facilitate the +work of the club it was decided to divide the +work into departments, each department to be +in charge of a chairman appointed by the +chair.</p> + +<p>The secretary of the club was instructed to +inform the secretary of the American Library +Association of the formation of the club and +to offer its services in the making of the program +for future sessions on library work +with children, if so desired.</p> + +<p>The result of this proposition was that at a +meeting of the executive board of the A. L. A. +it was voted that a section for library work +with children be established, providing such +section be acceptable to the officers of the +Club of Children's Librarians. The section +was accepted, and the program for the same +was submitted by the officers of the club to +the program committee of the A. L. A.</p> + +<p>The establishment of a section devoted to +work with children, as a result of the efforts +of the club, is a matter of congratulation for +all those interested in this branch of library +work. Special thanks are due the chairman, +Miss Moore, for her unremitting efforts in +making the program for the sessions helpful</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> +<p>and inspiring. Thanks are also due chairmen +of committees for their zeal in collecting valuable +material and for the presentation of +practical and suggestive reports.</p> + +<p>In view of the establishment of the Section +for Children's Librarians, which makes possible +the thorough treatment of children's library +work, it seems desirable that the Club +of Children's Librarians be no longer continued, +its special purpose being accomplished; +at the present meeting of the section it is +hoped to perfect its organization and outline +its plans for the coming year.</p> + +<p>The first paper of the session was by Miss +<span class="smcap">Caroline M. Hewins</span>, and in her absence was +read by Miss <span class="smcap">Helen E. Haines</span>. It dealt +with</p> + + +<p class="center">BOOK REVIEWS, LISTS AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S +READING: ARE THEY OF PRACTICAL +VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN?</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#BOOK_REVIEWS_BOOK_LISTS_AND_ARTICLES_ON_CHILDRENS_READING"> p. 57.</a>)</p> + +<p>The subject was discussed by Miss <span class="smcap">Haines</span>, +who said:</p> + +<p>Miss Hewins' criticisms and deductions +are so sound that there is little to add to what +she has said, except in the way of assent. +The children's librarian who relies only upon +what she can find in print to tell her what she +ought to think about children's literature, +leans upon a broken reed. In general, reviews +in this field are valueless, owing to lack +of discrimination and of good taste, and to +indifference. The reason for this is the unimportance +of the subject, from the standpoint +of the average reviewer or literary editor. +Miss Hewins has stated with entire fairness +the conditions that control reviews of +children's books. Christmas time—the "rush +season"—is practically the only time when +they are given attention, and then owing to +the great mass of review copies to be handled, +notices are most inadequate. Indeed, most of +these notices are evolved from material supplied +by the publisher with the book—the +trail of the publisher is over them all.</p> + +<p>There is not yet among children's librarians +a sufficient "body of doctrine"—critical +judgment, knowledge of books—to produce +satisfactory library lists. Such lists are +too often made up from hearsay, or through +selection from other lists, which is almost +always unsatisfactory. The most prevalent +and serious defect in these annotated library +lists is the use of too many words which mean +nothing. In this work especially "the adjective +is the enemy of the substantive." Even +the Carnegie list, excellent as a whole and +probably the best of the kind yet published, +is crude in some respects, and would stand +pruning. There is too frequent use of such +phrases as "a wholesome book," "a cheery +tale," "a children's classic," and there is too +great a preponderance of American books, of +commonplace "series," of books in what may +be called the public-school rut. As an example +of "what not to do" in book annotation, +extracts may be given from a recent annotated +list of children's books, which included +the following:</p> + +<p>Warner, S. The wide, wide world.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>Miss Warner is one of the best friends a young +girl can have as chaperone into the delightful +kingdom of romance.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Weyman, S. The house of the wolf.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>A modern English version of a curious French +memoir written about 1620.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Church. Three Greek children.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Church is an accomplished restorer of the +antique, and has a keen discrimination for points +appealing to child-like magnetism.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Cooper. The spy.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>A story founded upon fact. The same adventitious +causes which gave birth to the book determined +its scenes and its general character.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>It will be seen that not one of these annotations +conveys an idea of subject, quality, +or treatment, while in two of them at least it +is evident that the annotator knew nothing +at all about the book.</p> + +<p>Articles on children's reading are in general +either sentimental or prejudiced, and they +are not of direct practical use to the children's +librarian. Reading such articles, however, is +interesting and often suggestive. Their best +feature is the hints they now and then give of +some book or class of books that has pleased +children, and that the librarian does not know +or had not thought of.</p> + +<p>Turning to specific points in Miss Hewins' +paper, one is inclined to question the stringent +criticisms of the "Pansy" books, the +"Prudy" books, "Editha's burglar," and the +like stories, that certainly do delight many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +children, though they may not be of a high +literary plane. Nor do I believe in children's +books carefully "written down" to their +audience and never rising above their comprehension. +"Words-in-one-syllable" books +are obnoxious to a right-minded child. It +is a good thing to be given now and then +what is above our comprehension. What we +don't quite understand holds a strong fascination. +Nor do I believe that the "horrors" +of the old fairy stories are particularly harmful—the +thrills they impart have a subtle +charm, and most children delight in "horrors." +The difficulty is to steer between what +is vulgar and coarse or trashily sentimental +on the one hand, and the limiting of a children's +collection only to "pretty-pretty" stories, +innocuous but utterly without character +or variety, on the other. Such a collection +should be made as broad, as varied, as catholic +as it can be, including old books, English +books—Miss Yonge, Miss Shaw, Miss +Strickland—not just current and American +books.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, the most important thing is +to know the books themselves. This could +not be possible for the librarian of a general +collection, but it is possible, and ought to be +indispensable, for the librarian of a special +class of literature. A children's librarian can +make herself familiar with the literature suitable +for children, and should do so. Personal +familiarity is better than all "evaluations" by +other people. There should be a constant interchange +of criticism and experience among +those working in this field—it is as yet small +enough to permit this. This should be largely +personal and individual—not brought out +as a public expression—until there is developed +a better basis for critical and literary +discernment in this subject than now exists. +The most important thing to do is not to rush +hastily into print—to "educate ourselves in +public"—but to set to work to know our +books, and through such knowledge to establish +a fund of critical judgment and experience +that will later make it possible for the +utterances of children's librarians to carry +weight in their own field of literature.</p> + +<p>There followed a "collective paper," in +three parts, each part being treated by a special +writer. It dealt with</p> + + +<p class="center">THE BOOKS THEMSELVES.</p> + +<p>In the absence of Miss <span class="smcap">Winifred Taylor</span> +Miss <span class="smcap">Edna Lyman</span> read Miss Taylor's consideration +of</p> + + +<p class="center">I. FICTION.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#FICTION"> p. 63.</a>)</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Lyman</span> also read the second paper by +Miss <span class="smcap">Abby Sargent</span>, on</p> + + +<p class="center">II. FAIRY TALES.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#FAIRY_TALES"> p. 66.</a>)</p> + +<p>The third paper, in the absence of its author, +Miss <span class="smcap">Ella Holmes</span>, was read by Miss <span class="smcap">Bertha +M. Brown</span>. It reviewed</p> + + +<p class="center">III. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#SCIENCE"> p. 69.</a>)</p> + +<p>The general subject was opened for discussion +by <span class="smcap">F. M. Crunden</span>, who said that he +thought it was unwise to make a distinction +between the reading of boys and girls, as it +tended to differentiate the sexes.</p> + +<p>He also believed in the reading and rereading +of the classics and standard literature to +children as a means of checking the craving +for new books which is a characteristic evil +of the American adult. The best means of +judging the quality of a new book was to set +it in comparison with an old one that had +stood the test of time, so that familiarity +with, and an ample supply of, the best literature +was one of the most effective ways of +raising the standard of taste as regards current +books. He also said that the well-brought-up +child will usually choose the +best himself, though wise direction is necessary, +for the books he reads influence his +whole life. Reading aloud to children is of +great value in bringing them to love books, +and too strict a grading of books by age suitability +is inadvisable, as many very young +children enjoy books that at first thought +seem beyond them. The boy who reads the +best books will not choose the worst companions.</p> + +<p>The program of the meeting was shortened, +owing to arrangements of the local entertainment +committee, so that the conclusion of the +discussion on this subject was carried over to +the next session. Before adjournment a nominating +committee was appointed, made up of +Miss Linda A. Eastman, Miss Edna Lyman +and Mrs. Menzies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center"><i>SECOND SESSION.</i></p> + +<p>The second session of the section was held +on the afternoon of Saturday, July 6. The +meeting was called to order at 2.30, when discussion +was resumed of the subject</p> + + +<p class="center">THE BOOKS THEMSELVES.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">W. W. Plummer</span> said:</p> + +<p>I should much like to see tried Miss Sargent's +plan for the story-hour, <i>i. e.,</i> the argument +of the story being given first in the attendant's +own words, followed by a reading +from some good version of the original, with +judicious skipping. If this has been tried +anywhere, we should be glad to know of it. +We have given as a problem to our class of +children's librarians the selection of one or +two books of Homer, of the Odyssey preferably, +to cut and edit for reading by or to +children, and have always found that what +was left made an exceedingly interesting +story, that it seemed might be read just as it +was. But, of course, such an exercise would +require an unusually good and very intelligent +reader to be a success.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Fairy tales.</i></p> + +<p>Belief, on the part of the author, at least +while writing, is necessary if one would preserve +the true atmosphere of the fairy story +and communicate the right enjoyment to the +child-readers. The fairy book in which the +author tries to be "smart" and is continually +thrusting in his own personality, is a failure. +He must forget himself, leave the present century, +and for the time be as credulous as the +child himself.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Fiction.</i></p> + +<p>The vulgarization of the child is one of the +dangers we must avoid. What if the boy's +father does read the <i>New York Journal</i> and +the girl's mother, when she reads anything, +Laura Jean Libbey? It is our business, as librarians +for children, to see that by the time +the child reaches the same age he shall like +something different and better. And how can +this be brought about if we let him steep himself +in the smart, sensational, vulgar and up-to-date +children's books that naturally lead to +just such tastes in the adult?</p> + +<p>We must also guard against false reasoning. +Some authors whom we have probably never +questioned will have to go, if thus examined. +I am thinking, for instance, of a writer for +girls who has been generally accepted. I examined +her last book, the story of a little +girl and her grandmother, apparently plain +people, who moved into a summer village +alongside of a family of fashionable city people. +The question with the children of the +fashionable family and their friends was +whether they should or should not make a +friend of the new girl—she was nice, but +evidently not rich, not fashionable, not one of +their kind. The counsel of the minority prevailed, +and the children, boys and girls of 15 +or 16, kindly admitted her to their circle, +though not considering her their equal. How +they held their breath at thought of their +nearness to a great mistake when they found +she belonged to a fine old family of another +city, and had great expectations from the +quiet grandmother! "See how it paid to be +polite!" is the tacit morality of the book, +which is full of the spirit of snobbery while +professing to teach the opposite. It behooves +us, therefore, to dip into books before purchasing +or recommending. Nothing will take +the place of knowing the books we handle +and having our own opinion of them.</p> + +<p>A thing we have to look out for is the intentional +or unintentional imitation of the +names of well-received writers, <i>e.g.,</i> the Marie +Louise Pool, author of "Chums," to whom +Miss Taylor refers, is not the Miss Pool who +wrote "Roweny in Boston" and "Mrs. Keats +Bradford," that author having died two or +three years ago. The person who uses the +same name, rightfully or wrongfully, writes +very different and very inferior books.</p> + +<p>At the information desk we have made +lists for various classes and types of person—but +very often have had to lay these aside and +make a special selection for the individual, +after talking with him or her. This is as true +for children as for adults—the books that +appeal to one person do not appeal to another +of seemingly the same type. Until the +proper relation be established between the +child and the librarian, he cannot be influenced +very much in his choice of books. +Sometimes this relation may be established in +five minutes, sometimes in a week, a month, +or a year; sometimes it seems impossible to +do it, and some other personal influence must +be waited for.</p> + +<p>People sometimes say that the children's +own tastes in reading should be our guide. +This is true thus far: that if a child is read<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>ing +books that do not seem good for him in +our judgment, we should find out what it is +<i>in</i> these books that appeals to him; then look +for the same thing in books that are better +written and lack the objectionable features, +and both librarian and child are satisfied. +Children learn a great deal by absorption, and +if the children's librarian can give them the +sort of plot or incident they want and, at the +same time, a book from which they may absorb +good English instead of bad, high ideals +and a high code of behavior instead of low +ones, she has accomplished a great part of her +task.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>Science.</i></p> + +<p>With regard to nature books for children, +I am glad that Miss Holmes has spoken +frankly and pointed out to us the dangers we +incur in rushing into the purchase of a new +kind of book without investigation. The taking +up of nature study and the study of art in +the public schools has meant a great pressure +upon libraries for books which teachers and +pupils have heard of, but of the merits of +which many of them as well as ourselves are +unable to judge. In order to have books +enough to meet the demand, our temptation +is to buy entire series, every book we hear of +in these lines, whereas our best plan would +be to get them for inspection only, invite the +inspection and criticism of some scientific person, +or some one conversant with art and its +literature, and reject what they condemn, putting +in duplicates enough of the approved +books to meet the large demand. A thing we +need to beware of is the stampede—the wild +rush to or away from a thing without reasoning, +without stopping to think, just because +other libraries we know of are engaging in it. +The librarian needs at such times to keep cool, +brace himself or herself against the rush, and +when the dust of the crowd is over think +things out and go ahead. And in these lines +where special knowledge is necessary do not +let us think ourselves infallible or even altogether +competent; let us be humble enough to +take advice and information from those who +have a real claim to know.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">J. C. Dana</span> said:</p> + +<p>The papers we have heard read tell us that +we can put no dependence on book reviews; +that the librarian must depend on herself. +How can she do it? There are no laws or +rules or principles of book selection. Even if +there were, no librarian has time to read even +hastily all the books for children.</p> + +<p>If she wishes to evaluate them in the light +of any possible principles she may have laid +down, she finds the principles themselves very +shaky. Experience is our only guide. A +friend of mine much interested in psychology, +and especially in the psychology of young +people, and especially, again, in the influence +on young people of the books read during the +years 12 to 16, tells me that as a result of +considerable study of nickel-libraries and +news-stand story papers of what we call a +poor kind, he thinks this literature is generally +harmless; is perhaps even helpful; is well +above the intelligence of most of those who +read it; and is largely written by men and +women who seriously wish to help to bring +light and joy into the world. If our general +opinion about these nickel-libraries is to be +given a shock such as that, what may we not +expect as to other classes of books, of our +judgment on which at present we are quite as +sure? It is distressing, the amount of work +that is being done in this country nowadays +even by the librarians themselves in their attempt, +each by herself alone, to come to sound +conclusions in regard to the value of books +for children. We don't care to read these +books. We read them when we are weary, we +read too many of them. Our own taste, if +originally good, gets perverted; our point of +view gets prejudiced; and our opinions are of +very little value when formed. Why not try +co-operation? I suggest that you appoint a +committee to formulate some scheme for securing +the beginning of an evaluated list of +children's books; and that this committee see +that at least a portion of the scheme, enough +to show us another year how it can be successfully +carried on, be completed before our +next annual meeting. I would suggest, for +example, that this committee, in the first +place, collect from members of the Association +sufficient money in voluntary subscriptions +to pay for postage, clerical work and +printing, in beginning the evaluated list; that +they then appoint some person to set in motion +the machinery necessary for getting together +a set of evaluations. She would perhaps +begin by selecting almost at random 500 +story books for young people of the ages 10 +to 14. This list she would submit, in whole +or in small sections, to as many active libra<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>rians +who are interested in children's literature, +as she could get into communication +with. Having secured from them opinions, +she would tabulate the results of the reading +of each book and compile from these +opinions a brief note. She would, perhaps, +submit to us at the end of the year a brief +list, in type, with or without annotations, of +story books for children that are not good, +another brief list of story books for children +that are good. Without going further into +detail I think you will see that in some such +way as this, we can make the reading we +now do along these lines permanently helpful +to one another. We can perhaps in two or +three years produce a foundation list of books +for young people on which we can depend; +we can then continue the evaluating process for +other books as they appear from year to year.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">H. C. Wellman</span> directed attention to the +economy which would result from a printed +list of juvenile books to be prepared and issued +by the Section of Children's Librarians +and used as a catalog of the juvenile collections +in public libraries. Such a list should +not only embody the joint opinion of the best +authorities, but should effect a saving of 90 +per cent. in the work of preparing and the +cost of printing separate lists for each library. +The joint lists, containing 500 or more titles, +could be set up with slugs, and revised and +brought down to date in frequent editions. +Some simple notation could be adopted, and +the juvenile books in each library numbered +to correspond. Then the list could be purchased +in quantities by the libraries and sold +to their borrowers at a cent apiece. The result +would place within the reach of even +small libraries a juvenile list at an exceedingly +low price, always up-to-date, and of a quality +and authority which should make it superior +to any similar lists ever issued.</p> + +<p>A motion was made by Mr. <span class="smcap">Perry</span> that a +committee of three be appointed to take action +on Mr. Dana's suggestion. The motion +was carried and a special committee consisting +of Mr. Dana, Mr. Perry and Miss Browning +was appointed by the chair to act upon +the suggestion at some general meeting of +the Association.<a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_H_8" class="fnanchor">[H]</a></p> + +<p>In the absence of Miss <span class="smcap">H. H. Stanley</span> Mr. +<span class="smcap">Wellman</span> read Miss Stanley's paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">REFERENCE WORK FOR CHILDREN.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#REFERENCE_WORK_WITH_CHILDREN"> p. 74.</a>)</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Wellman</span> then discussed the question +of whether the bulk of reference work with +children should be carried on in the schools +or at the library, and urged the claims of the +library. The ultimate aim of reference work +with children is to teach them to use the library +during school life and after for purposes +of study and self-education. To accomplish +this end no person is so competent as +the librarian and no place so appropriate as +the library.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Linda A. Eastman</span> said:</p> + +<p>Miss Stanley's excellent report appears to +furnish just the sort of basis for a discussion +of one of the most vital questions in relation +to the work with children, such a discussion +as may lead to a much-needed definition +of principles in regard to this side of the +work.</p> + +<p>A word or two about special topics mentioned—under +library facilities. In addition +to the books for reference mentioned by Miss +Stanley, there is one which may not yet have +come to the attention of all children's librarians +because it is but just published—the +new "Index to <i>St. Nicholas,</i>" published +with the consent of the Century Company by +the Cumulative Index Co. It has its imperfections, +but it certainly should prove a useful +reference tool for every children's librarian, +and the best simple stepping-stone yet furnished +to the use of Poole and the other indexes.</p> + +<p>Now, for the general subject, Miss Stanley +says, "I think we are agreed that for the children +our aim reaches to a familiarity with +reference tools, to knowing how to hunt down +a subject, to being able to use to best advantage +the material found. In a word, we are +concerned not so much to supply information +as to educate in the use of the library."</p> + +<p>The aim is well stated, and we are agreed +in it, I believe, but are we agreed as to, and +have we given sufficient thought to, the methods +by which this desirable aim is to be accomplished? +Where, in that ideal ultimate of +co-operation between schools and libraries toward +which we are striving, will the necessary +instruction be given, in the schools or in the +library? Or, if in both, where will the division +of labor be placed? I, myself, am inclined +to think that the formal, systematic instruction</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<p>in the use of books should be given +in the schools, with sympathetic, systematic +help on the part of the library. Is it not possible +that we, as librarians, seeing the need, +are over-anxious to do the whole work, or at +least feel sometimes that we can do the whole +work more easily and better than we can get +the overworked teachers to do it—though a +large part of the work really belongs to them.</p> + +<p>More than in any other work with the children, +this reference work requires that we go +back of the children and begin with the +teachers—no, not with the teachers, but with +the teachers in embryo—the students in the +normal schools.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Alice Tyler</span>, who followed, said that it +was of the greatest importance to teach children +the use of the catalog, which should be +made to suit the mental capacity of children, +using terms with which they are familiar.</p> + +<p>In Cleveland the children's catalog was +made upon these lines, using simple subject +headings based on headings used by Miss +Prentice in her "Third grade list" and the +Pratt Institute lists.</p> + +<p>Teaching children in the children's room +how to use the catalog is the only way to +make the future men and women more independent +readers in the public library.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hensel</span> closed the discussion with a +short account of the reference work done in +the Columbus public schools.</p> + +<p>A paper by Miss <span class="smcap">Clara W. Hunt</span> was read +on</p> + + +<p class="center">OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#OPENING_A_CHILDRENS_ROOM"> p. 83.</a>)</p> + +<p>The discussion was opened by <span class="smcap">Henry J. +Carr</span>, who said:</p> + +<p>I cannot say why I was selected to discuss +Miss Hunt's paper, unless because I was +known to her and somewhat familiar with her +work and the particular children's room fitted +up under her direction in the new building of +the Newark Free Public Library.</p> + +<p>I am so much in sympathy with Miss +Hunt's views as expressed in the paper, and +regard them as so correct that I can do little +but emphasize the points she has brought out. +She has been eminently wise in presenting for +consideration some of the proper guiding +principles of the children's room, something +that is too often lost sight of in the attitude +taken by those responsible for their establishment +and operation.</p> + +<p>We should not look upon the children's +room as a "kindergarten," or playground for +the younger children, so much as a stepping-stone +to tide them along to the reading of +books adapted to more mature minds, and +hence to "graduate" them out of it as fast as +possible. It has also a purpose, which is a further +reason for retaining in this room, more +or less, an aspect similar to that of the adults' +rooms. Parents to some extent come to select +reading matter for their children, and +those of mature years but immature minds +may drift into this department, if it is not +made too juvenile in tone and appearance. +Hence, I prefer the name Young People's Library +to that of Children's Room. I have +seen boys stand aloof at first for fear of ridicule +for going into the room "for kids." I +prefer to have the discharging of books done +at one main desk, as it keeps the children in +touch with adults and gives all ages more +freedom in drawing from all departments. +Hence we have no special juvenile cards. I +should advise to include on the children's +shelves good books for older readers; to avoid +sets or the writings of voluminous authors, +as a rule; and to aim to seek the writers of +those good books that are apt to be overlooked. +Discipline and good order should be +maintained at the outset, and after that the +children should be let alone, so far as possible. +They like to have a chance to inform +one another; those becoming first familiar +with the room and its methods will only too +gladly induct newcomers into its operation.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">M. A. Sanders</span> said:</p> + +<p>The librarian from Newark speaks from experience, +for hers is an ideal children's room, +both in equipment and administration. At +the dedication of the library the interest centered +largely around that department. Her +interest in the children and their work, so +ably expressed, carried me back to the early +80's, when, as some of us remember, scarcely +a round dozen libraries could be found where +children were admitted. On one side of the +door we saw a placard reading, "Children not +admitted under 14 years"; on the other, +"Dogs not allowed." A strong appeal was +made at that time at the Thousand Island +meeting for children's rights in the public +library by a librarian who was making a specialty +of work with children, and admitted +them without an age limit. Glorious has been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +the response, for the library that makes no +provision for the children to-day is the exception.</p> + +<p>At Pawtucket we open our children's rooms +and bid them welcome, we open our shelves, +and their judgment in the selection of books +often equals our own. We decorate the +walls with pictures that appeal to the affections, +we send them into the homes, and by +and by we see an entire family gathered +around the table deeply interested in the pictures +and the description of them as they read +from the books brought home by the children. +We put in our cases of birds, which the children +delight to study, and soon a mother +says to us, "I never thought much about the +birds till the children began to talk about +them, but we have been out every morning +listening for the new calls as the birds appear +in the spring." In these and various other +ways we see the influence of the children's +room, which is broadening every day.</p> + +<p>There is, however, many a library where +the children's room has not yet materialized, +either from lack of space or funds, that is exerting +a powerful influence through its children, +and I question sometimes whether it +may not be a mistake to draw too sharp a +line of separation. Where should we draw +our line? At just what age do girls and +boys cease to be children? That has been for +me a serious question; I wonder if you have +escaped it, and if the children's room solves it.</p> + +<p>I am in hearty sympathy with the opinion +expressed that "the management and spirit +of the children's room should correspond to +that of other departments of the library." +There seems to be a tendency to make these +rooms a play-room—the children coming to +be amused, and the time of one person devoted +to their amusement. If this is the design +of the children's room, our own young +people at Pawtucket will be sadly disappointed. +While we will put in the pictures, +the birds, the plants, the busts and all else to +make the room interesting, and while we will +have frequent talks in the lecture room, the +children being quietly led on to express themselves +freely, the quiet dignity of the children's +library room as an important part of the library +will be maintained. The books will also +be charged at the main charging desk for +them, as we feel that this bringing of the adult +and the child into close contact is of mutual +benefit.</p> + +<p>The discipline of the children's department +has never been a serious question to us. Give +them a very few brief rules, and enforce them, +and we shall have no great troubles to contend +with; the children will virtually take +care of themselves.</p> + +<p>The question is asked us, "For what does +the children's room stand, what is its real +purpose?" It is evident that it has a different +purpose in different libraries. To us the children's +library room is for reading, for study, +for observation, for questioning undisturbed +and undisturbing, while the entire library is +still at the service of any child who desires +to make practical use of it.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Charlotte Wallace</span> read a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#BULLETIN_WORK_FOR_CHILDREN"> p. 72.</a>)</p> + +<p>Two papers were read on</p> + + +<p class="center">VITALIZING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE +SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY,</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">May L. Prentice</span> treating</p> + +<p class="center">THE SCHOOL.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_SCHOOL"> p. 78.</a>)</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Irene Warren</span> presenting the side of</p> + +<p class="center">THE LIBRARY.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_LIBRARY"> p. 81.</a>)</p> + +<p>Owing to the lateness of the hour discussion +of the last topics had to be passed over.</p> + +<p>The chairman then called for the</p> + + +<p class="center">REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS.</p> + +<p>The committee on nominations wishes to +submit the following names: For president, +Miss Annie Carroll Moore; for secretary, +Miss Mary E. Dousman.</p> + +<p>In suggesting the continuance of the present +officers the committee does not wish to +establish a precedent, but there seems to be +special fitness and justice in asking Miss +Moore and Miss Dousman to serve the section +for another year. To their earnest effort +this section of children's librarians is +largely due; these well-balanced programs are +a result of their careful planning. The section +can hardly be put in safer hands for its +second year.</p> + +<p>The officers named in the committee report +were unanimously elected.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="STATE_LIBRARY_COMMISSIONS_AND_TRAVELLING_LIBRARIES_ROUND" id="STATE_LIBRARY_COMMISSIONS_AND_TRAVELLING_LIBRARIES_ROUND">STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS AND TRAVELLING LIBRARIES: ROUND +TABLE MEETING.</a></h3> + + +<p>An informal "round table" meeting for the +consideration of the work of state library +commissions, including travelling libraries, +was held in the assembly room of the Fountain +House on Tuesday afternoon, July 9. The +chairman, <span class="smcap">Melvil Dewey</span>, called the meeting +to order at three o'clock, and in a few introductory +remarks outlined the subjects to be +discussed.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: We have on our program this +afternoon two of the most interesting things +in library work. The travelling library is +reaching out in its manifold forms with wonderful +rapidity and gives very great promise +of usefulness for the future; organized work +under the state commissions is showing every +year better and better results and indicating +that just as our schools increased their efficiency +so immensely by having state departments +to look after them, we are repeating the +history of that evolution in our state library +commissions. We have only a single session +this afternoon to discuss these two subjects. +If we were to give them one quarter of the +time that they ought to have, we would not +get one quarter through, and I propose therefore +to deal only with questions and answers, +and utilize one another's experience or thought +along these lines of state commission work +and work of administering travelling libraries.</p> + +<p>I have noted down some of the topics that +have been given to me by persons who wanted +to have them discussed briefly; we will first +take up some of these. So much has been +done in travelling libraries, that perhaps we +should clear the floor of that subject, and then +consider the work of the state commissions—and +in that I mean all the work done by the +state in its official capacity—chartering libraries, +library legislation, inspection, travelling +libraries—whatever the state may do for public +libraries.</p> + +<p>The first topic is, "What is the best method +of getting travelling libraries before the people?" +Who has any experience or suggestion +to offer on that point—either of difficulties +or successes?</p> + +<p>A <span class="smcap">Member</span>: Go to the pastors and school +houses.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter</span>: Does the gentleman mean +to put the travelling libraries into school +houses? Last Sunday I visited a man who +had never heard of such a thing as travelling +libraries; he was a German pastor; and probably +that accounted for it.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Is there not objection to +having travelling libraries in school houses, +for the reason that so many of the hours during +which the children have leisure to read, +and their parents could read, the school houses +are closed? Another difficulty is the long +summer vacation; and still another is that to +place the library in the school house makes +the travelling library merely a side issue.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Where would you put it?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Find somebody to take it +in special charge. A travelling library in a +community is bound to find some good woman +who would rather have charge of it than anything +else in the world.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Then you would put it in a +private house?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: In a private house or a +country post-office—wherever you can find a +person who believes in its use and will give +service for it.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: I should like to ask Mr. +Hutchins, provided the teacher is a man or +woman who believes in the library, what objection +is there to placing it in the school +house?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: The teacher may be a person +who believes in it, but he or she makes the +school of first importance.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: What difference does it +make if the library is a side issue, so long +as it gets in its work?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: If it is a side issue it does +not get in its work.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: Let us go back to the original +question, How to get the travelling library +before the people. The best method, we +find, is to take with you a county superintendent +who is acquainted with all the people in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +his county, or ought to be. Take your travelling +library with you also, just as a travelling +man takes his samples. Do not start out +with a lot of circulars; take the books themselves +right with you, in the back of the +wagon. When you have brought the people +together open your box; take out your <i>Scribner</i> +or your <i>Youth's Companion;</i> take out your +books on the Philippines, on birds, on cookery; +show your audience some good stories; +and you will organize a library association +ten times quicker than if you had started out +by writing letters. Those are letters, very often, +that are never answered, and you wait +and wonder why the people do not want the +books. Go to the people with the books. That +is the way we find we can work best in Wisconsin.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Sometimes it is difficult to +find the means to do the work that Miss +Stearns has mentioned, and possibly our experience, +briefly stated, in bringing the travelling +library to the attention of the people of +Ohio might not be out of place here. We +began by advertising it through the daily and +weekly papers. That brought us very few +responses. We next tried to reach the people +through the official organ of the teachers of +the state. That brought us many responses +from rural schools. Our next effort was to +reach the farming communities through the +state grange, which devoted one of its quarterly +bulletins to the travelling libraries. This +brought many responses. We reached the +women's clubs through circulars issued to +their membership, and this was very effective +in turn. We found it best to reach the people +of the state through the organs that were +devoted to specific interests, especially along +educational lines.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Did you go personally to the +grangers, write to them, or send printed matter?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: We saw the lecturer of the +grange, who issues a quarterly bulletin in our +state. We explained the system fully to him, +and he devoted almost an entire bulletin to +an explanation of the system, and advised the +farmers of the state to patronize the travelling +libraries. Then we have published in Ohio +the <i>Ohio Farmer,</i> which circulates widely outside +of the state. That took up the work and +helped us greatly. We reached the farmers +by going to the public press and using the +organs that the farmers read. We reached +the teachers in the same way, and the women's +clubs. We have advertised our system pretty +widely over the state, so that now we do +not send circulars except when they are requested. +We are circulating about one thousand +travelling libraries in Ohio, and they go +to all parts of the state. Not only that, but we +have travelling library systems in three counties +of the state that are in no way dependent +upon the state for support and that are doing +excellent work.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Do the people pay anything +for the libraries?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: They pay transportation +both ways, and that is all.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: Do they always have to pay +it?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Yes.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: If you found a community +too poor to pay, what would you do?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: We have not so far met +that condition. Perhaps some libraries have +not been sent out because the people were too +poor to pay the charge, but if that problem +does come up before us, we will try to find +some person who will pay the transportation.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Are there no remarks to be +made on the use of annotated finding lists in +travelling library work?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Annotations are worth a +great deal, because the people, at their homes, +sit down and talk over the books in these +lists, and they get acquainted with the books +and the authors.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: The best form of annotation, +I take it, would be the brief note, giving the +best idea possible of the character of the +book, and telling the reader whether he wants +to read it or not, not necessarily as a matter of +quotation from some one else.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: It is always a good plan to +put in the publisher and price of the book; if +the person gets interested in the book he can +find out how much it would cost and where +he can get it.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: It would be well also to put +in the number of pages, so that people know +how large a volume it is—150, 250, or 350 +pages.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Has any one else tried the use +of a wagon, as described by Miss Stearns—going +right to the people and reaching the +homes? That means going out into the rural +districts and dealing with the farmhouses as +individual homes. There must be the right +person in the wagon, of course, who can +stand and speak for an hour perhaps and +leave half a dozen or a dozen books to start +the work along.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: That is the only way in the +world by which you can find what the people +like to read—it is only by visiting the people, +getting acquainted with them, going right into +their homes. The idea of sending a box of +books off in a freight car, not knowing anything +about the country or the people it is going +to! If you want those books to do good +work, you must know where they are going.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: That is the way men sell +goods. The librarian is just as anxious to +place his books to advantage as the merchant +is to sell his wares. If he is dealing with the +rural community he follows just that method. +I am inclined to think that somebody is going +to make a great success with those wagons.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Where the demand for +books is strong, as it is in Ohio, and you have +all that you can do to supply that demand, +should not that be attended to before you go +out in a wagon to enlarge your field?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Oh, yes; but in Ohio everybody +expects to be President sooner or later.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Isn't the point this: Where +you only supply a demand you reach the intelligent +communities first and the neglected +communities are left out; but the libraries +should reach the neglected communities. We +spend too much money in buying books and +not enough in educating the people to use the +books. It is the same old story. You spend +$10,000 for books and not $200 for administration, +and the administration is the important +point.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: There is another analogy. We +used to have the schools only for the bright +boys. It is a modern idea to give education +to the dull, the backward, the blind and the +deaf, but nowadays they are all being trained. +And we keep finding men who are among the +strongest citizens of their age, but who, if we +get at their early history, we find were once +dull, backward boys that somebody hunted +up and started along the right lines.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: What communities, as a +rule, are first served in Wisconsin?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: The neglected communities. +The community in which we are meeting +is in the wealthiest part of the state of +Wisconsin. We have not got a travelling library +near here. We have only 300 of these +libraries, and we seek out the neglected communities; +not because we do not care to help +the people here, but we must take the neglected +ones first.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: This is a practical question. +It may be that after a while we will all +be seeking the neglected communities. What +is the practical method of going out into the +state after the neglected communities? How +are you going to do it?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: That is where you have got +to have missionary work, personal contact.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: It is not a question of studying +what to do; it is a case of the man behind +the idea. If a man starts out who is a born +missionary, he will go straight to the communities +who need him, while another man will +take care of another class. We want to do +all the work before us, but if we are so situated +that we cannot do both kinds of work +in this field, which is the more important to +do first, cultivate the good field or the poor +field, which if you do not cultivate it will run +to weeds and escape us entirely? As Mr. +Galbreath asks, if a community is anxious to +read, will you supply that, or will you stir +somebody up that does not want your supplies? +In other words, if there is a field that +is rather poor, will you cultivate that at the +expense of another field that yields a good +crop?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: It seems to me that a neglected +community is one that has no library of +any kind of its own; nine-tenths of our travelling +libraries go out to communities of that +sort.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: I would not take that as a +definition. In an intelligent community they +buy books, they buy magazines, they have intelligent +people. A neglected community is +one that is not reached by these means, or by +any means of civilization.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Suppose I go into a com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>munity +which all the American people are +gradually leaving, only foreigners remaining. +How can I reach the foreign people that hardly +have the English language in their homes, +and scarcely in the schools?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Take, for instance, one of +those foreign communities. The children go +to school; some of them stay in school until +they can barely spell out the third reader, and +then they go out and become American citizens. +Reading is hard work for them. You +offer them a chance to read a book, and they +do not want it. But in that place we send +first with our travelling libraries the <i>Youth's +Companion</i> and the little picture papers, to +interest them in spelling out little short stories. +Try elementary books; simple books of +American history and biography; lead them +on to better books. But the way is, first of +all, to go to them. We have many such communities +in the northern part of the state, +where the people have come from foreign +lands and know nothing about our customs.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Another question. I would +ask Mr. Hutchins, if a farming community +should send to the state commission for a +travelling library, and with the request state +that they had no library to which they had +access, if he would decline to send to them +because they were an intelligent community?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: No, we send libraries to +these communities. We are sending to all +classes, but if Miss Stearns, in the northern +part of the state, finds a neglected community, +and can work with them, and can find some +members of the women's clubs to go out and +help, we send to them first.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: I think that perhaps our +methods do not vary so much after all. The +women's clubs are supplementing our work +in that way. In Ohio we have succeeded in +interesting a number of the members of the +legislature, and frequently they come in and +look over our maps illustrating the travelling +library work, and say, "There is in our county +a community that is very backward. They +have no libraries there, and they are not very +intelligent. I wish you to write to So-and-so +in that community." We do a great deal of +work in the line of reaching what Mr. Hutchins +calls the neglected communities.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A member</span>: I would like to ask Mr. Hutchins +if he has forgotten that we have something +besides the readers in our Wisconsin +schools? Under the present school law every +district in the state has the beginnings of a +library, and adds to that library each year. +And we have in each of our school institutes +held during the summer a 45-minute period +which is spent in training teachers how to get +children to read books, how to interest them +in the books, and how to show them to get +from the book the information it contains. +And I would also like to ask if the library +placed in the school house is not as accessible +to the district as a library that may be placed +at some central point? Very often people +would have to drive 25 or 30 miles to reach +that central point, whereas in the library in +the school house the children can take the +books to their homes. During the long vacation +the library need not be left in the school +house, but in some other place.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: A library in a school is a +school library, no matter where it may be, and +the children do not go to the school house +after they leave the school.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: The library is an optional affair; +the children are compelled to go to +school. On the other side, there are a number +of advantages in favor of the school building.</p> + +<p>Has anybody succeeded in getting from the +railroads or express companies special concessions +for the transportation of library +books?</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">Dockery</span>: In Idaho, while the travelling +libraries were in the hands of the women's +clubs. When they came in the hands of +the state, the railroads felt that they should +have some compensation, and they gave us +half rates. The stage lines give us less than +half rates.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">E. H. Anderson</span>: In Pennsylvania the +Adams and the United States Express Companies, +which are the two leading companies, +have made this concession: We can send out +books at full rate going, and half rate returning. +These rates apply only on condition that +the books returned are paid for at the library, +so there is no confusion at any other station.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Montgomery</span>: How about books that +are transferred to another point?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Anderson</span>: We do not transfer them; +they must all come back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">G. F. Bowerman</span>: The law of Delaware requires +that the express companies shall give +the franking privilege, both coming and going, +to all state documents, and we intend, if +possible, to extend that provision to our travelling +libraries, now that they are conducted +by a state commission.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter</span>: On the question of express, +my experience in Illinois is that the +shipping of our books has been unsatisfactory, +and I have had some conversation in the +matter with the express companies. They +seem willing to give us some concessions, and +I believe if this meeting would recommend +that the American Library Association take +up the question of express charges, that we +could get for the whole United States a liberal +concession for travelling libraries. At +least I think we could get as much concession +as is given the farmers for returning chicken +coops. I think if this is taken up by the Association, +as an association, we could get a very +liberal reduction.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowerman</span>: The Seaboard Air Line +runs a free travelling library system, and I +presume they send their books over that system +free?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Yes. They also pay expenses, +but would they open those privileges to other +people?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: I want to raise one question. +Isn't it a mistake to put the library in +the position of a beggar? Is it not better to +pay for what we get?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: If we have money enough. +We would rather beg than have no bread. +We are willing to profit by whatever concession +we can get which will enable us to do our +work.</p> + +<p>No one has spoken of the most important +thing of all in this work. We are reaching +communities, but there are in all our states +great numbers of isolated homes and of +farmers. They have more leisure than any +other class, especially in the winter, and we +have to reach them through the mails. We +have a letter from Mr. Lane, of Harvard, +upon the movement to secure reduced postal +rates for library books, undertaken through +the New England Education League by Mr. +Scott. This matter is of great importance to +us all. [Mr. Lane's letter was read by Mr. +Bowerman.]</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Montgomery</span>: In connection with that, +has any one here tried to send single books +to individuals in any of the communities +through the rural delivery system?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: We have to a certain extent. +We have not sufficient funds to send +out enough of the boxes, so we allow a school +teacher in the northern part of the state to +draw out some book on some subject, and we +send these by the rural delivery, or by mail, +whichever will reach him most quickly, but +of course we have to pay the regular postage.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter</span>: We have sent out a few +books to the country domestic science clubs +through the mails, and we have a greater demand +for them than we could ever supply. +Now I find this experience: the express companies, +in the matter of books, would carry +a book more cheaply than the United States +mail. I am quite confident that the express +companies would return the books free, or at +a very low rate, if the charges were prepaid. +I move that this meeting recommend that the +American Library Association take up the +question of procuring reduced transportation +rates for all free circulating library books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: If this large meeting is practically +agreed on the importance of that, we +could send the recommendation into the +Council meeting to-night. It seems to me +simply inconceivable that we are willing to +allow periodicals, bad and indifferent, and the +yellow journals, to receive the pound postal +rate, while our libraries, suffering from lack +of income and working for the public benefit, +cannot use the public facilities as cheaply as +the people who are using them for public +harm instead of public good. I had supposed +there would be unanimous approval of an +act to register public libraries, owned and +maintained for the public benefit, so that they +could receive the pound postal rate on books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter's</span> motion was seconded.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Let us see if there is anything +more on this question before the motion is +put. There is a bill closely allied to this going +into the next Congress. Mr. Hutchins, +will you state it briefly?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: We have twice tried to secure +better transportation in the state of Wisconsin. +We have found rural mail carriers +who said that they would carry books to the +farmers for a travelling library without cost,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +but the United States law said that we could +not do this; that we cannot carry in this way +anything under four pounds in weight except +it is stamped. Congressman Jenkins, therefore, +has drawn a bill which gives libraries authority +to send their books free along rural mail +routes. At present the farmer must either +carry the book himself and return it to the +public library, or he must pay postage.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: You say that the carriers cannot +take packages under four pounds without +stamps?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Yes; the government rules +that packages under four pounds are to be +sent by mail. Larger packages we could send +by the carriers, and we have sometimes +thought of sending 15 or 20 books to a neighborhood +for distribution. I think that could +be done, under the government rule, if the +mail carrier was willing to carry them.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: The idea is, that the carrier +must not carry anything to compete with the +postal service.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: Mr. Jenkins, who has +drawn this bill for us, has submitted it to all +the Senators and Representatives in the +United States, and nearly all favor it. Now, +I am in favor of Mr. Scott's bill, which gives +libraries reduced rates through the whole +United States. As things are to-day, if you +want to send a travelling library book 100 +miles out into the country it costs as much as +to send it to San Francisco or New York. +If we can get the government to allow transportation +by rural free mail delivery it will +be an entering wedge for this other bill.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Bowerman</span>: Why cannot the legislation +adopting the rural mail delivery also include +this matter of the pound rates? Why +not have both provisions in one bill? My library +is practically free to the whole of Newcastle +county, not confined simply to Wilmington, +but it is a farming community. We +would like to send books to every part of the +county, practically to every part of the state. +The library is practically free to the state of +Delaware, so far as people can come to us, +but they cannot come to us; we would like +to go to them, but we cannot do it, because +of the expense. We could do it if we could +afford sufficient postage to send books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: These are two closely allied +questions. Has any one any objection to this +Jenkins bill, which, on its face, promises to +be so useful to us? I think we can get it, if +we work together.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: If the government admits +library books into this country free of duty, +why cannot it allow a man to carry a book +free on the rural delivery route if he wants +to do it? In our state we have people who +cannot afford to pay postage on the books; +if the mail-carrier is willing, in the goodness +of his heart, to take the book to them, why +can't it be done? Why should not a book +from a free library be sent free? I do not +mean from one state to another, but I mean +by rural free delivery.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: Would you make it optional +with the carrier? Why not make it compulsory? +You say, "if he wants" to carry the +book. Suppose he does not "want" to carry it?</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: I would have it so that he +can do it for nothing if he wishes, or he can +charge a little for express. The rural mail +delivery people have to work hard, and they +make but little. Now, the United States government +has to employ good men to do this +work, so it puts in a premium by allowing +them to conduct an express business in connection +with it. In order, however, that the +government may receive its revenue, it does +not allow the carriers to carry any packages +under four pounds in weight. What we want +is to have that embargo removed for free library +books, so that they may carry books +weighing a pound or a half pound.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: The post-office would probably +say that this would interfere with the +delivery of the regular mail.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: If it interferes, then the +whole express business interferes. The carriers +are doing such a business now for packages +about four pounds in weight.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Then all you need to do is to +attach a brick to your book and make it weigh +over four pounds. Is there any motion before +the meeting?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: The motion of the gentleman +from Illinois has not been disposed of.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter</span>: My motion relates to express +transportation. Rural delivery is somewhat +of an experiment, and it would not +reach the case I have in mind. We spend our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +money for expressage, and we want the express +companies to give us a minimum rate.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: I rule there is no motion before +us until it is repeated.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: I move that we recommend the +passage of the Jenkins bill. We ought to pay +no attention to all this talk about lines of +least resistance. If we have no law, we will +find the Post-office Department ready with an +objection that will answer any request we +may make. If we can get a law authorizing +what we want, the Post-office Department +will obey it whether we seek the line of least +resistance or not.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Is the motion seconded?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: I rise to a point of order. +There was a previous motion made and seconded, +and I call for the question.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hostetter</span>: I made a definite motion in +regard to the express companies. It was +made for the reason that arrangements can +probably be effected with the express companies, +but we are not likely to get the legislation +we want. This motion was this: That +this meeting request the Council of this Association +to negotiate with the express companies +of the United States for reduced rates +upon travelling libraries and travelling library +books.</p> + +<p>The motion was adopted.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: I renew my motion that we +recommend the passage of the Jenkins bill.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: The Jenkins bill provides +that wherever there is established a public +library from which rural delivery routes radiate, +books may be carried upon those routes +from the public library to the patrons in the +country without cost. They may not, however, +be returned free; in returning they must +either be returned personally to the library +or postage must be paid.</p> + +<p>The motion made by Mr. Huse was +adopted.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: We come now to the question +of pound rates. That has been before Congress +for some time, and I think there is hope +of its passage; but it needs our support. I +am heartily in favor of it. I think it is just, +and that a great deal of the criticism it has +received is based on misapprehension. Some +people look only at the rates that extend +throughout the country, and say that the government +will be carrying books at a loss, but +these books will largely circulate within 100 +miles of the library, and you will pay exactly +the same rate within that circuit as you would +if sending to San Francisco. Does anybody +want to move that the Council be asked to +support this bill?</p> + +<p>It was moved and seconded that the support +of the bill be recommended.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: It seems to me we are trying to +get a good many things. If we get the cheap +postal rates, that will include rural delivery, +and then the express companies will come +down in their rates to compete with the government.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: The rural delivery is limited +to a single section, and is analogous to newspaper +rates.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: But if this pound rate is extended +to library books the express companies +will come down in their rates, and the rural +delivery will be almost free.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: But in any case if we want all +these things, it won't do any harm to ask for +them.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Eastman</span>: I would like to raise one +point, and that is, what would be the effect +of the extremely cheap rates of postage upon +small libraries or upon libraries which we +want to establish? In the remote parts of the +state, where the population is small, won't the +tendency be to have one great library dominate +the whole state? Then when you go to +a community to awaken library interest the +people will probably say, "We don't care about +a library; we can get our books from New +York, or Albany, or Cincinnati, or Chicago." +Won't this measure tend to hamper the work +of establishing libraries in the small places?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Anderson</span>: That is a difficulty easily +remedied. I do not think that any library +should act as a forwarding agent to a person +in any place where another public library is +or can be established. Our library takes that +position very firmly. We refuse to be a forwarding +agent to any person; if a library, +however small, asks us to send books, we are +glad to do it. I know we have helped small +libraries by making people feel that the small +library was very important, as it could get +concessions that they reasonably could not +obtain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Mr. Eastman's point, if this +were a commercial question, might have something +in it, but as long as books are circulated +free, we should make the road free to the +reader, for a short distance or a long distance.</p> + +<p>The motion was adopted.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: We will now take up the topic +of county libraries as units in a state library +system. Mr. Hodges, of Cincinnati, has +something to say on this.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">N. D. C. Hodges</span>: By an act passed April +21, 1898, the privileges of the Public Library +of Cincinnati were extended to all residents of +Hamilton County. While the trustees did +not derive any revenue from the taxpayers +outside of the city limits until the beginning +of 1899, steps were taken at once on the passage +of the act to enable all the residents of +the county to avail themselves of their new +privileges. There has been some discussion +in the public press as to whether this library +or that might claim priority as a county library. +The Public Library of Cincinnati has +been loaning its books to all the residents of +Hamilton County for more than three years. +I believe there is no other library in the state +of Ohio which had furnished books throughout +a whole county before January of this +year. This method of supplying books over +a comparatively limited territory has interest +when we are discussing the circulation of +books over a whole state from the state capital.</p> + +<p>For those who cannot, or will not, come to +the central library, there have been established +throughout the county forty-one delivery stations. +Four of these are branch libraries. +All these branch libraries had previously been +village libraries with very respectable histories; +started as subscription institutions they +had in years past taken on a public character +and were supported partially by taxation. +There are several other local libraries in the +county which are supported more or less by +taxation and which are likely to come under +the general management of the trustees of the +Public Library of Cincinnati, as otherwise the +taxpayers in the regions where they are located +will be subject to double taxation for +library purposes, and, moreover, there seems +to be a consensus of opinion among those who +are interested in the branches which have +come under the wing of the central institution +that they have found the change to their advantage.</p> + +<p>Hamilton County is not a flat region. The +old part of the city of Cincinnati is located +on what might be called the river bottoms, +though the land is, most of it, at a safe height +above the river floods. Half a mile or a mile +back from the river there are sharp rises of +four hundred or five hundred feet to the hill +tops, on which the newer portions of the city +are built. Again, these hill tops are not tablelands +but are cut here and there by deep +gorges. The hilly character of the county +adds to the difficulty of transportation. It is +slow work for a wagon to climb the steep +ascent from the old city to the suburbs. The +library does not have its own service of wagons, +but depends on the local expresses. There +are portions of the county with which there +is no regular system of communication by +stage or express. It is in these regions, more +or less inaccessible, though not uninhabited, +that the authorities of the library have placed +travelling libraries. Twelve of these travelling +libraries were sent out in March of this +year. In each library there are 62 or 63 +books. New books were purchased for the +purpose, books of a character likely to interest +the readers, the new novels with a 40% +sprinkling of the best classed literature. The +travelling libraries were arranged in three +circuits of four each. Each library containing +62 or 63 books, the four libraries in a +circuit contain 250 volumes. The books in +circuit A are the same as those in circuit B +and as in circuit C. The libraries were +placed with school teachers. Right here a +difficulty has arisen on account of the closing +of the schools for the summer. The country +schools have rather long vacations. Some of +the teachers are willing to care for their libraries +during the summer and see that they are +open to the patrons. Some are not in a position +to undertake this work. For the summer +months there has been a gathering of these +12 travelling libraries at less than 12 stations. +The idea has been, in general, that one of +these travelling libraries should remain about +six months at a station before it is moved on.</p> + +<p>The Public Library has also sent out 36<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +travelling libraries to the 36 fire companies of +the city. Each of these smaller travelling libraries +contains 20 volumes and they have +been moved more rapidly than the larger travelling +libraries sent to the remote parts of the +county. The deliveries to the delivery stations +vary. With some there is a daily delivery, +with others triweekly, for a few twice +a week and there are two which have but +one delivery a week.</p> + +<p>There are a good many women's clubs in +Hamilton County, Ohio. Last winter we received +programs from 37 of these clubs, and +reading lists were prepared on these programs +by the cataloging department. A club alcove +was set aside and an attendant assigned +to aid any of the members of the clubs visiting +the library for study on the papers which +were to be read. We have not attempted to +send out selected lots of books for the clubs +in the suburban districts. Much better work +can be done for the readers if they will +only come to the central library; and it cripples +the resources of the library to scatter its +reference books far and wide. We have sent +such selected lots of books for limited periods +to the university for the use of the students +and professors, but, in general, for such reference +work the policy has been to encourage +the use of the central library.</p> + +<p>This brings me to the consideration of +whether there is any advantage in the system +of county libraries. No very great expense is +involved in a journey from the most remote +corner of Hamilton County to the central library +in the city. Those who are intent upon +serious study can, in most cases, make a journey +of 15 or 20 miles. At the central library +with a concentration of financial resources +there can but be a more valuable collection of +books. On the other hand, it is perfectly +feasible for the officers of the library to visit +even the most remote portions of the county +and by personal interview estimate the character +of the people whom they have to serve; +with the result of a more intelligent distribution +of books in the outlying districts. Serious +study is provided for at the central library, +while desultory reading is supplied through +the delivery stations and travelling libraries.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Steiner</span>: It seems to me that it depends +somewhat upon your unit of local government +as to how much you need a county library. +I should think in Massachusetts or +Connecticut the county library would be +rather an unfortunate enterprise, unless used +in connection with the town libraries. But +in many of the southern states the county library +is going to be almost indispensable. +With us the unit of local government is the +county, except in the case of the incorporated +municipality. There is a county in Maryland +with 75,000 people without a single municipality. +The county commissioners attend to +the minutest details of administration in that +county. It is manifestly unwise that the state +should take all the functions of the local library. +But it seems that in the states where +we have no township system, or where the +township system is little developed, the county +library is at present a necessity.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: How do you support the +schools?</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Steiner</span>: By a county tax. We have +school districts; but their only function is to +have district trustees, appointed by the county +commissioners, whose duty it is to take care +of the school house and appoint teachers. The +taxes are raised by the county. It is the same +in other southern states, so far as I know.</p> + +<p>W. T. <span class="smcap">Porter</span>: Mr. Hodges has said that +the Public Library of Cincinnati was a county +library. Possibly that was a little misnomer, +in that the library still remains the Public +Library of Cincinnati, but we have extended +the privileges of that library to the county at +large. That was done under act of legislature +of 1898, continuing the board of trustees of +the public library in office, and then authorizing +that board of trustees to make a levy +upon the county for the maintenance of the +library.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: How much of the county is +embraced outside of the city of Cincinnati?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Porter</span>: We have about 14 townships +outside of Cincinnati township. Our county +is possibly 28 miles in extent.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: Then it is a small county +that you supply?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Porter</span>: It is a small county, but the +population is extensive. We commenced the +county delivery system in June, 1899. Up to +the present, and through the stations alone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +there have been about 7500 new registrations, +and we are to-day, through our stations, +carrying 20,000 books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: This question seems to be of +a city library extending its privileges. What +I thought we were to talk about was whether +the county should be used as a library unit. +That is quite a different matter.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: But in this case the county +here is the unit, and is taxed for the support +of the library. There are no other public libraries +in the county.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: But there is a different side to +the question. Suppose you take a rural community +and establish a county library there? +I think it would be a great extravagance to +maintain not only local libraries throughout +the state, but also county libraries; it is going +to cost too much.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: Would it not be better to +have a central library?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Porter</span>: We have also in Ohio, something +which approaches the county idea, known +as our Van Wert law. The state of Ohio, by +an act, authorized the county commissioners +of any county to accept library donations, +funds, or building. Upon the acceptance of +that donation the county can be required to +maintain a library within the building. In +Van Wert county, the Brumback Library +building and grounds were given in this way +and the agreement was made with the county +commissioners, that they maintain thereafter +a library.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Our question is not whether +such libraries should exist or can exist, but +are they desirable?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: What is the use of asking questions +that must be governed entirely by local +conditions? This matter must be governed +by local conditions.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: We are trying a line of rural +travelling libraries in three counties of our +state, in advance of any county or state legislation. +Miss Brown, of Lucas county, and +myself, in correspondence, could see no reason +why a travelling library sent to Sheridan +should not go on to another point, and to +another point, and so on, and then back to +Sheridan, back to me, and then after it had +made its rounds, take another start, and so on. +We tried the plan and it has worked so well +that we are now trying it in two other counties. +What the development may be I do not +know, but the satisfaction and the gratitude +of the people in the small towns it reaches +is worth all it has cost of extra effort.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Tyler</span>: The point of the plan is that +the librarian of the county-seat library is responsible +for the travelling library. She +guards the books, watches over them and +makes her library the point of distribution. +She distributes the books through the county, +they come back to her library for exchange, +or are passed on to the next exchange, whichever +is most convenient; but they come under +her direction.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Let me state the point as I understand +it. We are all agreed that we must +have local libraries for the people. They can +go from their homes into the library and take +the books into their hands. If they are in the +city almost every day they can utilize the large +city library. When it comes to the question of +sending books by mail or express we are all +agreed that each state must have a state library +and its own state commission. The question +is, Should there be an intermediary point +between a state library and the local library? +It seems, at first thought, that there should +be, because you would have a shorter distance +to travel, but all commercial experience is +against this. Manufacturers are closing factories +all the while and paying transportation, +because they can do their work more cheaply +in one place. Thus, repair of books, checking +lists, and all that kind of work can be +done under a single executive at some central +point in the state more cheaply than if +there was a library in each county. In Wisconsin, +with 71 counties, you would have 71 +libraries and you would have to duplicate +great quantities of books. My experience indicates +that we can do this work more cheaply +and more economically by putting the books +under control of a central library. As to the +extra distance, very often the identical trains +that would take the books from a county seat +would have brought them from the capital as +it went through, so that they would have been +received almost without delay. Is it going to +pay to introduce a new ganglion—that is, +the county library?</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Steiner</span>: Take Baltimore county in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +Maryland. There is a county with 75,000 +people; it has an electric lighting system, a +police court, fire engine houses; there are +towns in that county of a thousand people. +There is no government in that county except +the board of county commissioners, who +are as complete autocrats as the czar of +Russia. There is no municipality in the county; +there is one town which has 5000 people. +You must have a county library with a county +administration, because you cannot have anything +but the county library; you cannot discriminate +between one part of the county and +another. That library must send books equally +to all parts of the county; you cannot put +it where the great centers of the population +are, because you cannot deprive any citizen of +the county of his right to draw books.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Of course, we are not discussing +a peculiar condition such as exists in +Maryland.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Steiner</span>: It is not a peculiar condition; +it is the condition of at least one-third of the +United States.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: It seems to me that there +is nothing peculiar about this condition. Of +course, it differs from conditions in the north, +but it includes a state government, to which +the county is subordinate, and if I understand +Mr. Dewey, it is his purpose to do this work +from the state as a center, and the question +he has raised is whether it is better to do it +from the county as a center, or from the state +as a center. I think that in our state it would +be well to use the county as a center, for a +time at least. However, I believe that in our +state "benevolent neutrality"—to apply the +term that Mr. Putnam used the other day—on +the part of the state librarian toward these +matters would be more effective than "benevolent +assimilation," and we hope for much from +the county library system.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: It is a question of what we +should encourage. Is it wise to do this work +by the county unit or the state unit? It is +largely an economic question. How can you +give the people the best reading for the least +amount of money?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">R. P. Hayes</span>: In North Carolina we have +practically nothing in the library field and the +question is, shall we try for county library +development or state library development? I +would like to get some definite word on that.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Steiner</span>: It seems to me we should try +distinctly for county libraries. In the southern +states at least there is no question about +it; you have got to have county libraries. +I started with the idea of the local township +libraries, but we must wait until we have +a township. My idea is, in any county wherein +there are no incorporated municipalities or +where the incorporated municipalities do not +care to support libraries, the county library +is the proper thing. In the south the county +takes the place of the town in New England; +it is the taxing unit, the unit in which all the +local administration is carried on.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Huse</span>: It seems to me that for the +south, as stated by the gentlemen here from +Maryland and from North Carolina, the county +system is very probably the best one; but +in New England we could not work by a +county unit, any more than the people of North +Carolina and even further down south could +run a toboggan slide nine months in the year—they +would not have the ice; we haven't +the counties. At least, we have the counties, +but they are of no importance to us except to +have court houses, and courts of justice. +Now, each state must solve this problem according +to its own conditions and according +to the desires and enthusiasm of its own workers. +The gentleman from Maryland, I haven't +any doubt, will soon have the county system +operating fully and successfully in his state, +and the same will be true in North Carolina +and throughout the south; whereas in New +England it won't be done because the county +is not a unit. In Wisconsin and New York, +Mr. Dewey and Mr. Hutchins, and the men +and women who know more than they do, +will run the library system safely; whether +it is state or county. But we cannot adopt +any general rule or take any general expression +of opinion, for the people in each state +must work out their own salvation according +to their own condition.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: There are a number of other +topics that have been specially asked for.</p> + +<p>Can state commissions provide travelling +libraries for hamlets which furnish the money, +and make such hamlets travelling library stations?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: I wish to say a few words +on that question. All through Wisconsin, when +we started travelling libraries, some people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +found that there was a chance to make money +by using the idea in a commercial way. They +went to communities which had heard of the +travelling libraries, raised $150 or so for "subscription" +and then sent about ten dollars' +worth of books once in six months. Now, +the plan we have worked out may be best described +by this illustration: about a year ago +Miss Stearns heard that there was a little +hamlet of fishermen far up in the state on a +point which juts out into Lake Michigan. It +included about a hundred people who had +heard of the travelling libraries, but they did +not want to be indebted for a gift or a charity, +and so they had a series of entertainments, +and raised fifty dollars. They sent the money +down to us and we agreed to buy a library in +their name. That library was the contribution +of the fishermen of the hamlet of Jacksonport, +and the hamlet was made a travelling library +station. You can see how such a method +works out. The second point is, that in communities +where there are a hundred people +or so, and conditions are favorable, we offer +to give them travelling libraries on condition +that they establish permanent public libraries +on lines that are satisfactory to us. We take +care of the travelling libraries and they take +care of the local libraries.</p> + +<p>It seems to me, that in this method we +have struck finally the correct principle, the +principle of self-support. The state takes +the money and gives trained service in the +selection of the books, in taking care of +them, and in keeping the books travelling +around their circuit. The citizens pay for +their books, and have the feeling that they +belong to an organization. More than all, +when they are collecting their library fund, +giving their little "dime socials," contributing +two dollars or five dollars apiece, they +are advertising that library, and it seems +to me that the library that is coming to them +that way means far more than the library +that is given to them as a charity.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Galbreath</span>: Mr. Hutchins, how often +do the communities raise that fifty dollars?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: They raise fifty dollars +once, and for that the state engages to send +them libraries during the life of the library +given by them, which we estimate to be about +six years.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: What shall be the unit of circulation—the +cataloged library or the single +book or combination?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: We have tried both in Iowa. +One of the twins is growing faster than the +other, and of course that is the hopeful one.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: Which one is that?</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Brigham</span>: That is the individual, or +the single book as the unit, rather than the +travelling library; but I believe that the shelf-listed +library will always exist. The shelf-listed +library of 50 or 25 books must be a necessity +in the communities where there are no +libraries, and I am sorry to say that there +are a great many communities of that sort; +but the communities in which there are libraries +are increasing, and wherever there is a +local library, or wherever there is a woman's +club, there the single book can be used to the +best advantage. There are disadvantages in +the use of the shelf-listed library. Before we +adopted the new system, we often had requests +for library no. 38 or no. 53, and later +found that the request arose from the fact that +there was a single book, or perhaps two books +in that library, that some one wanted, while +the rest of the volumes would come back +comparatively unused. That was not good +business economy. We might better have sent +those two books, and I became more and more +impressed with this fact, and was finally able +to partially adopt the other plan. We have +now perhaps 2000 books on our shelves that +are issued separately; but we have nearly 5000 +tied up in libraries. Both classes are in use, +but the expense to the local library of getting +our collection of 50 books for the sake of +using perhaps two volumes is unnecessary. +I am more and more impressed with the fact—though +the remark may be unorthodox—that +there is prevalent a little fad for spending +money for administration, and spending +it not always economically. I believe in +spending money freely for administration that +is approved by good common sense; beyond +that it is a woful waste of money. And so I +would keep the use of the single book in mind. +The women's clubs as you know, are studying +more and more, and are doing less and less +miscellaneous reading. Suppose we are trying +to meet the wants of the women's clubs. We +put up a library covering the Victorian period<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +in literature, and we find that some one wants +a certain number of books on the lake poets. +What is the use of sending the entire library? +We may have a library made up on the +lake poets. Then, suppose one librarian or +one secretary writes for what we may have +on Coleridge, another wishes material on +Wordsworth. Why not send the Coleridge +books to the one, and the Wordsworth books +to the other? In that way, make the books +count. We should not be penurious in the +matter of expenditure for cases or for printing, +or for any other working tools, but we +should always keep in mind that the essential +thing is the book, and if we can get on without +the book case, or without the cover that +envelops it, or without the shipping case, or +without the combination book case and shipping +case, all the better. We cannot get along +without them altogether, but we can send +small packages all over the state wrapped in +paper, and can get rid of a great deal of expense.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Dewey</span>: When you send ten books, of +course send them in paper, but when you send +50 or 100, send them in boxes; that is cheaper. +This is a mere shipping question.</p> + +<p>Adjourned.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="WORK_OF_STATE_LIBRARY_ASSOCIATIONS_AND_WOMENS_CLUBS_IN_ADVANCING" id="WORK_OF_STATE_LIBRARY_ASSOCIATIONS_AND_WOMENS_CLUBS_IN_ADVANCING">WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND WOMEN'S CLUBS IN ADVANCING +LIBRARY INTERESTS: ROUND TABLE MEETING.</a></h3> + + +<p>The work that can be done by state library +associations and women's clubs to advance +library interests was considered in a +"round table" meeting, held in the assembly +room, Fountain Spring House, on the morning +of Wednesday, July 10. Miss <span class="smcap">Marilla +Waite Freeman</span> presided as chairman.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Freeman</span>: At the Montreal conference +last year a round table meeting of officers of +state library associations was held for the +discussion of questions affecting association +work. Certain subjects, some of which were +informally discussed at that time, seem naturally +to invite our attention at the present +session. We are to consider the object and +functions of state library associations—whether +they should attempt other lines of effort +than the holding of a general meeting; what +principles as to time and place of meeting, +topics, and participants should govern the +preparation of a program. With this general +subject has been joined the allied topic of the +work of women's clubs in advancing library +interests. Few of us fully comprehend even +yet the amount of effective library extension +work which has been and is being accomplished +by club women in almost every state +of the Union. I have asked representative +members from some of the states which have +been working along these lines to tell us of +their work. We shall hear first from Mr. J. +C. Dana, of the City Library, Springfield, +Mass., the Western Massachusetts Club, and +the Massachusetts Library Club, on</p> + + +<p class="center">WHAT THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS +SHOULD BE.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">J. C. Dana</span>: Perhaps the chief purposes of a +state library association are to arouse an interest +in libraries among the public and to increase +the knowledge and enthusiasm of the members +of the profession. The mistake is often +made of thinking that the chief purpose of an +association is to hold an annual meeting. It +is thought that the annual meeting once provided +with a good program, and that well +carried through, the work of the association +for the whole year is done. There could not +be a greater mistake. The benefits of a state +association come largely from correspondence +between members, the preparation for the +meeting, and the securing of ideas, new methods +and statistics by circulating letters among +members, and the publication in newspapers +and elsewhere of notes about the meeting +which is to come and the meetings which +have been. One is almost tempted to say that +a library association performs its duty better +if it is active during the year—carrying on +correspondence and thoroughly advertising +itself—and holds no meeting whatever, than +it does if it holds an annual meeting and does +not advertise.</p> + +<p>Another mistake common to those who or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>ganize +state library associations is to suppose +that they are chiefly designed for the benefit +of those who organize them. They do not +realize that to help younger and less experienced +members of the craft is a chief purpose +of the association, and that if through it librarians +generally are informed and encouraged, +the profession itself is thereby improved, and +they are themselves advanced in general esteem.</p> + +<p>It is, then, an association's business to be active +all through the year, to devote itself +largely to such work in and between its meetings +as will benefit both beginners and past-masters +among librarians, and, always, properly +to advertise its work. Along this last +line let me say an urgent word in favor of +good printing. It is difficult to overestimate +the value to an institution like a library association +of an exhibition of itself, through all +its circulars and programs and lists, by means +of the best printing that money can buy.</p> + +<p>The general state association, being the +largest and richest of all associations in a +given state, should take upon itself some large +definite work of permanent value and as far +as possible of general interest; say the compilation +of historical material, the making of +a useful index, the issuance of popular lists, +etc., etc. This work may continue along the +same line for several years, ending in the publication +of something thoroughly worth while +which shall have been the means of arousing +interest in the profession itself and of bringing +the members of it into touch with one another +month by month and year by year.</p> + +<p>As to the place of meeting of the state association, +I doubt if much benefit accrues, on +the whole, from meetings held in remote +places for missionary purposes. I say this, of +course, on the supposition that the meetings +thus held, being at places difficult of access, +will not generally draw a large gathering. +Better results can generally be reached in +these same small communities by sending to +them occasionally one or two active representatives +of the association to carry on a little +propaganda work, speak before a woman's +club, before the school teachers, or a local literary +society on the local library problems.</p> + +<p>About the programs of association meetings, +it is difficult to say anything which will have +general application. They must, of course, +to a considerable extent, fit local conditions. +I do not think it advisable to give up much +time to local speakers, either for words of +greeting or for historical sketches. These latter +are generally unspeakably dull. On the +other hand, if popular interest in a place is +desired a local speaker may be the one best +means available for accomplishing your object.</p> + +<p>Associations which are attended, as so many +are, by librarians of smaller libraries who +rarely get abroad and do not often have an +opportunity to meet their fellows and to expand +in the social atmosphere of the library +meeting, should cultivate to the greatest possible +extent what one may call the conversational +feature. Not only should ample opportunity +be given before and after and between +the sessions for informal talks, but a portion +of the formal gathering itself should be devoted +to brief and rapid exchange of ideas. +This can be brought about by a little preliminary +wire-pulling. Let some one briefly open +a topic, and then let questions be offered, +some of them by the most diffident of those +present who have previously been posted as to +what they are to ask and when. Manufacture +a little spontaneity by way of an ice-breaker, +and it is surprising how freely genuine spontaneity +will then flow. It is unquestionably of +great value to a librarian who is unselfishly +giving her energy to a small library in a +remote place, trying to make her books of use, +to be able to express herself, no matter how +briefly, on some of the matters which touch +her work at home.</p> + +<p>A state association should draw out the diffident; +cheer the discouraged ones; magnify +our calling; compel public attention to the +value of libraries; be active the whole year +through; and always keep a little ahead of +the general library progress in the state.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Ella McLoney</span>: It is unquestionably +true, as has been stated, that the annual +meeting of a state library association is not +the whole of the work that must be done +through the year. It is possibly only an incident, +but the fact is that in the nature of +things the work of preparation for this meeting +must be carried on during at least half +the year. The preparation of the programs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +requires a great deal of correspondence, and +this must extend over a great part of the +state and during a great part of the year. +Whenever any circulars or announcements are +issued, they should be sent to every library in +the state; it does not matter whether that library +is likely to be represented or not, it +should have information as to the work that +is being done by the state association.</p> + +<p>So far as advertising a library is concerned +it seems to me a good deal of a problem. Of +course, library people, like other people, need +the help of the newspapers, but if you want +to get the newspapers interested in libraries +it will have to be on the strength of +something more than what libraries are going +to do. In other words, it will have to +be something that the newspapers can take +up as news and feel that the public are interested +in; they want material that is fresh +and newsy, and if you can furnish them with +that, then the newspapers will be willing to +help.</p> + +<p>As to the printing of programs and other +material, I am hardly prepared to say that +library associations should always have the +best and most expensive work. It is a proper +thing, theoretically, to appear before the public +in the handsomest and most suitable dress +possible, but when every 25 cents is of importance +and your treasury is practically +empty, and there is no one upon whom you +can legitimately draw to fill it, I think you +must limit your work accordingly.</p> + +<p>About definite work to be done, it is true +of a library association, as of any other association, +that it should do something that will +furnish a reason for its existence. In most +cases the most definite thing, if you are beginners +in association work, will be the task +of gaining a foothold; but the time will probably +come when it will be necessary to undertake +some definite work, that the life of the +association may be prolonged and finally assured. +The Iowa association, for its first three +or four years, was a very frail child, and required +most careful nursing; but finally, about +the fourth year, it began to seem as if there +was very good prospect of its growth and development. +Miss Ahern, whom Illinois has +claimed for the last five years, and who was +at that time interested in the Iowa work, devised +the plan of establishing a four years' +course of library study, an ambitious undertaking +in the condition of affairs in Iowa +then. This was printed in a neat folder, +which was sent to every library in the state, +with a circular telling them what the plan +was, and that the library association wished +the librarians of the state to enter upon this +four years' course of study, and asked all who +would pledge themselves to do so to come to +the next meeting with their report of the +work. I received seven letters in response to +all this circular work, and when the time for +the annual meeting came there was no one +there to report. Librarians were too busy, +too far apart, and too poorly paid, to permit +the work being carried on systematically. It +was dropped at that point; I think it could +be done now, and it may be taken up yet. It +did furnish a common bond, although the results +were not very evident just then.</p> + +<p>The next thing, as has been the case with +many other associations, was the work of securing +the library commission. We pegged +away at that for five years before we accomplished +anything. Finally the State Federation +of Women's Clubs interested itself; we +secured the commission, and the work has +been going on exceedingly well for the past +year. We have made no plan yet for further +definite work, but some need will doubtless +develop.</p> + +<p>In regard to programs, they must, of course, +as Mr. Dana said, be adapted to local conditions, +and the people who are primarily the +workers in the state association, cannot expect +personally to get much from the program +or from the work of the association. +But it is probably true in most cases that +these workers have opportunities of visiting +other libraries, and have facilities for work +that are not open to the librarians in the +smaller places. The librarians of the smaller +libraries should be given something definite, +something technical, something that will be +of help to them in the work from a professional +point of view.</p> + +<p>As to place of meeting, the Iowa meetings +were always held in Des Moines, the capital +city, until two years ago. Then it was decided +to make the library association a movable +feast. We met at Cedar Rapids two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +years ago, last year at Sioux City, where we +had a good meeting, although not largely attended. +Sioux City is in the extreme western +part of the state, and is not easily accessible +by railroad, but we drew a little from +South Dakota, which was what we had +counted on; some Dakota people came and +joined the association, and two of those people +have attended this A. L. A. conference. +We meet next in Burlington, where there are +more libraries in the locality, and we expect +a larger attendance. I suppose the ideal condition +would be to meet in some central place, +where there are library facilities, but I believe +it is worth while to move the association +about; that is one way of advertising it.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Olive Jones</span>: I fully believe that the +greatest work of the state association it does +through the librarians individually. It is of +help in the state in bringing out different +lines of work, and in keeping the library work +before the public; but, after all, do we not +gain more from individual effort than from +anything else? In educational problems, it +is coming to be realized that the work of +the individual means more than the work of +any body of people, and I am fully convinced, +if we can bring librarians to our state associations, +and have an association full of enthusiasm +and that intangible something which +we call library spirit, we will have more done +for the state at large than by any devising of +general work along large lines. I would make +a special plea that in deciding where to meet, +you should consider first the librarians, and +settle a pleasant place for the members who +meet fellow-workers only once a year. There +are librarians who have no vacation at all, except +when their board kindly allows them to +go to the state association meeting; there are +librarians who never know personally anything +of this larger work done all over the country, +and we should not ask such persons to +come to a place where they are not going to +be comfortable, and which they must spend +a good deal of money to reach. We must +be sure of having something for the librarians +of the smaller libraries; something +technical, not too much, but something which +the librarian can take away, feeling that it +has been worth while to attend. I am not +certain that we could have library instruction +in Ohio; we tried it and it did not seem to +work; but if you can introduce in the program +one or two definite, technical papers, it +is a good thing. And at the same time give +a chance for sociability and some social entertainment.</p> + +<p>There is one other point, and that is in regard +to the advertising that we can do +through individuals—you see my point is individualism. +I believe in newspaper advertising, +but I think if you can work up a good +mailing list through your state, sending all +your circulars to individuals, you will do +more than by newspaper advertising. And it +is a good thing to get one library in each city +to keep a list of every one in that city who +ought to be specially interested in library +work, whether members of the association or +not. Then let that librarian send to the secretary +of the association a duplicate of that +list, so that everything the state association +issues goes to each person who should be interested +in library work.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. R. Eastman</span>: In New York we are going +through a little transition period in state +library association work. Formerly our state +association held occasional meetings in different +places. It held one in midwinter in +New York City, with the New York Library +Club. Then in the summer or spring we held +a meeting in the central part of the state. We +tried to make our programs as practical as +could be, discussing not only occasional technical +points, but elementary points as well. +We always had good meetings; we got together +a little circle of librarians who were +interested, and we thought the state association +was worth keeping up, although the +state was so large that we reached only one +or two centers. About a year ago, under a +new administration, Dr. Canfield suggested +that the annual meeting should always be +held in one place. We consented to try the +plan, and decided to make Lake Placid, in +the Adirondacks, our meeting place. We met +there, and the association, to my surprise and +somewhat to my disturbance, first voted always +to meet in one place, and then voted always +to meet at Lake Placid. We then made +a proviso instructing the executive board to +district the state into 10 or 12 districts, and +lay out a plan by which every one of those +districts should have a library conference in +the course of the year. Thus, instead of one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +meeting of the state during a year, we are +going to have 12 local conferences. Whether +those local conferences will have an organization +I do not know; the board has not yet +reported its plan. Probably there will be +some sort of a skeleton organization—a president +and secretary, and perhaps some one in +charge of each local conference, and then +some member of the association will probably +come and attend the conference. Our object +is to bring together the librarians and library +trustees for 50 miles around; if the teachers +are interested, so much the better. So, you +see, we have begun to establish a system of +local conferences all over the state. It is not +extravagant; it is hopeful; I believe there is +a great deal in it, especially for the larger +states.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: I for one would protest +against always meeting in one place, unless +as Mr. Eastman has described, the meeting is +held at a resort. I have known cases where +meetings were held at one central, large +town, because it was so accessible; and the +librarian of a little library, who cannot have +open shelves and all facilities, goes to this +town and sees its large library, with its red +tape, and gets so completely tangled up in the +red tape of that institution that she will never +be able to disentangle herself. I believe in +the migration of meetings.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">H. C. Wellman</span>: I am in hearty sympathy +with what has been said in regard to extending +library work through the state. It is especially +valuable in the newer states of the +Union, but in the older states, in New England, +in New York, and elsewhere, I think +we must not attend too strictly to the extension +of library work, but must rather intensify +it. A state library association, as Miss Jones +said, can do a great deal for librarians and +for the library profession. The Massachusetts +Library Club has done something in the +way of giving a series of lectures, to run two +or three years. The first lecture dealt with +paper making, the subject being treated by an +expert; then came book illustration, of which +most librarians knew absolutely nothing; and +then, finally, book binding, for which we had +one of the best binders of the state to come +down and show us the tricks of the trade. +You are all library school graduates out here; +but in the effete east nine-tenths of the librarians +have not had that technical training. +I do not know anything that was of more +practical good to our club membership than +that lecture on library binding. There is another +thing that we ought to do, and that is +to give attention to the more scholarly side of +librarianship. We are so busy organizing, so +busy spreading library ideas, that we are in +danger of losing sight of scholarship. That +is something the state association can do—in +the directions of literature, bibliography, and +such subjects. I think that should be emphasized +more than has been the case. In the +Massachusetts Club we are trying a similar +scheme to that of Mr. Eastman; we are going +to have one annual meeting, which will +take in all the library clubs all over the state. +Then, besides that, the state club meets about +three times a year in different parts of the +state.</p> + +<p>In concluding, I want to make sure that +this round table is to be continued, and I +therefore move that this assembly petition the +program committee of next year for another +round table meeting on this subject. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">M. E. Ahern</span>: I want to say a word +about this matter of having peripatetic meetings. +In the state of Illinois we have all the +library law and all the library books in the +northern part of the state, and then there is +a part of the state down in the south that +they call "Egypt." There may be some libraries +there, but we have been unable yet to induce +them to take their place in the state library +association. Two years ago, after having +tried for several years to get these libraries +to come into the association, we brought +the association to them, and held our meeting +in East St. Louis, under the most distressing +circumstances of weather and other +uncomfortable conditions; and not a single librarian +from that community attended the +meeting. We tried the same plan last year in +another place in the state, and I felt when the +meeting was over that we had not done much +good there. Very few of the local people +came to the meeting. Later I heard that we +did some good, but I am inclined to think that +the personal efforts of the librarians at that +place did more than the association did. I am +not at all a pessimist, but in Illinois this plan +has failed to interest the people of the indifferent +districts in the work that the library asso<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>ciation +was trying to do, and I have been almost +convinced that it is the proper thing +for an association to get a central point and +bring librarians in touch with the vitalizing +spirit of a good library conference, rather +than to try to take the association to an indifferent +community. I want heartily to emphasize +the point made by Mr. Dana about +local speakers. I have suffered more than +once from these local speakers. I have a most +distinct recollection of hearing a trustee talk +for one hour and a quarter on the beautiful, +magnanimous and generous efforts made by +himself to run the local library. The point +made by Mr. Wellman needs to be taken cautiously. +I think there is more danger of emphasizing +the scholarly side of librarianship +at state meetings than there is of not giving +it sufficient attention. The American Library +Association, in my opinion, should stand for +the higher tenets of the library faith, and the +scholarly side should be more emphasized +than has been the case heretofore in the meetings +of the national association. With all our +different organizations, clubs, associations, +conferences, round tables, and so on, it seems +to me that the American Library Association +should take care of the technical side, and the +smaller questions, that must, indeed, be settled +by local conditions, should be taken up +by the state associations. While, of course, +we want to have material of a high order +presented at the state association, at the same +time we must remember that these associations +reach those people who cannot be +touched in any other way; and if they have +come to get light on this new topic of work +for children, or if they are on the point of reorganizing +their library, or if they are having +trouble with their board, they do not take +kindly to a dissertation on printing in the 15th +century.</p> + +<p>One thing has been left out in the various +interests which have been brought forward, +and that is the part of the trustee in the state +association meetings. A librarian may have +all possible inclination, and all the enthusiasm +that we can give her, but if she does not have +the co-operation and the kindly sympathy of +her library board, or at least a majority of its +members, life is to her a burden. Her condition +is worse than when she did not know, +and did not know that she did not know. +The state associations have not so far been +open enough to the trustees. It seems to me +that this is a subject well worth taking up, +and we should try to do more for the library +trustees of the state than we have done heretofore. +Necessarily they take rather a material +view of the situation, and we should try +to lead them away from the dollar-and-cents +view of library work. These two things need +to be emphasized—keep in mind the small +librarian, and educate the trustee. Some one +has said that we need a library school for +trustees quite as much as we need a library +school for librarians, and the more I see of +libraries the more I believe that.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">E. J. Dockery</span> spoke on</p> + + +<p class="center">HOW A LIBRARY COMMISSION WAS SECURED IN +IDAHO.</p> + +<p>I bring to you an accurate and complete +history of the course adopted by the club +women of my state in securing library legislation, +as I personally participated in the +work with other members of the Woman's +Columbian Club, the organization that had +the direct and immediate charge of the subject.</p> + +<p>It is a somewhat embarrassing confession +to make that Idaho, with its area of 87,000 +square miles and a population of 164,000 +souls, and its sobriquet of "The gem of the +Mountains," has not a free circulating library. +I make this statement, however, to +emphasize the virgin field in which we had to +labor and the munificence of our legislators +when we consider the various tax burdens +are so many and the number so few to bear +them.</p> + +<p>Boisé City, the capital of our state, with a +population of 10,000, is the home of the Woman's +Columbian Club of 200 members. This +club, among its many achievements, established +and almost wholly supports a public +library of 2750 volumes at Boisé; and its +members stand in the vanguard and do yeoman's +service as leaders and in the ranks in +all causes to advance the moral, intellectual +and material good of all the people of the +state that has granted women equal suffrage +with men.</p> + +<p>The club strongly urges the formation of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +other woman's clubs throughout the state, and +encourages at all times the organization and +development of free libraries.</p> + +<p>The first really effective and aggressive step +of the club in this direction, and which led +to important results, was the adoption of the +free travelling library scheme. Its zealous +members, by united action and individual effort, +accumulated sufficient funds to put into +circulation 15 travelling libraries with a total +of 800 volumes, and invited discussion of this +work in the public press.</p> + +<p>At the 1899 state teachers' meeting representatives +of the club, on invitation, espoused +the cause of the travelling library and libraries +generally. The demand for library cases +soon exhausted the Columbian Club's ability +to respond, and then an appeal for legislative +aid was determined upon, and systematic +methods, principally through the press, were +pursued to awaken public sentiment favorable +to the election of friendly legislators.</p> + +<p>After the election of the legislators in 1900 +the Columbian Club sent circular letters to +each one, setting forth the merits of the two +bills the club had prepared and upon which +its energies were concentrated, namely: a bill +creating a state library commission, and a bill +authorizing common councils of cities and +governing bodies of communities to levy a +tax not to exceed one mill on the assessed +valuation of property for the establishment +and maintenance of free reading rooms and +libraries.</p> + +<p>Similar circular letters were sent to each +of the 75 newspapers published in the state. +All women's clubs were importuned to co-operate, +and also all public school officials, +teachers and educators of the state. The +press responded right royally with one single +exception, and book lovers and educators of +high and low degree lent their willing assistance. +Representatives of the club again appeared +before the 1900 annual state teachers' +meeting, and secured an official endorsement +from that body for the proposed library legislation. +The state teachers' association, in addition, +advocated a law requiring that three +per cent. of all school moneys be set aside as +a fund for school libraries, to which the club +women gave their aid and which also became +a law.</p> + +<p>At the convening of the legislature in January +of this year the leaven had begun to +work, thus paving the way for the successful +lobbying by the official representatives of the +Columbian Club.</p> + +<p>The first step was the selection of a conspicuous +legislator to stand sponsor for our +bills. In this we encountered an embarrassment +of riches in capable legislative material, +but finally selected Senator S. P. Donnelly, +who cheerfully assumed the duty, and exerted +the full force of his wide popularity and +marked ability from the time of his introduction +of the bills until the final vote upon +them.</p> + +<p>The club members held frequent conferences +with the educational committee of both +houses of the legislature and other legislators +specially interested in educational matters, +and made plain to them the inestimable +benefits of the bills we championed.</p> + +<p>And in this connection I desire to make +graceful acknowledgment to the library workers +of Wisconsin, as it was while a resident +of this state I received from them my first +library inspiration; and particularly do I desire +to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. +F. L. Hutchins, whose personal communications +and generous supply of library literature +enabled us to fully present our subject and to +meet all objections raised by some of the legislators.</p> + +<p>Every member of the legislature, with the +exception of one in the lower house, was buttonholed, +and the consequence of that oversight +was manifested on the final voting day.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the club requested the +home papers of the legislators to continue to +urge favorable action; and the club women +from all parts of the state, by letters, personal +visits and petitions to the legislators, +did likewise.</p> + +<p>The instinct of partisanship, a peculiarity +of all legislative bodies, was not manifested +in the least.</p> + +<p>On the day for the final action in the Senate +Committee of the Whole the Columbian +Club was notified and attended in a body, the +courtesy of the floor being extended to us.</p> + +<p>Imagine our consternation, when the question +was submitted to an aye and nay vote, +at not a voice being raised in its favor save<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +Senator Donnelly's. For a few moments silence +so profound that it was almost palpable +prevailed, when presently Senator Kinkaid, +who was in the chair, without calling for the +nays, solemnly announced, "The ayes have +it"; and delight supplanted our agonized distress +as the pleasantry at Senator Donnelly's +expense and ours dawned upon us.</p> + +<p>The bill was then placed upon its final +passage, and the senators, who hesitated in +their support on the ground of economy only, +announced that they would vote in favor of +the bill, but desired it expressly understood +that they did so because they were intimidated +by the presence of the Columbian Club. The +best of spirits prevailed, and our bill providing +for a state library commission of five +members, two at least to be women, passed +the senate unanimously, the president of the +state university and the superintendent of +public instruction to be <i>ex officio</i> members +and the other three members to be appointed +by the governor; and the law appropriated +$6000 for the purchase of travelling library +books and the maintenance of the commission +for two years.</p> + +<p>The bill was sent to the lower house to +take its course in that body, but we were denied +the privilege of practicing intimidation +there. Immediately upon its arrival in the +house a member moved that it be made a special +order of business and be immediately +placed upon its final passage, and that a polite +message be sent the president of the +Columbian Club that the house would perform +its solemn duties without the assistance +or coercion of that club.</p> + +<p>The bill passed the house unanimously save +for the solitary negative vote of the member +whom, by an inexplicable oversight, we failed +to interview, and who announced he so voted +for that reason.</p> + +<p>This library commission bill was by all +odds the most conspicuous matter before the +legislature, and the enrolled bill submitted to +the governor for signature was elaborately +prepared and adorned with the club colors by +the attaches of the legislature.</p> + +<p>The commission has been in existence three +months, or more properly speaking, less than +two months, for the necessary preliminary +work did not enable us to get before the public +until May. Already we have been invited +to assist and direct the formation of six libraries +and to select books for the penitentiary +library, have placed in circulation 10 +new travelling library cases in addition to +the 15 cases donated to the state by the Columbian +Club, and have 20 more cases in +preparation.</p> + +<p>While the law provided for the appointment +of at least two women on the commission, +the governor appointed three, two of +whom are members of the Columbian Club; +and our superintendent of public instruction +being a woman, we have four of the five members, +and what is more especially to the point, +they are all club women.</p> + +<p>Woman's clubs may with propriety, I think, +lay claim to some credit for library laws in +Idaho, and yet it is significant that the reason +for their power lies in the fact that the women +of our state have in their hands the wand of +progress and civilization, the most powerful +and bloodless offensive and defensive weapon +on earth—the ballot. In the hand of <a name="frailiest" id="frailiest">the +frailest of our sex</a> this powerful weapon can +strike as deadly a blow at evil or as strenuous +a blow for good as it can in the hands +of the brawniest of fighting men; no moral +wretch of whatever size and strength but +what the very gentlest of our number can cancel +his registered will on election day; for an +aspiring public servant to dare oppose a righteous +cause means sure defeat—for womanhood +inevitably arrays itself against the hosts +of error.</p> + +<p>The women of our state, marshalled under +the leadership of women's clubs, stood in an +unwavering and united array for all our library +laws and every other law that stood for +good; and there were, all told, 15 bills affecting +education enacted into laws at the last +session.</p> + +<p>Whatever of inspiration and encouragement +the success of women's clubs in Idaho may +give our sister clubs in sister states, the success +of woman's suffrage there at any rate +will help to silence the scoffers' sneers and +help put this ballot-sword, forged in the workshop +of right and justice, in the hand of +every woman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the absence of Mr. John Thomson +Miss Neisser read Mr. Thomson's paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">HOW TO SECURE A STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION.</p> + +<p>I am asked "How to secure a state library +commission?" I answer:</p> + +<p><i>Ask for it.</i></p> + +<p><i>Urge it on the legislature.</i></p> + +<p><i>Strive persistently.</i></p> + +<p>Without these three methods, there is little +hope of getting a library commission or the +passage of good library legislation.</p> + +<p>Pennsylvania has been behind every other +state in the Union in the matter of library +legislation and principally because hardly any +effort was made to procure the assistance of +the legislature. Outside of a dog-tax paid +over for <a name="publib" id="publib">the support and maintenance of public +libraries</a>, under an act approved in May, +1887, no real step was taken in this state to +secure the benefits of the public library movement +until 1895. In that year, it was sought +to pass an act to authorize all cities and boroughs +of the commonwealth to levy taxes and +make appropriations for the establishment and +maintenance of free libraries. Unfortunately, +this bill was stoutly opposed and was finally +amended so as to affect only cities of the first +class. The most important subsequent legislation +was the approval by the governor in +May, 1899, of a bill providing for the appointment +of a free library commission and defining +its powers and duties. Under this act, the +governor had power to appoint five persons, +who with the state librarian, constitute the +free library commission—the state librarian +being <i>ex officio</i> secretary of that body. The +commission has power to give advice and +counsel to all free libraries in the state and to +all communities which may propose to establish +them, as to the best means of establishing +and administering such libraries, the +selection of books, cataloging, and other details +of library management; and the commission +has certain powers of general supervision +and inspection. The section closes with +the following words:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The commission shall also establish and +maintain out of such sums as shall come into +their hands, by appropriation or otherwise, +a system of travelling libraries as far as possible +throughout the commonwealth."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Legislature adjourned without making any +appropriation and the commission found itself +in the position described by Dickens when +Mr. Pickwick and his friends were authorized +to travel where they liked, make such +investigations as they thought good, and generally +to promote science at their own expense. +The commission was authorized under +the powers conferred upon it to purchase +books, provide book-cases, print whatever +matter seemed good to it, and generally +develop a travelling libraries system throughout +Pennsylvania <i>at its own expense</i>. Nothing +daunted, the members of the commission +met in the state library on April 25, 1900 and +organized, and being absolutely without funds, +efforts were made to secure contributions +from benevolent friends of the movement and +$2800 were raised from 29 persons who generously +placed in the hands of the commission +sufficient funds to enable it to start the +work. In a recent circular issued by the commission, +the secretary calls attention to the +fact that Ohio already had more than 800 +travelling libraries and an appropriation of +$5000 per year with which to carry on the +work. Michigan has many libraries and an +appropriation of from three to five thousand +dollars per year. Wisconsin has six or seven +hundred travelling libraries, and New York +nearly one thousand. Every state of any importance +in the Union has established and is +maintaining travelling libraries on from three +to five thousand dollars per annum. A few +travelling libraries only at present have been +sent out in Pennsylvania. These are now in +use, but the commission was afraid to undertake +much work, as it did not know how +soon its funds might be exhausted, and it +might find itself unable to grant the applications +for travelling libraries which are steadily +coming in.</p> + +<p>When it is asked how to secure a state library +commission the second question how to +secure an appropriation with which to carry +on the work of the commission is necessarily +involved. In the case of Pennsylvania (just +brought to a happy issue,) the active interest +of many of the leading newspapers throughout +the state was sought and obtained. The +editors of these papers were written to in person +and a statement describing the scope and +needs of the library commission and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +amount of the appropriation hoped for was +forwarded to each. With one or two exceptions, +the editors printed much of this material +as news, and a considerable number +added editorials urging the importance of +the movement. More valuable help could not +have been secured. The smaller papers, which +of course draw their material largely from +the papers published in the larger cities, followed +suit, and practically reprinted the same +matter. Copies of the papers containing these +articles were secured, and marked copies were +sent to the representatives from their own +neighborhoods. In this manner nearly three +hundred of the newspapers throughout the +state were communicated with, and their assistance +had a great deal to do with the final +granting of the appropriation. In this way +information was laid before thousands of citizens +who would otherwise have been uninformed +on the matter. Beyond all this an explanatory +letter fully detailing the position of +the commission was sent by one of the commission +to every member of the legislature +and the secretary of the commission issued +the excellently prepared circular (above referred +to), several copies of which were sent +to every member of the legislature and to +others. The result has been that an appropriation +of $3500 has been passed by both +houses, and there is no reason to doubt that +the bill will receive the governor's signature +when the time comes for him to sign the appropriation +bills for 1901-1902.</p> + +<p>It would be waste of time at a round table +meeting like this to dwell upon the benefits +of the travelling libraries movement. The +free library commission of Pennsylvania has +determined to do its utmost to develop the +movement throughout the state, and if a practical +answer is to be given to the question, +How to secure a state library commission?, +I would say, Recognize the importance of the +movement, strive early and late, through the +newspapers, by means of circulars and by personal +interviews, to interest the members of +the legislature, and persevere unintermittingly +in impressing your needs upon those who +have the power to grant the necessary legislation +and appropriation. Work early and +late and do not stop working until you have +secured what you want.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">Belle M. Stoutenborough</span> spoke on</p> + + +<p class="center">WHAT WOMEN'S CLUBS CAN DO TO FURTHER THE +WORK OF THE LIBRARY.</p> + +<p>I trust you will pardon me for adding the +word "Nebraska" to my topic. Six years ago +last October the Nebraska Federation of +Women's Clubs held its second annual meeting +at our state capital. Some two weeks +before the meeting Mrs. Peabody, a name +familiar to every librarian in this room, who +was at that time our president, wrote me: +"I am very anxious to bring the travelling +library movement before the women of our +state. Will you talk for 15 or 20 minutes on +this topic before the Lincoln meeting?" If +she had asked me to talk on the study of +comparative anatomy, I should have been just +as familiar with the topic, but in the reference +room of the Omaha Public Library, I +held a consultation with Poole's index, and +succeeded in finding just one article on travelling +libraries; it was in the January <i>Forum</i> +of 1895, and if I am not mistaken, it was +a brief history or sketch of the traveling library +movement in New York. Here was my +opportunity; what had been done in New +York, could be done in Nebraska, although +upon a smaller scale, by the Federation of +Women's Clubs. I shall not forget how I +trembled as I stood before that large audience +and made my first plea for a travelling library. +However, the secretary, in reporting the +meeting, was kind enough to say that the +audience at once caught the speaker's enthusiasm, +and a committee was appointed for the +formation of plans for a federation travelling +library. A hundred dollars was subscribed, +and sixty books purchased and sent out to +eight clubs that first year. I know it seems +like a small beginning to-day, but it was serious, +earnest, and full of possibilities, and to-day +the work is an educational factor in our +state. I believe that these books which have +gone out to the club women have not only +enabled them to pursue certain lines of study, +which otherwise it would not have been possible +for them to have taken, but they have created +in the minds of other members of the +family a desire to possess good reference +books. These books are sent out from my +own home. The clubs receiving them are at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +no expense except in paying express charges +for their return. The work is supported by +voluntary contributions, and as to the salary +of the librarian, she is paid over and over +again in the thankful letters which she receives +from the people who are using the +books.</p> + +<p>In 1897, the Nebraska Library Association +succeeded in introducing a bill in the legislature, +creating a library commission for travelling +libraries. It passed the lower house, and +went into the senate, where it was "lost to +sight, though to memory dear." In 1899, nothing +daunted, the Nebraska Library Association +was there again with its library bill. It +passed the lower house, but it never reached +the senate. Last June, the National Federation +of Women's Clubs was held in the city of +Milwaukee. Mrs. Buchwalter, of Ohio, the +chairman of the program committee, planned +for a bureau of library instruction or information, +and this bureau was located in an upper +room in the Milwaukee Public Library. +The presiding genius in the room was Miss +Stearns; I always think of her as the pioneer +travelling library woman of the northwest. +A clubwoman from Nebraska was in attendance +at that meeting and instead of spending +her time listening to the program, she passed +the greater part of the week in that upper +room, and there she learned the work which +is being done by women's clubs throughout +the length and breadth of our land in this +library field, and she went back to Nebraska +determined, if possible, to secure legislation +for free travelling libraries in the coming year. +It was a strange coincidence, that last October +the Nebraska Federation of Women's +Clubs again held their annual meeting at our +state capital, and as before, the same woman +who had presented six years before to that +meeting, a plan for a Federation travelling +library, was there to present a plan for free +travelling libraries and a state library commission +for Nebraska. The plan was formally and +unanimously adopted, and a committee was +appointed to co-operate with the Nebraska +Library Association to secure legislation. In +all this work, we never had any one who assisted +us more ably than Mr. Wyer, the librarian +of the state university, who was never +too busy to advise us or to see a man that +we could not reach, and he it was who drafted +our bill and saw it through. To make a long +story short, the first thing we did was to send +out circulars suggesting that "a library day" +be observed in the clubs; this library day +was generally discussed throughout the state. +Then we sent a petition which was circulated, +not only in the towns, but among the farmers +and their wives; and finally one March morning +I received the following telegram: "Rejoice +and be exceeding glad"—and I have +been rejoicing ever since, for house bill no. +20, carrying with it an appropriation of $4000 +for free public libraries, for free travelling +libraries, and for the state commission, had +passed, not only the lower house, but the senate. +It received the governor's signature, and +it means we are to have travelling libraries in +Nebraska.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Freeman</span>: Mrs. Morris, of the Wisconsin +Free Library Commission and the General +Federation of Women's Clubs, will be +unable to be with us this morning on account +of illness. We are, however, fortunate in being +able to hear from Mrs. Youmans, the +president of the Wisconsin Federation of +Women's Clubs.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">Youmans</span>: I cannot possibly fill Mrs. +Morris' place, but I should not like to have +this subject discussed without Wisconsin being +represented.</p> + +<p>We may gather from the deliberations of +this association, that Wisconsin keeps a prominent +place in library work among the states +of the Union. If this is so, and I do not doubt +it, it is, as we all know, due to the enthusiasm +and energetic efforts of the Free Library +Commission, and this commission will assure +you that its members have had no more enthusiastic +allies than the club women of the +state. Work for libraries was the first work +undertaken by Wisconsin women's clubs—the +first work outside of their regular literary +programs—and since the organization of the +federation in 1896, it has been one of its +most prominent lines of work. I suppose +there are few clubs among the 150 in the federation +that have not done something, sometimes +important and sometimes unimportant, +for the library movement. They have established +libraries and free reading-rooms; they +have helped to support libraries; they have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +made donations of books and money; they +have sent out travelling libraries on their errands +of usefulness; and they have also sent +out travelling reference libraries especially +for the uses of the study clubs. The federation +at the present time is making a special +effort toward securing as many of these travelling +reference libraries as possible. The +club women in the interior of the state have +very inadequate reference facilities; we have +now only six or seven of these reference libraries, +and we feel comparatively rich that +we are soon to have half a dozen more.</p> + +<p>A great many of the public libraries in +Wisconsin are due directly to efforts of club +women. The public library of Waukesha is +due directly to the efforts of a little coterie +of club women; they started seven years ago, +with prospects that could not possibly be +called brilliant. They kept the library going +for seven years from one month to another, +in some way securing the money, and finally +the burden was taken from their shoulders by +the city council. Now, the library is not +large; it is not, from a technical point of +view, fine; and it certainly lacks many things +that we hope to have in the future; but it +has 2500 volumes, generally read and much +valued by the people, it has become established +as a regular necessary part of the +municipal life, and I think it is sure of a regular +though moderate support from the public +funds. In a city a few miles north of here +a woman's club has a fund of $500 towards a +library building. It does not intend building +a library with that sum; it does not intend to +go on earning money by rummage sales and +private theatricals; but it does expect to use +that money and to use the interest of the +members of the club as a center for developing +library interests in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>This work is illustrative of what is being +done all over the state, and it is not +so much the money that the club women +collect for the libraries, nor the books they +may secure, nor even the direct work that +they do; it is the feeling that they disseminate +as to the value of public libraries. The +club woman, in her club work, finds the need +of a good library; her associations and connections +are such that she learns to value +books more than she ever did before; she +learns, too, that for the intellectual life of her +vicinity it is necessary to have a public library; +she helps to develop the public spirit that +demands a public library; she helps to bring +out an atmosphere in which public libraries +germinate and grow and flourish. This, it +seems to me, is the most important part of +club work among club women. This is what +they are doing in Wisconsin, and what they +will continue to do.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hutchins</span>: I have been watching for +years the work of the women's clubs and +their enthusiasm for libraries. They are accomplishing +a great deal, and there is just one +thing I would like to say to the club women +of the country, "Plan a study club, and in a +few years you get a public library. Plan a +library, and in a few years you get five study +clubs."</p> + + +<p class="center">CO-OPERATION BETWEEN A. L. A. AND GENERAL +FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Stearns</span>: The American Library Association +has fallen into a most successful +alliance with the National Educational Association, +as is demonstrated by the continuation +of our meeting at Detroit. Now, the A. L. +A. has never realized all that the General +Federation of Women's Clubs has done for +the promotion of library interests. This is +the first time in the history of the A. L. A. +that the women's clubs have been recognized +on our program, and I move that the A. L. +A. Council be requested to form an alliance +between the American Library Association +and the Federation of Women's Clubs for the +promotion of library interests. <i>Voted.</i></p> + +<p>In the absence of Miss <span class="smcap">Marie S. Dupuis</span>, +the chairman read by title her paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND THE TRAVELLING +LIBRARY.</p> + +<p>The woman's club and the travelling library +seem made for each other. So perfectly does +the travelling library supply a suitable channel +for the energies of the woman's club, and +so admirably does the woman's club seem +fitted for the work of sending out travelling +libraries, that the one seems the natural and +perfect complement of the other.</p> + +<p>What a box of well-selected reading matter +means to a rural community probably only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +those know who have lived in a rural community +without the box. Others must draw +upon their imaginations to picture farm +homes without other current literature than +a weekly local paper whose "patent inside" +contains all the news they receive of the +world's work; homes where the family Bible—not +always present—and the children's +school books form the only bound volumes of +the family library, where even the deservedly +ephemeral literature of the daily paper and +the 10-cent magazine are unknown, though +rural free mail delivery will soon alter this.</p> + +<p>With numberless such communities on the +one hand, we have on the other numerous +women's clubs organized for self-improvement +and "mutual aid," to use the fine phrase +of Prince Kropotkin. And so closely are human +interests interwoven that "mutual aid" +means self-improvement, and self-improvement +"mutual aid." It is doubtful if any +form of educational endeavor undertaken by +women's clubs is so fruitful in good results +as the travelling library. It is the most practical +form of educational work as yet undertaken +by these organizations. The work of +the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs in +this direction has been under the supervision +of the library extension committee of +that organization. More than one-third of +the clubs of the state are now engaged in +travelling library work. The number of libraries +in circulation has doubled in the past +year.</p> + +<p>The plan usually adopted in the formation +of a travelling library is for each member of +a club to donate one or more books. A Parmelee +or other suitable trunk bookcase is +purchased for the collection, usually consisting +of about 50 volumes, a record-book is provided, +each volume is furnished with a library +catalog and the rules for borrowers recommended +by the committee, and the library is +then ready to begin its travels.</p> + +<p>Several libraries are grouped into county +circuits—a unique feature of the Illinois +plan—of four or more to a circuit. Two +years has been found to be the average life of +a travelling library, and a circuit of four libraries +remaining in each community for six +months will thus supply four communities +with travelling libraries for two years.</p> + +<p>With regard to the composition of the travelling +library, the committee recommends that +each library consist of about 50 volumes; +that of these one-half shall be juveniles; that +fiction shall be carefully selected, preference +being given to standard works, those which +have stood the test of time; that everything +of a theological bias shall be excluded; that +biographies, travels and nature studies and +stories are particularly desirable, with other +suggestions for particular communities or of +a general character. We lay particular stress +upon the proportion of juveniles being at +least one-half, for the reason not only that +children and young people are generally the +most numerous class of readers, but also because +many adults, unaccustomed to much +reading, find juvenile literature more readily +comprehensible. Considering the fact that our +libraries are almost wholly the result of voluntary +donation, it is remarkable and, indeed, +extremely gratifying that the libraries sent +out are of such a high degree of literary excellence. +The outcome of the heterogeneous +tastes of club members, they seem admirably +adapted to the equally heterogeneous tastes of +the communities to which they are sent. Improvement, +however, is always possible, and +for the coming year we have model lists of +books drawn up as guides, if not patterns, for +future libraries.</p> + +<p>In states where a public travelling library +system does not yet exist, the women's clubs +seem excellently qualified for inaugurating and +maintaining such a system until the time +comes, as it surely will, when every state has +its library commission and its travelling library +fund.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="TRUSTEES_SECTION" id="TRUSTEES_SECTION">TRUSTEES' SECTION.</a></h3> + + +<p>A meeting of the Trustees' Section of +the A. L. A. was held on July 6 in parlor +C of the Fountain House, with Dr. Leipziger +in the chair and Thos. L. Montgomery acting +as secretary. There were 75 persons present. +Dr. Leipziger made an opening address, outlining +the work that might be discussed by +the section.</p> + +<p>Mr. Soule urged the election of trustees +for a term of years only, and in the opinion +of those present three years seemed the proper +limit.</p> + +<p>The question of whether members of the +board of education should be admitted to +library boards excited considerable discussion, +in which Mr. Cooke, of Iowa, Mr. Porter, +of Cincinnati, Mr. Crunden and the secretary +took part. It was generally conceded +that members of the board of education should +not be trustees of libraries <i>ex officio,</i> but that +there was no objection to electing them as +individuals.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Eastman</span> then read his very interesting +paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">LIBRARY BUILDINGS.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#LIBRARY_BUILDINGS"> p. 38.</a>)</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Mauran</span>, of St. Louis, spoke on</p> + + +<p class="center">THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE +LIBRARIAN.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#THE_RELATION_OF_THE_ARCHITECT_TO_THE_LIBRARIAN"> p. 43</a>)</p> + +<p>Mr. Patton, of Chicago, said that the two +papers showed the lack of any antagonism between +the professions. He considered it absolutely +necessary that the architect should +be selected before anything else, in order that +he should be familiar with all the librarians' +requirements, and that the interior arrangement +was the only matter that should be +thought of then. The plan of giving premiums +is bad, because it is no temptation to +the skilled architect, but it is to the mere +draughtsman. He also thought that library +architecture must become a specialty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dewey asked, "What is the best way to +get the combined judgment of several architects +without offence to the profession, and +yet give a proper remuneration for their +labor?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Patton answered that there was no objection +to such consultations on the part of +the profession, and that it was becoming more +common every year. The objection to competitions +was that there was no expert to +make a fair decision. Competitions, as a +rule, did not produce such good results as the +appointment of a well-equipped and competent +architect, to plan and oversee the work from +the beginning. Under any circumstances expert +advice might be had and should generally +prove useful, especially when members of a +library board were not prepared to give thorough +attention to the architectural problems. +Personally, he had often been employed as +consulting architect, just as a physician might +be called in that capacity.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eastman stated that in the case of the +Utica Public Library $150 had been given to +each of ten architects for small sketches or +outlines incorporating the requirements of +the board.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dewey thought that every state commission +should have an expert, to whom +should be referred all suggestions for plans +for libraries, in order that the bad features +may be called to the attention of the library +board. In the case of very large institutions +the national library should be appealed to.</p> + +<p>This was by far the most interesting meeting +that has been held by the section, and the +interest taken in the discussion promises well +for the future meetings.</p> + +<p>Dr. Leipziger declining to serve as chairman, +and the secretary having declined the +nomination, Mr. D. B. Corey was elected +chairman and T. L. Montgomery secretary +for the ensuing year.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Thomas L. Montgomery</span>, <i>Secretary</i>. +</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="PROFESSIONAL_INSTRUCTION_IN_BIBLIOGRAPHY_ROUND_TABLE" id="PROFESSIONAL_INSTRUCTION_IN_BIBLIOGRAPHY_ROUND_TABLE">PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN BIBLIOGRAPHY: ROUND TABLE +MEETING.</a></h3> + + +<p>An informal "round table" meeting for the +consideration of present and possible +methods of professional instruction in bibliography, +was held on the morning of Monday, +July 10, in one of the parlors of the Fountain +Spring House. A. G. S. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span> was +chairman, and J. I. <span class="smcap">Wyer</span>, Jr., acted as secretary.</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order at 10.30 +a.m. by Mr. <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>, who opened the session +with a paper on</p> + + +<p class="center">A POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIBLIOGRAPHY.</p> + +<p>In looking over the various definitions of +the word bibliography, I have found two main +groups, one narrow, one broad.</p> + +<p>The narrow definition has been thus expressed +by Prof. C V. Langlois: "Bibliography +is the science of books. As library economy +treats of the classification, the exterior +description of books, of the organization and +history of libraries; as bibliography treats of +the history of the book as a manufactured +product (printing, bookbinding, bookselling); +so bibliography in the precise meaning of the +word, is that particular part of the science of +the book which treats of the repertories and +which provides the means of finding, as +promptly and as completely as possible, information +in regard to sources."</p> + +<p>As an example of the broad definitions I +choose the one by M. E. Grand in "La grande +encyclopédie" He defines bibliography as "the +science of books from the point of view of +their material and intellectual description and +classification," and goes on to say that "there +are three principal things to be considered in +the study of bibliography: classification of +books, ... (<i>bibliographical systems</i>); description +of books (<i>bibliographical rules</i>); and the +use of <i>bibliographical repertories</i>."</p> + +<p>If we compare these two definitions we see +that here the same word has been used for +two distinct subjects, the one of which includes +the other. Without here going deeper +into the intricacies of these definitions, I will, +for the purpose of this discussion, accept the +broader of the two.</p> + +<p>The question what instruction in bibliography +should contain is already answered in the +above definition itself.</p> + +<p>The study of <i>bibliographical systems</i> for +classification of books presupposes the study +of the theoretical systems of classification of +knowledge and this presupposes the study of +the history of the sciences.</p> + +<p><i>Bibliographical rules</i> govern the practical +art of book description, what is technically +known as cataloging. There are various +codes of rules, more or less arbitrary, as they +are more or less the outcome of a compromise. +But under all arbitrariness one will discern +some underlying theory as to what a +description of a book should contain. Such +theories are founded on the practice of printing +and publishing: thus the intelligent study +of bibliographical rules presupposes the study +of the history of printing and publishing.</p> + +<p><i>Bibliographical repertories</i> contain the systematic +records of printed documents and the +study of these repertories is what is called +bibliography in the narrow sense. While the +branches of study previously referred to may +by some be regarded as of less value to the +librarian there is surely none who will deny +the necessity of his being thoroughly familiar +with the literature of bibliographical repertories. +However, I do not think that I am +alone in the contention that all the different +branches of bibliography in the broader sense +are of the utmost importance to the librarian.</p> + +<p>Dr. Dziatzko has pointed out that in such an +eminently practical occupation as that of the +librarian it is particularly important not to +neglect altogether some kind of theoretical +studies. There can be no studies of greater +importance to the librarian than those just +enumerated, namely, history of literature—the +word taken in its broadest sense—history +of the book in all its phases, and the study +of bibliographical literature.</p> + +<p>The library schools have done much to encourage +the professional spirit of librarians +and to develop the technical side of their +work. It is, however, felt that something +more is needed, something that a professional +school or a training class cannot give, namely, +solid bibliographical scholarship. This can, in +my opinion, not be acquired except at a university +with a faculty of specialists and an +extensive equipment of bibliographical literature +as a part of a large university library.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>A post-graduate school of bibliography, such +as I have in mind should offer instruction to +two classes of students. The one class would +be students in the other branches of instruction +who would select as a minor one of the +subjects offered by the school, and who should +be required to pursue in the school the bibliographical +study of their main topics and the +preparation of the bibliographies that should +be required as a necessary accompaniment to +every dissertation. The other class would +consist of persons wishing to prepare themselves +for the professional work of the librarian +and bibliographer. They would choose +as their majors the studies offered at this +school, and could choose as a minor any other +scholastic subject. It would be of great importance +to the would-be librarian, could he, +while pursuing his special studies, be allowed +to do university work in some other subject +of his choice, such as literary history, philosophy, +American history, mathematics, or the +like.</p> + +<p>As thorough bibliographical knowledge is +the foundation for the work of the librarian, +the central subject of instruction in the school +should be the study of bibliographical repertories +and of the record literature. This +study should include seminar work in the +handling of literary tools, in hunting up references +on special questions, and in the preparation +of bibliographical lists. This leads to +the study of bibliographical methods. The +principles of book description should be discussed, +the leading codes of rules studied +comparatively, their merits and defects discussed, +but none should be taught as the one +to be absolutely followed.</p> + +<p>History of printing and bookselling comes +next, preceded by an introductory consideration +of palæography, particularly that of the +15th century. The steps leading to the discovery +of printing with movable types, and +the spread of the art over the world should +be followed. Examples of the products of the +first printing presses should be studied and +described. Of later periods in the history of +the book the most important seem to be the +later 16th and the 17th centuries in England, +and the 19th century in Germany.</p> + +<p>A parallel study with that of the history +of printing might be classification of knowledge +and of books, with the history of science. +The student might well be given his +choice between these two topics, while that of +bibliography in its narrower sense should be +required of everyone. The history and interrelation +of the various sciences is a subject +of great importance not only to the classifier, +but to the library administrator in general. +It should be covered by special lectures +by the representatives of the various sciences, +connected by a theoretical course in the theory +of classification, and followed by seminar +work in classification of books.</p> + +<p>A course preparing for the professional +work of librarianship cannot be complete without +the study of library administration. While +we are not particularly concerned with this +to-day, it should be said that this subject +would naturally be a required one, and would +cover particularly the history of libraries and +of the methods of library administration. The +technical training in the minor topics of library +economy would not have any place in a +school of this description.</p> + +<p>I had hoped to be able to present at this +meeting some statements from university authorities +in regard to the establishment of a +post-graduate school of bibliography at some +university. I have not, however, succeeded in +getting any statement of such definiteness that +I can present it here. I can only say that the +president of one of the larger western universities +seems to look with some interest on the +proposition. A letter from Dr. W. T. Harris, +Commissioner of Education, says:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"It is very easy for me to say that I believe +post-graduate courses in bibliography to be a +most excellent thing, but whether there should +be such a school established in Washington—I +have no conviction on this question. I am +not in a condition to say whether it would not +be a most excellent thing to establish such a +school in connection with the Library of Congress. +Mr. Putnam is proceeding in a very +intelligent manner to make the Congressional +Library of use to the whole country. Would +not a school of bibliography here in Washington +have the best opportunity to do, so to +speak, laboratory work in bibliography, and +this in connection with the national library? +I am not able to affirm an opinion on this +question. The subject is very important and +your letter was a letter which I wished to +answer to some purpose, but I have not been +able to do it, and this is merely an explanation +of why I have not been able to do it.</p> + +<p>"You very well name the studies of such a +school: The literature of the subject; the use +and handling of books as literary aids; bibliographical +methodology; comparative history +of literature and the sciences; classification +of knowledge accompanied by the study +of the various systems of classification of +books; palæography, history of printing.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that one-tenth of all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +librarians educated for the purpose of working +in a library should take just such a course +of instruction as this. This would give them +directive power in the most important part +of the librarian's duty."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The secretary read a paper by Dr. <span class="smcap">Joh. +Leche</span> describing the</p> + + +<p class="center">COURSES IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OFFERED BY PROF. +DZIATZKO <a name="GOTTINGEN" id="GOTTINGEN">AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN</a>.</p> + +<p>The first and so far the only professorship +in the auxiliary sciences of librarianship in +Prussia was founded in 1886 in Göttingen as +a consequence of the growing importance of +libraries. This professorship has been filled +since its foundation by Professor Dr. Carl +Dziatzko.</p> + +<p>The courses of lectures given have so far +been as follows:</p> + +<p>Library administration.</p> + +<p>The laws of authors and publishers in the +history of bookselling.</p> + +<p>Books in the Middle Ages.</p> + + + +<p>(The above courses have not been given +in later years.)</p> + +<p>Books and writing in ancient times.</p> + +<p>History of printing and bookselling:</p> + + + +<p>(<i>a</i>) previous to the Reformation.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) since the Reformation.</p> + +<p>History and development of modern librarianship.</p> + +<p>The lectures are held three times a week +and have the same strictly scientific character +as other university studies.</p> + +<p>They demand therefore real co-operation +between lecturer and students, putting before +the latter, as they do, a rich and critically +sifted material which gives them, in a way, +a sharp outline only which they will fill out +more or less fully according to their diligence +in carrying on their studies. The lectures are +made particularly attractive and stimulating +through the exhibition of important examples +of printing, if possible original works referred +to or quoted in the lectures, etc.</p> + +<p>Beside these public lectures, Prof Dziatzko +gives once a week a bibliographical seminar +for a smaller circle. The majority of the +members of this seminar are the library volunteers +who naturally are more numerous in +Göttingen than at other Prussian university +libraries. If it is true of the public lectures +that valuable results are gained only by real +co-operation of the students, these seminars +directly demand independent work of the +members. A considerable part, in fact half +of the allotted time, is given to description of +incunabula according to the rules formulated +by Prof. Dziatzko and published in no. 10 of +his "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher +Arbeiten." Apart from the importance of incunabula +for the history of printing, they are +particularly suited to bring out questions of +various kinds relating to bibliography and +librarianship. The remaining seminar hours +are given up to reviews and papers by the +members. In most cases the subjects are selected +at the suggestion of Prof. Dziatzko, but +it is preferred that the members should select +their own topics. The papers deal with the +most varied subjects: questions of a purely +practical nature alternate with scientific and +historical investigations of bibliographical +topics. (Several of these papers have afterwards +been prepared for publication in Prof. +Dziatzko's "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher +Arbeiten.") The papers are followed +by judicious criticism by Prof. Dziatzko +and discussion by the members of the seminar. +Whatever time is left is devoted to +reading of old manuscripts, exhibition of bibliographical +rarities and curiosities, important +new publications, etc.</p> + +<p>In connection with the palæographical +studies just mentioned it should be noted that +a special seminar in palæography, given by +another professor, Dr. Wilhelm Meyer, is +attended by many as a supplement to their +bibliographical studies.</p> + +<p>A. S. <span class="smcap">Root</span>, librarian of Oberlin College, +supplemented this letter with a description of +his work with Dr. Dziatzko, stating that the +real strength and power of the work consisted +in the bibliographical seminar and the work +with incunabula. In this work each student +has assigned to him the work of a special city +or a special press. He studies the books, +catalogs them, and submits his work to Prof. +Dziatzko for review. These papers are then +discussed by the members of the seminar and +sharply criticised by Prof. Dziatzko. The +new literature of bibliography added to the +library is periodically examined and discussed +by the class.</p> + +<p>G. W. <span class="smcap">Harris</span>, librarian of Cornell University, +gave in outline, the substance of a course +of 15 lectures on bibliography, delivered one +each week during a half year at Cornell. The +nature of these lectures is general because in +each department more or less stress is based<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +on the use of special bibliographies, and each +thesis for an advanced degree at Cornell must +be accompanied by a satisfactory bibliography +of the subject treated. The large collection +of early imprints representing many of the +different presses affords excellent opportunity +to inspect and study examples of early printing. +Mr. Harris was of the opinion that work +in the bibliography of special subjects should +be given by the heads of the departments +concerned. Mr. Harris gave the following</p> + + +<p class="center">SYNOPSIS OF LECTURES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY, CORNELL +UNIVERSITY.</p> + +<p class="center">LECTURE.</p> + + +<table summary=""> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">I.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Definition—Advantages of knowledge +of bibliography; Range of bibliography; +Antiquity of books. Ancient +materials—Clay tablets of Assyria, +Assyrian libraries—Palm leaf books +of India—Birch bark books of Cashmere—Maya +books and mss.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">II.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Papyrus and its importance, preparation, +grades, roll form of books—Papyrus +mss. and Egyptian literature.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">III.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Papyrus paper among Greeks and Romans—Methods +of bookmaking and +publishing in Greece and Rome. +Writing instruments and inks—Mss. +of Herculaneum—Public libraries of +the ancients—Alexandrian and Roman +libraries.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">IV.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Wax tablets of the Romans—Introduction +of parchment—Change from +roll form to square form of books—Results +of this change—Palimpsests.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">V.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Latin palæography and various styles—Bookmaking +in the Middle Ages—Schools +of calligraphy—Scriptorium +and its rules—Colophons—Monastic +libraries.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VI.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Secular scribes of Middle Ages; Gilds. +Art of illumination with examples of +illuminated mss.—Changes resulting +from introduction of paper—Cotton +vs. linen paper—Block printing in +China and Europe—Block books.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VII.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Invention of printing—Career of Gutenberg—Earliest +printed books—Spread +of the art in Germany, Italy, +France, England—Printing in America.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VIII.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Incunabula—Characteristics—Types, +abbreviations, signatures, colophons +with examples.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">IX.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Technical terms for sizes of books—Confusion +of size and form—Signatures, +water-marks, size notation.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">X.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Bindings of books—Historical sketch—Processes +of book binding—Examples.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XI.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Rare books—Fashions in books—Famous +presses—Famous editions.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XII.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Illustrated books—Methods of illustration—Manuals +for collectors.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XIII.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Classification of books in libraries; +various systems briefly described, +with examples.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XIV.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Catalogs and cataloging; various kinds +of catalogs briefly described, with examples.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XV.</td><td valign="top"> +<p class="hangingindent p0">Aids in use of the library—Reference +lists—Bibliographies, national and +special, with examples.</p> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Prof. <span class="smcap">Charles H. Haskins</span>, professor of +European history in the University of Wisconsin, +presented an outline of his</p> + + +<p class="center">COURSE IN HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY +OF WISCONSIN.</p> + +<p>My standpoint is that of the user, not the +custodian, of books, and of the user of historical +books in particular. There is no +branch of knowledge more dependent upon +bibliography than is history. The natural +sciences, for example, get their bibliographies +through current journals and their original +materials in the laboratory, while the student +of history must not only cover current literature +thoroughly but is entirely dependent +upon bibliographies to guide him to the primary +sources of his subject of study. There +is not as yet enough definite instruction in +historical bibliography offered in American +universities; indeed, there is some vagueness +as to just what historical bibliography is. In +the work at Wisconsin the course is divided +into two broad sections. The first half of the +course is taken up with a general account of +the manuscript and printed collections of historical +material in Europe and America. The +second half begins with a description of the +bibliographical tools which all students alike +use, the national bibliographies, and the trade +bibliographies of all the important countries, +and goes on to consider the bibliographical +materials peculiar to history and of prime<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +importance only to the historical student. In +this connection especial stress is laid upon the +historical periodicals. The aim throughout +the whole course is to indicate the nature and +the range of historical material, where it is +to be found, what and where are the sources, +so that the student will come to know what he +wants and where to find it. The course is +given one hour each week through a half year +and is taken entirely by graduate students. +The registration is usually from 8 to 12. +The work in the lectures is supplemented by +many references to articles and books. In the +latter part of the course the "Manuel de +bibliographie historique" of Langlois is used +as a text in the hands of the students. The +second edition of this book, which is just out, +forms an exceedingly satisfactory book for +this purpose, and is supplemented by informal +comment and mention of additional material. +In this admirable little volume nothing of +importance is omitted and very little indeed +which is unimportant is included. Very much +is made of the actual handling of the books +by the students. No regular system of practical +exercises in connection with this course +has yet been worked out, but progress is being +made in this direction. The object is primarily +to impress students with the importance +of the use of bibliographical tools. Considerable +practice in the use of bibliographies +is also given in all the advanced courses in +history.</p> + +<p>In general I have found that much inconvenience +both to students and instructors results +from the habit of secluding all the most +important bibliographies in the catalog room. +If it be true that these bibliographies are +constantly needed in the catalog room, they +should be duplicated for the use of the students. +This practice of seclusion would not +be worth mention did it not seem to be habitual +in almost all libraries, and I wish here +to register a special plea that bibliographies +may be shelved just as publicly as any other +section of the library.</p> + +<p>I am much interested in Mr. Josephson's +proposals for developing bibliographical instruction +in universities. It seems to me +he has taken hold of the matter by the +right end, and the establishment of a course +similar to that he suggests would not only be +of value to future librarians by giving them +wider opportunities for general training than +they can get in special schools, but would also +prove helpful to advanced students in all departments +of study. I hope some university +will take the matter up. I am in sympathy +with any instruction, formal or informal, +which brings instructors and students to a better +knowledge of how to use the library and +the books.</p> + + +<p class="center">COURSES AT OTHER COLLEGES.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Root</span> gave in detail the work he is doing +at Oberlin in this line. He said:</p> + +<p>We offer at Oberlin a course in bibliography +in each college year. The first year the +work has to do with the use of libraries, with +questions of classification and cataloging, and +is designed to aid the new students in becoming +familiar with the methods in use in our +own library and also with accepted methods +in all well-conducted libraries. The course +in the second year has to do with the history +of books and of printing. This work is almost +entirely historical. Some study is given +to the process and history of binding, with +examples of famous bindings. The third year +work deals with palæography and the history +and development of handwriting, illumination, +and work with manuscripts in general. The +fourth year work is in the nature of a seminar +and is devoted to instruction in bibliography. +After an outline of the leading national and +trade bibliographies, problems in bibliography +are handled and discussed. The courses fill +half of the college year, one lecture per week +being given. The work is entirely elective +and the completion of all of it enables a student +to elect one-eighth of his course in this +subject. I should be glad to see recognition +by the leading library schools of this work, +perhaps giving students advanced credit when +work has been satisfactorily done at any reputable +college.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Walter M. Smith</span>, librarian of the University +of Wisconsin, briefly outlined the elementary +work done there with new students, +and maintained that formal lectures were not +so good as practical instruction in the use of +the library both from the librarian's desk and +from the reference desk.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Sharp</span>, librarian of the University of +Illinois, stated that a one-hour course was +given there for the general student body in the +use of the library. Regular university credit +is given, but students may attend these lectures +optionally and many do so.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Andrew Keogh</span>, of Yale University Library, +described a short course in the use of the li<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>brary +offered at that university. Two lectures +are given, one in the class room and one +in the library, accompanied with actual demonstration +with the books. Some further and +more elective work is given as graduate work +at Yale, but the elementary work is compulsory +with all new students.</p> + +<p>A letter was read from Dr. H. P. <span class="smcap">Talbot</span>, +of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, +giving full description of his</p> + + +<p class="center">COURSE IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CHEMISTRY.</p> + +<p>My attempts to interest my students in +books and bibliographies are briefly these: +For one term of 15 weeks of the junior year +the students of the course in chemistry devote +an hour each week (with two hours assigned +for preparation) to practice in reading +chemical German. The subject matter assigned +is either from some work on general +or analytical chemistry or from some current +journal. Of late I have confined myself mostly +to a work on inorganic chemistry. The purpose +here is not at all to attempt to teach German, +but to assist the students in acquiring a moderate +facility in reading, that is, sufficient to +enable them to get the <i>essentials</i> from an article, +rather than to make a finished translation.</p> + +<p>During the term following this, there is +assigned to the class one or more (usually +two) topics, and they are required to prepare +and submit for inspection a bibliography of +the journal literature upon these subjects. +This year the topic assigned to the whole class +was the "Determination of sulphur in irons +and steels." The class (of 30) was divided +into squads, and to each squad a second topic +was assigned, such as "The use of sodium +peroxide in analytical chemistry," "The preparation +and analysis of persulphuric acid and +the persulphates," "The recovery of molybdic +acid from residues," etc.</p> + +<p>General directions are given as to procedure +in the compilation of the bibliography, the +use of such periodicals as the <i>Centralblatt</i> as +a starting point, and also the way to record +and classify the references found.</p> + +<p>This year we have used library cards for +the recording of the references for the first +time, with marked success. Each card was +to bear the original reference, the <i>Centralblatt</i> +or <i>Jahresbericht</i> reference, the title of the article +(if possible) and a very brief statement +of its contents. The cards were then to be +grouped according to a classification to be +worked out by the student.</p> + +<p>Each student had finally about 200 cards, +often with several references on a card. They +were allowed to divide the journals among +the members of a given squad, and to exchange +cards.</p> + +<p>The results are most satisfactory. The +work has been well done as a whole, and already +I hear of resolves on their part to keep +up a card catalog of interesting articles, which +is a promising symptom.</p> + +<p>Each year for some time, I have devoted +a single hour near the close of the year to +a brief discussion of books, from the point of +view of the needs of a person desiring to collect +a small library. In this connection I +have put into the students hands a list of +"Standard works" citing the essential reference +books on the subject, and have commented +briefly on the list. Please understand +that this list is not by any means infallible, +and that there are doubtless other works just +as good as those mentioned.</p> + +<p>Our senior students are all required to compile +a bibliography of the literature of the +subject chosen as a thesis, and to prepare a +brief review of all recorded work, before they +can begin their investigation, and the way in +which they attack this work seems to indicate +that the familiarity with journals and methods +gained in the work of the junior year outlined +above stands them in good stead.</p> + +<p>In connection with the instruction in the +history of chemistry, frequent preparation of +memoirs and a study of works in this field +is also required.</p> + +<p>The list of books referred to in Dr. Talbot's +letter was divided under the following +heads: History of chemistry, Physiological +chemistry, Organic chemistry, Technical +chemistry, Agricultural chemistry, Analytical +chemistry, Biography, Dictionaries, Tables, +Dyeing, Foods, General chemistry, Toxicology.</p> + +<p>J. I. <span class="smcap">Wyer</span>, librarian of the University of +Nebraska, outlined a course of 16 lectures +which are given there during the first semester +of every alternate year, embracing national +and trade bibliography, reference books, and +thorough drill in subject bibliography. The +work is primarily given as part of the apprentices' +training for the library, but is at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>tended +by advanced and graduate students +in other departments. Regular university +credit is given for the work.</p> + +<p>W. <span class="smcap">Stetson Merrill</span>, of the Newberry Library, +read a paper, entitled</p> + + +<p class="center">A DESIDERATUM FOR LIBRARY SCHOOLS.</p> + +<p>As I am desirous that you should apprehend +precisely what it is that I am to suggest +as a desideratum for the library schools, I will +ask to be permitted to lead up to my point, +rather than state it at the outset.</p> + +<p>We are all of us daily impressed with the +rapidity of change and enlargement in the +arts, sciences and various achievements of +knowledge to-day. In some departments, indeed, +such as the natural sciences, we expect +the accepted opinions of one decade to give +place to others in the next decade. But we +perhaps hardly realize that there is a similar +progress in the historical, sociological and religious +sciences, and in the fine arts. New +facts are discovered, verdicts of history are +reviewed, new schools of thought and methods +of study are established; new men, new +theories, new things come up every year, almost +every day.</p> + +<p>Now, a librarian is expected to bring the +stores of knowledge to an inquiring public; +to render available the resources of accumulated +wisdom which but for him would be +like gold hidden in the veins of the rock. To +perform this function requires of course primarily +a certain amount of educational training. +A library assistant should be at least a +high school graduate; the librarian of a library +of research should be a college bred man, +as such collegiate training will be found to his +own advantage and to that of his library.</p> + +<p>But how after all their training and preparation +are librarians, library workers or students +of library science to keep abreast of +the time? This is really the problem in +what may be called the higher education of +the library profession. It may be thought +that the reading of annual cyclopedias, periodicals +and the latest treatises will suffice to +keep members of the profession posted upon +all subjects of importance. Yet a little consideration +will show that by such means much +time and labor are sacrificed. A library worker +reads in such a case, not for general information, +but to ascertain definite and pertinent +facts of importance to him in his special +field of work. What he wishes to know +are indeed the new discoveries, facts and +opinions; viewed, however, not in themselves +as events in the progress of the sciences, +but as bearing upon the classification and nomenclature +of the respective sciences which +treat of them, and upon the relations which +those sciences bear to others. He needs also +an up-to-date acquaintance with the great +men of the time, not in a personal way, but +through the contributions which they have +made to knowledge. Otherwise he will not +discern the authority upon any given subject +from a tyro or an ignoramus. A true knowledge +of bibliography does not consist merely +in knowing lists of books or in knowing +where to find such lists. It implies an acquaintance +with the relative values of books +as well.</p> + +<p>A thoroughly equipped reference attendant +or cataloger should also be familiar with the +shibboleths and theories of the schools and +with the opinions of scholars upon questions +of the day. Now how is he to learn all this? +He cannot learn it before he begins to study +library work, because it is a growing, living +thing—this mass of current fact and opinion. +Yet he has no time to master each science for +himself, and in merely cursory reading he will +miss the point which is to be of most use to +him in his particular line of work.</p> + +<p>I reply that he needs the spoken word of +the expert, framed and directed to meet the +special requirements of his case. The expert +who knows his subject in all its bearings can +tell us at once just what we want to know, +if we have a chance to ask him.</p> + +<p>Let us have then before our library schools +and—I may add also—our library clubs and +associations, periodical talks by specialists +upon their respective subjects, presenting in +a concise form the progress of these sciences +and arts with special reference to the needs of +library workers, as outlined above.</p> + +<p>Such a presentation will enable the librarian, +the reference attendant, the cataloger or the +classifier to perform his work with an assurance +and a facility that can be acquired +in no other way. He will be acting under +expert advice. The special points to be +brought out will be presented to the lecturer +beforehand; he will prepare his statement, +deliver it, and later answers inquiries which +may have arisen. We all know how much +easier it is to ask somebody about something +than it is to look it up in some book. Let<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +questions be noted as they occur and the class +be given a chance to ask them of an authority.</p> + +<p>These lectures or talks need not and should +not be confined to student class rooms. Let +them be public lectures which library workers +outside the school may attend upon payment +of a small fee. The intrinsic interest of a +lecture upon some topic of the day whether +literary, historical, political, or scientific, +would attract in a way that a course upon pure +bibliography can never do. As our library +schools are so integrally a part, as a rule, of +some system of collegiate instruction, there +should be no difficulty in securing the services +of different members of the faculty. I +may repeat also that no more useful program +of work for a library club during a season +could be planned than a course of just such +talks as I have described. To tell the truth, +the matter of this paper first occurred to me +in its bearings upon the work of library clubs. +To them and to the directors of our library +schools it is presented for their consideration.</p> + +<p>Following this the representatives of the various +library schools were asked to describe the</p> + + +<p class="center">WORK OFFERED IN BIBLIOGRAPHY AT THE LIBRARY +SCHOOLS.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Biscoe</span> described the work at Albany, +running through two years, the first being +taken up with trade bibliography and the second +with reference work and subject bibliography. +The large resources of the New +York State Library enable the students to see, +study and use almost all books taken up and +the work is accompanied with many problems. +Further elective work is also offered to students +desiring to specialize along this line.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Plummer</span> spoke for the Pratt Institute +School. During the first year a general +course of instruction in bibliography is offered, +beginning with trade bibliography, students +being referred to the leading works of +reference in English, French and German +through lectures and problems given during +the year. Each student is required to prepare a +reading list on a selected subject, requiring +considerable research work, which must be satisfactory +to the instructor. The leading national +and subject bibliographies are included +in the lectures, and the problems frequently require +consultation of these. Ten lectures are +given on the history of books and printing. This +is merely an outline course offered partly that +students may discover any latent inclination +toward the historical course, that they may +know there is that side to their work. "In +the special lessons in French and German cataloging +which we expect to undertake this fall," +she said, "a study of foreign catalogs will be +a prominent feature, and the students will +collect for themselves a vocabulary of bibliographical +terms in these languages. In the +broad sense of the term bibliography, as we +find it in the 'Century dictionary,' the subject +is fairly well covered by the second year's historical +course. Through the courtesy of the +New York Public Library the class has had +opportunity to do most of its work at the +Lenox Library where there is a fine collection +of reference books. The course begins with a +study of reference books on the history of +printing, bibliographies of the 15th century, +etc., and books such as Hain, Panzer, etc., +and the more general bibliographies, <i>e.g.,</i> +Brunet, Graesse. The history of bookmaking +is studied from the period of the manuscript +through the 15th century, and some work with +American and other books has been done each +year. The materials used in the earliest times, +the methods of production and the steps leading +to the invention of printing are all treated. +The history of printing is studied by country, +town, and printer, chronologically, and a study +of the types used by different printers is +made. For practical work the class catalogs +15th century books. The books used for consultation +in this course have been very numerous, +and perhaps a good working knowledge +of them has been the most important +feature of the work. The class was not and +could not be limited to books in English, but +used and in part translated books of reference +in foreign languages. In the work with manuscripts +the historical course depends upon +instruction given by Prof. Egbert, professor +of Latin palæography of Columbia University, +who has made up a course especially +adapted to the object of our work and to the +time we have to give. Twenty-three lectures, +only a few of which are devoted to the bibliography +of the subject, comprise the instruction, +two hours' work outside being necessary +on each lecture. Much more is usually +done by the students, who generally live in +New York city while taking the historical +course. The study of successive handwritings +and abbreviations as illustrated by blue-prints<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +furnished by the professor, leads naturally to +early printed books, whose types were modelled +after the handwriting of the period. +Reports of the work of this class have been +very satisfactory."</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span>, of the Drexel Institute Library +School, described a course of 15 lectures +on the history of books and printing, given +at her school.</p> + +<p>The lectures embrace the following subjects:</p> + + <table summary=""> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">I.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +The development of language, oral and +written. Ancient systems of writing. +Derivation of the English alphabet. +The preservation of literature. Earliest +forms of permanent records, literature, +books, and libraries in the +ancient civilizations of the east.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">II.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +The literatures of Greece and Rome. +The book in the classical age. Alexandria +as a literary center. Barbarian +invasions of the Roman Empire. Decline +and extinction of ancient culture. +Destruction of books and libraries.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">III.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +The book in the Middle Ages. The preservation +and the production of books +in the monasteries. Development of +the illuminated manuscript. The early +Renascence in its relation to literature +and books.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">IV.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +The later Renascence: revival of learning. +Recovery of ancient literature. +Rome, Florence, and Venice as the +centers of activity. Multiplication of +manuscripts. The formation of modern +libraries.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">V.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +The art of engraving as the precursor of +printing. The invention and diffusion +of printing. The chief centers and +the great masters of printing. The +printed book and its influence upon +civilization.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VI.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +Book illustration in ancient, medieval, +and modern times.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VII.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +Books and libraries in Europe and the +United States. Types of modern public +libraries.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VIII.</td><td valign="top"><p class="hangingindent p0"> +Makers and lovers of books, and their +libraries.</p> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Sharp</span> told of the instruction in bibliography +given to the students in University +of Illinois Library School by the professors +at the university. Several of the professors +give lectures on the bibliography of their +various subjects; a subject is assigned to the +students before the lecture, they are required +to examine bibliographies, reviews, and the +books themselves, as far as accessible in the +library, and to select ten books which they +would buy first for a library of 10,000 vols. +This selection is criticised by the professor, +who meets the class, gives them an outline of +his subject, speaks of the principles of selection, +mentions the writers who are considered +authorities, and calls to the attention of the +students valuable material not to be found in +the trade lists. This is in the first year; in +the second year the professors give their lectures +first and the class will select their books +for criticism afterwards. The professors have +given most generous co-operation in the work; +but their work has been uneven and many of +them fail to catch the librarian's and bibliographer's +point of view, and most of them +acknowledge that their studies are limited to +the advanced works, so that they do not know +what to recommend for the small public libraries.</p> + +<p>An interesting discussion followed as to +the relation between university librarians and +professors in mutual co-operation in bibliographical +work.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="smcap">Kroeger</span> suggested that library students +who felt a special inclination for some +scholastic subject might take up such study +as a supplement to the library school course.</p> + +<p>To this Mr. <span class="smcap">Haskins</span> remarked that the +proper way would rather be the opposite, +namely that the student of history, for example, +who wished to take up library work, +might take a course in library economy as a +supplement to his university studies. He +pointed out that a university graduate did not +at all need to spend two years in getting +familiar with library technique.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Hanson</span>, of the Library of Congress, +Mr. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span>, of The John Crerar Library, +and Miss <span class="smcap">Clark</span>, of the Department of Agriculture +Library at Washington, all emphasized +the need of scientific experts who should also +be trained in bibliography and library economy. +The opinion was strongly expressed that +there was no greater desideratum in instruction +in library work at present than a course +offered to trained scientists who would be +willing to add to their scientific training a fair +knowledge of library methods.</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="TRANSACTIONS_OF_COUNCIL_AND_EXECUTIVE_BOARD" id="TRANSACTIONS_OF_COUNCIL_AND_EXECUTIVE_BOARD">TRANSACTIONS OF COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE BOARD.</a></h3> + + +<p>Meetings of the Council of the American +Library Association were held in +connection with the Waukesha conference, on +July 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, in all six sessions being +held. There was also a short meeting of the +executive board on July 9.</p> + +<p>Of the 25 members of Council 15 were present, +as follows: C. W. Andrews, R. R. Bowker, +W. H. Brett, H. J. Carr,<a name="FNanchor_I_9" id="FNanchor_I_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_I_9" class="fnanchor">[I]</a> F. M. Crunden, +J. C. Dana, Melvil Dewey, Electra C. Doren, +W. I. Fletcher, J. K. Hosmer, George Iles, +Mary W. Plummer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine +L. Sharp, Charles C. Soule. In addition, +the members of the executive board +served as <i>ex officio</i> members and officers of +Council. They included the president, Henry +J. Carr; ex-president, R. G. Thwaites; secretary, +F. W. Faxon; recorder, Helen E. +Haines; treasurer, Gardner M. Jones. The +first and second vice-president—E. C. Richardson +and Mrs. Salome C. Fairchild—were +not present during the conference.</p> + + +<p class="center">PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL.</p> + +<p><i>Place of next meeting.</i> Invitations for the +1902 meeting of the American Library Association +were received from Detroit, Mich.; +Charleston, S. C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Brevard, +N. C.; from a New Hampshire Board of +Trade, suggesting a resort in the White +Mountains, and from the Massachusetts Library +Club, urging that the meeting be held +on the eastern coast, near Boston. It was +<i>Voted,</i> That place and date of next meeting +be referred to the executive board, with +recommendation to meet at a resort on the +New England seaboard near Boston.</p> + +<p><i>Nominations for officers.</i> It was <i>Voted,</i> +That the ex-presidents present at the meeting +be appointed a committee to submit nominations +for officers for 1901-2. This committee +reported at a later session of the Council, and +the nominations submitted were adopted, with +the provision that the ticket include also +without distinction names sent in on nominations +signed by five members of the Association.</p> + +<p><i>By-laws.</i> H. M. Utley, chairman of the +Committee on By-laws, reported the draft of +by-laws prepared by that committee. This +was discussed and amended, each section being +separately considered and voted upon. It +was <i>Voted,</i> That the entire body of by-laws, +as amended, be adopted, subject to such arrangement +of sections as may be made by the +president and secretary.</p> + +<p>The by-laws were later presented to the +Association in general meeting. (<i>See</i> Proceedings, +p. 129.)</p> + +<p><i>Endowment Fund and Publishing Board.</i> +Charles C. Soule, trustee of the Endowment +Fund, reported that the income of the fund +now on hand and to accrue during the year +amounted to about $1000, and recommended +that the sum of $500 be added to the principal +of the fund, unless required by the Publishing +Board or for other purposes of the Association.</p> + +<p>W. I. Fletcher, for the Publishing Board, +stated that the board would need during the +ensuing year an appropriation as ample as +could be secured; and it was <i>Voted:</i></p> + +<p>That the trustees of the Endowment Fund +be authorized to transfer to the Publishing +Board the income of the Endowment Fund +now on hand and to accrue during the coming +year.</p> + +<p><i>Reduced postal and express rates on library +books.</i> Recommendations were submitted +from the Round Table Meeting on state library +commissions, as follows:</p> + +<p>1, That the Council be requested to arrange +for securing reduced rates from the express +companies for travelling libraries;</p> + +<p>2, That the Council be requested to give its +support to the Jenkins bill providing for the +transmission of library books by rural free +delivery;</p> + +<p>3, That the Council be requested to actively +interest itself in securing lower postage rates +on library books.</p> + +<p>After discussion it was <i>Voted,</i> That a committee +of five of the Council be appointed on +express and postal rates for library books, to +negotiate with the express companies, to co-operate</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> +<p>with regard to Congressional legislation, +and to report further to the Council as +to the postal question.</p> + +<p>The committee was appointed as follows: +E. H. Anderson, chairman; J. S. Billings, W. +C. Lane, R. R. Bowker, Johnson Brigham. +It was <i>Voted:</i></p> + +<p>That in case of the inability of any member +of the committee to serve, the retiring president +be authorized to fill vacancies.</p> + +<p><i>Relation of libraries to the book trade.</i> It +was <i>Voted,</i> That the executive board be requested +to appoint a committee of five to consider +and report upon the relation of libraries +to the book trade.</p> + +<p><i>Cataloging rules for printed cards.</i> It was +<i>Voted,</i> That the Council authorize the promulgation +of the proposed A. L. A. cataloging +rules for printed cards, so soon as the Publishing +Board and its special advisory committee, +and the Library of Congress, shall +have agreed upon the details of same;</p> + +<p>That the committee on cataloging rules for +printed cards be requested also to formulate +the variations from those rules which they +recommend for manuscript work.</p> + +<p><i>List of American dissertations.</i> The College +and Reference Section submitted the following +communication:</p> + +<p>"<i>To the Council of the A. L. A.:</i></p> + +<p>"The College and Reference Section, at its +recent meeting, appointed the undersigned, a +committee to prepare and report to the council +the draft of a request with reference to an +annual list of American dissertations for the +degree of doctor of philosophy or science. +We would, therefore, respectfully ask that the +approval of the Council be given to the plan +outlined herein, viz:</p> + +<p>"To send to such institutions of learning in +the United States and Canada as confer the +degree of doctor of philosophy or science, +after residence and examination, the following +circular letter:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p> + +"<i>To the President and Faculty of ——,</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<p><span class="smcap">"Gentlemen</span>: The College and Reference +Section of the American Library Association, +with the approval of the Council of such Association, +respectfully requests that your institution +publish in its annual catalog, or corresponding +publication, a list of the dissertations +accepted from persons who have been +granted the degree of doctor of philosophy or +science during the preceding academic year, +and a supplementary list of all dissertations +printed since the publication of the last annual +catalog. This list should contain the +following particulars: The full name and +year of graduation of the author; the full +title of the dissertation; the year of imprint, +and, if a reprint, the title, volume, and pagination +of the publication from which it was reprinted.</p> + +<p>"We also request your institution to require +a title-page for each dissertation, giving, in +addition to the full name of author and title +of dissertation, the year in which the degree +was conferred, and in which the dissertation +was printed, and, if a reprint, the title, volume +and pagination of the publication where it +was first printed.</p> + +<p>"A compliance with these requests will be a +most valuable service to the college and reference +libraries of the country."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The section further instructed us to suggest +to the Council the desirability of the compilation +and publication of a complete list of +such dissertations to July, 1900.</p> + +<table class="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bernard C. Steiner<br /> +Walter M. Smith<br />Clement W. Andrews</span></td> +<td align="left"><div style='float:left;'> <div style='float:left;padding-right:4px;'> <p style='font-size:350%;font-weight: lighter; + margin:0;line-height:0.75em;text-indent:0;'>} </p> </div></div></td><td align="center"> <i>Committee.</i></td></tr></table> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> <!--to prevent the following text from flowing around the table --> + + +<p>It was <i>Voted,</i> That the circular letter prepared by the +Committee of the College and Reference Section +be approved, and that the executive +board authorize the necessary slight expense +of printing and postage required;</p> + +<p>That a committee of the College and Reference +Section be appointed to secure the publication +of the list of dissertations referred to +without expense to the A. L. A.</p> + +<p><i>Prosecution of book thieves.</i> Communications +were read from C. K. Bolton, recommending +that the Council appropriate, when +necessary, from the income of the Endowment +Fund, money to be used in the detection +or prosecution of book thieves. It was +pointed out that "a few men systematically +rob libraries, particularly in small poor towns +that happen to have some rare books. To +gather evidence and rid us of these men requires +money, and seems very properly to +come within our field of work." No action +was taken on the subject.</p> + +<p><i>Minute on John Fiske.</i> The memorial minute +on John Fiske, prepared by the special +committee, consisting of J. K. Hosmer, +George Iles and R. G. Thwaites, was submitted +to the Council and recommended for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +presentation to the Association, to be spread +upon the records. (<i>See</i> Proceedings, p. +130.)</p> + + +<p class="center">TRANSACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.</p> + +<p><i>List of American dissertations.</i> In accordance +with vote of Council, the following committee +from the College and Reference Section +was appointed to arrange for the publication +of the list of dissertations proposed by +the section: B. C. Steiner, C. W. Andrews, +W. M. Smith.</p> + +<p><i>Committee on resolutions.</i> A committee on +resolutions to serve during the Waukesha +conference was appointed, as follows: Herbert +Putnam, Mary W. Plummer, J. C. Dana.</p> + +<p><i>Secretary's expenses.</i> A communication +was received from the Finance Committee, +recommending that the sum of $425 be allowed +for the expenses of the secretary's office +for the year ending July 16, 1901. It was +<i>Voted,</i> That $100 additional be also appropriated +for the secretary's expenses for the +past year.</p> + +<p><i>Non-library membership.</i> It was <i>Voted,</i> +That the names of 38 persons not engaged in +library work, as presented by the treasurer, +be accepted for membership in the Association.</p> + +<p>No meeting of the incoming Council or executive +board was held, and the appointment +of special and standing committees, reporters, +etc., was therefore deferred.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Helen E. Haines</span>, <i>Recorder</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="ELEMENTARY_INSTITUTE" id="ELEMENTARY_INSTITUTE">ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE.</a></h3> + + +<p>An Elementary Institute, for the presentation +of "first principles" in library work, was +held in the assembly room of the Fountain +Spring House on Tuesday evening, July 9. +In the absence of Miss Cornelia Marvin, +chairman, Miss L. E. Stearns presided. The +meeting was quite informal, and there were +no prepared papers, except one by Miss +<span class="smcap">Gratia Countryman</span> on</p> + + +<p class="center">OPPORTUNITIES.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>See</i><a href="#OPPORTUNITIES"> p. 52.</a>)</p> + +<p>An introductory speech was made by Mr. +Dewey, who spoke of the educational force +that libraries should exert in the community, +and the varied field before the public library +of to-day. There was some general discussion, +in the course of which J. C. Dana read +a letter describing pioneer library work carried +on in the Yukon district of Alaska, and +E. P. McElroy told of some interesting incidents +connected with the work of his library +at Algona, Iowa.</p> + +<p>An early adjournment was made to attend +the display of stereopticon views of library +buildings which was given on the same evening.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="ILLINOIS_STATE_LIBRARY_SCHOOL_ALUMNI_ASSOCIATION" id="ILLINOIS_STATE_LIBRARY_SCHOOL_ALUMNI_ASSOCIATION">ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.</a></h3> + + +<p>A most enthusiastic reunion of the alumni +of the Illinois State Library School +was held at Waukesha on July 5, in connection +with the meeting of the A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Forty-seven members of the Alumni Association +sat down to a long table which had +been spread for them in the dining-room of +the Fountain Spring House, where a very +pleasant hour was passed in renewing old +friendships and hearing about the work of +classmates who had gone out to make themselves +famous in the library world.</p> + +<p>Following the dinner a business meeting +was held, after which the members listened to +a most interesting report by Miss Katharine L. +Sharp, director of the Illinois State Library +School, on the growth and present condition +of the school, showing the changes which +have come to it from its connection with the +University of Illinois.</p> + +<p>Miss Sharp gave an outline of each course +as it is now given in the school, noting the +changes which have been made and the reasons +for these changes. The report was of +especial interest to the early graduates of the +school, who could follow the changes made in +the course of instruction, the general development +in scope and methods, and could so well +comprehend the great growth of the school +since its establishment at Armour Institute +of Technology, in Chicago, in 1893.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Margaret Mann</span>, <i>Secretary</i>. +</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3><a name="THE_SOCIAL_SIDE_OF_THE_WAUKESHA_CONFERENCE" id="THE_SOCIAL_SIDE_OF_THE_WAUKESHA_CONFERENCE">THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE WAUKESHA CONFERENCE.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Julia T. Rankin</span>, <i>Carnegie Library, Atlanta, Ga.</i></p> + + +<p>To chronicle the social side of the twenty-third +annual meeting of the American +Library Association is a pleasant duty. To recall +all of the courtesies extended to us by our +hosts of the Middle West would take more +time than is at my disposal and more space +than the Proceedings allot to the frivolous +recreations of the strenuous librarians. +Through the entire period of the meeting, the +good people of Waukesha did everything in +their power to make the time pass pleasantly +and Mr. Walker, the proprietor of the Fountain +Spring Hotel, worked early and late to +make the members comfortable. Golf had a +few members marked for its own, and these +were not deterred by the 110°-in-the-shade-conditions. +Dancing was in order every evening +after the meetings (Sunday excepted) +and the gentleman from Washington is said +to have solved the problem of how often a +man can dance with the same girl in a given +evening. The piazzas were ample and as each +led to some spring sooner or later, the "water +habit" became popular. The dining-room +was, in the language of the daily papers, +"taxed to its utmost," but all shortcomings +were treated with good-natured indifference +when it was understood that the hotel had +never accommodated so many people in its +history, and the management promptly increased +its force of servants to meet the occasion.</p> + +<p>According to the program the social side +of the conference should have begun on the +evening of July 3 with "friendly greetings" +at 8.30 p.m.; but as the New York party did +not arrive until 9 p.m., and the New England +party not until 2 a.m., it will readily be +seen that the friendly greetings had to be postponed. +Social amenities, however, commenced +on the morning of "the Fourth" when the +proverbial early bird, arrayed in cool flannels +or faultless duck, promenaded the long veranda +of the Fountain House and greeted the +later arrivals. As the "later arrivals" had +almost all come from a distance during one +of the hottest weeks of the hottest summer +known, and were consequently covered with +dust and cinders, it was tantalizing to see the +earlier arrivals in such cool array, and welcome +speeches were cut short until the dust +of travel could be removed.</p> + +<p>The coolness of the evening found a refreshed, +summer-attired conference wending +its way to the Methodist Church where the +public meeting was held. The speeches were +interrupted repeatedly by the festive small +boy and his Fourth of July crackers. The explosions +caused untimely mirth when they +punctuated or emphasized the well rounded +periods of the orators. The formal meeting +was followed by informal groups on the veranda +of the hotel and at the springs where +thirsty mortals never tired of drinking the +"fizzy" waters, that have made Waukesha +famous as the "Saratoga of the West," and, +indeed, the place has many features similar to +its famous Eastern prototype.</p> + +<p>Friday evening was devoted to various dinner +parties of the alumni of the library training +schools, and the dining-room with its long +tables and flowers presented a festive scene. +College yells and class cheers resounded +through the halls. One got a good idea of the +number of technically trained library assistants +now dispersed over the country.</p> + +<p>Saturday evening the hotel management +provided a dance for the guests and the great +dining hall was transformed into a gay ballroom. +Although Mr. Cutter was absent the +dancing contingent was ably represented, and +a delightful evening was enjoyed.</p> + +<p>The program meetings were well attended +and the many papers presented during the +sultry days of the first week made Sunday a +welcome day. The Rest Cure seemed to be +the order of the day until after lunch, when +most of the members went to Milwaukee to +see the public library, where an informal reception +was held. Misses Stearns, Dousman, +Van Valkenburgh and Stillman entertained a +party of 40 at White Fish Bay. A trolley ride +to Milwaukee and on to this beautiful bay +proved a good appetizer for the very excellent +lunch provided. The view of the lake was +keenly enjoyed and the day was clear and +cool. Twenty miles home and an early supper, +and most of us were willing to retire ear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>ly, +for the trip to Madison next day was +scheduled for an early hour.</p> + +<p>Although the day spent in Madison was not +strictly a "social" feature of the conference, +yet so delightfully did the citizens of Madison +welcome the visiting librarians that the +record of the day in truth belongs to the +social chronicler. Its pleasures came as a +complete surprise to those who had not prepared +themselves with Appleton's guide and +other works of ready reference. The building +of the Historical Society is certainly one +of the most beautiful and sensibly arranged +libraries in the United States and its situation +on the outskirts of the grounds of the +University of Wisconsin leaves nothing to +be desired. In fact it would be hard to +picture a more beautiful situation for a university +town than this. The lakes, the undulating +landscapes and the beautiful roads +extending for twenty-five miles and maintained +by a committee of public spirited men, +who also are responsible for planting the +roadsides with hardy shrubs, trees and flowers, +make the external conditions ideal. The +whole party was driven through the town, +the university campus, and through five or +six miles of the park roads, and was then +escorted through the library building by Mr. +Thwaites, Mr. Bradley and the assistants. It +was while the members were being driven +through the town that the new library anthem +was perpetrated, and</p> + +<p class="blocktext"> +"Of all the cakes<br /> +My mother makes<br /> +Give me the gingerbread!"<br /> +</p> + +<p>will go down in A. L. A. history linked with</p> + +<p class="blocktext"> +"Here's to Mr. Bradley<br /> +Who smiles on us so badly,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 9em;">gladly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">madly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11em;">sadly!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The whole 350 found chairs in the gymnasium +of the university and disposed of every one +of the doughnuts promised to them by Mr. +Thwaites in his eloquent address on Luncheons +the previous day. The afternoon was spent in +inspection of the beautiful new library building, +and here an hour or so later the "official +photograph" was taken, the delegates being +seated on the steps of the library with its +stately façade for background.</p> + +<p>Madison refused to maintain us after five +o'clock, and on our return to Waukesha we +found that the City Federation of Women's +Clubs of Waukesha would be "at home" in +our honor, so we put on our prettiest frocks +and were presented in due form. The reception +committee comprised Mrs. H. Y. Youmans, +president of the State Federation; Miss +L. E. Stearns, Mrs. O. Z. Olin, Mrs. C. E. +Wilson, Miss Winifred Winans, Miss Emily +Marsh and Miss Kate Kimball. A bevy of +pretty girls served tempting ices and a musical +program was delightfully rendered.</p> + +<p>Tuesday's program was almost too much +for even the most confirmed conference attendant. +From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. and from +2 p.m. till 6 did we sit and listen or stand and +discuss the program. <a name="eastman" id="eastman">At 9 p.m. Mr. Eastman's</a> +display of library architecture, by means +of a stereopticon, proved to be one of the most +interesting features of the meeting. It is +wonderful the advancement made in this form +of library development; and still more wonderful +how many bad libraries are still being +built when so much information is to be had +on the subject.</p> + +<p>Later the dining-room was cleared and the +conscientious librarians who had sat all day +in interesting sessions were invited to relieve +<a name="monotany" id="monotany">the monotony of work</a> with the terpsichorean +muse. It was a pretty sight to see the girls +in their muslin frocks and all the young and +old members meet in the measures of a Virginia +reel. And such a reel; it will go down +to history as <i>the</i> dance of the Waukesha meeting. +Staid librarians growing bald with the +weight of a nation's libraries; quiet instructors +in library economics, all unbent to the +fascination of this old-fashioned country +dance.</p> + +<p>Wednesday's sessions were somewhat broken +by the necessary preparations for departure. +In order to leave nothing undone the hotel +management arranged a fire spectacle this +last afternoon of the conference and the fair +grounds looked their best with flames leaping +in the air and the black smoke rolling on. +There was a large attendance of spectators, +including the town fire department who declared +the exhibition a great success.</p> + +<p>Then came the leavetakings, and after many +handshakings and hearty appreciations of hospitality, +the conference gradually disintegrated +and only a small number of us were among +that fortunate party lined up along the wharf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +at Milwaukee to take the lake trip to Buffalo +<i>en route</i> to our homes.</p> + +<p>We stood in silence as the big white <i>Northwest</i> +loomed in sight. This ship and its twin-sister +the <i>Northland</i> represent the perfection +of modern lake travel and rival the trans-Atlantic +liners in elegance and comfort. It +was a sleepy party that sought staterooms +early. The morning came fine and cloudless, +and although the dawn and sunrise on the +water seemed to come very early in this high +latitude, it was a thing of beauty—an aquarelle +of Nature's best workmanship. The trip +to Mackinac was marked by the organization +of the Infinite Eight, a secret society having +blood-curdling ritual and banded together for +offensive and defensive tactics in the war upon +the cuisine—led by the gallant survivor of +the "Adventures of a house-boat." This company +attacked everything that was before it +and demolished everything within its reach. +Not until the last day were any reverses recorded +and then Neptune with his trident reduced +the gallant band to four. In memory +of this glorious record the survivors have +applied for arms consisting of a ship rampant +on a field azure and the motto</p> + +<p class="center"> +Puellæ Pallidæ non ad cenam veniunt.<br /> +</p> + +<p>When Buffalo was reached the Pan-American +exhibition claimed everyone's attention. +Most of the party were there by eleven o'clock +and spent the rest of the day. Mr. Elmendorf +claimed a number of the men and gave them +a delightful dinner in "In Nuremburg," and +everyone was in front of the great pilons +in time to see the electricity turned on at +8.30, after which the gondoliers became popular. +It was Georgia Day at the Exposition +and the A. L. A. members who had attended +the Atlanta conference were greeted by a +familiar figure in the person of Mr. Cabiniss, +who had addressed the Association at Atlanta +and was one of the orators of the day. The +most popular part of the proceedings, however, +was the singing of the refrain</p> + +<p class="blocktext"> +"He laid aside a suit of gray<br /> +To wear the Union blue" +</p> + +<p>which was cheered and encored many times.</p> + +<p>Sunday was spent at Niagara Falls by most +of the survivors and everything was accomplished, +even to going under the American +Falls. Many goodbyes were said in the Nuremburg +restaurant at the Exposition that +evening and the shutting off of the electric +light closed one of the pleasantest post-conference +trips in the history of the Association.</p> + + + + +<h3><a name="OFFICERS_AND_COMMITTEES" id="OFFICERS_AND_COMMITTEES">OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES</a></h3> + +<p class="center">SERVING IN 1900-01 AND DURING WAUKESHA CONFERENCE.</p> + + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>President:</i> Henry J. Carr, Scranton Public Library.</p> + +<p><i>First vice-president:</i> Ernest C. Richardson, +Princeton University Library.</p> + +<p><i>Second vice-president:</i> Salome Cutler Fairchild, +New York State Library.</p> + +<p><i>Secretary:</i> Frederick W. Faxon, Boston Book +Co.</p> + +<p><i>Treasurer:</i> Gardner M. Jones, Salem Public +Library.</p> + +<p><i>Recorder:</i> Helen E. Haines, <i>Library Journal,</i> +New York.</p> + +<p><i>Registrar:</i> Nina E. Browne, A. L. A. Publishing +Board, Boston.</p> + +<p><i>Trustees of the Endowment Fund:</i> Charles C. +Soule, Brookline; John M. Glenn, Baltimore, +Md.; G. W. Williams, Salem, Mass.</p> + +<p><i>A. L. A. Council:</i><a name="FNanchor_J_10" id="FNanchor_J_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_J_10" class="fnanchor">[J]</a> Henry J. Carr, John C. +Dana, Melvil Dewey, George Iles, Mary W. +Plummer, R. R. Bowker, C. A. Cutter, W. +I. Fletcher, W. E. Foster, Caroline M. +Hewins, Wm. H. Brett, F. M. Crunden, +Frank P. Hill, Hannah P. James, J. N. +Larned, C. W. Andrews, John S. Billings, +Electra C. Doren, Wm. C. Lane, J. L. Whitney, +C. H. Gould, J. K. Hosmer, Herbert +Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. +Soule.</p> + +<p><i>Executive Board:</i> President, ex-president (R. +G. Thwaites), vice-presidents, secretary, +treasurer, recorder.</p> + +<p><i>Publishing Board:</i> Chairman, W. I. Fletcher; +W. C. Lane, George Iles, R. R. Bowker, +Melvil Dewey.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="center">STANDING COMMITTEES.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>Finance:</i> James L. Whitney, George T. Little, +Charles K. Bolton.</p> + +<p><i>Co-operation:</i> W. L. R. Gifford, W. R. Eastman, +Electra C. Doren, J. G. Moulton, Agnes +E. Van Valkenburgh.</p> + +<p><i>Public Documents:</i> R. R. Bowker, Adelaide +R. Hasse, W. E. Henry, Johnson Brigham.</p> + +<p><i>Foreign Documents:</i> C. H. Gould, C. W. Andrews, +L. B. Gilmore, James Bain, Jr.</p> + +<p><i>Co-operation with Library Department of N. +E. A.:</i> J. C. Dana, Melvil Dewey, F. A. +Hutchins.</p></blockquote> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">SPECIAL COMMITTEES.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>By-Laws:</i> H. M. Utley, W. C Lane, B. C. +Steiner.</p> + +<p><i>Gifts and Bequests:</i> Reporter, George Watson +Cole.</p> + +<p><i>Handbook of American Libraries:</i> F. J. +Teggart, T. L. Montgomery, C. W. Andrews.</p> + +<p><i>International Catalog of Scientific Literature:</i> +John S. Billings, C. W. Andrews, Cyrus +Adler.</p> + +<p><i>International Co-operation:</i> E. C. Richardson, +R. R. Bowker, S. H. Ranck, Mary W. +Plummer, Cyrus Adler.</p> + +<p><i>Library Training:</i> John C. Dana, W. H. Brett, +Electra C. Doren, Eliza G. Browning, E. C. +Richardson.</p> + +<p><i>Title-pages to Periodicals:</i> W. I. Fletcher, +Thorvald Solberg.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="center">SECTIONS AND SECTION OFFICERS.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>College and Reference Section:</i> Chairman, W. +I. Fletcher; secretary, Olive Jones.</p> + +<p><i>State Library Section:</i><a name="FNanchor_K_11" id="FNanchor_K_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_K_11" class="fnanchor">[K]</a> Chairman, L. D. Carver; +secretary, Maude Thayer.</p> + +<p><i>Trustees' Section:</i> Chairman, H. M. Leipziger; +secretary, T. L. Montgomery.</p> + +<p><i>Catalog Section:</i> Chairman. A. H. Hopkins; +secretary, Agnes E. Van Valkenburgh.</p> + +<p><i>Children's Librarians' Section:</i> Chairman, Annie +C. Moore; secretary, Mary E. Dousman.</p></blockquote> + + + + +<h3><a name="ATTENDANCE_REGISTER" id="ATTENDANCE_REGISTER">ATTENDANCE REGISTER.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Abbreviations</span>: F., Free; P., Public; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; As. Assistant; Ref., Reference; S., +School; Com., Commission; Tr. Trustee.</p> + + +<blockquote> + +<p>Abbott, Elizabeth Lilyan, As. P. L., Cincinnati, +O.</p> + +<p>Adams, Katharine S., Ln. Adams Memorial +L., Wheaton, Ill.</p> + +<p>Adams, Zella Frances, Library Organizer, 624 +Church St, Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Ahern, Mary Eileen, Ed. <i>Public Libraries,</i> +Library Bureau, Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Allen, Jessie. As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Allen, Jessie M., 229 No. Topeka Ave., +Wichita, Kan.</p> + +<p>Allen, Sylvia M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Ambrose, Lodilla, As. Ln. Northwestern Univ. +L., Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Anderson, Edwin Hatfield, Ln. Carnegie L., +Pittsburgh, Pa.</p> + +<p>Andrews, Clement Walker, Ln. The John +Crerar L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Apple, Helen, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Applegate, Elsie, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Bacon, Gertrude. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Baker, Florence E., State Hist Soc. L., Madison, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Baldwin, Clara F., Ln. Minn. State L. Commission, +514 Masonic Temple, Minneapolis, +Minn.</p> + +<p>Ball, Lucy, Ex. Ln., 210 N. Union St., Grand +Rapids. Mich.</p> + +<p>Bangs, Mary Freeman, 80 Huntington Ave., +Boston, Mass.</p> + +<p>Bardwell, Willis Arthur, As. Ln. P. L., +Brooklyn, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Bardwell. Mrs. Willis A., Brooklyn, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Barker, Bess L., As. P. L., Portland, Oregon.</p> + +<p>Barnard, Pierce R., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Barnes, Mrs. Clara P., Ln. Gilbert M. Simmons +L., Kenosha. Wis.</p> + +<p>Bate, Florence E., McClure, Phillips & Co., +141 E. 25th St, N. Y. City.</p> + +<p>Bates, Flora J., Cataloger, 7013 Yale Ave., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Beck, Sue, Ln. P. L., Crawfordsville, Ind.</p> + +<p>Beer, William, Ln. Howard Memorial L. and +Fisk Free and P. L., New Orleans, La.</p> + +<p>Bell, Martha W., Ln. P. L., Beloit, Wis.</p> + +<p>Benedict, Laura Estelle Watson, Ln. Lewis +Institute. Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Bennett, Helen Prentiss, Ln. P. L., Mattoon, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Berryman, J. R., Ln. State L., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Best, Mrs. Louise L., Ln. P. L., Janesville, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Billon, Sophie C., Ln. L. Assoc, Davenport, +Ia.</p> + +<p>Biscoe, Ellen Lord, Albany, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Biscoe, Walter Stanley, Senior Ln. State L., +Albany, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Bishop, William Warner, Ln. Academic Dept., +Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Blend, Belle, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Booth, Jessie. As. P. L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Bowerman, George Franklin, Ln. Wilmington +Inst. F. L., Wilmington, Del.</p> + +<p>Bowerman. Mrs. George F., Wilmington, Del.</p> + +<p>Bowker, R. R., Ed. <i>Library Journal,</i> N. Y. +City.</p> + +<p>Bradley, Isaac S., Ln. and Asst. Supt. State +Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Branch, Elizabeth, Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Brett, W. H., Ln. P. L., Cleveland, O.</p> + +<p>Briesen, Henreiette von, Ln. P. L., Manitowoc, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Brigham, Johnson, Ln. State L., Des Moines, +Ia.</p> + +<p>Brigham, Mrs. Johnson, Des Moines, Ia.</p> + +<p>Brigham, Mabel. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Brown, Bertha Mower, Ln. P. L., Eau Claire, +Wis.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Brown, Gertrude L., Cataloger F. P. L., +Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Brown, Margaret W., Travelling L. As., State +L., Des Moines, Ia.</p> + +<p>Brown, Walter L., As. Supt. P. L., Buffalo, +N. Y.</p> + +<p>Browne, Nina E., Sec'y A. L. A. Publishing +Board, 10-1/2 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. +Registrar, A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Browning, Eliza G., Ln. P. L., Indianapolis, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Buntescher, Josephine, As. P. L., Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Burnet, Duncan, 701 Glenwood Av., Avondale, +Cincinnati, O.</p> + +<p>Burns, Adeline, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Burton, Kate, Ln. P. L., Geneva, Ill.</p> + +<p>Calkins, Mary J., Ln. P. L., Racine, Wis.</p> + +<p>Canfield, Dr. James H., Ln. Columbia Univ. +L., New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Cargill, Joseph, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Carpenter, Mary F., Ln. State Normal School, +West Superior, Wis.</p> + +<p>Carr, Henry J., Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa., and +Pres. A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Carr, Mrs. Henry J., Scranton, Pa.</p> + +<p>Carter, Lillian M., As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Carver, L D., Ln. State L., Augusta, Me.</p> + +<p>Carver, Mrs. L. D., Augusta, Me.</p> + +<p>Chapin, Artena M., 1st As. State L., Indianapolis, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Chapman, Mabel E., Ln. Milwaukee-Downer +College, Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Chapman, Susan, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Chase, Adelaide M., 109 Brooks St, W. Medford, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Chase, Jessie C., As. P. L., Detroit, Mich.</p> + +<p>Cheney, John Vance, Ln. Newberry L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Chipman, Kate, Ln. P. L., Anderson, Ind.</p> + +<p>Clark, Josephine A., Ln. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, +Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Clarke, Elizabeth Porter, Ref. Ln. F. P. L., +Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Clatworthy, Linda M., Cataloger P. L., Dayton, +O.</p> + +<p>Coad, Priscilla, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Cole, Theodore Lee, ex-Trustee, 13 Corcoran +Bldg., Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Colerick, Margaret M., Ln. P. L., Fort +Wayne, Ind.</p> + +<p>Cooke, Thos. F., Pres. F. L., Algona, Ia.</p> + +<p>Corey, Deloraine Pendre, Pres. P. L., Malden, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Corey, Mrs. Deloraine P., Malden, Mass.</p> + +<p>Cory, H. Elizabeth, Ln. Carnegie L., Lawrenceville +Br., Pittsburgh, Pa.</p> + +<p>Countryman, Gratia A., As. Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, +Minn.</p> + +<p>Crafts, Lettie M., As. Ln. Univ. of Minnesota, +Tr. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn.</p> + +<p><a name="Harison" id="Harison">Craver, Harrison Warwick</a>, As. Carnegie L. +Technical Science Dept., Pittsburgh, Pa.</p> + +<p>Crawford, Esther, Head Instructor Summer +School for Librarians, State Univ., Iowa +City, Ia.</p> + +<p>Crim, Margaret E., Clerk P. L. Com. of Indiana, +Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Crunden, Frederick M., Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Curran, Mrs. Mary H., Ln. P. L., Bangor, Me.</p> + +<p>Cutter, William Parker, Chief Order Division +L. of Congress, Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Dana, John Cotton, Ln. City L., Springfield, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Danforth, George F., Ln. Indiana Univ. L., +Bloomington, Ind.</p> + +<p>Davis, H. W., <i>Milwaukee Free Press,</i> Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Davis, Olin Sylvester, Ln. P. L., Lakeport, +N. H.</p> + +<p>Dean, C. Ruth, As. P. L., St Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Decker, Cora M., As. Ln. P. L., Scranton, +Pa.</p> + +<p>De Moe, Claire, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Denison, George A., C. & G. Merriam Co., +Springfield, Mass.</p> + +<p>Denton, J. H., Chairman P. L. Com., Toronto, +Canada.</p> + +<p>Dewey, Melvil, Director State L., Albany, N. +Y.</p> + +<p>Dexter, Lydia Aurelia, 2920 Calumet Ave., +Chicago. Ill.</p> + +<p>Dickey, Helene L., Ln. Chicago Normal S., +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Dill, Miss Minnie A., As. Ln. P. L., Decatur, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Dillingham, W. P., Tr. State L., Montpelier, +Vt.</p> + +<p>Dippel, Clara E., As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Dixson, Mrs. Zella A., Ln. Univ. of Chicago, +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Dockery, Mrs. E. J., F. L. Com., Boise, +Idaho.</p> + +<p>Donaldson, Allison, As. P. L., Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Doolittle, Hattie A., Ln. Williams F. L., Beaver +Dam., Wis.</p> + +<p>Doren, Electra Collins, Ln. P. L., Dayton, O.</p> + +<p>Douglas, Matthew Hale, Ln. Iowa Coll. L., +Grinnell, Ia.</p> + +<p>Dousman, Mary Ella, Head Children's Dept., +P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Downey, Mary E., As. Ln. Field Columbian +Museum, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Drummond, Mary, Tr. Adams Memorial L., +Wheaton, Ill.</p> + +<p>Dudley, W. H., As. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin, +Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Durham, Josephine E., Ln. P. L., Danville, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Dwight, Agnes L., Ln. F. P. L., Appleton, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Earl, Mrs. Elizabeth C., P. L., Com. of Indiana, +Connersville. Ind.</p> + +<p>Eastman, Linda A., Vice-Ln. P. L., Cleveland, +O.</p> + +<p>Eastman, William Reed, Inspector P. L. +Dept., State L., Albany, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Eaton, Harriet L., As. P. L., Oshkosh, Wis.</p> + +<p>Elliott, Carrie. Ref. Ln. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elliott, Julia E., Ln. P. L., Marinette, Wis.</p> + +<p>Ellison, Mrs. Annette C., Children's Ln. P. +L., Minneapolis, Minn.</p> + +<p>Elrod, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Columbus, Ind.</p> + +<p>Engle, Emma R., As. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Ensign, Katherine W., 404 E. 2d St., Duluth, +Minn.</p> + +<p>Evans, Mrs. Alice G., Ln. P. L., Decatur, Ill.</p> + +<p>Faddis, Miss Zoe, As. Chicago S. of Education +L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Fairbanks, May L., Ln. Cornell Coll., Mt. +Vernon, Ia.</p> + +<p>Fatout, Nellie B., Ln. P. L., Elwood, Ind.</p> + +<p>Faxon, Frederick Winthrop, Manager Library +Dept., The Boston Book Co., Boston, Secretary +of A. L. A. (address 108 Glenway +St., Dorchester, Mass.)</p> + +<p>Faxon, Mrs. F. W., Dorchester, Mass.</p> + +<p>Felt, Anna E., Financial Secy. Board of Library +Directors, Galena, Ill.</p> + +<p>Fernald, Helen Augusta, 384 Adams St., Dorchester, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Ferrell, Cullom Holmes, Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Ferrell, L. C., Supt. of Documents, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Ferrell, Mrs. L. C., Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Field, Walter T., Library Dept. Ginn & Co., +378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Field, Mrs. Walter T., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Fitzgerald, Eva M., Ln. P. L., Kokomo, Ind.</p> + +<p>Fletcher, William I., Ln. Amherst Coll. L., +Amherst, Mass.</p> + +<p>Flint, Col. Weston, Ln. P. L. of the District +of Columbia, Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Forstall, Gertrude, As. The John Crerar L., +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Foss, Sam Walter, Ln. P. L., Somerville, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Foster, Mary Stuart, As. Wis. State Hist. +Soc., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Foye, Charlotte H., As. The John Crerar L., +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Frame, Hon. A. J., Waukesha, Wis.</p> + +<p>Frame, Walter, Waukesha, Wis.</p> + +<p>Freeman, Marilla Waite, Ln. P. L., Michigan +City, Ind.</p> + +<p>Gainer, Mrs. C. A., Ln. State L., Boise, Idaho.</p> + +<p>Galbreath, C. B., Ln. State L., Columbus, O.</p> + +<p>Gale, Ellen, Ln. P. L., Rock Island, Ill.</p> + +<p>Ganley, Marie, Cataloger P. L., Detroit, Mich.</p> + +<p>George, Helene Thekla, Ln. F. P. L., Sioux +Falls, S. D.</p> + +<p>Gerould, James Thayer, Ln. Univ. of Missouri +L., Columbia, Mo.</p> + +<p>Glatfelter, Mr. J. H., L. Bldg. Committee, +State Normal School, Emporia, Kan.; Supt. +City School, Atchison, Kan.</p> + +<p>Godard, George S., Ln. State L., Hartford, +Conn.</p> + +<p>Goding, Sarah E., As. Ln. F. L., Philadelphia, +Pa.</p> + +<p>Goldberger, Ottilie, Clerk P. L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Gould, H. A., L. Dept. A. C. McClurg & Co., +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Goulding, Philip S., Head Cataloger Univ. of +Missouri L., Columbia, Mo.</p> + +<p>Gove, Hon. P. L., Mayor, Waukesha, Wis.</p> + +<p>Graham, Emma, Ln. P. L., Sidney, O.</p> + +<p>Gray, John H., Tr. Northwestern Univ. L., +Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Greene, Janet M., Organizer, 4812 Indiana +Ave., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Gunthorp, Pauline, As. The John Crerar L., +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hackett, Irene A., Ln. Y. M. C. A. L., Brooklyn, +N. Y.</p> + +<p>Hafner, Alfred, Bookseller, 9 E. 16th St, +New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Hafner, Mrs. Alfred, New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Haines, Helen E., Managing Ed. <i>Library +Journal,</i> N. Y. City. Recorder A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Hall, Howard J., Ln. Univ. of Arizona L., +Tucson, Ariz.</p> + +<p>Haller, F. L., Trav. L. Commissioner, care +Lininger & Metcalf Co., Omaha, Neb.</p> + +<p>Hamilton, Ella A., Ln. P. L., Whitewater, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Hanna, Belle S., Ln. P. L., Greencastle, Ind.</p> + +<p>Hanson, James Christian Meinich, Chief Catalog +Division, L. of Congress, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Hardy, E. A., Sec. P. L., Lindsay, Ont.</p> + +<p>Harpole, Minnie P., As. Ln. Library Bureau, +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Harris, George William, Ln. Cornell Univ. L., +Ithaca, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Harrison, Joseph Le Roy, Ln. Providence +Athenæum, Providence, R. I.</p> + +<p>Harter, Lyle, Ln. P. L., Huntington, Ind.</p> + +<p>Hartswick, Howard B., 1st As. State L., Harrisburg, +Pa.</p> + +<p>Hartswick, Mrs. Jennie Betts, Clearfield, Pa.</p> + +<p>Hawley, Emma A., As. Ln. State Hist Soc., +Madison. Wis.</p> + +<p>Hawley, Mary E., As. Cataloger The John +Crerar L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hayes, Rutherford Platt, Asheville, N. C.</p> + +<p>Henderson, Mrs. Kate A., Ln. P. L., Joliet, Ill.</p> + +<p>Henneberry, Kate M., As. Ln. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Hensel, Martin, Ln. P. School L., Columbus, +O.</p> + +<p>Henry, W. E., Ln. State L., Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Hild, Frederick H., Ln. P. L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hill, Cora M., Supt. Circulating Dept. F. P. +L., Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hill, Prof. J. H., Latin Professor; Chairman +L. Committee, State Normal School, Emporia, +Kan.</p> + +<p>Hilligoss, Gertrude, As. P. L., Indianapolis, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Hine, J. W., Art Metal Construction Co., Boston.</p> + +<p>Hine, Mrs. J. W., Boston.</p> + +<p>Hoagland, Merica, L. Organizer of Indiana, +Office of P. L. Com., State House, Indianapolis, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Hock, Mrs. Maggie, Kokomo, Ind.</p> + +<p>Hodges, Nathaniel Dana Carlile, Ln. P. L., +Cincinnati, O.</p> + +<p>Hoover, Anna F., Ln. P. L., Galesburg, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hopkins, Anderson Hoyt, As. Ln. The John +Crerar L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> + +<p>Horne, Miss Lulu, As. City L., Lincoln, Neb.</p> + +<p>Hornor, Martha, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Hosmer, Prof. James Kendall, Ln. P. L., +Minneapolis, Minn.</p> + +<p>Hostetter, A. B., Supt. and Sec'y Illinois +Farmers' Institute, Springfield, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hostetter, Mrs. A. B., Springfield, Ill.</p> + +<p>Hough, Georgia Rodman, Ln. P. L., Madison, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Howard, Clara E., Student Univ. of Ill. L. S., +Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Howey, Mrs. Laura E., Ln. Hist. Dept. State +L., Helena, Mont.</p> + +<p>Hoyt, Jessie F., As. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis.</p> + +<p>Hubbard, Anna G., Ref. Ln. State L., Indianapolis, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Hubbell, Jennie P., Ln. P. L., Rockford, Ill.</p> + +<p>Huse, Hiram A., Ln. State L., Montpelier, Vt.</p> + +<p>Hutchins, Frank A., Sec. Wisconsin F. L. +Commission, Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Hyer, F. S., Agent Houghton, Mifflin & Co., +378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Iles, George, Journalist, Park Ave. Hotel, N. +Y. City.</p> + +<p>Ingalls, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Fort Madison, Ia.</p> + +<p>Johnson, Mary Hannah, Ln. Howard L., +Nashville, Tenn.</p> + +<p>Jones, Elizabeth D., Pasadena, Cal.</p> + +<p>Jones, Gardner Maynard, Ln. P. L., Salem, +Mass. Treasurer A. L. A.</p> + +<p>Jones, Mary Letitia, Ln. P. L., Los Angeles, +Cal.</p> + +<p>Jones, Olive, Ln. Ohio State Univ. L., Columbus, +O.</p> + +<p>Josephson, Aksel Gustav Salomon, Cataloger +The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Jutton, Emma R., Reviser Univ. of Ill. L. S., +Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Kautz, F. R., Tr. Butler Coll. L., Irvington, +Ind.</p> + +<p>Kealhofer, William, Tr. Washington Co. F. +L., Hagerstown, Md.</p> + +<p>Keefer, Jessie G., As. P. L., Scranton, Pa.</p> + +<p>Kellogg, Myra, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind.</p> + +<p>Kelso, Tessa L., with Baker, Taylor Co., N. +Y. City.</p> + +<p>Kennedy, John Pendleton, L. of Congress, +Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Keogh, Andrew, Ln. Linonian & Brothers L., +Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn.</p> + +<p>Kercheval, Margaret McE., 1st As. Howard +L., Nashville, Tenn.</p> + +<p>Kerr, Willis Holmes, Acting Vice-Pres. Bellevue +Coll., Bellevue, Neb.</p> + +<p>Knudson, Signa, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Kohler, Minnie, Ln. P. L., Moline, Ill.</p> + +<p>Krengel, F. W., Adv. Dept. <i>Public Libraries,</i> +Library Bureau, Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Kroeger, Miss Alice Bertha, Ln. Drexel Inst. +L., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Lamb, Mary J., As. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis.</p> + +<p>Lane, Harriet, Ln. P. L., Freeport, Ill.</p> + +<p>Lane, Lucius Page, As. P. L., Boston, Mass.</p> + +<p>Langton, Joseph F., As. Ln. P. L., St. Louis, +Mo.</p> + +<p>Larson, Charles A., As. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Lawson, Publius V., Vice-Pres. L. Board, +Menasha, Wis. Pres. Fox River Valley L. +Assoc. Pres. Winnebago County Board of +Libraries.</p> + +<p>Leach, Davis Parker, Ln. L. Assoc., Portland, +Ore.</p> + +<p>Leavitt, Charlotte D., Ln. McClymonds P. L., +Massillon, O.</p> + +<p>Leipziger, Dr. Henry M., Consulting Ln. +Aguilar F. L., New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Leipziger, Pauline, Ln. Aguilar F. L., New +York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Leonard, Charles H., 414 E. Fulton St., Grand +Rapids, Mich.</p> + +<p>Leonard, Mrs. Charles H., Grand Rapids, +Mich.</p> + +<p>Lewis, Kate, West Superior, Wis.</p> + +<p>Light, Matilda M., As. P. L., Dayton, O.</p> + +<p>Lindsay, Mary Boyden, Ln. F. P. L., Evanston, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Little, George T., Ln. Bowdoin Coll. L., +Brunswick, Me.</p> + +<p>Lucas, Stella, Ln. Memorial F. L., Menomonie, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Luce, Cyrus G., Pres. Michigan L. Com., +Coldwater, Mich.</p> + +<p>Luce, Mrs. Cyrus G., Coldwater, Mich.</p> + +<p>Lyman, Edna. Children Ln. Scoville Inst., +Oak Park, Ill.</p> + +<p>McCaine, Mrs. Helen J., Ln. P. L., St. Paul, +Minn.</p> + +<p>McCormick, Lilian, Ln. Superior P. L., West +Superior, Wis.</p> + +<p>McCrory, Harriette L., Ln. F. P. L., Cedar +Rapids, Ia.</p> + +<p>McCullough, Elizabeth, Ln. P. L., Logansport, +Ind.</p> + +<p>MacDonald, Katharine A., As. Sec. F. L. +Com., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>McDonnell, Pearl, As. Ln. Univ. of Washington, +Seattle, Wash.</p> + +<p>McElroy, E. P., Ln. F. P. L., Algona, Ia.</p> + +<p>McIlvaine, Caroline M., As. Newberry L., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>McIlvaine, Mabel, As. Newberry L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>McIntosh, Margaret, As. P. L., Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>McKee, Horace A., Library Bureau, Chicago.</p> + +<p>McKee, Syrena, Ln. P. L., Leavenworth, Kan.</p> + +<p>McKillop, Samuel, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>McLane, Mary, Ln. Joseph Dessert P. L., +Mosinee, Wis.</p> + +<p>McLoney, Ella M., Ln. P. L., Des Moines, Ia.</p> + +<p>McMahon, Joseph H., Cathedral L., New +York City.</p> + +<p>McNeil, Anne H., Ln. St. Supt. Office, Madison, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Macomber, Mary E., Ln. Kellogg-Hubbard +L., Montpelier, Vt.</p> + +<p>Macpherson, Maud R., As. Ln. Gilbert M. +Simmons L., Kenosha, Wis.</p> + +<p>Manchester, Bessie I., As. P. L., Detroit, +Mich.</p> + +<p>Mann, Margaret, As. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., +Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<p>Martin, Deborah B., Ln. Kellogg P. L., Green +Bay, Wis.</p> + +<p>Marvin, Cornelia, Instructor F. L. Com., +Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Marvin, Mabel, Head Cataloger, Univ. of +Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Marx, Bertha, Ln. P. L., Sheboygan, Wis.</p> + +<p>Mattison, Olinia May, As. Northwestern +Univ. L., Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Mealey, Edward W., Pres. Trustees Washington +Co. F. L., Hagerstown, Md.</p> + +<p>Meleney, G. B., Manager Library Bureau, +Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Meleney, Harriet E., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Melvill, Jessie D., Substitute Ln. P. L., Galena, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Menzies, Mrs. Minnie, Children's Ln. P. L., +Janesville, Wis.</p> + +<p>Merrill, Julia Wright, As. Cataloger P. L., +Cincinnati, O.</p> + +<p>Merrill, William Stetson, Chief Classifier +Newberry L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Merryman, Bertha, Marinette, Wis.</p> + +<p>Meyer, Emma, Ln. P. L., Delphi, Ind.</p> + +<p>Miller, Else, Supt. Delivery Stations, P. L., +St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Mills, M. Emily, As. The John Crerar L., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Miner, Mrs. Sarah H., Cataloger Univ. of +Wisconsin L., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Mitchell, Tryphena G., Ln. Vaughn L., Ashland, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Montgomery. Thomas L., Ln. Wagner F. +Inst. L., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Montross, Elizabeth, As. The John Crerar +L., Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>Moody, Katharine Twining, As. P. L., St. +Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Moore, Evva L., Ln. Scoville Inst., Oak Park, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Morris, F. M., Bookseller, 171 Madison St., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Moulton, John Grant, Ln. P. L., Haverhill, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Mudge, Isadore G., Ref. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., +Urbana, Ill.</p> + +<p>Neisser, Emma Rittenhouse, Travelling Libraries, +F. L., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Nelson, E. A., Ln. State L., St. Paul, Minn.</p> + +<p>Newman, L. M., Chippewa Falls, Wis.</p> + +<p>Nicholl, Mary Wylie, Ln. Bellevue Coll., +Bellevue, Neb.</p> + +<p>Nicholson, Mrs. George T., 4009 Lake Ave., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Nunns, Anne E., As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Oakley, Minnie M., As. Ln. State Hist. Soc., +Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>O'Brien, Margaret A., As. Ln. P. L., Omaha, +Neb.</p> + +<p>Ogden, Miss J. F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Ogilvie, Jane, Ln. P. L., Antigo, Wis.</p> + +<p>Olcott, Florence, As. Ln. P. L., Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Paddock, Catherine D., Library Organizer, +5451 Cornell Ave., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Palmer, W. Millard, Bookseller, 20 Monroe +St., Grand Rapids, Mich.</p> + +<p>Parham, Nellie E., Ln. Withers P. L., Bloomington, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Parker, H. W., Ln. Mechanics' Inst. L., New +York City.</p> + +<p>Parker, Keta B., Acting Ln. Virginia L. McCormick +Theological Seminary, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Parmele, Ella Goodwin, Ln. State Normal +School L., Oshkosh, Wis.</p> + +<p>Parsons, N. B., Library Bureau, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Parsons, Mrs. N. B., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Patenaude, Rose E., Ln. Peter White P. L., +Marquette, Mich.</p> + +<p>Patten, Katharine, As. P. L., Minneapolis, +Minn.</p> + +<p>Patton, Adah, Student Univ. of Illinois L. S., +Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Patton, Normand S., Architect, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Payne, W. P., Pres. Trustees P. L., Nevada, +Ia.</p> + +<p>Payne, Mrs. W. P., Nevada, Ia.</p> + +<p>Perley, Clarence W., As. The John Crerar +L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Perry, Chesley R., As. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Pierce, Mary, Cataloger P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Pifer, Ida F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Plummer, Mary Wright, Director Pratt Inst. +L., Brooklyn, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Poirier, Lydia M., Ln. P. L., Duluth, Minn.</p> + +<p>Pollard, Annie A., 2d As. P. L., Grand +Rapids. Mich.</p> + +<p>Porter, Washington T., Tr. P. L., Cincinnati, +O.</p> + +<p>Potter, Kate M., Ln. City L., Baraboo, Wis.</p> + +<p>Potter, Lucy A., As. Ln. State Normal +School L., Oshkosh, Wis.</p> + +<p>Pray, T. B., State Normal S., Stevens Point, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Price, Anna M., Ln. Univ. of S. Dakota L., +Vermillion, S. D.</p> + +<p>Price, Helen L., L. Organizer, Urbana, Ill.</p> + +<p>Putnam, Mrs. Hannah, Canton, Ill.</p> + +<p>Putnam, Herbert, Ln. of Congress, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Radcliffe, Alice, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Rankin, Julia Toombs, As. Ln. Carnegie L., +Atlanta, Ga.</p> + +<p>Reed, Mrs. Adele C. Paxton, Ill.</p> + +<p>Reeve, Dr. J. T., Secy. F. P. L., Appleton, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Remmer, Mary E., Cataloger P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Resor, Mrs. Josephine H., Ln. Parlin L., +Canton, Ill.</p> + +<p>Riblet, L. E., Waukesha. Wis.</p> + +<p>Ringier, Margaret, Deputy Ln. P. L., Quincy, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Robertson, Josephine Chester, Head Cataloger +Univ. of Chicago, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Robinson, Lydia G., As. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Roddy, Marie Louise, As. P. L., Milwaukee, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Roden, Carl B., Supt. Order Dept. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Rommeiss, Emma, As. P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>Root, Azariah Smith, Ln. Oberlin Coll, L., +Oberlin, O.</p> + +<p>Roper, Eleanor, Senior As. The John Crerar +L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Rose, Emma E., Ln. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis.</p> + +<p>Russel, J. R., Ln. P. L., Butte, Mont.</p> + +<p>Russell, Janet, Ln. P. L., Merrill, Wis.</p> + +<p>Ryerson, E. Egerton, As. Ln. P. L., Toronto, Can.</p> + +<p>Sacksteder, M. A., Open Court Publishing +Co., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Salisbury, Grace E., As. Ln. State Normal S., +Whitewater, Wis.</p> + +<p>Salisbury, O. M., Agent Ginn & Co., Madison, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Sanders, Mrs. Minerva A., Ln. F. P. L., +Pawtucket, R. I.</p> + +<p>Sawyer, Ida E., Cataloger Northwestern +Univ. L., Evanston, Ill.</p> + +<p>Schmidt, Eliza, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Sears, Minnie E., As. Cataloger Univ. of Illinois +L., Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Seely, Blanche, As. The John Crerar L., +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Seeman, Samuel, William G. Johnson & Co., +Pittsburg, Pa.</p> + +<p>Seeman, Mrs. Samuel, Pittsburg, Pa.</p> + +<p>Scott, Mrs. Frances Hanna, Ln. Mich. Coll. +of Mines, Houghton, Mich.</p> + +<p>Sharp, Katharine Lucinda, Head Ln. and Director +State L. S. Univ. of Illinois, Champaign, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Shaw, R. K., As. L. of Congress, Washington, +D. C.</p> + +<p>Shepard, Rhoda C., Ln. <a name="Shortbridge" id="Shortbridge">Shortridge High S.</a>, +Indianapolis. Ind.</p> + +<p>Silverthorn, Nellie C., Ln. P. L., Wausau, Wis.</p> + +<p>Simonds, May, As. Mercantile L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Simonson, Roger A., Library Bureau, Chicago</p> + +<p>Simpson, Frances, Cataloger Univ. of Illinois +L., Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Skavlem, Gertrude J., As. Ln. P. L., Janesville, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Skinner, Marie A., Ln. P. L., Lake Forest, Ill.</p> + +<p>Smith, Elizabeth, Sec'y L. Board, De Pere, +Wis.</p> + +<p>Smith, Elizabeth Church, As. State Hist. +Soc., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Smith, Faith E., Ln. P. L., Sedalia, Mo.</p> + +<p>Smith, Laura, Chief Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, +O.</p> + +<p>Smith, Susan T., Ln. State Normal S., Chico, +Cal.</p> + +<p>Smith, Walter McMynn. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin +L., Madison. Wis.</p> + +<p>Smythe, Elizabeth Harris, Circulating L., 31 +Washington St., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Soule, Charles Carroll, ex-Trustee, Pres. The +Boston Book Co., Boston, Mass.</p> + +<p>Sperry, Ethel, Waterbury, Conn.</p> + +<p>Sperry, Helen, Ln. Bronson L., Waterbury, Conn.</p> + +<p>Stearns, Lutie E., Library Organizer Wisconsin +F. L. Com., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Steiner, Dr. Bernard C., Ln. Enoch Pratt F. +L., Baltimore, Md.</p> + +<p>Stern, Renée B., 5515 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Stevens, Edith, Boone, Ia.</p> + +<p>Stevens, Olive, As. Ln. Iowa State College L., +Ames, Ia.</p> + +<p>Stevenson, William Marshall, Ln. Carnegie +F. L., Allegheny, Pa.</p> + +<p>Stewart, Rose Gemmill, Cataloger F. L., +Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Stillman, Mary Louise, Supt. Issue Dept. P. +L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Stites, Katherine, Ln. F. P. L., Hoopeston, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Stout, Hon. J. H., Trustee Mabel Tainter +L., Menomonie, Wis.</p> + +<p>Strohm, Adam, Ln. Armour Inst, of Technology, +Chicago.</p> + +<p>Stuart, William H., Leary, Stuart & Co., 9 +S. 9th St., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Stuart, Mrs. William H., Philadelphia, Pa.</p> + +<p>Stuntz, Steve C., As. Univ. of Wisconsin L., +Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Swan, L. P., Ln. State Normal School L., +Whitewater, Mo.</p> + +<p>Thayer, Maude, As. Ln. State L., Springfield, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Thorne, Elizabeth G., Ln. F. L., Port Jervis, +N. Y.</p> + +<p>Thwaites, Reuben Gold, Sec. and Supt. State +Hist. Soc, Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Thwaites, Mrs. R. G., Madison, Wis.</p> + +<p>Todd, Marie A., As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn.</p> + +<p>Tuttle, Elizabeth, As. Ln. L. I. Hist. Soc, +Brooklyn, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Tyler, Alice S., Sec. Iowa L. Com., Des +Moines, Ia.</p> + +<p>Urban, Gertrude, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Utley, Henry M., Ln. P. L., Detroit, Mich.</p> + +<p>Van Valkenburgh, Agnes E., Head Cataloger +P. L., Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p>Vincent, Mrs. Anna C., As. Ln. P. L., Rockford, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Voges, Aug., Bookseller, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Waddell, Nina T., 2d As. Ln. P. L., Kansas +City, Mo.</p> + +<p>Wagner, Sula, Cataloger P. L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>Wales, Elizabeth B., Ln. P. L., Quincy, Ill.</p> + +<p>Walker, Evelyn H., Ln. All Souls Church, +3939 Langley Ave., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Wall, Lenore, Cataloger P. L., Quincy, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wallace, Anne, Ln. Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga.</p> + +<p>Wallace, Charlotte Elizabeth, Ln. Hazelwood +Br. Carnegie L., Pittsburg, Pa.</p> + +<p>Warren, Irene, Ln. Univ. of Chicago School +of Education, Chicago.</p> + +<p>Waters, W. O., Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, +Ill.</p> + +<p>Watson, Carrie M., Ln. Univ. of Kansas L., +Lawrence, Kan.</p> + +<p>Weber, Mrs. Jessie Palmer, Ln. State Hist. +L., Springfield, Ill.</p> + +<p>Weber, Linda, Springfield. Ill.</p> + +<p>Webster, Ida M., Ln. P. L., Lincoln, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wellman, Hiller Crowell, Ln. P. L., Brookline, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Welsh, Robert Gilbert, Manager Library Dept. +Charles Scribner's Sons, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wescoat, Lulu M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo.</p> + +<p>West, Mabel G., Cataloger Knox College L., +Galesburg, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wheelock, Mary E., Ln. P. L., Grinnell, Ia.</p> + +<p>Whitaker, Alfred E., Ln. Univ. of Colorado, +Boulder, Col.</p> + +<p>White, Peter, State L. Commission, Marquette, +Mich.</p> + +<p>Whitten, Robert H., Sociology Ln. State L., +Albany, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Whitten, Mrs. Robert H., Albany, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Whitney, Mrs. Carrie Westlake, Ln. P. L., +Kansas City, Mo.</p> + +<p>Wilkerson, Elizabeth B., Cataloger Cossitt L., +Memphis, Tenn.</p> + +<p>Williams, Lizzie Annie, Ln. P. L., Malden, +Mass.</p> + +<p>Williams, Mary, As. Hampton Inst. L., +Hampton, Va.</p> + +<p>Wilson, Halsey W., Cumulative Book Index, +Minneapolis, Minn.</p> + +<p>Windsor, Phineas L., As. L. of Congress, +Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p>Wing, Florence S., Student Univ. of Illinois +L. S., Champaign, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wire, Dr. G. E., Deputy Ln. Worcester +County Law L., Worcester, Mass.</p> + +<p>Wood, Harriet Ann, Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, +O.</p> + +<p>Wood, Mary Whistler, Cataloger P. L., Chicago.</p> + +<p>Woods, Henry F., Ln. P. L., East St. Louis, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wright, Charles Edward, Ln. Andrew Carnegie +F. L., Carnegie, Pa.</p> + +<p>Wright, Mrs. Mary L., Ln. P. L. Streator, Ill.</p> + +<p>Wright, Purd B., Ln. F. P. L., St. Joseph, Mo.</p> + +<p>Wyer, James Ingersoll, Jr., Ln. Univ. of +Nebraska L., Lincoln, Neb.</p> + +<p>Wyer, Malcolm G., Excelsior, Minn.</p> + +<p>Youmans, Mrs. Henry M., Pres. Wisconsin +State Federation of Women's Clubs, Waukesha, +Wis.</p></blockquote> + + + + +<h3><a name="ATTENDANCE_SUMMARIES" id="ATTENDANCE_SUMMARIES">ATTENDANCE SUMMARIES.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Nina E. Browne</span>, <i>Registrar; Librarian of Library Bureau, Boston; +Secretary A. L. A. Publishing Board</i>.</p> + + +<p class="center">BY POSITION AND SEX.</p> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td></td><td> Men.</td><td> Women.</td><td> Total.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Trustees and other officers</td><td align="right">24</td><td align="right">11</td><td align="right">35</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Chief librarians</td><td align="right">56</td><td align="right">118</td><td align="right">174</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Assistants</td><td align="right">31</td><td align="right">136</td><td align="right">167</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Library Bureau, booksellers, etc.</td><td align="right">23</td><td align="right">4</td><td align="right">27</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Library school students</td><td></td><td align="right">3</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Others</td><td align="right">14</td><td align="right">40</td><td align="right">54</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right">—–</td><td align="right">—–</td><td align="right">—–</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">148</td><td align="right">312</td><td align="right">460</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p class="center">BY GEOGRAPHICAL SECTIONS.</p> + + + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">9</td><td>of the</td><td align="left">9 No.</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>states</td><td>sent</td><td align="right">87</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">6</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">9 So.</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">23</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2</td><td>"</td> <td align="left">8 So.</td><td> Central</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">4</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">8</td><td align="center">"</td> <td align="left">8 No.</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">318</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">5</td><td align="center">"</td> <td colspan="2" align="left">8 Western</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">5</td><td align="center">"</td> <td colspan="2" align="left">8 Pacific</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">9</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="6" align="left">Canada sent</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="6"></td><td align="right ">—–</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="6" align="left">Total</td><td align="right">460</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">BY STATES.</p> + + + + <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Me.</td><td align="right">4</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N. H.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Vt.</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mass.</td><td align="right">22</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">R. I.</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Conn.</td><td align="right">4</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N. Y.</td><td align="right">28</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Pa.</td><td align="right">22</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Del.</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Md.</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">D. C.</td><td align="right">14</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Va.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N. C.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ga.</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">La.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Tenn.</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ohio.</td><td align="right">18</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ind.</td><td align="right">27</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ill.</td><td align="right">119</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mich.</td><td align="right">14</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wis.</td><td align="right">93</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Minn.</td><td align="right">13</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ia.</td><td align="right">18</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mo.</td><td align="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Kan.</td><td align="right">5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Neb.</td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">S. D.</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mont.</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Col.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ariz.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cal.</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Oregon</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Idaho</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wash.</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Canada</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="right"> —–</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">460</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<p class="center">NUMBER OF LIBRARIES REPRESENTED FROM +EACH STATE.</p> +<div class="center"> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Me.</td><td align="right">3</td><td colspan="2"> libraries represented by</td><td align="right">4</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N. H.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Vt.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mass.</td><td align="right">9</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">R. I.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Conn.</td><td align="right">3</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N. Y.</td><td align="right">13</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">17</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Pa.</td><td align="right">8</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Del.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Md.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">D. C.</td><td align="right">4</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">11</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Va.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ga.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">La.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Tenn.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ohio.</td><td align="right">9</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">17</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ind.</td><td align="left">16</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">24</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ill.</td><td align="right">38</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">86</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mich.</td><td align="right">4</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">8</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wis.</td><td align="right">35</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">76</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Minn.</td><td align="right">5</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">9</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ia.</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">14</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mo.</td><td align="right">6</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Kan.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Neb.</td><td align="right">4</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">S. D.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Mont.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Col.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ariz.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cal.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Oregon.</td><td align="right"> 1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Idaho.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wash.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Canada.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">3</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr /> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Abstract.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Preceding this first general session of the Association, +an informal social reception had been held at +The Fountain Spring House, Wednesday evening, +July 3; and during Thursday, July 4, there were +meetings of the A. L. A. Council, special committees, +etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> From the close of the Montreal meeting to close +of Waukesha meeting the total new members joined +were 280.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> This report will appear in a later issue of the +<i>Library Journal</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> Abstract.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> Abstract.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[G]</span></a> This report is from notes furnished by Miss Mary +E. Dousman, secretary of the section.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_H_8" id="Footnote_H_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_H_8"><span class="label">[H]</span></a> For report of this committee and action of Association +<i>see</i> Proceedings, p. 130.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_I_9" id="Footnote_I_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_I_9"><span class="label">[I]</span></a> Also, as president, <i>ex officio</i> member of executive +board and council.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_J_10" id="Footnote_J_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_J_10"><span class="label">[J]</span></a> Also includes members of executive board.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_K_11" id="Footnote_K_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_K_11"><span class="label">[K]</span></a> The State Library Section held no meeting, as +such, but its interests were represented in the meeting +of the National Association of State Librarians, held +simultaneously with the A. L. A. meeting, and reported +in <i>Library Journal,</i> July, 1901, p. 397.</p></div></div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="transnote"><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p> +Some inconsistencies and obvious errors in punctuation and +capitalization have been corrected without further note. +</p> +<p> + +Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. +</p> +<p> + +Unusual spellings have been retained, except as noted below. +</p> +<p> + + +Inconsistencies in spelling have been fixed in cases where there was a +clear majority of a given spelling, and otherwise retained. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 7, the <a href="#multim">word</a> "multimillionaires" was broken between lines in the +original; it has been arbitrarily rendered as "multimillionaires" as +opposed to "multi-millionaires". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 22, the <a href="#concerning">phrase</a> "to have so-called expert opinions expressed +concerning books" had "concernings" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 43, <a href="#expense">"expense"</a> was "exepense" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 48, the <a href="#autonomous">phrase</a> "independent and autonomous institutions" had +"autonymous" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 62, the <a href="#childen">phrase</a> "The best reviews of children's books ever +written" had "childen's" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 67, <a href="#unquestionable">"unquestionable"</a> was "unqestionable" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 68, there is mention of <a href="#pinkhen">"'The pink hen,'</a> by Cuthbert +Sterling." There is a fairy tale called "The Pink Hen", by Cuthbert +Spurling; this may be what was meant. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 71, <a href="#expressing">"expressing"</a> was "experssing" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 79, the word <a href="#summerschool">"summer-school"</a> was split across lines; +"summer-school" was arbitrarily chosen instead of "summerschool". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 82, the word <a href="#handbooks">"handbooks"</a> was split across lines; "handbooks" was +arbitrarily chosen instead of "hand-books"; both were in use at the +time. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 86, <a href="#questions">"questions"</a> was "questtions" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 109, the <a href="#treasurer">phrase</a> "have examined the accounts of the treasurer" +had "trueasurer" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 111, in the obituary numbered "8", the word <a href="#died">"died"</a> was surmised; +the original is unclear. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 114, the <a href="#demand">phrase</a> "the demand which would otherwise exist" had +"exists" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On. p. 117, the <a href="#indequate">phrase</a> "although with very inadequate force" appeared +in the original on a line ending in "in-" followed by a line starting +with "dequate"; hence, "indequate". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 120, the word <a href="#interoceanic">"inter-oceanic"</a> was split across lines; it was +arbitrarily made "inter-oceanic" as opposed to "interoceanic". +</p> +<p> +On p. 130, in §8, "...meeting of the Association appoint a +committee..." was "...meeting of the Association appoint a a +committee..." in the original. +</p> +<p> +On p. 138, the <a href="#secondly">phrase</a> "and, secondly, when we are sure" appeared in +the original on a line ending in "sec-" followed by a line starting +with "condly"; hence, "seccondly". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 144, the <a href="#conplete">phrase</a> "wished that a complete bibliography" appeared +in the original on a line ending in "con-" followed by a line starting +with "plete"; hence, "conplete". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 152, the <a href="#headings">phrase</a> "These subject headings are simply suggestive" +had "heading" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 155, the <a href="#biliographical">phrase</a> "purely bibliographical notation" had +"biliographical" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 156, the word <a href="#letterpress">"letterpress"</a> was split between lines once, and +written as "letter-press" once; these have been changed to +"letterpress" for consistency with previous usage. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 159, the <a href="#arangement">phrase</a> "the purpose of the author arrangement" had +"arangement" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 162, the <a href="#regardlesss">phrase</a> "regardless of whether it was as author" had +"regardlesss" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 190, the <a href="#frailiest">phrase</a> "the frailest of our sex" had "frailiest" in the +original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 191, the <a href="#publib">phrase</a> "the support and maintenance of public +libraries" appeared in the original on a line ending in "pub-" +followed by a line starting with "lib"; hence, "publib". +</p> +<p> + +On p. 199, the <a href="#GOTTINGEN">phrase</a> "AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN" had "GOTTINGEN" +in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 210, the <a href="#eastman">phrase</a> "at 9 p.m. Mr. Eastman's" was missing the full stop after the "m" in the original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 210, the <a href="#monotany">phrase</a> "the monotony of work" had "monotany" in the +original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 213, the <a href="#Harison">phrase</a> "Craver, Harrison Warwick" had "Harison" in the +original. +</p> +<p> + +On p. 217, the <a href="#Shortbridge">phrase</a> "Shortridge High S." had "Shortbridge" in the original. + +</p> + </div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers and Proceedings of the +Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + +***** This file should be named 44406-h.htm or 44406-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/4/0/44406/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. 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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: Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association + Held at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Jul 4-10, 1901 + +Author: Various + +Editor: American Library Association + +Release Date: December 11, 2013 [EBook #44406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. Kendall and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + + PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS + + OF THE + + TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL MEETING + + OF THE + + AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION + + HELD AT + + WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN + + JULY 4-10 + + 1901 + + + PUBLISHED BY THE + + AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION + + 1901 + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + TITLE. AUTHOR. PAGE. + + Address of the President _Henry J. Carr_ 1 + + What may be done for libraries by the city _T. L. Montgomery_ 5 + + What may be done for libraries by the state _E. A. Birge_ 7 + + What may be done for libraries by the nation _Herbert Putnam_ 9 + + The trusteeship of literature--I. _George Iles_ 16 + + " " " " II. _R. T. Ely_ 22 + + Book copyright _Thorvald Solberg_ 24 + + The relationship of publishers, booksellers + and librarians _W. Millard Palmer_ 31 + + Library buildings _W. R. Eastman_ 38 + + The relationship of the architect to the + librarian _J. L. Mauran _ 43 + + The departmental library _J. T. Gerould_ 46 + + Suggestions for an annual list of American} + theses for the degree of doctor of } _W. W. Bishop_ 50 + philosophy } + + Opportunities _Gratia Countryman_ 52 + + Some principles of book and picture selection _G. E. Wire_ 54 + + Book reviews, book lists, and articles on } + children's reading: Are they of practical} _Caroline M. Hewins_ 57 + value to the children's librarian? } + + Books for children: + I. Fiction _Winifred L. Taylor_ 63 + II. Fairy tales _Abby L. Sargent_ 66 + III. Science _Ella A. Holmes_ 69 + + Bulletin work for children _Charlotte E. + Wallace_ 72 + + Reference work with children _Harriet H. Stanley_ 74 + + Vitalizing the relation between the library + and the school: + + I. The school _May L. Prentice_ 78 + II. The library _Irene Warren_ 81 + + Opening a children's room _Clara W. Hunt_ 83 + + Report on gifts and bequests, 1900-1901 _G. W. Cole_ 87 + + Report of the A. L. A. Publishing Board _J. Le Roy + Harrison_ 103 + + + Proceedings 107-141 + + First Session: Public meeting 107 + + Second Session 107-118 + Secretary's report 107 + Treasurer's report and necrology 108 + Report of Trustees of Endowment Fund 111 + Report of Co-operation Committee 113 + Report of Committee on Foreign Documents 113 + Report of Committee on Title-pages and Indexes of + Periodical Volumes 114 + Report of Committee on "International Catalogue of + Scientific Literature" 116 + Memorial to John Fiske 117 + + Third Session 118-125 + Report of Committee on Public Documents 118 + Report of Committee on Co-operation with N. E. A. 120 + Report of Committee on International Co-operation 122 + Report of Committee on Library Training 124 + Collection and cataloging of early + newspapers. _W. Beer_ 124 + Some principles of book and picture selection 124 + + Fourth Session 125-127 + Some experiences in foreign libraries. _Mary W. Plummer_ 125 + From the reader's point of view, and the era of the + placard. _J. K. Hosmer_ 127 + + Fifth Session 127-137 + Report on gifts and bequests 127 + Report of A. L. A. Publishing Board 127 + Invitation from L. A. U. K. 128 + Report of Committee on Handbook of American libraries 128 + By-laws 129 + Memorial to John Fiske 130 + Co-operative list of children's books 130 + Printed catalog cards 131 + Book copyright 131 + Trusteeship of literature 131 + Relationship of publishers, booksellers and librarians 134 + + Sixth Session 137-140 + Relationship of publishers, booksellers and + librarians, _continued_ 137 + + Seventh Session 141-142 + Election of officers 141 + Report of Committee on Resolutions 141 + + College and Reference Section 142-145 + + Catalog Section 146-162 + + Section for Children's Librarians 163-170 + + Round Table Meeting: State Library Commissions and + Traveling Libraries 171-183 + + Round Table Meeting: Work of State Library Associations + and Women's Clubs in Advancing Library Interests 183-195 + + Trustees' Section 196 + + + Round Table Meeting: Professional Instruction in + Bibliography 197-205 + + Transactions of Council and Executive Board 206-208 + + Elementary Institute 208 + + Illinois State Library School Alumni Association 208 + + The social side of the Waukesha conference + _Julia T. Rankin_ 209 + + Officers and Committees 211 + + Attendance register 212 + + Attendance summaries. _Nina E. Browne_ 218 + + + + + CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS. + + _WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN._ + + JULY 4-10, 1901. + + BEING A LIBRARIAN: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. + + BY HENRY J. CARR, _Librarian Scranton (Pa.) Public Library_. + + +In your presence, and in addressing you to-night as presiding officer, I +feel to a far greater extent than I can express in words the high honor +that has been conferred in each instance upon all who from time to time +have been chosen to serve as a president of this particular association. + +There is in this present age, to be sure, no lack of those popular and +peculiar entities termed associations--associations of many kinds, and +for almost every conceivable purpose. Throughout the entire continent +there exist few, perhaps none, whose history, objects, and work, have +warranted a more justifiable pride in being a member thereof, than is +found in being a member of the American Library Association. + +It may here be said that conditions and circumstances have been +favorable to the success of the A. L. A.; not the least of which has +been the faithful loyalty of its individual members. We realize, too, +that even time has dealt leniently with it, upon noting that of the 64 +members who attended its first meeting, held at Philadelphia twenty-five +years ago, but 18 have died, and that 20 persons are yet included in its +membership list out of the 69 who joined the association in 1876, that +initial year. Some of that original number, much to our gratification, +are present with us at this 23d general meeting. + +Considering its purely voluntary nature, the migratory holding of its +successive meetings in different parts of the land, and the notable +avoidance of fads, or any tendency towards selfish ends that might +otherwise mark its united efforts, it becomes almost a matter of +surprise that so many persons have unfalteringly kept up their +allegiance from year to year ever since the time of their joining the +association. But, as a matter of fact, the A. L. A. has at no time +fallen off in its total membership; and at this date it numbers nearly +one thousand contributing members paying dues for the current year. + +The American Library Association has now attained a period of +twenty-five years in its history--a quarter of a century. During that +time, in the addresses given at its general meetings, as well as in the +multiplicity of noteworthy and valuable papers contributed to its +Proceedings, and the sundry publications devoted to library interests, +it would appear as if there must have been presented almost every +conceivable phase of library thought and sentiment. Can anything new be +said, or old ideas placed in a new light, so as to be worthy of hearing +and attention at this time? I fear not, except as some lessons may be +drawn from the experience of one's past work, perhaps, that shall serve +to aid yet others who are to tread like paths in life. + +I beg, therefore, that you will bear with me for a short space of time +while I give expression to some thoughts drawn from the experience of +myself and others while Being a Librarian. + +Without now restricting their application to particular phases of +librarianship, let us at the outset consider them as relating to any and +all conditions of it as a vocation. "Why did you take up library work?" +is a question not infrequently asked. To that query various answer may +be given, according to the individual views of the persons replying. +Perhaps one general reason, that in a certain way has had its +unconscious influence upon many of us, is best stated in the following +characteristic passage from the "Book-hunter:" + +"To every man of our Saxon race endowed with full health and strength, +there is committed the custody of a restless demon, for which he is +doomed to find ceaseless excitement, either in honest work, or some less +profitable or more mischievous occupation. Countless have been the +projects of man to open up for this fiend fields of exertion great +enough for the absorption of its tireless energies, and none of them is +more hopeful than the great world of books, if the demon is docile +enough to be coaxed into it." + +Since Burton's day the "great world of books" has taken on many phases +of which he never dreamed. And we, as librarians, may reasonably believe +that if not entirely a part and parcel of it, we are nevertheless called +upon to deal with that "world" in almost every form, and are ourselves +more or less important factors in it. We may not be called upon to adopt +the "strenuous life," or seek to impart it to the conduct and activities +of others. But necessarily we are and must be accustomed to "doing +things"; and, by that very doing, will in some degree, each in our own +field, inspire and influence others also. + +Furthermore, do we not find _our_ "restless demon of work" more +agreeably inclined and contentedly occupied in the library field than in +other lines of life which we may have previously entered into? I, for +one, certainly think so, even though we may not have had that idea in +mind at the outset, or when making the change. And, too, that we derive +a certain feeling of encouragement akin to inspiration, that in itself +renders _us_ contented and happy, when responding to the varied demands +on our time and energy that are entailed by our positions as librarians. +That is half the battle, the rest being but a question of persistence in +the application of means and ability. + +Therefore, in the consoling words of one of Elbert Hubbard's salient +sayings: "Blessed is that man who has found his work." + +It is not the purpose of these present remarks to set forth particularly +the compensations in a librarian's work; neither the advantages or +disadvantages, the opportunities or drawbacks therein. Those factors +have all been frequently and well discussed in prior years, by some of +our well-known associates and various contributors to library +literature. I desire, rather, to suggest some features and relationships +connected with our work as a profession, from which an occasional lesson +may be taken, and possibly a word of encouragement, if such be needed. + +First of all, is librarianship a profession? Does it possess the +characteristics that make it such; and is that work more nearly +professional than otherwise, which lies at its hands to be done? Some +such queries were propounded to me by the president of a state library +association one day last fall, as we were journeying together to an +annual meeting. He, himself, had been a teacher and an educational +administrator for a number of years before becoming a librarian; and of +the recognized professional standing of his _former_ occupation there +could be no doubt. + +My first, and off-hand, answer was to the effect that librarianship +certainly has many professional features, even though its being a true +and undoubted profession in every respect might be disputed now and +then. Going further into this question of professional status, however, +it will be found that the literature of views and discussions thereon, +pro and con, is by no means small. For one of us to now express a doubt +that librarianship, as a whole, is a profession, would be almost +presumptuous; and I, for one, do not propose to do so. My thesis, so far +as it relates to the present remarks, is in affirmation of the claim; +not only that it is a profession--our profession--but really the +profession of professions! + +All other professions now depend to a considerable extent upon that of +the librarian for the custodianship of their literature, without whose +care much of it might be lost. We may not be able to transmit to future +eras such enduring records of antiquity as has been done by the +librarian of old in his collection of clay tablets (which now serve to +tell us of the affairs of mankind as transacted thousands of years ago), +but it is certain that we are doing our part towards making modern +literature available in disseminating it, and in preserving it as far as +lies in our power. + +Cotemporaneous with the organization of this association Melvil Dewey +made the following decided and well-supported assertion: "The time has +at last come when a librarian, may, without assumption, speak of his +occupation as a profession." I cite Mr. Dewey's words, not as +necessarily conclusive, but because he has ever been an active and +constant supporter of that doctrine in both his work as a librarian, as +a noted stimulator of the library movement, and as an originator of +professional instruction of other librarians. Similar enthusiastic and +persistent efforts on the part of librarians generally may do much +towards the furtherance of such features, and the consequent development +of librarianship as a profession in all its aspects. + +Let us now consider for a few moments some features of resemblance and +diversity between the library profession and others quite as well or +better known. It has been said that the library exists chiefly for the +use of its patrons, and that the librarian is necessarily and +essentially a servant. Therefore the librarian must, of equal necessity, +earn a livelihood or receive compensation of some kind for his services. +All of which, in the main, is true of the professions generally, as will +be seen from a brief statement of circumstances. + +Doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, artists, etc., are engaged by +and receive pay from their respective clients. The clergy are supported +by contributions of their church members or from denominational +resources. Teachers in the public schools are paid from public taxes, +while those of private schools, or endowed institutions, receive their +compensation from various sources. + +The clergy and teachers, as a rule, like most librarians, no matter how +willing or how well qualified, are under the further necessity of +obtaining a "call," or position, as a prerequisite to the exercise of +their professional faculties. In that respect they are at a disadvantage +in comparison with those practitioners in the other professions, already +named, who can go to any locality, solicit clients and seek business +opportunities, with reasonable assurance of obtaining both according to +place and the circumstances of supply and demand. + +In some of the professions, both the so-called "learned" and the +practical ones, there have been developed certain well recognized +differentiations and specializations of professional work. Those lines +have usually been taken up in response to what has seemed a reasonable +demand for them; and in their exercise have not unfrequently brought +both reputation and corresponding remuneration to the specialists. + +Possibly the time has arrived for doing much more of that nature in the +library profession than has yet been customary. And there are those +among us, possessing a due amount of working experience coupled with +knowledge of other and allied affairs, who might now do well to devote +themselves to some special features of library enterprise as a matter of +desirable business opportunity. Some from the library schools, and a few +others, have gone out as "organizers," and found more or less of a field +for the exercise of their limited special qualifications. The field +ought to be a growing one, it would seem, if recourse to incompetent aid +is carefully avoided. + +But the offices of "consulting librarianship," while possessing many +desirable and much needed features, do not appear to be practised as a +specific function. Something of the kind has been urged in past years, +to be sure, and several well-known librarians did undertake at different +times to supply such services. Sooner or later, however, each one was +persuaded into a more certain, or better compensated, and permanent, +position of local librarianship, and thereupon abandoned that special +line of work. + +In this era of the establishment of so many new libraries, small and +great, and of the gift of hundreds of buildings for such purposes, there +is a decided need for the effective services which a consulting +librarian might render; and this to a greater extent than is yet fully +understood or appreciated. Lacking such, some librarians and more +library trustees work too often at a disadvantage. Many more, too, are +burdened with repeated calls for information which more properly ought +to be obtained from an independent expert; one so situated as to take an +unbiased view of circumstances and equally able to give advice best +suited to the particular case in hand. Serious mistakes are sometimes +made in the preliminary details of new library enterprises that might +be just as easily avoided by the employment of a competent and paid +professional adviser. + +Turning now to another side of our subject, and considering the relation +of the individual librarians rather than of the profession as a class, a +few words upon personal actions may not be out of place. A librarian's +position is usually of a public or semi-public nature; ability for its +duties is implied; and the compensation received is for present services +as a rule, rather than as a reward of merit. In order that the library +shall perform all that is expected of it, not only in being to some +extent an ever-running machine but equally in respect to its recognized +higher functions, there must be the application of watchful care, +constant attention, foresight, and unremitting work. The direction of +all of which, and perhaps much of its actual execution, must depend upon +the person placed in charge of the institution as its librarian. + +It is true that, having a well-trained body of assistants, a library may +be able to run on for a time in the prolonged absence of, or when +lacking, a chief; because impetus and the effects of past direction are +not lost at once, provided that no demoralization has taken place. But +it is not a safe policy to allow a library, or other working institution +that depends largely upon the work of trained employees for its +effectiveness, to go long at a time without the presence and oversight +of an actual and capable head. + +Yet it does not follow that the working hours of chief librarians should +be absorbed in attending to innumerable and trivial items of detail +which might be delegated to and done quite as well, or better, by their +assistants. Not only is "genius a capacity for evading hard work," as +has been said, but one of the proper duties of the executive of a +library is to obtain the best results possible from the respective +capacities of those through whom the library does its work. All of which +should imply the exercise of a kindly and broad-minded disposition +towards one's assistants, just as truly as of respect and obedience to +one's superiors, or of courtesy and suavity in dealing with customers +and the public. It may be only human for one to desire to be that "king +of his world," of whom Carlyle speaks; but any policy which reduces the +assistants to mere machines is not a true professional one, since it +tends to rob the library world of talent which is needed and, except for +such repression, might be developed and brought forward. + +On the other hand I might plead no less for corresponding loyalty and +fidelity on the part of all library workers, both to their respective +chiefs and the institutions that employ them. As a matter of fact, +however, action of that kind is the prevailing practice in this country, +with hardly an exception, and that phase needs no extended discussion. A +chief is, of course, entitled to credit for acts done by subordinates at +his direction and for which he is responsible. But chiefs, in turn, can +well afford to give recognition to the ability and deeds of their +assistants, and will seldom, if ever, lose by doing so. + +There are one or two other features of librarianship which merit passing +mention. Among them are what may be termed library succession, or the +librarian's duty to his successor. Some few librarians "die in the +harness"; while quite as many more change from one place to another at +times. Occasionally they are succeeded by those who come new into the +work; and, gaining experience, become a credit to the profession. +Advancement of those trained in smaller libraries to places in larger +ones, or from the position of assistant in a library to the head +thereof, has also brought forward quite as many more of those whose +progress we watch with cordial interest. + +Although conscious of those facts, and of the inevitable changes and +successions that must occur from year to year, do we recognize our duty +to our successor? I have asked the question, but its consideration must +be left to some future time and opportunity. + +Impartiality in enforcing rules, and in dispensing the privileges of the +library to all comers, should be deemed an important feature of +librarianship, quite as essential to the welfare of the institution as +to the professional success of the librarian. And this suggests a query, +which has before now been raised, as to how far librarians should go in +aiding persons who expect to use information obtained at the library, +solely for the furtherance of personal interests or for purposes of +pecuniary profit. Impartial and confidential treatment of all readers +and seekers, who come to the library after information, would appear to +be the only safe practice and criterion, regardless of their particular +motives. Care should be taken, of course, to assist them in gaining the +desired information by means of their own study, and in their own way, +rather than through the efforts of library employees applied to +searching out the exact and final facts for them. + +In conclusion, I would direct your attention very briefly to yet another +side of librarianship which ought to have an occasional bearing so far +as ethical principles may apply. + +Since we regard librarianship as a profession it would seem that there +must needs be some recognized principles of an ethical nature relating +to it. Like many of our working methods, however, they must probably +exist chiefly as "unwritten laws." It is always a difficult matter to +put our ideals into words. They may be quite real to the sensibilities +and yet hardly admit of being formulated. And, too, the evident contrast +between the ideals aimed at, and the results attained, is often so great +that one hesitates to say in so many words just what is his ideal. + +Still there have been developed in the other leading professions, those +that are regarded as the most reputable and noteworthy, certain +recognized principles which serve to guide their members in many ways. +The full comprehension of such principles as an authoritative guide +tends to a correct measurement of the real value of one's professional +work. Likewise, while supplying certain ideals at the outset, they may +aid in determining the lines of effort and action which will tend to +elevate the profession itself and to the attainment of individual +success in its pursuits. + +Perhaps it is too soon in the history of so young a profession to expect +very much in the nature of such formulations. To properly enumerate and +determine the essential principles must call for the attention of many +minds, working each in their own channel but aimed in the same general +direction, until the final outcome shall be a fully developed and +rounded code of library ethics which will thus be entitled to and gain +well deserved recognition and observance. + +If, in the views and various thoughts, which I have presumed to set +forth at this time, such ideas as have a bearing on this last named +topic shall serve as hints to spur on some abler and more +philosophically versed person or persons to undertake the task, or serve +as a ground upon which to build a foundation code, I shall be greatly +pleased. + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE CITY. + + BY THOMAS L. MONTGOMERY, _Trustee Free Library of Philadelphia_. + + +When, in the course of human events, it became necessary for our people +to dissolve the political bonds which connected them with another, +pretty much everything was declared a free and an inalienable right with +the exception of the public library. Whether it would have escaped the +attention of that founder of circulating libraries and everything else +that is useful, had it not been a time of extraordinary pressure of +business, or whether he purposely neglected it in the belief that a +people that had expressed such lofty sentiments as to life, liberty and +the pursuit of happiness might well be trusted to consider such matters +in due time it is not our purpose to discuss. He does not hesitate to +give credit to the libraries in his autobiography for making the common +tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen in other +countries, and for contributing in some degree to the stand so generally +made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges. It was not +until about 1850 that the desirability of a city library was suggested +to the City Council of Boston by Josiah Quincy, then mayor. The council +cautiously Resolved, "That it would accept any donation from citizens +or others for the purpose of commencing a public city library and that +whenever the library shall be of the value of $30,000 it will be +expedient for the city to provide a suitable place and arrangements to +enable it to be used by the citizens with as great a degree of freedom +as the security of the property will permit." In July, 1852, the +trustees made a report "that in their opinion the finances of the city +will not permit of the erecting of a building and the purchase of an +ample library." They suggest "a moderate expenditure on the part of the +city for the purchase of books and the compensation of a librarian." It +was soon after this that Mr. Bates made his famous gift of $50,000 worth +of books "on condition that the city provide an adequate building which +shall be an ornament to the city." A complete history of this +institution would seem to be the best possible answer which could be +made to the question before us. What can the city do for the free +library. With a magnificent collection of 700,000 books, selected under +the administration of some of the best men who have dignified our +profession, and housed in the most expensive building ever erected by a +city for such a purpose, it would appear that the citizen of Boston +might rightly exclaim "Si monumentum quaeris, circumspice." + +The things that can be done by a city are innumerable; what it _ought_ +to do and what it _will_ do are perhaps more easily dealt with. Thinking +I might obtain some information on the subject I asked the question of +the librarian of the Free Library of Philadelphia. He settled himself in +his chair and assuming the tone of an oracle said that there were three +things that the city should do for its library. 1. Provide an adequate +appropriation for its maintenance; 2. Provide an extra appropriation for +emergencies; and 3. Provide a special appropriation for some particular +work which the librarian might be particularly interested in at the +time. I asked several other prominent librarians the same question and +their answers were to the same purport--namely, if the city could +furnish sufficient money they felt themselves fully competent to build +up an ideal institution. + +We all know as a matter of fact that the strong libraries of the country +have been built up by other means than the mere appropriation of money +by city councils, and it is not unreasonable to mention as the first of +these the librarian. The city should see to it that this individual is a +man (or woman) strong, intellectual and vigorous, without bumptiousness, +which is often mistaken for vigor, and with those qualities which will +procure for him respectful attention from even those who may be opposed +to him. I have often heard addresses made before this Association +bewailing the fact that the city librarian had to deal with certain +political elements which very much hampered him. I should regard this +state of affairs as belonging to the time when the college president was +necessarily a professor of moral philosophy whose duties consisted of +receiving the senior class for one hour a week to discuss Whewell's +"Elements." Such an officer must now be an active administrative power +as well as an intellectual entity to at all meet the modern +requirements, and in like manner the public librarian should deem it a +privilege to meet the representatives of the city government and to have +the opportunity of impressing the needs of his institution upon them. +There is no better test of the capacity of the man for the great work in +which he is engaged. + +Speaking practically I would state that in the building up of the +Philadelphia Free Library in which I have taken an active interest, the +political elements have always responded most generously to our +requests, and that the library has been more inconvenienced by the +writings and personal influence of certain well-to-do-citizens upon whom +the word "paternalism" has acted as a nightmare than by any difficulty +with the city government. + +While the city should provide means and a proper official to conduct the +institution it should take much more care in the selection of the board +of trustees than is usually the case. They should be representative men, +who not only should be able to assist the librarian in the formation of +an educational institution, but also be able to devote a considerable +amount of time to matters relating to its policy. If the librarian is +not a systematic business man, one of the board or a committee should be +delegated to attend to the financial affairs, as it is absolutely +necessary that the accounts shall be at all times in as good condition +as in the most punctilious business house. + +I would also suggest that a certain modesty be observed in the carrying +out of such work by a municipality. It is hard to think of anything that +could be said for this proposition when the magnificent buildings of +Boston, Chicago and Pittsburgh are taken into consideration; but I would +respectfully submit that the feeling of unrest among the great army of +industrial workers throughout the civilized world is growing. With the +tremendous progress in science and industry these people are claiming +that they can see no gain in the position of the common people. This +discontent has manifested itself lately in the opposition of the labor +organizations of certain towns to the munificent proposition made by one +of the most conscientious men who has ever been numbered among the +multimillionaires of the world. While it is not always wise to consider +too seriously the socialistic murmurings of a few negative people, I +submit that it is our duty to consider the effect produced upon the +poorest and most scantily clad patron of our libraries. + +It is necessary that the library should be housed in a fireproof +building as soon as possible, and the owners of valuable books will +always choose such an institution for such gifts as they may make. I +believe that the Boston Library has received donations equal to half the +cost of the building since it has been housed in Copley square. + +Finally, the city should insist that the library be an educational +institution and not receive its appropriation for recreation mainly. The +extraordinary demand for light fiction in public libraries has led to a +very unsatisfactory condition of affairs, and it is not uncommon to find +300 copies of a new novel necessary to at all meet the demand. There is +every indication that the public library will be furnished with a happy +release from this call upon their resources by the institution of the +Book Lovers' Library which has now extended its branches to all the +important cities. If this system can be extended on good business +principles, the happiness of public libraries would be complete +notwithstanding the slight falling off in circulation that might follow. + +The motto of every such institution should be: _Libri libere liberis_, +which being freely translated, means: "A free people should have open +shelves if possible." + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE STATE.[A] + + BY E. A. BIRGE, _President Board of Directors, Madison (Wis.) Public + Library_. + + +The relation of the state to libraries may be considered from three +points of view. The first and oldest library function of the state has +been the maintenance of a state library, usually begun for the +convenience of the legislature and in many states enlarged into a +general library. With this function has also gone the indirect support +of libraries for historical and scientific societies, incorporated by +the state and in some degree representing it. Much might be said on +possible lines of work for the state in this direction, but as this +function is the oldest and best understood, it may be named and passed +without further discussion. + +Second, the state holds a relation to the local libraries in communities +which are supporting free libraries without aid from the state. The +state aids these libraries by enacting proper laws for their +organization. In general, the statutes should be such as will give the +local library the best opportunity for organization, and will leave it +when organized the largest amount of freedom in doing its work. The +earlier library laws of the states have very generally contained the +provision that, in order to establish a library in a community, the +proposition must be accepted by a majority of the voters at an election. +This provision has been found disadvantageous in Wisconsin, and was +eliminated from our library law in 1897. Experience has shown that it +is better to leave the establishment of a library, like other public +works of necessity and utility, to the common council, or other +representatives of the people in the larger towns and cities, rather +than to commit the proposition to the chance of a general election. + +The third function of the state with reference to libraries is that +which may be called library extension. Here the state acts directly to +aid in the establishment of libraries and the extension of library work +in the communities which would otherwise lack libraries. The necessity +for this work has become apparent to the more progressive states of the +Union within recent years. The justification of this work lies in two +main reasons. First, libraries continue for the older youth of the +community and for adults the education which the state requires for +children. It is neither fair nor right for the state to maintain a +system of education which develops a love of knowledge and of reading, +and then leave the community without the means for continuing in later +youth the development begun in childhood. Second, it is known that the +intellectual isolation of the rural communities is one of the main +reasons for the much-lamented drift from the country into the cities, +and it has been found that the establishment of libraries affords one of +the most important means of bringing these small communities into +intellectual touch with the world. + +The states then which have undertaken this work of library extension +have usually done so by means of the library commission. The first +commission was established by Massachusetts in 1890. Seventeen states +had established such commissions by the end of 1900--more than half of +them in the two years preceding that date. I have no statistics +regarding the establishment of such commissions in 1901. The work of +these commissions may be either advisory or missionary, aiding in the +establishment of libraries in the smaller communities which are able to +establish and maintain them under the guidance and advice of the +commission, and directly furnishing library facilities to the smallest +and weakest communities. In certain states direct state aid is given to +the smaller libraries, notably in Massachusetts, where each town library +established under the rules of the commission receives books to the +amount of $100. In some states aid is given in the purchase of books. +The direct furnishing of libraries is done mainly by means of travelling +libraries. So far as I can learn, these are now distributed by six +states. The system has grown throughout the Union, in various +manifestations, and its influence in bringing books to the communities +that most lack and need them has been of the utmost value. This work is +one of the greatest importance, and yet I believe it is one which will +ultimately pass into the hands of the counties or smaller governmental +bodies than the state. + +Lastly, the commissions are aiding in the library work by the +establishment of library schools. In Wisconsin a summer school for +library training has been held for the past seven years, and represents +a class of work which it seems important that each state should +undertake, namely: the training of librarians for the smaller libraries +in which the salaries paid are necessarily so small that the librarians +cannot afford the expense of a complete course in library training. This +instruction applies especially to persons already in charge of small +libraries throughout the state, who have not had the opportunity to +secure professional training for their work, and it is of great value in +bringing them in touch with library effort and setting higher standards +of purpose and efficiency. Experience has shown that in a two months' +summer session instruction can be given of the greatest value to those +who are to have charge of this class of libraries. + +In this department of library extension which the states have been +entering upon during the past decade lies the most important work which +the state can undertake for libraries. The work of the library +commissions means a systematic employment of the library as an +educational and social factor in the progress of the people. This is the +true mission of the library, and the most important function of the +state lies in effectively aiding it to perform this work. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: Abstract.] + + + + + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES BY THE NATION. + + BY HERBERT PUTNAM, _Librarian of Congress_. + + +You have had suggestions as to what may be done for libraries by the +city and what by the state. Whatever is left over--if there is anything +left over--I am to treat as something that may be done by the +nation--the nation not as an aggregate of its parts, but as a unit, +acting through its central authority. There is a disposition to contend +that _everything_ which may be more effectively or more economically +done by a central authority for the larger area should be undertaken by +that authority. I am not prepared to go so far. There may be a value in +local effort that will repay its greater cost. But in an educational +work which involves the accumulation of material some of which is +exceedingly costly, only part of which is constantly in use, and little +of which perishes by use; a work whose processes are capable of +organization on a large scale and the application of co-operative +effort: there must be certain undertakings which, relatively speaking, +are possible only if assumed by a central authority. It is such +undertakings, for the largest area, that I am asked to discover and set +forth. + +To do so involves consequences which may be inconvenient. For a possible +service means a correlative duty. And as I myself to a degree represent +here the central authority in question, whatever I state as a service +appropriate for that authority, I shall have to admit as a duty in which +I must share. I shall try to be candid. But under the circumstances I +cannot be expected to be more than candid. + +In some respects the Federal Government of the United States has already +influenced the constitution, resources and service of our public +libraries. It has enacted laws which, having for their primary purpose +the protection of authors and publishers, benefit libraries by +encouraging the manufacture of books soundly, substantially and honestly +made. It has favored public libraries by exempting from tariff duty +books imported for their use. It has encouraged the study of the +classics by laying a penalty upon the general importation of books less +than twenty years old. In its executive capacity it is itself +investigator, author, publisher, manufacturer, distributor, +statistician, bibliographer, and librarian. It maintains at Washington, +with a generosity not paralleled by any other government, bureaus for +scientific research; it compiles, publishes, and freely distributes the +results of this research. It is the greatest publisher in the world, and +the largest manufacturer of books. In a single publication, repeated +each year, it consumes over a million pounds of paper stock; and it +maintains a bureau whose purpose is to replenish the forests which as +publisher it thus depletes. It distributes gratuitously to the libraries +of the United States each year over 300,000 volumes, embodying the +results of its research, its legislative proceedings, and an account of +its administrative activities. It maintains a bureau for the +investigation of problems in education, for the accumulation and +dissemination of information concerning the work of educational +institutions; and it has included the public libraries of this country +among such educational institutions. This bureau has issued three +reports tabulating statistics concerning them, one also (in 1876) +summarizing their history and two (in 1876 and in 1893) containing +essays which embody the best contemporary opinion as to library +equipment and methods. It has published as a document the A. L. A. list +of best books to form the basis of a public library. + +Through its bureau of documents it is seeking to index and adequately to +exhibit its own publications, to facilitate their distribution to +libraries and to afford to libraries as to federal documents a clearing +house for duplicates. + +All such services are obviously appropriate for the national authority +and may doubtless be continued and extended. If the interchange of books +among libraries is to be facilitated by special postal regulations this +can be accomplished by the national authority alone. + +But in the case of a state a service has been described which is to be +rendered to local libraries by the library which the state itself owns +and maintains. Now the federal government also owns and maintains +libraries. What may be demanded of these? Certain precedents have +already been established. The library of the Surgeon General's +office--the most comprehensive in the world within its special +field--sends its books to members of the medical profession throughout +the United States, relieving just so much the burden upon local +libraries; and it has issued a catalog which is not merely in form and +method efficient, but is so nearly an exhibit of the entire literature +of the medical sciences that it renders unnecessary duplication of +cataloging and analytical work within the field which it covers. This +catalog has conferred a general benefit not equalled by any +bibliographic work within any other department of literature. It is +perhaps the most eminent bibliographic work yet accomplished by any +government. The cost of its mere publication--which is the cost +chargeable to the general benefit--has already exceeded $250,000. + +But this library is but one of several collections maintained by the +Federal Government; the aggregate of which is already nearly two million +volumes. In each federal department and bureau there is a library. And +there is a central collection which in itself is already the largest on +the western hemisphere. It was created as a legislative library--for the +use of both Houses of Congress. It is still called the Library of +Congress. But it is now being referred to as something more. The +government has erected for it a building which is the largest, most +elaborate, and most costly yet erected for library purposes. The seven +million dollars which it cost has been paid not by the District of +Columbia, but by the country at large. No such sum would have been +requisite for a building to serve Congress alone. It seems to intend a +library that shall serve the country at large, if there is any such +thing possible. In fact the library is already being referred to as the +National Library of the United States. What does this mean? or rather, +what _may_ this mean? One naturally looks abroad--to the foremost of +national libraries. + +The British Museum is a huge repository of material. In scope it is +universal. Its purpose is accumulation, preservation, and the aid of +research by accredited persons, upon its own premises. Its service is +purely responsive. It has printed catalogs of its own collections, but +does not undertake bibliographic work general in nature, nor engage in +co-operative bibliographic undertakings. It lends no books. + +But I fear you will hardly be satisfied with the analogy. The British +Museum, you will say, is placed in a city which is not merely the +capital of the British Empire, but the metropolis; the literary +metropolis also of the Anglo-Saxon race. The Library of Congress is at +the capital of the United States. But this capital is not itself a +metropolis. No student in Great Britain has to travel over 500 miles to +reach the British Museum. A student in the United States may have to +travel as much as 3000 miles to reach the Library of Congress. The area +which supports the national library of Great Britain is but 100,000 +square miles; that which supports the National Library of the United +States is ever 3,000,000 square miles. The conditions differ, and +therefore, you will say, the obligation. If there is any way in which +our National Library may "reach out" from Washington it should reach +out. Its first duty is no doubt as a legislative library--to Congress. +Its next is as a federal library to aid the executive and judicial +departments of the government and the scientific undertakings under +governmental auspices. Its next is to that general research which may be +carried on at Washington by resident and visiting students and scholars: +which in American history, political and social science, public +administration, jurisprudence and international law is likely to make +Washington its center, and which, under the auspices of the Washington +Memorial Institution--that new project for post graduate study involving +the use of the scientific collections and scientific experts at +Washington--is likely to be organized in various branches of the natural +and physical sciences as well. But this should not be the limit. There +should be possible also a service to the country at large: a service to +be extended through the libraries which are the local centers of +research involving the use of books. That claim may be made. Now what at +Washington might be useful to these libraries? + +(A lively imagination is not requisite.) Suppose there could be a +collection of books universal in scope, as no local library with limited +funds and limited space can hope to be: a collection that shall contain +also particularly (1) original sources, (2) works of high importance for +occasional reference, but whose cost to procure and maintain precludes +their acquisition by a local library pressed to secure the material of +ordinary and constant need, and (3) the "useless" books; books not +costly to acquire, but of so little general concern as not to justify +cataloging, space and care in each local library if only they are known +to be preserved and accessible somewhere. + +Such a collection must include also the general mass of books sought and +held by local libraries--the books for the ordinary reader; the daily +tools of research. Its maintenance will involve processes--of +classification and cataloging--highly costly. Suppose the results of +these processes could be made generally available, so as to save +duplication of such expenditure upon identical material held by local +libraries? + +A collection universal in scope will afford opportunity for +bibliographic work not equalled elsewhere. Such work centered there +might advance the general interest with the least aggregate effort. The +adequate interpretation of such a collection will involve the +maintenance of a corps of specialists. Suppose these specialists could +be available to answer inquiries from all parts of the country as to +what material exists on any particular subject, where it is, how it may +be had, how most effectively it may be used? + +There are special collections already existent in various localities in +the United States and likely to come into being through special local +advantage or incentive, or the interest of private collectors, or +private endowment--which cannot be duplicated at Washington. Suppose +there could be at Washington a bibliographic statement of that which is +peculiar to each of these collections; in brief, a catalog of the books +in the United States--not of every library, not of every copy of every +book, but of every _book_ available for an investigator? + +There are various bibliographic undertakings which may be co-operative. +Suppose there could be at Washington a central bureau--with approved +methods, standard forms, adequate editorial capacity, and liberal +facilities for publication--which could organize and co-ordinate this +work among the libraries of the United States and represent them in such +of it as--like the new Royal Society index--is to be international? + +There is the exchange of material duplicated in one library, needed by +another. Suppose there could be at Washington a bureau which would serve +as a clearing house for miscellaneous duplicates as the Bureau of +Documents serves for documents? It might accomplish much without +handling a single article; it might, like a clearing house proper as it +were, set debit against credit, _i. e._, compare the deficiencies in one +library with the surplus in another and communicate the results to the +institutions interested. It might do this upon slip lists sent in by +each--of duplicates and of particular deficiencies--in sets, for +instance. One of my associates has been guilty of this very suggestion. +It is likely to bring something upon his head. He may have his choice +between live coals and the ashes of repentance. + +Now those are some of the things which might be asserted as the duty of +Washington to the country at large. I have touched them as lightly as +possible: but there they are. And we may not be able to avoid them. Nay, +we seem to be drifting toward them. To some of them we are apparently +already committed. + +There is the building: that in itself seems to commit us. There is +equipment. There are books. As regards any national service the federal +libraries should be one library. They contain nearly two million +volumes. The Library of Congress contains net some 700,000 books and a +half million other items. It has for increase (1) deposits under the +copyright law, (2) documents acquired through distribution of the +federal documents placed at its disposal for exchange--formerly 50 +copies of each, now 100, (3) books and society publications acquired by +the Smithsonian through its exchanges, (4) miscellaneous gifts and +exchanges, and, (5) purchases from appropriations. These have increased +from $10,000 a year prior to 1897 to $70,000 for the year 1901-2. + +Such resources are by no means omnipotent. _No_ resources can make +absolutely comprehensive a library starting its deliberate accumulations +at the end of the 19th century. Too much material has already been +absorbed into collections from which it will never emerge. + +But universality in scope does not mean absolute comprehensiveness in +detail. With its purchasing funds and other resources the Library of +Congress bids fair to become the strongest collection in the United +States in bibliography, in Americana (omitting the earliest), in +political and social science, public administration, jurisprudence. If +any American library can secure the documents which will exhibit +completely legislation proposed and legislation enacted it should be +able to. As depository of the library of the Smithsonian it will have +the most important collection--perhaps in the world--of the transactions +and proceedings of learned societies; and, adding its own exchanges and +subscriptions, of serials in general. With theology it may not +especially concern itself nor with philology to the degree appropriate +to a university library. Medicine it will leave as a specialty to the +library of the Surgeon-General's office, already pre-eminent, Geology to +the library of the Geological Survey. Two extremes it may have to +abstain from--so far as deliberate purchase is concerned: (1) the books +merely popular, (2) the books merely curious. Of the first many will +come to it through copyright; of the second many should come through +gift. (Perhaps in time the public spirit of American collectors and +donors may turn to it as the public spirit of the British turns to the +National Library of Great Britain.) Original sources must come to it, if +at all, chiefly by gift. Manuscript material relating to American +history it has, however, bought, and will buy. + +Otherwise, chiefly printed books. Of these, the useful books; of these +again, the books useful rather for the establishment of the fact than +for the mere presentation of it--the books for the advancement of +learning, rather than those for the mere diffusion of knowledge. + +Lastly there is an organization. Instead of 42 persons, for all manner +of service, there are now 261, irrespective of printers, binders, and +the force attending to the care of the building itself. + +The copyright work is set off and interferes no longer with the energies +of the library proper. There is a separate division having to do with +the acquisition of material, another--of 67 persons--to classify and +catalog it. There are 42 persons attending to the ordinary service of +the reading room as supplied from the stacks, and there are eight +special divisions handling severally the current newspapers and +periodicals, the documents, manuscripts, maps, music, prints, the +scientific publications forming the Smithsonian deposit, and the books +for the blind. There is a Division of Bibliography whose function is to +assist in research too elaborate for the routine service of the reading +room, to edit the library publications, and to represent the library in +co-operative bibliographic undertakings. There is now within the +building, besides a bindery, with a force of 45 employees, a printing +office, with a force of 21. The allotment for printing and binding, in +1896 only $15,000, is for the coming year $90,000. + +The immediate duty of this organization is near at hand. There is a huge +arrear of work upon the existing collection--necessary for its effective +use, and its intelligent growth. It must be newly classified throughout; +and shelf listed. The old author slip catalog must be revised and +reduced to print. There must be compiled a subject catalog, of which +none now exists. Innumerable gaps--that which is crooked can be made +straight, but that which is wanting cannot be numbered--innumerable gaps +are to be ascertained and filled. A collection of reference books must +be placed back at the Capitol, with suitable apparatus, to bring the +library once more into touch with Congress and enable it to render the +service to Congress which is its first duty. The other libraries of the +District must be brought into association--not by gathering their +collections into the Library of Congress, but by co-ordinating processes +and service. The Library of Congress as the center of the system can aid +in this. It can strengthen each departmental library by relieving it of +material not necessary to its special work. It can aid toward +specialization in these departmental libraries by exhibiting present +unnecessary duplication. (It is just issuing a union list of serials +currently taken by the libraries of the District which has this very +purpose.) It can very likely print the catalog cards for all the +government libraries--incidentally securing uniformity, and a copy for +its own use of each card--which in time will result in a complete +statement within its own walls of the resources of every departmental +library in Washington. It will supply to each such library a copy of +every card which it prints of a book in its own collections relating to +the work of the bureau which such library serves. + +To reduce to order the present collection, incorporating the current +accessions, to fill the most inconvenient gaps, to supply the most +necessary apparatus in catalogs and to bring about a relation among the +libraries of Washington which shall form them into an organic _system_: +this work will of itself be a huge one. I have spoken of the equipment +of the Library of Congress as elaborate, the force as large, and the +appropriations as generous. All are so in contrast to antecedent +conditions. In proportion to the work to be done, however, they are not +merely not excessive, but in some respects far short of the need. To +proceed beyond those immediate undertakings to projects of general +service will require certain equipment, service, and funds not yet +secured, and which can be secured only by a general effort. But the +question is not what can be done, but what _may_ be done--in due time, +eventually. + +A general distribution of the printed cards: That has been suggested. It +was suggested a half century ago by the Federal Government through the +Smithsonian Institution. Professor Jewett's proposal then was a central +bureau to compile, print and distribute cards which might serve to local +libraries as a catalog of their own collections. Such a project is now +before this Association. It may not be feasible: that is, it might not +result in the economy which it suggests. It assumes a large number of +books to be acquired, in the same editions, by many libraries, at the +same time. In fact, the enthusiasm for the proposal at the Montreal +meeting last year has resulted in but sixty subscriptions to the actual +project. + +It may not be feasible. But if such a scheme can be operated at all it +may perhaps be operated most effectively through the library which for +its own uses is cataloging and printing a card for every book currently +copyrighted in the United States, and for a larger number of others than +any other single institution. Such must be confessed of the Library of +Congress. It is printing a card for every book currently copyrighted, +for every other book currently added--for every book reached in +re-classification--and thus in the end for every book in its collection. +It is now printing, at the rate of over 200 titles a day--60,000 titles +a year. The entry is an author entry, in form and type accepted by the +committee on cataloging of the A. L. A. The cards are of the standard +size--3 x 5 inches--of the best linen ledger stock. From 15 to 100 +copies of each are now printed. It would be uncandid to say that such a +number is necessary for the use of the library itself, or of the +combined libraries at Washington. The usefulness of copies of them to +any other library for incorporation in its catalogs must depend upon +local conditions: the style, form, and size of its own cards, the number +of books which it adds yearly, the proportion of these which are +current, and other related matters. On these points we have sought +statistics from 254 libraries. We have them from 202. With them we have +samples of the cards in use by each, with a complete author entry. +Having them we are in a position really to estimate the chances. I will +not enter into details. Summarily, it appears that our cards might +effect a great saving to certain libraries and some saving to others, +and would entail a mere expense without benefit to the remainder--all of +which is as might have been guessed. + +The distribution suggested by Professor Jewett and proposed by the A. L. +A. had in view a saving to the recipient library of cataloging and +printing on its own account. It assumed a subscription by each +recipient to cover the cost of the extra stock and presswork. There is +conceivable a distribution more limited in range, having another +purpose. The national library wishes to get into touch with the local +libraries which are centers for important research. It wishes the +fullest information as to their contents; it may justifiably supply them +with the fullest information as to its own contents. Suppose it should +supply them with a copy of every card which it prints, getting in return +a copy of every card which they print? I am obliged to disclose this +suggestion: for such an exchange has already been begun. A copy of every +card printed by the Library of Congress goes out to the New York Public +Library: a copy of every card printed by the New York Public Library +comes to the Library of Congress. In the new building of the New York +Public Library there will be a section of the public card catalog +designated The Catalog of the Library of Congress. It will contain at +least every title in the Library of Congress not to be found in any +library of the metropolis. In the Library of Congress a section of the +great card catalog of American libraries outside the District will be a +catalog of the New York Public Library. + +I have here a letter from the librarian of Cornell University forwarding +a resolution of the Library Council (composed in part of faculty +members) which requests for the university library a set of these cards. +Mr. Harris states that the purpose would be to fit up cases of drawers +in the catalog room, which is freely accessible to any one desiring to +consult bibliographical aids, and arrange the cards in alphabetical +order by authors, thus making an author catalog of the set. He adds "The +whole question has been rather carefully considered and the unanimous +sense of the council was that the usefulness of the catalog to us would +be well worth the cost of the cases, the space they would occupy, and +the time it would take to arrange and keep in order the cards." + +There is a limit to such a distribution. But I suspect that it will not +stop with New York and Ithaca. + +There is some expense attendant on it. There is the extra stock, the +presswork, the labor of sorting and despatching. No postage, however, +for the Library of Congress has the franking privilege, in and out. The +results however: one cannot deny them to be attractive. At Washington a +statement of at least the distinctive contents of every great local +collection. At each local center of research a statement of the +distinctive contents of the national collection. An inquirer in +Wisconsin writes to Washington: is such a book to be had in the United +States; must he come to Washington for it, or to New York?--No, he will +find it in Chicago at the Newberry or the Crerar. + +If there can be such a thing as a bibliographic bureau for the United +States, the Library of Congress is in a way to become one; to a degree, +in fact, a bureau of information for the United States. Besides routine +workers efficient as a body, it has already some expert bibliographers +and within certain lines specialists. It has not a complete corps of +these. It cannot have until Congress can be made to understand the need +of them. Besides its own employees, however, it has within reach by +telephone a multitude of experts. They are maintained by the very +government which maintains it. They are learned men, efficient men, +specially trained, willing to give freely of their special knowledge. +They enter the government employ and remain there, not for the pecuniary +compensation, which is shamefully meagre, but for the love of the work +itself and for the opportunity for public service which it affords. Of +these men, in the scientific bureaus at Washington, the National Library +can take counsel: it can secure their aid to develop its collections and +to answer inquiries of moment. This will be within the field of the +natural and physical sciences. Meantime within its walls it possesses +already excellent capacity for miscellaneous research, and special +capacity for meeting inquiries in history and topography, in general +literature, and in the special literature of economics, mathematics and +physics. It has still Ainsworth Spofford and the other men, who with +him, under extraordinary disadvantages, for thirty-five years made the +library useful at the Capitol. + +The library is already issuing publications in book form. In part these +are catalogs of its own contents; in part an exhibit of the more +important material in existence on some subject of current interest, +particularly, of course, in connection with national affairs. Even +during the period of organization fifteen such lists have already been +issued. They are distributed freely to libraries and even to individual +inquirers. + +But there may be something further. The distribution of cards which +exhibit its own contents or save duplication of expense elsewhere, the +publication of bibliographies which aid to research, expert service +which in answer to inquiry points out the best sources and the most +effective methods of research: all these may have their use. But how +about the books themselves? Must the use of this great collection be +limited to Washington? How many of the students who need some book in +the Library of Congress--perhaps there alone--can come to Washington to +consult it at the moment of need? A case is conceivable: a university +professor at Madison or Berkeley or San Antonio, in connection with +research important to scholarship, requires some volume in an unusual +set. The set is not in the university library. It is too costly for that +library to acquire for the infrequent need. The volume is in the +National Library. It is not at the moment in use at Washington. The +university library requests the loan of it. If the National Library is +to _be_ the national library----? + +There might result some inconvenience. There would be also the peril of +transit. Some volumes might be lost to posterity. But after all we are +ourselves a posterity. Some respect is due to the ancestors who have +saved for _our_ use. And if one copy of a book possessed by the federal +government and within reasonable limits subject to call by different +institutions, might suffice for the entire United States--what does +logic seem to require--and expediency--and the good of the greater +number? + +The Library of Congress is now primarily a reference library. But if +there be any citizen who thinks that it should never lend a book--to +another library--in aid of the higher research--when the book can be +spared from Washington and is not a book within the proper duty of the +local library to supply--if there be any citizen who thinks that for the +National Library to lend under these circumstances would be a misuse of +its resources and, therefore, an abuse of trust--he had better speak +quickly, or he may be too late. Precedents may be created which it would +be awkward to ignore. + +Really I have been speaking of the Library of Congress as if it were the +only activity of the federal government of interest to libraries. That, +however, is the fault of the topic. It was not what might be done for +science, for literature, for the advance of learning, for the diffusion +of knowledge. It was merely what might be done for _libraries_; as it +were, not for the glory of God, but for the advancement of the church. +We have confidence in the mission of libraries and consider anything in +aid of it as good in itself. + +Their most stimulating, most fruitful service must be the direct +service. The service of the national authority must in large part be +merely indirect. It can meet the reader at large only through the local +authority. It can serve the great body of readers chiefly through the +local libraries which meet them face to face, know their needs, supply +their most ordinary needs. Its natural agent--we librarians at least +must think this--is its own library--the library which if there is to be +a national library not merely of, but _for_ the United States--must be +that library. + +_Must become_ such, I should have said. For we are not yet arrived. We +cannot arrive until much preliminary work has been done, and much +additional resource secured from Congress. We shall arrive the sooner in +proportion as you who have in charge the municipal and collegiate +libraries of the United States will urge upon Congress the advantage to +the interests you represent, of undertakings such as I have described. +To this point we have not asked your aid. In the equipment of the +library, in the reconstruction of its service, in the addition of more +expert service, in the improvement of immediate facilities, our appeal +to Congress has been based on the work to be done near at hand. I have +admitted to you the possibility of these other undertakings of more +general concern. If they commend themselves to you as proper and +useful--the appeal for them must be primarily your appeal. + + + + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE--I. + + BY GEORGE ILES, _New York City_. + + +Six months ago the curtain descended upon what is likely to be accounted +the most memorable century in the annals of mankind. So salient are +three of its characteristics that they challenge the eye of the most +casual retrospection. First of all, we see that knowledge was increased +at a pace beyond precedent, to be diffused throughout the world with a +new thoroughness and fidelity. Next we must observe how republican +government passed from the slender ties spun in the times of Washington, +Jefferson and Adams, to the intimate and pervasive cords of to-day, +when, as never before, the good of the bee is bound up with the welfare +of the hive. Parallel with this political union of each and all there +was a growth of free organization which, in every phase of life, has +secured uncounted benefits which only joined hands may receive. Fresh +torches of light fraternally borne from the centers of civilization to +its circumference have tended to bring the arts and ideals of life +everywhere to the level of the best. These distinctive features of the +nineteenth century were in little evidence at its dawn, but they became +more and more manifest with each succeeding decade. In American +librarianship, as in many another sphere of labor, more was accomplished +in the last quarter of the century than in the seventy-five preceding +years. + +It is as recently as 1852 that Boston opened the doors of the first free +public library established in an American city. Its founders were +convinced that what was good for the students at Harvard, the +subscribers to the Athenaeum, was good for everybody else. Literature, +they felt, was a trust to be administered not for a few, but for the +many, to be, indeed, hospitably proffered to all. To this hour, by a +wise and generous responsiveness to its ever-growing duties, the Boston +foundation remains a model of what a metropolitan library should be. As +with the capital, so with the state; to-day Massachusetts is better +provided with free public libraries than any other commonwealth on the +globe; only one in two hundred of her people are unserved by them, while +within her borders the civic piety of her sons and daughters has reared +more than six score library buildings. The library commission of the +state is another model in its kind; its powers are in the main advisory, +but when a struggling community desires to establish a library, and +contributes to that end, the commission tenders judicious aid. The +population of Massachusetts is chiefly urban, an exceptional case, for +taking the Union as a whole, notwithstanding the constant drift to the +cities, much more than half the people are still to be found in the +country. For their behoof village libraries have appeared in thousands. +Still more effective, because linked with one another, are the +travelling libraries, inaugurated by Mr. Melvil Dewey in New York in +1893, and since adopted in many other states of the Union, and several +provinces of Canada. All this registers how the democracy of letters has +come to its own. Schools public and free ensure to the American child +its birthright of instruction; libraries, also public and free, are +rising to supplement that instruction, to yield the light and lift, the +entertainment and stimulus that literature stands ready to bestow. The +old-time librarian, who was content to be a mere custodian of books, has +passed from the stage forever; in his stead we find an officer anxious +that his store shall do all the people the utmost possible good. To that +end he combines the zeal of the missionary with the address of a +consummate man of business. Little children are invited to cheery rooms +with kind and intelligent hospitality; teachers and pupils from the +public schools are welcomed to classrooms where everything is gathered +that the library can offer for their use; helpful bulletins and +consecutive reading lists are issued for the home circle; every book, +magazine and newspaper is bought, as far as feasible, with an eye to the +special wants and interests of the community; information desks are set +up; and partnerships are formed with expositors of acknowledged merit, +with museums of industry, of natural history, of the fine arts. Not the +borrowers only, but the buyers of books are remembered. The Standard +Library, brought together by Mr. W. E. Foster, in Providence, is a +shining example in this regard. + +The sense of trusteeship thus variously displayed has had a good many +sources; let us confine our attention to one of them. During the past +hundred years the treasure committed to the keeping of librarians has +undergone enrichment without parallel in any preceding age. We have more +and better books than ever before; they mean more than in any former +time for right living and sound thinking. A rough and ready +classification of literature, true enough in substance, divides it into +books of power, of information, and of entertainment. Let us look at +these three departments a little in detail. Restricting our purview to +the English tongue, we find the honor roll of its literature lengthened +by the names of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Matthew Arnold, Carlyle and +Ruskin, Emerson and Lowell. And not only to authors such as these must +our debt be acknowledged. We owe scholarly editors nearly as much. In +Spedding's Bacon, the Shakesperean studies of Mr. Furniss, and the +Chaucer of Professor Skeat, we have typical examples of services not +enjoyed by any former age. To-day the supreme poets, seers and sages of +all time are set before us in the clearest sunshine; their gold, refined +from all admixture, is minted for a currency impossible before. In their +original, unedited forms, the masterpieces of our language are now cheap +enough to find their way to the lowliest cottage of the cross-roads. + +It is not, however, in the field of literature pure and simple that the +manna fell most abundantly during the past hundred years. Mr. Alfred +Russel Wallace, the last of the great students who took all natural +history for their province, declares that the advances in discovery, +invention and generalization during the nineteenth century outweigh +those of all preceding time. Admit this judgment, and at once is +explained why the records and the spirit of science dominate the +literature of the last ten decades. And let us note that while books of +knowledge have increased beyond measure, they have appeared with a +helpfulness and with merits wholly new. For the first time in the +history of letters, men and women of successful experience, of practised +and skilful pens, write books which, placed in the hands of the people, +enlighten their toil, diminish their drudgery, and sweeten their lives. +Cross the threshold of the home and there is not a task, from choosing a +carpet to rearing a baby, that has not been illuminated by at least one +good woman of authority in her theme. On the heights of the literature +of science we have a quality and distinction unknown before these later +days. The modern war on evil and pain displays weapons of an edge and +force of which our forefathers never dared to dream; its armies march +forward not in ignorant hope, but with the assured expectation of +victory. All this inspires leaders like Huxley, Spencer and Fiske with +an eloquence, a power to convince and persuade, new in the annals of +human expression and as characteristic of the nineteenth century as the +English poetry of the sixteenth, in the glorious era of Elizabeth. The +literature of knowledge is not only fuller and better than of old, it is +more wisely employed. In the classroom, and when school days are done, +we now understand how the printed page may best direct and piece out the +work of the hand, the eye and the ear; not for a moment deluding +ourselves with the notion that we have grasped truth merely because we +can spell the word. To-day we first consider the lilies of the field, +not the lilies of the printer; that done it is time enough to take up a +formal treatise which will clarify and frame our knowledge. If a boy is +by nature a mechanic, a book of the right sort shows him how to +construct a simple steam engine or an electric motor. Is he an amateur +photographer, other books, excellently illustrated, give him capital +hints for work with his camera. It is in thus rounding out the circle +which springs from the school desk that the public library justifies its +equal claim to support from the public treasury. + +In the third and last domain of letters, that of fiction, there is a +veritable embarrassment of riches. During the three generations past +the art of story-telling culminated in works of all but Shakesperean +depth and charm. We have only to recall Scott and Thackeray, Hawthorne, +George Eliot and Thomas Hardy, to be reminded that an age of science may +justly boast of novelists and romancers such as the world never knew +before. No phase of life but has been limned with photographic fidelity, +no realm of imagination but has been bodied forth as if by experience on +fire, so that many a book which bears the name of fiction might well be +labelled as essential truth. Within the past decade, however, the old +veins have approached their bounds, while new lodes do not as yet +appear. Of this the tokens are the eager sifting of the rubbish heap, +the elaborate picturing of the abnormal and the gross. Pens unable to +afford either delight or cheer have abundant capacity, often with +evident malice, to strike the nerves of horror and of pain. If at the +present hour high achievement in fiction is rare, if we hear more echoes +than ever and fewer voices, quantity abounds to the point of surfeit. +With an output in America alone of 616 works for 1900, all fears of +famine may well be allayed. + +The main fact of the situation then is that the librarian's trust has of +late years undergone stupendous increase; this at once broadens his +opportunities and adds to his burdens. Gold and silver, iron and lead, +together with much dross, are commingled in a heap which rises every +hour. Before a trust can be rightly and gainfully administered, its +trustees must know in detail what it is that they guard, what its +several items are worth, what they are good for. And let us remember +that literature consists in but small part of metals which declare +themselves to all men as gold or lead; much commoner are alloys of every +conceivable degree of worth or worthlessness. There is plainly nothing +for it but to have recourse to the crucibles of the professional +assayer, it becomes necessary to add to the titles of our catalogs some +responsible word as to what books are and what rank they occupy in an +order of just precedence. + +This task of a competent and candid appraisal of literature, as a +necessity of its trusteeship, has been before the minds of this +Association for a good many years. A notable Step toward its +accomplishment was taken when Mr. Samuel S. Green, in 1879, allied +himself with the teachers of Worcester, Massachusetts, that they and he +together might select books for the public schools of that city. The +work began and has proceeded upon comprehensive lines. Such literature +has been chosen as may usefully and acceptably form part of the daily +instruction, there is a liberal choice of books of entertainment and +inspiration worthily to buttress and relieve the formal lessons. The +whole work goes forward with intent to cultivate the taste, to widen the +horizons, to elevate the impulses of the young reader. Mr. Green's +methods, with the modifications needful in transplanting, have been +adopted far and wide throughout the Union. Already they have borne fruit +in heightening the standards of free choice when readers have passed +from the school bench to the work-a-day world. + +Thus thoughtfully to lay the foundation of the reading habit is a task +beyond praise; upon a basis so sound it falls to our lot to rear, if we +can, a worthy and durable superstructure. It is time that we passed from +books for boys and girls to books for the youth, the man and the woman. +And how amid the volume and variety of the accumulated literature of the +ages shall we proceed? For light and comfort let us go back a little in +the history of education, we shall there find a method substantially +that of our friend, Mr. Green. Long before there were any free libraries +at all, we had in America a small band of readers and learners who +enjoyed unfailing pilotage in the sea of literature. These readers and +learners were in the colleges, where the teachers from examination and +comparison in the study, the class-room and the laboratory were able to +say that such an author was the best in his field, that such another had +useful chapters, and that a third was unreliable or superseded. While +literature has been growing from much to more, this bench of judicature +has been so enlarged as to keep steadily abreast of it. At Harvard there +are twenty-six sub-libraries of astronomy, zoology, political economy, +and so on; at hand are the teachers who can tell how the books may be +used with most profit. Of the best critics of books in America the +larger part are to be found at Harvard, at its sister universities and +colleges, at the technological institutes and art schools of our great +cities. We see their signed reviews in such periodicals as the +_Political Science Quarterly_ and the _Physical Review_; or unsigned in +journals of the stamp of the _Nation_. Fortunately, we can call upon +reinforcements of this vanguard of criticism. It would be difficult to +name a branch of learning, an art, a science, an exploration, from +folk-lore to forestry, from psychical research to geological surveys, +whose votaries are not to-day banded to promote the cause they have at +heart. These organizations include not only the foremost teachers in the +Union, but also their peers, outside the teaching profession, of equal +authority in bringing literature to the balances. And the point for us +is that these societies, through their publications and discussions, +enable these laymen to be known for what they are. Because the American +Historical Association is thus comprehensive, its membership has opened +the door for an initial task of appraisal, important in itself and +significant for the future. + +Drawing his two score contributors almost wholly from that Association, +Mr. J. N. Larned, of Buffalo, an honored leader of ours, has, without +fee or reward, acted as chief editor of an annotated Bibliography of +American History. The work is now passing through the composing room of +Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston; its contributors include professors +of history at Bowdoin, Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Harvard, McGill, Toronto, +Tulane and Yale, as well as the Universities of Michigan, Wisconsin and +Chicago; our own Association is worthily represented by Messrs. James +Bain, Clarence S. Brigham, V. L. Collins, W. E. Foster, J. K. Hosmer, E. +C. Richardson and R. G. Thwaites. As a rule the notes are signed. Where +for any reason a book demanding notice could not be allotted to a +contributor, Mr. Larned has quoted the fairest review he could find in +print. He has included not only good books, but such other works as have +found an acceptance they do not deserve. All told his pages will offer +us about 3400 titles; a syllabus of the sources of American history is +prefixed by Mr. Paul Leicester Ford; as an appendix will appear a +feature also of great value. In their "Guide to American history," +published in 1896, Professors Channing and Hart, of Harvard University, +recommended such collections of books as may be had for $5, $10, $20, +$50 or $100. Professor Channing is kind enough to say that he will +revise these lists and bring them down to date as a contribution to Mr. +Larned's work. Professor Channing may, we trust, name the books in each +collection in the order in which they may be most gainfully read. + +In times past our bibliographies have begun to need enlargement the +moment they left the bindery; in the present case that need is for the +first time to be supplied. Mr. Larned's titles come to the close of +1899; beyond that period current literature is to be chosen from and +appraised with the editorship of Philip P. Wells, librarian of the Yale +Law Library, who will issue his series in card form. We hope that he may +be ready with his cards for 1900 at the time that Mr. Larned's book +appears. Thereafter Mr. Wells' series will probably be published quarter +by quarter. Beginning with 1897, Mr. W. Dawson Johnston, now of the +Library of Congress, has edited for us a series of annotated cards +dealing with the contemporary literature of English history. Both the +form and substance of his series are capital. In so far as his cards go +directly into catalog cases, where readers and students must of +necessity see them, they render the utmost possible aid. If subscribers +in sufficient array come forward, Mr. Larned's book may be remolded for +issue in similar card form, with a like opportunity for service in +catalog cases. In the Cleveland Public Library and its branches useful +notes are pasted within the lids of a good many volumes. It is well thus +to put immediately under the reader's eye the word which points him +directly to his goal, or prevents him wasting time in wanderings of +little value or no value at all. + +With Mr. Larned's achievement a new chapter is opened in American +librarianship; he breaks a path which should be followed up with a +discernment and patience emulous of his example. If the whole working +round of our literature were sifted and labelled after his method, the +worth of that literature, because clearly brought into evidence, might +well be doubled at least. Every increase in the availability of our +books, every removal of fences, every setting-up of guide-posts, has had +a heartening public response. So it will be if we proceed with this +effort to bring together the seekers and the knowers, to obtain the best +available judgments for the behoof of readers and students everywhere. +Economics and politics, so closely interwoven with American history, +might well afford the second field for appraisal. A good many libraries +still find aid in the "Reader's guide" in this department, although it +appeared as long ago as 1891. Next might follow the literature of the +sciences pure and applied, together with the useful arts. Among useful +arts those of the household might well have the lead, for we must not be +academic, or ever lose sight of the duties nearest at hand to the great +body of the plain people. Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel, in 1897, did an +excellent piece of work for us in their "Bibliography of the fine arts"; +their guide might profitably be revised and enlarged in its several +divisions, not omitting the introductory paragraphs which make the book +unique in its class. These tasks well in hand, we might come to such +accessions of strength and insight as to nerve us for labors of wider +range and greater difficulty, where personal equations may baffle even +the highest court of appeal, where it is opinion rather than fact that +is brought to the scales. I refer to the debatable ground of ethics, +philosophy and theology; and, at the other pole of letters, to the vast +stretches of fiction and belles lettres in our own and foreign tongues. +With regard to fiction and belles lettres, one of Mr. Larned's methods +has a hint for us. In some cases he has found it best to quote Mr. +Francis Parkman, Mr. Justin Winsor, or the pages of the _Nation_, the +_Dial_, the _American Historical Review_, and similar trustworthy +sources. With respect to novels and romances, essays and literary +interpretation, it does not seem feasible to engage a special corps of +reviewers. It may be a good plan to appoint judicious editors to give us +composite photographs of what the critics best worth heeding have said +in the responsible press. + +It is in the preponderant circulation of fiction, and fiction for the +most part of poor quality, that the critics of public libraries find +most warrant for attack. They point to the fact that many readers of +this fiction are comparatively well-to-do, and are exempted by public +taxation from supporting the subscription library and the bookseller. +The difficulty has been met chiefly in two ways; by curtailing the +supply of mediocre and trashy fiction; by exacting a small fee on +issuing the novels brought for a season to a huge demand by advertising +of a new address and prodigality. Appraisal, just and thorough, may be +expected to render aid more important because radical instead of +superficial. In the first place, the best books of recreation, now +overlaid by new and inferior writing, can be brought into prominence; +secondly, an emphasis, as persuasive as it can be made, ought to be +placed upon the more solid stores of our literature. "Business," said +Bagehot long ago, "is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests +the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously and +deeply, but it does not look as if it did." Let it be our purpose to +reveal what admirable substance underlies appearances not always +seductive to the casual glance. Lowell and Matthew Arnold, Huxley and +John Fiske, Lecky and Goldwin Smith are solid enough, yet with no lack +of wit or humor to relieve their argument and elucidation. A New York +publisher of wide experience estimates that the average American family, +apart from school purchases, buys less than two books a year. Newspapers +and magazines form the staple of the popular literary diet. What fills +the newspapers is mainly news; their other departments of information +are often extensive and admirable, but within the limits of the hastily +penned paragraph or column they cannot rise to the completeness and +quality of a book carefully written and faithfully revised. The plain +fact is, and it behooves us to reckon with it, the average man, to whom +we bear our credentials as missionaries, looks upon a book as having +something biblical about it. To sit down deliberately and surrender +himself to its chapters is a task he waves away with strangely mingled +awe and dislike. So he misses the consecutive instruction, as delightful +as profitable to an educated taste, which authors, publishers and +librarians are ready and even anxious to impart. + +We hear a good deal in these days about the need of recreation, and not +a word more than is true, but let us remember that the best recreation +may consist in a simple change of work. Behold the arduous toil of the +city lawyer, or banker, as on a holiday tour he climbs a peak of the +Alps or the Adirondacks, or wades the chilly streams of Scotland or +Canada a salmon rod in his hands. Why does he undergo fatigues so +severe? Partly because they are freely chosen, partly because they are +fatigues of an unwonted and therefore refreshing kind. So in the field +before us to-day. Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more +fascinating when once its charms are recognized and entertained. Our +public schools throughout the land prove that a true story of +exploration, of invention or discovery, of heroism or adventure, has +only to be well told to rivet a boy's attention as firmly as ever did +Robinson Crusoe or Treasure Island. When readers take up from +instinctive appetite, or wise incitement, the best books about flowers +or birds, minerals or trees, an art, a science, a research, they come to +joys in new knowledge, in judgments informed and corrected, unknown to +the tipplers and topers whose staple is the novel, good, bad and +indifferent. And why, if we can help it, should public money ever be +spent for aught but the public good? + +With a new sense of what is implied in the trusteeship of literature, if +we endeavor in the future to ally ourselves with the worthiest critics +of books, we must bid good-bye to the temporary expedients which have +cramped and burdened our initial labors. The work of the appraisal of +literature requires a home, a Central Bureau, with a permanent and +adequately paid staff of editors and assistants. The training of such a +staff has already begun; in addition to the experience acquired by those +enlisted in our present bibliographical tasks, instruction is now given +in advanced bibliography at the New York State Library School at Albany, +and doubtless also at other library schools. And at the Central Bureau, +which we are bold enough to figure to ourselves, much more should be +done than to bring books to the balances. At such a home, in New York, +Washington, or elsewhere, every other task should proceed which aims at +furthering the good that literature can do all the people. There might +be conducted the co-operative cataloging now fast taking form; there +should be extended the series of useful tracts begun by that of Dr. G. +E. Wire on "How to start a library," by Mr. F. A. Hutchins on +"Travelling libraries." At such a center should be exhibited everything +to inform the founder of a public library; everything to direct the +legislator who would create a library commission on the soundest lines +or recast library laws in the light of national experience; there, +moreover, should be gathered everything to arouse and instruct the +librarian who would bring his methods to the highest plane. Thence, too, +should go forth the speakers and organizers intent upon awakening torpid +communities to a sense of what they miss so long as they stand outside +our ranks, or lag at the rear of our movement. In the fulness of time +such a bureau might copy the Franklin Society, of Paris, and call into +existence a needed book, to find within this Association a sale which, +though small, would be adequate, because free from the advertising taxes +of ordinary publishing. To found and endow such a bureau would +undoubtedly cost a great deal, and where is the money to come from? We +may, I think, expect it from the sources which have given us thousands +of public libraries, great and small. Here is an opportunity for our +friends, whether their surpluses be large or little. When a gift can be +accompanied by personal aid and counsel, it comes enriched. It is much +when a goodly gift provides a city with a library, it would be yet more +if the donation were to establish and maintain an agency to lift +libraries everywhere to the highest efficiency possible, to give +literature for the first time its fullest acceptance, its utmost +fruitage. + +In a retrospective glance at nineteenth century science, Professor +Haeckel has said that the hundred years before us are not likely to +witness such victories as those which have signalized the era just at an +end. Assume for a moment that his forecast is sound, and that it applies +beyond the immediate bounds of science, what does it mean for +librarianship? It simply reinforces what in any case is clear, namely, +that it is high time that the truth and beauty of literature known to +the few made its way to all the people, for their enlightenment, +consolation and delight. If the future battles of science are to be +waged less strenuously than of yore, if scholarship has measurably +exhausted its richest mines, let us give the broadest diffusion to the +fruits of their triumphs past. In thus diffusing the leaven of culture +the public library should take a leading, not a subordinate part. Its +treasure is vaster and more precious than ever before. The world's +literature grows much like the world's stock of gold, every year's +winning is added to the mass already heaped together at the year's first +day. In the instruction, entertainment and inspiration of every man and +woman there is a three-fold ministry, that of art, of science, and of +letters. Because letters bring to public appreciation, to popular +sympathy, both art and science, and this in addition to their own +priceless argosies, may we not say that of art, science and letters, the +greatest of these is letters? + + + + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE--II. + + BY RICHARD T. ELY, _Director School of Economics, University of + Wisconsin_. + + +It is my purpose to speak plainly and, if possible, forcibly, concerning +what seems to me a grave menace to the progress of science, but in all +that I shall say, I would have it understood that I have only the +friendliest feelings personally for the gentleman who has brought +forward what seem to me dangerous proposals. I appreciate his zeal for +progress and his self-sacrificing efforts for human advancement in +various directions, but I think that in this particular case--namely, +the evaluation of literature, or the establishment of a judicature of +letters, my friend is working against his own ideals. + +I admit freely that the readers in our public libraries very generally +need help in the selection of books, and that great assistance may be +rendered them by judicious advice. Much time is wasted by those who read +scientific and serious works which do not present the results of recent +investigations: furthermore, as another consequence effort is +misdirected and instead of producing beneficial results may do positive +damage. The question may be asked: "Shall I read Adam Smith's 'Wealth of +nations?' I hear it mentioned as one of the great works in the world's +history." Probably many a librarian has had this precise question asked +him. In giving an affirmative answer it will be most helpful to offer a +few words explaining the circumstances under which it appeared one +hundred and twenty-five years ago, and its relation to the subsequent +development of economic schools and tendencies. Doubtless this work is +frequently perused as if it were fresh from the press and were to be +judged as a work appearing in 1901. + +I further admit the harm which has come to individuals from the study of +the so-called "crank" literature in economics and sociology, as well as +in other branches of learning. Doubtless many a man is working +vigorously in a wrong way and attempting to force society into false +channels who might be doing a good work had his reading been well +directed in a formative period. + +But the magnitude of the interests involved in the proposal which greets +us requires caution and conservatism in action. We must take a long, not +a short, view of the matter, inquiring into remote and permanent +results. + +It is proposed, as I understand it, to have so-called expert opinions +expressed concerning books, new and old; to secure as precise and +definite estimates of their value as possible, and then by means of +printed guides, and even card catalogs, to bring these opinions and +evaluations before the readers in our libraries. + +Let us reflect for a moment on what this implies. It means, first of all +a judicial body of men from whom these estimates are to proceed. Have we +such a body? Is it in the nature of things possible that we should have +such a body? I say that so far as contemporary literature is concerned, +the history of knowledge gives us a positive and conclusive negative +answer--a most emphatic "No." Let anyone who knows the circumstances and +conditions under which reviews are prepared and published reflect on +what the attempt to secure this evaluation of literature implies. Many +of us know a great deal about these circumstances and conditions. We +have written reviews, we have asked others to write reviews, and we have +for years been in contact with a host of reviewers. We may in this +connection first direct out attention to the general character of the +periodicals from which quotations are frequently made in the evaluation +of literature. I say nothing about my own view, but I simply express an +opinion of many men whose judgment should have great weight when I say +that one of the most brilliant of these periodicals has been marked by a +narrow policy, having severe tests of orthodoxy along economic, social +and political lines, and displaying a bitterness and vindictiveness +reaching beyond the grave. I mention no names, and the opinion may or +may not be a just one; but it should be carefully weighed whether or +not, or to what extent, the evaluations of such a periodical ought to be +crystallized as it were: that is, taken from the periodical press and +made part of a working library apparatus, to last for years. + +Another periodical, an able magazine, which makes much of reviews is +under the control of a strong body of men, but they stand for scarcely +more than one line of thought among many lines. And sometimes very sharp +and very hard things are said about those who believe that scientific +truth is moving along one of these other lines. Indeed, the discreet +person, knowing personally the reviewer and the reviewed, will not be +convinced that there is always in the reviews, here as elsewhere, an +absence of personal animosity. Let us for a moment reflect on this +personal element in reviews, as it has surely fallen under the notice of +every man with wide experience in these matters. As a rule, the +reviewers are comparatively young and inexperienced men, frequently +zealous for some sect or faction. Sometimes great leaders of thought +write reviews, but generally they are unable to find the time to do so. +As a result in our reviews in the best periodicals it will frequently be +found that an inferior is passing judgment on a superior, and +furthermore, reviewers share in our common human nature, and the amount +of personal bias and even at times personal malignity found in reviews +and estimates of books is something sad to contemplate. An unsuccessful +candidate for a position held by an author has been known to initiate a +scandalous and altogether malicious attack in a review. + +In the next place, I would call your attention to the absence of +objective standards. Necessarily are the standards personal and +subjective; particularly and above all in economics, but in high degree +in sociology, ethics and philosophy in general, and religion. Biological +reviews have displayed in marked degree the subjective personal element. +Chemistry, physics, astronomy and mathematics probably are best of all +fitted for evaluations free from personal bias. + +It may be asked what damage will result from evaluation. Passing over +grave injustice to individuals, we observe that they must lead to the +formation of what Bagehot aptly called a crust, preventing the free +development of science. We have been laboring for years to obtain +scientific freedom, freedom in teaching, freedom in learning, freedom in +expression. For this end many a battle has been fought by noble leaders +of thought. Indeed, every new movement of thought has to struggle to +make itself felt, and to struggle precisely against those who control +the most respectable avenues of publication; against the very ones who +would be selected to give expert opinions and make evaluations of +literature. Call to mind the opposition to Darwin and Huxley--although +they were especially and particularly fortunate in early gaining the +adherence of scientific men--also the opposition to Adam Smith, Malthus, +Ricardo and John Stuart Mill--and to the last named, even now, some +would on a scale of 100 give an evaluation perhaps of 50, others of +65--still others 80 and 90. Recently an economic book appeared of which +one widely quoted periodical said that it illustrated a _reductio ad +absurdum_ of false tendencies, while another expert opinion inclined to +place it among the great works of the age. It would seem to me that if +we are to have formal evaluations, they should at least be restricted to +works which have been before the public for a period of fifty years. + +We have in this proposal, as I take it, an attack on liberty, proceeding +from one who would not willingly attack it, but illustrating the truth +of the saying "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." It is +proposed to publish virtually an _index librorum prohibitorum_ and an +_index expurgatorius_. And of all efforts ever conceived along this +line, this is precisely the worst because of its apparently impersonal +character. Let the ordinary reader go to a guide and find a book +described as unscientific and superficial, and what weight can it have +for him. The authority has spoken. It is well enough for librarians +personally to guide and direct their constituencies, and one review may +be weighed against another review. The old methods even must be used by +librarians cautiously, and they are ample for the purpose to be +attained. The great point is that there should be a fluid current of +opinion, and every facility for a revision of judgment should be +maintained. Reviewers themselves change their views. I, myself, remember +reviews which I wrote of works by two distinguished American authors, +which I now regret, as my estimates were, I believe, not altogether +sound and did an injustice to the authors, namely John Fiske and Lester +F. Ward. But after all, I suppose no special harm was done, but if +extracts from these reviews had been made part of a system of evaluation +it would have been different. + +Librarians as librarians must watch with impartiality the struggles +among tendencies and schools of thought, and above all things, endeavor +to keep open a free way for new truth. + + + + + BOOK COPYRIGHT. + + BY THORVALD SOLBERG, _Register of Copyright, Washington. D. C._ + + +In order to keep within the time limit provided in the program I have +been obliged to refrain from even touching upon many points, but have +endeavored to present certain general principles governing copyright in +books. I shall, therefore, only attempt to make clear, as briefly as +possible: + +1. What is copyrighted, _i.e._, what can properly be designated as a +"book" in order to secure copyright protection thereon; + +2. What is the nature of the protection secured under the copyright law; + +3. The limitation in time during which the protection applies, and its +territorial limitations; + +4. Who may obtain protection--the difference between an "author" and a +"proprietor"; + +5. International copyright; + +6. What conditions and formalities are required to be complied with in +order to secure copyright; + +7. The functions of the Copyright Office; and + +8. Possible copyright law amendment. + +1. _What is copyrighted?_ + +The copyright statutes enumerate the articles or classes of articles +subject-matter of copyright, and first in the list stands "book." The +first consideration is, therefore, What is to be understood by the term +"book" as thus used? or, in other words, What is a "book," as that +designation is employed in the copyright law? + +The answer is indicated in the provision of the federal constitution +upon which our copyright legislation is founded. This paragraph of the +constitution (section 8 of article 1) grants to Congress--"in order to +promote the progress of science and useful arts"--the right to enact +laws to secure "to authors ... the exclusive right to their ... +writings...." This provision is, of course, to be broadly interpreted, +but, using the exact wording of the law, it is the _writing_ of an +author--his literary composition--the prose or poetical expression of +his thought--which makes his "book," as the term is used in the +copyright law. In order to be a "book," subject to protection under the +copyright law, the author's production must have this literary +characteristic. The _quality_ of the literary ingredient is not tested, +but its presence is requisite. Hence not everything which may ordinarily +be called a book is fitly so nominated, in order to indicate the +subject-matter of copyright; while some productions not ordinarily +designated as "books" may properly be thus classified in order to be +registered as a preliminary to copyright protection. + +That an article possesses the corporeal characteristics of a book is of +little consequence. The _literary_ substance, not the material form, +primarily determines the matter. An article contributed to a newspaper +or a periodical--although but a few paragraphs in length--is a "book" +under the copyright law, while a bookkeeper's ledger, to all outward +appearance answering the description, is not a "book" so far as +registering its title to secure copyright is concerned. A calendar whose +main features are literary may doubtless be properly registered as a +"book," but a pack of playing cards with pictures on the backs, even +though each card may be furnished with a linen guard and all bound up, +with a plausible title-page, so as to resemble a book, is not a "book" +in the meaning of the copyright law. + +Orderly arranged information produced in a form which would commonly be +termed a chart cannot be registered under that designation which in the +copyright law is applicable only to a chartographical work, but may +properly be called a "book"; while a so-called book of coupons, or +railway tickets, or of blank forms, cannot be thus entitled. + +In brief, it should be a book in the ordinary understanding of a work of +_literature_ or art, and may not include a production whose main feature +is some original idea, however ingenious or fanciful its form may be, or +is of the character of something invented. Invention must look for +protection to the patent law. + +2. _The nature of the protection secured._ + +What is the nature of the protection secured? Copy-right, _i. e._, the +right of copy--the right to make copies. According to the words of our +own statute, the author of a book "shall have the _sole_ liberty of +printing, reprinting, publishing, completing, copying, executing, +finishing and vending the same." The _exclusive_ liberty of reproducing +his work, and the restriction of the liberty of every one except the +author to multiply copies constitute the literary property. It is a +much-discussed question whether the author's privilege of copyright is a +natural right or was created by legislation. Granting the production a +proper one, it would seem that the author of a literary creation has a +natural right to the unrestricted use and enjoyment of it. As Professor +Langdell recently put it: "he has the right of use and enjoyment, +because he can exercise such right without committing any wrong against +any other person, and because no other person can prevent his exercising +such right without committing a wrong against him." The author's +creation is his own, and he has a natural right to the use of it without +interference. The state does not create this right, but recognizes it +and protects it. Protection is secured by restricting the liberty of +other people in the use of the author's creation. Just how far this +restriction should go is still a moot question. The law says, however, +that you may not reproduce in whole or in part an author's book without +his written consent, signed in the presence of two witnesses. It does +not say that you may not read the book, nor are you forbidden to read it +in public, even for profit, although in the case of musical and dramatic +compositions public performance or representation for profit without the +author's special--not implied--consent is not only directly prohibited, +but is punishable by imprisonment. The International Publishers' +Congress, which met in Paris in June, 1896, passed a resolution to the +effect that the reproduction of a literary work by means of public +readings, in case such readings were held for purposes of profit, ought +not to be permitted without the consent of the copyright proprietor. By +the Act of March 3, 1891, the exclusive right to translate or dramatize +his book is reserved to the author. In this unrestricted and unlimited +exclusive right of translation and dramatization our law has exceeded +the usual trend of legislation in regard to the author's control over +his work in these directions. Foreign legislation usually only reserves +to the author the exclusive right to translate or dramatize for a +limited fixed period of time, and if he has not himself produced a +translation or dramatization within that period, another person may. + +It has occasionally been intimated that the efforts made by the public +libraries to secure the constant circulation of the same book is a +trespass upon the rights of the author, as he is presumably thus +subjected to the loss of readers who would otherwise also become +purchasers of his book. A case has just been decided to test an author's +right to object to having copies of his own copyright editions of his +books sold in a manner not indicated by himself as volumes of a +so-called collected edition of his works. The decision, on first +hearing, was adverse to the author's contention. + +It is the _literary expression_ of the author's thoughts and ideas which +is the subject-matter of the protection, and not primarily the thoughts +and ideas themselves. These last may or may not be original with the +author, but once he has made public a thought or an idea he has given it +away; he cannot control its use or application. The author of a +translation of a book--the original work being in the public domain--may +obtain a copyright upon his own translation, but doing so will not debar +another from producing an original translation of his own of the same +work and obtaining copyright registration for the same. + +Copyright does not give to any one monopoly in the use of the _title_ of +a book, nor can a title _per se_ be subject-matter of copyright. It is +the book itself, the literary substance which is protected, the title +being recorded for the identification of the work. + +3. _Time and territorial limitations of copyright._ + +A few countries still grant copyright in perpetuity, but usually the +term of protection is limited either to a certain number of years, or to +a term of years beyond the date of the author's death. This last +provision is the more general, and the term varies from seven years +after the author's death in England, for instance, to eighty years after +the author's death in Spain. The two most common terms are thirty years +to fifty years beyond the life of the author. Our own legislation +provides for two possible terms of protection. The first being for +twenty-eight years from the date of the recording of the title in the +Copyright Office, and the second, an extension of fourteen years from +the expiration of the first term. + +Besides the time limit, copyright--especially as far as the authors of +the United States are concerned--is limited territorially, not extending +beyond the boundaries of the United States. Whether the protection which +follows registration and deposit shall extend so as to include Porto +Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines is a matter of some question. Probably +as regards the Philippines the answer would be in the negative, but as +concerns Porto Rico, since the passage of the "Act temporarily to +provide revenue and a civil government for Porto Rico" (April 12, 1900) +and Hawaii, since the taking effect (June 14, 1900) of the "Act to +provide a government for the territory of Hawaii," the response would be +in the affirmative. + +The obtaining of copyright protection by a compliance with the United +States statutory requirements as to registration of title, deposit of +copies, and printing of notice of copyright, does not secure extension +of this protection in the territory of any foreign country, the United +States not being a member of the International Copyright Union. An +American author must comply with the requirements of the copyright laws +of a foreign country, just as if he were a citizen or subject of that +country, in order to obtain copyright protection within its borders. +Presumably, however, the obtaining of valid copyright protection in one +of the countries of the International Copyright Union, England for +example, would secure protection throughout the various countries of +that Union. + +4. _Who may obtain copyright._ + +It is the _author_ of the work who is privileged to obtain copyright +protection for it. As I have already pointed out, the constitutional +provision enacts that Congress is to legislate to secure to _authors_ +the exclusive right to their _writings_. When, therefore, the law states +that the author "or proprietor" of any book may obtain a copyright for +it, the term "proprietor" must be construed to mean the author's +assignee, _i.e._, the person to whom he has legally transferred his +copyright privilege. It is not necessarily transferred by the sale of +the book, _i.e._, the manuscript of the author's work, as the purchase +alone of an author's manuscript does not secure to the proprietor of the +manuscript copyright privileges. Prior to July 1, 1891, no foreign +author could obtain copyright protection in the United States, hence the +purchase by a publisher of one of Dickens's novels in manuscript, for +example, would not enable the buyer to obtain copyright on the book in +this country. No author who has not the privilege of copyright in the +United States can transfer to another either a copyright or the right to +obtain one. He cannot sell what he does not himself possess. Under the +United States law copyright comes through _authorship_ only. It is not a +right attaching to the thing--the book--but is a right vested in the +creator of the literary production, hence does not pass to a second +person by the transference of the material thing, the book, and evidence +must be offered showing that the transference of the book carried with +it the author's consent to a conveyance of the privilege of copyright. + +This same principle is embodied in the provisions of the law as to +renewal of the copyright. The second term of protection must also start +with the author, or if he be dead, with his natural heirs, his widow or +children, but not with his assigns, the "proprietors." The right to the +extension term is in the author if he be living at the period during +which registration for the second term may take place, _viz._, within +six months prior to the expiration of the first term of twenty-eight +years. If the author be dead, the privilege of renewal rests with his +widow or children. Whether the author may dispose of his right of +renewal so that the transference may be effective for the second term, +even though the author should have died before the date of the beginning +of that term, is a question upon which the authorities differ. The +language of the statute would seem to give to the author an inchoate +right which reverts to his widow or children should he be married and +die before the expiration of the first term of the copyright. + +5. _International copyright._ + +The idea of nationality or citizenship governed our copyright +legislation for more than a century, from the earliest American +copyright statute of 1783 to July 1, 1891, so that until the latter date +copyright protection in the United States was limited to the works of +authors who were citizens or residents. By the Act of March 3, 1891, +commonly called the international-copyright law, which went into effect +on July 1 of that year, the privileges of copyright in this country were +extended to the productions of authors who were citizens or subjects of +other countries which by their laws permitted American citizens to +obtain copyright upon substantially the same basis as their own +subjects. The existence of these conditions is made known by +presidential proclamation, and up to this time ten such proclamations +have been issued extending copyright in the United States to the citizen +authors of Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Great +Britain and her possessions (including India, Canada, the Australias, +etc.), Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. +The privilege of copyright in the United States is extended only to +authors who are subjects of some country in whose behalf a presidential +proclamation as to copyright has been issued. + +It is well to point out, perhaps, that these copyright proclamations are +not equivalent to copyright treaties, but are only notices that certain +conditions exist. Only in the case of one country, _viz._, Germany, has +anything been entered into approaching a convention or treaty. Under +date of Jan. 15, 1892, an "agreement" was signed with that country to +issue a proclamation extending copyright in the United States to German +subjects upon an assurance that "Citizens of the United States of +America shall enjoy, in the German Empire, the protection of copyright +as regards works of literature and art, as well as photographs, against +illegal reproduction, on the same basis on which such protection is +granted to subjects of the empire." + +In order to obtain copyright abroad, therefore, an American citizen must +ascertain the requirements of the law of each country in which he +desires to protect his book or other production and comply explicitly +with such requirements. He can, of course, only avail himself of the +legal protection accorded, so far as it is within his power to thus +comply, and therein lies the difference between the privileges secured +under the present international-copyright arrangements, and such as +would be obtainable under copyright conventions or treaties. A citizen +of the United States may find himself unable to meet the obligations or +conditions of the statutes, just as a foreign author may find it +practically impossible to comply with the requirements of the United +States law, and in either case there would be a failure to secure the +protection desired. In the case of a photograph, for example, the +English law requires that the "author" of the photograph must be a +British subject or actually "resident within the Dominions of the +Crown," and the United States law requires that the two copies of the +photograph to be deposited in the Copyright Office "shall be printed +from _negatives made within the limits_ of the United States," two sets +of conditions difficult of fulfilment. By means of a copyright +convention exemption could be obtained in either case from these onerous +conditions. + +6. _Conditions and formalities required by the copyright law._ + +Two steps are made prerequisites to valid copyright by the laws now in +force in the United States. The first of these is the recording of the +title in the Copyright Office. For this purpose the statute requires the +deposit of "a _printed_ copy" of the title-page, "on or before the day +of publication in this or any foreign country." For a number of years it +has been the practice of the Copyright Office to accept a typewritten +title in lieu of the _printed_ title-page, but in this, as with all +other requirements of the law regarding copyright, the preferable course +is a strict compliance with the letter as well as the spirit of the law. + +The clerical service for thus recording the title requires the payment +of a fee, which should accompany the title-page when transmitted to the +Copyright Office. The fee for this, as fixed by law, is 50 cents in the +case of the title of a book whose author is a citizen of the United +States, and $1 in the case of a book whose author is not an American but +is a citizen or subject of some country to whose citizens the privilege +of copyright in the United States has been extended, under the +provisions of the Act of March 3, 1891. If a copy of the record thus +made of the title (commonly called a certificate) is desired, an +additional fee of 50 cents is required in all cases. + +In order to have this essential record of title properly made, in the +form exactly prescribed by the statute, it is necessary to furnish the +Copyright Office with certain information, namely: + +_a._ The name of the claimant of the copyright. (This should be the real +name of the person, not a _nom de plume_ or pseudonym.) _b._ Whether +copyright is claimed by applicant as the "author" or the "proprietor" of +the book. _c._ The nationality or citizenship of the _author_ of the +book. (This is required to determine whether the book is by an author +who is privileged to copyright protection in this country, and, also, +the amount of the fee to be charged for recording the title.) _d._ The +application should state that the title-page is the title of a "book." +_e._ A statement should be made that the book is or will be "printed +from type set within the limits of the United States." + +The second prerequisite to copyright protection is the deposit in the +Copyright Office of two copies of the book whose title-page has been +recorded. These copies must be printed from "type set within the limits +of the United States," and the deposit must be made "not later than the +day of publication thereof, in this or any foreign country." The +stipulation as to American typesetting applies to works by American +authors as well as to those written by foreign authors. + +The statute provides, as regards both the printed title and the printed +copies, that the articles are to be delivered at the office of the +Librarian of Congress, or "deposited in the mail, within the United +States, addressed to the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C." +Just what would be held to have been secured under the latter provision +in case the deposit in the mail were made and the book failed to reach +the Copyright Office has not been determined by judicial decision. The +law provides for the giving of a receipt by the postmaster in the case +of the title and the copies, if such receipt is requested. + +The third step required for obtaining a defendable copyright is to print +upon the title-page or the page immediately following it in each copy of +the book the statutory notice of copyright. The form of this notice must +be either "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year ----, by A. +B., in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington;" or, +"Copyright, 19----, by A. B." The name printed in this notice must be +the real, legal name of the proprietor of the copyright, and must be the +same as that in which the entry of title has been made; the date, also, +must be the year date of the record of the filing of the title-page. A +judicial decision is on record to the effect that printing the year date +in this notice one year later than the date of actual recording of title +barred the defence of the copyright. A penalty of $100 is imposed on +"every person who shall insert or impress such notice, _or words of the +same purport_ in or upon any book ... whether subject to copyright or +otherwise, for which he has not obtained a copyright." + +An American author may obtain for his book copyright protection in Great +Britain, by a compliance with the official instructions as to +publication, deposit of copies and registration. The protection, under +English law, dates from the day of _first_ publication, but such first +publication must be on English territory, and registration may follow, +but cannot precede publication. The term of protection in the United +States, on the contrary, dates from the day of registration of title in +our Copyright Office, which must precede publication, and be followed by +deposit of copies made "not later than the day of publication thereof in +this or any foreign country." The point to guard, therefore, is +_simultaneous publication_ in this country and in Great Britain. +Registration in England is a secondary matter. As stated in the official +circulars of instructions issued by the English Copyright Office, +"Copyright is created by the statute, and does not depend upon +registration, which is permissive only, and not compulsory, but no +proprietor of copyright in any book can take any proceedings in respect +of any infringement of his copyright unless he has, before commencing +his proceedings, registered his book." + +Under existing legal conditions, in order to secure valid copyright on a +book in this country and in England, the following steps should be +taken, and in the order stated. 1. Record title in the United States +Copyright Office. 2. Print book from type set within the limits of the +United States. 3. Deposit two copies of such book in the United States +Copyright Office. 4. Send sufficient copies to London to + +_a._ Place copies on sale and take such usual steps as are understood, + under English law, to constitute "publication" on a prearranged day, + on which same day the book is published in the United States. + + _b._ Deposit copies: one copy of the best edition at the British + Museum, and four copies of the usual edition at Stationers' Hall for + distribution to the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the University + Library at Cambridge, the Faculty of Advocates Library at Edinburgh, + and the Trinity College Library at Dublin. + + _c._ Register title of book and day of first publication at Stationers' + Hall, London. + +7. _The United States Copyright Office._ + +One frequently hears the expressions "has obtained a copyright," "issued +a copyright," etc., giving the impression that copyrights can be granted +somewhat after the manner in which the Patent Office issues +letters-patent. But Congress has established no office authorized to +furnish any such guarantee of _literary_ property as is done in the case +of patent monopoly. The Copyright Office is purely an office of record +and simply registers _claims_ to copyright. The form of record +prescribed by law being the effect that A. B. "hath deposited the title +of a book the right whereof he _claims_ as author or proprietor in +conformity with the laws of the United States respecting copyrights." +The Copyright Office has no authority to question any claim as to +authorship or proprietorship, nor can it determine between conflicting +claims. It registers the claim presented in the prescribed form for a +proper subject of copyright by any person legally entitled to such +registration without investigation as to the truthfulness of the +representations, and would be obliged to record, not only the same title +for different books, but the same title for the same work on behalf of +two or more different persons, even against the protest of either one, +were such registrations asked for. No examination is therefore made when +a title reaches the office as to whether the same or a similar title has +been used before. As I have already stated, the title _per se_ is not +subject to copyright, and no one can secure a monopoly of the use of a +title by merely having it recorded at a nominal fee at the Copyright +Office. + +If any one, wishing to use a given form of title but desiring to avoid +possible duplication of one previously used, writes to the Copyright +Office asking whether such a title has already been recorded, an answer +is made stating what is disclosed by the indexes of the office. It must +be frankly explained, however, that an absolutely conclusive statement +as to whether a given title has been previously used cannot always be +given. The copyright records of entries of title previous to July 10, +1870, are but indifferently indexed and rarely by title, usually only +under names of proprietors of the copyright. The copyright entries since +July 10, 1870, to May 31, 1901, number 1,217,075. The index to these +entries consists of more than 600,000 cards, many of which contain a +number of entries. These cards index the entries primarily under the +names of the proprietors of the copyright, and this proprietor's index +is understood to have been kept up continuously and to be complete, so +that under the name of each copyright proprietor there is a card or +cards showing the titles of all articles upon which copyright is +claimed. In addition to the proprietor's index there are cards under the +titles of periodicals and under the leading catchwords of the titles of +other articles, besides cards under the authors' names for books. +Unhappily there are periods of time when what may be called the +subsidiary index cards were not kept up. + +In addition to cards under the proprietors' names, cards are now made: +for _books_, under the names of their authors; for _anonymous books_, +_periodicals_ and _dramatic compositions_, under the first words of the +titles (not a, an, or the), and for _maps_, under the leading subject +words of the titles, _i.e._, the names of the localities mapped. It is +doubtful if an absolutely complete index of all copyright entries by the +_title_ of the book and other article--in addition to the cards at +present made--could be justified by even a possibly legitimate use of +such an index. When it is remembered that the copyright entries last +year numbered 97,967, the magnitude of the task of making several cards +for each entry is easily conceived, and it is a question whether it +could be rightfully imposed upon the Copyright Office under the present +provisions of the law and so long as the registration of a title does +not secure the use of that title to some one person to the exclusion of +all others. + +8. _Amendment of the copyright law._ + +The possible amendment of the copyright laws is a subject which my time +does not permit me to consider in detail, even were that deemed +desirable. The law now in force consists of the Act of July 8, 1870, as +edited to become title 60, chapter 3 of the Revised Statutes, and ten +amendatory acts passed subsequently. Naturally there is lacking the +consistency and homogeneousness of a single well-considered copyright +statute. It is possible that Congress will presently be willing to take +under consideration, if not the re-codification of the copyright laws, +then, at least, some amendment of them. An increase in the period of +protection has frequently been urged, with some advocacy of perpetual +copyright. As the Federal constitution, however, distinctly provides +that the protection granted the writings of an author is to be for a +_limited time_, an amendment of the constitution would be necessary +before Congress could enact perpetual copyright, and such alteration of +the fundamental law of the land is not probable. + +Much might be said for an increase in the period of protection. It is +for a shorter term of years than that provided by most modern copyright +legislation, and the trend of such lawmaking has been in the direction +of an increase in the length of time during which the author or his +heirs could control the reproduction of his work. It should be borne in +mind that for books of little value the length of the term of protection +is of no great consequence. "Dead" books are not affected by the length +of the term of copyright. In the case also of popular new books, the +great sales and consequent disproportionate remuneration comes within a +short period of time after publication, and are not likely to continue +during a long term of copyright. On the other hand, many books of great +and permanent value not unfrequently make their way slowly into popular +favor, and are not fully appreciated until many years after publication. +For such books--the results, perhaps, of long years of study and +labor--an equitable return cannot be secured except by a long term of +protection. + +Perhaps the most urgently desirable forward step in respect to copyright +is the adhesion of the United States to the Berne convention, thus +securing the inclusion in the International Copyright Union of our +country, the leading one of the three great states not yet members of +this admirable association of nations. Were the United States a member +of the Berne Union a compliance with the statutory provisions of our own +laws alone would secure copyright protection not only within the limits +of the United States, but practically throughout the whole book-reading +world--Great Britain, all Europe (except temporarily Russia, Austria, +and Scandinavia), Canada and Australia, India, Japan and South +Africa--thus increasing the possible reading public of American authors +many fold. It would seem that considerations of justice to our large and +constantly increasing national contingent of literary and artistic +producers requires this advance of such great practical importance. It +is the easier of accomplishment because it involves the adoption of no +new principle, but only the extension of the principle embodied in the +Act of March 3, 1891, namely, reciprocal international exchange of +copyright privileges, and in return for the advantages which would +accrue to our own citizens, only obligates the extension of copyright in +the United States to the subjects of such countries as are members of +the Union. Of the members of the International Copyright Union, all the +great nations already enjoy copyright in the United States, and it would +only remain to extend this privilege to the citizen authors of the six +minor states that are members of the Union, namely, Hayti, Japan, +Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway and Tunis. + + + + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS. + + BY W. MILLARD PALMER, _Grand Rapids, Mich._ + + +In accepting the president's suggestion to give "expression of the +_business_ side of the subject rather than the theoretical or +sentimental," I wish at the outset to recall certain functions performed +by publishers, booksellers and librarians, and to acknowledge my +indebtedness to Mr. J. W. Nichols, secretary of the American +Booksellers' Association, for material along this line. + +Casual observers have come to regard publishers as bookmakers or +manufacturers, who merely put the product of authors into merchantable +form, and distribute it to dealers, for sale to the reading public. If +this were the only function of the publisher, his task would be an easy +one; indeed we might soon expect to see all publishers supplanted by one +great co-operative factory, to which authors might take their +manuscripts, and have them transformed into books and distributed +through the ordinary channels of commerce, like any other commodities. +Some superficial observers have recently made bold to conjecture that +this will be the final outcome of the present troubled state of the +general trade of publishing and selling books. But, alas! the actual +making of the book--giving to it an appropriate, artistic and really +attractive form--is perhaps the least of the publishers' trials, though +this, in itself, is a difficult task, requiring an artistic taste, well +trained and skilful judgment, and much technical knowledge. + +To one who has had an insight into the publishing business, the enormous +mass of manuscript that is annually submitted to each of the great +publishers is simply appalling. They are compelled to employ a corps of +"readers" to cull out that which is worthy of consideration by an +intelligent and skilled publisher. Much that come to hand has been +hastily prepared by persons who lacked the time, experience or special +training necessary to enable an author to prepare an acceptable +manuscript, while the great majority of young authors have really no +message to tell that is worth recording. Here comes the most difficult +and trying task of the successful publisher--_the selection of proper +material for publication_. It often happens that a rejected manuscript +contains some good work--a promise of something better to come. Then the +publisher points out the best features and encourages the incipient +author to try again. + +Thus books are made, not after a given pattern, like certain fabrics, +but each is a creation in itself. The responsibility of the publisher, +for the character of the creation, is by no means unimportant. He acts +as arbiter of the standard of excellence that must be attained by an +author before he is introduced to the public. The publishers' criterion +is simply a question of cash. "Will the public buy the book and pay for +it?" Nor can any other standard be adopted with safety. The whole +question of supply must always depend upon public demand. + +But the publisher is not infallible. He often makes mistakes. Between +him and the readers is the dealer. The retail bookseller stands closest +to the reading public. He acquaints himself with the essential character +of the new book, points out to his customer enough of interest to cause +him to glance through it, and finally sells it to him; for the +intelligent bookseller knows the taste and reading habits of his +customers. He has his leading customers in mind from the time he orders +a new book till he has shown it and sold it to them. If they are pleased +with it, and recommend it to their friends, who call at the store for +it, the bookseller re-orders it, and, if he is so fortunate as not to be +restrained by unfair local competition, he advertises the book and +pushes its sale with energy, so long as interest in it can be kept +alive. + +Thus the retail booksellers in every city and hamlet throughout the +country, standing close to the reading public, knowing what their +customers will buy, are the real monitors of the publishers. + +When the publisher considers the advisability of bringing out a new +book, he cannot undertake to look beyond a few hundred booksellers. It +is through them, and only through them, that he has learned to gauge the +taste of the reading public. The paramount question for him to decide +is, "How many copies of this particular book can I sell to dealer A, +dealer B and dealer C; how many copies of this book can I hope with +certainty to sell to all of my customers in the trade?" The publisher +well knows that the dealer is governed by the same criterion as himself: +"Will it pay; will this book be a ready seller, or will it cost me all +of the profit I make on it to sell it?" + +Thus the product of the author is subject to the immutable laws of +supply and demand from the time he submits his first immature manuscript +until he makes two, three, four or more trials, and finally has a +manuscript accepted. But even then the publishers prepares only a small +edition for a new author, and the dealers are very conservative in +ordering a new book--especially by an unknown author. The conscientious +bookseller awaits the verdict of certain patrons, knowing that, if the +book is commended by one whose judgment is respected by local readers, +he can safely re-order a goodly number. + +Thus the author is dependent upon the publisher for the standard of +excellence he must attain in order to achieve success; the publisher is +dependent upon the dealer, not only in forming his judgment of the +character of books that will sell, but also for the number that he may +safely print; while the dealer is dependent upon his best and most +critical patrons. Hence the relation of author, publisher and dealer is +so close--indeed they are so mutually interdependent--that one factor +could not be removed without vitally crippling the other. + +A distinguished librarian, who has been a pioneer of progress in the +library movement, has recently suggested the propriety of abolishing +book stores (_see Publishers' Weekly_, May 11, '01, p. 1149) and +allowing public librarians to receive orders and forward them to the +publishers. If the distinguished gentleman did not have in view visions +of personal gain for public librarians, he should have carried his +philanthropic suggestion farther, and proposed to abolish both +booksellers and librarians, and to allow the public to procure their +books directly from the publishers, thus saving that moiety of gain that +would be made by either in return for the service rendered. It cannot be +supposed that so able and conscientious an administrative officer ever +contemplated maintaining an extra corps of assistants, at an extra +expense to the municipality or to those liberal benefactors who have +endowed public libraries, in order that opulent citizens may still +further indulge their tastes by purchasing larger private libraries, +without paying the small commission or profit that is usually allowed to +retail booksellers. On the other hand, if this proposal was made for the +purpose of allowing libraries maintained by taxing the municipality, to +engage in gainful occupation, this is carrying the socialistic idea +farther than even our populistic friends have ever yet proposed. + +However, inasmuch as this question has been raised, we are bound to +treat it from an economic point of view. The question is, "Shall the +bookseller be abolished and his office merged into that of the +librarian, and can the librarian perform the offices of the bookseller?" + +No one has ever questioned the value of the public library from the +burning of the Alexandrian Library to the present day. The value of a +library, as a _librarium_, or storehouse for the permanent preservation +of books, has always been manifest. + +Again, the public library gives a larger opportunity and a wider range +than is possible in the private collection; and scholars, historians and +students of all classes are daily made grateful to the trained, +professional librarian, who has so classified the contents of the +library as to make the whole available at a moment's notice. + +Still another inestimable feature of the public library is that it +maintains a public reading room for children as well as adults. + +Finally, the library furnishes reading at home to those who are not yet +in a position to become owners of books. The benefit derived from +reading of this character is often of questionable value. The _habitue_ +of the circulating library makes his selections from misleading or +sensational titles. Little care and less intelligence is exercised in +choosing either title or author. As a result librarians are constantly +complaining that only the trashiest and most worthless books are read. + +The circulating department of the public library is now supplemented by +others that are conducted for cash profit. These have sprung up in many +cities. And now we have the "Book-Lovers' Library," a corporation with +capital stock, engaging in business for profit. It has the advantage of +certain trust features. It proposes to organize branches in all of the +principal cities and towns in the country. For five dollars a year it +proposes to supply fifty dollars' worth of reading to each subscriber. +An automobile is employed, with an attendant to deliver the books to +subscribers each week and take up those that have been read. Having paid +five, ten or more dollars, at the beginning of the year, the subscriber +can read from morning till night, while the new books come and go with +the lightning speed of the automobile. + +As in many other circulating libraries, new copyrighted fiction is the +chief staple supplied by the "Book-Lovers' Library"--the sweetest +pabulum automatically administered. + +After a season of such dissipation call in a neurologist to diagnose +your patient, and he will advise you that by continuing the treatment +the mind will be reduced to a sieve, if not ultimately to absolute +imbecility. Having abandoned the more serious literature that calls into +use all the faculties of the mind, the reader of nothing but fiction +converts what would otherwise be a healthful recreation into +dissipation, that is enervating and permanently debilitating to all the +faculties of the mind, when carried to an extreme. Had the reader been +denied the use of this automatic machine, and been compelled, as +formerly, to browse through the book store in search of something to +read, more serious books would have been selected--history, travel, +descriptive writing or popular science, with an occasional novel by way +of recreation. + +But to continue the argument, suppose we abolish the bookseller, as has +been proposed. This would not be a difficult matter. Most of them would +gladly be "abolished" if they could sell out their stock for anything +near what it cost them. Their profits have been so reduced by unfair +competition that they are not sufficient to pay the cost of doing +business. They have been compelled to carry side lines, as stationery, +newspapers, periodicals, sporting goods, _bric-a-brac_, wall paper, +etc., in order to make a living. By this means they have learned that +other lines of merchandise yield a better profit than books. As a result +most of them have greatly reduced their book stock, or entirely +abandoned the sale of books, and put in more profitable lines of +merchandise. + +The causes that have led up to this result are manifold: 1st. They were +strenuously urged, and they finally consented to allow discounts: + + (_a_) To ministers of the gospel, since they are public benefactors. + + (_b_) To school teachers, since they are public educators and + benefactors. + + (_c_) To public libraries, since they are for the most part + eleemosynary institutions, and hence entitled to charity. + +Indeed, when I recount the charitable benefactions that have been +exacted and received at the hands of the retail bookseller, he seems to +me to have been the most saintly character that has lived in my day and +generation. And right here it is of interest to note that these +ministers, these teachers, these physicians, these public librarians +were actually receiving out of the hands of the public stated salaries +that exceeded by far the annual net profit of the average bookseller. + +2d. Having secured from the local dealer a discount equal to the best +part of his profit, many librarians have gone behind him and appealed +directly to the publishers for a larger discount. This has been granted +in most cases, so that most librarians have recently been receiving as +large a discount as local dealers. + +3d. Commission agents have purchased complete editions of +popular-selling books from the publishers, and re-sold them at a slight +advance: + + (_a_) To dry-goods stores, where they have been put on "bargain + counters" and sold at less than cost, to attract customers to their + stores. + + (_b_) To publishers of local newspapers, who give the books away as + premiums or sell them at cost prices, to increase the local + circulation of their papers. + + (_c_) To mail-order agencies, who advertise the books at less than they + are usually sold for by dealers. + +4th. Many publishers have been advertising and mailing their books +directly to retail customers at reduced prices, or at the same price +they recommended local dealers to ask for them, and they have prepaid +the postage, thus _competing directly with their distributing agents, +the booksellers, in their own field_. + +5th. Finally, some local librarians, who a few years ago were appealing +to local booksellers for a discount, having been granted the discount, +have recently been supplying books "at cost prices" to other patrons of +the local booksellers. Thus our friends, the librarians, having inverted +the good old practice of returning good for evil, having helped to rob +the local bookseller of his livelihood, now propose to abolish his +office. + +To carry the proposition to its conclusions, suppose we abolish the +bookseller. Can the librarian take his place and send the orders in to +the publishers? If so, if this is all there is to the bookselling +business, why should the publisher pay a commission to the librarian for +doing what the people could as readily do for themselves? But a general +business cannot be carried on in this way. Publishers have tried it for +years, yet only comparatively few people are willing to order books that +they have not had an opportunity to examine, and of this class +librarians are the most conservative. They, too, want to know what they +are buying before they place their orders. Hence, this postulate: If the +librarian is to succeed the bookseller, he must become a merchant; he +must order stocks of books and take the speculative chance of selling +them. But the librarian has had no experience or training in +merchandising. Can he afford to hazard his own capital in an untried +field; can he induce his friends to supply him with capital to invest in +a business of which he confessedly has no knowledge? It would manifestly +be a perversion of the funds of the institution in charge of the +librarian, to invest them in a gainful occupation. + +From what I have said, it must be apparent that booksellers, as well as +librarians, have a province of their own, and perform a service that +cannot be delegated to another. And hence it is desirable that we live +and dwell together in peace and amity. + +But in these days of combinations, reorganizations and revolutions in +the conduct of business, the publishers have looked farther, in their +quest for more economical purveying agents. For the past ten years they +have been trying to induce the dry-goods merchants to carry books. But, +after all this time, not more than half a dozen department stores carry +fairly representative stocks of books. They confine themselves, for the +most part, to new copyrighted fiction, and of this they handle only that +which is widely advertised. + +Of late, department stores and dry-goods stores have met severe +competition in clothing stores, that make no pretext of carrying a book +stock. They simply buy an edition of a popular-selling book and +advertise it for less money than it actually cost. They do this simply +as an advertising dodge, to attract customers to their stores. Then, +too, the mail-order agencies have cut the price of the most popular +books so low that it is no longer profitable to handle them. The result +of this has been that many of the most promising new novels have been +killed before they were fairly put on the market; for _as soon as they +ceased to be profitable no one could afford to re-order them_. + +The effect of this recent drift of the trade has been to stimulate the +frothy side of literature to an extreme degree. The more serious +literature is being neglected. The latest novel is the fad. Its average +life is reduced to little more than one year, though the copyright lasts +for twenty-eight years, and with a renewal it may be extended to +forty-two years. + +This shortening of the life of books has had a baneful effect: + + (_a_) Baneful to the bookseller, since it frequently leaves him with a + dead stock of books on hand that cannot be turned without loss. + + (_b_) Baneful to the publisher, since the book stops selling and the + plates become valueless before he has had time fairly to recoup + himself for the expense of bringing it out, advertising it, and + putting it on the market. + + (_c_) Baneful to the author, since by shortening the life of his books + the value of his property in them is reduced. + +But perhaps the most baneful effect of this craze for ephemeral +literature is upon the people themselves. As the standard or degree of +civilization for a given age is marked by the character of the +literature the people produce and read, we cannot hope for a golden age +in American letters, unless the present system is reversed. Work of real +merit is never done by accident, nor is it the product of mediocre +talents. If we are to develop a national literature that shall fitly +characterize the sterling qualities of the American people in this, the +full strength of the early manhood of the nation; at the time when the +nation has taken its place in the vanguard of civilization; at the time +when the consumptive power of the nation is equal to one-third of that +of the entire civilized world; at the time when men of talents and +genius are annually earning and expending, for their comfort and +pleasure, more munificent sums than were ever lavished on the most +opulent princes; I say, if we are to produce a literature that shall +fitly characterize this age of our nation, we must hold forth such +rewards for the pursuits of literature as will attract men of genius, +men of the most lustrous talents, men who are the peers of their +co-workers in other walks of life. But this will not be possible so long +as the present strife to furnish cheap literature to the people +continues. + +It should be observed that the bookseller has not suffered alone in this +cheapening process. The publisher has suffered. Within the past few +months two names that for half a century were household words, synonyms +of all that is excellent in the publishing world, have met with +disaster, and others were approaching a crisis. + +Fortunately one firm stood out so prominently, as a bulwark of financial +strength and security, that its president, Mr. Charles Scribner, of +Charles Scribner's Sons, could afford to take the initiative in calling +for reform. He invited the co-operation of other publishers, and a year +ago this month they met in New York and organized the American +Publishers' Association. Their organization now includes practically all +of the general publishers who contribute anything of real value to +current literature. + +The publishers canvassed thoroughly the causes that had led to the +decline of the trade, and they appointed a committee to draft reform +measures. + +In reviewing the decline of the trade, two facts stood out so +prominently that it was impossible to disassociate them as cause and +effect. The three thousand booksellers, upon whom, as purveying agents, +the publishers had depended a generation ago, had shrunk in number until +only about five hundred could be counted who were worthy to be called +booksellers. The other fact, which doubtless made quite as deep an +impression upon the minds of the publishers, was that the long line of +books, on each of their published catalogs, was practically dead. Those +books of high standard character, by eminent authors, books that for +years had had a good annual sale, no longer moved. These standard books +have been a large source of revenue to publishers and their authors for +many years. But now so few of them are sold that it hardly pays the +publishers to send their travellers over the road. + +Few dry-goods merchants, druggists, newsdealers and stationers, that +have recently been induced to carry a small number of books, feel +sufficiently well acquainted with salable literature to warrant their +carrying anything more than the most popular-selling new copyrighted +novels and cheap reprints of non-copyrighted books that sell for +twenty-five cents or less. As stated above, there are a few large +department stores that carry a more general stock, but they are so few +that the support received from them is not sufficient to compensate, in +any measure, the loss sustained through the sacrifice of the regular +booksellers. Moreover, the regular booksellers that still remain in the +business have not been buying many standard books of late. Seeing their +profit in fiction sacrificed by unfair competition, many of them have +ordered only enough of the new copyrighted novels to keep alive their +accumulated stocks of standard books, until they can sell them out or +reduce them to a point where they can afford to abandon the book +business. + +From the character of the reform measures adopted by the American +Publishers' Association, which went into effect on the first of May, it +is evident that the publishers have determined to restore the old-time +bookseller. This can be done only by the publishers enforcing the +maintenance of retail prices, the same as is done by the proprietors of +the Earl & Wilson collar, the Waterman fountain pen, the Eastman kodak, +and many other special lines of which the retail price is listed. + +When dry-goods stores and clothing stores bought these special lines and +retailed them at or below the cost price, in _contrast to the list +price_ asked in the special furnishing stores, in order to attract +customers to their stores because of their wonderful "bargain counters," +the manufacturers realized that the dry-goods stores were simply using +up these wares to advertise their other business. They cut off the +supply of their goods to these price-cutting dry-goods stores, and +refused to supply any more goods, except under a substantial undertaking +on the part of the dry-goods stores to maintain the full list price. + +This, in a word, is the substance of the publishers' plan. They have +agreed to cut off absolutely the supply of all of their books, net, +copyrighted and otherwise, to any dealer who cuts the retail price of a +book published under the net-price system. + +On the other hand, the nearly eight hundred members of the American +Booksellers' Association have entered into a mutual agreement to push +with energy the sale of the books of all publishers who co-operate with +them for the maintenance of retail prices, and not to buy, nor put in +stock, nor offer for sale, the books of any publisher who fails to +co-operate with them. This is substantially the same system that was +adopted in Germany in 1887, in France a few years later, and in England +in 1900. + +The effect of this system in Germany has been to lift up the trade from +a condition even more deplorable, if possible, than that into which it +has fallen in this country, and to make it a prosperous and profitable +business. It has proved beneficent and satisfactory, not only to dealers +and publishers, but also to authors and to the reading public, for every +city, town and village in Germany now sustains a book shop that carries +a fairly representative stock of books, so that the people are able to +examine promptly every book as soon as it comes from the press, and the +authors are sure of having their books promptly submitted to the +examination of every possible purchaser. + +The results in France and England are equally encouraging, and it is +believed that as soon as the American system is fully understood, and as +soon as enough books are included under the net-price system, so that a +bookseller can once more make a living on the sale of books, many of the +old-time booksellers will again put in a stock of books and help to +re-establish the book trade in America. + +Having tried to define the present relation of publishers and +booksellers, I beg leave to say frankly that I know of no reason why +publishers and booksellers should maintain any different relations with +librarians than they maintain with any other retail customers. + +For example, let us take the new "Book-Lovers' Library," so called. +Their plan is to sell memberships, and to deliver to each member one +book a week for five dollars a year, or three books a week for ten +dollars a year. They take up the books at the end of each week and +supply new ones. + +If this plan could be carried out successfully, it would result in +making one book do the service now performed by ten or fifteen books. In +other words, this circulating library proposes to furnish its members +with ten or fifteen books for the same amount of money they now pay for +one book by simply passing the book around from one to another. + +The effect of this scheme, if carried into all cities and towns as +proposed, would be to reduce the number of books manufactured and sold +to about _one-tenth_ of its present magnitude. From a business point of +view, publishers and dealers cannot be called upon to make special +discounts to encourage such an enterprise. + +The encouragement and support given to authors, by patrons of +literature, would be reduced by this scheme to about one-tenth of the +present amount. The effect of this withdrawal of support to American +authors can easily be imagined. + +But I do not believe that real book-lovers, intelligent and conservative +readers, will be carried away by this passing craze. On the contrary, +they have studiously avoided forming that careless, slip-shod habit of +reading that characterizes patrons of circulating libraries. The real +book-lover selects his books like his friends, with caution, and with +discriminating and painstaking care. + +From a bookseller's point of view, the "Book-Lovers' Library" is not +founded on practical lines. However, as the plan also includes the +selling of capital stocks to its patrons, it is probable that the money +received from subscriptions, together with the annual membership fees, +will be sufficient to keep the enterprise going for some time. But since +this is a corporation organized for the purpose of making money, a +failure to earn money and to pay dividends will discourage its patrons, +cause them to feel that they have been deceived, and finally to withdraw +from membership. When the members realize that they are paying five or +ten dollars a year for privileges that can be had free at the local +library, in most cases they will withdraw their support. + +Thus, while in some respects I regard this enterprise as an evil factor, +it contains, I think, inherent weaknesses that will finally compass its +own end. + +But what is said of the relation of publishers and dealers to the +Book-Lovers' Library is true in a measure of all circulating and other +public libraries. They do not increase, but they positively contract the +number of sales that are made in the interest of authors, publishers and +dealers. + +Under the German system, of which I have spoken, public libraries were +at first allowed ten per cent. discount; but recently this has been +reduced to five per cent. + +Under the English system, profiting by the experience of German +publishers, no discount is allowed to public libraries, schools or +institutions. + +The American system, however, is modelled largely after the German, and +it permits the dealers to allow a discount of ten per cent. to local +libraries. In doing this local dealers are protected from competition by +the publishers, in that the publishers have agreed to add to the net +price the cost of transportation on all books sold at retail outside of +the cities in which they are doing business. Thus public libraries can +buy net books cheaper of the local booksellers than they can buy them of +the publishers by just the cost of transportation. + + + + + LIBRARY BUILDINGS. + + BY W. R. EASTMAN, _New York State Library, Albany, N. Y._ + + +A building is not the first requisite of a public library. A good +collection of books with a capable librarian will be of great service in +a hired room or in one corner of a store. First the librarian, then the +books and after that the building. + +But when the building is occupied the value of the library is doubled. +The item of rent is dropped. The library is no longer dependent on the +favor of some other institution and is not cramped by the effort to +include two or three departments in a single room. It will not only give +far better service to the community, but will command their respect, +interest and support to a greater degree than before. + +The following hints are intended as a reply to many library boards who +are asking for building plans. + +The vital point in successful building is to group all the parts of a +modern library in their true relations. To understand a particular case +it will be necessary to ask some preliminary questions. + + 1. _Books._ + Number of volumes in library? + Average yearly increase? + Number of volumes in 20 years? + Number of volumes to go in reference room? + Number of volumes to go in children's room? + Number of volumes to go in other departments? + Number of volumes to go in main book room? + If the library is large will there be an open shelf room separate from + the main book room? + Is a stack needed? + Will public access to the shelves be allowed? + +By answers to such questions a fair idea of the character and size of +the book room may be obtained. + +_Rules for calculation._ In a popular library, outside the reference +room, for each foot of wall space available 80 books can be placed on +eight shelves. Floor cases having two sides will hold 160 books for each +running foot, and in a close stack 25 books, approximately, can be +shelved for each square foot of floor space. But the latter rule will be +materially modified by ledges, varying width of passages, stairs, etc. + +The above figures give full capacity. In practical work, to provide for +convenient classification, expansion, oversized books and working +facilities, the shelves of a library should be sufficient for twice the +actual number of books and the lines of future enlargement should be +fully determined. + + 2. _Departments._ + Is the library for free circulation? + Is the library for free reference? + Are special rooms needed for + high school students? + children? + ladies? + magazine readers? + newspaper readers? + How many square feet for each of the above rooms? + Are class rooms needed as in a college library? + Club rooms? + Lecture rooms? + Museum? + Art gallery? + Other departments? + + 3. _Community._ + In city or country? + Population? + By what class will library be chiefly used? + School children? + Students? + Mechanics? + Reading circles? + Ladies? + + 4. _Resources and conditions._ + Money available? + Money annually for maintenance? + Size of building lot? + Location and surroundings? + How many stories? + Elevators? + Heat? + Light? + Ventilation? + + 5. _Administration._ + Is library to be in charge of one person? + How many assistants? + Is a work room needed? + unpacking room? + bindery? + librarian's office? + trustees' room? + +By careful study of these points a clear conception of the problem is +gained and the building committee is prepared to draw an outline sketch +indicating in a general way their needs and views. They are not likely +to secure what they want by copying or even by competition. The best +architects have not the time nor the disposition to compete with each +other. A better way is to choose an architect, one who has succeeded in +library work if possible, who will faithfully study the special +problems, consult freely with the library board, propose plans and +change them freely till they are right. And if such plans are also +submitted for revision to some librarian of experience or to the library +commission of the state, whose business and pleasure it is to give +disinterested advice, so much the better. + +The following outlines taken from actual library buildings are offered +by way of suggestion. + + + _Square plan._ + +An inexpensive building for a small country neighborhood may have one +square room with book shelves on the side and rear walls. A convenient +entrance is from a square porch on one side of the front corner and a +librarian's alcove is at the opposite corner leaving the entire front +like a store window which may be filled with plants or picture +bulletins. With a stone foundation the wooden frame may be finished with +stained shingles. + + + _Oblong plan._ + +A somewhat larger building may have a wider front with entrance at the +center. + +Book shelves under high windows may cover the side and rear walls and +tables may stand in the open space. + +It will be convenient to bring together the books most in demand for +circulation on one side of the room and those needed most for study on +the opposite side. One corner may contain juvenile books. In this way +confusion between readers, borrowers and children will be avoided. Each +class of patrons will go by a direct line to its own quarter. This is +the beginning of the plan of departments which will be of great +importance in the larger building. + +The number of books for circulation will increase rapidly and it may +soon be necessary to provide double faced floor cases. These will be +placed with passages running from the center of the room towards the end +and that end will become the book or delivery room and the opposite side +will be the study or reference room. + + + _T-shape plan._ + +The next step is to add space to the rear giving a third department to +the still open room. If the book room is at the back the student readers +may be at tables in the right hand space and the children in the space +on the left. The librarian at a desk in the center is equally near to +all departments and may exercise full supervision. + +The presence of a considerable number of other busy persons has a +sobering and quieting effect on all and the impression of such a library +having all its departments in one is dignified and wholesome. It may be +well to separate the departments by light open hand rails, screens, +cords or low book cases. It is a mistake to divide a small building into +three or four small rooms. + + + _Separate rooms._ + +For a larger library these rails must be made into partitions, giving to +each department a separate room. Partitions of glass set in wooden +frames and possibly only eight feet high may answer an excellent +purpose, adding to the impression of extent, admitting light to the +interior of the building and allowing some supervision from the center. +With partitions on each side, the entrance becomes a central hallway +with a department at each side and the book room at the end. This is +the best position for the book room for two special reasons. Overlapping +the departments in both wings it is equally accessible from either, and +at the back of the house a plainer and cheaper wall can be built +admitting of easy removal when the growth of the library requires +enlargement. + +Sometimes the angles between the book room and the main building may be +filled to advantage by work room and office. These working rooms though +not large and not conspicuous are of vital consequence and should be +carefully planned. + +We have now reached a type of building which, for lack of a better word, +I may call the "butterfly plan," having two spread wings and a body +extending to the back. Others call it the "trefoil." This general type +is being substantially followed in most new libraries of moderate size. +From one entrance hall direct access is given to three distinct +departments, or perhaps to five, by placing two rooms in each wing. + + + _Modifications required by limited space._ + +If we have an open park to build in we shall be tempted to expand the +hallway to a great central court or rotunda. Perhaps the importance of +the library may justify it, but we should be on our guard against +separating departments by spaces so great as to make supervision +difficult or passing from one to another inconvenient. We should aim to +concentrate rather than scatter. + +More frequently the lot will be too narrow. We must draw in the wings +and make the narrower rooms longer from front to back. With a corner lot +we can enter on the side street, leaving a grand reading room on the +main front and turning at right angles as we enter the house pass +between other rooms to the book room at the extreme end of the lot. Or +again, we shall be obliged to dispense entirely with one wing of our +plan, and have but two department rooms instead of three on the floor. +Every location must be studied by itself. + + + _Other stories._ + +Basement rooms are of great service for work rooms and storage. A +basement directly under the main book room is specially valuable to +receive the overflow of books not in great demand. + +A second and even a third story will be useful for special collections, +class and lecture rooms or a large audience hall. In a library of +moderate size it will often be found convenient to build a book room +about 16 feet high to cover two stories of bookcases and wholly +independent of the level of the second floor of the main building. + + + _Extension._ + +To meet the needs of a rapidly growing library it is important at the +beginning to fix the lines of extension. + +A building with a front of two rooms and a passage between may add a +third room at the rear, and at a later stage, add a second building as +large as the first and parallel to it, the two being connected by the +room first added. + +This is the architect's plan for the Omaha Public Library. + + + _Open court._ + +When a library is so large that one book room is not enough, two such +rooms may be built to the rear, one from each end of the building with +open space between, and these two wings may be carried back equally and +joined at the back by another building, thus completing the square +around an open court. + +This gives wide interior space for light and air, or grass and flowers. +Such is the plan of the Boston Public and Princeton University +libraries. It will be the same in Minneapolis when that library is +complete. In the plan of the new library at Newark, N. J., the central +court is roofed over with glass becoming a stairway court with +surrounding galleries opening on all rooms. In Columbia University, New +York, as in the British Museum, the center is a great reading room +capped by a dome high above the surrounding roofs and lighted by great +clerestory windows. + +If the street front is very long there may be three extensions to the +rear, one opposite the center and one from each end, leaving two open +courts as in the plan for the New York Public or the Utica Public; and +this general scheme may be repeated and carried still farther back +leaving four open courts as in the Library of Congress. This plan can +be extended as far as space can be provided. + +When the general plan of the large building is fixed, passages will be +introduced, parallel to the front and sides, and departments will be +located as may be judged most convenient, always having regard to the +convenience of the patrons of each department in finding ready access to +the books they need and providing for supervision and attendance at +least cost of time, effort and money. Extravagance in library building +is not so often found in lavish ornament as in that unfortunate +arrangement of departments which requires three attendants to do the +work of one or two. + + + _Light._ + +Natural light should be secured if possible for every room. Windows +should be frequent and extend well up toward the ceiling terminating in +a straight line so as to afford large supply of light from the top. +Windows like those in an ordinary house or office building, coming +within two or three feet of the floor are more satisfactory both for +inside and outside appearance than those which leave a high blank wall +beneath them. From the street a blank wall has a prison-like effect; on +the inside it cuts off communication with the rest of the world and the +impression is unpleasant. The proper object of library windows six or +eight feet above the floor is to allow unbroken wall space for book +shelves beneath them. There is no serious objection to this at the back +of the room or sometimes at the sides of the house where the windows are +not conspicuous from the street, but every room of any size, if it is +next to the outer wall, should have windows to look out of on at least +one side. + +A book room at the back of a building may secure excellent light from +side windows eight feet above the floor with lower windows at the back. + +The lighting of large interior rooms is often a difficult problem. Light +will not penetrate to advantage more than 30 feet. Skylights, domes and +clerestory windows are used. In the case of the dome or clerestory the +room to be lighted must be higher than those immediately surrounding it. +The clerestory plan with upright windows is most satisfactory when +available, being cheaper and giving better security against the weather +than the skylight. In a large building with interior courts, the lower +story of the court is sometimes covered with a skylight and used as a +room. + +This appears in the plans for the New York Public and the Utica Public +libraries. Skylights must be constructed with special care to protect +rooms against the weather. + +The problem of light is peculiarly difficult in the crowded blocks of +cities. A library front may sometimes touch the walls of adjoining +buildings so that light can enter only from the front and rear. If +extending more than 40 feet back from the street, it will be necessary +to narrow the rest of the building so as to leave open spaces on each +side, or to introduce a little light by the device of light wells. +Occasionally a large city library is found on the upper floors of an +office building, where light and air are better than below, and the cost +of accommodation is less. The use of elevators makes this feasible. + + + _Shelving._ + +The general scheme of book shelves should be fixed before the plan of +the building is drawn. Otherwise the space for books can not be +determined and serious mistakes may be made. Between the two extremes of +open wall shelves and the close stack a compromise is necessary. The +large library will put the bulk of its books in a stack and bring a +considerable selection of the best books into an open room. The small +library will begin with books along the walls and provide cases for +additions from time to time as needed. Its patrons will enjoy at first +the generous spaces of the open room without an array of empty cases to +offend the eye and cumber the floor. When walls are covered with books a +floor case will be introduced and others when needed will be placed +according to plan, till at last the floor is as full as it was meant to +be, and the basement beneath having served for a time to hold the +overflow, a second story of cases is put on the top of the first. This +process should be planned in advance for a term of 20 years. + +For public access passages between cases should be five feet wide. Cases +have sometimes been set on radial lines so as to bring all parts under +supervision from the center. This arrangement, specially if bounded by a +semi-circular wall, is expensive, wasteful of space and of doubtful +value, except in peculiar conditions. It is not adapted to further +extension of the building. + + + _Size of shelf._ + +For ordinary books in a popular library the shelf should not be more +than eight inches wide with an upright space of ten inches. Eight +shelves of this height with a base of four inches and crown finish of +five inches will fill eight feet from the floor and the upper shelf may +be reached at a height of 81 inches or six feet nine inches. Ordinary +shelves should not exceed three feet in length. A length of two and a +half feet is preferred by many. A shelf more than three feet long is apt +to bend under the weight of books. For books of larger size a limited +number of shelves with 12 inches upright space and a few still larger +should be provided. The proportion of oversize books will vary greatly +according to the kind of library, a college or scientific collection +having many more than the circulating library. Any reference room will +contain a large number of such books and its shelves should correspond. + + + _Movable shelves._ + +Much attention has been given to devices for adjustment of shelves. Some +of these are quite ingenious and a few are satisfactory. No device +should be introduced that will seriously break the smooth surface at the +side. Notches, cross bars, iron horns or hooks or ornamental brackets +expose the last book to damage. If pins are used they should be so held +to their places that they cannot fall out. Heads of pins or bars should +be sunk in the wood and the place for books left, as near as possible, +absolutely smooth on all sides. It is at least a question whether the +importance of making shelves adjustable and absolutely adjustable has +not been greatly overrated. As a fact the shelves of the circulating +library are very seldom adjusted. They may have all the usual appliances +gained at large expense but there is no occasion to adjust them outside +the reference room. They remain as they were put up. It is probably well +to have the second and third shelf movable so that one can be dropped to +the bottom and two spaces left where there were three at first. But all +other shelves might as well be fixed at intervals of 10 inches without +the least real inconvenience and the cases be stronger for it and far +cheaper. A perfectly adjustable shelf is interesting as a study in +mechanics, but is practically disappointing. Its very perfection is a +snare because it is so impossible to set it true without a spirit level +and a machinist. All shelves in a reference room should be adjustable. +Bound magazines might have special cases. + + + _Wood or iron shelves._ + +Iron shelf construction has the advantage of lightness and strength, +filling the least space and admitting light and air. Where three or more +stories of cases are stacked one upon another iron is a necessity. It +also offers the best facilities for adjustment of shelves and is most +durable. + +On the other hand it is more difficult to get, can be had only of the +manufacturers in fixed patterns, and costs at least twice as much as any +wood, even oak, unless carved for ornament, and four or five times as +much as some very good wooden shelves. This great cost raises the +question whether the advantages named are really important. Few village +libraries need more than two stories of shelves in a stack. If iron is +more durable we can buy two sets of wooden shelves for the cost of one +of iron--and when we buy the second set will know better what we want. +The importance of shelf adjustment has been exaggerated. + +A more important consideration, to my mind, is that iron is not so well +adapted to the changing conditions of a growing library. It is made at a +factory and to be ordered complete. It is bolted to the floor and wall +at fixed intervals. But we have seen that a gradual accumulation of +bookcases is better than to put all shelving in position at first. + +Wooden cases are movable. You begin with those you need and add others +as you have more books, you can change and alter them at any time with +only the aid of the village carpenter, and enjoy the wide open spaces +till the time for filling them comes. + +Iron with all its ornaments belongs in the shop. It is not the furniture +you prefer in your home. The item of cost will usually decide the +question. For libraries of less than 30,000 volumes, where close storage +is not imperative, wood has the advantage. + + + _Miscellaneous notes._ + +A floor of hard wood is good enough for most libraries. Wood covered +with corticene or linoleum tends to insure the needed quiet. Floors of +tile, marble or concrete are very noisy and should have strips of carpet +laid in the passages. + +On the walls of reading rooms it is neither necessary nor desirable to +have an ornamental wainscot, nor indeed any wainscot at all, not even a +base board. Book cases will cover the lower walls and books are the best +ornament. + +Small tables for four are preferred in a reading room to long common +tables. They give the reader an agreeable feeling of privacy. + +Do not make tables too high. 30 inches are enough. + +Light bent wood chairs are easy to handle. + +Steam or hot water give the best heat and incandescent electric lamps +give the best light. + +Be sure that you have sufficient ventilation. + +Windows should be made to slide up and down, not to swing on hinges or +pivots. + +Without dwelling further on details let us be sure 1, That we have room +within the walls for all the books we now have or are likely to have in +20 years; provide the first outfit of shelves for twice the number of +books expected at the end of one year and add bookcases as we need them, +leaving always a liberal margin of empty space on every shelf. We must +plan for the location of additional cases for 20 years with due +consideration of the question of public access. + +2, That all needed departments are provided in harmonious relation with +each other and so located as to serve the public to the best advantage +and at least cost of time, strength and money. + +3, That the best use of the location is made and the building suited to +the constituency and local conditions. + +4, That the estimated cost is well within the limit named, for new +objects of expense are certain to appear during the process of building +and debt must not be thought of. + +5, That the building is convenient for work and supervision, a point at +which many an elegant and costly building has conspicuously failed. + +Make it also neat and beautiful, for it is to be the abiding place of +all that is best in human thought and experience and is to be a home in +which all inquiring souls are to be welcomed. Since the people are to be +our guests let us make the place of their reception worthy of its +purpose. + + + + + THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN. + + BY JOHN LAWRENCE MAURAN, _Architect, St. Louis, Mo._ + + +The public library, as we understand the name to-day, has had but a +brief existence compared with the mere housing of collections of books +which has gone on through countless ages. + +With the change from the old ideas of safeguarding the precious books +themselves to the advanced theory of placing their priceless contents +within the easy reach of all, has come an equally important change in +the character of the custodian of the books. The duties of the modern +librarian are such that he must be not only something of a scholar, in +the best sense of the word, but he must be capable also of properly +directing others in the pursuit of learning, and, withal, combine +executive ability with a highly specialized professional facility. The +result of carefully conceived courses of training is apparent in the +wonderful results achieved through the devoted and untiring efforts of +the members of this Association towards a constant betterment of their +charges, and a closer bonding, through affection, between the masses of +the people and that portion of the books which lies between the covers. + +My purpose in recalling to your memory the wonderful advance made by +training in your profession in a comparatively short time, is to give +point to an analogy I wish to draw, showing a corresponding advance in +the profession of architecture. Not so very many years ago there were +ample grounds for the recalling by Mr. David P. Todd of Lord Bacon's +warning against the sacrifice of utility to mere artistic composition in +the following words: "Houses are built to Live in, and not to Looke on: +Therefore let Use bee preferred before Uniformitie; Except where both +may be had Leave the Goodly Fabrickes of Houses, for Beautie only, to +the Enchanted Pallaces of the Poets; Who build them with small Cost": +but to-day, thanks to the munificence of the French government and the +untiring energy of some of those who have profited by it, in fostering +the growth of our own architectural schools, there are few sections of +this broad land which have not one or more worthy followers of Palladio +and Michael Angelo. Hunt, Richardson and Post were among the first to +receive the training of the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and they, moreover, +had the rare judgment to take the training only, adapting their designs +to the climatic and other local conditions rather than attempting the +importation of French forms as well as method of design. Their example +and the impetus they were able to impart to the technical schools have +been potent factors in the development of the talent of American +architects. While it is true, and more the pity, that some students +return from Paris with the idea that because Paris is a beautiful city +architecturally, the simple injection of some of their own masterpieces +into our diverse city street fronts, is going to reincarnate our +municipalities, the major portion are sufficiently discriminating to +realize that Paris owes much of its charm to a symmetry under +governmental control which we, free born Americans, can never hope to +attain, and leave behind them the mere forms and symbols of their alma +mater to use that which is best and most profitable in their training; +that is, a breadth of conception of the problem and a logical method of +sequential study of it which ensures a creditable if not an ideal +solution. The modern architect, to be successful, must be conversant +with a vast amount of information which is apparently outside his chosen +profession--such as the minutiae of hospitals, churches, libraries, +railroad stations and the like. As a case in point I recall the address +of a certain railroad president at the dedication of a large terminal +depot, in which he said: "while we have had the co-operation of +engineers and specialists in every branch of the work, I must give great +credit to our architect who is responsible for the conception of the +entire system of the handling of passengers, although he was employed +solely to enclose the space designated by our engineers." It is not my +purpose to laud the profession of architecture, but rather to show its +preparedness to _co-operate_ with you in achieving the best in library +construction and design. + +May I add to Mr. Todd's advice to library boards about to build, "first +appoint your librarian," the suggestion that second, in consultation +with him, _appoint_ your architect. It is not disbelief in competition +which has led the American Institute of Architects to advise against +competitions, for the former is a constant condition, while the latter +they believe to result in more evil than good. It is a popular notion +among laymen that a competition will bring out _ideas_ and mayhap +develop some hidden genius, but in answer to the first I can say, I know +of but one building erected from successful competitive plans without +modification, and for the second, the major portion of American +originality in building designs is unworthy the name of architecture. +Aside from the needless expense and loss of time entailed on library +board, as well as architect, by the holding of competitions a greater +evil lies in the well proven fact, that in their desire to win approval +for their design, most architects endeavor to find out the librarian's +predilections and follow them in their plans rather than to submit a +scholarly solution of the problem studied from an unprejudiced +standpoint. It is not often the good fortune of competitors to have +their submitted work judged with such unbiased intelligence as that +which permitted the best conceived plan to win in the competition for +the new library in New York City. Few men would have dared in +competition to remove that imposing architectural feature, the reading +room, from their main facade and put it frankly where it belongs, in +direct touch with the stacks which serve it, as Carrere & Hastings did. + +Not long ago a member of a certain library board of trustees wrote to us +that we were being considered, among others, as architects for their new +building, and he suggested that we send to them as many water colors as +we could collect and _as large as possible_, to impress the board; for, +as he added, "some of us appreciate your plans, but most laymen are +caught by the colored pictures, the larger the better." + +As a rule librarians have very decided ideas as to the plan desired in +so far as it relates to the correlation of rooms and departments, and +it, therefore, seems manifestly proper that having selected a librarian +on account of merit, the next step should be the selection of an +architect on the same basis, to the end that in consultation the theory +of the one may either be studied into shape or proved inferior to the +theory of the other. Under the discussion of two broad minds, the wheat +is easily separated from the chaff with the much to be desired result of +the assemblying of a well ordered plan to present to the board, which +has had such study that few criticisms cannot be answered from the store +of experience gathered in the making. This ideal crystallization of +ideas, this development of the problem working hand in hand precludes +the need of such advice as is found in the following quotation from a +paper on library buildings: + +"Taking into account the practical uses of the modern library it is +readily seen that it needs a building planned from inside, not from +without, dictated by convenience and not by taste no matter how good. +The order should be to require the architect to put a presentable +exterior on an interior having only use in view and not as is so often +done to require the librarian to make the best he can of an interior +imposed by the exigencies of the architect's taste or the demand of the +building committee for a monumental structure." + +Such an anomalous relationship between interior and exterior is +absolutely opposed to the fundamental training of the architect of +to-day. Often have I heard my professor of design, a Frenchman of rare +judgment, fly out at a student caught working on his exterior before the +interior was complete: "Work on your plan, finish your plan, and when +that is perfect, the rest will _come_." + +Architects of experience, who have been students of library development +in its every branch, who have followed the changes in the relations of +the library to the people, have reached the same conclusions along broad +lines, as have the librarians, with respect to lighting, access, +oversight and administration, as well as the general correlation of +universally important departments, and it is therefore my purpose to +state our relationship rather than attempt the raising of issues on +details of library arrangement, and to show if possible, that the +skilled architect's method of procedure tends to settle mooted points by +weighing values and considering relations of parts in a logical and +broad minded study of the particular set of conditions pertaining to his +problem. + +Either owing to the size, shape or contour of the site, its particular +exposure, local climatic conditions, the particular character of the +library itself or the people whom it serves, the problem presented to an +architect by a library board is _always_ essentially a _new_ one. +Certain fundamental rules may obtain through their universal +applicability, but every step in the working out of a successful plan +must be influenced by the particular conditions referred to, and here +the co-operation of the librarian is of inestimable value to the +architect, no matter how wide his experience may be. + +Desired correlation, like most results, can be achieved in divers ways, +and in most cases nothing of utility need be sacrificed to secure a +dignified plan, which is as much to be desired as a dignified exterior. +Realizing the importance of accomplishing successful results, a +scholarly architect will strive to mould his plan with an eye to +symmetry, without losing sight for an instant of the conditions of use, +and never sacrificing practical relationship to gain an _absolutely_ +symmetrical arrangement of plan. + +The French architect will, if necessary, waste space or inject needless +rooms into his plan to secure perfect balance, while his American +student will gain all the value of the _effect_ without diminishing the +practical value of his building one iota. + +Along with symmetry, the logical development of the plan in study keeps +in mind something of the rough form of the exterior design, with +particular reference to the grouping of its masses to secure the maximum +of air and the best light for the various departments. With the best +designers, it is an unwritten law, that the next step after completing a +satisfactory plan, is to sketch a section through the building, not only +to ensure a proper proportion in the enclosed rooms, but most important +of all to secure a system of fenestration, allowing wall space where +needed and introducing the light as near the top of the rooms as the +finish will permit. Having settled then all the details of plans and +section, wherein are comprised all of the matter of greatest moment to +the practical librarian, it only remains for the architect to prepare a +suitable exterior and I certainly agree with my old preceptor that "it +will come." The American people believe that education is the corner +stone of manhood and good citizenship, and next to our public schools, +if not before them, the most potent educational factor is our public +library. The librarians are responsible in a great measure for the good +work which is being accomplished in the dissemination of knowledge and +culture among the people, but let me ask, are we not as responsible for +our share, as co-workers with them, to perpetuate in lasting masonry the +best which in us lies for the same great cause of the education of the +people? + +What renaissance has failed to find literature and architecture +quickened alike? The awakening of a love of the beautiful brings a +thirst for knowledge concerning the beautiful; as the records will show, +the interest excited by that marvellous assemblage of architectural +masterpieces at the Chicago Fair, created a demand on the libraries +almost beyond belief for books on architecture and the allied arts. + +Every conscientious architect must feel his responsibility to his +clients as well as to the people and strive he must, to combine the +ideal in convenience with simple beauty in design; my one plea is that +such a combination is not only _possible_, but in intelligent hands, +should be universal, and if my beliefs, hopes and expectations find +sympathy with you, I shall feel repaid in the security of a harmonious +co-operation between architect and librarian in the great work which +stretches ahead of us into the future. + + + + + THE DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARY. + + BY JAMES THAYER GEROULD, _University of Missouri, Columbia_. + + +The recent discussion of the departmental library system at the +University of Chicago and the consequent restatement of the position of +that university in reference to such libraries, together with the +consideration of the problem in the annual reports of Dr. Canfield and +Mr. Lane, have called up anew the question of the expediency of the +system. Is the departmental library to be a permanent feature of the +university library? Is the highest effectiveness of a library to be +secured by a policy of decentralization? + +The public library has answered the question, finally, it seems, in the +affirmative. Do the arguments which have induced the public librarian to +establish branches and delivery stations apply in the case of the +university library? Is the university library of the future to be housed +in a single building, or is it to be scattered about in class rooms and +laboratories? To my mind, there is no more important question of +administration before those of us who are trying to render the +university library an efficient instrument of instruction than this. + +With many librarians there is an element of necessity entering into the +question. Mr. Lane is facing a condition where the library has +altogether outgrown its building, and some place must be found where +books can be stored and used. The situation is much the same in many +other places. Shall the facilities of the library be enlarged by +building or shall the books be transferred to the various departmental +libraries? Mr. Lane, speaking for his own library, says of the latter +alternative: "It would commit the library to an entirely different +policy from what it has pursued hitherto, and such a change would be +little short of a revolution for this library." + +At the University of Missouri we are expecting in the near future to +begin the construction of a library building, but, before adopting any +definite plans, we are trying to work out the problems that have just +been stated, and to make ourselves reasonably sure that we are right +before we go ahead. + +There are arguments enough on all sides of this question, of which Dr. +Canfield says that it has not two sides only, but a dozen. We must +premise that no two departments use their books in exactly the same way, +and that, consequently, methods of administration must differ. It is +generally for the advantage of all, for example, in a university where +there is a law school, that the books on private law should be separated +from the main collection and treated as a branch library. Similarly +medicine, theology and possibly a few other subjects may be withdrawn +and administered separately. + +In some of our universities one or more of the departments are several +miles away from the main body of the institution. It is obviously +necessary that the books most used in those departments should be near +enough so that the students can have access to them without too much +inconvenience and loss of time. In the ordinary institution, however, +most of the buildings are grouped in a comparatively small area, and it +is seldom more than five minutes' walk from the most remote building to +the library. In a condition such as this, and with the exceptions noted +above, I am inclined to the opinion that the university is best served +by a central library containing the main collection, and small, rigidly +selected laboratory libraries comprising books which from their very +nature are most useful in the laboratory as manuals of work. + +The arguments generally advanced in favor of the system are these: + +1. The instructor needs to be able to refer, at a moment's notice, to +any book relating to his subject. + +2. The system enables the instructor to keep a more careful watch over +the reading of his students. + +3. The best interests of the library demand that each division of the +library shall be directly under the eye of the men most interested in +it, that is to say, the instructors in the various departments; that +they should direct its growth and watch over its interests. + +That the first and second of these arguments have great weight cannot be +denied, but with a properly constructed library building and most +careful administration the requirements of both instructor and student +can be met quite as well by a central system. + +It is, of course, quite impossible for each instructor to have in his +office all the books necessary for his work. The duplication necessary +for this purpose would be impracticable even for the most wealthy +university. He must, therefore, go from his office or class room to the +department library and search for the book himself. With the confusion +which generally reigns in a library of this sort, and with the lack of +effective registration of loans, this is quite often a matter of some +difficulty. + +At Columbia University the office of each professor is in telephonic +communication with the central library. When a book is wanted the +library is notified by telephone, the book is found and sent out at +once. Within ten minutes from the time that the request reaches the +library the book is generally in the instructor's hands. He may lose two +or three minutes' time, but the amount lost is more than compensated by +the readiness with which others can use the books of the department, and +by other advantages to be considered later. At Columbia, too, the system +of stack study rooms provides in a very satisfactory way for the second +objection. There, as many of you have seen, the stacks are distributed +through a series of small rooms, the light side of which is supplied +with tables and used for study rooms and for seminar purposes. If the +instructor can use the departmental library for his work room, he can +certainly use this room to as good advantage, for here he has the +entire collection and not a selected few of his books. I believe fully +that an instructor who is sufficiently interested in the reading of his +students to watch over it carefully in his departmental library, will +find that he is able to keep just as close a relation to it, if his +students are working in a central library. He may be obliged to make +slight changes in his methods, but the result ought to be the same. + +The third argument in favor of the departmental library system is of a +different nature. Is the librarian or the professor best qualified to +direct the growth and watch over the interests of the different +departments of the library? So far as I know, this argument is given +more consideration at Chicago than anywhere else. It may be true, in +certain cases, that the professor has the greater qualification for this +work, but when this is the case it argues that the professor is an +exceptional one or that the university has been unfortunate in the +selection of its librarian. + +It is quite needless to say that the librarian should be in constant +conference with the teaching force regarding purchases, but that he +should delegate all of his powers of purchase in any given field, admits +of the gravest doubt. Laude, in his recent work on the university +library system of Germany, attributes a great deal of the success of +those libraries to the fact that they are independent and autonomous +institutions, enjoying a much greater measure of freedom than is +accorded to any similar American institution. Too many professors are +apt to buy books in their special field and slight other lines of +research in their own subject. For example, a zoologist, who is doing +research work along the lines of embryology, is very apt to overload the +collection at that point and neglect other equally important lines. + +Again, very few instructors, even granting them the qualifications +necessary for the work, have the time or patience for it. If the amount +appropriated to the department is at all large, a considerable portion +of the sum is quite frequently unexpended at the end of the year. Some +interesting tables, prepared by Mr. Winsor for his report for the year +1894-95, show that in seven selected departments the amount of books +ordered, including continuations, was only about 50 per cent. of the +appropriation, plus one quarter, the allowance for orders not filled. +While this proportion would probably not hold good in all departments or +in all places, it exhibits an almost uniform tendency and a tendency +which must be corrected if a well-rounded out library is to be secured. + +The system of departmental control is very sure to create a feeling of +departmental ownership, a feeling that the books, bought out of the +moneys appropriated to a particular library, should remain permanently +in that library, and that any one from outside who wishes to use the +books is more or less of an intruder. Pin any one of these men down, and +they will admit that the books are for the use of all, but the feeling +exists, notwithstanding, and is the cause of constant friction. + +The departmental library renders the books difficult of access. If the +library is large enough to warrant the setting apart of a separate room +for its use, this room can seldom be open for as large a portion of the +day as the central library, and when it is open the books cannot be +obtained as readily by the great body of the students as if they were in +a central building. Most students are working in several lines at once. +They are compelled, by this system, to go from one room to another, and +to accommodate themselves to differing hours of opening and to varying +rules for the use of the books. Then, too, it frequently happens in the +case of small libraries that the books are kept in the office of the +head of the department, and can only be consulted when he is in his +office and at liberty. The difficulty is here greatly increased. I know +of cases where even the instructors in the same department have found +difficulty in getting at the books, and the library was, in effect, a +private library for the head professor, supported out of university +funds. If instructors cannot use the books, how can the student be +expected to do so? + +There is a sentiment, false, perhaps, but nevertheless existing in the +minds of many students, that any attempt to use the books under these +circumstances is an endeavor to curry favor with the professor. This +feeling does not exist in connection with the use of the books at a +central library. + +If a book in a departmental library is needed by a student in another +department, he must either go to the department and put the custodian to +the inconvenience of looking it up for him, or he must wait at the +central library while a messenger goes for the book. His need of the +book must be very pressing before he will do either. + +If the different fields of knowledge were sharply defined, the +departmental system might be a practicable one, but such is not the +case. The psychologist needs books bearing on philosophy, sociology, +zoology and physics, the sociologist gathers his data from almost the +whole field of human knowledge, the economist must use books on history +and the historian books on economics. The system hampers him exceedingly +in the selection and use of his material, or it compels the university +to purchase a large body of duplicate material, and restricts, by so +much, the growth of the real resources of the library. + +The system, it seems to me, induces narrowness of vision and a sort of +specialization which is anything but scientific. Trending in the same +direction is the separation of the books, in any given field, into two +categories. The undergraduate may need some such selection, but any +student who has gone beyond the elements of his subject should have at +his command the entire resources of the library. The needs of the +elementary student can be met by direct reference to certain books, or +by setting aside the volumes required as special reference books and +allowing free access to them. + +A large amount of our most valuable material is found in the +publications of scientific and literary societies and in periodicals. In +many cases these must be kept at the central library. They will be much +more frequently read if the readers are using the central library and +availing themselves of the information given in the catalog. + +From the administrative point of view, there is nothing impossible in +the organization of the departmental system, provided that finances of +the library admit of the increased expenditure. As Mr. Bishop has +pointed out in a recent number of the _Library Journal_, the element of +cost seems to have been utterly left out of consideration in the recent +discussions at the University of Chicago. It is possible that, with the +immense resources of that institution, they may be able to ignore that +factor, but most of us are compelled to reduce administrative +expenditures to the lowest point consistent with good work. + +Aside from the cost of the duplication of books already noted, +necessitated by the division of the books among the different +departments, there are the items of space and labor to be considered. It +needs no argument to show that there is a great economy of space gained +by the consolidation of all libraries, with the exceptions previously +referred to, into one central building. An entire room is frequently +given up to a departmental library of three or four hundred volumes, +when a few extra shelves and possibly a slight increase in the seating +capacity of the reading room would accommodate it in the central +library. The cost of maintenance, of heating and of lighting is also +undoubtedly greater under the departmental arrangement. + +The greatest increase in expense is, however, in the item of service. In +order properly to control a branch of this sort, an employe of the +library must be in constant attendance. The duties and responsibilities +of such a position are so small that only the lowest paid grade of +service can be employed with economy. The amount necessary to pay the +salaries of such persons could, with much greater advantage to the whole +institution, be used for the employment of a few specialists, highly +trained in different lines, who would act as reference librarians in +their respective fields. Our American libraries are, as a class, +compared with those of foreign universities, singularly deficient in +this quality of assistance. Sooner or later we must supply this lack, +and every move which tends in another direction must be examined with +care. + +The university library exists for the whole university--all of it for +the whole university. In an ideal condition, every book in it should be +available, at a moment's notice, if it is not actually in use. This +should be our aim, and it should be from this viewpoint that we should +judge the efficiency of our administration and the value of any proposed +change. + + + + + SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE DEGREE OF + DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. + + BY WILLIAM WARNER BISHOP, _Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y._ + + +Graduate instruction and the degree of doctor of philosophy as its +reward are not so novel and recent in America as to call for either +explanation or definition. Neither are they so old as to require a +history. Most of us can well remember when it became a common thing for +American universities to have numerous candidates for the doctorate. At +the present time there are several hundred students in our universities +who are candidates for the doctor's degree and the number is increasing +rapidly. + +A degree implies a dissertation, or, as it is more commonly and less +correctly termed, a thesis. I need not here express any opinion as to +the merits or defects of these documents as a class. What I wish to +speak of is their value to university and college libraries, and the +difficulty of discovering what dissertations are produced annually, and, +for reference libraries, of procuring them when discovered. I presume +the librarian who knows the specialist's insatiate greed for +dissertations, _programmen_, and small pamphlets generally will need no +words of mine to bring home to him the need of procuring as many of +these documents as he can. Whatever we may say in derogation of doctors' +dissertations--and they have their faults--they at least represent +long-continued and careful investigation under supposedly competent +direction, and the specialist must have them. + +It is a comparatively easy task to get him German and other foreign +dissertations. The new ones are listed annually and the old ones load +the shelves of the second-hand stores of Europe. But to find what is +being produced here in this country is by no means a simple undertaking. +And it behooves us, unless we tacitly admit that our American +dissertations are not worth having, to take some steps toward bettering +the present situation. + +In order to ascertain the exact condition of things I have selected +fifteen representative institutions which confer the degree of Doctor of +Philosophy and have studied their requirements and conducted some +correspondence with their librarians. These institutions have been +selected purely as representing various geographical and educational +conditions, and omissions from the list are not to be taken _in malam +partem_. They are: (1) Brown, (2) Bryn Mawr, (3) California, (4) +Chicago, (5) Columbia, (6) Cornell, (7) Harvard, (8) Johns Hopkins, (9) +Michigan, (10) Nebraska, (11) Pennsylvania, (12) Princeton, (13) +Stanford, (14) Wisconsin, and (15) Yale. + +The majority of these universities require that before the degree is +conferred the thesis shall be printed and a fixed number of copies, +ranging from 50 to 250, shall be deposited with some officer of the +university or in the library. The statistics are as follows: + +California requires 150 copies. + +Chicago requires 100 copies. "Accepted theses become the property of the +university." + +Columbia requires 150 copies. + +Cornell requires 50 copies. + +Michigan requires 150 copies. + +Nebraska requires 150 copies. + +Pennsylvania requires 250 copies. + +Stanford requires 100 copies. + +Wisconsin requires 100 copies. + +Two institutions, Bryn Mawr and Princeton, require the printing of the +thesis, but make no requirement, so far as can be ascertained from the +catalogs, that there shall be any deposit of copies. + +Johns Hopkins and Pennsylvania allow the thesis to be either written or +printed; if printed, Johns Hopkins requires the deposit of 150 copies, +Pennsylvania of 250, except under certain conditions which will appear +later. + +Brown makes no requirement for deposit or for printing. Harvard +provides that one copy either printed or written must be deposited in +the library. Yale requires that the "thesis must be deposited at the +library for public inspection not later than May 1st" of the year in +which the candidate expects to receive the degree. + +Of these universities two only, Brown and California, print the titles +of theses in the university catalog. + +The foregoing statements are taken from the annual catalogs for +1899-1900 of the universities named, except in the case of Pennsylvania, +where the statement made in the catalog is supplemented from a letter +received from the Dean. + +Although I presumed that most of the copies deposited in the libraries +of the universities were used for exchange, I wrote to the librarians of +those universities which require the deposit of a number of printed +copies, making inquiry regarding their systems of exchange and +provisions for the sale of copies not exchanged. I received replies from +almost all. [These letters were read, the common condition being shown +to be that most of the copies received by the libraries were exchanged +with foreign institutions and other American universities. Varying +conditions ranging from a refusal to sell any copies to a free +distribution of copies not exchanged, was found to exist with regard to +sale of theses by the libraries.] + +It will be seen from these replies that, if a library does not happen to +be on the exchange list of the university in which a thesis is written, +and if the thesis is not printed in some journal or in the proceedings +of some learned society, such a library stands very little chance either +of learning of the publication of a thesis or of procuring it from the +author or from the university. That this is not much of an affliction in +most cases I cheerfully admit. Still the small colleges which +deliberately refuse to attempt graduate work--and, be it said to their +honor, there are not a few of these--and the large reference libraries +which do not publish, have as much need of certain theses as the large +universities, and they have no means of getting them easily. + +It appears to me, and I trust to you, that, if our American +dissertations are worth anything, if they are valuable enough to +preserve, if they are real contributions to knowledge--and I believe +that they are all of these--then it is worth while to secure the +publication of some list which will tell librarians and specialists +where to go to get copies, either from the author or from the +university. It should not be difficult to secure co-operation in this +matter. The number of theses printed and deposited in any one university +in any one year is not large, and it certainly would not be a burden of +alarming proportions to send titles to some central bureau. The +difficulty will be to secure an editor and the funds for publishing the +list. It would seem to me that some one of the large institutions whose +libraries publish bulletins and other matter, or possibly the Library of +Congress might assume the expense as a matter of patriotic service to +learning in the United States. And it might not be out of place for this +section, should it care to follow up the matter, to enter into +communication with them on the subject. It might be also, that some +enterprising publisher would be glad to undertake the task of both +editing and publishing, if it could be shown him that he would thus do a +favor to American libraries. + +One final word should be said before closing. The inevitable delays +incident to the publication of such a list would be more than offset by +the delays in publishing theses. Many a man is called "Doctor" who has +never received his diploma for that degree because his thesis remains +unpublished. The laxity in this matter in some quarters is very great. +It may be that such a publication of titles as I have proposed might +perceptibly hasten the publication of theses. + + + + + OPPORTUNITIES. + + BY GRATIA COUNTRYMAN, _Minneapolis (Minn.) Public Library_. + + +If I were to sum up in these short moments the opportunities which lie +before library workers, it would have to be an epitome of all that has +been said at this conference and all previous conferences, and of all +that has been written on library extension and influence. Even then the +opportunity which lies before you might not even be mentioned. + +I will not even try to enumerate the almost endless ways in which +library usefulness may express itself, for these various ways are, after +all, only different directions in which to use our one great opportunity +of service to mankind. + +May we not think of a library as a dynamic force in the community, to be +used for lifting the common level. There are so many forces at work in +the nation pulling down and scattering; but the hundreds of large and +small libraries dotted over the country stand for social regeneration, +stand for the building up and perfecting of human society, stand for the +joy and happiness of individual lives. And no matter how limited seems +our own small field, it is a piece of the great domain of helpful +activity. + +It is not always easy, after a hard and tiresome day of small and +perplexing duties, to see beyond our wall of weariness. Yet nothing is +more restful than to feel that we are contributing our part to a great +work, and that we, in our place, are a part of one of the great +building-up movements of the century. + +I will not soon forget what Mr. Lane said in his president's address at +the Atlanta conference. I would like to quote largely, but this sentence +serves. He said: "What a privilege that we are always free to place +ourselves at the service of another. Most professions are so engrossed +by their own work that they have no time to serve the needs of others, +but it is the _business_ of the librarian to serve. He is paid for +knowing how." + +It is peculiarly true that the librarian's business is to put himself +and the library under his custody at the complete disposal of the +people. It is his _business_ to watch their interests and to think in +advance for their needs. + +The librarian must have, in Mrs. Browning's words, + + "... both head and heart; + Both active, both complete and both in earnest." + +Our opportunities, then, are not something which lie to one side, to be +especially thought of, but are the very heart of our business--of our +profession. + +I have been wondering if there is not an element of discouragement to +the librarian of the small library, in such a conference as this, or +even to us who fill subordinate places in large libraries. We get so +many new ideas, we get so many plans which other libraries are putting +into operation. We know we cannot put them into practice, we know well +enough that we shall go home and do just what we have been doing, with +small quarters, with cramped revenues, with possibly unsympathetic +trustees who take unkindly to our new-born enthusiasm. There seems to be +the possibility of so much, but the opportunity for doing so little, and +then our limitations seem more apparent than our opportunities. The +assistant in the larger library says, "I wish I could be the librarian +of a small library, they have so much better an opportunity for coming +into close contact with the people," and the librarian of the little +library who does her own accessioning, cataloging, record keeping, +charging, reference work, etc., with one brain and one pair of hands, +says, "Oh, if we were only a little larger library, with more money, and +with more help, I might do so many things that other libraries do." + +Carlyle says, "Not what I have, but what I do, is my kingdom," and I +take that to mean in library work that my opportunity is not what I +could do if I held some other position in some other library, but what I +can do under present conditions with present means. Success does not lie +with those who continually wish for something they haven't got, but +with those who do the best possible thing with the things they have. "It +is not so much the ship as the skilful sailing that assures a prosperous +voyage." It is not so much a great collection of books and a fine +technical organization as the personal character of the man or woman who +stands as a bridge between the books and the people. Your opportunity +and mine does not lie in our circumstances, but in ourselves, and in our +ability to see and to grasp the coveted opportunity. We are reminded of +the pious darkey who prayed every night just before Christmas, "Dear +Lord, send dis darkey a turkey." Christmas came dangerously near, and +there was no prospect of a turkey. So the night before Christmas he grew +desperate, and prayed, "Dear Lord, send dis darkey to a turkey." That +night the turkey came. Even so it is with our opportunities. + +There are three classes of people toward whom the library has a special +mission: the children, the foreigner, and the working classes. + +1. As to the children, we have been hearing considerably about them in +this conference. Mr. Hutchins in the Wisconsin meeting said that a good +book did more good in a country boy's home than in the city boy's. When +the country boy takes a book home he and all his family devour it, but +the town boy reads his book and exchanges it, and no one in the house +perhaps even knows that he has read it. Well, that is a subject for +thought. If his family or teachers do not watch his reading, it becomes +a serious thing for the librarian who chooses and buys his books for +him. Perhaps the library is not large enough to have a children's +department or to send books into the schools, or to do any specialized +children's work, but it can make judicious selection of books, and being +small can know individual cases among the children. It is not so hard to +find out the children one by one who need some care and interest, to +learn their names and to find out something about their families. They +say that letters cut lightly in the bark of a sapling show even more +plainly in the grown tree. A boy whom no one has reached comes into your +library. By a little watchful care he reads some wonderful life, learns +some of the marvellous forces in God's creation, opens his eyes to the +glowing sunsets or to the springing blades of grass; suddenly knows the +dignity of human nature and his own growing self. His aspirations are +born, his ambition is awakened, his life is changed. Library records +have not one, but many such cases. + +The home library is a method of reaching children which is not used +enough by the smaller libraries. Branches and stations may not be +practicable, but a group of 15 to 25 books taken into sections of a town +by some friendly woman, on the plan of the home libraries, could be +carried out in almost any town. The librarian might not have time, but +she could find people who would do it, if she set the work to going. + +2. As to the foreigners, Europe has used us for a dumping ground for +considerable moral and political refuse. We have the problem of making +good citizens out of much wretched material, and next to the children +there is no greater opportunity for the library. Even the smallest +library ought to study ways and means of getting at the foreign element. +It would almost pay to make a canvass of the town, to see that these +people are reached and that they know about the library. If books in +their own language are necessary to draw them, then it is the best +investment you can make. + +3. But in reality the library does its great work among the mass of +common working people. It is the quiet side which makes no showing, but +it has always been the telling side. From the common people spring most +of our readers. They do our work, they fight our battles, they need our +inspiration. For them you make your libraries attractive, for them you +make careful selections of books--the student does not need your +pains--for their sake you identify yourself with every local interest. +You fix your hours for opening and closing to accommodate these working +people. You make your rules and regulations just as elastic as possible, +that they may not be debarred from any privilege. They do not ask +favors, but after all this great mass of common people whose lives are +more or less barren and empty are the ones to which the library caters +in a quiet, unadvertised way. It is the great opportunity which we +scarcely think of as an opportunity at all. It is just the daily +routine. Millions of people know little more than a mechanical life, +what they shall eat, drink and wear. Many can touch their horizons all +around with a sweep of their hands, so narrow is their circle. They live +in the basements of their spiritual temples, and never rise to the level +of their best ability. They have no joy of life, of abundant life. The +library performs a great service to society when it has furnished +information to the people, when it has been an educational factor, but +it has performed a greater one when it has awakened a man and put him +into possession of his own powers. + +Well, this is not a very specific setting forth of the ways in which we +can extend the work of a small library. The way must vary greatly with +the conditions, but the spirit of the work runs through all conditions. +If I should name the qualifications of a good librarian, I would give +them in the following order, according to importance: + +1. Genuine character, with broad natural sympathies. + +2. Courteous, kindly manners. + +3. Education, general and technical. + +Any such librarian, with only a fairly equipped library, will find her +opportunity at her hand. + + + + + SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE SELECTION. + + BY G. E. WIRE, M.D., LL.B., _Worcester County (Mass.) Law Library_. + + +1. _Books and pictures should be suited to the constituency._--This may +seem so trite, so self-evident as to need no statement, much less any +argument to support it. But on sober second thought, all will agree that +it needs constant reiteration and appreciation. All of us are familiar +with libraries--of course not our own--in which we detect glaring +inconsistencies in book selection. The story used to be told of one +library commission that in its first epoch it used to send the books on +agriculture to the sea-coast, and books on fish curing to the hill +country. This is now strenuously denied but there may be more truth than +poetry in it after all. + +In the case of large, 50,000 v. libraries and over, less care need be +taken, both on account of expenditure of money and on account of +worthlessness of the book itself. A few hundred dollars' worth of +rubbish, more or less, does not count and almost any book no matter how +poor comes in use some time. But in the case of the small, 5000 v. +library or under, with little money to expend and the whole realm of +knowledge to cover, it is different. Of course the covering will be +scanty and thin, but it will do for the first layer. They should buy but +few books in philosophy and religion, more in sociology, only the latest +and most popular in the arts and sciences, comparatively fewer in +literature and more in history, biography and travel. + +Of course fiction, adult and juvenile, must also be bought and at first +a disproportionately larger amount in many cases. Too much reliance +should not be placed on what some larger library has or on what the +neighboring library has. + +Avoid imitation and duplication, especially the latter. Now that +inter-library loans are coming in, each small library in the more +thickly settled portions of the country may be able to supplement its +neighbor. Travelling libraries should also help out the smaller +libraries which can ill afford to sink a large part of their annual +book-fund in evanescent fiction, which soon moulds on the shelves. + +As the commissions become better organized, they should also be able to +send expensive reference works for the use of study clubs, and so help +the small libraries all the more. + +The needs of the constituency should be carefully studied and the most +pressing should be attended to at first, others can wait. As to buying +technical books for those engaged in manufacturing, I think a more +conservative policy is now favored. Better wait a while and feel your +way before spending much on these high priced books which rapidly go out +of date. Theoretically the operatives of a cotton mill should be much +interested in all that relates to cotton, but practically when their +hours of drudgery are over they are more inclined to a novel, if +inclined to read anything. And how much encouragement have they to read +in most factories? Better begin with the owners, who may be on your +board, or the superintendent, who may live on your street. As liberal +purchases as possible should be made in reference books--always +selecting the latest and freshest to start on. For example Seyffert's +"Antiquities," Bulfinch's "Age of fable," and Murray's "Mythology" will +serve better than Smith's books, now out of date and expensive beyond +all return for the money invested in them. More will be said along this +line under head of cost. Of course in a library of this size, no foreign +books should be bought other than perhaps some fiction. + +I thoroughly believe in America for Americans. Foreigners would not buy +our books under the same circumstances and why should we buy theirs? +Reciprocity is good policy. Even in the case of English books most of +those on geology, botany, zoology, on fishing and hunting, are valueless +to us, by reason of climatic, or other local conditions. Their local +history and antiquities are quite as unprofitable for most of our public +libraries. + +2. _As to the matter of outside experts._--Most of us have seen bad +examples of the work of outside experts, in fact I think we are safe in +saying there are more bad than good examples. In the case of arts and +sciences it is quite the fashion to refer the book list to the nearest +high school or college professor, with the idea that in his line he +knows all there is to be known about these books. In some cases he is +practically given _carte blanche_ and his selection is bought without a +murmur. The natural consequence is that in many libraries are to be +found high priced technical works of momentary interest, fit only for +class-room or laboratory use, too deep for general reading and soon out +of date. Most of these so-called experts are not even competent to +select works for their own department, let alone the public library. + +Personal bias, the quarrels of investigators, loyalty to instructors, +jealousy of other workers in the same lines are powerful factors which +far outweigh the question of real merit. In New England many of the +libraries are overloaded with good, blue, orthodox theology, bought on +the suggestion and for the sole use of the dominie who was on the +library committee. It was a glorious opportunity for him and it has +rarely been neglected. These libraries are now really addicted to this +habit; it has become a species of intoxication with them and they +continue the pernicious practice. + +3. _Choice by committee._--One of the latest fads is selection by voting +or by committee. This usually results in a mediocre selection, all the +really good books or pictures being left out, or else a preponderance of +votes for a few favorites. Voting choice is seen in the list of books +sent out each year from New York State Library as a result of voting by +members of the New York State Library Association. This is a list of the +50 best books for a village library from a list of 500 books, including +fiction, adult and juvenile. Of course fiction takes a large per cent., +while the remaining few books make a most patchy lot. The first list is +too large and the last list is too small. Another publication by the +Regents of the State of New York is a list of pictures for schools--not +so much selected as neglected by a jury of 75 persons. Between religious +prejudice, prudishness, peace policy and finical art criticism only the +husks of architecture and stately ruins are left for the youths of the +Empire State to gaze upon. Think of leaving out the "Sistine Madonna," +"1807," "Christ in the Temple," "Queen Louise" and the "Horse fair." +Some of these were omitted in cold blood because they were "poor and +popular" and "pupils would like them and should not." Most of us, +however, have gotten beyond the idea of trying to make people read +George Eliot when they want Mary Jane Holmes. Nothing I have seen in the +nature of criticism is so cold, hard and repelling as this. It is to be +hoped no other state will follow this example, but that is just the +perniciousness of such lists made out by people who are supposed to be +experts, but who too often fail worse than common mortals. This whole +matter of selection by committee is virtually begging the question of +individual responsibility. + +4. _Choice by librarian experts._--This seems to be the most +satisfactory solution of the problem. It is true that many if not most +of the existing small (5000-10,000) libraries have not or can not afford +a trained librarian. But it is also true that more and more are +employing trained people as organizers and an increasing number are +retaining their organizer as librarian. It is their study and their +business to know what books are best suited to the needs of the +community. Even should we go beyond that into the larger public library, +the reference library or the college library I still hold that the +librarian is the best judge of books for the library. His taste is sure +to be more catholic, wholly unbiassed and he makes a more even and +better rounded selection on the whole. In the small public library he is +able to carefully study the constituency and then knowing what books are +standard in other places he makes the necessary allowances for the case +in hand. The time has, I trust, wholly gone by when the local editor, +local clergyman, and local schoolmaster have the pleasure of picking out +their favorite books, or of ordering "standard sets" or the "classics" +in history and literature at the public expense. Most of these books are +on the shelves to-day faded but not worn, the leaves not even cut and +usually only the first volume slightly used. + +Of course books in useful art and sciences were largely overlooked. +Nowadays library committees are turning more and more to the librarian, +knowing that he has made a study of book selection and that they will +get better results to leave it with him. This is as it should be and the +librarian should not lower himself by going outside for assistance on +any line. I count it as slipshod and a confession of ignorance for any +librarian to tag around after outside "experts." Let him study up his +subject and master it himself. There are only a few in which he cannot +easily surpass outsiders, and profiting by his knowledge of the many, +which enables him to do that part quickly and easily, let him pay more +attention to the hard and less familiar subjects. The librarian who +delights in religion, philosophy or folklore says of lists on biology, +botany, steam-engineering or sanitation--"I leave all that to Professor +So and So--of course he knows all about it." Why should he, more than +the librarian? What is the librarian for, if not to know things? Is it +not time to turn from the material things and concern ourselves more +with a higher standard of scholarship and more outside work in our +profession? And for the small libraries of 5000 v. or under there are +the library commissions who are supposed to, and do, advise them. There +is difference with the commissions, some are in closer touch with the +local situation than others, some are more conscientious than others +about costly books, and some are given to this "expert" business which I +have named, but on the whole they are doing good work and bid fair to do +better. + +5. _Matter of cost._--This should be carefully considered. I hold it to +be little short of criminal to recommend high priced books for libraries +of limited means. By high priced books I mean those costing over $5 a +volume. This of course does not apply to reference books. And yet in one +annual list such books constantly appear, as not only suggestions but, +considering the source, as recommendations or even commands. I am +thankful the Wisconsin Library Commission has taken up this work +systematically and is doing all it can to discourage such foolish waste +of money. The worst example is the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" now from 25 +to 10 years behind the times and never a satisfactory book of reference +at its best. Take De Bry's "Mycetazoa," it stands on the shelves of +dozens of libraries, leaves uncut, totally unused, each copy meaning at +least four dollars wasted money. These are only given as an +example--there might be hundreds of them. There are scores of books now +published and more coming out every day on various questions of +philosophy, sociology, science, art and particularly literature and +history priced from $1 to $2.50 which are far superior for practical +purposes to the heavy weight monographs at $5 a volume and upwards. You +thus get two or three books on the same subject for the money, and in a +small library this is a vital question. The money must bring in the +largest possible number of good books. + + + + + BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK LISTS, AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY + OF PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? + + BY CAROLINE M. HEWINS, _Hartford (Ct.) Public Library_. + + +A children's librarian has three sources of reliance in the choice or +purchase of books. They are: 1, Book reviews in current or earlier +periodicals; 2, Lists, graded or ungraded, for libraries; 3, Articles on +children's reading in books or periodicals. + +1. The children's librarian, or any librarian, who orders children's +books from reviews often finds the books entirely different from what +the description has led her to suppose. Even if there is no positive +untruth in a notice, it is often misleading from the lack of a standard +of comparison with the best books for children. + +The papers oftenest taken in a country household or small library are a +daily or semi-weekly from the nearest large town or city, a religious +weekly, and an agricultural weekly or monthly, sometimes all three, +oftener only one or two, and it is from the notices and advertisements +with quoted notices in these papers that estimates of books must often +be formed. Libraries and library trustees who send book lists from such +sources as these to a state public library commission are often +surprised that they do not receive what they ask for, and write anxious +inquiries as to why certain books have not been bought. "There surely +can be no objection to them," they say, "for we took the titles from +reviews in the ---- or ---- or ----," naming denominational papers. Now, +lest the Children's Section should be accused of unfairness and +denominational prejudices, I shall quote no reviews from these papers, +except one which came from a leading religious weekly taken by the +household in whose pew I have a seat. It is of Eden Phillpotts' "Human +boy," a series of sketches of English schoolboy life, which is dismissed +with this remarkable sentence: "The scene here, too, is in the west, and +various hunting experiences are recorded." The librarian who orders that +book for boys greedy for big game will be disappointed! + +Such a mistake as this is not common, but reviews in both religious and +secular papers are often perfunctory and meaningless. One reason of this +is that many books are published for the Christmas trade, between the +15th of September and the 15th of December, when they come into +newspaper offices with a rush, until they are piled in stacks on the +desk of the hapless reviewer, and hastily noticed, sometimes by title +only. In a new edition of Elizabeth Sheppard's fine, but forgotten +novel, "Rumour," whose keynote is the quotation from "Lycidas" on the +title-page, + + "Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil, + Nor in the glistering foil + Set off to the world, nor in broad Rumour lies, + But lives and spreads aloft in those pure eyes + And perfect witness of all-judging Jove," + +the reviewer did not understand the meaning of the lines, and called the +book "a good example of the working, influence, and effect of rumour." +On one of our own local papers not long ago there was a review of Mrs. +Barr's "Maid of Maiden Lane," which was referred to as the sequel to her +"Beau of Orange River." Even in newspapers fortunate enough to command +the services of specialists for history and science, and an additional +critic for novels, the children's books are hastily noticed, sometimes +by the youngest reporter in his spare minutes. In smaller offices the +task of reviewing all books falls to the hard-worked editor, who is, +like Jacob Riis, also his own "reporter, publisher and advertising +agent," but whose sense of literary values is often not in proportion to +his knowledge of state politics or local reforms. + +It is unfortunate that in the newspapers of as high a class as the +_Outlook_, _Independent_ and _Dial_ the notices of children's books are +often carelessly written, and show the lack of a standard of comparison. +In the _Outlook_ for Nov. 27, 1897, Richard Pryce's "Elementary Jane," +a most unchildlike book, is classed among books for children, and +"Pansy" and "Elsie" are recommended in other numbers. + +In the _Independent_, where notices of books for older readers are +written with discrimination, Ellis's "Klondike nuggets" is described: +"Full of lively adventures and exciting experiences, and is told in a +straightforward, off-hand style just suited to the purpose." (Oct. 6, +1898.) There is nothing absolutely untrue in this, but there is nothing +to guide a reader in comparing it with better books. One of Alger's +heroes is mentioned as "An admirable boy with wonderful ability to take +care of himself" (Oct. 20, 1898), and a book by Stratemeyer as "a +stirring tale, told with enthusiasm." (Oct. 6, 1898.) Stratemeyer is an +author who mixes "would" and "should," has the phraseology of a country +newspaper, as when he calls a supper "an elegant affair" and a girl "a +fashionable miss," and follows Oliver Optic closely in his plots and +conversations. + +Mrs. Cheever's "Little Mr. Van Vere of China," with its cheap sentiment +and well-worn plot of a stolen child coming to his own at last, is +commended as "well made, well illustrated." (_Dial_, Dec. 6, 1898.) A +notice in the religious paper mentioned above says, "He is a thoroughly +fascinating little fellow, and his story is told most acceptably." One +of Amanda Douglas's tales is spoken of as "A story with a fine moral +influence, yet not preachy, in the end leaving in the reader's mind the +sense of having been in good company." (_Independent_, Dec. 15, 1898.) + +One notice of "Elsie on the Hudson" is: "The multitude of young people +who have read the Elsie books, by Martha Finley, will eagerly welcome +this volume by the same author. It has to do with American history in +the days of the Revolutionary war, and the style is simple and +pleasing." In another: "Miss Martha Finley continues also the +instruction which is mixed up with that young woman's experiences." +(_Dial_, Dec. 6, 1898.) + +It is, I think, the same periodical, though I have not been able to +verify the quotation, which commends Harry Steele Morrison's "Yankee +boy's success" thus: "The book is interesting, full of push and go. Boys +will read it with a gusto; yet they must remember that what this lucky +Yankee boy did is not what they all can do." Another number which puts a +just estimate on Master Morrison as a "very unlovely and unpleasant sort +of boy, whose impudence and enterprise ought later to fit him for a +place on a yellow journal," entirely mistakes the purpose of Pugh's +"Tony Drum," a realistic story of London slum life, and classes it as a +book for boys. (_Dial_, Dec. 16, 1898.) + +The _Outlook_ says of Frances Hodgson Burnett's mawkish "Editha's +burglar," which was well parodied in _Punch_ by Anstey in his "Burglar +Bill": "This story of the queer, loving little girl and her daring and +successful effort to protect her mother, and the equally queer burglar, +is too well known in play and story to need comment." (Dec. 10, 1898.) +This story is in almost all library and school lists, even the best +selected and classified. The same number calls "Mr. Van Vere" "a +charming story." (The adjective is used for four different works for +young people in that week's grist.) + +Even Noah Brooks, in a signed article in the _Bookbuyer_ (Dec., 1898), +gives praise to Drysdale and Stratemeyer, commends the uninteresting +Chilhowee books, refers to Pansy's as "strong and helpful," and one of +Amanda Douglas's as "rich in chastened and refined sentiment." He +mentions Oliver P. Tunk's "Awful alphabet" as "a fit companion for 'A +coon alphabet.'" Perhaps it is, but when libraries and schools are +circulating Jane Andrews's "Seven little sisters" to teach the +brotherhood and sisterhood of all nations, and teachers, in the language +of Professor Thurston, of the Chicago Normal School, are "encouraging +each nationality to contribute the best it has of song, story, game, +home customs and occupations to the life of the school," it is wrong to +buy a book for a white child in which black children are held up to +ridicule, as they have been many times in _Harper's Young People_. +"Blackberries" and "Comical Coons" are also recommended in the _Dial_ +(Dec. 16, 1897), where Gertrude Smith's "Ten little comedies," a book +entirely different in spirit from her "Arabella and Araminta" stories; +Marion Harland's "Old-field school girl," which has a story of horrible +cruelty of a schoolmaster to a child, and is not meant for children; the +silly "Elaine" book, and the equally silly and sometimes coarse "Father +Goose" are favorably reviewed. + +The _Nation's_ reviews of children books have lately not been up to the +old standard, as for instance a review of Sydney Reid's would-be funny +"Josey and the chipmunk" (Dec. 13, 1900), which is called "a perfectly +delightful child's book, nearly as good as the 'Alice' books, and, +indeed, might be pronounced quite as good if Lewis Carroll, like +Shakespeare, had not 'thought of it first.'" + +It will be seen by these instances that reviews help children's +librarians very little, and that it is impossible under present +conditions for a library to determine the worth of a book without seeing +it. + +2. There have been in the last 25 years many lists of children's books +by libraries, schools, denominational societies and other organizations. +The earlier lists, although interesting to a student of the evolution of +the Children's Section, have so many books out of print or superseded +that they do not concern us now, except in that they are not made for +very young children, and often have a profusion of material which is +over the heads of boys and girls below, or even in, the high school age. +Some of them are made from hearsay or from other book lists, without an +intimate knowledge, or indeed any knowledge at all, of books +recommended, as in the following instance: A paper read at a library +meeting and afterward printed in the report of a state librarian +describes the "library ladder" as "a list of books beginning with a tale +of adventure. From this the reader's attention will be drawn to the next +in order, leading on and out, until finally the child will be +unconsciously delving into the mysteries of science; for example, we +could first take Butterworth's Indian story, 'The wampum belt': next, +Brooks's 'Story of the American Indian'; from this lead to Bancroft's +'Native races,' and finally various United States histories." + +Any one who has ever seen the five ponderous volumes of Bancroft's +"Native races of the Pacific States" knows that although it has some +value as a work of reference, not as a history, for older readers, it is +entirely useless as a stepping-stone for children, who can easily go +without its aid from Brooks's, or better, Grinnell's "Story of the +Indian" to a good one-volume United States history, or even to John +Fiske or Parkman. It is no more meant for boys and girls than the other +thirty-four volumes on the history of the Pacific coast completed by +Bancroft and his corps of assistants. + +Some tests of a library or school list are: Are the books in it chosen +for their permanent value? Has the maker of the list read them? Will it +tell an overworked teacher or librarian what the best modern +straightforward stories in simple English are, the best life of +Lafayette without any long words like "evacuation," or the best account +of a salamander in language that a child of 10 can understand? A list +for teachers is not a help in choosing books for children, unless from +the point of view of child-study, which has another place than on the +shelves of a children's room. + +In one list the "Dotty Dimple" and "Flaxie Frizzle" books are +recommended for the third-reader grade. Children who are in this grade +cannot read the ungrammatical baby-talk easily, and if they could it +would demoralize their English. + +Another has for the seventh grade a part of the "Library of wonders," +translated from the French, and out of date 20 years ago. Teachers +should be careful in buying books of popular science that they are +modern, and also written in a style that makes them attractive to boys +and girls. In a long experience in libraries I have never found that +boys and girls liked the "Library of wonders." + +A third, for children under 10 years of age, includes Miss Plympton's +"Dear daughter Dorothy," and even in one of the best and most recent +graded lists it is annotated as a "story of devotion and comradeship +between a father and his young daughter." Now "Dear daughter Dorothy" is +the best specimen I have ever seen of a kind of book to be kept out of +libraries and homes, the story of a little eight-year-old girl, who has +the entire control of the $1200 earned yearly by her father, a +bookkeeper with literary aspirations. He is arrested on a charge of +embezzlement, found guilty in the face of his daughter's testimony, but +at last acquitted through the confession of the real criminal, and he +and that important little personage, Dorothy, who takes all hearts by +storm, sail for England escorted to the ship by a crowd of admiring +friends, including the judge who sentenced him. + +The next list has Mrs. Burnett's "Little Saint Elizabeth," a morbid +tale, and with it a reproduction of "Prince Fairyfoot," a story which +the author read when she was a child in a book that she never could find +again. In order to understand the pertness and flippancy of her style in +this story, one has only to compare it with the original, reprinted +within a few months in Frances Browne's "Wonderful chair," or "Granny's +wonderful chair," as it is called in one edition. A few lines in the +simple, direct English of the old fairy tales, are expanded by Mrs. +Burnett into eight or 10 pages, with attempts at wit and allusions to +unhappy married life, which should be kept out of books for children. + +The same article in the _Nation_ which gives high praise to "Josey and +the chipmunk" thinks "The wonderful chair" prosy, but I have tested it +on children who do not enjoy stories unless they are simply told, and +have found that it holds their attention. + +Books on differences of religious belief, books written in a style or on +subjects beyond the years of boys and girls, scientific books that are +inaccurate or out of date, books that make children despise their +elders, or have an overweening sense of their own importance, and books +that are cheap, slangy, flippant, or written in bad English, dialect or +baby-talk, should have no place in a school list, and books on poor +paper and in poor type and binding should also be kept out. There are +books that tell stories of wholesome, well-bred children; fairy tales in +the simple, old-fashioned style; out-of-door books that are not dull or +aggressively instructive; and selections from the best poetry to choose +from. There is room yet for the right kind of histories that are +interesting without being babyish, and accurate without being dull. + +Lists are often made in entire ignorance of the limitations of the +children who are to use the books recommended in them. A +well-intentioned paper suggests for children of eight or over Ebers' +"Uarda" and Thiers' "French Revolution" as attractive historical works. +In science it mentions Hooker's books, which are quite out of date, and +in biography Lockhart's Scott and Forster's Dickens, which not one boy +or girl in a hundred would read through, great as is their charm. +Bryce's "American commonwealth" is also named. This list has either been +made up from books that the compiler has heard of as classics, or else +she is not in the habit of associating on familiar terms with boys and +girls, even of high school age. This paper recommends Sophie May for +very young children, and also the "Story of liberty," which a mother in +the New York _Times_ says is in the library of her daughter of eight. +This is a mother who would not allow a child to read Scott's novels till +14 or 15, and thinks Dickens too sad for even that age! + +The hundred books recommended in the _St. Nicholas_ for March, 1900, +made up from many competing lists, are nearly all good. A few, like Mrs. +Richards' "Captain January," Mrs. Wiggin's "The Birds' Christmas Carol," +and Munroe's "Through swamp and glade" have no permanent value. If one +of Munroe's books is to be included it should be "The flamingo feather," +or "Derrick Sterling," both of which are well worth reading many times +and are great favorites with children. The defect in the list is the +same just spoken of, that too many of the books are for boys and girls +from 10 to 14 years old of bookish families, and that little attention +is paid to younger or less carefully trained children. + +One list puts into the first primary grade, or fourth year of school, +for children nine or 10 years old, Abbott's "Cyrus," "Darius," "Xerxes," +and other heroes, and Fiske's "War of independence," all of which are +entirely beyond the grasp of 499 children out of 500 under 12 or 14. +Lists should be shorter, and not too closely divided. A division, "Easy +books," should include whatever children need until they can read +without difficulty, and should contain books like Longman's adapted +stories from the "Blue fairy book" and the earlier volumes of the "Ship" +English history, Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories retold" and +Eggleston's "Great Americans for little Americans." + +In one case where books are not classified by grade, Horace Bushnell's +"Woman suffrage," Hinsdale's "President Garfield and education," and +Wright's "Industrial evolution of the United States" are in the same +class with Emilie Poulsson's "Through the farmyard gate," with no +discrimination as to the age for which any one of the four is intended. +Three are beyond the understanding of boys and girls below high school +age, and if in school libraries should be for teachers only, and the +fourth is a book of kindergarten stories. + +A book which is often commended by teachers and librarians is Coffin's +"Story of liberty," which I said nearly 20 years ago "is so fierce in +its Protestantism and so bloody in its details that it causes pain to +many a sensitive child." The pictures are too horrible for a child to +see, and the book, like any other which wars against any form of +religious belief, should not be allowed in a public school. + +Some lists admit the "Elsie" books, tearfully sentimental and priggish, +where the heroine is held up as a saint and martyr for refusing to obey +an entirely reasonable request of her father, and where money, fine +clothes, and love-making at an early age hold too prominent a place. + +In one list, one of Mayne Reid's books is annotated, "To read carefully +any volume of this author is to acquire a considerable knowledge of the +trees, the flowers, the animals, the insects, and the human creatures +existing in the region where the story takes place." In Mayne Reid's +"Desert home" maple sugar trees are tapped in the autumn and yield +nearly a hundred pounds of sugar. Emerson's "Trees and shrubs of +Massachusetts" states that although sap will flow in summer and early +autumn, it has but little saccharine matter. Mayne Reid's stories as +stories are delightful for children to read, but should never be used as +aids to geography lessons. + +One library offers its boy-and-girl readers Bushnell's "Moral uses of +dark things," Mrs. Campbell's "Problems of poverty," Ely's "Labor +movement in America" and Shinn's "Mining camps." + +The lists made by James M. Sawin, of Providence, are good and +suggestive, but better for older than younger children, including, +however, for beginners in reading some excellent old favorites like Mrs. +Follen's "Twilight stories," and for children a little older a book that +ought to be in print, Paul de Musset's "Mr. Wind and Madam Rain." + +The Milwaukee list for children under 10 is good for the most part, but +includes "Dear daughter Dorothy" and "Editha's burglar." + +Mrs. Whitney's list of "Books not usually selected by young people" +(first published in the _Bulletin of Bibliography_) is for the most part +beyond the grammar-school age, including such books as Sismondi's +"Literature of the south of Europe" and Ragozin's "Vedic India." It is +unclassified, good and not too American. + +The Buffalo Public Library lists are the best that I have found, +thoroughly practical, well chosen, and in the pamphlet entitled +"Classroom libraries for public schools" well graded as far as one can +judge. The grading of schools varies so much in different cities that it +is impossible unless one knows exactly what "four" or "eight" or "nine" +represents to say whether books are suitable for it. A list of this kind +cannot be made without a thorough understanding between librarian and +teachers, a thorough knowledge of the condition of the schools and the +home-life of the children on the part of the librarian, and a knowledge +of books on the part of the teachers. + +The graded and annotated list from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is +for teachers, not children, and has many suggestive notes, but will bear +weeding. + +Many lists are almost entirely American, and seem at first sight narrow +and one-sided. A little thought and knowledge of the conditions under +which they are made shows the cause of this apparent fault. City lists +are made for schools which are full of children of newly-arrived +emigrants, whose first desire, as soon as they can read English at all, +is to know something of the great free country to which they have come. +It is to supply this demand that many simple United States histories and +historical stories relating to this country have been put upon the +market in the last five years, almost to the exclusion of other books of +the kind. Teachers and librarians should remember in making lists that +there are other countries in the world, and good histories of them, like +Longmans' "Ship" series. + +The books suggested by public library commissions are usually published +in this country, partly for the reasons that it is easier to find them, +that they are cheaper than imported books, and that they are in demand +in small libraries. The New York State Library lists are of this kind, +and the books for children are carefully chosen as far as they can be +from this country alone. + +With regard to scientific books for children, the Springfield (Mass.) +City Library has printed a short list of books on science and useful +arts that children really enjoy. This list has been prepared by the +children's librarian in connection with the supervisor of science in the +Springfield public schools and an out-of-town librarian. The list is the +best I have seen, but is open to criticism on account of one or two of +the books being out of date. The list for third-grade teachers compiled +by Miss May H. Prentice for the Cleveland Library is excellent for +supplementary reading and nature-stories and poems. + +3. The value of articles on children's reading is variable, but a fair +specimen may be found in the _Contemporary Review_ for June, where H. V. +Weisse states in his "Reading for the young" that a generation ago the +number of published books was small, magazines were high in tone, and in +the realm of juvenile literature Ballantyne was "monarch of all he +surveyed." On account of the limited supply of children's books, boys +and girls were thus driven to standard authors. "Now magazines and +so-called 'historical stories' are issued in such quantities that young +people read nothing else. They should be trained to better things, and +teachers and mothers should read to their children and see that they +read good books for themselves, if need be rewarding for a clear +reproduction of the sense of any good book, never punishing for a +failure to understand, at first hearing or reading, that which involves +'a new form of mental effort.'" We have all heard something like this +before! Even Agnes Repplier, with her charm of style and her +denunciation of the "little Pharisee in fiction," and the too-important +Rose in Bloom in contrast to the well-kept-under Rosamond, makes few +suggestions of books which are good for children to read. + +The reading lists in the New York _Times_ are based on the experience of +the writers, who have often been precocious, over-stimulated children of +bookish families without companions of their own age, and have no idea +of the needs, wants and limitations of the public library children of +to-day, many of whom have few or no books at home. "I have quite a +library," wrote one such child. "I have three books, Longfellow's poems, +a geography, and a book of fairy tales." + +A dreamy boy like "The child in the library" of a recent _Atlantic +Monthly_ and the keen little newsboy who snatches a half hour after +school is over and he has sold his papers to spell out a simple life of +Columbus or the "Story of the chosen people" have little in common, and +need different books, but they both need the very best of their kind. + +A book reviewer or maker of book lists for children should have an +intimate knowledge of the best books which have been written for them, +and the unconscious training which this knowledge gives in good taste +and a critical sense of style. He (or she) should have also the intimate +knowledge of all sorts and conditions of children and their limitations +that a teacher or a settlement worker or a wise mother has. More than 20 +years ago, in the meeting of the American Library Association in Boston, +Mrs. Kate Gannett Wells said: "I would like to have mothers prepare +lists, whose headings should vary from any yet given; such as: books +that make children cry; books of adventure for unexcitable and +unimaginative children; unlovesick novels." + +The best reviews of children's books ever written in this country were +the work of a woman and a mother--Lucy McKim Garrison, who, in the +earlier volumes of the _Nation_, put into her work broad-mindedness, +high ideals, and an understanding of children. It is such work as this +that should be a model for the reviewers and a guide to the librarians +of to-day, and one of the most important duties of the Children's +Section is to insist upon higher standards, both in reviewers and +through them in the writers of children's books, and upon trained +critical knowledge in the makers of children's lists. + + + + + BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: + + I. FICTION, II. FAIRY TALES, III. SCIENCE. + + +It seems to have been fairly demonstrated that we have as yet no proper +standard of values to guide us in the selection of children's books. +Reviews fail: they either do not evaluate the book at all, or they lack +appreciation of it or of the children who are to read it--or both. Book +lists fail, as a rule, through eagerness to get something printed before +we know what to print. Articles upon children's reading fail because the +people who have written them are not always familiar with children's +books or are not acquainted with the "public library child." We turn to +the books themselves, but, having no standard of values, how shall we +judge? How are we to know whether a book is good or poor? + +It is not possible to reduce the appreciation of literature--whether +books for children or for all time--to an exact science. It is difficult +to conceive of any formula for the evaluation of books in general or the +books of a particular class which would not fail again and again when +applied to the individual book through the medium of a personal +judgment. We shall not attempt, therefore, to answer the questions which +form the substance of our topic. We have endeavored merely to state a +question which to all children's librarians seems to be of paramount +importance, trusting that we may eventually reach a partial solution of +this problem by bringing the thought of many minds to bear upon it. + +This collective paper, or, more properly, this collection of ideas upon +different classes of books, requires a word of explanation. The +contributors were not asked to prepare papers but to furnish ideas and +opinions, which should form the basis for discussion of the general +principles of selection and of individual books in the several classes +considered. The purpose was to present briefly the principles that +should apply in each class, and to emphasize these by citation of +specific books. + + + _I. FICTION._ + +We were recently asked to make out a list of a dozen books suitable as +prizes for a Sunday-school class of boys and girls from 12 to 16 years +of age. We studied a long and carefully prepared list of stories written +for girls of this age and supposed to include what was most desirable. +Assuming that the girls had read Mrs. Whitney and Miss Alcott, we did +not consider them, and we found not one story which we could recommend +as possessing permanent interest and literary value. There were many +books which girls read and like but they did not reach a fair standard +for this purpose. We filled out the desired number for the girls with +books written for older readers. Far different was our experience with +the books for the boys. It was only a matter of choice between a large +number, both suitable and desirable, and yet the lists which we +consulted had been compiled by the same hand. + +In making selections of books for her readers, the children's librarian +encounters at the first step this difference in the quality of the books +written for boys and those written for girls. Judged purely by the +standard of taste, she must reject the greater proportion of those +written for girls. When she finds so few that reach her standard she may +blame herself for ignorance of the better books, but she must ultimately +reach the conclusion that whatever her own shortcomings there is a lack +of desirable books for girls. However, another most important factor +comes into the case on the reader's side of the question. If the +librarian is going to meet the needs of her readers she must understand +what they are instinctively seeking in books, and she must enlist +herself on the side of human nature. She will find at once that a +distinct division in the reading of boys and girls springs from the fact +that, generally speaking, the mental life of the boy is objective, that +of the girl subjective. The boy seeks action in fiction, the girl is +attracted by that which moves her emotionally or relates itself directly +to her own consciousness, and the last thing that either of them cares +about is the literary value of the book. Hundreds--no doubt +thousands--of our college graduates look back to the period when, +according to their sex, the "Oliver Optic" series, or the "Elsie +Dinsmore" series, played a very important part in their existence. The +love of adventure in the boy gave the charm to the books. Adventure he +must have, whether he finds it in the tinsel setting of Oliver Optic or +the refined gold of Robert Louis Stevenson. And the magnet in the nature +of the girl draws to herself something helpful even from Martha Finley; +otherwise, she would not speak of the "Elsie" books as "beautiful": +there is something in them which to her represents "beauty." +Nevertheless, while justly condemning the Oliver Optic and the Elsie +books as cheap, tawdry things, the librarian must seek among better +authors the holding quality on the nature of the child which these books +possess. She must search for books in which these elements of interest +are incarnated in what we call literature--books which, while rivalling +these in attraction, will at the same time refine and broaden the taste +of the reader. + +Now, the lovers of Oliver Optic and Mrs. Finley do not take kindly to +the classics and as, in the modern stories for young people, few will +pass muster as literature, all that the librarian of to-day can do is to +use her judgment and discrimination among those the writers have +provided. The boys are readily turned from Oliver Optic to Henty, +Tomlinson, Jules Verne, and on to "Ivanhoe," but with the girls the case +is hard. The girl tells us that she likes stories about boarding-school. +It is a capital subject: in the hands of a writer sympathetic with +girls, of fertile imagination and vigorous power of characterization, +boarding-school life affords material for most entertaining +combinations--but the literature of the boarding-school has yet to be +written. The average boarding-school story has three main +characters--the attractive, impulsive heroine, always getting into +trouble; the cruel, cold-blooded, unscrupulous rival, habitually dealing +in falsehood, and the teacher who is singularly devoid of discernment or +intuition. The heroine inevitably falls into the snare of the rival, and +things are usually set right all around by a death-bed scene--although +actual death is sometimes averted. "Louie's last term at St. Mary's" is +one of the better stories of this kind, and Mrs. Spofford's "Hester +Stanley at St. Mark's" is fairly well written, with a touch of the charm +of the author's personality. "Chums," by Maria Louise Pool, is one of +the worst of its kind, where envy, hatred, and malice run riot through +the pages and the actors in the story are wholly lacking in vitality. +The experiences of Miss Phelps's "Gypsy Breynton" and Susan Coolidge's +"Katy" are as satisfactory pictures of boarding school life as we have; +and Helen Dawes Brown's "Two college girls" is a good story. "Brenda, +her school and her club," by Helen L. Reed, is a recent valuable +addition to books for girls. + +In stories of home life Miss Alcott still easily takes the lead, with +Susan Coolidge and Sophie May following in merit and popularity. The +boys have an excellent story of home life in Rossiter Johnson's "Phaeton +Rogers." The setting is perfectly simple, every day surroundings, but +the characters have the abounding vitality that keeps things moving. The +entertaining succession of events proceeds directly and naturally from +the ingenuity and healthy activity of the young people grouped together. +The book is a model in this respect as well as in the use of colloquial +English which never loses a certain refinement. Every boy, while reading +"Phaeton Rogers," finds himself in touch with good companions--and this +is true as well, in Charles Talbot's books for boys and girls. + +The most important books for boys are the historical stories, appealing +at once to the hero worship and the love of adventure common to boyhood; +at the same time they should give a good general idea of history. The +story in historical setting is, also, most desirable for girls--in that +it balances the too subjective tendency; it carries the mind of the +reader beyond the emotional condition of the heroine--indeed the heroine +has no time to study her own emotions when brought into vital relation +with stirring events. Apart from the value of the historical facts +imparted is the indirect but more valuable habit of mind cultivated in +the girl reader. Vivid, stirring, absorbing stories for girls can be and +should be written in this field, which is practically unlimited. Miss +Yonge has done some good service here. "The prince and the pauper" and +the "Last days of Pompeii" are also illustrations of the kind of work +that should be done--they are both strong in the direct interrelation +between the imaginary characters and real history--and both appeal alike +to the boy and the girl. + +Books written with a direct moral purpose seldom achieve popularity with +boys--and yet one of the most popular of all their books is "Captains +courageous," which is of the highest moral value though without one line +of religious preaching in its pages. Here the boys are in touch with a +real, living character, acted upon and developed, through the moulding +pressure of life itself--from first to last the aim of the story is the +boy; and yet the moral outcome is simple, natural, inevitable and manly; +it appeals to the common sense which is strong in boys. + +Now when a woman writes for girls on the subject of the transformation +of a frivolous butterfly into a girl of sense, instead of giving us +character and action with a moral outcome, we have a religious setting +with the action of the story and the conduct of the characters bent in +every direction to illustrate the motive of the story--the religious +idea. + +The plastic nature of the young girl wrought upon by life, fresh +faculties brought into activity by the hard knocks of fate or the +sunbursts of good luck--although these things are happening every day in +the real life of young girls, we yet await the writer who will put them +into literature without sentimentalizing. What we want is the novel +simplified; the story told directly, without byways of description or +analysis; where healthy young people, neither saints nor prigs, nor +creatures of affectation, jealousy, or malice, are acted upon by life +and each other in a natural fashion. + +Let boys and girls be brought together as in real life; brothers are a +good element in girls' stories, and love affairs need not be excluded, +if handled with delicacy, common sense and true feeling. Many books +classed as novels are merely stories simply and clearly told, intended +for older readers, but far better for young girls than the stories +usually written for them. Miss Jeanie Gould Lincoln's stories and Mrs. +J. G. Austin's historical novels, some of Mrs. Barr's and Mrs. +Oliphant's novels and a wide range of other interesting, well-told +stories can be substituted, if care and discrimination are used in the +selection. Fortunately, too, many girls of twelve are ready for Dickens +and other standard writers. + +However it is not only through the emotions that these aspirations and +desires are ministered to--when the writer can develop this emotion into +spiritual enthusiasm--or when she portrays a character of active +spiritual force, she has put something valuable into the life of the +reader. Here, as always, it is the personality of the writer--the soul +back of the words that most counts, and it is just this quality of true +spirituality which gives value to Mrs. Whitney's stories, in spite of +their wordiness, lack of proportion and forced symbolism; as it is the +genuine goodness and pure idealism of Miss Mulock which forms the very +atmosphere in which her characters move. + +While it is impossible to offer a practical guide to the selection of +books a few suggestions can be made. In the religious stories, for +instance, there must be discrimination between those encouraging morbid +self-examination or religious sentimentalizing, and those cultivating +optimism and the perception of true values and ideals. + +In books of adventure the dividing line would fall between, on the one +side, those stories where the hero is actuated by pure love of adventure +or where the adventure is worth while in itself--as in "Foul play"; and, +on the other side, those stories where the hero is merely seeking to +exploit himself and in which the tendency might be to incite boys to +reckless escapades for the sake of notoriety. + +In the _purchase_ of books one must consider the range of the average +reader, but in _recommending_ books to the individual boy and girl, +appreciation of differences in temperament and culture is indispensable. + + WINIFRED L. TAYLOR, + _Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, N. Y._ + + + _II. FAIRY TALES._ + +Fairy tales must appeal to the love of the marvellous, and must yet be +told with a simplicity that precludes all doubt of their reality in the +mind of the child, no matter how improbable the circumstances to our +prosaic minds. The language must be simple and dignified. To write a +fairy tale, one must first of all be a poet, at least must have the +poetic instinct. The child very early absorbs the idea of rhyme. He is +sung to sleep with cradle songs, and soothed by jingles, and he does not +soon outgrow their influence. + +These tales from the librarian's standpoint, fall naturally into two +classes: the folklore legends adapted for children (in which, regardless +of classification, we include mythological tales) and the purely +literary, imaginative story. + + _Fairy tales derived from folk-lore._ + +Fairy tales derived from folk-lore--stories drifted down from the +childhood of the world, were not originally written for children, and +perhaps for this very reason, they have claimed them for their own. They +are not "the artless appeals to all little masters and misses who are +good or intend to be good" of John Newbery's time. They have a +naturalness which these first books printed especially for children +lack; the moral is not too strongly urged. Different versions of the +old, old tales reflect in a measure the manners and customs of the +country in which they are collected. Fairies are stolid or clever, +mischievous or amiable, according to the characters of the people to +whom the stories were told. + +To this class belong the Grimm brothers' "Household tales," "Icelandic +tales," edited by Mrs. A. W. Hall (tales in which it is the princess or +the peasant maiden who rescues the prince, instead of being rescued); +the Norwegian tales of Asbjoernsen and Moe, the Grimm brothers of the far +North. The collections of Lang, Baring-Gould; and Cruikshank, because of +illustrations; Miss Mulock's "Book of fairies" and William Canton's +"True annals of fairyland" should be in all libraries. + +Collections of tales derived from Greek and Roman mythology, such as +Kingsley's "Heroes," Hawthorne's "Wonder book" and "Tanglewood tales," +may also be considered as fairy tales derived from folk-lore. + +One of the most exquisitely told of the old Greek fairy tales is that of +"Eros and Psyche," adapted by Paul Carus from Apuleius. The story +appeals to children, regardless of the religious significance indicated +in the preface of the book. + +"Fairy tales from far Japan," translated by Susan Ballard, is excellent, +particularly the story of the "Magic mirror," which is also found in a +charming set of booklets published in Tokio, in English. This set is +called the "Japanese fairy tale series," the type, paper and colored +illustrations being all of Japanese manufacture. + +"Fairy stories from the little mountain," by John Finnemore, is a good +collection of Welsh stories as is Frere's "Old Deccan days" of Indian +folk-lore. + +"Wigwam stories," edited by Mary Catherine Judd, are told by Indians, or +adapted from ethnological reports and original sources. + +Mabie's "Norse stories retold from the Eddas," Keary's "Heroes of +Asgard," "The wonder-world stories" of Marie Pabke and Margery Deane, +Scudder's "Book of folk tales" and Wiltse's "Folk-lore and proverb +stories," both of the latter for the youngest readers, the Countess +d'Aulnoy's fairy tales, the collections of Laboulaye and the immortal +tales of Perrault, we cannot afford to be without, as well as Howard +Pyle's "Wonder clock" and "Pepper and salt," which retain the old-time +flavor and are much enhanced by the author's illustrations. + + _Literary fairy tales._ + +Hans Christian Andersen's stories, while based often upon tradition, are +excluded by Hartland from the list of pure fairy tales and classed as +literary. Yet even the old, old fairy tales cannot, with justice, rival +his in the hearts of the children. Their feeling for him has been +expressed by John White Chadwick, in writing of another: + + "But as I muse, I seem at heaven's door + To hear a sound which there I heard before. + When Danish Hans that way did softly wend-- + A sound of children making merriest din + Of welcome, as the old man entered in." + +Mary S. Claude, in "Twilight thoughts," has shown herself a graceful +follower in the footsteps of Andersen. Such stories create a tenderness +for plants and animals not easily effaced. + +It detracts nothing from the interest of the story that what a child +calls a fairy tale we call literature. Even Dr. Johnson recognized that +"babies do not want to hear about babies." It is a great pity that a +child should never meet the knights of the Round Table, or the +Charlemagne legends--half history, half romance--or the Homeric tales, +outside the dissecting room of a literature class. Small wonder that a +child who heard them there for the first time should exclaim with +considerable animus, "I like to read, but I hate literature." + +Here is a good field for the "story hour" so successfully introduced in +the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh. That edition which follows most +closely the original, or is told in graphic clear-cut English, such as +Morris uses in the "Earthly paradise" or the "Life and death of Jason," +or Butcher and Lang's translation of the Odyssey, is the best. Such a +version read aloud is infinitely better than the best dilution by any +well-meaning attendant. Skip judiciously, but do not weaken the story. +It is not only the plot but the charm of style which we wish to +introduce. The argument may of course first be given, that the child be +put in sympathy with the situation. + + _Modern fairy tales._ + +A good modern fairy tale is a rare article. One may search far and long +before finding it. If it is not worth reading twice, it is not worth +reading once. In many of these modern tales there is an atmosphere of +haste wholly lacking in the good old tales. Fairyland has a government +of its own, where neither time nor space has value. It lies "east of the +sun and west of the moon." + +One of the best collections is "Granny's wonderful chair," by Frances +Browne--in the American edition "The wonderful chair." It is well +written, the interest is well kept up, and the language is befitting the +subject. The surest way to test a poor fairy tale is to first read one +of unquestionable merit, and to get thoroughly into its atmosphere. + + _Good modern fairy tales._ + +"Princess Ilse," by Marie Petersen; a gracefully told story of a +discontented mountain brook. + +"Mopsa the fairy," by Jean Ingelow, and "The little lame prince," by +Dinah Maria Craik. + +"Lob-lie-by-the-fire," by Mrs. Ewing, and "At the back of the North +wind" and "The Princess and Curdie," by George Macdonald. + +The average modern fairy tale is a jumble of impossibilities, with no +continuity of incident, well enough or poorly written, according to the +ability of the writer. + +"The magic fruit garden," by Marion Wallace Dunlop, is an illustration +of this kind. Two very small children, in abbreviated pinafores, are +studying their Monday lessons; one is writing an essay on Perseverance, +the other is copying geographical names. By the illustrations, one may +judge the children to be of kindergarten age. It is not surprising that +they fall asleep, and, to dreamland sent, meet with adventures enough to +make the strongest head whirl--a case of literary delirium tremens. + +"Snow garden," by Elizabeth Wordsworth, is on the whole a good +collection; the stories, however, are of unequal merit. + +"The other side of the sun," by Evelyn Sharp, is of negative goodness. +The witches and wizards are mild and amiable, especial care evidently +being taken that no child should be kept awake at night. It does no harm +for children occasionally to shiver and shake as poor Hans in the Grimm +collection longed to do. The author's satisfaction at the expression the +"wymps wimpled" is insisted upon a little too frequently. + +"Fairy folk of Blue Hill," by Lily F. Wesselhoeft, is of especial +interest to children about Boston, since it accounts for the granite +quarries and pudding stone of the region. It is smoothly written and is +not spoiled by slang or pertness. + +"Summer legends," by Rudolph Baumbach. The stories are not altogether +fairy tales nor are they written for the youngest readers. They are +gracefully written although they lose somewhat by translation. The book +is in some parts amusing and all the stories are peopled with the +wonderful creatures of fairyland. + +Other tales seem invented only for the purpose of forcing religious +sentiment, or pointing a moral in inverse proportion to the size of the +reader. Their authors seem sometimes to have reached Mark Twain's +conclusion that "every one being born with an equal amount of original +sin, the pressure on the square inch must needs be greater in a baby." + +"Pixie and Elaine stories," by Carrie E. Morrison, is a mixture of fairy +tale and religious story. The author speaks in her preface of the +stories having been carefully pruned. One shudders at thinking what they +must have been before, with such chapters as "The Elaines' picture of +heaven," and "The pixie transforms an Elaine" left in. + +"New book of the fairies," by Beatrice Harraden, is marred by the +suggestion of cruelty to animals. In one story, in place of rubbing the +Aladdin lamp, that what one wishes may happen, one must pull the black +cat's tail. It is gratifying to reflect that black cats have their own +peculiar method of retaliation for such experiments. + + _Burlesque fairy tales._ + +Burlesque fairy tales are the most atrocious of all. They are apt to be +broad in their humor, full of _fin de siecle_ jokes or puns, and modern +allusions which mar the poetry of the tale if there is any in it, and +create an appetite for facetiousness in books. "Lips wagging, and never +a wise word," one is tempted to say with Ben Jonson.... Copyright fees +should be trebled on this class of books. + +Under this head come: + +"The book of dragons," by E. Nesbit. + +"Here they are!" by James F. Sullivan; full of modern allusions and +puns. + +"The pink hen," by Cuthbert Sterling; a sort of "continuous +performance." The pink hen is hatched from a forgotten Easter egg, is +driven from the barnyard by her associates and forced to seek her +fortune. She links her fate with that of a little girl who has escaped +from an ogre, and together they redeem a prince from the curses of bad +fairies. The pink hen is continually punning, and the prince while still +in the cradle is addicted to smoking. + +It is hard to tell how the author of Jewett's "More bunny stories" would +classify them. We hope not as fairy tales. They are poor from any point +of view. The bunnies might as well be ordinary children as anything. +They go to lawn parties, play golf, dance the Virginia reel, go to West +Point, tell folk-lore stories, repeat Bible verses and say their +prayers. We are sometimes asked for a Sunday book. For one who must have +a special book for that day, this might possibly answer; it is certainly +full of moral reflections and pious sentiment; but there is no reason at +all for reading it on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. The story closes +with a wedding where the happy bunnies are united under a bridal bell, +while the strains of the march from "Lohengrin" float in the air. + +Humor is not early developed in all children, which is perhaps why a +great many do not care for "Alice in Wonderland," and for Stockton's +fairy tales--"The bee man of Orn," "The griffin and the minor canon," +etc. + +Laura E. Richards' "Chop-chin and the golden dragon" must also be +classed as humorous. It is not as good as the Toto stories. + + _Animal folk-lore._ + +Animal folk tales as exemplified in Joel Chandler Harris's stories, +"Little Mr. Thimble-finger," "Mr. Rabbit at home," "Daddy Jake," "Uncle +Remus," "Story of Aaron," etc., are excellent. Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, +the black stallion and all the animal characters are quite as much +realities to the children as Buster John, Sweetest Susan and the Little +Master. + +Ortoli's "Evening tales," follows the same general line. + +Kipling, too, in the "Jungle books" has won the hearts of the children, +and here there is no hint of the "garlic flavor," mentioned by +Higginson. + +Fraser's "Mooswa" also belongs to this class. + +A common practice in modern fairy stories is for the author to open the +tale in this way: A child falls asleep and enters fairyland via the +dream country. Often the child has been sent to bed for some +misdemeanor, as in the "Dream fox story book," by Mabel Osgood Wright, +or has fallen asleep over his tasks, as in the case of the "One-eyed +griffin," by Herbert E. Inman, the fairy tales being offered by way of +consolation; a reprehensible practice in itself, besides putting one out +of touch with the real fairyland. It is too conspicuously "make believe" +and leads one to suspect that the author has little confidence in his +own production. As "good wine needs no bush," so a good fairy tale needs +no introduction or apology. In the real fairyland one cannot easily be +ungraceful. + + _Nature fairy tales._ + +Nature fairy tales are more than apt to be failures, and often include a +great deal of pertness and cheap talk, in their effort to teach by +stealth. (Charles Lamb writes to Coleridge in regard to Goody Two Shoes +in this way: "Think what you would have been now, if, instead of being +fed with tales and old wives' fables, you had been crammed with +geography and natural history.") + +A conspicuous example of the faults of this class of story is found in +"Sylvia in flowerland," by Linda Gardner. The heroine is introduced as a +high-school girl, well-advanced in Latin and mathematics, and amply able +to supplement very largely the information which the flowers give her +about themselves. Linda strolls into the fields and is told all sorts of +facts about the habits of plants by the flowers. The story where the +author forgets to interject puns is interestingly told, certainly enough +so to attract a girl of fourteen, who has any fondness for flowers. +Besides the numerous puns, such glaring sentences as the following, +condemn it. "I don't know who you mean." "Why it is a nasty nettle"! +said Sylvia. "Nasty, yourself," ejaculated the nettle sharply, "why do +you come shoving against me?" + +McCook's "Old farm fairies," gives what Mrs. Malaprop calls "a +supercilious knowledge" in its attempt to interest children in insect +life, by introducing different insects in the form of pixies, brownies +and fairies. While it has not the faults of "Sylvia in flowerland," the +information is mainly crowded into footnotes and appendices, which as a +rule are carefully avoided by children. + +Mabel Osgood Wright's "Tommy Anne" and "Wabeno" are more successful; but +the same amount of energy spent in making the facts of nature +interesting in themselves would be preferable. + +While not assuming an absolute censorship in this department, the +principle of natural selection may be applied in discarding such books +as are characterized by the faults here cited, that we may do our share +towards discouraging a taste for facetiousness, flippancy and poor style +in literature. For while these modern, sham, soulless fairy tales soon +lose themselves in the overwhelming mass of printed matter, in their +brief existence they have time to accomplish considerable harm. Far +better to encourage re-reading the imperishable tales, than to gratify +an insatiable desire for more. Did not we ourselves again and again shed +fresh tears over Cinderella's hard fate, or gasp with bated breath while +watching with Sister Ann for that distant speck on the horizon? If +children are different to-day, it is partly because we are helping to +make them so. + + ABBY L. SARGENT, + _Medford_ (_Mass._) _Public Library_. + + + _III. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN._ + +In the selection of books for children's libraries it is necessary to +understand the difference between the aims and methods of the old +education and the new. + +Until recently the schools have centered their work about man, studying +his language, literature, methods of reasoning, and the manner in which +he has partitioned off the earth into countries. No importance whatever +was attached to his physical surroundings, which form so great a factor +in his life and by which he is so profoundly affected. In history, the +study of dates, battles and leaders was all that was required. In +geography, the work was almost exclusively confined to a description of +the earth, the location of mountains, rivers, cities, and political +divisions. Before the establishment of the national Weather Bureau there +was scarcely any public interest manifested in the phenomena of the +atmosphere and its relation to various weather elements. Many of us can +recall from our own experience the picture of the earth divided into +zones, but why such a division was made did not come up for +consideration. + +What are we now aiming to do for the child? We are looking beyond the +mere cultivation of memory; and we desire to increase the child's point +of contact with the world, to bring him into closer relationship with +the life about him, to broaden his sympathies and to develop the powers +of observation and reason. In so far as we are able to accomplish these +results, we shall make him happier by enabling him to understand the +great laws that govern the universe. The child is learning that the +facts of history are the results of causes, that they are the working +out of great principles and that by the comparison of the past with the +present he may be able to judge of the future. From a study of the +physical features of the earth he learns that slopes determine the +course of rivers and that cities are dependent for their growth upon +physical environment. The consideration of the weather enables him to +understand the state of the atmosphere about him, its effect on climate, +the cause of storms, and the different action of solar energy on air, +land, and water, which renders possible life upon the earth. Science +demands an investigation of the growth and habits of plants and animals, +the relationship of one form to another, the function and adaptation of +parts, the effect of surroundings, while form and structure are results, +not ends. + +We want to lead the child from results back to causes. The possession of +a vast number of facts, unrelated among themselves, is valueless and +even harmful, for the child does not look upon nature as a whole. +Nature-study, perhaps more than any other subject, leads the child into +sympathy with his environment. He observes carefully and thoughtfully +and thus the individual is developed. From personal contact with nature +he gains the power of accurate observation, correct thinking and +judgment; thus strengthening his moral character. If this is the effect +of nature-study upon the development of the child, the question comes to +the librarian--What principles shall guide me in the selection of books +that the library with which I am connected may be of assistance in +accomplishing these results, and meet the demand of modern education? + +A book for children should be attractive. The exterior should present a +harmony of color and tasteful decoration. The text should be printed +with clear type upon good paper and should be well illustrated. Colored +plates are preferable, provided the coloring is good, otherwise +uncolored illustrations are far more desirable. The text should be +clear, simple, and scientifically correct. + +The new scientific book differs from the old. The old style book gave +dead results, no sympathy in or interest for life was aroused, no +suggestions were given for first-hand observations of nature, +consequently the book failed to stimulate a desire for personal +investigation that could be verified by the recorded work of others. The +new scientific book not only gives results but a detailed account of the +methods employed in obtaining those results. The reader is interested in +trying the same experiments, gains a sympathy and interest in the +wonderful life history of a plant, bird, or insect, develops a +tenderness for life and feels that all nature is a sympathetic unit. + +Within the last few years the interest that has been aroused throughout +the country in "nature-study," has caused a great demand for this class +of books. Writers and publishers have hastened to meet the demand and as +a result the market has been flooded with books that were made to sell. +Too often the writers have not been scientific persons, and as a result +the books have been mere compilations, or were not true to facts. They +lacked the true spirit of science. Other authors have not separated the +element of fiction from that of science, thinking that the child could +only be interested in nature by means of a story. The writer of this +paper does not believe that science books should be made story books. +"Tenants of an old farm," by McCook, is a good illustration of the +combination of the science and story element. The author is a naturalist +and whatever facts are presented may be accepted as being as nearly +correct as it is possible to make them since they represent the results +of careful personal observation. The author himself did not believe that +the truths of nature were so unattractive that they needed to be woven +into a story in order that the book might find its way to the general +reader. Then why did he employ this method? He was persuaded by his +friends to change the original plan of the book and presented it, after +much hesitation, in its present form. The book has thereby lost much of +its usefulness. + +Another element that many authors have employed to a greater or less +extent is personification. That the value of a book is lessened thereby +and its power over the reader greatly decreased, is beyond question. +There may be some excuse for a limited amount of personification in the +treatment of bees, wasps, or ants, but the majority of forms of plant +and animal life does not need the human factor in order to make clear +life-relationships. Grant Allen, in his "Story of the plants," has +described the use of the stamens and pistils as "how plants marry" and +the modes of fertilization as "various marriage customs." Allen Gould, +in "Mother Nature's children," speaks of the "snakehead" fish and its +young as "Mr. and Mrs. Snakehead and their babies" and of the +seed-vessels of plants as "ways the mother plants have of cradling their +babies." This method of treating nature's truths does not make the facts +any clearer to the child; it only tends to diminish the grandeur of that +truth. Some writers have considered it desirable to embody the thought +in terms that are already, or are supposed to be, familiar to the child, +that he may be able to grasp the truth. The author forces upon the child +a double task, since he must first get the thought as it appears and +then search for the concealed fact. This process is not liable to be +successful. Mrs. Dana, in "Plants and her children," uses the term +"sweet stuff" for nectar, "watery-broth" for the cell-sap of plants. The +food of plants is spoken of as the "plant's bill of fare," and in +expressing the fact that the crude sap which is taken up by the roots +needs to be converted into elaborated sap before it may be used as food, +she says "When the watery broth is cooked in the sun, the heat of the +sun's rays causes the water to pass off through the little leaf mouths. +Thus the broth is made fit for plant food." Must not the child possess +some scientific knowledge before he will be able to understand the +author's meaning? "Plants and her children" is a valuable book, but +would not its merits be greatly enhanced if the scientific facts were +told in simple language? They certainly have interest enough in +themselves to be attractive to the child. Books like Hooker's "Child's +book of nature" should be discarded. They represent the old scientific +thought. No sympathy or interest in life is aroused, no relationships +are suggested, no adaptation to environment is shown, no incentive is +given for personal observation. Why should we cling to the old when a +book can be obtained that will more nearly satisfy our needs? + +There is often a great difference in the individual merits of books by +the same author. Mabel Osgood Wright's "Birdcraft" is valuable, while +"Tommy Anne and the three hearts" and "Wabeno" are the reverse. The last +two represent a type of book that should not be included in a science +library. The fairy and story element so greatly exceeds the scientific +as to render the books absolutely valueless, nor are they a success from +a literary standpoint. No book in which the author wanders from one +subject to another, in such rapid succession that the reader has +difficulty in following the thought, or is so vague that an effort must +be made to understand the topic treated, can be of much practical value. +The greater number of the Appleton's "Home reading books" possess little +merit. The selections were not written for children; they lack +simplicity, are not attractive and are too technical. The article "The +life of plants" in "Plant world" would require two or three readings by +an adult in order to understand what the author was discussing. The best +books in this series are Weed's "Insect world" and Holden's "Family of +the sun" and "Stories of great astronomers." Such books as Fanny +Bergen's "Glimpses at the plant world," Carpenter's "Geographies," +Kearton's "Our bird friends," and Weed's "Stories of Insect life" +represent the style of book that the elementary science of to-day +demands. We do not wish to make scientists of the children, but by means +of the best books on nature-study we would prepare the way for +elementary science. _Nature-study_ is not _science_, for science is +classified knowledge. So far as possible let the elements of +personification and fiction be omitted, do not select books that are too +technical or vague, that are not well illustrated, and that are not true +to science. + +Then our libraries will contain books that will incite the self-activity +of the child and arouse the spirit of investigation; books that will +stimulate observation and inculcate a spirit of tenderness and love for +all life. + + ELLA A. HOLMES, _Assistant curator, + Children's Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences_. + + + + + BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN. + + BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH WALLACE, _Hazelwood Branch, Carnegie Library of + Pittsburgh_. + + +The primary object of bulletin work is to direct the attention of the +children to the books. The bulletin, like a poster, attracts the eye, +arouses interest in a subject, and advertises the books treating of it. +By means of picture bulletins interest may be awakened in topics before +unnoticed; the children are curious to learn more about the pictures +displayed, their curiosity is further excited by the short descriptive +text, and as a result books relating to the subject are read. Thus, +without rousing the children's suspicions, we are able to guide their +reading. + +The second object is the cultivation of the children's appreciation for +pictures. If we can catch the eye by attractive pictures, we may add to +the children's store of ideas, and aside from broadening their +knowledge, bring them under the beneficent influence of beauty. Pictures +of aesthetic value placed in a children's room in which harmony of +decoration, furniture, and arrangement have been considered, exert a +vitally refining influence. When we realize how painfully lacking in +refinement are many of the homes of the children who visit the library, +how blinded are their eyes to beauty because of their sordid +surroundings, we shall then see how essential it is to enrich their +lives by every means of cultivation appropriate to our field of work. + +Whatever we may do in bulletin work must accord with the high standard +of taste evidenced in all of the fittings of a dignified library. While +we are to aim to attract the children by bulletins which are simple and +childlike in spirit, we must keep a sharp lookout that in our effort to +please them our bulletins do not become tawdry and fussy in style. We +are to meet the children on their level and yet educate their taste to a +higher standard. + +The first practical consideration of bulletin-making is the collection +of material. Pictures may be obtained from a variety of sources. Old +magazines, book announcements, publishers' catalogues, book covers, book +plates, railroad guides, advertising sheets, posters, special prints, +etc., form the main sources of supply. In addition to a stock of +good-toned gray mounting-board for regular use, colored mounting-board +may be employed as a suitable background for colored prints, or to +express the main idea of the bulletin--a delicate shade of green making +an effective mount for certain pictures for bulletins on "Spring." + +The choice of subject is of supreme importance. We should study the +children whom we are trying to benefit, that we may discover their +tastes and learn their interests. We may select a subject in line with +the course of school study. This serves not only to illustrate a subject +in which the children are already interested, but is an incidental means +of making known to the teacher and pupils the usefulness of the library +in furnishing reading supplementary to the school studies. We may +bulletin a subject of transient interest, thus informing the children +along this particular line; or, we may choose a topic which by the +novelty of its presentation, may arouse interest in an unfamiliar +subject, providing we make sure in choosing that we relate the unknown +to the known. We always have a chance of illustrating some one of the +universal interests of childhood. Spring and autumn exhibits, bulletins +on birds, flowers, and animals, certain anniversaries, etc., invariably +prove attractive to children. The bulletins should be such as to satisfy +a catholicity of taste and cover a wide range in age and understanding. +But whatever be one's choice of subject, let it be carefully thought and +wrought out, definite in plan and purpose, and worthy the necessary +expenditure of time, material, and effort. + +It is well to read thoroughly on a subject before attempting to plan a +bulletin. The reading of sketchy accounts in children's books is not a +sufficient preparation for this work. It is better to turn to more +substantial sources that we may penetrate the meaning of the subject for +the children, and reflect this in the selection and arrangement of the +pictures in the text, and in the talks with the children about the +bulletin. We may thus reinforce the message of the bulletin and lead +the children to the best book where the information they are seeking may +be found. + +The explanatory text of the bulletin should be direct and simple. +Accuracy of statement is essential; this is especially important in +scientific subjects. Experiment has proved that a concise and simple +account will be read, when a longer statement is passed unnoticed. + +Poetry may be appropriately introduced to illustrate the thought of the +bulletin. We should select the very best poems which will serve the +purpose, making sure they are simple and clear enough in meaning to be +readily understood by the children. In bulletin work we have an +opportunity to acquaint the children with the choicest poetry. In +addition to displaying pictures which please the eye, we may also +present word-pictures, thus making a double appeal to the mind. + +An annotated book list is of great service in connection with the +bulletin. This enables the children to gain an idea of the subject +matter of the various books, and, if the notes are attractive, induces +them to read a book which otherwise might be ignored. In teaching the +children the use of lists we are also preparing them for independent +work later. The books, it possible, should be placed on a shelf near the +bulletin, that they may be conspicuous and easily accessible. + +No matter how beautiful the collection of pictures, nor how happy the +choice of subject, a bulletin will not be successful unless it is well +executed. Technical skill is also necessary in carrying out the idea. +Not only should the bulletin direct attention to books but it should +nourish aesthetic taste as well. Form is as important as subject. +Slipshod mounting, unequal margins, untidy work in general, detract from +the appearance of the bulletin, and are most disastrous object lessons +to children. + +We must collect only material which is worth while and even from this +select with the greatest care. Sometimes it may be necessary to make use +of weak or faulty prints in reference work, if a subject is sparingly +illustrated, but such material should be reserved for this purpose +rather than posted on bulletins. + +There is danger in exhibiting more than one bulletin at a +time--exception being made, of course, for such bulletins as illustrate +allied subjects, thus forming an exhibition. The display of too many +pictures on any one bulletin is equally inadvisable. Have we not all of +us at times felt oppressed and confused by the seemingly endless array +of pictures at a large art exhibit? The mind is overtaxed in the effort +to grasp it all. Knowing the patience with which little children study a +picture, even dwelling on the smallest detail with delight, it would be +better to choose with discrimination, and avoid bewildering the minds of +the children, and fatiguing their attention by a large collection of +pictures. A miscellany of pictures or bulletins defeats its one +purpose--that of making a definite impression which should lead to +further investigation of a subject. + +The arrangement of the bulletin should make its central thought and +object apparent. A bulletin on Lincoln's life if properly arranged could +easily tell the story of the experiences between the log-cabin and White +House. The pictures should have some logical grouping, whether by +succession of events, or according to some natural relationship, as +bringing a collection of wild flowers together in the order of their +appearance, birds and animals by families, etc. + +Concerning the composition of the bulletin, we may borrow the rules of +pictorial composition and adapt them to bulletin purposes. According to +John C. Van Dyke, "Pictorial composition may be defined as the +proportionate arranging and unifying of the different features and +objects of a picture.... There must be an exercise of judgment on the +part of the artist as to fitness and position, as to harmony of +relation, proportion, color, light; and there must be a skilful uniting +of all the parts into one perfect whole." In a bulletin as in a picture +there must be a center of interest. We should strive to effect this by +selecting for this purpose a picture which has earned its place, because +it best suggests the subject, or because pictorially, either through +tone or color, it best adapts itself to the principles of composition. +The other pictures should be grouped accordingly, always taking account +of the subject and artistic value of each in placing them. The bulletin +should be built up architecturally as well, letting the heavy pieces +support the light. Such a picture as Rosa Bonheur's "Ploughing" should +not surmount Breton's "Song of the lark." + +Color has its legitimate place in bulletin work as children are keenly +alive to its attractiveness. It is because they are so sensitive and +impressionable in this regard that our responsibility is proportionately +greater; this alone should make us most discreet and careful in its use. +Van Dyke cautions us in the following terms: "Beware of your natural +taste, beware of bright pictures for they are generally bad." He tells +us "That 'color' does not mean brightness alone; and that a 'colorist' +is not one who deals in flaming colors with the recklessness of a +crazy-quilt maker, but one who justly regards the relationship, the +qualities, and the suitableness of his colors one to another...." +Harmony strives to associate colors which are congenial to each other; +however, it cannot be comprehended in the abstract. We bring to our +bulletin work the results of our previous standards of taste, be these +high or low. But we may raise our standards by holding ourselves +receptive to the influence of art, whether it be decorative, ceramic, +textile, or pictorial, and appropriate the lessons which it teaches in +blending color into harmony. The love of prime colors is characteristic +of primitive man, while the appreciation of the neutral tones is the +acquirement of civilization. Intellectual development conforms to the +epochs of racial progress. Children love crude and elementary colors. +But while we make concession to their taste we should also educate it to +an appreciation of the refined in color. + +The question of economy often arises in connection with bulletin work. +Are bulletins sufficiently useful and effective to pay for the outlay of +time and money? In a system of central and branch libraries this is not +so serious a problem as the same bulletin may be of service in the +various libraries. The tendency toward extravagance would appear in the +excessive quantity of bulletins exhibited, rather than in the expensive +quality of any one of them. Certainly we should strive to be economical +in the sense of planning the material without loss or waste, but +"whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," and the main +question is, are bulletins worth doing at all? The bulletin justifies +itself by the results it accomplishes in calling attention to subjects, +guiding the reading, circulating books, and increasing the children's +observation and enjoyment of pictures. + + + + + REFERENCE WORK WITH CHILDREN. + + BY HARRIET H. STANLEY, _Brookline_ (_Mass._) _Public Library_. + + +Preliminary to preparing this report, a list of 15 questions was sent to +a number of libraries in different parts of the United States, from 24 +of which replies were received. So far as space would permit, the facts +and opinions obtained have been embodied in this paper. + +Reference work with grown people consists in supplying material on +various topics; we consider it sufficiently well done when the best +available matter is furnished with as little cost of time and trouble to +the inquirer as is consistent with the service we owe to other patrons +of the library. To a certain extent this statement is true also of +reference work with children, but I think we are agreed that for them +our aim reaches further--reaches to a familiarity with reference tools, +to knowing how to hunt down a subject, to being able to use to best +advantage the material found. In a word, we are concerned not so much to +supply information as to educate in the use of the library. Seventeen of +the 24 libraries reporting judge children to be sent to them primarily, +if not wholly, for information. One of the first steps towards improving +and developing reference work with children will have been taken when +the teacher appreciates the larger purpose, since the point of view must +materially affect the character and scope of the work. Another forward +step is for the library to have definitely in mind some plan for +accomplishing these ends. Whatever the plan, it will in likelihood have +to be modified to accord with the teacher's judgment and needs, but a +definite proposal ought at least to give impetus to the undertaking. + +Six libraries state that a considerable part of the inquiries they +receive from children are apparently prompted by their individual +interests, and not suggested by the teacher. These inquiries relate +chiefly to sports, mechanical occupations and pets. This paper is +confined to the discussion of reference work connected with the schools. + + + _Library facilities._ + +In selecting reference books for the purpose, certain familiar ones come +at once to our minds. Beyond those there have been suggested: Chase and +Clow's "Stories of industry," "Information readers," Brown's "Manual of +commerce," Boyd's "Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century," Patton's +"Resources of the United States," Geographical readers, _Youth's +Companion_ geographical series, Spofford's "Library of historic +characters," Larned's "History for ready reference," Ellis's "Youth's +dictionary of mythology," Macomber's "Our authors and great inventors," +Baldwin's "Fifty famous stories," "Riverside natural history," Wright's +"Seaside and wayside," bound volumes of the _Great Round World_, and +text-books on various subjects. + +A dictionary catalog will be useful in teaching the child to look up +subjects for himself. If a separate catalog is provided for children, +the question arises whether it is wiser to follow closely the A. L. A. +headings or to modify them where they differ from topics commonly asked +for by children or used as headings in text-books. This question +suggests also the advisability of a modified classification for a +children's library. + +Last and not least, children should have room and service adapted to +their needs, so that they may not constantly have to be put aside in +deference to the rightful demands of adult readers. + +So far as the writer knows, the Public Library of Boston was the first +library to open a reference room expressly for children, well equipped +and separate from the children's reading room or circulating department, +and from the general reference department for adults. + + + _Choice of topics._ + +Many libraries report that they find the topics habitually well chosen. +The gist of the criticisms is as follows: + +(_a_) The teacher should make clear to the child just what he is to look +up and how to ask for it. An eastern library furnishes this incident: + +"I want a book about flowers." + +"Do you want a special flower?" + +"Yes, I want the rose." + +A book on the cultivation of roses is handed her. Her companion, looking +over, exclaims, "Why, she wants the _Wars of the roses_!" The same +librarian was invited to provide something on _American privileges_; +whether social, religious, political, or otherwise, the child did not +know. + +(_b_) The teacher should be reasonably sure that there is on the topic +something in print, in usable shape, that can be gotten at with a +reasonable amount of labor. + +(_c_) The subject when found should be within the child's comprehension. +The topic _Grasses_ is manifestly unfit for children, since grasses are +difficult to study, and the description of them in encyclopedias and +botanies is too technical. An eight-year-old had to investigate the +_Abyssinian war_. Pupils under 16 were assigned the topic _Syncretism in +the later pagan movement_. A western librarian was asked by some girls +for Kipling's "Many inventions" and "Day's work." Both were out. "Well, +what other books of Kipling's on _agriculture_ have you?" "Why, Kipling +hasn't written any books on _agriculture_; he writes stories and poems." +"But we have to debate on whether agriculture or manufacturing has done +more for the welfare of the country, and we want a book on both sides." + +(_d_) The topic should be definite and not too broad, and should be +subdivided when necessary. The briefest comprehensive description of +_Rome_ is probably that in Champlin's "Persons and places," where the +six columns, already much condensed, would take more than an hour to +copy. A young girl came to find out about Italian painters. None of the +several encyclopedias treated them collectively under either _Italy_ or +_Art_. Mrs. Bolton's book of 10 artists includes four Italians, but it +takes some time and skill to discover them, as the fact of their +nationality does not introduce the narrative. How should a sixth grade +pupil make a selection from the 60 painters in Mrs. Jameson's book? +Three names were furnished by the librarian, and the child made notes +from their biographies. The next day she returned and said she hadn't +enough artists. + +(_e_) The question should preferably be of such nature that the child +can be helped to find it rather than be obliged to wait while the +librarian does the work. One inquiry was, "What eastern plant is +sometimes sold for its weight in gold?" This is not in the book of +"Curious questions." + +(_f_) The topic should be worth spending time upon. The _genealogy of +Ellen Douglas_ will hardly linger long in the average memory. + + + _Use made of the material by the child._ + +Suppose the topic to be good and suitable material to have been found; +for older children there are two good ways of using it--one to read +through and make notes on the substance, the other to copy in selection. +Children need practice in doing both. The first method suits broad +description and narration, the second detailed description. There seems +to be a prevailing tendency to copy simply, without sufficient neglect +of minor points, a process which should be left to the youngest +children, since it furnishes little mental training, uses a great deal +of time, keeps the writer needlessly indoors, and fosters habits of +inattention, because it is easy to copy with one's mind elsewhere. The +necessity for using judgment after the article has been found is +illustrated by the case of some children who came for the life of Homer. +Champlin, in about a column, mentions the limits within which the +conjectures as to the time of Homer's birth lie, the places which claim +to be his birthplace, and tells of the tradition of the blind harper. +The children, provided with the book, plunged at once into copying until +persuaded just to read the column through. "When you finish reading," I +said, "come to me and tell me what it says." They came and recounted the +items, and only after questioning did they at all grasp the gist of the +matter, that nothing is known about Homer. Even then their sense of +responsibility to produce something tangible was so great that they +would copy the details, and from the children who came next day I judged +that the teacher had required some facts as to time and place and +tradition. While it is true that we learn by doing and it is well that +children should rely upon themselves, it is evident that young pupils +need some direction. Even when provided with sub-topics, they often need +help in selecting and fitting together the appropriate facts, since no +article exactly suits their needs. About half of the reporting +librarians are of the opinion that it is the teacher's business to +instruct pupils in the use of books; they consider the library to have +done its share when the child has been helped to find the material. The +other half believe such direction as is suggested above to be rightly +within the librarian's province; several, however, who express a +willingness to give such help, add that under their present library +conditions it is impracticable. We can easily see that time would not +permit nor would it be otherwise feasible for the teacher to examine +every collection of notes made at the library, but there ought to be +some systematic work where the topics are thoughtfully chosen, the +librarian informed of them in advance, and the notes criticised. A +moderate amount of reference work so conducted would be of greater +benefit than a large quantity of the random sort which we now commonly +have. Five librarians state that they are usually given the topics +beforehand. Several others are provided with courses of study or attend +grade meetings in which the course is discussed. + + + _Systematic instruction in the use of the library._ + +While a general effort is being made to instruct children individually, +only a few libraries report any systematic lessons. In Providence each +visiting class is given a short description of books of reference. In +Hartford an attempt at instruction was made following the vacation book +talks. In Springfield, Mass., last year the senior class of the +literature department was given a lesson on the use of the library, +followed by two practice questions on the card catalog. In one of the +Cleveland branches talks are given to both teachers and pupils. At the +Central High School of Detroit the school librarian has for the past +three years met the new pupils for 40 minutes' instruction, and test +questions are given. A detailed account of similar work done in other +high school libraries is to be found in the proceedings of the +Chautauqua conference. Cambridge has given a lecture to a class or +classes of the Latin school. In the current library report of Cedar +Rapids, Ia., is outlined in detail a course of 12 lessons on +bookmaking, the card catalog, and reference books. The librarian of +Michigan City, Ind., writes: "Each grade of the schools, from the fifth +to the eighth, has the use of our class room for an afternoon session +each month. Each child is assigned a topic on which to write a short +composition or give a brief oral report. When a pupil has found all he +can from one source, books are exchanged, and thus each child comes into +contact with several books. At these monthly library afternoons I give +short talks to the pupils on the use of the library, the reference +books, and the card catalog, accompanied by practical object lessons and +tests." At Brookline our plan is to have each class of the eighth and +ninth grades come once a year to our school reference room at the +library. The teacher accompanies them, and they come in school hours. +The school reference librarian gives the lesson. For the eighth grade we +consider the make-up of the book--the title-page in detail, the +importance of noting the author, the significance of place and date and +copyright, the origin of the dedication, the use of contents and index. +This is followed by a description of bookmaking, folding, sewing and +binding, illustrated by books pulled to pieces for the purpose. The +lesson closes with remarks on the care of books. The ninth grade lesson +is on reference books, and is conducted largely by means of questioning. +A set of test questions at the end emphasizes the description of the +books. In these lessons the pupils have shown an unexpected degree of +interest and responsiveness. The course brought about 400 children to +the library, a few of whom had never been there before. These were +escorted about a little, and shown the catalog, charging desk, +bulletins, new book shelves, etc. Every one not already holding a card +was given an opportunity to sign a registration slip. The following year +the eighth grade, having become the ninth, has the second lesson. With +these lessons the attitude of the children towards the library has +visibly improved, and we are confident that their idea of its use has +been enlarged. + + + _Bibliographical work._ + +The inquiry was made of the reporting libraries whether any +bibliographical work was being done by the high school. The question was +not well put, and was sometimes misunderstood. Almost no such work was +reported. At Evanston, Ill., one high school teacher has taught her +class to prepare bibliographies, the librarian assisting. At Brookline +we have ambitions, not yet realized, of getting each high school class +to prepare one bibliography a year (we begin modestly) on some subject +along their lines of study. Last May the principals of two grammar +schools offered to try their ninth grades on a simple bibliography. The +school reference librarian selected some 60 topics of English +history--Bretwalda, Sir Isaac Newton, East India Company, the Great +Commoner, etc. Each bibliography was to include every reference by +author, title and page to be found in the books of the school reference +collection of the public library. The pupils displayed no little zest +and enjoyment in the undertaking, and some creditable lists were made. +Observation of the work confirmed my belief in its great practical +value. Pupils became more keen and more thorough than in the usual +getting of material from one or two references on a subject. Such +training will smooth the way and save the time of those students who are +to make use of a college library, and is even more to be desired for +those others whose formal education ends with the high or grammar +schools. + +The practice of sending collections of books from the public library to +the schools is becoming general. When these collections are along the +lines of subjects studied, it would seem as if the reference use of the +library by pupils might be somewhat diminished thereby. No doubt it is a +convenience to both teacher and pupils to have books at hand to which to +refer. The possession of an independent school library also tends to +keep the reference work in the school. But in neither case ought the +reference use of the public library or its branches to be wholly or +materially overlooked, since it is on that that pupils must depend in +after years, and therefore to that they must now be directed. We +recognize that the people of modest means need the library. As for the +very well-to-do, the library needs them. Other things being equal, the +pupil who has learned to know and to know how to use his public library +ought later so to appreciate its needs and so to recognize the benefits +it bestows that he will be concerned to have it generously supported and +wisely administered. + +Even we librarians claim for our public collections no such fine service +as is rendered by those private treasures that stand on a person's own +shelves, round which "our pastime and our happiness will grow." Books +for casual entertainment are more and more easily come by. But so far as +our imagination reaches, what private library will for most readers +supplant a public collection of books for purposes of study and +reference? Is it not then fitting that we spend time and effort to +educate young people to the use of the public library? Do not the +methods for realizing this end seem to be as deserving of systematic +study as the details of classification and of cataloging? We have +learned that to bring school authorities to our assistance our faith +must be sufficient to convince and our patience must be tempered by a +kindly appreciation of the large demands already made upon the schools. +Have we not yet to learn by just what lessons and what practice work the +reference use of the public library can best be taught to children? + + + + + VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL. + + I. THE SCHOOL. + + BY MAY L. PRENTICE, _City Normal School, Cleveland, O._ + + +Years ago a little girl ran down a country road to meet the light wagon +returning from town with the purpose of climbing into the back and so +getting a ride. Without turning, the wise elder brother spoke from the +driver's seat: "I wouldn't undertake that if I were you." And over his +shoulder a breathless but dignified voice answered, "But I have already +undertooken it!" + +A similar answer might reasonably be expected from the library to any +well-meant but tardy advice from the school-side in regard to the +vitalization of the relation between the school and the library. It has +already been accomplished, and comparatively small thanks are due to the +school for its doing. + +Graded lists of books, special lists of materials for occasions, library +league work, the establishment of school branch libraries, all these +have been the work of the library in a much larger measure than of the +school. + +However, there are many teachers who share the library's buoyant faith +in the blessing which books bring. These have been first to appreciate +all which the library has offered them. They have accepted all that has +been offered them and asked for more. They have circulated library books +through their own schools, sometimes at considerable cost and trouble to +themselves, and for years have done all in their power to make their +pupils wise and discriminating patrons of the library. That the children +of their care and love might have life and have it more abundantly--that +is why they have done these things. + +These teachers are comparatively few. + +That it is any function of the school to give joy to its children is an +idea of slow growth. A child's school-time is usually thought of as +preparation for living and not as living itself. Hence the rebuke of the +teacher to the child who interrupts the "nature-lesson" to blow the +thistle-down which waves over his head, or to watch the bee which booms +against the window-pane, or the hawk which floats lazily against the +blue sky. Life is such a wild, wilful, irregular thing. Quietude, +prudent inaction, is so much safer. + +So with books. It is the old search for life, life, more abundant +life--for knowledge of it, for entrance into it--which sends the child +to the fairy-story, the boy to the tale of adventure, the young girl to +the story of romance, the older man and woman to the realistic novel. +And it is the instinctive feeling of the teacher and parent that life is +a dangerous force and difficult of control which has made school and +home look askance upon reading which the child finds too enjoyable. + +There is another feeling or belief which lies back of our doubt of work +or study or reading which is too enjoyable. It is in regard to the part +which love of ease plays in human enjoyment. Love of ease is strong in +human nature, and the man who tries to get his knowledge of human life +mainly through the novel has indeed sought a short-cut to his end which +will bring him but a short distance on his way. This is not the time nor +place for the discussion of the value of fiction, but undoubtedly we are +inclined to believe that man's indolence is a strong factor in man's +enjoyment of certain lines of reading, and indolence is a bad thing. +Therefore, we distrust the value of such reading. Whether we like or +dislike it, however, we are obliged to admit that fiction is a permanent +form of literature, that our children will read it, and that the +question for us to settle is shall it be good or poor. + +What, then, has the teacher to do? Two things: To _be_ the atmosphere +from which the child breathes in love for and delight in good books. +This is first. All things in the way of learning are possible after +this. Second, to be the pupil's guide and director in what may be called +his "laboratory practice" with books. + +The Autocrat, mellowest of men of ideas, once suggested that every +college and university should have a professorship of books. The +Autocrat was an ingrained aristocrat, although one most mild and kind. +The true democratic idea is that a professorship of books should be +established in every school-room. + +But how shall the blind lead the blind? How shall the teacher who +herself never has learned to know, to enjoy, and to choose good books +guide others to do so? + +The library is a storehouse of great thought, an unfailing source of +healthful recreation, but also the library is the mine in which the +practical man and woman, the lawyer, the machinist, the scientist, the +teacher, must dig deep for information, if he is to keep near the head +in his own line of work. + +So far, as I have said before, nearly all organized effort to teach the +teachers along these lines has come from the library. Certain normal +school and college librarians have done much, but to a large extent the +work has been on sufferance. Odds and ends of the students' time and +attention have been given to it. + +The desirable thing is that the study of juvenile literature and the use +of the library shall take equal rank with other studies in the +preparation of prospective teachers; that the normal school, the +pedagogical department of the college and university, the teachers' +summer-school and institute, shall recognize this subject in their +curricula. + +The practical side of library use--its use for information--is easily +seen by the public, and schools for teachers can quite readily be +induced to make room for the course of study suggested. + +In the Cleveland City Normal Training School an attempt to carry out +such a course of study has been made. A term's work is given in juvenile +literature and the use of the library. Moreover, this subject is placed +upon an equality with the philosophy of teaching, history of education +and psychology. + +As yet the work is not thoroughly organized. We feel, however, that some +things of value have been already accomplished. + +In a twelve-weeks' term a class of 116 prospective teachers (the junior +class of the school) have taken notes on a series of talks on reference +books. They have learned something of the comparative value of various +standard encyclopaedias, gazetteers, dictionaries and indexes, and they +have been sent to the public library a half-day at a time to do work +which required the use of these. + +For instance, a study of the life of Robert Louis Stevenson was made for +the purpose of giving a talk on the subject to fifth-grade pupils. The +students were required to look up all the available material in the +library, looking not only in the printed and card catalogs for +individual and collective biography, but in the various +indexes--Poole's, the Annual, the Cumulative--for magazine articles. +They were required to select the four or five articles found most +valuable and to estimate their comparative value for the purpose in +hand, making definite statements of the points of value. They were +required to make careful and well-worded notes from the best material +available, either books or periodicals, always giving the source, and to +read these notes in class subject to the criticism of their instructor +and school mates. And, lastly, they were required to write the story of +Stevenson's life as they would tell it to the children. + +Careful instruction in the use of the printed and card catalogs and of +indexes had preceded this assignment. We were fortunate in possessing +quite a large number of issues of the Cumulative index unbound. It was +thus possible to place one of these in the hands of each student during +instruction on the subject. This was a considerable aid. + +There was too much work with the less-used ready-reference books. Next +year the number will be largely reduced. + +A study of fairy stories was made. An attempt was made to find a +philosophical basis for the love of children for fairy stories. An +attempt was made to discriminate between the good and the bad fairy +story. Felix Adler's "Moral instruction of children" was helpful here, +but the study of the fairy stories at first hand is still more helpful. + +The following books were read by the whole class: + +(1) Alcott's "Little Women." Lessons were given on reading it with the +children. + +(2) Mara L. Pratt's "History stories," vol. 3. + +(3) Eggleston's "First lessons in American history." The Pratt and +Eggleston books were read in succession for the purpose of contrasting +them. A yet better contrast would have been Baldwin's "Fifty famous +stories." + +(4) Frau Spyri's "Heidi." Some of our girls read this story in the +original German but most in the translation published by Ginn & Co. It +is a charming story of a breezy little maiden whose home was in the +Swiss Alps, and one of the rather scarce desirable books for the fourth +grade. + +(5) Mrs. Burnett's "Sara Crewe." This was read as a type of the "child +novel" and for the sake of a study of the charms, dangers and benefits +of this class of books. + +(6) Howard Pyle's "Men of iron" was read as a study of the worthy +historical story. + +The following outline was given the students as an aid in judging the +books read: + + _Outline to aid in estimating a juvenile book_. + + 1. Written when? By whom? For children or adults? [e.g., "Robinson + Crusoe" and "Gulliver's travels" were written for adults.] If for + children, of what age? (Consider both manner and matter.) + + 2. Essential purpose of the book: Recreative? Instructive? Moral? Is + the recreation afforded wholesome? The instruction reliable? The + moral lessons sound? + + 3. Style: Is it clear? Correct? Beautiful? Suitable? + + 4. If a story, What is the strongest character in it? The most + effective passage? Give reasons for thinking so. Is it true to + life? + + 5. Is the book a creator of ideals? How so? Along what lines? + +An effort was made that there should be no formal adherence to this +outline. Papers on the books read were required in which the outline +could not be used. For example, after reading "Men of iron" the students +were required to write, in class, a paper on "The education of a boy in +chivalry" based on the story of Myles Falworth. + +The oral discussions of these books were often very animated. + +Each student was also required to hand in an annotated list of at least +20 books actually read by the student and judged by her suitable for the +grade in which she is to train. An oral discussion of these lists took +place, and the student in many cases was required to justify her +judgment, and to answer questions in regard to the books read. + +Some of these lists were very cheering. One excellent list for the sixth +grade, with very original annotations contained 60 instead of 20 books +actually read, and 30 more which the student had listed to be read at +her convenience. + +Not all of the lists were of that character. A list for the third grade +recommended "Gulliver's travels, by Gulliver" as a valuable aid in +geography. + +The instance is eloquent of the value of a course of study which results +in the illumination or the elimination of such a student. + +Much remains to be worked out, but a beginning has been made. + +Ours is one instance of the awakening of the school to the value of the +privileges which the library gives it. And as the reward of doing work +well is invariably to have more work to do, from the school fully +awakened the library shall receive its exceeding great reward in more +work to be done. + +Except for the hearty co-operation of the Cleveland Public Library the +little experiment here outlined could not have been undertaken. + + + + + VITALIZING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL. + + II. THE LIBRARY. + +BY IRENE WARREN, _Librarian University of Chicago School of Education_. + + +The establishment of the Library Section of the National Educational +Association was proof that the thoughtful librarians and school men of +this country believed that an effective co-operation between public +schools and public libraries was possible. In many states library +sections of the state teachers' associations have been formed. Many +public libraries have for some time past systematically sent both books +and lists of books to the public schools. + +No sooner had this been done than librarians and teachers both saw that +they had made but a beginning, and the next steps, and, indeed, the +present needs, are to bring about a more intelligent use of both books +and libraries and to place larger and better arranged collections within +easy access of the pupils. Rarely do the teachers find the libraries +adequate to the reference work or the collateral reading they wish the +pupils to do. The funds are seldom sufficient to keep the libraries up +to date. There is no one person in the school who knows how to organize +and administer the library, and therefore whatever work the teachers do +in this line is at a greater expense of both time, energy and material +than it would be were it done by one having had a library training. The +school buildings are frequently closed to the students shortly after the +school session, usually by five o'clock, and always on holidays and +during vacations. Most of the pupils' reading and research must +therefore be done in the one or two books which he carries home with +him. The Buffalo Public Library made another step in organization when +it offered to take the collections of books from any of the public +schools in the city and in return mend, rebind, catalog, classify them, +furnish such schools as agreed to this arrangement with the books they +needed, either from their own collections or from that of the public +library, and appoint two attendants to look after the school work. + +The public school began with the one central school in the community, +but it soon found that it must establish branches if it reached all of +the children of the city. To-day there is no town of any considerable +size but has its central school with a high school usually, and its +branches on the north, east, south and west sides. The public library, +following the public schools, has found that it cannot reach the people +of the community unless it delivers books to the various parts of the +town, and moreover establishes branch reading rooms where at least +reference books may be consulted and magazines read. + +As in the history of the schools, so in the history of the libraries, +provision was first made for the mature student. Educators have been +slow to see that they should begin with the child before he has +established habits of thought and action. Not until the public library +is considered a vital factor in the educational scheme of a city can it +hope to secure its best results, nor is this possible when the central +library and its few branches are removed, as at present, from the public +schools. The libraries and the schools should be housed in close +proximity to do the most effective work. + +It is with keen interest that the experiment in New York City is being +watched. It certainly seems as if the most economical arrangement would +be to have the branch of the public library so placed in a school +building that the students would have free access to it, and the public +also, not only during school hours but public library hours. It seems +the logical duty of the board of education to furnish the few necessary +reference books that are in continual demand in every school room and +also the sets of books which are used for supplementary reading. It +does, on the other hand, seem that the public library can furnish a +larger general collection, in better editions and keep them in better +condition for less money and with better results than can the public +schools. + +The already crowded curriculum in most of our public schools made many +an educator hesitate when a course in library economy was suggested. One +can indeed see a time not far distant, it is hoped, when such a course +will not be thought necessary. Such a time will be when instructors have +awakened to a much greater appreciation of the value and use of +bibliography and the need of training students in this line. Along with +this will develop a desire in the student to keep his own references and +material so arranged that he will be able to use them easily. There will +still be considerable of a general bibliographical character, handbooks, +etc., which would be of value in all subjects and yet perhaps be +overlooked by the specialists, that could be called to the students' +attention through such a pamphlet as was recently compiled by Mr. Andrew +Keogh, of Yale University Library, under the title, "Some general +bibliographical works of value to the students of English." + +There is a phase of library economy that every teacher should know, and +which it seems must always have its proper place in the curriculum of +the normal school. That is the knowledge of how to obtain books. Every +teacher should know what the laws of his state are regarding the +establishment and maintenance of the public library and the public +school library, and how these laws compare with those of other states. +He should know what aid he can gain through the travelling library +system, should he be in a village or country district, and the possible +co-operation between the public library and the public schools should he +be assigned to a city. Just as the public schools are finding that they +must adapt their curriculum to the needs of the children of a certain +district or class, so the public library has the same lesson to learn. +The Carnegie Public Library of Pittsburgh has been one of the first to +recognize this in the establishment of home libraries. It has thus +reached a class of children that could be reached in no other way, and +why should not the public library as well as the public school aim to +reach these less fortunate children? + +The subject of children's literature should be a serious one with every +teacher of children. The best writers for children, best illustrators, +and best editions should be part of the normal school student's +knowledge when he completes his course and goes out to teach. It is a +great problem with him now how he shall keep this information up to +date, when there are hundreds of books coming out every year and his +school-room duties absorb so much of his time. Here is the librarian's +opportunity to be of great aid to the public school teacher by issuing +lists of the best children's books on various subjects, exhibiting them +in the library from time to time, and to the schools for trial, as so +many libraries are now doing. In the country districts the library +commissions must supply this information through annotated lists. + +It has been shown in a number of schools that children love to make +books, and that the making of books quite successfully lends itself to +the constructive work as carried on in the schools of to-day. The +materials for this work are not so costly as to make it impossible for +the average school. Every child at the completion of the graded schools +should know the value of a title-page, the use of the preface and +introductory notes, the difference between the table of contents and the +index, the best books in the several subjects which he has studied, and +where and how he can obtain more books on these subjects later, should +he wish them. It would doubtless be a great surprise to one who has not +tried the experiment to ask the pupils in our graded and high schools +even, for such simple information as the author, title and date of the +text-books they are using daily. + +If the suggestions in this paper be accepted, and most of them have +already been successfully tried, it will be seen at once how great is +the importance of having trained librarians in our normal schools and +institutions of higher learning. The time has now come in a number of +cities which we hope is prophetic of the future, when the public library +stands equally important as an educational institution with the public +school, each supplementing the other in work and still distinct in +function and administration. It is therefore necessary that our teachers +should be trained to use libraries, and that our librarians should be +acquainted with the great educational movements of the day. + + + + + OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM. + + BY CLARA WHITEHILL HUNT, _Newark (N. J.) Free Public Library_. + + +In writing this paper on the opening of a children's room, I am +presupposing the following conditions: That in a library whose work with +the children has been confined to the general delivery desk, and the +divided attention of clerks whose time an adult public would monopolize, +there is to be set aside a commodious apartment to be known as the +Children's Room; that, considering this work of enough importance to +demand such a department, the trustees are prepared to support it by a +reasonable outlay for new books, necessary and convenient furnishings, +and especially by placing in its charge one who, by natural fitness and +special training they believe to be so thoroughly capable of supervising +the work, that she is to be given a free hand in deciding both how the +room is to be made ready for opening, and how managed after it is +opened. This being the case, I imagine the children's librarian, with +opening day a few weeks or months ahead, planning her campaign with such +wise foresight and attention to the smallest detail that, in the rush of +the first weeks, there may be the least possible wear and tear on nerves +and temper from petty inconveniences which assume gigantic proportions +when one is hurried and tired, and the smallest amount of undoing and +beginning over again as time goes on. + +It is difficult to be clear in speaking of furnishings without something +more than verbal description for illustrating mistakes and excellences, +but so much power can be lost by not having the parts of the machine +properly fitted and well oiled that how to furnish the children's room +becomes one of the most important topics under this subject. + +To begin with, the children's librarian must cultivate, if she does not +already possess, the architect's faculty of seeing a completed structure +in a flat piece of paper marked off by lines labelled 20 ft., 50 ft., +etc. If 20 ft. does not mean anything to her she would do well to take a +tape measure to an empty lot and measure off the exact dimensions of her +room to be, until she can see its floor space clearly. She should live +in her room before its existence, locating every door and window, the +height of the windows from the floor, every corner and cupboard, the +relation of her room to the other departments of the library. In +proceeding to furnish the room she will learn what to adopt and what to +avoid by visiting other children's rooms and asking if the tables and +chairs are the correct height, if the exit is satisfactorily guarded, +what working space is necessary for a certain circulation, whether the +electric light fixtures are easily broken, and many other things. If she +cannot make such visits, her knowledge of children and a study of +conditions in her own library will answer. + +Limited to a small space the children's room is nevertheless a +circulating department, a reading room, a reference room, perhaps a +repair room, and a cataloging department all in one; and if the +children's librarian has not had actual work in each of these +departments of her library, she should serve an apprenticeship at the +receiving and charging desks, the registration desk, the slip rack, not +only for the sake of knowing the routine of each department, but for +studying improvements in planning her furnishings. The registration +clerk will tell her that she has not enough elbow room, that the +application drawers are too narrow or too heavy; the attendants at the +charging desk find every present arrangement so satisfactory that they +advise exact reproduction. Armed with pad and tape measure the +children's librarian notes all these points. + +The problem how with a minimum of help to "run" all departments, to see +all parts of the room, to keep your eye on the entrance so as to nip in +the bud any tendency to boisterousness as the children come in, and to +watch the exit so that no book goes out uncharged, how to keep all +unfinished work out of the children's reach but to give them perfectly +free access to the books, in short, how to arrange your working space so +that one person on a moderately busy day can attend to all these things, +may be answered, I think, in this way. All wall space will sooner or +later be needed for books. Taking an oblong floor space (dimensions +proportionate to size of room and circulation) and surrounding this by a +counter 30 inches high and two feet wide, is a simple way of +accomplishing these things. The counter opposite the entrance is the +receiving and charging desk; at another place it is the registration +desk; books after "slipping" are piled in another part ready for return +to shelves; books waiting to be marked occupy a fourth section; the +catalog case, notices to children, call-slip holders, etc., stand on the +counter. The space under the counter is available for supply cupboards +and drawers. The height of the counter is such that a grown person +sitting in an ordinary chair works comfortably behind it, but it is so +low that no small child feels frowningly walled out in standing on the +other side. Thus all the work of the room is concentrated and +supervision is easy. A few details are worth noticing. First, don't let +the carpenter give you drawers instead of cupboards. Drawers are +wasteful of room for packing supplies, and of time in hunting for them. +Next, have the cupboard doors slide, not swing, open, for economy of +your working floor space. Underneath registration and charging desks +leave space empty for your feet. Just under counter near the +registration desk have a row of drawers, sliding easily but fastened so +they cannot fall out, made of the exact size to hold your application +blanks and cards, with guide cards. A work table within the counter will +be necessary. + +In addition to this working space, every large children's room should +have a locked closet, or better still, a work room opening from it. In +busy times things _will_ accumulate which must be kept out of reach, and +it would not be sensible to take valuable space out of the children's +room to hold such accumulations until you have time to attend to them. + +The height of the children's chairs and tables seems to have reached a +standard in children's rooms--tables 22 and 28 inches high, with chairs +14 and 16 inches to go with them. I think it best to have very few +tables of the smaller size, for tall boys take the strangest delight in +crouching over them, snarling their long legs around the short table +legs and trying, apparently, to get a permanent twist to their +shoulders. Small children do not stay long, and it is less harmful, if +necessary, for them to sit in a chair a little too high than to compel +large children to spend a holiday afternoon with bodies contorted to fit +a small chair and table. + +By all means have the electric light _fixed_ in the center of the table +so that each child gets an equal share of light, and have the +connections so made that jarring the table and the movements of restless +feet will not put the fixtures out of order. Be very careful not to have +the shade so high that the glare of the lamp instead of the restful +green shade is opposite the child's eyes. + +When you see a chair that you like, find out before purchasing whether +it is very easily tipped over. You will know why, if you are not wise, +on some rainy day, when the room is full of readers and the reports of +chairs suddenly knocked over sound like a fusillade of cannon balls. + +Leaving this hasty and most unsatisfactory discussion on getting the +_place_ ready for opening, I would say a word about getting the _books_ +ready--not about buying a large quantity of new, and putting the old +into the best possible condition of repair and cleanliness, for that +will naturally be done. But from experience I know that the moment is +golden for weeding out, never to return, authors you think +objectionable. + +Suppose a girl reads nothing but the Elsie books. Very likely one reason +is that she knows little about any other kind. In a printed catalog with +a scattering "j" between many titles of adult books it is easier to make +lists of numbers from the long sets of prolific writers, and those +excellent authors who have produced only a few books for children are +oftenest overlooked. Suppose in the process of moving the Elsie books +are left behind. The little girl comes into the beautiful new +children's room. She sees the shining new furniture, the pictures, the +comfortable tables and chairs and book cases so planned that any child +can reach any book. She finds that there is perfect freedom for every +child in this room--that no stern Olympian comes and says, "Don't do +this," and "You can't have that," and "Those books aren't for you," but +that among all these hundreds of fresh new covers she may take her pick, +may sit anywhere, or stand or kneel as she chooses. Do you imagine that, +as these unaccustomed delights sink into her mind, any child is going +off in a huff when she finds one author is lacking, if the children's +librarian uses any tact in introducing her to others adapted to her +tastes? I have been asked for Alger and Optic and Elsie, of course, +though much less often than I anticipated, but I am perfectly certain +that I have never lost a "customer" because I did not display these +wares. One little girl exclaimed in doleful tones, "Oh, haven't you the +Elsie books? Oh, I'm _terribly_ disappointed! I think those are _grand_ +books!" But in spite of this tragic appeal her curiosity and interest +proved stronger than her disappointment, and I have the satisfaction of +seeing a more wholesome taste develop in a child who must have been on +the high road to softening of the brain and moral perversion from +association with the insufferable Elsie. If you once put these books on +the open shelves, however, and later attempted the weeding out process, +a howl would arise which would not be silenced without consequences +which I, for one, would not like to face. + +Furniture and books are comparatively simple matters to make ready, but +to prepare your assistant or assistants for opening day and the time +that follows is harder. The external preparation for the rush of the +first weeks consists in drill in the routine to be observed. Assigning a +place and certain duties to each person, foreseeing as far as possible +all questions that may arise and making sure that each attendant +understands what to do in any case, having a place for everything, and +everything in its place, and every person knowing what that place is, so +that there will be no frantic search for an extra set of daters when a +long line of people stands waiting--this also requires only foresight +and firmness. But so deeply to imbue your chief assistant with your +spirit and principles of management that she will not simply obey your +directions, but be inwardly guided by your desires, and there may be no +break in the steady march to a definite end--this demands that rare +species of assistant who is born, not made, for the position, and a +leader who possesses strength, tact, contagious enthusiasm, a likeable +personality, and other qualities difficult to attain. + +This brings us to the consideration of what the guiding principles of +the new department are to be--a question which must be pondered and +settled by the children's librarian before making the external +preparations. If the senior members of the American Library Association, +the librarians-in-chief, would consider the children's room of enough +importance to give us their ideas of what it should stand for, what its +scope should be, the result might be more uniformity of thought among +members of the library profession in this regard, and a more sensible +attitude toward the children's room in the library. Between those who, +on the one hand, take themselves so very seriously, pondering with +anxious care what probable effect on the child's future career as a +reader the selection of a blue or a green mat for mounting the picture +bulletin would have, and those who look upon the children's room merely +as an interesting plaything, driving the big boys away in disgust by +encouraging visitors who exclaim, "Oh, what cunning little chairs and +tables! Why, you have a regular kindergarten here, haven't you?"--from +either point of view, the discussions on children's rooms in libraries +seem almost to lose sight of the very word library and all it carries +with it. + +The children's room is only one room in a great dignified library. As +the newspaper room, the catalog room, and all the rest are fitted up +with furnishings suited to their peculiar needs, so the children's room +is furnished with tables and chairs and books suited to its +constituents. Apart from this, all its management and spirit should +correspond as closely as possible to that of the other departments. The +same dignity, the same freedom, the same courteous attention to every +want without fussy attentions which by grown people would be called +intrusiveness should prevail. Make the selection of books what it should +be, provide guides and catalogs, perfectly clear but not patronizingly +written down, show the children that you are always willing to respond +in every way to their questions, and then--let them alone! + +Some one has asked me to speak on the question of discipline. After the +first two or three weeks, if one begins properly, there will be no such +question. Allowing something for the noise of small feet which have not +learned to control themselves as they will later on, and expecting more +"talking over" an interesting "find" than is common with adults, one +should aim for library order. Teach the children what a library reading +room means. If in the first days there is a disposition on the part of +any boy to be rough or unruly, or if a group of girls make a +visiting-and-gum-chewing rendezvous of your tables, don't waste any time +in Sunday-school methods of discipline, trying to keep a hold on the +child at any cost to the library. A sentence in a report of Pratt +Institute children's room is worth adopting as a guiding principle. "The +work of the children's room should be educative, not reformatory." Give +one decided warning and then if a child does not behave, send him out at +once. Do not be afraid of seeming stern at first. The fascinations of +the room are such that a child who has been turned away for disobedience +comes back a subdued and chastened young person and your best friend +forever after; then with your aim and your firmness early settled, you +will have no more thought of discipline than the reference librarian +with his tables full of studious adults. After the first a little care +about the way a child enters the room will be all that is necessary. +Your courteous manner, low tones, a little reminder about caps and clean +hands while discharging his book, will give him the cue as to what is +expected, and he will have a pride in living up to what is expected of +him as a gentleman, not demanded of him as a child under authority. + +Many other points will engage the thought of the children's librarian, +for example, what shall be the attitude of the children's room toward +the other departments--whether it is to encourage the children to make +use of the adults' reference room, to take out cards in the main +delivery department, and get into the way of reading standard works from +suggestions of the children's librarian; or whether the line of +separation is to be rigid and she will be jealous of their "graduating" +from her care. How to prepare the public, especially the school-teaching +public, for the opening, so as to secure their hearty co-operation from +the beginning is worth constant effort. The question of blanks and forms +for the children's room is a minor matter which is after all not a small +thing. To make as few changes as possible in the forms already in use, +so that any assistant from the main delivery room can in emergencies +quickly take up the clerical work of the children's room without needing +to learn a new routine may save much confusion should the children's +staff all happen to be stricken with grippe at the same time! + +Beginning early to plan, profiting by other people's mistakes, getting +the routine of each department at one's finger tips, foreseeing every +probable obstacle and removing each in imagination, beforehand, +proceeding with calmness and common sense, thus the new machinery will +move as smoothly during opening weeks as if it had been running for +years, and, as "well begun is half done," every thought given to +preparation while the room exists only on paper will have a far-reaching +effect on the permanent influences of the children's room. + + + + + REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES; 1900-1901. + + BY GEORGE WATSON COLE. + + +The period covered by this report is from June 1, 1900, to July 1, 1901, +and includes all gifts and bequests of $500 or more, as well as all +gifts of 250 volumes and over, given by any single individual. A few +gifts have been included which fall below these figures where the +importance or value of the gift seemed to require mention. This report +has been increased by the addition of over 50 gifts, information of +which was received too late to be inserted before its presentation to +the Waukesha conference. A few others, which have been announced since +July 1, have also been inserted. + +Much of the information here given has been obtained by a careful +examination of the _Library Journal_ and _Public Libraries_. +Communications were sent to all the state library commissions, several +state library associations and clubs, and to the librarian of libraries +known to have 50,000 volumes or more. The responses to these +communications have been quite general, and the information contained in +the replies has been embodied in this report. The thanks of the compiler +are herewith extended to all who have assisted him in collecting the +material for this list. + +It was suggested by Miss Hewins in 1896 that it would be desirable to +have the library commission of each state appoint some librarian, or +library trustee, who should be responsible for the collection of +information regarding the gifts and bequests made within his state. +Judging from the replies received this year the suggestion has never +been carried out. + +Following the example of my predecessor, I wish to emphasize the +importance of the suggestion, and would further recommend that the +information so gathered be divided as nearly as possible into the +following classes: + +1. Buildings, giving value or cost; + +2. Sites, giving value or cost; + +3. Cash for buildings, with accompanying conditions, if any; + +4. Cash for sites, with accompanying conditions, if any; + +5. Books, pamphlets, periodicals, prints, maps, etc., giving number of + each kind, with value or cost of the whole, if known; + +6. Cash for books, etc., with accompanying conditions, if any; + +7. Cash for endowment funds, giving purpose for which income is to be + expended; + +8. Cash to be expended, with specified purposes for which it is to be + spent; + +9. Cash given unconditionally; + +10. Miscellaneous gifts, specifying their nature and value. + +It will be observed that the first four of the above headings relate to +gifts of real estate, which should also include gifts for fixtures of +any kind, such as plants for lighting, heating, and ventilation; mural +decorations, such as frescoes; furniture, so constructed as to be an +essential part of the building; landscape gardening, etc. The remaining +headings include books, endowment funds for various purposes (excepting +building funds and the other objects just mentioned), and gifts of money +for administration, current expenses, etc., etc. + +Then, too, information should be given as to whether a gift has been +offered, accepted, or received. + +It seems desirable that information relating to such old and moribund +libraries as have been absorbed or merged with newer and more vigorous +institutions should somewhere find a record. As such transfers are +usually made as gifts, there seems to be no more suitable place for such +a record than in the annual report of Gifts and Bequests. It is to be +hoped that, in the future, the tables of statistics issued from time to +time by the state library commissions, the U. S. Bureau of Education, +and others will contain a record of the final disposition of such +libraries. + +In the report of Gifts and Bequests made by Mr. Stockwell, a year ago, +covering a period of two years, there were given 458 separate gifts, +amounting to over $10,500,000, and distributed among 36 states and the +District of Columbia. This report, covering 13 months, includes 482 +separate gifts, amounting to $19,786,465.16, and is distributed as +follows: 468 in 39 of the United States, 10 in the British provinces, +and three in Scotland. To that princely philanthropist, Mr. Andrew +Carnegie, we are indebted, during the past year, for gifts reaching the +enormous aggregate of $13,704,700, over $12,500,000 of which was given +for the erection of library buildings. In every case the gift, except +where otherwise specified, was made upon the condition that the city or +town receiving it should furnish a site for the building and appropriate +yearly for the maintenance of the library a sum equivalent to 10 per +cent. of the gift. + +The most notable gifts of the year are due to the ever-increasingly +generous hand of Mr. Carnegie. That to the city of New York of +$5,200,000, for the erection of 65, or more, branch libraries, is +probably the largest library gift ever made at one time to a single +city. His gift of $1,000,000 to the city of St. Louis for library +buildings and an equal sum, placed in trust as an endowment fund, for +the Carnegie libraries at Braddock, Duquesne, and Homestead, Pa., occupy +the second and third positions, by reason of their amounts. His recent +gifts of $750,000 each to the cities of Detroit and San Francisco, +though announced since July 1, have been included in this report. Mr. +Carnegie's gifts during the year number 121; 112 in the United States, +six in Canada, and three in Scotland. One hundred and seven of these +gifts in the United States were for library buildings. Of the remaining +five, amounting to $1,028,000, one of $25,000 will probably be used for +a building. + +The transfer of the John Carter Brown Library to Brown University by the +trustees of the estate of the late John Nicholas Brown, recently +announced, is one of the most important library events of the year. This +library contains, if not the finest, at least one of the finest +collections of early Americana in this country, and possesses many books +not to be found in any other library on this side of the Atlantic. Its +collector, after whom it is named, was a competitor with Lenox, Brinley, +and other early collectors of Americana for many a choice nugget which +Henry Stevens and other European dealers had secured for their American +patrons. The library is estimated to be worth at least $1,000,000, and +the gift carries with it two legacies, one of $150,000 for a library +building, and another of $500,000 as an endowment fund for its increase +and maintenance. + +The gift of four public-spirited citizens of St. Louis, who have jointly +contributed $400,000 to lift an incumbrance on the block to be used for +the new Carnegie library in that city, is a noble example of public +spirit, and one of which the friends of that city may justly feel proud. + +The collection of Oriental literature of Yale University has been +enriched by the gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, many of which are +extremely rare. The collection covers the whole range of Arabic history +and literature, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. + +This collection, formed by Count Landberg, was purchased by Mr. Morris +K. Jesup, of New York, at a cost of $20,000, and was presented by him to +the university library. This library has also received, as a bequest, +the private library of the late Prof. Othniel C. Marsh, consisting of +about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, dealing mainly with +palaeontological subjects. + +The New York Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden +foundations--through the generosity of Mr. Charles Stewart Smith, has +come into possession of a large and valuable collection of Japanese +engravings and chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, of the +_Japanese Mail_. + +I regret that I do not have the pleasure to record any addition, during +the year, to the Publication Fund of the American Library Association. +The Publishing Board is much hampered by lack of funds from carrying on +its important work. If some philanthropically inclined person would +present a fund, say $100,000, upon condition that all publications +issued from its income should bear the name of the fund, it would not +only be of inestimable benefit to the cause of libraries, but would also +be a most enduring monument to its donor. + +An examination of the following list will disclose other gifts worthy +of special mention if space permitted. The main list has been arranged +alphabetically by states, as being the most convenient for reference. A +tabulated summary, arranged by the geographical sections of the country, +will show how widely scattered have been the benefactions of the year, +extending from Alabama in the south to Montreal in the north, and from +Bangor in the east to "where rolls the Oregon" in the far west. + + + ALABAMA. + + _Montgomery._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of books forming its library, from the Montgomery Library + Association. + + _Tuskegee._ Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Gift of $20,000, + for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The building will be + erected entirely by student labor. + + + CALIFORNIA. + + _Alameda._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Berkeley._ University of California. Gift of $10,000, as a fund for the + purchase of books for the law library, from Mrs. Jane Krom Sather, + of Oakland, Cal. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Col. E. A. Denicke. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes, being the private library of the late + Regent, A. S. Hallidie, from Mrs. M. E. Hallidie. + + _Fresno._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000 for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Napa._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for free public library + building, from George E. Goodman. + + _San Francisco._ Public Library. Gift of $750,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of building and fixtures for Branch Library, No. 5, estimated to + cost $20,000, from Hon. James D. Phelan, Mayor of San Francisco. + + _San Jose._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Stanford University._ Leland Stanford University. Gift of $2000, $1000 + for books on sociology and $1000 for books on bibliography, special + gift from Mrs. J. L. Stanford. + + + COLORADO. + + _Grand Junction._ Public Library. Gift of $8000, increased from $5000, + for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Leadville._ City Library Association. Gift of $100,000, for a public + library, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Ouray._ Walsh Library. Gift of a library building, costing $20,000, + from Thomas F. Walsh. + + + CONNECTICUT. + + _Branford._ Blackstone Memorial Library. Bequest of $100,000, from + Timothy B. Blackstone, of Chicago, founder of the library. + + _Danielsonville._ Edwin H. Bugbee Memorial Building. Bequest of $15,000, + for the erection of a building, also the donor's private library and + cases, from Edwin H. Bugbee. + + _Derby._ Public Library. Gift of a fully equipped public library + building, by Col. and Mrs. H. Holton Wood, of Boston, the city to + agree to maintain the library and raise a book fund of $5000, to + which sum the donors will add an equal amount. + + -- Gift of $12,000, raised by popular subscription, towards book fund, + from interested citizens. Nearly $75 was given by public school + children. + + -- Gift of $5000, towards a book fund, from Col. and Mrs. H. Holton + Wood. + + -- Gift of 900 volumes, from Derby Reading Circle. + + _Greenwich._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, as an endowment, from + wealthy New Yorkers. + + _Hartford._ Case Memorial Library, Hartford Theological Seminary. Gift + of $2000 towards fund for purchase of periodicals, from Mrs. Charles + B. Smith. + + -- Gift of $500 for book purchases, from Miss Anna M. Hills. + + -- Gift of 365 volumes, pertaining to missions, from Rev. A. C. + Thompson, D.D. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $5000, from F. B. Brown. + + _Kensington._ Library Association. Gift of $10,000, for a new library + building, from S. A. Galpin, of California. _Litchfield._ Wolcott + Library. Bequest of $1000, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott, of + Boston, Mass. + + _Middletown._ Wesleyan University. Gifts of $3604, to be added to + Alumni Library Fund. + + -- Gift of $483, to be added to the Hunt Library Endowment. This + addition has been increased to $1000 by the reservation of the + income of the fund. + + _New Haven._ Yale University. Gift of $10,000, for a fund for the + Seminary library in the department of Philosophy, from Mrs. John S. + Camp, of Hartford, Conn. + + -- Gift of $1500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from + Charles J. Harris. + + -- Gift of $1300, for purchases in the department of Folk-music, from + an anonymous donor. + + -- Gift of $1000, for purchases in department of English literature, + from Edward Wells Southworth, of New York. + + -- Gift of $500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from + the Hon. William T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education. + + -- Bequest of about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, forming the + private library of the testator, from Prof. Othniel C. Marsh. + + -- Gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, collected by Count Landberg; bought + for $20,000 by Morris K. Jesup and presented by him to the + University. Many of these Mss. are very rare. The collection covers + the whole range of Arabic history and literature, dating back to + the 12th and 13th centuries. + + -- Gift of a collection of musical manuscripts, number not stated, from + Morris Steinert. + + _Norwalk._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _South Norwalk._ Public Library and Free Reading Room. Bequest of + $1000, for permanent fund, from R. H. Rowan. + + _Southington._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, towards a library + building, from L. V. Walkley. + + _Torrington._ Library Association. Bequest of $100,000, by Elisha + Turner. From this amount is to be deducted the cost of the library + building, about $70,000, which was being erected by the testator at + the time of his death. + + _Wallingford._ Public Library. Gift of library building, cost value not + stated, from the late Samuel Simpson, as a memorial to his + daughter. + + _Windsor._ Library Association. Gift of $4000, towards a library + building fund, from Miss Olivia Pierson. + + + GEORGIA. + + _Atlanta._ Carnegie Library. Gift of $20,000, for furnishings and + equipment of new building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Travelling Libraries for Schools._ Gift of 960 volumes for 16 + travelling libraries for country schools, for that number of + counties in the state, from the Hon. Hoke Smith. It is planned to + have each library remain in a school for about two months. + + + ILLINOIS. + + _Aurora._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site and + guarantee $6000 a year maintenance. + + _Centralia._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to provide a site and + $2000 yearly for maintenance. + + _Chicago._ John Crerar Library. Bequest of $1000, from the late + President, Huntington W. Jackson. + + -- Rush Medical College. Gift of 4000 volumes of medical and surgical + books, from Dr. Christian Fenger. This gift contains a practically + complete collection of German theses for the past fifty years. + + -- University of Chicago. Gift of $30,000, to endow the history + library, from Mrs. Delia Gallup. + + _Decatur._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Young Men's Christian Association Library. Gift of $500, from Miss + Helen Gould, of New York. + + _Dixon._ Dodge Library. Gift of a valuable and extensive collection of + art books, value and number not stated, from George C. Loveland. + + _Evanston._ Northwestern University. Gift of $750, for the purchase of + books in political economy, from Norman Waite Harris, of Chicago. + + -- Gift of $543.50, to be known as the "Class of '95 Library Fund," the + income of at least 4 per cent. to be used for the increase of the + university library, from the class of 1895. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward library site fund, from + William Deering. + + _Freeport._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Galesburg._ Knox College. Gift of $50,000, for a library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $6000 for library + maintenance. + + _Grossdale._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Havana._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Jacksonville._ Public Library. Gift of $40,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Kewanee._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Lake Forest._ Lake Forest College. Gift of the Arthur Somerville Reid + Memorial Library building; cost about $30,000, from Mrs. Simon + Reid. + + _Lincoln._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Maywood._ Public Library. Gift of $100, being surplus campaign funds + remaining after the election, from Republican Committee of that + town. + + _Pekin._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city has appropriated $1500. + + -- Gift of a site for the proposed Carnegie library building, value not + stated, from George Herget. + + _Rock Island._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for book stacks and + furniture, from Frederick Weyerhauser, of St. Paul. + + _Rockford._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a new public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and "not + less than $8000" yearly for maintenance. + + _Springfield._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The City Council appropriated + $10,000 annually in hope that the gift might be increased to + $100,000. The library will be known as the "Lincoln Library." + + _Streator._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Sycamore._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost about + $25,000, from Mrs. Everill F. Dutton, as a memorial to her late + husband, Gen. Everill F. Dutton. + + _Waukegan._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $2000 + for library maintenance. + + + INDIANA. + + _Crawsfordsville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Wabash College Library. Gift of the original manuscript of "The + prince of India," from General and Mrs. Lew Wallace. + + _Elkhart._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city, in advance, has pledged + $3500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Elwood._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, through the local Women's + Club, from President Reid, of the American Tin Plate Co., of New + York. + + -- Gift of $200, the results of a benefit, from The Women's Club. + + _Fort Wayne._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Goshen._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a library building, from + Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Indianapolis._ Butler College. Gift of $20,000, for a library + building, also a site for the same, from Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. + Thompson, in memory of their daughter. + + -- Public Library. Gift of 275 volumes on music, in memory of her son, + Harry S. Duncan, deceased, from Mrs. Ella S. Duncan. This + collection includes musical scores of the most famous operas and + oratorios, as well as the best critical works on music. + + _Lafayette._ Public Library. Gift of property, valued at $15,000, from + Mrs. Robert R. Hitt, of Illinois. + + _Logansport._ Public Library. Gift of a fine library of historical + material relating to the Mississippi Valley, collected by the late + Judge Horace P. Biddle. This collection was the result of 60 years + of historical research, and contains originals of maps, drafts, + etc., of great value. + + _Madison._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Marion._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. A site was purchased some time ago, + and the offer was promptly accepted. + + _Michigan City._ Public Library. Gift of $500, for books, from Mrs. J. + H. Barker. + + _Muncie._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $6000, from the heirs of an estate, name not given. + + _New Harmony._ Workingmen's Institute Public Library. Bequest of + $72,000, from Dr. Edward Murphy. In the final settlement the amount + may exceed these figures. + + _Peru._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $2700 yearly + for library maintenance. + + _Portland._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Wabash._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 5000 volumes, from Woman's Library Association. The library + has been turned over to the city to be maintained as a public + library. + + _Washington._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + IOWA. + + _Burlington._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, from Philip M. Crapo. + + _Cedar Rapids._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Centerville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building and site, from ex-Governor F. M. Drake, on condition that + a two mills tax be laid for the perpetual and proper care of the + property. + + _Davenport._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, thereby increasing former gift to $75,000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Dubuque._ Carnegie-Stout Free Library. Gift of $50,000, from Andrew + Carnegie, on condition that the Young Men's Library Association be + made the nucleus of a free public library, and that the city + furnish a site and maintain the institution. + + -- Gift of a suitable site for the library building offered by Andrew + Carnegie, valued at $17,000, from F. D. Stout, given in memory of + his father. + + _Fayette._ Upper Iowa University. Gift of $25,000, which will be + devoted to library purposes, probably for a new building, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Fort Dodge._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Grinnell._ Stewart Library. Gift of a new library building, costing + $15,000, from Joel Stewart. + + -- Gift of a site for new library building, value not stated, from The + Congregational Church. + + -- Gift of $4000, for books, raised by popular subscription by the + citizens of Grinnell. + + _Iowa Falls._ Public Library. Gift of a public library building, if the + city will provide a suitable site, from E. S. Ellsworth. + + _Mt. Vernon._ Cornell College. Gift of $40,000, for a library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. Conditions, if any, not stated. + + _Muscatine._ Public Library. A new library building, to cost about + $30,000, by P. M. Musser, provided the city vote to establish and + maintain the library. + + + KANSAS. + + _Dodge City._ Railroad Library and Reading Room. The Atchison, Topeka, + and Santa Fe Railroad Co. are fitting up a library and reading room + at this place for its employes. + + _Fort Scott._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Kansas City._ Public Library. Bequest of about $6000, from Mrs. Sarah + Richart. + + _Lawrence._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + KENTUCKY. + + _Lexington._ State College. Gift of $50,000, from President James K. + Patterson. + + + LOUISIANA. + + _New Orleans._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000 and a valuable + collection of books, from Abram Holker. + + + MAINE. + + _Bangor._ Public Library. Bequest of $18,347.26, towards the building + fund, from A. D. Mason. + + -- Gift of building site, costing $7500, from Nathan C. Ayer. + + _Belfast._ Free Library. Gift of $3000, as a fund for the purchase of + books on history and biography, in memory of Albert Boyd Otis, from + Albert Crane. + + _Brunswick._ Bowdoin College. The new library building, given by Gen. + Thomas H. Hubbard, of New York City, reported last year, at over + $150,000, will cost over $200,000. + + -- Bequest of $2000, from Captain John Clifford Brown, of Portland. + + -- Gift of $1200, from an unknown donor, through a Boston friend. + + _Fairfield._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost + between $8000 and $10,000, from E. J. Lawrence. + + _Farmington._ Public Library Association. Gift of $10,000, for a public + library building, from Hon. Isaac Cutler, of Boston, Mass. + + _Lewiston._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + MARYLAND. + + _Cumberland._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Hagerstown._ Washington County Free Library. Gift of $50,000 and + accrued interest $1250, from B. F. Newcomer, of Baltimore, the town + to furnish a site for building, which will cost about $25,000. + + + MASSACHUSETTS. + + _Amherst._ Amherst College. Gift of $500, to form a fund for the + purchase of Spanish books, from Hon. John S. Brayton, of Fall + River, Mass. + + _Bolton._ Parker Library. Devise of a dwelling house and one-half acre + of land, on condition that within one year from the allowance of + the will the town shall establish a free public library to be known + as the Parker Library, from Louisa Parker. + + _Boston._ Lang Memorial Library. Gift of a free public library of + musical scores, founded by B. J. Lang, as a memorial to Ruth + Burrage. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of $4000, from Abram E. Cutter. + + -- Gift of 599 volumes of text-books used in the public schools of + Boston, from the Boston School Committee, in co-operation with the + publishers. + + -- Gift of 597 volumes, relating to music, scores, etc., from Allen A. + Brown. + + -- Gift of 576 volumes, relating to music, including operas, oratorios, + collections of school and college song books, etc., from The Oliver + Ditson Co. + + _Cambridge._ Harvard University. Bequest of $10,000, to increase fund, + already established by him, for purchase of works of history, + political economy, and sociology, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott. + + -- Gift of $1250, for purchase of books relating to the history of the + Ottoman Empire, from Prof. A. C. Coolidge. + + -- Gift of $800, for the purchase of books on ecclesiastical history in + the Riant Library, from J. Harvey Treat, of Lawrence. + + -- Gift of $500, for purchase of books relating to Scandinavian + subjects, from Mrs. Emil E. Hammer. + + -- Bequest of 1920 volumes, mainly English and French literature, from + Edward Ray Thompson, of Troy, N. Y. + + -- Gift of 700 volumes from the library of James Russell Lowell, to + form the Lowell Memorial Library for the use of the Romance + Departments of the University, from various subscribers. + + -- Gift of 549 volumes, the library of Alphonse Marsigny, from The J. + C. Ayer Company, of Lowell. + + -- Gift of 317 volumes, belonging to the library of her late husband, + from Mrs. John E. Hudson. + + -- Bequest of 250 volumes of Sanskrit and other Oriental works, from + Henry C. Warren, Esq. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of 550 volumes, consisting chiefly of Maine + and New Hampshire local histories, genealogies, etc., from Cyrus + Woodman. + + -- Gift of a collection of art works, valued at about $500, from + Nathaniel Cushing Nash. + + _Clinton._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Conway._ Field Memorial Library. Gift of a library building to cost + $100,000, as a memorial to the donor's father and mother, from + Marshall Field, of Chicago. It will also be endowed by Mr. Field. + + _Fairhaven._ Millicent Library. Gift of Fairhaven Waterworks, valued at + from $100,000 to $125,000, and producing an annual income of about + $8000, from Henry H. Rogers. + + _Groveland._ Public Library. Bequest of $5000, from J. G. B. Adams. + + _Hinsdale._ Public Library. Bequest of $5000, to be known as "Curtice + fund," the income to be used for the purchase of books, from John + W. Curtice, of Washington, D. C. + + _Lynn._ Free Public Library. Gift of a library building, erected + largely from the bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Shute. + + --Gift of large mural painting, by F. Luis Mora, from Joseph N. Smith. + + -- Gift of copy in marble of the Venus of Milo, from Charles W. Bubier, + of Providence, R. I. + + -- Gift of a bronze bust of the late Charles J. Van Depoele, from his + family. + + _Malden._ Public Library. Gift of $125,000, to be known as the Elisha + and Mary D. Converse Endowment Fund, from Hon. Elisha D. Converse. + "The income from this fund will be 'used freely in any direction in + which it may conduce to the welfare of the library.'" + + _Milton._ Public Library. Bequest of $2000, from ex-Governor Roger + Wolcott, of Boston, Mass. + + _Newburyport._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for the purchase of + books, from John Rand Spring, of San Francisco. + + -- Bequest of $4500, from Stephen W. Marston, of Boston. + + -- Bequest of $3000, from E. S. Moseley. + + _North Adams._ Public Library. Gift of furnishings and decorations of + children's room, value not stated, from William Arthur Gallup, as a + memorial to his children. + + _Petersham._ Public Library. Bequest of $12,000, from Lucy F. Willis. + + _Plymouth._ Public Library. Gift of a new library building, to cost + about $20,000, from the heirs of the late William G. Russell, of + Boston, as a memorial to their father and mother. + + _Salem._ Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, from Walter S. Dickson. + + _Somerville._ Public Library. Gift of $4000, from Mrs. Harriet Minot + Laughlin, in memory of her father, Isaac Pitman, the first + librarian of the institution, the income to be used for the + purchase of "works of art, illustrative, decorative, and + otherwise." + + _Springfield._ City Library. Bequest of about $70,000, from the estate + of David Ames Wells, of Norwich, Conn., his son David Dwight Wells + having died June 15, 1900, without issue. One-half of the income is + to be expended for publications on economic, fiscal, or social + subjects. + + -- Gift of 450 volumes, from Miss Frances Fowler. + + _Sunderland._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a library and its + equipment, from John L. Graves, of Boston. + + _Swansea._ Public Library. Bequest of a library building, cost not + stated, from Frank Shaw Stevens. + + _Woburn._ Eunice Thompson Memorial Library. By his last will Jonathan + Thompson, of Woburn, left a plot of ground and the residue of his + estate for the erection and maintenance of a suitable building by + the city, to be known by the above name. Value of bequest about + $70,000. + + _Worcester._ American Antiquarian Society. Gift of $3000, for a fund, + the interest of which is to be expended for literature relating to + the Civil War of 1861-65. This fund is in memory of Hon. John + Davis, President of the Society from 1853-54, and was given by John + C. B. Davis, of Washington, D. C., Horace Davis, of San Francisco, + and Andrew McF. Davis, of Cambridge. + + -- Clark University. Bequest of $150,000, from Jonas G. Clark, for the + erection and maintenance of a library. + + + MICHIGAN. + + _Albion._ Albion College. Gift of $10,000, to be devoted to a library + building, as a memorial to the donor's daughter, Lottie T. Gassett, + from Mrs. C. T. Gassett. + + _Ann Arbor._ Ladies' Library Association. Bequest of $3000, from Mrs. + L. M. Palmer. + + -- University of Michigan. Gift of about 1600 volumes, belonging to the + library of the late Prof. George A. Hench, from his mother, Mrs. + Rebecca A. Hench. The greater number refer to Germanic philology. + + _Delray._ Public Library. Gift of property, valued at $15,000, for a + public library, from The Solvay Process Company, of that place. + + _Detroit._ Public Library. Gift of $750,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 477 volumes and 1932 pamphlets, from the heirs of the late + Gov. John J. Bagley. "This collection was notable in being almost + wholly available, useful, and valuable to the library." + + -- Gift of 418 volumes and 1435 pamphlets, from Herbert Bowen, formerly + a member of the Library Board. "All were of a historical character, + mostly local and relating to Michigan, or institutions and + localities in the state." + + _Grand Rapids._ Public Library. Gift of $150,000, for the erection and + furnishing of a library building, from Martin A. Ryerson, of + Chicago, the city to provide site and maintenance. The offer was + made Feb. 14, 1901, and was at once accepted by the Mayor. + + _Iron Mountain._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Ishpeming._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Jackson._ Public Library. Gift of $70,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $7000 + yearly for library support. + + _Marquette._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward a new library + building, from an anonymous donor. + + _Muskegon._ Hackley Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new + two-story stack room, from Charles Henry Hackley. + + _Sault Ste. Marie._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + MINNESOTA. + + _Cloquet._ Public Library. Gift of a site for a library building, + valued at $2500, from Cloquet Lumber Company. + + _Duluth._ Carnegie Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new library + building, in addition to a former gift of $50,000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Mankato._ Public Library. Gift of $40,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Minneapolis._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for the erection of a + branch library building, from ex-Governor J. S. Pillsbury. + + _St. Cloud._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $2000, towards the purchase of a site for the new Carnegie + library building, from J. J. Hill, of St. Paul. + + _St. Paul._ Public Library. Gift of $500, for purchase of children's + books, from various friends of the library. + + -- Gift of their library of 430 volumes, from St. Paul Teacher's + Association. + + -- Gift of 38 photographs of paintings, two pictures and a large cast + of the Victory of Samothrace, from four donors. + + _Sleepy Eye._ Dyckman Free Library. Gift of $8000, being the cost of + the completed library building, from F. H. Dyckman. + + + MISSISSIPPI. + + _Natchez._ Fisk Library Association. Gift of $25,000, from Mrs. + Christian Schwartz, on condition that the Association raise an + additional $10,000. + + -- Gift of site, valued at $3000, and a library building, to cost + $10,000, from Mrs. Christian Schwartz. + + _Yazoo._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost $25,000, + as a memorial to the late Gen. B. S. Ricks, from his widow. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Mrs. K. C. Gardner. + + + MISSOURI. + + _De Soto._ Railroad Library. Gift of $1000, for a library for railroad + employes, from Miss Helen Gould, of New York. + + _Hannibal._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for the erection of a + library building, to be known as the John H. Garth Public Library, + from Mrs. John H. Garth and her daughter, Mrs. R. M. Goodlet. + + _Jefferson City._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, upon condition that the city + secures a site and appropriates $3000 a year for the maintenance of + the library. + + _St. Joseph._ Free Library. Bequest of $20,000, from Jarvis Ford. + + _St. Louis._ Public Library. Gift of $1,000,000, for public library + buildings, from Andrew Carnegie, provided the city will contribute + the site and appropriate $150,000 yearly for the support of the + library. + + -- Gift of $400,000, to lift incumbrance on block to be used for the + new Carnegie Library, from four St. Louis citizens. + + _South St. Joseph._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NEBRASKA. + + _Crete._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a public library + building, from T. H. Miller, provided the city furnish a site + approved by the donor. + + _Lincoln._ University of Nebraska. Bequest of 2000 volumes, of history, + literature, and works on education, forming the library of the + donor, from Simon Kerl, of Oakland, Neb. The books are never to be + loaned outside the library rooms. + + _South Omaha._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NEW HAMPSHIRE. + + _Derry._ Benjamin Adams Memorial Library. Bequest of $10,000, for the + erection of a town-hall and public library building, from Benjamin + Adams. + + _Hanover._ Dartmouth College. Bequest of $10,000, as a library fund for + the Department of Philosophy, from Mrs. Susan A. Brown. + + _Pittsfield._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to be + erected, value not stated, from Josiah Carpenter, of Manchester. + + _Rindge._ Ingalls Memorial Library. Gift of $1000, as a fund, the + interest to be used for the benefit of the library, from the Hon. + Ezra S. Stearns. + + + NEW JERSEY. + + _Jersey City._ Free Public Library. Gift of 819 volumes and 381 + pamphlets, forming the medical library of the late Dr. S. W. Clark, + from his widow. + + _Montclair._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Newark._ Free Public Library. Gifts of 1125 periodicals and pamphlets, + from three persons. + + _Perth Amboy._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $1200 + yearly. + + -- Gift of a site for a public library building, value not stated, from + J. C. McCoy. + + -- Gift of $1000, with which to purchase books when needed, from Adolph + Lewisohn. + + _Princeton._ Princeton University. Gift of $50,000, for library + maintenance, from anonymous donor. + + -- Gifts of cash aggregating at least $16,000, from various sources. + + -- Gift of $5000, for library of Germanics, from the class of 1891. + + -- Bequest of 2739 volumes and 860 pamphlets, from Prof. William Henry + Green. + + -- Gift of 1000 volumes, from the library of the late Dr. Samuel + Miller, presented by Samuel Miller Breckinridge. + + -- Gift of 310 volumes, from D. H. Smith, of New York. + + -- Gift of 255 volumes, from Prof. Henry Van Dyke. + + _Trenton._ Public Library. Gift of books, forming the Women's Christian + Temperance Union Library, to the Public Library. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes, comprising books in "A. L. A. catalog" + not already in library, from Ferdinand W. Roebling, president of + the board. + + + NEW MEXICO. + + _Albuquerque._ Free Public Library. Gift of a two-story brick building, + valued at $25,000, on condition that it be used forever as a public + library and that $1000 additional be raised by the citizens, from + J. S. Reynolds. + + -- Gift of $2000, for the purchase of books, raised by popular + subscription. + + + NEW YORK. + + _Albany._ Young Men's Association Library--Pruyn Branch Library. Gift + of building, furniture, and equipment, cost about $20,000, from + Mrs. William G. Rice, in memory of her father, the late Chancellor + J. V. L. Pruyn. + + -- Gift of $525, from various persons. + + _Angelica._ Free Library. Gift of $12,000, for a library building, from + Mrs. Frank Smith. + + -- Gift of a building lot for a library building, value not stated, + from Frank S. Smith. + + _Brooklyn._ The Brooklyn Library. Bequest from Mr. James A. H. Bell of + sixteen-seventy-fifths of his estate. This bequest is estimated to + be worth about $10,000. Mr. Bell also left the library 1523 + volumes, collected since he gave his library of 10,425 volumes, + three years ago. + + -- Long Island Historical Society. Gift of $6500. This amount was + raised by popular subscription, and is to be known as the "Storrs + Memorial Fund," the income to be devoted to the increase of the + library. + + -- Bequest of $1000, the income to be expended in "the enlargement of + the department of ecclesiastical history," from Richard S. Storrs, + D.D., late President of the Society. + + _Caldwell, Lake George._ Dewitt C. Hay Library Association. Bequest, + valued at about $13,300, consisting of 100 shares of Amer. Bank + Note Co. stock, 35 shares of C. M. and St. Paul R. R. stock, and + $2000 in Duluth and Iron Range R. R. stock, to be held in trust, + the income to be spent for new books, pictures, and objects of art, + from Mrs. Marietta C. Hay, of Tarrytown, N. Y. This library is + established in memory of the donor's husband. + + _Catskill._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Cohoes._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Gloversville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $3000 + for library maintenance. + _Greene._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from William H. and James H. Moore, founders of the + Diamond Match Co., of Chicago. + + _Hempstead, L. I._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Homer._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for the erection of a public + library building, from George W. Phillips. + + _Ithaca._ Cornell University. Gift of $12,000, as an endowment fund for + the Flower Veterinary Library, the income alone to be used for the + increase of the collection, from Mrs. Roswell P. Flower. + + -- Gift of $1126, as a contribution toward printing the catalogue of + the Dante collection, from Willard Fiske. + + -- Bequest, estimated at about $2000, from C. H. Howland, class of + 1901. This is to form an endowment fund, the income to be used for + the purchase of works in the English language for a circulating + library for the use of students and officers of the university, and + is not payable until after the death of the testator's father, who + is still living. + + -- Gift of $575, for the increase of the White Historical Library, from + the Hon. Andrew D. White. + + -- Gift of 330 volumes, from the family of the late Prof. S. G. + Williams. + + -- Gift of 300 volumes, from Theodore Stanton, class of '76. + + _Johnstown._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + appropriate $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + _Middletown._ Thrall Library. Bequest of $31,500, with which a fine + library building has been erected, from Mrs. S. Marietta Thrall. + + _Mount Vernon._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _New Rochelle._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city must furnish site and a + yearly maintenance of $4000. + + _New York City._ American Geographical Society. Gift of $4455 to + building fund, from various persons. + + -- Am. Institute of Electrical Engineers. Gift of Latimer Clark + collection of electrical works, 6000 v., from Dr. S. S. Wheeler. + + -- American Museum of Natural History. Gift of 4539 volumes, pamphlets, + etc., on Natural History, including 73 maps, of a value of not less + than $4200, from Gen. Egbert L. Viele. + + -- Gift of 3166 volumes of Bibles, dictionaries, travels, cyclopaedias, + etc., valued at $6500, from N. Y. Ecumenical Council. + + -- Gift of 243 volumes and 33 pamphlets, handsomely bound and valued at + $2000, from Frederick A Constable. + + -- Gift of 45 rare volumes on Mineralogy, valued at $250, from Ernest + Schernikow. + + -- Association of the Bar. Gift of $10,000, received Jan. 1, 1901, + source not given. + + -- Columbia University. Gift of $10,000, from "A Friend of the + University," for additions to the library. + + -- Gift of $5000, from "A Friend of the University" (another friend), + for special purposes. + + -- Gift of $2250, with which to complete the library's set of English + Parliamentary Papers, from the Hon. William S. Schermerhorn. + + -- Gift of the "Garden Library" of 2279 volumes and 145 pamphlets, + consisting of works by Southern authors or bearing on Southern + history, from The New York Southern Society. + + -- Deposit of the library of the Holland Society, consisting of books + and pamphlets, mostly in the Dutch language, many of which are + rare. + + -- General Theological Seminary. Gift of 2700 volumes, a part of the + library of the Rev. B. I. Haight, D.D., from C. C. Haight, Esq. + + -- Gift of 1000 volumes, a part of the library of the Rt. Rev. Horatio + Potter, D.D., from Prof. William B. Potter. + + -- Gift of books, number not stated, to the value of $3850, from the + Society for Promoting Religion and Learning in the State of New + York. + + -- Mechanics' Institute Library. (General Society of Mechanics and + Tradesmen.) Bequest of $5000, from estate of Charles P. Haughan. + + -- New York Free Circulating Library. (New York Public Library.) + Bequest of $20,000, from Oswald Ottendorfer. + + -- Bequest of $11,250, from Proudfit Estate. This library is now + absorbed by the New York Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden + Foundations. + + -- New York University. Gift of over 1200 volumes, from the library of + the late Prof. Ezra Hall Gillett, D.D., from his two sons. + + -- Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Gift of + $5,200,000, for the erection of 65 branch library buildings, the + city to furnish the sites and guarantee the maintenance of the + libraries, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of 1304 volumes, from the Union League Club. + + -- Gift of 738 volumes, from Hon. Robert P. Porter. + + -- Gift of 592 volumes, from the Misses Ely. + + -- Gift of 497 volumes, from Mrs. Gertrude King Schuyler. + + -- Gift of 393 volumes, from estate of S. V. R. Townsend. + + -- Gift of 343 volumes, from Dr. R. G. Wiener. + + -- Gift of 287 volumes, from H. V. and H. W. Poor. + + -- Gift of 280 volumes, from Edmond Bruwaert. + + -- Gift of 923 groups of steel engravings, all "engravers' proofs," + chiefly the works of the donor's father, from James D. Smillie. + + -- Gift of a large and valuable collection of Japanese engravings and + chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, of the _Japan Mail_, + from Charles Stewart Smith. + + -- New York Society Library. Bequest of $1000, from Maria B. Mount. + + -- Bequest of $20,004.86, from Charles H. Contoit; during the previous + year $137,000 was paid to the library by this estate. + + -- Union Theological Seminary. Gift of 559 volumes, from the library of + the late president, Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, LL.D. + + -- Gift of 519 volumes, from the library of the late Prof. Ezra Hall + Gillett, D.D., from his two sons. + + -- Washington Heights Free Library. Gift of $1700 by Andrew Carnegie + towards completing sum required by conditional gift for new + building. + + -- Young Men's Christian Association. Gift of $5000, to prepare + catalogue of circulating library, from Frederick E. Hyde. + + _Newark._ Gift of a library building, costing nearly $25,000; also, + $1000 to send out travelling libraries in the neighborhood and the + salary of the librarian for a year, from Mr. Henry C. Rew, of + Evanston, Ill. + + _Niagara Falls._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site and a + yearly maintenance of $7000. + + _Oxford._ Public Library. Gift of a public library, from children of + the late Eli L. Corbin. + + _Oyster Bay, L. I._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, towards a public + library building, by Andrew Carnegie. No conditions were attached + to this gift. + + _Peekskill._ Public Library. Gift of the old Henry Ward Beecher + residence, fully equipped for a public library, from Dr. John + Newell Tilton. + + _Port Jervis._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + appropriate $3000 yearly maintenance. + + -- Gift of plot of ground for library site, value not stated, from + Peter E. Farnum. + + _Rochester._ Reynolds Library. Gift of 900 volumes of United States + public documents, from Hon. Charles S. Baker. + + _St. George, S. I._ Arthur Winter Memorial Library of the Staten Island + Academy. Gift of $500, from Andrew Carnegie, without conditions. + + _Schenectady._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city council had already + appropriated $5000 a year for library maintenance provisionally in + hope of securing a Carnegie gift. A site is under consideration, at + a probable cost of $14,000. + + -- Gift of $15,000, with which to purchase a site for the new Carnegie + library, from the General Electric Company. + + _Syracuse._ Public Library. Gift of $260,000, for a new library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and + guarantee $30,000 yearly for maintenance. + + _Watertown._ Flower Memorial Library. Gift of $60,000, from Mrs. Emma + Flower Taylor, for a public library to commemorate her father, the + late Governor Roswell P. Flower. + + _Yonkers._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + NORTH CAROLINA. + + _Charlotte._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Durham._ Trinity College. Gift of $50,000, for a library building, + from James K. Duke, president of the American Tobacco Co. + + _Raleigh._ Olivia Raney Memorial Library. Gift of 5000 volumes, also + services of a trained librarian to organize the work, from Richard + B. Raney. + + + NORTH DAKOTA. + + _Fargo._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + + OHIO. + + _Akron._ Public Library. Gift of a building for the public library, to + cost not less than $50,000, from Col. George T. Perkins. + + -- Gift of library of music (1898), valued at $600, name of donor not + stated. + + _Ashtabula._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Bucyrus._ Memorial Library. Gift of $500, for purchase of books, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Canton._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of property, valued at $10,000, from W. W. Clark. + + _Cincinnati._ Natural History Library. Gift of $60,000, for a new + library building, name of donor not stated. + + -- Gift of 14,000 volumes, donor not named. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $1000, for the purchase of books for the + blind, raised by popular subscription. + + -- Gift of 500 volumes in raised type for the blind, name of donor not + given. + + -- Gift of 416 volumes and 1600 pamphlets, from H. L. Wehmer. + + -- University Library. Gift of 6782 volumes; the Robert Clarke + collection. + + _Cleveland._ Adelbert College, of Western Reserve University. Gift of + $15,000, name of donor not given. + + -- Case Library. Library property condemned by U. S. government for new + public building; award, including damages, fixed at $507,000. + + -- Cleveland Hardware Co.'s Library. Gift of 300 volumes, from famous + people all over the world, many with autographs. + + -- Medical Library Association; The Vance Library. Gift of 2000 + volumes, from Drs. Dudley P. Allen and A. C. Hamman. + + -- Public Library. Gift of 306 bound and 217 unbound volumes, on + Oriental religions, folk-lore and allied subjects, from John G. + White. + + _Columbus._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, for maintenance of the + Kilbourne alcove; also 750 volumes, from James Kilbourne. + + _Conneaut._ Public Library. Gift of $100,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Delaware._ Ohio Wesleyan University. Gift of 4179 volumes, including + the complete library of the late Prof. Karl Little, from Prof. John + Williams White, of Harvard University. + + _Gambier._ Kenyon College Library. Gifts of $15,000, names of donors + not given. + + _Geneva._ Platt R. Spencer Memorial Library. Gifts of $1577, names of + donors not given. + + _Granville._ Dennison University Library. Gifts of $525, names of + donors not given. + + _Greenville._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie, a yearly maintenance of $2000 + required. The site has already been secured. + + _Hamilton._ Lane Free Library. Gift of $500, donated by citizens. + + _Marietta._ Marietta College. Gift of 18,712 volumes, from his private + library, by Hon. R. M. Stimson; to be kept together and in + reasonable repair. The collection is especially rich in Americana + relating to the Mississippi Valley. + + _Massillon._ McClymonds Public Library. Gift of library building, + valued at $20,000, name of donor not given. + + -- Gift of $10,000, as an endowment for books, name of donor not given. + + _Painesville._ Public Library. Gift of new library building, neither + value nor name of donor given. + + -- Gift of 385 volumes, name of donor not given. + + _Sandusky._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Shelby._ Public Library. Gift of property valued at $6500, for a + public library, from Daniel S. Marvin. + + _Steubenville._ Carnegie Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Toledo._ Public Library. Gift of $1800, from Mr. Hardy. + + -- Gift of $1000, from Mrs. J. R. Locke. + + -- Gifts of 1223 volumes, names of donors not given. + + _Van Wert._ Brumback Library. Gift of new library building, costing + about $50,000, from family of the late John S. Brumback, thus + carrying out his intentions in completing and furnishing it and + presenting it to the county. + + _Wooster._ University Library. Gift of a $35,000 library building, from + H. C. Frick, of Pittsburg, Pa. "This beautiful building is fitted + up with the latest improvements." + + _Youngstown._ Reuben McMillan Free Library. Bequest of $5000, received + from Charles D. Arms. + + + OREGON. + + _Portland._ Library Association. Gift of $25,050, from the three + daughters of the late Henry Failing. + + -- Bequest of $2500, the income to be used for maintenance of the + donor's private library of nearly 9000 volumes, also bequeathed to + this institution, from John Wilson. + + -- Bequest of his private library of nearly 9000 volumes, valued at + $2500, from John Wilson. This library is rich in art works and + examples of early printing, and is to be kept as a separate + collection for reference only. + + -- Gift of $1100, for work of cataloging the Wilson Library, provided + for by private subscription, by the directors. + + + PENNSYLVANIA. + + _Braddock_, _Duquesne_, and _Homestead_. Carnegie Libraries. Gift of + $1,000,000, from Andrew Carnegie. This amount has been placed in + trust with the Carnegie Company, of Pittsburg, the income of which + is to be devoted to maintaining the above libraries, founded by Mr. + Carnegie. It will be distributed from time to time, according to + the work done or needed. + + _Carbondale._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Duquesne._ _See_ Braddock. + + _Easton._ Lafayette College. The Van Wickle Memorial Library building, + erected at a cost of $30,000, from a legacy of Augustus S. Van + Wickle, of Hazleton. Pa. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. The gift was declined March 14, 1901, because of + maintenance requirement, and afterwards accepted (April 11) on + assurance that the site would be given to the city. + + -- Gift of money to purchase a site for the building offered by Mr. + Carnegie, amount not stated, raised by popular subscription. + + _Homestead._ _See_ Braddock. + + _Huntingdon._ Gift of $20,000, for a public library building, from + Andrew Carnegie. + + _Idlewood._ Chartiers Township Free Library. Gift of $1500, for the + purchase of books, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Newcastle._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. If the yearly maintenance is made + $4000 the gift will be raised to $40,000. Gift rejected, June 27, + 1901. + + _Philadelphia._ Academy of Natural Sciences. Bequest of about $500,000, + from Dr. Robert B. Lamborn. Though bequeathed to the academy, its + library will be benefited by the bequest. + + -- Bequest of about $75,000, and a valuable collection of botanical + books and dried plants, from Charles E. Smith. The library will be + benefited by this bequest. + + -- College of Physicians. Gifts and bequests amounting to $27,500 + towards a "Library Endowment Fund," raised through the efforts of the + president of the college, Dr. W.W. Keen, within a period of eighteen + months, as follows: + Trustees of the William F. Jenks Memorial Fund, $7000. + Mr. William W. Frazier, $5000. + Estate of Esther F. Wistar, $5000. + Mrs. William T. Carter, $5000. + Dr. William W. Keen, $1000. + Charles C. Harrison, $1000. + J. Percy Keating, $1000. + Major Luther S. Bent, $1000. + John H. Converse, $1000. + George H. McFadden, $500. + + -- Gift of 2466 volumes, from Dr. J. M. Da Costa. + + -- Gift of 1500 volumes, from Dr. John Ashurst, Jr. + + -- Gift of 272 volumes, from the daughters of the late Dr. William T. + Taylor. + + -- The Franklin Institute. 844 volumes and 899 pamphlets, relating to + iron, coal, mining, railroads, and statistics, from the late + Charles E. Smith, at one time president of the Philadelphia and + Reading Railroad Co. + + -- Free Library. Bequest of 1215 volumes and 1806 unbound books, + pamphlets and magazines, through Stevenson Hockley Walsh, from Mrs. + Annie Hockley. + + -- Gift of 464 volumes, for H. Josephine Widener Branch Library, from + Mr. P. A. B. Widener. + + -- Gift of 245 volumes, from estate of George B. Roberts. + + -- Gift of several volumes in embossed type for the blind, from Dr. + David D. Wood. + + -- Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Gift of $5000, from Mrs. Mifflin + Wistar. + + -- Gift of $2041, from Miss Ellen Waln. + + -- Gift of $500, from Carl Edelheim. + + -- Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift of 900 volumes, from the Hon. + Richard Vaux. + + -- Gift of 406 volumes, from Henry Carey Baird, Esq. + + -- University of Pennsylvania. Gift of $1750, to be spent in purchase + of philosophical books, from Class of 1889. + + -- Gift of $615, for purchase of files of botanical periodicals, from + Robert B. Buist. + + -- Gift of about 2500 volumes exceedingly valuable in works of Travels + and Archaeology, from the heirs of Robert H. Lamborn, and the + Academy of Natural Sciences. + + -- Gift of 1300 volumes, secured at Hunter sale, from contributions of + friends of the University. + + _Phoenixville._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Reading._ Public Library. Gift of $2000, for purchase of books, from + friends. + + -- Gift of 681 volumes, from same source. + + -- Gift of 356 volumes, forming his library, from Henry S. Comstock. + + _Sharon._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Washington._ Washington and Jefferson College. Gift of $10,000 (added + to the $50,000 given by her husband, William R. Thompson, for a new + library building), from Mrs. Mary Thow Thompson, of Pittsburg. The + building will cost $40,000, the balance, $20,000, will be held as a + book fund, the income only to be spent. Mr. Thompson's gift is + intended as a memorial to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Donaldson + Thompson. + + -- Gift of $30,000, towards the erection and maintenance of a new + library building, from W. P. Thompson, making in all from Mr. and + Mrs. Thompson $60,000. + + _Wilkinsburg._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + RHODE ISLAND. + + _Central Falls._ Adams Library. Bequest of $35,000 from Stephen Ludlow + Adams, as a special trust for the establishment of a library, to be + named as above; $25,000 to be spent on building, the income of + $10,000 for its maintenance. + + _Newport._ Redwood Library. Bequest of $1000, from Miss Martha Maria + Anderson. + + -- Bequest of $5000, to be paid at the expiration of three years, from + John Nicholas Brown. This is to be used as a fund, the income to be + used for the purchase of books. + + -- Bequest of $2000, from Mrs. Orleana Ellery Redwood Pell (Mrs. Walden + Pell). + + -- Gift of 316 volumes on angling and hunting, from Daniel B. Fearing. + + _Providence._ Brown University. By the will of the late John Nicholas + Brown it is provided that the John Carter Brown Library of + Americana previous to 1801, the estimated value of which is at + least $1,000,000, shall be maintained as a permanent memorial. + The testator sets aside $150,000 for a building and $500,000 as an + endowment fund for its increase and maintenance. This library and + its endowments have been presented, by the trustees of the estate, + to Brown University. + + -- Gift of $1000, for purchase of American poetry and drama, at the + McKee sale, from William Goddard, Chancellor of the University. + + -- Gift of over 250 volumes on international law, from William Vail + Kellen, a trustee of the University. + + -- Public Library. Bequest of $10,000, from Ada L. Steere. + + -- Gift of $3000, to be invested and income used for purchase of books. + The name of the donor is not made public. + + + SOUTH DAKOTA. + + _Aberdeen._ Alexander Mitchell Library. Gift of $15,000, for public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie requests that + the library be called after his friend, Alexander Mitchell. + Accepted March 20, 1901. + + _Sioux Falls._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + TENNESSEE. + + _Chattanooga._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for library building, + from Andrew Carnegie. It is reported that the amount of the gift + will be raised to $100,000, provided the city agrees to appropriate + $10,000 yearly. + + _Jackson._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Memphis._ Cossitt Library. Bequest of 942 volumes and 423 pamphlets + especially strong in social science and history, from Gen. Colton + Greene. + + + TEXAS. + + _Dallas._ Public Library. Gift of over 1100 volumes, from various + persons, at a book reception, held Dec. 11, 1900. + + _San Antonio._ Carnegie Library. Collection of books, valued at $3500, + from San Antonio Library Association. To be turned over to the + Carnegie Library on the completion of its building, and provided + that the city contribute $50 a month towards expenses until so + turned over. + + _Waco._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, by Andrew Carnegie, towards the + library. + + + UTAH. + + _Ogden._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Salt Lake City._ Free Public Library. Gift of $75,000, to erect a free + public library building, and a building site worth $25,000, from + John Q. Packard. + + + VERMONT. + + _Middlebury._ Middlebury College. Gift of the Starr Library building, + erected from a bequest of $50,000, from Egbert Starr, of New York + City. + + _Windsor._ Library Association. Bequest of $2000, from Charles C. + Beaman, of New York. + + + VIRGINIA. + + _Hampton._ Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute. Gift of a new + library building, cost not stated, as a memorial to Collis P. + Huntington, from Mrs. C. P. Huntington. + + _Lexington._ Washington and Lee University. Bequest of his law library + (1884), made available by death of his widow, from Prof. Vincent L. + Bradford, of Philadelphia. + + _Norfolk._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- _Seaboard Air Line Travelling Libraries._ Gift of $1000, from Andrew + Carnegie. + + _Richmond._ Public Library. Gift of $100,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + _Winchester._ Public Library. Bequest of $250,000, from Judge John + Handley, of Scranton, Pa. + + + WASHINGTON. + + _Seattle._ Public Library. Gift of $200,000, for a new library + building, to replace the one destroyed by fire Jan. 2, 1901, from + Andrew Carnegie, on condition that the city make a guarantee to + provide $50,000 yearly for maintenance and improvement. + + _Tacoma._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted with the proviso that + $7500 will be appropriated for maintenance annually if the gift is + increased to $75,000. A site has already been selected. + + + WEST VIRGINIA. + + _Wheeling._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + + WISCONSIN. + + _Appleton._ Public Library. Gift of $663.54, from directors of Prescott + Hospital. + + -- Gift of $500, for furnishing room, from women's clubs. + + _Ashland._ Vaughn Library. Bequest of the Vaughn Library, valued at + $60,000; also property which will give it an income of $1200 a + year, from Mrs. Vaughn-Marquis, of Chicago. + + -- Bequest of 540 volumes, from Mrs. E. Vaughn-Marquis. + + _Columbus._ Public Library. Gift of $1300, $1000 for endowment and $300 + for immediate use, from Mrs. C. A. Chadbourne and F. A. Chadbourne. + + _De Pere._ Public Library. Gift of $2000, towards furnishing a library + of 10,000 volumes and upwards, if accepted before September, + 1902, from A. G. Wells. + + _Green Bay._ Kellogg Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public + library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site + and $2500 yearly for maintenance. + + -- Gift of a building site for new Carnegie Library, worth $2000, from + Bishop Messmer. + + _Janesville._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city council voted March 19, + 1901, to appropriate $3500 yearly for maintenance. + + -- Bequest of $10,000, for a public library building, from F. S. + Eldred. + + _Kenosha._ Gilbert M. Simmons Library. Gift of a library building and + furniture, costing about $150,000, from Z. G. Simmons, in memory of + his son, Gilbert M. Simmons. + + -- Gift of $20,000, for purchase of books, from Z. G. Simmons. + + _La Crosse._ Washburn Library. Gift of the Albert Boehm collection of + stuffed birds, valuable but cost not stated, from citizens of the + city. + + _Lake Geneva._ Public Library. Gift of 750 volumes, from several + ladies. + + _Lake Mills._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, in addition, for building, + from L. D. Fargo. + + -- Gift of $1700, for building site, from citizens of the place. + + _Madison._ Free Library Commission. Gift of $35, for German travelling + library, from citizens of Milwaukee. + + -- University of Wisconsin. The Germanic Seminary Library, comprising + 1700 volumes, relating especially to Germanic philology and + literature; purchased from a fund of $3146, raised by + German-American citizens of Milwaukee and presented Jan. 1, 1899. + + -- Gift of $2645 for purchase of books for School of Economics and + Political Science, from gentlemen in New York, Milwaukee, Madison, + and other Wisconsin cities. + + -- Gift of $2350, for the purchase of books for School of Commerce, + from five citizens of Milwaukee. + + -- Gift to the Germanic Seminary Library of 268 volumes, from the house + of F. A. Brockhaus, of Leipzig. + + _Marshfield._ Public Library. Gift of $2500, one-fifth to be expended + annually for five years for books, from W. D. Connor. + + _Menomonie._ Memorial Free Library. Gift of about $2000, for running + expenses pending settlement of the estate of Captain A. Tainter, + from his son and daughter, L. S. Tainter and Mrs. Fanny Macmillan. + + _Milwaukee._ Law Library. Bequest of $10,000, one-half for endowment + and one-half for the purchase of books, from A. R. R. Butler. + + -- Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a collection of books on + literary subjects, from Mrs. A. A. Keenan, as a memorial to her + husband, the late Matthew Keenan. + + _Oconomowoc._ Public Library. Gift of $1500, toward library building, + from Mrs. P. D. Armour. + + -- Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. P. D. Armour, Jr. + + -- Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. Bullen. + + _Oshkosh._ Harris-Sawyer Library. Bequest of $75,000, toward new + library building, from Marshall Harris. + + -- Bequest of $25,000, towards new library building, from Philetus + Sawyer. The bequests of Mr. Harris and Mr. Sawyer were supplemented + by $50,000 from the city. The Harris bequest of $75,000 was made in + 1895 by Mrs. Abby S. Harris, to carry out the intentions of her + husband. It was made on condition that within three years an equal + amount should be raised for the same purpose. The bequest of + $25,000 by Hon. Philetus Sawyer was made to assist in raising the + latter amount, the balance of which was secured by the issue of + city bonds. $90,000 remains as a trust fund. + + -- Gift of paintings, valued at $5000, from Leander Choate. + + _Racine._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, towards a public library, + from citizens of that city. + + _Sheboygan._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $1000, or his salary of $500 per annum for two years, for a + site for library building, from the mayor, Fred Dennett. + + _Stanley._ Public Library. Gift of $12,000, $8000 for building and + $4000 for equipment, from Mrs. D. R. Moon. + + _Superior._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library + building, from Andrew Carnegie. + + -- Gift of $5500, for a library building site, from citizens of the + town. + + _Waukesha._ Carroll College. Gift of $20,000, for a library endowment + fund, from donor whose name is not given. + + _Whitewater._ Public Library. Gift of $3000, for a memorial collection + of books, from Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Cook. + +NOTE.--Foreign gifts include: For British provinces, Vancouver Public +Library, $50,000 from Andrew Carnegie--For Canada, McGill University of +Montreal four gifts ($14,000, $1300, $1000, $500) for various purposes: +Ottawa Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Windsor Public +Library, $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Sidney Public Library, $15,000 +from Andrew Carnegie; Winnipeg Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew +Carnegie; Halifax Art School and Public Library, $75,000 from Andrew +Carnegie--For Trinidad, Cuba, bequest for public library from Mary B. +Carret--For Scotland, Glasgow district libraries, L100,000 from Andrew +Carnegie; Greenock, L5000 from Andrew Carnegie; Hawick, L10,000 from +Andrew Carnegie. + + WAUKESHA CONFERENCE + --------------------------------------------------------------------| + SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. | + ===================================================================== + |No.|Gifts in |Money for |Books. | + | |money. |buildings. | | + --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------| + N. Atlantic Division| | | | | + Maine | 9| $6,200 | $145,847.26| | + New Hampshire | 4| 11,000 | 10,000+ | | + Vermont | 2| 2,000 | 50,000 | | + Massachusetts | 44| 280,550 | 500,000 | 6,508 v.+ | + Rhode Island | 10| 532,000 | 175,000 | 566 v.++| + Connecticut | 28| 199,887 | 154,000 | 6,265 v.+ | + | | | | 10,000 pm. | + New York | 74| 128,030.86| 6,025,655+ | 29,737 v. | + | | | | 178 pm. | + New Jersey | 15| 72,000 | 50,000+ | 7,623 v. | + | | | | 2,366 pm. | + Pennsylvania | 45| 1,635,906 | 285,000+ | 13,149 v. | + | | | | 2,705 pm. | + S. Atlantic Div. | | | | | + Delaware | | | | | + Maryland | 2| 26,250 | 50,000 | | + District of Columbia| | | | | + Virginia | 6| 251,000 | 150,000 | law library.| + West Virginia | 1| | 75,000 | | + North Carolina | 3| | 70,000 | 5,000 v. | + South Carolina | | | | | + Georgia | 2| | 20,000 | 960 v. | + Florida | | | | | + | | | | | + Southern Cen. Div. | | | | | + Kentucky | 1| 50,000 | | | + Tennessee | 3| | 80,000 | 942 v. | + | | | | 423 pm. | + Alabama | 3| | 70,000 | yes. | + Mississippi | 4| 26,000 | 38,000 | | + Louisiana | 1| 10,000 | | yes. | + Texas | 3| | 1,000 | 1,100 v.+ | + Arkansas | | | | | + Oklahoma Territory | | | | | + Indian Territory | | | | | + | | | | | + N. Central Division | | | | | + Ohio | 39| 69,402 | 1,002,000 | 49,553 v.+ | + | | | | 1,817 pm. | + Indiana | 22| 94,700 | 370,000+ | 5,275 v.+ | + Illinois | 29| 32,893.50| 685,000 | 4,000 v.+ | + Michigan | 14| 3,000 | 1,090,000 | 2,495 v. | + | | | | 3,367 pm. | + Wisconsin | 40| 90,993.54| 543,700 | 3,258 v. | + Minnesota | 10| 500 | 162,500 | 430 v. | + Iowa | 14| 24,000 | 307,000+ | | + Missouri | 7| 21,000 | 1,475,000 | | + North Dakota | 1| | 50,000 | | + South Dakota | 2| | 40,000 | | + Nebraska | 3| | 70,000 | 2,000 v. | + Kansas | 4| 6,000 | 40,000+ | | + | | | | | + Western Division | | | | | + Montana | | | | | + Wyoming | | | | | + Colorado | 3| | 128,000 | | + New Mexico | 2| 2,000 | 25,000 | | + Arizona | | | | | + Utah | 2| | 125,000 | | + Nevada | | | | | + Idaho | | | | | + Washington | 2| | 250,000 | | + Oregon | 4| 28,650 | | 9,000 v. | + California | 10| 13,000 | 905,000 | 2,500 v. | + | | | | | + Cuba | | | | | + British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | + Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | + --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY. + ======================================================================== + North Atlantic Division|231|$2,867,573.86|$7,395,502.26+ | 63,848 v.++ | + | | | | 15,249 pm. | + South Atlantic Division| 14| 277,250 | 365,000 | 960 v.++ | + South Central Division | 15| 86,000 | 189,000 | 2,042 v.++ | + | | | | 423 pm. | + North Central Division |185| 342,489.04| 5,835,200+ | 67,011 v.++ | + | | | | 5,184 pm. | + Western Division | 23| 43,650 | 1,433,000 | 11,500 v. | + +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + |468|$3,616,962.90|$15,217,702.26+| 145,361 v.++| + Cuba | 1| | | 20,856 pm. | + British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | + Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | + +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + |482|$3,619,762.90|$16,166,702.26+| | + -----------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ + + WAUKESHA CONFERENCE + -------------------------------------------------- + SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. + ================================================== + |Miscellaneous. |Carnegie + | | gifts. + --------------------+----------------+------------ + N. Atlantic Division| | + Maine | | $50,000 + New Hampshire | | + Vermont | | + Massachusetts |art works, etc. | 25,000 + Rhode Island | | + Connecticut | 842 mss.+ | 50,000 + New York | engravings. | 5,808,200 + New Jersey | | 50,000 + Pennsylvania | dried plants. | 1,216,500 + | | + S. Atlantic Div. | | + Delaware | | + Maryland | | 25,000 + District of Columbia| | + Virginia | | 151,000 + West Virginia | | 75,000 + North Carolina | services. | 20,000 + South Carolina | | + Georgia | | 20,000 + Florida | | + | | + Southern Cen. Div. | | + Kentucky | | + Tennessee | | 80,000 + Alabama | | 70,000 + Mississippi | | + Louisiana | | + Texas | | 1,000 + Arkansas | | + Oklahoma Territory | | + Indian Territory | | + | | + N. Central Division | | + Ohio | | 280,000 + Indiana | ms. | 350,000 + Illinois | | 615,000 + Michigan | | 885,000 + Wisconsin |paintings, etc. | 200,000 + Minnesota |art works, etc. | 90,000 + Iowa | | 220,000 + Missouri | | 1,050,000 + North Dakota | | 50,000 + South Dakota | | 40,000 + Nebraska | | 60,000 + Kansas | | 40,000 + | | + Western Division | | + Montana | | + Wyoming | | + Colorado | | 108,000 + New Mexico | | + Arizona | | + Utah | | 25,000 + Nevada | | + Idaho | | + Washington | | 250,000 + Oregon | | + California | | 865,000 + Cuba |public library. | + British Provinces | | 360,000 + Scotland | | 575,000 + --------------------+----------------+------------ + SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY + ====================================================== + North Atlantic Division |art works, mss.,| $7,199,700 + |engravings, etc.| + South Atlantic Division | services. | 291,000 + South Central Division | | 151,000 + North Central Division |art works, mss.,| 3,880,000 + | etc. | + Western Division | | 1,248,000 + +----------------+------------ + | |$12,769,700 + Cuba |1 library | + British Provinces | | 360,000 + Scotland | | 575,000 + +----------------+------------ + | |$13,704,700 + ------------------------+----------------+------------ + +Total Gifts and Bequests to American libraries from all sources, +$19,786,465.16, 145,361 volumes, and 20,856 pamphlets. The above figures +do not include several buildings and other gifts, the value of which was +not stated. Statistics of this nature must ever remain mere +approximations until some uniform system of gathering them is devised +and carried out. + + + + + REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD. + + BY JOSEPH L. HARRISON, _Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.) + Athenaeum_. + + +In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor +to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year +1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially +a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly +the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in +the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our +publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book +publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in +what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than +offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of +all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of +$830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the +expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications +which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition +of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out +of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of +$927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in +hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), +$627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions +due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk +in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our +hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment +Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the +balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It +should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been +heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account +of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed +to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the +previous year. + +As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements +concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest: + + + _Books._ + +_A. L. A. proceedings._--The board has in stock at its headquarters, +10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference +proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very +limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it +is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind +the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early +consideration. + +_Annotated bibliography of fine art._--The "Bibliography of fine art," +prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which +has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive, +critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications +transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the +regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained +directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84 +copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication, +which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400. + +_Books for boys and girls._--The little, inexpensive, paper-covered +handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists, +prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home +use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand +that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000. +It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board. + +_Library tracts._--Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for +the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of +each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?" +was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to +start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law +Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary +of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received, +and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as +possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is +hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and +individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library +interests. + +_List of books for girls and women and their clubs._--This carefully +selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls +and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & +Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year, +showing a continued though not increased demand. + +_List of French fiction._--Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list, +chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New +Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the +board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less +than 500 copies. + +_List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs._--"Subject +headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the +board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year +show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the +book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the +hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent. + +_Reading for the young._--Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered +by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition, +compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary +E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound +together. During the current year the original edition has become +exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be +printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with +additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future. + + + _Printed cards._ + +_Current books._--It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed +cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of +the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the +year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively +will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of +the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past +years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their +courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in +getting the cards to subscribers with--under often adverse +conditions--most commendable promptness. + +_English history._--The annotated cards on English history continue to +be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however, +to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end +their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the +extent of making them self-supporting. + +_Periodical and society publications._--The Publishing Board is now +printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications. +During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out. +This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an +expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the +sales. + +_Miscellaneous sets._--The board has now printed 16 of the so-called +"Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes +covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of +Science--Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical +Association--Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical +Association--Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum--Bulletin, 1892-98, +nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society--Collections, 1792-1899; Old +South Leaflets--series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution--Annual reports, +1886-96; Smithsonian Institution--Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97; +Smithsonian Institution--Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S. +Bureau of Ethnology--Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National +Museum--Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum--Bulletin, +1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce"; +Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America." + +These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the +board's work as "periodicals and society publications"--completed works +like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to +these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with +the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been +a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the +limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year +covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the +subscription. + +The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board +is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional +sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify +the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science--Annals, 1900 +to date; American Economic Association--Economic studies, 1896-97; +American Economic Association--Publications, 1887-96; _Bibliographica_, +1895-97; Bureau of American Republics--Publications; Columbia University +Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins +University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. +Geological Survey--Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological +Survey--Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of +the Territories--Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical +Survey of the Territories--Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos. + +These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the +Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it +needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the +Association. + + + _In preparation and under consideration._ + +Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American +history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so +generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a +fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of +the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready +for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that +the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited, +as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this +summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be +continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the +index will be pushed to rapid completion. + +Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the +board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be +mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an +"Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books," +cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library +Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts +public documents. + +In conclusion it remains to express the deep and sincere regret with +which the board accepted the resignation of Mr. William C. Lane as its +secretary and treasurer, tendered in December of last year on account of +ill health and after a long period of most earnest, faithful and +valuable service, and to repeat here the suggestion with which he closed +his report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion made, it must be +remembered, after years of closest attention to the workings of the +board: + +"The desirability of taking some definite steps toward putting the work +of the Publishing Board on a broader and stronger basis is as evident as +ever. In addition to the efficient service rendered by the assistant +secretary, the Publishing Board could with advantage employ a portion, +say half, of the time of a capable man who should combine business +judgment and alertness with bibliographical tastes and knowledge of +library interests. The time has come when both for its own sake and in +justice to those who serve it the Publishing Board should have salaried +officers. To make the change successfully, however, requires a better +financial condition than it yet has." + + ====================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + ------------------------------------------------------ + | | | + | Copies | Copies | + PUBLICATIONS. | sold | on hand | + | in | Dec. 31, | + | 1900. | 1900. | + | | | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + A. L. A. Proceedings | 2 | 1829 | + Books for boys and girls | 188 | 643 | + Bibliography of fine art | 84 | 209 | + List of French fiction | 991 | 440 | + | { 107 | 474 | + Books for girls and women | { 218 pts. | 4064 pts.| + | | | + | { 6 orig. | 24 | + Reading for the young | { 32 suppl.| 899 | + | { 24 compl.| 5 | + List of subject-headings | 296 | 55 | + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| | | + Portrait index | | | + Current book cards | | | + English history cards | | | + Periodical cards | 170,344 | | + Miscellaneous sets | | | + Library tracts | 824 | 2174 | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + Totals | | | + General balance | | | + --------------------------+---------------+----------| + | | | + ------------------------------------------------------ + ====================================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + | Balances, Jan. 1, | Operations, | + | 1900, being excess | Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, | + PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or | 1900. | + | receipts to date. | | + |---------+----------+----------+----------| + | Spent. | Received.| Expenses.| Receipts.| + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + A. L. A. Proceedings | | $5.56 | $1.24 | $2.00 | + Books for boys and girls | $13.47 | | | 8.60 | + Bibliography of fine art | 415.87 | | | 47.50 | + List of French fiction | | 8.51 | | 20.64 | + | } | | 66.19 | 66.19 | + Books for girls and women | } | | | | + | | | | | + | } | | | | + Reading for the young | }418.58 | | | 48.39 | + | } | | | | + List of subject-headings | | 227.85 | 144.17 | 390.36 | + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 242.84 | | 225.00 | | + Portrait index | 728.94 | | 561.08 | | + Current book cards | | 467.37 | 719.16 | 860.39 | + English history cards | | 16.41 | 134.00 | 55.76 | + Periodical cards | | 438.37 | 1795.75 | 1688.26 | + Miscellaneous sets | 41.85 | | 235.48 | 644.67 | + Library tracts | | | 125.15 | 41.20 | + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + Totals |$1861.55 | $1164.07 | $4007.22 | $3873.96 | + General balance | | 697.48 | | 133.26 | + --------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------| + |$1861.55 | $1861.55 | $4007.22 | $4007.22 | + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + ==================================================================== + STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900. + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + | Balances, Dec. 31, + | 1900, being excess + PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or + | receipts to date. + |----------+--------- + | Spent. |Received. + --------------------------+----------+--------- + A. L. A. Proceedings | | $6.32 + Books for boys and girls | $4.87 | + Bibliography of fine art | 368.37 | + List of French fiction | | 29.15 + | | + Books for girls and women | | + | | + | | + Reading for the young | 370.19 | + | | + List of subject-headings | | 474.04 + A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 467.84 | + Portrait index | 1290.02 | + Current book cards | | 608.60 + English history cards | 61.83 | + Periodical cards | | 330.88 + Miscellaneous sets | | 367.34 + Library tracts | 83.95 | + --------------------------+----------+--------- + Totals | $2647.07 |$1816.33 + General balance | | 830.74 + --------------------------+----------+--------- + | $2647.07 |$2647.07 + ----------------------------------------------- + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + | | + | Bal. Jan. 1, 1900. | + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+----------| + | Dr. | Cr. | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + General expense and income account | | $1960.48 | + Old members account | | 49.25 | + Library Bureau account | | 455.00 | + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | | + Other charges unpaid | | 69.41 | + Balance of cash |$1100.66 | | + Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions | 736.00 | | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + Totals |$1836.66 | $2534.14 | + Balances | 697.48 | | + -------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+ + |$2534.14 | $2534.14 | + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + ------------------------------------------------------- + | | + |Operations of 1900.| + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+---------| + | Dr. | Cr. | + ----------------------------------+---------+---------+ + General expense and income account| $345.55 | $2.15| + Old members account | 2.84 | | + Library Bureau account | 1413.23 | 1327.75| + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | 159.12 | 175.62| + Other charges unpaid | 69.41 | 241.69| + Balance of cash | 3019.67 | 3296.69| + Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 2717.26 | 2816.44| + subscriptions | | | + ------------------------------------+----------+------+ + Totals | | | + Balances | | | + ----------------------------------+----------+--------+ + | | | + ------------------------------------------------------- + ------------------------------------------------------ + | + |Bal. Dec. 31, 1900. + OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+--------- + | Dr. | Cr. + ----------------------------------+---------+--------- + General expense and income account| |$1617.08 + Old members account | | 46.41 + Library Bureau account | | 369.52 + Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | 16.50 + Other charges unpaid | | 241.69 + Balance of cash | $823.64 | + Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 636.82 | + subscriptions | | + ------------------------------------------------------ + Totals |$1460.46 |$2291.20 + Balances | 830.74 | + ------------------------------------------------------ + |$2291.20 |$2291.20 + ------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + THE PROCEEDINGS. + + WAUKESHA, WIS., THURSDAY, JULY 4--WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1901. + + + _FIRST SESSION._[B] + + (METHODIST CHURCH, WAUKESHA, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 4.) + + PUBLIC MEETING. + +The meeting was called to order at 8.15 by President CARR, who announced +that the American Library Association would take up the program prepared +for its 23d annual meeting. The president then introduced ANDREW J. +FRAME, of Waukesha, who extended a cordial welcome to Waukesha on behalf +of the local committee, referring to the advance made in library +development throughout Wisconsin, largely through the efforts of such +men as Senator Stout, of Menominee, and Z. G. Simmons, of Kenosha, and +the enthusiasm of the state commission. + +MR. CARR then delivered the + PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. + (_See_ p. 1.) + +The subject + WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES +was presented by three speakers, T. L. MONTGOMERY presenting + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE CITY, + (_See_ p. 5), +DR. E. A. BIRGE reviewing + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE STATE, + (_See_ p. 7), +and HERBERT PUTNAM outlining + WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE NATION, + (_See_ p. 9.) + +Adjourned at 10 p.m. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + + (ASSEMBLY ROOM, FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 5.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 10.25, and announced that +the usual reports of officers and committees would be taken up in due +order. + +The PRINTED REPORT OF 1900 MEETING was approved as presented and +distributed. + +The AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION, as approved at the Montreal meeting was +submitted for ratification, and was adopted. It provides that in section +17, line 10, of the constitution the words "of the association," shall +be stricken out, thus making the final sentence of that section read as +follows: "It may, by a two-thirds vote, promulgate recommendations +relating to library matters, and no resolutions except votes of thanks +and on local arrangements shall be otherwise promulgated." + +F. W. FAXON presented his + + + SECRETARY'S REPORT. + +During the 13 months since the Association met at Montreal the number of +new members added has been 167.[C] Including with the new those who have +rejoined (for they are practically new members), we have over 225, the +largest year's increase in the history of the A. L. A. The system of +giving to each person who joins an accession number, and after a lapse +of membership for one or more years reverting to the old number when he +again joins, is not to my mind quite fair to the regular continued +membership. One of the charter members, to take an extreme case, may, +after paying dues for 1876 only, come in again this year by paying for +1901 and yet appear on a par with the 1876 members who have faithfully +kept up their membership for 25 years. Those rejoining members should be +included with the total of new names added. There is a chance here for +our statistician to devise a better system of accession. In March, 1901, +the active membership reached the 1000 mark, an achievement which may +well be recorded at the opening of a new century. + +In January 4000 copies of preliminary announcements were mailed to +members, and others supposed to be interested. The secretary compiled +for this purpose a card catalog of names, including in it members of +all the state associations and local clubs. + +In May a new handbook (68 pages and cover) 3-1/4 x 5-3/4 in., +practically following the size of last issue, was sent out, giving list +of members, officers and committees, statistical tables, lists of state +and local library associations and state library commissions, necrology +for the year, and other information of value to members and of use in +extending the work of the A. L. A. + +An edition of 4500 was printed at an expense of $160.60, and about half +were mailed, in connection with circular no. 2 regarding the Waukesha +meeting. The remainder should suffice for the coming year, with a small +supplement to include the new members, and the by-laws to be passed at +Waukesha, thus completing the new constitution. + +Early in June the final announcement was sent out, with private post +card enclosed, requesting advance registration. This was entirely +successful, 476 persons registering for attendance, up to June 28. A +printed list of these, for distribution at the early sessions of the +meeting, will, it is confidently expected, more than justify the expense +of its compilation. (800 copies, 24 pages, same size as handbook, +$32.75.) + +2000 copies of program (16 pages, handbook size) were printed and a copy +mailed to each person who registered for attendance at the meeting, and +to all members of the Association. + +The secretary's expenses for the year, exclusive of handbook, will be +about $400, the chief items being postage and printing. This seems +justified, as it has been the means of increasing the income of the A. +L. A. by more than the amount expended. + +Number of letters and postcards written during the year 956, number +received about 1000. + +Gifts to the A. L. A. during the year have included: + +Current issues of the New York Public Library _Bulletin_, and the +_Library Journal_, from the publishers. + +Reports of the Bristol meeting of the L. A. U. K., from the Honorable +Secretary. + +Report of the trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, Australia, +1900. + +Catalogue of books on art, from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Library. + +Statistics of labor, Conn., Report, 1901. + +_World_ Almanac, 1901. + +Annual reports of several American libraries, including Philadelphia +Free, Haverhill Public, Somerville Public, and Bowdoin College +libraries. + +In closing I wish to thank all upon whom I have called for information +or help, for the promptness and cordiality of their response. + + GARDNER M. JONES presented the + + + TREASURER'S REPORT. + + Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1900 (Montreal conference, p. 107) $54 75 + + RECEIPTS, JAN.-DEC., 1900. + + Fees from annual members: + + From 3 members for 1898 + From 61 members for 1899 + From 780 members for 1900 + From 12 members for 1901 + --- + 856 members at $2 $1712 00 + + Fees from annual fellows: + + From 1 fellow for 1899 + From 9 fellows for 1900 + -- + 10 fellows at $5 50 00 + + Fees from library members: + + From 1 library for 1899 + From 29 libraries for 1900 + -- + 30 libraries at $5 150 00 + ------- + $1912 00 + + Life membership: + + Alfred Hafner + Emma R. Neisser + 2 life memberships at $25 $50 00 + + Interest on deposit, New England Trust Co. 11 64 + + Donation 1 00 + -------- + + $2029 39 + ======== + + PAYMENTS, JAN.-DEC., 1900. + Proceedings, including delivery: + Jan. 15. _Publishers' Weekly_, balance on printing and + binding Atlanta Proceedings $142 92 + _Publishers' Weekly_, delivery Atlanta + Proceedings 66 27 + Mar. 17. _Publishers' Weekly_, cartage 50 + Oct. 2. _Publishers' Weekly_, Montreal Proceedings + and delivery 881 34 + ------ $1091 03 + Stenographer: + June 30. J. H. Kenehan $30 75 + July 7. G. D. Robinson 73 69 + ------ $104 44 + + Secretary and conference expenses: + April 24. F. H. Gerlock & Co., printing handbook $59 00 + F. H. Gerlock & Co., circulars, etc. 35 25 + May 29. Henry J. Carr, postage, etc. 112 90 + June 30. F. H. Gerlock & Co., programs and + circulars 37 75 + July 24. Henry J. Carr, travel secretaries' + expenses 67 92 + Oct. 18. F. W. Faxon, stamped envelopes, etc. 15 60 + Dec. 12. F. W. Faxon, salary, on account 50 00 + ----- $378 42 + Treasurer's expenses: + May 29. Gardner M. Jones, postage, etc. $14 00 + Oct. 2. Salem Press Co., printing bills, etc. 5 50 + Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes, etc. 46 85 + Dec. 24. Gardner M. Jones, expenses 31 55 + ----- $97 90 + + Trustees of the Endowment Fund, life membership for + investment $50 00 + -------- + $1721 79 + + Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1900: + Deposit in New England Trust Co., Boston $201 55 + Deposit in Merchants' Bank, Salem, Mass. 106 05 $307 60 + -------- -------- + $2029 39 + ======== + +From Jan. 1 to July 1, 1901, the receipts have been $1650.00 and the +payments $781.32, the balance on hand July 1 being $1176.28. The +membership, hence the income, of the Association is increasing from year +to year, but it should be borne in mind that increased membership means +increased expenses. The secretary and treasurer are obliged to ask for +more money for postage, stationery, printing, etc., and it is only by +the most rigid condensation that the recorder is able to keep our +conference Proceedings within our means. + +The number of members in good standing on Dec. 31, 1900, was as follows: + + Honorary members 3 + Perpetual member 1 + Life fellows 2 + Life members 34 + Annual fellows (paid for 1900) 9 + Annual members (paid for 1900) 796 + Library members (paid for 1900) 29 + --- + 874 + +During the year 1900, 208 new members joined the Association and seven +died. + + GARDNER M. JONES, _Treasurer_. + +The following report of audit was appended: + +The Finance Committee have performed the duties laid down in the +constitution; they have examined the accounts of the treasurer, during +the period covered by his report, and find them properly kept and +vouched for. + + JAMES L. WHITNEY, } + CHARLES K. BOLTON, } _Finance Committee._ + GEO. T. LITTLE. } + + + _Necrology._ + +1. Eleanor Arnold Angell (A. L. A. no. 1631, 1897) assistant librarian +American Society of Civil Engineers, New York City. Born Jan. 23, 1874; +died in New York City May 18, 1900. Miss Angell graduated from the Pratt +Institute Library School in 1896 and was a member of the Pratt Institute +Library staff until July, 1897. From Dec., 1897, to the time of her +death she was assistant librarian of the American Society of Civil +Engineers. + +2. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain (A. L. A. no. 335, 1879) ex-librarian, Boston +Public Library. Born in Pembroke, N. H., June 4, 1821; died in Chelsea, +Mass., June 25, 1900. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844, +taught school at Brattleboro, Vt., entered the Harvard Law School in +1846, was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1849. In the same year he +took up his residence in Chelsea and began the practice of law in +Boston. He held several municipal offices and was a member of both +houses of the state legislature. From 1866 to 1870 he was an associate +justice of the Municipal Court of Boston, then chief justice of the same +court until his resignation in 1878. He was librarian of the Boston +Public Library from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 1890. During his +administration the library's collection of Americana was largely +increased and the preliminary plans for the new building were developed. +The remainder of his life was devoted to literary and historical work. +Judge Chamberlain was recognized as one of the foremost students of +American colonial history and his collection of autographic documents +relating to American history was one of the finest in the country. This +collection was deposited in the Boston Public Library in 1893 and became +its property on the death of Judge Chamberlain. + +(_See "Brief description of the Chamberlain collection of autographs," +published by the Boston Public Library._) + +3. Henry Barnard (A. L. A. no. 104, 1877.) Born in Hartford, Ct., Jan. +24, 1811; died July 5, 1900. He graduated from Yale College in 1830 and +in 1835 was admitted to the bar. From 1837-40 he was a member of the +Connecticut legislature and during his term of service advocated reforms +in insane asylums, prisons and the common schools. From 1838 to 1842 he +was secretary of the board of school commissioners in Connecticut; from +1842 to 1849 school commissioner of Rhode Island; from 1850 to 1854 +state superintendent of the Connecticut schools, and from 1857 to 1859 +president of the State University of Wisconsin. From 1865 to 1867 he was +president of St. John's College, and from 1867 to 1870 U. S. +Commissioner of Education. He wrote and compiled many educational books +and edited several educational periodicals, the most important being the +_American Journal of Education_. In 1886 he published a collected +edition of his works comprising 52 volumes and over 800 original +treatises. Dr. Barnard received the degree of LL.D. from Yale and Union +in 1851 and from Harvard in 1852. He was always greatly interested in +libraries. In 1823 or 1824 he served as assistant librarian and made his +first donation to the library of Monson Academy, and from 1828 to 1830 +was librarian of the Linonian Society of Yale College, giving twice the +amount of the small salary back to the library in books. During his +connection with the legislature and common schools of Connecticut, 1837 +to 1842, the district school library system was established and the +power of taxation for libraries was given to every school society in the +state. During his sojourn in Rhode Island he started a library in every +town in the state. He joined the A. L. A. in 1877, and was made an +honorary member at Chicago in 1893. He attended the conferences of 1876, +1877, and 1893. + +("_National cyclopedia of American biography," vol. I; L. J._, 4:289.) + +4. Enos L. Doan (A. L. A. no. 1909, 1899), librarian of the Wilmington +(Del.) Institute Free Library. Born in Indiana about 40 years ago; died +in Wilmington, Dec. 18, 1900. He was a graduate of Haverford College and +was for several years connected with the Friends' School in Wilmington, +first as teacher and later as assistant principal and principal. In the +spring of 1899 he resigned that office to accept the appointment of +librarian of the Wilmington Institute Free Library. He had previously +been active in the development of the library, and as chairman of the +library committee had aided in the reorganization of the former +subscription library into a free public library. + + (_L. J., Jan., 1901._) + +5. Josiah Norris Wing (A. L. A. no. 585, 1886), librarian New York Free +Circulating Library. Born near Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 29, 1848; died in +New York City, Dec. 20, 1900. His father, E. N. Wing, was engineer of +the East Tenn. and Va. R. R. He was a Union man and after the siege of +Knoxville removed to New York City. Here young Wing attended the public +schools and entered the College of the City of New York, but before the +close of the first year he became a clerk in the Mercantile Library. He +was connected with the library for 13 years and became first assistant +librarian, but his unceasing work and devotion to details injured his +health and he was obliged to retire from active work. In 1880 he took +charge of the library department of Charles Scribner's Sons, for which +his library training well fitted him. In April, 1899, he was elected +chief librarian of the New York Free Circulating Library. During the +years he was in the book business Mr. Wing kept in close touch with +library interests. He was a member of the A. L. A. for 14 years, and was +almost from its beginning an active member of the New York Library Club. +He had been treasurer of the New York Library Association for seven +years, holding that office at the time of his death. He was also +prominent in book trade organizations and in various civic reform +movements in New York City. He was always ready to give help and service +in any good cause and he will be missed by many friends among librarians +and bookbuyers. + +(_Publishers' Weekly, Dec. 29, 1900; L. J., Jan., 1901._) + +6. Huntington Wolcott Jackson (A. L. A. no. 884, 1890), president board +of directors of the John Crerar Library. Born in Newark, N. J., Jan. 28, +1841; died in Chicago, Jan. 3, 1901. He attended Phillips Academy, +Andover, Mass., and entered Princeton College. At the end of his junior +year he enlisted in the army, where he secured rapid promotion. After a +year at the Harvard Law School and a year spent in European travel and +study, he finished his studies in Chicago and was admitted to the bar in +1868. He practiced law in Chicago and in 1888 was elected president of +the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Jackson was a warm and trusted friend +of the late John Crerar. At Mr. Crerar's death he was, with Mr. Norman +Williams, one of the executors of the will and a co-trustee of the John +Crerar Library, then to be founded. For many years Mr. Jackson was +chairman of the committee on administration and practically all of the +details of administration were passed upon by him and some quite +important changes were made by him. Mr. Jackson was a member of the A. +L. A. from 1890 until his death, but there is no record of his +attendance at any conference. + + (_See Report of John Crerar Library, 1900._) + +7. Robert Crossman Ingraham (A. L. A. no. 205, 1879), librarian of the +New Bedford (Mass.) Free Public Library. Born in New Bedford, Feb. 11, +1827; died there March 3, 1901. The New Bedford Free Public Library was +instituted in 1852 and Mr. Ingraham was chosen its first librarian, then +taking up the work to which he gave nearly half a century. Under his +management the library grew from its nucleus of 5500 volumes to 72,000 +volumes, and the strength and good proportions of the collection are due +to his scholarship, unsparing labor, and discernment of local needs. For +many years Mr. Ingraham had little or no assistance in the library, yet +for more than 30 years he cataloged every book added to its shelves. He +kept in touch with changes in library administration and was not +prevented by conservatism from adopting those which his good judgment +approved. Mr. Ingraham was a man of retiring disposition and simple +tastes, a hard student with a marvellous memory. In addition to his +great fund of general information, and knowledge of the books in his +library, he was thoroughly posted in everything relating to the history +of New Bedford, and had few equals in his knowledge of mosses and +liverworts. He devoted his life to his library and his fund of erudition +was always at the service of every one who sought his assistance. + + (_See W. R. L. Gifford in L. J., April, 1901._) + +8. Eugene Francis Malcouronne (A. L. A. no. 1973, 1900), for the last 10 +years secretary-treasurer and librarian of the Fraser Institute Free +Public Library, of Montreal, died April 11, 1901. Mr. Malcouronne will +be pleasantly remembered by many who attended the Montreal conference. + +The treasurer's report was accepted. + +C. C. Soule read the + + + REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND. + + _To the Secretary of the American Library Association._ + +I submit herewith a report of the receipts and expenditures from the +date of last report, June 6, 1900, to July 1, 1901, together with a +schedule of assets, and an estimate of income for the ensuing year. + +There are no donations to report. The permanent fund has been increased +by the fees for three (3) life memberships, $75 in all. + +In March, 1901, the mortgagor on a loan of $1000, bearing interest at +six per cent., and falling due Aug. 1, 1903, asked leave to pay off the +mortgage. He was allowed to do so on paying $53.97, being the difference +between the six per cent. he was to have paid, up to maturity of the +mortgage, and the four per cent. which the trustees can expect to get on +reinvestment of the $1000 repaid. This repayment to the fund has been +kept in bank until after this conference. If not needed by the +Publishing Board as a loan, it can be invested at, say, four per cent. +Of the $2102.18 now on deposit, subject to check, $655.04 is on interest +account, available for expenditure as the Council may direct. (In +addition to this, $301.03 income may be expected during the year +1901-2.) $1437.14 is on principal account to be invested as opportunity +offers. + + CHARLES C. SOULE, + _Treasurer A. L. A. Endowment Fund_. + + ENDOWMENT FUND STATEMENT, JUNE 6, 1900-JULY 1, 1901. + + _Cash account--Received._ + + 1900, June 6. Balance on hand, $619.27 + 1901, March 8. Repayment of mortgage loan, 1000.00 + + _For permanent fund--life memberships._ + + 1901, March 5. E. P. Thurston, $25.00 + " S. H. Ranck, 25.00 + June 21. B. C. Steiner, 25.00 + ------ $75.00 + + _On interest account._ + + 1900, June 28. Interest mortgage loan, $75.00 + " 29. " International Trust Co.'s deposit, 6.82 + Aug. 14. " Mortgage loan, 30.00 + Oct. 1. " " " 24.50 + Dec. 27. " " " 75.00 + 1901, Jan. 14. " Brookline Savings Bank deposit, 40.80 + Feb. 6. " Mortgage loan, 30.00 + " " " Int. Trust Co., 6.82 + March 8. " Mortgage loan, 53.79 + Apr. 6. " " " 24.50 + June 26. " " " 75.00 + " 29. " International Trust Co. deposit, 16.48 + ------ 458.71 + -------- + $2152.98 + + + _Paid out._ + + 1901, Jan. 14. Interest added to deposit in Brookline + Savings Bank, $40.80 + Apr. 18. Rent of safe box for securities, 10.00 50.80 + -------- + 1901, July 1. Balance on deposit with International + Trust Co., Boston, $2102.18 + + _Assets._ + + Loan on mortgage at 7%, due Oct. 1, 1902, $700.00 + " " " " 5% " Jan. 24, 1902, 3000.00 + Deposit with Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, 4% interest 1050.80 + " " International Trust Co., Boston, 2% " 2102.18 + -------- + $6852.98 + + [Of this amount $6187.94 is principal, to be left intact, $665.04 is + interest, available for use.] + Liabilities, none. + Annual expense, $10 for safe deposit box. + + _Available for appropriation by the Council, 1901-1902._ + + Cash on hand July 1, 1901 (interest account), $665.04 + Interest on $700.00 @ 7%, 49.00 + " " 3000.00 @ 5%, 150.00 + " " 1050.80 @ 4%, 42.03 + ------- + $906.07 + (If no part of the principal is needed as a loan by the + Publishing Board, add also) Interest on (say) $1500.00 invested + at 4%, 60.00 + ------ + Estimated total, $966.07 + +The following report of audit was appended: + +At the request of Charles C. Soule, treasurer of the Endowment Fund, we +have examined his accounts and securities, and find evidence of +investment of $3700 in mortgage loans, of deposit of $1050.80 in the +Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, and of $2102.18 in the International +Trust Company, of Boston. We also find his accounts correctly cast, with +proper vouchers for all expenditures. + + JAMES L. WHITNEY, } _of the_ + CHARLES K. BOLTON } _Finance Committee_ + +Mr. SOULE: In submitting this report, I would call the attention of the +Association to the fact that the permanent fund is not as large as it +ought to be. If you will remember, the attempt at collection, made with +much vigor at first, had to be abandoned on account of general financial +trouble through the country. No systematic effort has since been made to +increase the fund. The work of the Association would be very much +furthered if this fund were large enough to provide $5000 or $6000 of +income, so that the Association could have two or three, or one or two, +permanent paid officers, with a good allowance for travelling and +incidental expenses. If any of you should be asked where an amount of +say $100,000 could be placed with advantage to the general library +cause, I hope you will bear in mind the inadequate funds of the +Association. + +The report was accepted. + +In the absence of W. L. R. GIFFORD, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF THE CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE. + +The exhaustive report on co-operative cataloging rendered by the +Co-operation Committee of last year has disposed for the present, so far +as this committee is concerned, of the most important subject which has +of late years been brought to its attention. + +Dr. Richardson reports that the index to theological periodicals is +progressing rapidly, and will probably be published before the next +conference of the A. L. A. The index will cover the years 1891-1900, and +will include all the standard theological periodicals, of Poole rank and +upwards, in all languages of which there are representatives in American +libraries, together with many references to theological articles in +general periodicals, in all not less than 25,000 references. It will be +an alphabetical subject index like Poole, but will differ from Poole in +giving regular author-title entry, and will be more bibliographical in +character through the select references to general periodicals. A +feature of the index will be a very brief definition of each subject. +Dr. Richardson has at present seven clerks engaged in the work, and is +pushing it as fast as possible. + +The dictionary of historical fiction, in preparation by the Free Library +of Philadelphia, is making satisfactory progress, and will probably be +issued within the coming year. Since the announcement was made at the +Atlanta conference that this dictionary was in preparation there have +been many inquiries concerning it, and the prospect of its publication +will be welcome. + +The committee has received no new information during the past year in +regard to plans for bibliographical work, and it would emphasize the +recommendations of previous years that all such plans be reported +promptly to the committee, so that they may be published in its annual +report. + + WILLIAM L. R. GIFFORD, _Chairman_. + +In the absence of C. H. GOULD, chairman, C. W. ANDREWS read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. + +The committee begs to report, with considerable confidence, that this is +positively its last appearance in connection with the list of French +government serials, which has been long in course of compilation and +publication. This work is now in its final stage, and as it will soon be +in the hands of the reviewer, to say much in regard to it at present +seems hardly necessary. Two points, however, require a word: + +1. Recognizing the difficulties in the way of attaining anything like +completeness in an enumeration of this nature, the committee +deliberately decided to omit certain documents in favor of others. Thus +it happens that no reference is made to the legislative proceedings of +the several Revolutionary Assemblies, nor to other publications of equal +importance. + +2. In addition to enumerating documents, this list indicates particular +libraries where they may be consulted. It was, of course, unnecessary, +even had it been possible, to mention all the libraries in the country +which possess sets more or less complete. But it is hoped that the +libraries chosen are so widely distributed as to save a would-be reader +from undertaking a long journey when a shorter one would serve. + +Such other features as call for notice will be referred to in the +preface. + +It would, however, be unbecoming if the committee failed now to +recognize and thank Miss Adelaide R. Hasse for the pains and labor she +has bestowed upon the list. She has co-operated with the committee from +the first, and to her and to Mr. Andrews the committee is under special +obligations. + +The committee would further report that it now has on hand a +considerable amount of raw material for a German list similar to the +French; and it is hoped that progress may be made in arranging this +during the present summer. + + Respectfully submitted, + C. H. GOULD, _Chairman_. + +W. I. FLETCHER read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TITLE-PAGES AND INDEXES OF PERIODICAL VOLUMES. + +Your committee have understood their business to be the preparation of a +note to be addressed to the publishers of periodicals, setting forth the +views of librarians in regard to the issue of title-pages, etc., with +periodicals. They, therefore, submit as their report the accompanying +draft of such a note, with the recommendation that it be sent to the +publishers of all leading periodicals, and that a committee on this +subject be continued, to receive and act upon any correspondence that +may be called out. + + THORVALD SOLBERG, } + }_Committee_. + W. I. FLETCHER, } + +_Note to publishers of periodicals, as to the furnishing in proper form +of title-pages and contents. This note was drawn up by a Committee of +the American Library Association and was approved by the Association._ + +As a result of much dissatisfaction among librarians with the +irregularities and uncertainties connected with the issue, by publishers +of periodicals, of title-pages and "contents" of volumes, the American +Library Association has had a special committee considering the subject +with a view to drawing up a suitable memorial to be presented to such +publishers, looking to the securing of more uniformity and propriety in +this matter. After mature consideration the committee have prepared the +following recommendations as embodying the minimum of improvement which +may reasonably be hoped for. + + 1. Title-pages and tables of contents should always accompany _the + number completing a volume_, and not the first number of a new volume. + [They should be _stitched in, and not sent loose_.] There are several + cogent reasons for this recommendation: + + (_a_) In many cases it is a serious detriment to the usefulness of a + set in a library, if a completed volume cannot be bound until the + receipt of the next number. + + (_b_) More important is the need that the numbers of a volume shall + constitute the volume in its entirety, so that as they are bought and + sold there shall not be the necessity of handling also another number + belonging to a different volume in order to complete the first. Now + that libraries are buying periodical sets and volumes in such large + numbers for use with Poole's and other indexes, it is of great + importance to the book trade, as well as librarians, and must have a + real bearing on the business interests of the publishers, that this + matter, often trifled with, shall receive due attention. Publishers + must come to feel that if it is necessary (which it generally proves + not to be) to delay a completing number a day or two in its issue in + order to insure its completeness in this respect, the delay is + abundantly compensated for. + + 2. Title-pages and contents should be furnished _with every copy_ of + the issue of a completing number. We earnestly believe that by + inserting title-pages and contents in all cases publishers will at once + put a premium on the preservation and binding of their magazines, + suggesting it to many who otherwise would not think of it. In the long + run the demand for back numbers to make up volumes must more than + compensate for the extra expense of putting in the additional leaves. + + The policy of sending title-pages and contents only to those calling + for them is suicidal, as it results in flooding the market with numbers + from which volumes cannot be made up and by destroying the hope of + making up sets weakens the demand which would otherwise exist for + volumes and numbers of the periodical in question. + + If an alphabetical index, in addition to a table of contents, is + furnished, which is the preferable practice, the former should be paged + to go at the end of the volume. When such an index is furnished, and no + table of contents, the index should be printed to follow the + title-page. + + 3. As to the form in which title-pages and contents should be issued: + they should be printed on a two-, four-, or eight-leaved section, + separate from other printed matter, either advertising or reading. + Nothing is more important in binding volumes to stand the hard wear of + our public libraries than that none of the earlier leaves in the volume + shall be single leaves pasted in. One of the greatest abuses of the + book trade at present is the disposition to have title and other + preliminary leaves pasted in. Librarians find to their cost (what is + not so obvious to the book manufacturer) that this does not work. An + absolute requirement for good bookmaking is that the first and last + portions of the book especially shall be good solid sections--no single + leaves, nor do most librarians or owners of private libraries like to + include advertisements, in order to secure these solid sections for + binding. We feel sure that it is abundantly worth while for the + publishers to squarely meet this demand. + + 4. Admitting that there may be cases in which it is practically + impossible to furnish title and contents with the completing number of + a volume, we would recommend for such cases that such a separate + section as has been described be made and furnished with the first + number of the new volume, stitched in _at its end_, not at its + beginning. The last-named practice is likely to cause more trouble to + librarians than any other that is common, as it is difficult to remove + the section without making the number unfit to place in the reading + room. + + We would like to call the attention of periodical publishers to the + difficulties arising from the common practice of printing some first or + last leaves of reading matter on the same section with some pages of + advertising. Most librarians prefer to remove the advertising leaves + before binding the magazines. The practice referred to makes it + necessary to bind in some advertising leaves or else take off and paste + in single leaves of reading matter, sometimes three or four in one + place, which is very inimical to good binding. Publishers are advised + to have all advertising pages printed on separate sections if possible. + + Desiring to meet, so far as possible, the views of publishers in regard + to the matters referred to above, the committee will be pleased to hear + from any to whom this note may come. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The committee have corresponded with some of the magazine +publishers, and if any are disposed to consider what is here proposed an +ideal system, your attention may be called to the fact that several of +our magazine publishers are carrying it out. For instance, Houghton, +Mifflin & Co.--I am not mentioning them as superior to others; others +might be mentioned--but in their reply to a tentative letter Houghton, +Mifflin & Co. say that "in all of our publications every one of these +recommendations is strictly carried out." They took pride in replying to +us that they believed they were doing exactly what we wanted--and +several other publishers. + +G. M. JONES: I understand the report to recommend that title-pages and +indexes be fastened into the last number of the volume. Now it seems +that in many cases it would be very much better to have them left loose. +The case is this: In almost all public libraries of any size periodicals +are put into some kind of a binder. On many accounts binders which +perforate are the best, but we do not wish to perforate title-page and +index, if we can help it, especially the title-page, and I would like to +inquire why the committee considered it so essential that the title-page +and index should be fastened into the number? + +Mr. FLETCHER: These questions were all considered by the committee, and +I would say when I first drew up my suggestion on this point it was that +title-page and index should be sent loose; but I found an overwhelming +argument against that, when we came to consider that they were desired +to be with every completing number; that those completing numbers are +sold to the people in railroad trains and elsewhere and are coming into +the second-hand periodical market, where we must look for many to make +up our sets. Now as to the point which Mr. Jones has spoken of. If the +magazine is to be perforated to be put in the binder, as the completing +number is to have the title and index, as we proposed, in a separate +section, it can be removed by undoing the stitching, or sewing, if it is +sewed. That can be done before it is put into the binder. Of course +there is no necessity for ruining, the stitching in its entirety. There +may be some little objection there, but it is so slight that it seemed +to the committee entirely counterbalanced. + +Mr. JONES: Mr. Fletcher's reply is perfectly satisfactory on that point. + +W. S. BISCOE: One other suggestion: Do I understand from Mr. Fletcher, +if there is a table of contents, that the index be put after the +title-page? + +Mr. FLETCHER: No, the suggestion is that if there is an alphabetical +index and a table of contents, the index should be planned and arranged +at the end of the volume, but that if only an index is furnished, and no +table of contents, that would be in accordance with the usual practice +in such cases--the index should go, like a table of contents, after the +title-page. + +Mr. BISCOE: If there is no table of contents the alphabetical index is +to go after the title-page? It seems to me desirable that it should +always go at the end of the volume. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I am very glad that point has been called attention to. I +should like it if Mr. Biscoe would suggest an amendment. According to +the report, when such an index is furnished, and no table of contents, +the index should be printed to follow the title-page. We might say: if +an alphabetical index is furnished, it should be paged to go at the end +of the volume. + +T. L. MONTGOMERY: Was not the committee's report to provide for the +printing of the alphabetical index in the place of a table of contents, +thereby making it one section? + +Mr. FLETCHER: The advantage of that would be that there would be +something to go with the title-page to make up the section. The +title-page should be part of a section for binding as a separate +section. I wonder if most of the librarians present haven't had the same +exasperating experience which I have so often had with those title-pages +which are separate leaves, and have to be pasted into the volume. There +is hardly any practice so vicious in bookmaking as having the title-page +pasted in. It almost always pulls out before the book is in any other +respect at all dilapidated. + +A. G. JOSEPHSON: I would suggest that the committee recommend that both +a table of contents and an index should be furnished. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The committee would entirely agree to that, and it could +very easily be done. If an alphabetical index, in addition to the table +of contents, is furnished, a practice to be preferred might be to +consolidate them. + +Pres. CARR: I think, Mr. Fletcher, you should be able to modify your +report, before printing, to incorporate those suggestions. + +F. W. FAXON: If the committee is trying to get at an ideal arrangement, +it might be well to suggest that the publishers of magazines have some +one who knows something about the contents make the index. We have a +magazine in Boston that persists in indexing articles under "a" and +"the," and proper names under "John" and "James." But if the committee +is trying to get a rule that the publishers will be most likely to +adopt, it seems to me they might suggest that the index be published in +each concluding number of a volume, even though the index is put in +place of that many pages of text. Of course it would not do to suggest +that these pages be taken out of advertising, but as the text usually +costs the magazine something, publishers would probably be willing to +devote four of the pages they would have to pay for to an index, which +would cost them much less. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I think it would interest the Association to know of an +example that Mrs. Fairchild sent me some time ago of the way these +indexes are made. Some periodical in New York had an article on motive +power for the canals, and in the index it appeared under "Mule, Must the +Canal Go?" + +The report was approved and referred to the Council. + +In the absence of Dr. J. S. BILLINGS the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON "INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC + LITERATURE." + +Your committee begs to report that the final conference of delegates of +the various governments for the purpose of considering an International +Catalogue of Scientific Literature was held in London on June 12 and 13, +1900, and, as intimated in the report of your committee last year, owing +to the failure of Congress to make it possible for delegates with power +to attend, no representatives of the United States were present. Mr. +Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, who was visiting England at the +time was informally in conference with various members of the Royal +Society and rendered effective service in enabling them to reach a +conclusion. + +The conference decided to undertake the issuing of the Catalogue +provided 300 complete subscriptions were received by October 1st, the +quota of the United States in this being 45. During the summer the +Smithsonian Institution issued a circular to American libraries and +universities and learned societies and scientific men, announcing the +fact, with the very gratifying result of the subscription to the +equivalent of over 70 complete sets for a period of five years. + +A meeting of the International Council to finally arrange for the +beginning of the work was held in London on December 12 and 13, 1900, at +which the necessary financial arrangements were agreed to, the Royal +Society advancing certain sums and agreeing to act as publisher, and +being authorized to enter into contracts, etc. Doctor H. Foster Morley +was elected director and offices were secured at 34 and 35 Southampton +street, Strand, London, W. C. The initial work has begun. The +preparation of a list of periodicals to be indexed and a more careful +revision of the schedules was the first work to be done. Thus far the +periodical lists for Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, +Holland, Japan, Portugal, Canada, India and Ceylon have been printed. +That for the United States is expected to be ready for transmission to +London about August 1st. + +In the absence of any provision, the Smithsonian Institution is carrying +on the work for the United States, although with very inadequate force. +It would be very desirable if legislation could be had to enable the +Smithsonian Institution to prosecute this work more vigorously and +without drawing upon its own funds. + + J. S. BILLINGS, _Chairman_. + CYRUS ADLER, _Secretary_. + +Pres. CARR: Dr. Hosmer has, I think, a communication to make that is of +concern to us all. + + + MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE. + +Dr. HOSMER: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: + +We meet here in the midst of beautiful surroundings, but with +considerable discomfort. Perhaps we hardly make it real to ourselves +that this is in our country a time of calamity. Never in the course of a +somewhat long experience, can I remember so many fatalities from the +terrible heat of the summer. The newspapers have come to us from day to +day with the list of victims from the great cities, and this morning +comes in intelligence of a death which touches us librarians very +closely--the death of John Fiske. He died yesterday at Gloucester, +Mass., overcome by the heat; and I think it entirely right to say that +in the death of John Fiske comes the extinction of the greatest force in +American literature at the present moment. John Fiske, while not a +member of our association, was at one time a librarian; he had a great +interest in the Association; he was the personal friend of many of its +members. It is perhaps quite right to say that no author at the present +time is so frequently in the mouths and in the hands of the librarians. +It has been thought fitting by the executive committee that we should +make an exception in his case, and that there should be some formal +mention of his passing. I regret very much that the time is so brief. +What I have to say must be unconsidered. + +In several directions, John Fiske was a great writer. First as regards +the doctrine of evolution, the great idea which has come to the world in +our day. What a great and solemn thing it is! The slow process through +the lapse of ages from the monad to that which crawls, then to that +which swims, then to that which flies, until we come at last to that +which walks erect with brow expanded broadly to the light of heaven; the +slow increment of intelligence in the brain, as species becomes merged +in constantly higher species; the extension of infancy, with its +beautiful sequence of humanity, of love, of spirituality. This has come +to be accepted by scientific minds as the path which the divine energy +chooses to follow in the work of creation. Now, among our American +writers, I suppose there is no one who has had so much to do with the +development of the doctrine of evolution as John Fiske. He was the +intimate friend and counsellor of Darwin, of Huxley, of Herbert Spencer, +of Tyndall. They recognized in him their peer, and if it is the +case--and I believe it to be the case--that John Fiske contributed to +the doctrine of evolution the idea of the "extension of infancy" as +being the cause of what is most gentle and lovely in humanity he +deserves to be named with the first of those who have been connected +with that great theory. + +In the second place as a historian, this wonderfully versatile man +stands among the very first of the country. As a historian, John Fiske +is not to be spoken of without discrimination. He had his limitations. I +do not think that he had the power of picturesque description to the +extent that Motley or Prescott possessed it. I do not think that he had +the power of indefatigable research to the extent that it was possessed +by our honored fellow-member, Justin Winsor. I do not think that he had +the faculty of character-drawing as it was possessed for instance by the +great historian, Clarendon, of the seventeenth century. But John Fiske +had his gift, and it was a remarkable one. Taking a chaotic mass of +facts, I know of no other American writer who had such genius to go in +among them, to discern the vital links that connected one with another, +to get order and system out of it, and then to present the result with a +lucidity and a beauty which carried captive every reader. That was his +faculty, as a historian; and he possessed it to such an extent and he +used it in such a way that he is entitled to a place among our greatest +historians. + +Nor are these the only claims to distinction of this great man who has +gone. As a religious leader, John Fiske is one of the foremost men of +the time. His "Destiny of man," his "Idea of God," his latest noble +address on the immortality of the soul, not yet published, are priceless +writings, and men and women among the very best and brightest find in +these books the best expression and guidance for their religious +feelings. + +Every one here has had opportunity, abundant opportunity, to know the +greatness of John Fiske's mind. Few here, perhaps no other one, has had +such opportunity as I have had to know the warmth and the generosity of +his heart. For ten years in the Washington University, at St. Louis, we +were colleagues; for 35 years we have been friends, and as I stand here +before you to speak of him, my emotions fairly overcome me and I can do +nothing but take my seat; but it is appropriate that in the American +Library Association there should be some recognition taken of the +passing from the midst of us of this great and noble figure. + +Pres. CARR: After these fitting and touching words, we can hardly have +it in our hearts to transact any further business this session, and +therefore, if there is no objection, we will proceed to take an +adjournment. + +Mr. CRUNDEN: I think a fitting action, on the suggestion of Dr. Hosmer, +would be the appointment of a committee, with Dr. Hosmer as chairman, to +draw up memorial resolutions. I make a motion to that effect. + +The motion was adopted, and a committee was appointed, of J. K. Hosmer, +George Iles, and R. G. Thwaites. + +Adjourned 12 m. + + + _THIRD SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 6.) + +The meeting was called to order by President CARR at 10.20. + +In the absence of R. R. BOWKER, chairman, W. E. HENRY read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. + +The Committee on Public Documents this year makes an exclusively +negative report. The Congress was occupied so exclusively with matters +of larger public policy, particularly in relation with new territorial +developments, that no attention was given in either house to public +documents measures. A bill was presented in the House of Representatives +by Mr. Heatwole, on somewhat different lines from the Platt bill offered +in the Senate last year, but like that in essential conformity with the +general position taken by the American Library Association. This bill +did not, however, progress beyond the introductory steps. + +Within the past twelvemonth the Indiana State Library has issued its +useful "Subject catalog of U. S. public documents in the Indiana State +Library," as an appendix to the 23d biennial report of the state +library, covering 289 pages, and presenting a useful conspectus within +its field. This index, while serving helpfully as a general key for the +use of other libraries through the range of documents contained in each +specific library, suggests the greater importance of an adequate subject +index to U. S. government publications in general, which could be made a +checklist by several state and other libraries. The Indiana State +Library has also prepared an index to the _Documentary Journal_ of +Indiana from the beginning of that publication in 1835 to 1899, which is +included in the 23d report of that library. + +There is also little to report as to state publications, although there +is evident a growth of interest in state bibliography, particularly in +the state libraries. Part second of the bibliography of "State +publications" is promised for the present year, including the states of +New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, +and Wisconsin. + +A contribution of interest within this field has been made by the Acorn +Club, of Connecticut, which has issued an elaborate bibliographical +record of "Connecticut state laws," from the earliest times to 1836, +compiled by A.C. Bates, librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society, +a useful feature of the work being the indication, when possible, of +some library in which each issue recorded may be found. Record may also +be made, in this connection, of the work accomplished or accomplishing +by the Public Archives Commission of the American Historical +Association, headed by Prof. William McDonald, of Bowdoin College, as +chairman, in which Professors Robinson, of Columbia, Caldwell, of +Nebraska, Bugbee, of Texas, who are his associates on the committee, +have the co-operation of representatives in the several states. While +this commission does not concern itself specifically with bibliography, +it is preparing the way for a better bibliography of state publications +than has hitherto been possible, by investigating the conditions of the +public archives of each state, with a view to inducing the systematic +and more complete collection in each state of its own archives, +including its printed documents as well as manuscript records. + + R. R. BOWKER, } + W. E. HENRY, }_Committee._ + JOHNSON BRIGHAM. } + +HERBERT PUTNAM: I would suggest that the Superintendent of Documents is +here, and that possibly he might have some suggestion or recommendation +to make on the subject of this report. + +L. C. FERRELL: I suppose anything I may have to say will be in addition +to what was said in the report of the committee on public documents, as +the report was rather negative. The matter of bringing about any +legislation requires time and involves a great deal of hard work upon +somebody. This is especially so if the subject is one in which no member +of Congress, in particular, has a personal interest. It generally takes +10 or 12 years to pass any bill of interest to the people that no member +of Congress will take care of personally. If it is a matter like saving +the country, you can get a fifty million dollar bill passed in half an +hour, but you cannot get a member of Congress to take up and pass a bill +changing the method of printing and the distribution of documents +without a great deal of pressure. Now, if Mr. Heatwole, chairman of the +House Committee on Printing, was here, I think we might accomplish +something to advantage on that subject, because I think if he could meet +this great body of librarians face to face, we might get him to commit +himself as to what he will do next session. He has promised me to take +up this matter next winter and revise the printing laws from "A" to "Z," +as he expressed it, but whether he will do so or not, I cannot say. Now, +I shall prepare another bill, or have the old bill introduced again, I +do not know which, and, as long as I remain in the office of +Superintendent of Documents, I shall endeavor to bring about legislation +on the lines proposed in the bills heretofore presented to Congress. In +the first place, I want all the government periodicals taken out of the +Congressional series and bound in cloth, so that they can be distributed +to the libraries as soon as they are printed. But one edition of any +document ought to be printed, and that edition ought to have the same +endorsement on the back and the same title on the inside. If we continue +to print duplicate and triplicate editions--departmental, bureau, and +congressional--librarians will always have trouble in classifying and +cataloging them. As far as my record is concerned, I suppose most of you +are familiar with it. I am constantly endeavoring to improve the +service. I have adopted a cumulative index for the monthly catalog; +cumulative for six months, with a consolidated index for the entire +year, in the December number. That was done mainly because the annual +catalog cannot be printed so as to be distributed promptly, and the +monthly catalog fully indexed can be made to answer all temporary +purposes. Now, we have three series of catalogs, as you all know, +perhaps, each one serving a distinctive purpose. The document catalog, +or comprehensive index--its official title--is intended for permanent +use. It includes all documents printed during a fiscal year--July 1 to +June 30, following. The document index is a subject, title, and author +index of all congressional documents, indicating the number of each +document and the volume in which it is bound up. In the monthly catalog +all documents are arranged alphabetically under the author of the +document, and everything related to the same subject is brought together +in the index. Now, we are broadening out a little in our work; probably +doing something Congress never contemplated we should do when the office +was established. We are doing a good deal of bibliographical work, and I +intend to enlarge upon it as I have the opportunity. We have published +"Reports of explorations printed in the documents of the United States +government, a contribution toward a bibliography," by Miss Hasse; a +"Bibliography of U. S. public documents relating to inter-oceanic +communication across Nicaragua, Panama, etc.," and we expect soon to +take up the subject of documents relating to the various states, the +purpose being to make a complete bibliography of everything printed in +the U. S. public documents concerning each state and territory. We +propose to take up the matter of documents relating to the Louisiana +purchase first, because we are going to have a great exposition two +years from now at St. Louis to commemorate that great event. + +J. C. DANA presented the + + + REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL + ASSOCIATION. + +Early last winter I secured from librarians, library assistants and +teachers about 25 brief articles on co-operation between libraries and +schools. These articles were written with special reference to teachers. +I made a descriptive list of them and sent this list to leading +educational journals in this country, with the request that the editors +thereof select from it one or more of the articles and publish them +prior to July 1, 1901. Largely through the kindness of Mr. Winship, +editor of the _Journal of Education_ of Boston, I got the promise of +publication of these articles from educational editors to the number of +25. The articles were duly sent out. I regret to have to report that I +have received notice of the publication of less than half a dozen of the +whole number. A few others may have been published, but the editors have +never notified me of the fact. The articles were brief and chiefly +written by persons prominent in library work in this country, they were +of general interest, and seemed to deserve publication. The fact that +they did not get it is to my mind somewhat indicative of the comparative +unimportance of libraries in the opinion of educational people of this +country. + +Since coming here I have learned of another little incident which throws +some light on our relation to the educational profession of this +country. From the office of _Public Libraries_ the program of the +meeting of the library department of the N. E. A. at Detroit was sent to +32 leading educational journals in this country with the request that +they print it. Of these 32 papers two only printed the program as +requested, or at least two only printed it and gave due notice of the +fact. + +From all this we may learn, as I have stated more than once before, that +libraries and librarians are as yet held in small esteem by the +educational people of this country. Our influence among them is not +great. It is not considered that we are connected in any important way +with educational work. This is the opinion held by the rank and file. I +believe this to be true in spite of the fact that the leaders of the N. +E. A. have themselves been more than generous to the library department. +Those leaders, largely through the influence of Mr. Hutchins of +Wisconsin, gave a special appropriation of over $500 to a committee of +this department for the publication of a report on the relation of +libraries and schools. This report has been quite widely circulated and +has been well received by both teachers and librarians. We owe that to +the N. E. A. We owe it to the appreciation of library work by the +leaders of the N. E. A. Nevertheless, taking the teaching profession at +large, I think it safe to assume that our experience with the +educational journals during the past winter is indicative of the +teacher's attitude toward libraries and their possible helpfulness in +the school room. This fact should not discourage us. On the contrary it +should stimulate us to make our collections and our work with them of +still more consequence until it becomes quite impossible for anyone in +the educational world to be ignorant of, or to fail to take advantage +of, the assistance to every day teaching work which we believe our +libraries can give. + +It is quite difficult, of course, if not impossible, for us to produce +any great effect on the teachers of the present day save through +individual work in our respective communities. No one can ask for a +better opportunity to see the result of such work than I have had +myself. I have seen two or three hundred teachers in the course of four +or five years changed from an attitude of indifference toward the +library as an aid in every day school room work, to one of readiness not +to say eagerness, to take advantage of every opportunity the library +could possibly offer. Many other librarians have had similar +experiences. But this work does not go on rapidly enough to influence +the profession as a whole. The teaching profession as it now stands is, +as I have said, indifferent toward us. One thing we can do, and that is, +arouse an interest among those who are to become teachers. After +individual work in our own towns the best thing we can do, and +especially the best thing we can do as an association, is to stimulate +an interest in library training in the normal schools of this country. +Interest in this phase of practical work has increased very much in +normal schools the last few years. This is especially true in the west; +and perhaps more true in Wisconsin than in any other state. + +Mr. Dewey has recently given this matter consideration and I shall be +much pleased if he will say something further by way of supplementing +this informal report of mine, on what has been done and what can be done +in normal schools toward interesting teachers in the use of libraries in +teaching. + +MELVIL DEWEY: What Mr. Dana has said, though perhaps a little +discouraging in its tone, is pretty nearly the truth; but we ought to +remember this--the public school teachers and the other teachers of this +country are a badly overworked class. Many a man and woman has broken +down of nervous prostration in school, who has entered a library and +worked hard and kept well. Our friends on the school side of educational +work have a strain that comes from the disciplinary side. Worry kills +more than work, and teachers have to meet this question of discipline; +they have to take responsibility in the place of parents; they have an +interminable number of reports to fill out; they have a mass of +examination papers to read and deal with; and they have examinations to +make until they are driven almost wild. Now, we go to them and present +our case, our arguments for co-operation with the library. They admit +it; they are convinced of it; but they have not vital energy and force +enough to take up the matter and do much work in our cause. It is not +that they doubt. They won't question the high plane on which we want to +put the library, and they want to fulfil all their duties. I believe if +we were to change places and were put into their routine, the majority +of us would do just what they do--put it off until a more convenient +season. I think that is the real trouble with our teachers. They are +overworked, many of them; they are in certain ruts; and my suggestion is +to try to reach them when they begin their work, through the normal +schools. If we can get the normal school authorities to give the right +kind of instruction and the right kind of a start to the teachers, we +will accomplish a great deal more. We can do twice as much in working +with the student teacher; it is like working in plaster of paris--easy +while in a soft and plastic stage, but you leave it awhile and it +hardens. So I should say, in considering this report, that we ought not +to be discouraged. It is what we should expect, and we should turn our +attention to, doing all we can to reach the young teachers who are now +in a plastic state, ready to be moulded, but who in ten years will be +dominant forces in education. + +Miss M. E. AHERN: I wish to call attention to the fact that the program +of the Library Department of the National Educational Association calls +for a greeting from some representative of the A. L. A., and I therefore +request, as secretary of that section and as an earnest member of the A. +L. A., that you appoint some member to carry such greetings to the +Library Department of the N. E. A. + +It was voted that Mr. Crunden be appointed to represent the Library +Association at the N. E. A. meeting. + +F. M. CRUNDEN: Touching the subject before this meeting, I want to +corroborate the statement made by Mr. Dana regarding the progress that +comes quickly if you once induce the teachers of a city to accept, even +in a small measure, the co-operation of the library. Only a few years +ago we almost had to beg the teachers to use our books. We had to offer +every inducement to them, and they did it, most of them, rather +reluctantly. Now the great majority of our schools use the library +books. Not long ago I asked three questions of the teachers using the +library in their work: What value do you place upon the library in +supplementary reading? What effect has it had thus far on the progress +of your pupils in their studies? Is it an aid to the pupils? All these +question were answered most satisfactorily to us. Several say the +library books are worth as much as any study in the curriculum, while +two of them say that the library books are worth all the rest. And +regarding discipline, the universal testimony is that the library is an +aid to the discipline. In the school where most reading is done, the +principal tells me that the problem of discipline has been practically +eliminated; they give no more thought to it, because the children are +interested and pleasantly occupied, so they do not get into mischief. +The library has aided in all studies, is the basis of language work, has +improved the language of the children, and has given an interest to the +school work that it did not have before. Now if the teachers can only +understand that this is going to lighten their work instead of +increasing it, they will accept the co-operation of the library. + +Dr. CANFIELD: Just one word to express my appreciation of the fairness +with which Mr. Dewey put before you the position of the teachers and to +add this statement: You are all likely to forget that you determine the +lines of your own work and that a teacher's work is laid out for her by +other people, and it takes about all the time and strength of the pupil +to meet the immediate demands of the curriculum, which is often very +unwisely laid out. I want to add to that, as a proof of the interest +taken by teachers, I know of my personal knowledge that the teachers of +the high schools of New York have frequently placed their personal +endorsement upon library cards for the pupils they have sent to the +libraries and for whose books they are personally responsible. They +cannot prove their interest in any better way than that. + +Mr. DANA: I just want a moment to correct a possible impression that I +was finding fault with the educational profession of this country. I was +not finding fault with them, but finding fault with ourselves. If we are +not yet a power to the teachers of this country, then it is our own +fault. We do not as yet understand our own fitness, especially in +relation to schools and reading in the schools, and we do not even know +what we want to do, or what books to recommend. We do not know what the +field of work in the schools is. How, then, can we expect to teach it; +to urge a thing in regard to which we are not yet free of all doubts? +The fault is our own possibly, and yet it is not all our own fault. It +is largely a question of necessary time. + +In the absence of Dr. E. C. RICHARDSON, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION. + +The Committee on International Co-operation in taking up the work +referred to it by the Association has limited itself this year to a +consideration of the question of a uniform standard of book statistics. +This question is a two-fold one, first, what should be called a book, +second, when statistics are classified, what are the most practical and +useful classes? + +In respect of the first matter, it recommends that all books for +statistical purposes be divided into two or three classes. (1) Books of +50 pages or over; (2) books under 50 pages; or, where books of under +eight pages are regarded at all, books of from eight to 49 pages; and +(3) books under eight pages. + +In respect of the second question, the chairman has prepared a +comparative table of the usage of the _Publishers' Weekly_, _Bookseller +and Newsdealer_, _Publishers' Circular_, _Bibliografia Italiana_, +_Hinrichs_ and _Reinwald_, arranging these in the order of the Dewey +classification. This was printed by Mr. Bowker for the use of the +committee, and is herewith submitted. + + _Table showing classification of book trade statistics._ + +Some of the chief matters for attention are the questions of +_Biography_, whether by itself or scattered in classes; _Literary +History and Art_, by itself or under Philology, or under Bibliography, +or scattered; _Juveniles_, by itself or divided among Fiction, Poetry, +Education, etc.; _Scientific School Books_, _Geographies_, _etc._, under +subject or under Education; _Art of War_, _Commerce_, _etc._, under +Economics or Technology. All these conflict somewhere in usage shown and +in the judgment of the various members of the committee, although there +is a majority for keeping Biography as a separate class--contrary to +unanimous foreign usage. + + =================================================================== + DEWEY (ORDER). | PUB. WEEKLY. | BOOKSELLER | + | | AND NEWSDEALER. | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected and | Literature and | Unclassified. | + mis. works. | coll. works. | | + 010 Bibliography. | | | + Period. and | | | + proceedings. | | | + 070 Newspapers. | | | + 100 Philosophy. | Philosophy. | Philosophy. | + 230 Theology. | Theology and | Religion. | + | religion. | Christ sci., | + | | occultism, | + | | theosophy. | + 320 Polit. Sci. | Law. | Law, tech. | + and Law. | | Politics. | + Economics and | Polit. and soc. | Sociological | + social rel. | sci. | subj. | + 370 Education. | Education. | Education. | + 400 Philology. | | | + 500 Natural | Physics and math. | Mathematics, | + science. | sci. | chem. and physic. | + | | Biology. Nat. | + | | history. | + 600 Useful arts, | Useful arts. | Technology. | + Gen. | | | + 610 Medicine. | Medicine and hyg. | Medicine. | + 630 Agriculture. | Domestic and rural. | Farming and | + | | gardening. | + Art of war. | | | + 700 Fine arts, | Fine arts, il. gift | Art, architecture.| + Gen. | books. | | + 780 Music. | | On music and | + | | musicians. | + 790 Games and | Sports and amusements. | Sports and | + sports. | | games. | + 800 Literary | | | + hist. | | | + Poetry and | Poetry and drama. | Poetry and drama. | + drama. | | | + Fiction. | Fiction. | Fiction. | + Juveniles. | Juvenile. | Juveniles. | + Other forms. | Humor and satire. | | + 900 History. | History. | History. | + 920 Biography. | Biog. and correspond. | Biography. | + 910 Geog. | Descrip., geog., trav. | Travel. | + travels and | | | + descrip. | | | + ========================================================================= + | | | + DEWEY (ORDER). | PUBLISHERS' CIRCULAR | BIBLIOG. ITAL. | + | | | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected |Misc. includ. pamphlets, |Enciclopedia. {| + and mis. | not sermons. | {| + works. | | {| + 010 Bibliography. | |Bibliografia. {| + Period. and |Year b'ks and serials in |Atti accademici. {| + proceedings. | vols. | {| + 070 Newspapers | |Giornale politici. {| + 100 Philosophy | |Filosofia-Teologia. {| + 230 Theology |Theol. sermons, Biblical |Pubbl. relig. e pie. lett.| + 320 Polit. Sci. |Law, jurisp. Legislazione, Guirisp. | + and Law | | Atti de senato, atti | + | | duputati. | + Economics and |Polit. and soc. sci. |Scienze polit. soc. Stat. | + social rel. | Trade and commerce. | bilanci ecc. | + 370 Education. |Education, classical and |Instruzione. Educaz. Libri| + | philological. | scolastici. | + 400 Philology. | |Filologia storia lett. | + 500 Natural |(See below) |Scienze fisiche, mate. e | + science. | | nat. | + 600 Useful arts, | |Ingegneria-Ferrovie. | + Gen. | | | + 610 Medicine. |Medicine, surgery. |Medicina. | + 630 Agriculture. | |Agricolt. Industr. comm. | + Art of war. | |Guerra Marina. | + 700 Fine arts, |Art, science and |Belle arti. | + Gen. | il. books. | | + 780 Music. | | | + 790 Games and | | | + sports. | | | + 800 Literary hist.|(See below) | | + and crit. | | | + Poetry and |Poetry and the drama. |Lett. contemp. Poesie. | + drama. | | Teatro. | + Fiction. |{Novels, tales, juvenile |Romanzi e nov. | + Juveniles. |{works and other fiction.| | + Other forms. |Belles lettres, essays, |Misc. e lett. popol. | + | monographs, etc. | | + 900 History. |Hist., biog., etc. |Storia-Geografia | + 920 Biography. | |Biografia contemp. | + 910 Geog. travels |Voyages, travels, | | + and descrip. | geographical research. | | + ------------------------------------------------------------------------- + ========================================================================= + | | | + DEWEY (ORDER). | HINRICH. | REINWALD. | + | | | + -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------+ + | | | + 00 Collected {|Bibliothekswesen, |Divers. | + and mis. {| encyklopaedien, Gesammt. | | + works. {| werke. Sammel werke, | | + 010 Bibliography. {| Schriften Gelehrten. |Bibliografia. | + Period. and {| Gesellschaften |Atti accademici. | + proceedings. {| Universataetswesen, etc. | | + 070 Newspapers {| |Giornale politici. | + 100 Philosophy {| |Filosofia-Teologia. | + 230 Theology |Theologie. |Religion (Philos. morale).| + 320 Polit. Sci. |Rechts u. Staatswiss. |Droit et economie polit. | + and Law | | | + Economics and |Handel, Gewerbe | | + social rel. | Verkehrswesen. | | + 370 Education. |Erziehung u. Unterricht. |Education. | + | Jugendschriften. | | + 400 Philology. |Sprach u. |Linguistique. | + | Litteraturwissen. | | + 500 Natural |Naturwiss. Math. |Sciences, medicales et | + science. | | naturelles. | + 600 Useful arts, |Bau u. |Technologie. | + Gen. | Ingenieurwissenschaft. | | + 610 Medicine. |Heilwissenschaft | | + 630 Agriculture. |Haus, Land u. Forstwiss | | + Art of war. |Kriegswissenschaft |Art militaire et marine. | + 700 Fine arts, |Kunst. |Beaux arts. | + Gen. | | | + 780 Music. | | | + 790 Games and | | | + sports. | | | + 800 Literary hist.|(See below) | | + and crit. | | | + Poetry and |Schoene Litteratur. |Litterature. | + drama. | | | + Fiction. | | | + Juveniles. | | | + Other forms. | | | + 900 History. |Geschichte. |Histoire, Biog. polit. | + 920 Biography. | | | + 910 Geog. travels Erdbeschreibung, Karten. |Geographie. | + and descrip. | | | + ------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +Mr. Bowker, in behalf of the committee, has submitted the matter, +through Mr. G. H. Putnam, to the International Congress of Booksellers, +and it is hoped that there may be a committee appointed or empowered to +confer with this committee, and that some practical result may be +reached in spite of various difficulties. This committee therefore +recommends for the purpose of library reports, etc., the use of the +Dewey order and divisions given in the accompanying table, with such +modification as may be necessary to meet book trade requirements, but in +the case of all recommendations begs to make them subject to an +international understanding, and asks that the committee be continued +and given full power to adopt a recommended order, providing an +understanding can be reached with a representative of the booksellers. +If such an understanding is reached, efforts should be made to get the +further concurrence of other library associations and bibliographical +bodies generally. + + ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, _Chairman, + for the Committee_. + +J. C. DANA for the + + + COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING + +made a brief statement, that the committee as a whole had been unable +this year to visit and report upon the schools. He presented, as the +report of the committee, a letter from Dr. E. C. Richardson, one of its +members who had visited several of the schools as lecturer.[D] + +WILLIAM BEER spoke briefly on + + + COLLECTION AND CATALOGING OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS. + +The few remarks I have to make on this subject are prompted by a recent +effort to collect from printed catalogs the scattered newspaper material +for the first 15 years of the 19th century. The collection of +information on the locality of files of newspapers up to 1800 has been +commenced, and will in time be completed by Mr. Nelson, who publishes +his results in the "Archives of the State of New Jersey." Many +corrections will be necessary to his list, but it will even in its +present shape be of great advantage to historical students. + +The difficulty of the work increases almost in geometrical proportion as +the dates approach the present era. The great increase of newspapers +renders it necessary to divide the work into decades. I have chosen to +carry it to 1815 on account of the importance to Louisiana history of +the reports on the battle of New Orleans. + +The particular feature in cataloging which I would fain see carried out +in every library is the chronological conspectus, of which so admirable +an example exists in Bolton's catalog of scientific documents, which is, +or ought to be, familiar to all present. + +It is exceedingly simple and easy to prepare and is of the greatest +possible service, both to the librarian and the student. + +Take any folio book ruled in wide columns with an ample margin. For my +purpose I start by heading the first column 1800, and so on to the end +of the page. Taking material from Mr. Galbreath's useful compilation, I +find that in the libraries of Ohio there is only one title which will +appear under this head, the _Western Spy_ in the collection of the +Cincinnati Young Men's Mercantile Library. Enter in the marginal column +the full details of the publication of this newspaper and draw a +horizontal line across the column. The years 1802-3-4, etc., present an +increasing number of titles. The horizontal lines in the columns present +an immediate summary of all the newspaper literature on the subject. + +Dr. G. E. WIRE read a paper on + + SOME PRINCIPLES OF BOOK AND PICTURE SELECTION. + + (_See_ p. 54.) + +MELVIL DEWEY: I want to say a word about that New York list of pictures. +When we printed that bulletin a great chorus of criticism arose from +among the newspapers, and we smiled; we said it was characteristic of +newspapers to discuss a thing without knowing at all what they were +talking about. But I did not suppose that same characteristic would +appear in this Association. Our bulletin states very distinctly what it +is for, and it makes its own case absolutely infallible. We had to meet +the problem in the state of New York, of circulating pictures bought +with the taxpayers' money, to be put on the walls of the school +houses--Jewish schools, Roman Catholic schools and schools of many +denominations. Under those peculiar conditions it was a question whether +we could carry the movement at all, and we selected about 50 people, +whose judgment was most reliable, and asked them, out of several hundred +pictures, to select 100 that would be open to no objection of any kind. +There was no effort whatever to select the hundred _best_ pictures. They +simply made a list that would pass the legislature. It included pictures +that people ridiculed sadly; and yet we had on file letters from +prominent people in the state to the effect that they would protest +against certain well-known pictures, and we thought it wiser not to +raise issues over minor details. Our bulletin is simply a list of +pictures that have been passed by representatives of various religious +and ethical interests. You may think it most absurd that certain +pictures, perhaps the most famous, should have been voted out of such a +list, but if you were to go through the schools of the state of New York +or any other state you would find that there are conscientious mothers +and fathers, who have had no opportunity for art training, who would get +down on their knees and pray that some of these pictures might not be +put on the walls of the school room. If you do not know that, you are +not familiar with the sentiment in the rural districts. There was a +specific purpose in our action; we heard all of these criticisms, and we +did the thing that seemed right and best under the circumstances. There +are about a hundred of us on the state library staff, but we do not yet, +as a body, venture to feel as omniscient as some single individuals +regard themselves. I strongly believe that it is not a bad thing to take +the opinion of experts. We are perfectly willing to show respect to the +specialist in his own field, and I think it is mighty unwise advice to +give young librarians, when they are told not to ask the opinion of a +good specialist, whose verdict commands the confidence of the public. + +Adjourned at 12.05 p.m. + + + _FOURTH SESSION._ + + (LIBRARY HALL, MADISON, WIS., MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 8.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 2.25 p.m., and in a few +words expressed the appreciation of the Association for the delightful +arrangements that had made "Madison day" so interesting and enjoyable. + +Miss MARY W. PLUMMER then spoke on + + + SOME EXPERIENCES IN FOREIGN LIBRARIES[E] + +Miss PLUMMER deprecated any desire to make a comparison between foreign +and American libraries. They served so different a purpose, for the most +part, that comparison was impossible. Libraries, like systems of +education, were an outcome of the history, of the race-temperament and +characteristics, and of the social conditions of a people. And it was +according to one's point of view whether such a comparison would be +favorable to one side or the other. One thing seemed almost +predicable--that, wherever democracy was making its way, there the +library supported by the people and for the use of the people had a +tendency to appear patterned more or less after those of England and +America. + +English libraries were not touched upon, but the leading collections of +Germany, France and Italy were briefly described. At the Bayreuth and +Nuremberg libraries books were secured without formality, and all +privileges were extended to the visiting colleague, with entire +trustingness and fraternity. In Italy more formality was required, the +libraries being government institutions for reference use, but courtesy +and a desire to be of service prevailed throughout. Considering the +question, "What do people do who want to read fiction in Italy--the same +people who are always wanting the new novels in this country?" Miss +Plummer said: "Apparently, these people do not exist in sufficiently +large numbers to be considered in the libraries. If a work of note comes +out, such as a new novel by d'Annunzio or Fogazzaro, it can be had at +the book shops in paper for two lire or two and a half, _i.e._, 40 to 50 +cents, and people buy it and lend it. In some of the little book shops +books circulate for a small fee, but not by any means the best class of +books. The government libraries may purchase the novels of such authors +as those I have mentioned, but they do not make haste about it, and in +one library (a municipal, circulating library) no book can go out that +has not been in the library's possession three months. The novel-reading +class is chiefly composed of visiting or resident English and Americans, +and in all Italian cities of any size there is a subscription library +where books in English can be had." + +At Florence, when one discovers the large and enterprising subscription +library which the Viesseux, father and son, have carried on for several +generations, one's troubles in getting books seem ended, for they have +all the books that the government libraries cannot and do not buy--a +large subscription list of periodicals, open shelves, late books +separated from the rest, and they will get what one asks for if they +haven't it already. If American publishers sent their lists regularly to +Viesseux one would probably find more American books there. Further than +this, one's subscription entitles one to a book or books by mail to any +place in Italy or in the surrounding countries where one may be staying. +Of the Florentine libraries, the Marucellian is the nearest our ideal of +a modern reference library in its collections as in its methods. It has, +as its chief field of purchase, the best modern books in belles-lettres, +and as it is open in the evening its rooms are often crowded with +students and readers until closing time. It has a card catalog by +subjects and a duplicate card catalog of part of the collection of the +National Library of Florence; a ms. catalog in book form by author, +which is accessible to readers; a room set apart for women students, +with a woman, a university graduate, to preside over it. The National +Library is a much greater collection and older, in its 87 rooms; and its +periodical room is the most modern of all, with its magazines from all +countries, even our own _Harper_ and _Century_ showing their familiar +faces on the racks. A special room here is devoted to the catalogs, +which were partly in ms. book form and partly on cards, and students +were always searching the pages or the cards without let or hindrance. + +At Rome the Victor Emanuel Library had a small room shelved with the +Leyden catalogs, in constant consultation. As in most of the government +libraries, there was a table reserved for women, though it did not seem +to be much used. + +Among the Paris libraries described were the Ste. Genevieve, the +Sorbonne, and one of the ward or "arondissement" libraries. The latter +was in the Mairie, and open at 8 p.m. only. The books were in floor +cases, with a counter between them and the people, and on the counter +lay small pamphlet finding lists. It is not hard to keep these up to +date, since the libraries themselves are far from being so, and new +books are not often added. The librarian, who had some other occupation +during the day and served here in the evening, to add a trifle to his +income, got books and charged them in a book as people asked for them. +Use of the library was permitted only after obtaining as guarantor a +citizen living in the same arondissement with the would-be borrower. +While this kind of library is of course much better than none, and the +situation in Paris is that much better than in Italian cities, the fact +that the hours of opening are only in the evening is a barrier to much +usefulness. On the other hand, a library to each arondissement is a fair +allowance, and no one has to go very far to reach his library. For the +most part they are patronized by the small tradesmen of the neighborhood +and their families. A large proportion of our reading public is missing +from these municipal libraries--they buy their own books, in paper, at +the department stores, and make no use whatever of the government +libraries or of these small circulating centers. + +In conclusion, Miss Plummer said: "If I were asked what sort of library +was most needed in France and Italy, I should say first _good_ libraries +for children and young people. The children of these countries read +earlier than ours, the language presenting fewer difficulties of +spelling and pronunciation, and many of them are fond of reading. Good +material is not plentiful, and what there is the child has no help in +getting hold of. Bad reading there is in abundance, in the shape of +so-called comic papers, etc., at every turn and for an infinitesimal +price. One is ready to say that it is better not to know how to read +than to be induced by one's knowledge to make such acquaintance as +this." + +Dr. J. K. HOSMER followed with an amusing fable, entitled + + + FROM THE READER'S POINT OF VIEW, AND THE ERA OF THE PLACARD.[F] + +The subject was presented in the form of a clever parable, satirizing +the present-day "booming" of popular books, and the unseemliness and +vulgarities of modern advertising methods. It concluded with an +"imaginary conversation" between a librarian and a reader, as follows: + +"'A fellow-librarian?' said I. + +"'Not quite that,' said he, 'but one who uses libraries--a reader, in +fact.' + +"I felt a sudden thrill of satisfaction. Here at last I had found my +reader, and I faithfully proceeded at once to get at his point of view. +'Well,' said I, 'is it not an inspiration to live in the era of the +placard; and what do you mean to do for the Great American Bill Board +Trust?' + +"We walked down the street arm in arm, and this is the rather +unsympathetic monologue in which the reader indulged: + +"'The bill-board--and I mean by the bill-board coarse and obtrusive +advertising in general, whether shown in this defacement of natural +objects, road-signs, street car panels, or in newspaper columns--an evil +from which even the public library is not free--the bill-board is an +evil, but after all only a minor evil. If we had nothing worse than that +among our social problems to vex us, we should indeed be fortunate. +Advertising is a legitimate incident of commerce. The merchant who has +wares to sell may properly make his commodities known. I own I study the +advertising pages of my _Century_ and _Scribner_ with scarcely less +interest than I do the text. But the world is so full of bad taste! +There is no sanctity or silence through which the coarse scream of the +huckster may not at any time penetrate. The loud bill-board is but the +scream of the huckster transmuted so that it may attack still another +sense. The wonder is that this bill-board, and its fellow enormities in +the street car panel and the newspaper columns, do not repel instead of +attract. In the case of refined minds certainly repulsion must be felt. +Now for myself,' said the reader, and here I thought he spoke +conceitedly, 'the fact that a thing is coarsely and loudly advertised is +a strong, almost invincible reason for my not buying it, however +necessary it may seem. With the world in general, however, the standard +of taste is low. Coarseness does not offend; also, it pays to use it. + +"'I have sometimes seen on library walls placards sent in with the +demand, 'Please display this prominently,' that have exercised upon me +an immediate deterrent effect. Still,' said the reader, with his +superior air, 'do not think me ill-natured. The best thing we can do is +to keep our temper, stamp down as we can what becomes too outrageous and +indecent, and labor and pray for the refinement of the world's taste. +This no doubt will come very slowly.' + +"'Can we help the thing forward at all?' said I, falling in for the +moment with his humor. + +"'Only as we can promote in general the diffusion of sweetness and +light,' said the reader. 'If a man should be aroused to attack directly +I believe he might strike a more effective blow through ridicule than +through denunciation. Keep denunciation for the more weighty and ghastly +evils that beset us; a mere annoyance it is better to laugh away if we +can do it.'" + +Adjourned at 3.30 p.m. + + + _FIFTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 9.) + +The meeting was called to order by President CARR at 10.20 a.m. + +The president announced the receipt in pamphlet form of the + + REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. + + (_See_ p. 87.) + +This was read by title, and filed for publication in the Proceedings. + +W. I. FLETCHER presented the + + REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD. + + (_See_ p. 103.) + +Mr. DEWEY: I wish to remind some of you who were with us 25 years ago in +Philadelphia, when we organized the A. L. A., and who, during that whole +period, have studied its interests so closely, that the time has come at +last when we are really on the way to secure one of the things we have +always thought most important--co-operative printed catalog cards. This +will make for all of us less drudgery and more inspiration, for there is +not much inspiration in writing out author's names; it will relieve us +of a considerable burden; it will produce economy and increase +efficiency; and it appeals strongly to our trustees and business men. It +is perhaps the most important thing we have to do, and there have been +apparently insuperable obstacles to success; but we have always hoped +for one complete solution. And this was that it could be done at the +National Library in Washington, with its printing presses, post-office +facilities, copyright department and great central collection. You +remember that when the Pacific railroad was built, and as the ends came +together to make the connection, a great celebration was held through +the country, a thrill that the work was at last done; and I feel to-day, +now that we hear in this able report that printed catalog cards are +really to be undertaken at the National Library, that what we have +waited for over 20 years and what we have been dreaming about has come +to pass at last. After serving my term on the Publishing Board--this is +my valedictory--I feel to-day that I must say just this: Now that we +have reached this point, that every one has hoped for so long, we must +see to it that this agency is utilized and appreciated. Every one of us +ought to watch those printed cards, and make suggestions as to their +use. If we utilize them, and prove their value and their economy, we can +rely on the great support of the National Library in many other +movements. + +The secretary read a letter from the Hon. Secretary of the + + + LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, + +inviting the A. L. A. to be represented at its annual meeting, to be +held in Plymouth, England, Aug. 27-30, 1901; and, on recommendation from +the Council, it was voted that members of the A. L. A. abroad at the +time of the English meeting be authorized to represent the American +Library Association on that occasion. + +The president announced that the polls would be open for + + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS + +in the library exhibit room at the Fountain House from 8 to 10 Tuesday +evening, and that J. I. Wyer and J. G. Moulton would serve as tellers. + +In the absence of F. J. TEGGART, chairman, the secretary read the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN LIBRARIES. + +Since its appointment this committee has worked steadily towards the +accomplishment of the object of the handbook. Specifically this object +is the collection of the statistics, history and bibliography of all +libraries in the United States having 10,000 or more volumes on Dec. 31, +1900. + +While about 80 per cent. of the circulars sent out in 1899 were +returned, the cases in which the bibliographical and historical data was +supplied were too few in number to be of much assistance. The work which +has therefore fallen on the chairman of this committee is neither more +or less than the preparation of a check list of all the publications of +American libraries. The need of this work must be apparent to any +librarian who considers that there is at present no bibliographical +source in which information regarding library publications may be found. +The "American catalogue," for example, ignores such publications +altogether. + +In beginning this work the chairman of your committee indexed the set of +the _Library Journal_ and all available bulletins and catalogs of +libraries for library publications, and cataloged the similar material +existing in the libraries of San Francisco. Approximately the list now +includes between 8000 and 9000 cards. + +This large body of material has been reduced to shape, and the greater +part has been typewritten on sheets. What now remains to be done is +that some person conversant with the library literature of a state or +city should take the sheets representing that district and carefully +compare the entries with the books themselves, supplying omissions and +correcting errors. This certainly is no light piece of work, but it is +essential to the success of the undertaking. + +The historical notices have been prepared in part, but the statistics +obtained in 1899 must of necessity be renewed to bring the entire work +down to the end of the century. + +As the manuscript can be completed by Jan. 1 next, there is every reason +to believe that this large piece of work can be presented in completed +form to the Association in 1902, with one proviso. When the committee +was appointed in 1899 it was given a general authorization to incur +expenditure--in fact, without doing so no work could have been done. +Again, in 1900, an authorization for expenditure was passed by the +Association. Up to the present the chairman of the committee has +expended directly on this work on postage and printing about $150. Owing +apparently to the general terms in which the authorizations for +expenditure were made at previous meetings, the officers of the +Association have not so far made any appropriation towards this amount, +and it would seem proper that some definite provision should be made by +the Association at this meeting to cover a part at least of this +expenditure if the handbook is to be considered an "A. L. A." +undertaking. + + FREDERICK J. TEGGART, _Chairman_. + +C. W. ANDREWS: As the third member of the committee, I may supplement +this report, and state that the matter of obtaining the consent of the +Bureau of Education to undertake the publication of this handbook was +left to me, and that I have pleasure in informing the Association that +there seems every prospect that at least a portion of this material will +be published by the Bureau of Education, and that we may hope to have +made available in this way a much-needed tool for practical use and a +mass of information which cannot fail to be of value outside of this +country. + +W. I. FLETCHER: The matter of the publication of this handbook was +referred to the Publishing Board, but if the plan for its publication by +the government is carried out, the Publishing Board understands that +will take the publication out of its hands. I move that the executive +board be requested to inquire into the matter of the expense incurred by +Mr. Teggart, and provide for meeting it, if this is found possible. +_Voted._ + +The secretary read the by-laws to the constitution, prepared by special +committee and adopted by the Council, as follows: + + + BY-LAWS. + + Sec.1. The annual dues of the Association shall be $2 for individuals and + $5 for libraries and other institutions, payable in advance in January. + Members who are one year in arrears shall, after proper notification by + the treasurer, be dropped from the roll of membership. + + Sec.2. Nine members shall constitute a quorum of the Council for the + transaction of routine business, but no sections of the Association + shall be established and no recommendations relating to library matters + shall be promulgated at any meeting at which there are less than 17 + members present. The records of the Council, so far as of general + interest, shall be printed with the Proceedings of the Association. + + Sec.3. In case of a vacancy in any office, except that of president, the + Executive Board may designate some person to discharge the duties of + the same _pro tempore_. + + Sec.4. No person shall be president, first or second vice-president, or + councillor of the Association for two consecutive terms. + + Sec.5. The president and secretary, with one other member appointed by the + executive board, shall constitute a program committee, which shall, + under the supervision of the executive board, arrange the program for + each annual meeting and designate persons to prepare papers, open + discussions, etc., and shall decide whether any paper which may be + offered shall be accepted or rejected, and if accepted, whether it + shall be read entire, by abstract or by title. It shall recommend to + the executive board printing accepted papers entire, or to such extent + as may be considered desirable. + + Sec.6. The executive board shall appoint annually a committee of five on + library training, which shall investigate the whole subject of library + schools and courses of study, and report the results of its + investigations, with its recommendations. + + Sec.7. The executive board shall appoint annually a committee of three on + library administration, to consider and report improvements in any + department of library economy, and make recommendations looking to + harmony, uniformity, and co-operation, with a view to economical + administration. + + Sec.8. The executive board shall at each annual meeting of the Association + appoint a committee of three on resolutions, which shall prepare and + report to the Association suitable resolutions of acknowledgments + and thanks. To this committee shall be referred all such resolutions + offered in meetings of the Association. + + Sec.9. The objects of sections which may be established by the Council + under the provisions of section 17 of the constitution, shall be + discussion, comparison of views, etc., upon subjects of interest to the + members. No authority is granted any section to incur expense on the + account of the Association or to commit the Association by any + declaration of policy. A member of the Association eligible under the + rules of the section may become a member thereof by registering his or + her name with the secretary of the section. + + Sec.10. Provisions shall be made by the executive board for sessions of + the various sections at annual meetings of the Association, and the + programs for the same shall be prepared by the officers of sections in + consultation with the program committee. Sessions of sections shall be + open to any member of the Association, but no person may vote in any + section unless registered as a member of the same. The registered + members of each section shall, at the final session of each annual + meeting, choose a chairman and secretary, to serve until the close of + the next annual meeting. + +Dr. J. K. HOSMER reported for the committee on + + + MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE. + +Dr. HOSMER: The committee to whom this matter was referred thought it +best to prepare, instead of a formal preamble and resolution, a minute +to be entered upon the Proceedings of the convention. That received the +approval of the Council. The minute is as follows: + +"The news having reached us of the untimely death of John Fiske, once +our professional associate, we, the American Library Association, desire +to make record of our profound grief at the departure of a writer who +was a dominant force in American literature, and to express our sense +that in this passing of a great thinker, historian, and spiritual +leader, our land and our time have sustained irreparable loss." + +President CARR: This minute will be spread upon the record of the +Proceedings, having taken the regular course. + + + CO-OPERATIVE LIST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS. + +C. R. PERRY: At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section +action was taken looking towards a co-operative list of books for +children. There were some features connected with it that were of such a +general character that we thought it essential that the plan come before +the Association in general session, to secure proper authority for us to +proceed with the work; furthermore, there was no further session of the +Children's Librarians' Section, so if a report was made at all it would +have to be made to the A. L. A. in general session. The report is as +follows: + +_To the American Library Association_: + + At the last session of the Children's Librarians' Section a committee + was appointed to formulate some plan whereby a co-operative list of + children's books may be produced, this committee to report at some + general session. We now are ready and beg leave to report progress. + + We have interviewed over 50 members of the A. L. A. within the last two + days, and find a general desire for such a list. Moreover, the people + interviewed have expressed their willingness to subscribe among + themselves a sum of money necessary to cover the cost of preparing such + list (postage, typewriting, stationery, printing, etc.). + + Your committee have found that one or two days are hardly sufficient to + enable us to bring our plan into perfection. We desire very strongly to + accomplish the results for which we were appointed, and therefore ask + for more time. We do respectfully recommend and ask that authority be + given to our committee to proceed with the following plan: + +(1) Committee on co-operative children's list to appoint six people to + collect the subscriptions which have been promised. + + (2) Some one experienced and well-known librarian to be appointed by + our committee to undertake the preparation of the said list. + + (3) When such person has been appointed and has accepted, the money + raised to be turned over to that librarian. + + (4) Our committee to suggest to the person undertaking this work a plan + whereby not only may be secured the approval or disapproval of + librarians and teachers as to the books of the tentative list, but + also a report as to the manner in which these books have been + received by the children in all parts of the nation. + + (5) A final and definite report to be submitted at the next conference. + This report to include the books generally accepted and those + rejected as well. + Respectfully submitted, + + CHESLEY R. PERRY, _Chairman_, + J. C. DANA, + ELIZA G. BROWNING. + +President CARR: This report comes before you in the nature of a +recommendation, and suitable action would be to move that the +Association appoint a general committee to carry out the recommendations +of the report. That committee might consist of the members of the +present committee, who drew this report--Mr. Perry, Mr. Dana and Miss +Browning. + +R. R. BOWKER: Is not this a matter which should come under the +jurisdiction of the Publishing Board? It would then give this proposed +committee somewhat the relation to the Publishing Board that is borne by +the advisory committee on printed catalog cards. Otherwise we might have +a confusion of results. + +Mr. PERRY: That matter was discussed, but we felt that we were preparing +something which at the next convention might be submitted to the +Association, and then referred to the Publishing Board. We are not +expecting to prepare a list for general printing and circulation, but a +list which may be brought up at the next conference as something +definite to be referred to the Publishing Board. + +It was _Voted_, That the committee acting for the Children's Librarians' +Section be appointed to carry out the work outlined. + + + PRINTED CATALOG CARDS. + +HERBERT PUTNAM: I ask your indulgence, Mr. President, for a few words. +The readiness of the Library of Congress to take up the work of +supplying printed cards has been stated. For the Library of Congress, I +wish to say that we do not repudiate anything of what has been stated as +to our readiness; it must be understood, however, that we are justified +in entering upon this undertaking only in case it presents a reasonable +probability of success. Now, for that probability three elements are +essential. First, some body that should represent judgment and +experience, in such co-operative work, and be in touch with the +interests at large of the Library Association. That body is furnished by +the Publishing Board. Second, there was necessary some office that was +directly in relation with the publishers of this country. That office is +the _Publishers' Weekly_, and the _Publishers' Weekly_ has generously +offered to place at our disposal all of its facilities for securing +prompt information as to every recent publication. Third, there is a +strong probability that during the first year at least there will be +some deficit, while the experiment is merely beginning. That danger has +been met. Mr. Bowker, personally, has tendered a guaranty amounting, if +necessary, to $1000, to meet the possible deficit of the undertaking +during the present calendar year. Repudiating nothing of what has been +said about the readiness of the Library of Congress to serve in this +undertaking, I nevertheless wish this matter to appear in its proper +proportions, and we should not be willing to have these other elements +overlooked. + +In the absence of THORVALD SOLBERG, J. C. HANSON read Mr. Solberg's +paper on + + BOOK COPYRIGHT. + + (_See_ p. 24.) + +GEORGE ILES read a paper on + + THE TRUSTEESHIP OF LITERATURE. + + (_See_ p. 16.) + +Mr. ILES: I may add, that when I was in England three years ago and +talked about this scheme, one or two asked me, "Who is going to meet +your libel suits?" I explained that there was already a very large body +of responsible critics who contribute in this country, especially in +this field; as, for instance, the critics of the _American Historical +Review_, and the notes that I have in mind are very much of the color of +the notes one reads in such reviews--not many of them very black, not +many of them very white; most of them a whitey brown. I have never heard +yet of any libel suits against the editors of the _American Historical +Review_, even when their reviews have not been particularly amiable. I +do not think we need to dread any litigation. Mr. Larned went to work in +organizing his staff of contributors with great caution and good +judgment. He did not choose them from any one particular university, but +when he heard that at University "A" there was a man who was +acknowledged to know the literature of the Columbian period of American +history better than anybody else, he sought to enlist that man. And Mr. +Larned has been limited, of course, in various ways that you can readily +understand, as for instance when sometimes a contributor has given him +notes which he has felt obliged to discard. And let me say also that in +the main the most important work has been done by the professors of +history in the colleges and universities, except for the period of the +Civil War, where the late General Cox, who had made a special study of +that field, was his contributor. Mr. Larned's idea is simply to find +throughout this country in any particular field--the Civil War period, +or the pre-Columbian period, or the settlement of the Northwest period, +or the war of 1812--the most authoritative and trustworthy man and +enlarge his audience to take in all the readers and students in this +country, instead of having him speak merely to the students of a +particular university or to the readers of a particular review. + +Dr. RICHARD T. ELY read a paper on the same subject. + (_See_ p. 22.) + +Mr. BOWKER: Can't we have a word from Mr. Thwaites on this question? + +R. G. THWAITES: I do not suppose I ought to speak on this matter, for I +am one of Mr. Larned's contributors. I have done a good deal of +annotation, or evaluation, of this sort, upon request; I have a fair +acquaintance with reviewers, and have done a good deal of reviewing +myself. I know the limitations of reviewers, and there is, I think, a +great deal of truth in what Dr. Ely says. I always want to know, when I +read a review, who wrote the review; after I know the individual who has +written the review, I make up my mind more or less regarding its +verdict. Often, in writing annotations for this work of Mr. Larned's I +have felt the very serious responsibility which rested upon me as an +individual contributor, in seeming to crystallize judgment for +generations perhaps--if this book is to be used for generations--and the +possible harm that might result from such crystallization. I know that +my point of view will be entirely different from another man's point of +view. You take four or five men and ask them to write a note on the same +book for this annotated list, and you will have four or five different +judgments--absolutely, radically different. It is perhaps, a dangerous +thing to crystallize these judgments; and yet, after all, I sympathize +very greatly with Mr. Iles' position. I think the thing should be done. +Librarians are asked for such judgments all the time. All of us who +write text-books are continually asked for annotated bibliographies for +students to follow, and we are always passing judgments--other people +might call them "snap" judgments--upon various books. Great wisdom is +necessary in this matter. For instance, the other day Mr. Larned sent a +note to two of us who are contributing to this annotated bibliography. +It happened through some editorial mistake that two notes, asking for +comment on a certain book, were written to different individuals. It was +Dr. Davis Dewey, of the Institute of Technology, who happened to cross +my path and wrote a note on the same book. Now we had two absolutely +different opinions about this book. And yet it was very natural. I had +looked at this book as the story of an exploring tour down the +Mississippi valley; he had looked at it as a study in sociology from an +economic standpoint. It was exceedingly interesting from my standpoint; +it was filled with fallacies and whims from the standpoint of an +economist and sociologist. Well, I threw up my note and let his stand. +What are we going to do about it? Some work of this kind ought to be +done, because it is most useful; but after all, I think Dr. Ely's word +of warning is one that we should take to heart very thoroughly. +Personally I really don't know whether we ought to "evaluate" literature +or not; and yet I am doing it all the time. + +Mr. ILES: We expect that this bibliography of Mr. Larned's, and any +others in the same series which may follow, will appear also in card +form, and I very much desire when the central bureau finds that a +particular note can be replaced by a better one, in the light of further +developments, that that particular note should be withdrawn, and a +better and more nearly just note be substituted; all gratuitously to the +subscribing libraries. + +F. M. CRUNDEN: I realize the force of what Dr. Ely has said, but I still +believe that this work is worth doing, because it is exceedingly +valuable to us. We have got to have some guide. We cannot all of us read +in all lines and so far as the contradictory notes referred to go, it +seems to me that all that was necessary was for the editor to apply to +those two divergent notes just the remark that Mr. Thwaites made--that +one was written from the standpoint of the sociologist and economist, +the other from that of the historian and geographer. From one side it +was a good book; from the other side a bad book. + +Mr. PUTNAM: I speak on such a subject as this with very great +reluctance, and yet, as a librarian who has had occasion in times past +to select--I do not have so much occasion now, because so much matter +comes to us without inspection--I wish to draw a distinction between +selection and exclusion. Now, when Dr. Ely speaks of an _index librorum +prohibitorum_ or an _index expurgatorius_, the implication is that the +libraries of this country, on advice or of their own motion without +advice, are deliberately excluding from their collection books of which +they disapprove. The librarian, however, approaches the matter in an +entirely different way. He has at his disposal, for purchase, a very +limited sum of money; a very limited sum of money, no matter how large +his library, for the amount of literature put upon the market is +practically limitless. Men of science themselves, after contending for +liberty of expression, do not always use that liberty with discretion or +to the advantage of the community. Now, there must be a selection. That +is the point we start from as librarians; that is the duty laid upon +us--to get, with the means at our command, the books that will be most +useful to our constituents. Now, that means choice. How are we to make a +choice? I do not believe there is a librarian in the United States who +would set himself up as an arbiter or an expert in every department of +literature; who would claim to determine the value of doctrine, either +in religion or in economics, the two departments of literature as to +which the discrimination must be most difficult and most dangerous; and +yet even in those departments we must choose. That means a selection. +What is the alternative, in case we have no guide? What would Dr. Ely +offer us? Dr. Ely, of course, as any university professor, has his +students, who are studying not merely one subject in which they wish to +get the best and final opinion, but all opinions, from which they are to +draw conclusions. Now, the duty of the librarian is simply to represent +all opinions, and not his own opinion, or his notion of the best +opinion, or somebody else's notion of the best opinion; but, given a +doctrine which is important, which is attracting attention, he assumes +that this doctrine must be represented in his collection. It is only a +question of what represents this doctrine best--not whether the doctrine +is right or wrong. If there is a book regarding which there are two +opinions, the appraisal may give the two opinions, as all appraisals +should, so far as it can be done. The substance of what I wish to say is +this: our duty is not one of exclusion; it is one of selection, and that +fact is as little understood as any element in library administration +to-day--and I am sorry to say that the misunderstanding is apt to be +countenanced by the librarian. Take for instance the case of the Boston +Public Library, berated all over the country for excluding certain books +from its collection. Now, the Boston Public Library deliberately +excludes, to my knowledge, almost no book. Its process is of selection. +It receives about seven hundred volumes of recent fiction a year, to +consider for purchase. It believes that it is for the best interests of +its constituents to buy less than two hundred titles and multiply +copies. Now, how is it going to dispose of the other five hundred? They +are neither rebuked, disapproved of or placed in an index. They are +simply left out, because in the process of selection, the first two +hundred seem most useful for the purpose of the library. + +Dr. ELY: I was not thinking about the librarians in my remarks. They +must, of course, make their selections of books, but what I had in mind +was the bringing, especially in the form of a card catalog, these +judgments and these appraisals before the reading public all over the +entire country, and so possibly forming opinion, along one line. +Formerly librarians have had a great many facilities to aid them in +making this selection of which Mr. Putnam has spoken. They have had the +various periodicals with their reviews; they could read these and base +their selections upon these. I had especially in mind the objections to +crystallizing opinion and bringing a one-sided opinion, or one kind of +an opinion, before the entire United States, instead of having opinions +of one sort in one place and opinions of another sort in another place. +Also, it is the impartial nature, or the apparently impartial nature, of +the proposed "evaluations" which seems to me especially objectionable. +Of course, in our college classrooms, we give our estimates of books, +but Professor A will give one estimate, and then the students go to +Professor B's class-room, and they hear another estimate, so that they +soon learn the personal inclinations and preferences of the various +professors, and can soon offer some explanation of the conditions and +the circumstances under which these estimates are formed. And the views +expressed in one university are criticised very largely by another +university. Not so I take it with the person who ordinarily consults the +card catalog of a public library. + +R. R. BOWKER: May I take a moment from my own paper to say just a word +on this subject? Questions are asked of the librarians, and they must be +answered. To answer them in the fullest light instead of the scantiest +is, as I understand, the purpose of what Mr. Iles calls "evaluation." If +Miss Smith--I think there are six of her, so that my remarks are not +personal--comes from the library school, or after the library school +training, to a public library desk, she is sure to be asked questions, +we will say, in American history. There may be an information clerk to +refer them to, or there may not; but, as I understand, this work of Mr. +Iles is intended, not to exclude other sources of information, but to +give Miss Smith opportunity to inquire and obtain the best and widest +available information as to the character of a particular book, or as to +its rating. If this book were to be the sole and exclusive authority, +then of course we might have a censorship in literature, but I do not +understand that in the minds of the promotors of this plan there is any +such design to make an exclusive and solely authoritative work. + +W. MILLARD PALMER read a paper on + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS, AND LIBRARIANS. + + (_See_ p. 31.) + +R. R. BOWKER: There is, or should be, I take it, a large purpose common +to all who have to deal with books, as intermediaries between the author +and the reader, whether from the altruistic side, as the librarian, or +from the commercial side, as the publisher and bookseller. We are +familiar with one expression of that purpose, to get "the best reading +for the largest number at the least cost"; and I, for one, am firmly of +the opinion that that function is properly shared by the two classes of +whom I have spoken, that they are not in competition but in +co-operation; I mean the librarian and the bookseller. It is a narrow +view, it would seem, which puts the two in opposition, or even in the +position of competitors. And just as it seems that the bookseller is +wrong in feeling that the librarian is interfering with his business, so +I think it is wrong for the librarian to feel that the bookseller should +in any way be limited or hampered or belittled in his kind of work of +getting books to the people. It seems to me a truism, indeed, that there +is one thing better than a book loaned, and that is a book owned. The +ideal library community is, after all, one in which the people are so +well supplied with books in their own homes that the function of the +library is not so much a great circulation, however fine that may look +in the statistics, but rather that of guide and helper to readers in the +selection, and, if you please, in the "evaluation" of books. The board +of health in a city or in a state is, perhaps, a fair illustration of +the final function of the librarian; a health board, in its ideal, is a +body to promote sanitation, to warn people against errors, to get rid of +the mistake that tuberculosis is a hereditary disease from which people +have to suffer, instead of one which is communicated and which can be +avoided; rather than a body to furnish free medical attendance like a +dispensary. So I start with the proposition, that it is desirable for +librarians, for public librarians, as such, to encourage most of all the +formation and owning of private libraries throughout their bailiwicks. + +Now, there has been one difficulty of late years in bringing about this +result, in the most effective way, and that difficulty has been felt not +only in this country, but throughout most countries--the fact that +competition, not in quality but in "cut rate" price, has practically +taken away the living of the commercial intermediary in the +distribution of books, the hire of the laborer who is working in that +particular vineyard. That has been true in Germany, in France, in +England, and in this country. It has not prevented the sale of books; it +_seems_ not to have limited the sale of books; but it is probably true +that the dissemination of the best literature among the mass of the +people, in private libraries, while it has been immensely improved by +the library system, has not been promoted by the bookselling system +under present conditions as it should be. In Germany, a movement has +been on foot for a few years past, and has been quite successful, to +give that particular kind of librarian, the bookseller, a fee more +worthy of his function; a profit which makes it possible for him to keep +that sort of library which is distributed into private libraries, +_i.e._, the book store. In France a very curious difficulty is in +illustration. There the price of books had come to be very low, so low +that when a rise in the price of paper came, the publisher's business +was found to be almost impossible. The remedy naturally took the shape +of a general rise in price, a considerable rise in price in cheaper +books, sufficient to meet that particular difficulty and to make +possible at the same time a better recompense, a living wage, to the +intermediary. Now, the whole tendency of modern industrial development +is to get rid of the intermediary as much as possible; _i. e._, to have +as few steps, of person and of cost, between the producer and the +consumer as is practicable. This we may take as fundamental to-day. It +remains true, nevertheless, that there must, as a rule, be somebody +between the producer and the consumer, between the person in the great +manufacturing center and the remote distributing points on the +circumference to bring the thing wanted to the person who wants it; and +it is only in view of that requirement that the bookseller is to be +considered. In that sense, as I have said, he seems a complement of the +librarian, and the book store the complement of the library. Now, a +librarian cannot live without salary, though many live on very small +salaries, in the hope of better things--and one of the accomplishments +of the American Library Association has been to bring better things to +the librarian. Both the dignity and the emolument of the library +profession have been, I believe, increased greatly by the existence of +this Association. The librarian receives a salary, and it is not true, +as we all know, that books can be circulated freely from public +libraries in the sense of their being circulated without cost. Indeed, +we have occasion to lament often that the cost of circulating a single +volume is so great. It is a fair question whether the cost of shelving, +preparing for the public, and in many cases, of circulating a volume, is +not greater than the fee which the bookseller asks as his profit, his +wage in transferring that volume from the publisher to the reader. +Therefore it seems to me that the suggestion of which Mr. Dewey is the +apostle, that the public library should take the place of the book +store, that it should exhibit recent books to the public and take the +public's orders for those books, rests both on an economic and on a +social fallacy. In a word, work cannot be done for nothing, and whether +that work is paid for by the public in the shape of salaries or by the +private buyer in the shape of profits is a matter of comparison. + +About the time at which the A. L. A. was organized, in 1876, there was +an attempt on the part of the book trade to deal with this question, and +at Philadelphia, in 1876, a meeting was held at which a reform plan was +initiated. That plan, it seemed to me then as it seems to me now, +involved a fundamental mistake, in that it did not deal with the +question of published prices. It is evident that books cannot be +increased in price, unless there is a specific reason in the price of +paper or some such reason, without interference with their sale and wide +distribution. It is poor policy for the publisher to limit the sale of +his ware by putting a higher price on it than the traffic will bear. At +that meeting it was proposed not to alter the published prices of books, +but to recognize formally the custom of giving twenty per cent. discount +to the retail buyer. The reform proceeded upon that basis, and the +system presently broke down. Within a year past there have been shaped +two organizations, the American Publishers' Association and the American +Booksellers' Association, which are working in harmony on another plan. +That plan is that new books, new copyright books (fiction and some +special classes excepted for the time), should be published at a price +which recognizes the fact that the published price hitherto has not been +the real or standard price. In other words, a book which was priced at +$1.50 it is expected to publish at twenty per cent., more or less, below +that price, and to make a $1.50 book, say, $1.25 or $1.20; a $2 book +$1.60 or $1.50, and a $1 book 75 or 80 cents. This plan recognizes the +existing situation, and the proposal is that the plan shall be enforced +by the publishers declining to supply books to booksellers who fail to +maintain those standard prices. The plan has worked out with other +classes of specially owned articles, in that respect similar to books, +and it has worked with fair success. + +There is only one exception which the bookseller is permitted under the +proposed regulations to make, and that is a discount to the library. +That discount is limited to ten per cent., and I think it should fairly +be stated that this may increase, perhaps by five or ten per cent., the +actual prices which some libraries, at least, have been paying for their +books. That is a disadvantage from the library point of view which must +be faced. I do not know that it will increase the price in the case of +libraries generally. In the case of the public, it has been true that +while many have paid the lower price for the books, others have been +asked the full published price, so that there has been an inequality of +price where the person best equipped in one sense, least equipped in +another, has had the advantage of the lower price. In other words, the +person who had most books and knew most about them, got the book at a +very low price, and the person who was really most in need of the book, +because he knew less, had to pay the full price for it. I do not believe +myself that that is the right or a good way of doing business. It would +not be the method which you would permit in libraries, of treating one +person differently from another, because the fundamental proposition of +this Association is that the public should be treated equally and +justly. Take it altogether, I for one believe that although in some +cases there may be this slight rise in cost to the library, the whole +library situation, or, I should say, the whole book situation, would be +so much improved by the proposed change that it would be to the general +advantage of the libraries to suffer that specific disadvantage. + +Nevertheless, there is a good deal of grasping in human nature, and it +might be very wise for the American Library Association, in one sense +representing the public, to come into official relation with this matter +and be the guardian of the buying interests, to the extent of making +sure that there is a real reduction in the prices of books on this +scheme. The large-minded publishers will doubtless see their interests +in making the reduction throughout on the copyright books which are to +be published on this plan. There are others who may not see this +advantage, and who may attempt, under the new plan, to set as high a +price on the book as under the old plan. If we had a committee of this +Association on relations with the book trade, it might be possible for +such a committee, known to be on the alert, to prevent or remedy cases +of that sort, and I trust such a committee will be appointed by this +body, or by its Council, as I shall take the liberty of moving. + +I should feel some hesitancy in speaking to this Association from the +two points of view, of relation with the book trade and of relation with +the library interests; _i.e._, of speaking as the editor of the +_Publishers' Weekly_ and as the editor of the _Library Journal_, but for +the fact that I believe the interests to be one. I may, however, make +the personal explanation that while it seems to me that a journalist +cannot write that in which he does not believe, on the other hand, a +journalist who is responsible for the conduct of a representative +journal cannot interpolate his own opinion to the exclusion of the +opinion of the class whom he is supposed to represent; for that reason I +have taken the position in my own office that in case the library +interests should come in conflict with the publishing interests, I will +give over that particular subject to some librarian, who, using the +editorial columns of the _Library Journal_, will represent +distinctively, free from any interest in the book trade, the views of +the Library Association and of the library interests at large. I take +this opportunity to say that in case the opinion of this Association is +adverse to the plan which I have been outlining, the _Library Journal_ +will take that course in presenting fairly and fully the views of the +profession. When the whole question is threshed out; when such a +committee has discussed, perhaps with the publishers' association +itself, whether there should not be a somewhat greater discount to the +librarian, to equalize the old rates; when such a committee expostulates +with individual publishers against an abuse of this plan, I believe that +the result will be, on the whole, to promote the wide and useful +dissemination of books, and I trust that any action which is taken, if +action should be taken by the Association or by its Council, will be in +view of the wider co-operation in which these two interests should work. +Let me remind you that the bookseller cannot live without earning his +living any more than the librarian, and it is not quite fair perhaps for +those of us who are protected by salaries to impeach the fair living +which the bookseller earns in another way. The book store should exist +in every community, alongside the library. We know as a matter of fact +that even our large cities, certainly our small cities, even more our +towns, are very ill equipped with book stores; that in many places they +are notable for their absence rather than for their presence. This +element of active work in the distribution of books should, I believe, +come back more to our American life. It cannot come back, apparently, +under present conditions, and any movement, it seems to me, should have +the helping hand of the A. L. A. that tends to put the American +bookseller on a plane with the librarian as an agent for the +dissemination of the best books at the least cost to the most people, +and I emphasize "at the least cost," meaning the least cost at which the +service can be rightfully performed. + +Adjourned at 12.45 p.m. + + + _SIXTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 9.) + +The meeting was called to order at 2.15 p.m. by President CARR, who +announced that the discussion would be continued from the morning +session, on the subject + + + THE RELATIONSHIP OF PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS. + +MELVIL DEWEY: There seems to be an impression on the part of some that +the attitude I have taken in regard to this question is for the sake of +starting up discussion. I am quite sincere in what I say and in what I +believe in regard to it. In the first place, I think nothing could be +more unfortunate than for any of us to get into an attitude of +antagonism with the publishers and booksellers. There was something like +that twenty-five years ago; their organization and ours began at the +same time. There were some who wanted to fight with the booksellers and +publishers. I think that is all wrong. I am heartily in sympathy with +nearly everything that Mr. Bowker said this morning, and with what has +appeared in the columns of the _Publishers' Weekly_. I read every page +of it. I believe so profoundly in the value of the bookman's work that, +when formulating definitions of our university studies, as to what a +full-fledged university should be, I insisted it should include +publishing research and publication, not only the preservation of +learning. It is because I have so profound a respect for what may be +done by the book trade, as we call it, that I believe in these things. +But the discussion this morning seemed to be very much on the line of +Ruskin's attack on railroads, which he said always were devices of the +devil, and he said it very eloquently. You heard the same talk about the +trolley lines--about the whitening bones of the young innocents that had +been killed by them. We were assured that bicycles were to destroy the +horse trade entirely, yet horses now bring double what they did before. +Twenty-five years ago, I remember a very prominent man most earnestly +pointing out just what was pointed out this morning--that the A. L. A. +and the public libraries were simply devices to injure the interests of +publishers and booksellers. And the attitude of men on these things is +based on what Mr. Bowker called "an economic and social fallacy." I like +the phrase; only he was fitting it to me, and I fit it to him, and it is +for you to decide which is right. The question hinges on what we +understand the library to be. If the library is like a blacksmith shop, +or shoe store, or something of that kind, then he is right. If the +library is an essential part in our system of education and a necessity +for our civilization, then I am right. In New York we still have the +plank road and the toll-gate, and we are just taking them over for +public use--buying them and abolishing the tolls, so that the public's +right to use the roads has come back to them. All the arguments we heard +this morning would fit the question of abolishing the toll-roads. A +great many people keep no horses. Why should they be taxed to maintain +the roads? We have the fire department. We do not tax only the people +whose houses are on fire. It is a public necessity. We have the best +illustration of the case in our schools. The tax-supported high school +has killed off a number of private schools, and estimable people who +were earning their living that way were thrown out of employment. And +the tax-supported high school is in analogy with the public library. It +has offered instruction free and has ruined the business of others. It +is so with many professional schools. A transition has been going on +very rapidly. The last big fight we have been having is over the +business colleges, some of which are directed by mere charlatans, and +others by those who are giving admirable instruction, doing their work +well. But they have outlived their time. The public demanded that +certain instruction of this kind should be made available cheaply to all +the people. + +Now, we have been charged with wanting to abolish the bookseller. I +never said anything about abolishing him. It is like saying that because +the tadpole is going to be a frog we are abolishing the tadpoles. It is +nature that does it; it is a matter of growth. Or it is like saying that +the entomologist in pointing out that the moth is going to develop into +the butterfly, is abolishing all the moths. So the good booksellers, if +they go on with the work of supplying the public with good reading, will +do it through the agency of the public library, where they can do it +cheaper. When we are sure that a certain thing ought to be done; that it +is a good thing; and, secondly, when we are sure that it can be done +cheaper than in any other way, we are not inclined to waste a great deal +of time theorizing over anybody's philosophy as to whether it is a +proper thing to do or not. We want the right things done in the best and +cheapest way. I am sorry to see the old-time bookseller, who did good +work, crowded out of the field. I do not see any way in which he can +save himself, except in the largest cities. I am sorry to see a great +many of the old schools, the secondary schools, crowded out of business +and entirely replaced by the tax-supported schools. I do not understand +that it is our purpose, either in this Association, or in life, to be +studying how we are going to feed every man after the system which has +fed him up to the present time is abolished. If the man is good for +anything, he will earn his wages; and it is utterly fallacious to say a +thing is wrong because somebody is going to lose his business. When the +railroad was built a great many worthy men who drove stage coaches were +driven out of business in just that way. Every modern improvement does +that; new machinery of all kinds has the effect of driving people out of +employment; but, in the long run, it pays. + +I ought to say in the first place that the suggestion that the librarian +would sell books for a profit is one of those queer things that crop out +in connection with all great movements. I never yet heard of any library +that was buying books and distributing them. I believe that the library +will order books in connection with other work. My thesis is this: the +book owned is a great deal better than the book loaned. I believe it is +better for a man to own a book than to borrow it; that it is legitimate, +at public expense, to show him that book in the library and hand it to +him as his book--just as legitimate an expense, every way, as it is to +employ a man to sell people books so that they won't patronize the +Booklovers' Library. I think the whole thing hinges there. It is not a +matter of theory, but of fact. If that is what we want to accomplish, +can we do it best with the book store or with the library? I contend +that it is impossible to rehabilitate the old bookseller, any more than +the old private school, which could be done only by endless means in +endowment. I do not believe we should try, because it can be done better +and cheaper in another way; because the library has the books on its +shelves. The statistics this morning showed that the bookseller is dying +out. I believe it to be entirely impossible to rehabilitate that +profession. If in the library it becomes a recognized principle that +the library is supported at public expense for the purpose of lending +books. I am confident that the public will demand it to be done in that +way. I am confident of another thing. You have only to consult your +catalogs to see the remarkable development of the last decade in +publishing which is done by endowed universities and colleges and of +learned societies. See the great body of technical journals that have +been turned over the university presses. Every university that pretends +to accomplish much now has a press, and is developing it with great +rapidity. It was said this morning that the publisher hinged on the +cash; that the bookseller hinged on that. Ladies and gentlemen, the cash +profit is not a proper scale in which to weigh the questions in which we +are interested. When you take questions of education, or religion, or +philanthropy, and put them on a question of cash profit, you are in an +absolutely false attitude. I do not mean by that that we must not regard +business conditions. We must know how to pay for our coal and our rent, +but not a dividend in dollars and cents. And the moment my antagonist +says that this question is to be measured by a cash dividend, I say he +is ruled out of court in any body of librarians who are giving their +lives and their work at salaries not at all commensurate, but who make +dividends on a higher plane. There is no occasion for an attitude of +hostility; nor, I take it, for me to take issue on this new proposition +in regard to prices to libraries. There is not a librarian in this room +who has all the money he wants. If prices rise ten per cent., it will +diminish the number of books he can buy. I followed the argument this +morning. If it is correct, there is only one thing we can do. We, as +librarians, are cutting into the revenues of these men, and we ought not +only not to ask a discount but librarians ought to pay twenty-five per +cent. in addition, because we are cutting into their revenues. We ought +to appoint a committee, which without a bit of the spirit of antagonism, +should meet the publishers and booksellers and point out all over the +United States large consumers who buy for cash. I think it is a +practical mistake to try to force up the price, and that we are bound as +custodians of this money that is put in our hands, firmly and +courteously, but, I am sure, with the most friendly relations on both +sides, to see that the prices of our books shall not be cut down. + +I say, therefore, in summing up, after an observation of thirty years, +that I am confident that the library of this century is going to assume +those educational functions, and that among the most prominent of these +is the putting into the hands of the people who wish to make their lives +wealthier in arts or trades the books of power and of inspiration. The +public library cannot afford not to put into their hands at a minimum +price the books they want to read. And, logically we shall be forced in +that direction. You will find that this tendency is growing all the +while, and we will have to put the library squarely alongside the high +school. Indeed the library in its development is following exactly the +line of development of the tax-supported high school and for that same +reason, that in the high school we now offer instruction free, the +library will offer books for sale without profit--there should be no +profit in the library--and will lend books freely, and will with regret +kill the local book store and supplant it by something that is worth a +great deal more. + +W. I. FLETCHER: I have been so long on the Publishing Board with Mr. +Dewey that I have got thoroughly in the habit, when he gets through, of +saying something on the other side. It seems to me that a few words +might be said to clarify this subject. It is undoubtedly true, as Mr. +Dewey has said, that a book store that is worth anything could not be +established in every place in the country. There ought to be something +of the sort, even if it is a public library. The book stores exist only +in places where it is commercially possible, and that number of places +is very limited. Now I suppose that if we could ascertain the +communities where it is not commercially possible for a book store to be +carried on, we should none of us have any objection--it seems to me most +of us would favor the idea--that the public library should, to some +extent, take the place of the book store in supplying books to the +would-be owners in such a community. That leaves the question confined +to those places where a book store is commercially impossible, probably +to those places where book stores have been, even with difficulty, +maintained under past conditions. I should be willing, for my own part, +to do all I could in securing the establishment of a good book store +where there is not one, where it is commercially possible to maintain +one. Where it is not, it would be a good thing to let the library sell +the books. I am greatly impressed with the argument as to the advantages +of a book store in a community where it can be maintained. So it seems +to me that there is not very much difference of opinion among us, after +all, as I dare say those who spoke this morning would not object +seriously to the distribution of books for sale through the libraries, +where there is no hope of having a local book store. As to the amount of +discount under this new arrangement, I am entirely in accord with Mr. +Dewey in wishing that the Association might present whatever are the +views of the Association. On the subject of the amount of discount that +we ought to have, I should hardly feel that the booksellers were +treating us right in this country if they should follow the custom of +the German publishing trade and refuse any discount at all; and it is a +question whether the ten per cent. which they propose to allow under +this new system is enough. I have advised our library committee to +express a hearty readiness to accede to the proposed arrangement, to +take the ten per cent. discount, and we have given our adhesion to it. +Perhaps that was somewhat hasty, before the librarians in general had an +opportunity to act; but I do not believe anything very different from +that will be the attitude of the librarians at large. We might in time, +for example, make it fifteen per cent., but I am sure that could not be +done at present. I am heartily in sympathy with the movement that will +make it possible to have a good book store, which I believe every +librarian would like to have in his place. + +W. M. PALMER: I wish to say just this: Of course in the lack of time +that was accorded me, it is difficult to say all that can be said on the +subject, and explain the by-paths, and so forth; but, as I intimated at +the introduction of my paper, I simply stated what I said as facts, and +while we wish a great many things to be different, we realize that they +cannot be reached in a certain direction all at once. In order to bring +the bookselling business to a basis which will enable the bookseller to +live, some reform had to take place. The publishers have seen fit to +institute the reform which has been outlined to-day. When I spoke this +morning, for instance, of the fact that some librarians ordered books +for friends and others at the discounts which the library and they +themselves received from the booksellers, I did not wish to impute any +wrong motive to the librarian in doing that. It is a matter within the +knowledge of the booksellers, and the booksellers wink at it. I do not +think there was any element of dishonesty in it, because the bookseller +who sold the book to the librarian knew it was again to be sold to some +friend of the librarian. + +R. R. BOWKER: In offering a resolution, I wish to say just a word or +two. I had not expected Mr. Dewey to make an argument in favor of the +public library, for certainly there would be no disagreement on that +point in this room. Where he went further and suggested that the +salaried librarian should become the commercial bookseller, I think and +I hope that there are few to follow him to that length of argument. As +to the Booklovers' Library, of course that is not at all in analogy with +the public library, and I want to take this opportunity to call +attention to what seems to me an admirable use of the Booklovers' +Library scheme, so long as it can hold out. Mr. Carr has told me that he +has looked upon the Booklovers' Library as a very useful overflow or +safety-valve for the public library. When thirty-five people come at +once and want "Quincy Adams Sawyer," and a librarian sees that the two +copies that could be put on the shelves would not meet the demand, he +would say to himself "I cannot rightly spend the money for thirty-five +copies," and therefore he would say to the thirty-three, "You can go to +the Booklovers' Library and get these new books just when you want +them." So this library may be a relief to the librarian who is +conscientious in the spending of his money. + +The resolution which I now ask to move is that the Council be requested +to appoint a committee on relations with the book trade, to which this +question shall be referred. + +The resolution was carried. + +The general session was then adjourned, and there followed a Round Table +meeting on + + THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS. + + (_See_ p. 171.) + + + _SEVENTH SESSION._ + + (FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 10.) + +President CARR called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., and after local +announcements by the secretary called upon the tellers to report upon + + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + +The result of the balloting was announced by the secretary as follows: + _President_: John S. Billings, 103. + _1st Vice-president_: J. K. Hosmer, 103. + _2d Vice-president_: Electra C. Doren, 104. + _Secretary_: Frederick W. Faxon, 104. + _Treasurer_: Gardner M. Jones, 105. + _Recorder_: Helen E. Haines, 105. + _Trustee of Endowment Fund_: Charles C. Soule, 81. + _A. L. A. Council_: M. E. Ahern, 101; E. H. Anderson, 104; Johnson +Brigham, 104; John Thomson, 104; H. M. Utley, 105. + +The president then announced that the Association would be glad to hear +from Mr. PUTNAM, as chairman of the + + + COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. + +Mr. PUTNAM: The Committee on Resolutions has suffered the usual +embarrassments of committees on resolutions. It has been compelled to +abstain from expressions which might seem hyperbole, and from +designating by name many services that prefer to remain anonymous. + +It is the custom of certain associations to make acknowledgment to those +speakers on the program not members of the conference. That is not +customary with the A. L. A. Had it been, I should have had a special +pleasure in proposing an acknowledgment to Professor Ely for his +presence and paper yesterday. It is no slight compliment to the +Association when a thinker and writer so eminent as Dr. Ely is willing +to lay his views before it. It is, in a sense, a greater compliment when +his views prove unfavorable to some undertaking which the Association is +inclined to approve. It implies that our action may be important, and +therefore our judgment worth convincing. Could the Association convince +Dr. Ely, great advantage indeed might result. For should a selected list +of books in economics be undertaken with helpful notes--I will not say +"evaluations," or "appraisals"--but helpful _notes_, Dr. Ely's aid would +be one of those first sought. + +The resolutions follow: + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. + +_Resolved_, That the American Library Association, in concluding a +meeting that has been one of the most largely attended and most +successful in its history, desires to express its hearty obligation to +the various committees and individuals who have made considerate +arrangements for its comfort, and in many an agreeable incident acted as +its hosts. In particular: + +To the Wisconsin Free Library Commission for its efficient general +arrangements for the conference; + +To the Citizens' Executive Committee and Women's Clubs of Waukesha, for +the attractive drives about the city, for the pleasant evening +reception at the Fountain Spring House, and for various attentive +courtesies; + +To the members of the Methodist Church of Waukesha, for the use of the +church for the public meeting on July 4; + +To Senator A. M. Jones, for the opportunity to visit Bethesda Park and +enjoy there the concert given by him complimentary to the Association; + +To the trustees, librarian and staff of the Milwaukee Public Library, +for the opportunity to inspect the library under most favorable +conditions, and to the junior members of the staff for the appetizing +refreshments served in connection with the visit; + +To the resident librarians of Madison, the Forty Thousand Club, and +various citizens, for the drive through the city and delightful +parkways of Madison; to the resident women librarians, the Madison +Woman's Club, and the Emily Bishop League, for the luncheon which was +provided so substantially for the great company of visitors; and in +general to the chairmen and members of the several local committees +representing the state, the city, and various institutions and +organizations, who contrived so excellently for the accommodation and +enjoyment of the Association in its visit to Madison. + +The Association deems itself fortunate indeed in having held its +meeting within reach of two achievements in library architecture so +notable as the library buildings at Madison and at Milwaukee. + +The Association would add its appreciation of the endeavor of the +management of the Fountain Spring House to convenience in every way the +business of the conference; and its obligation for the special +provision made by the management for its entertainment on two evenings +of the conference. + +The Association is aware that in addition to the hospitalities which it +has enjoyed, many have been proffered which could not be accepted +without injustice to the affairs of business which were the proper +purpose of the conference. It desires to record its acknowledgment of +these also, and of the kindly consideration of the hosts who in +deference to this purpose have been willing to forego inclinations +which it would have been a generous pleasure to themselves to have +carried into effect. + + HERBERT PUTNAM, } _Committee_ + J. C. DANA, } _on Resolutions._ + MARY WRIGHT PLUMMER, } + +The report of the committee was unanimously adopted by a rising vote. + +President CARR: This report having brought to a conclusion the general +business of the Association, I may perhaps be permitted just a word +before we dissolve this general session, which is to be followed by a +round table meeting in this room. The chair can only say to you that he +appreciates more than he can express, even had he more vigorous and full +command of language than he possesses, all that has been done by +members, officers, chairmen of committees, one and all, to aid in the +transaction of business and in the success of this conference. The chair +also wishes to congratulate you upon what you yourselves have done to +make this meeting a happy one, and trusts that it may long be remembered +by us all, and that we may all long continue to work together in the A. +L. A. + +Adjourned at 10.30 a.m. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote B: Preceding this first general session of the Association, an +informal social reception had been held at The Fountain Spring House, +Wednesday evening, July 3; and during Thursday, July 4, there were +meetings of the A. L. A. Council, special committees, etc.] + +[Footnote C: From the close of the Montreal meeting to close of Waukesha +meeting the total new members joined were 280.] + +[Footnote D: This report will appear in a later issue of the _Library +Journal_.] + +[Footnote E: Abstract.] + +[Footnote F: Abstract.] + + + + + COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION. + + +The College and Reference Section of the American Library Association +was called to order in the parlors of the Fountain Spring House at 2.40 +p.m. on July 6, Mr. W. I. FLETCHER being in the chair. + +The program was opened by an address by the chairman on + + + SOME 20TH CENTURY LIBRARY PROBLEMS. + +The 20th century is undoubtedly something of a fad already with public +speakers. I should hesitate to speak of 20th century problems in library +work were there not a special justification for noting chronologic +epochs in connection with the modern library movement. It was almost +precisely at the middle of the century that this movement took its rise +in the passage of the first public library laws in England and in New +England. And again it was at the very middle of the last half century, +in the year 1876, that this Association was formed and the _Library +Journal_ started. (I may be excused for merely alluding to the fact, +parenthetically, that Melvil Dewey graduated from Amherst College in +1874.) And now at the very beginning of the new century the library +movement receives an enormous impetus from the benefactions of Andrew +Carnegie, not only in themselves multiplying and increasing libraries, +but serving as a great stimulus to towns and cities and states as well +as to individuals, so that his indirect contribution to the cause of +libraries will probably far outweigh his direct gifts, princely as they +are. + +The library problems of the 20th century sum themselves up in one, the +problem of expansion, and we may perhaps best regard them from the point +of view of the obstacles to expansion, these obstacles constituting the +problems. + +First, we must notice our library buildings, and admit that many of +them, and most of the ideas heretofore cherished about the building of +libraries, present such an obstacle. When we note that since the plans +were drawn on which nearly all of our most recent large library +buildings have been erected, three new ideas in library administration +have come into general acceptance which must powerfully affect library +construction, we can but feel that great foresight and wisdom are needed +to erect libraries that shall not very soon be obstacles to proper and +necessary expansion. These three new ideas are, first, access of readers +to the bookshelves; second, children's rooms, and third, the +distribution of books through schools, branches, delivery stations, home +libraries, and inter-library loans, this third new idea involving +provision for business offices, packing rooms, etc., unthought of +formerly. To meet not simply these new ideas, but others with which the +new century is pregnant, care must be taken that great sums of money, +leaving the securing of more for a long time hopeless, are not expended +on structures in which instead of provision for expansion we seem to +have provision against it. + +Another obstacle to expansion is found in elaborate systems of +shelf-marks connected with systematic schemes of classification, +representing carefully arranged subordination and co-ordination of the +parts. For two things are certain: first, accepted classifications of +books rapidly become obsolete, and second, no library will long be +content with an out-of-date arrangement. Especially will my successor, +or yours, be sure to feel the necessity of signalizing his accession to +office by introducing what is in his day the latest classification. And +in this he will be right. Now, if we have a fair sense of our duty to +our successor, which is merely an extension forward of our duty to the +library itself, we shall be unwilling to tie the library by an intricate +notation to a present system of classification. I think we must take +more pains than is done by either the Decimal or Expansive schemes to +provide a somewhat elastic notation. I regard the classification of the +University of California Library as the best (available in print) for +libraries of our class, because it employs designations which indicate +mere sequence of classes. A little thought will, I am sure, show you how +this is true. At any rate, a little experience in attempting more or +less reclassification with, for example, the Decimal classification, +will prepare you to believe that a less highly involved and articulated +method of designation would be in the interest of reasonable expansion, +and save such expansion from the odium of upsetting the classification. +Through the logic of events forcing those considerations to the front +more and more, I anticipate that the larger and rapidly growing +libraries will increasingly shun all such systems as the "D. C." and the +"E. C.," of which the paradox is certainly true, that the better they +are made the worse they become. The scheme of numbering classes recently +adopted by Princeton University Library points in this direction, while +the reclassification of Harvard University Library, which has been +slowly carried forward during the last 20 years or more, represents a +complete departure from the idea of any correlation between classes, as +indicated in the notation, the order of minor divisions being a +numerical sequence easily changed or modified, while each main class +bears a mark suggesting no relation to another. For example, the +military and naval sciences have lately been reclassified and brought +under the designation War, which may be called (to represent a certain +harmony with other designations) W-a-r. The location of any main class +in the library is subject to change at any time, and is known to the +attendants by a chart, which may be somewhat altered to-day, and +replaced by a new one with large differences to-morrow or next year. Not +that such changes would be made except for real occasion, but under this +system, when they are necessary they are not deferred or regarded as +hopeless as they must be under any highly organized system. + +Another obstacle to expansion closely related to elaborate methods of +notation is found in the common practice of inserting the call-numbers +in catalogs of all kinds, written or printed. When the Boston Public +Library was moved into the new building it was naturally supposed that +it would be completely rearranged to suit its ampler and entirely +different shelf-room, particularly as much fault had already been found +with its existing classification, which seemed quite outgrown. But when +it is observed how the library was tied to its old numbering by an +endless variety of catalogs, printed as well as written, it ceases to +seem strange that it was thought best to transfer the old arrangement to +the new building, with all its infelicities heightened by its new +location and surroundings. And in this respect that library should serve +as a warning to others to avoid, by any available means, such an +entanglement. If it be asked what means of avoiding it are available, I +would say that I am inclined to think that if I were starting with a new +library I would try the experiment of putting no shelf-numbers or +call-marks in any catalog, but rather have a key by which they could be +found by means of the accession numbers which alone would be given in +the author-catalog. + +I can only refer hastily to one feature of library expansion which is +coming in with the new century, and which has to do with the catalog. I +mean the introduction of printed cards, and would say that I look to see +these work a revolution in library methods. If we can procure at low +cost an indefinite number of these cards for each book we shall come to +use them in many ways, as, for example, the accession record, the shelf +list, bulletins and special lists, and charging cards. For the latter +purpose they would have the advantage of absolutely identifying the +book. + +I am sure I have said enough to set you thinking, and I hope when time +is given for discussion you will freely express your thoughts. + +J. T. GEROULD read a paper on + + DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARIES. + + (_See_ p. 46.) + +W. P. CUTTER read a letter from R. C. DAVIS on the + + + RECLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. + +I am conscious that this report of our adoption of the Decimal +classification is, as far as I am concerned, premature. I look upon the +work in its present state as just from the broad-axe or the saw-mill. +There is planing to be done and sand-papering. Except to discuss now and +then some fundamental principle in classification, I have had little to +do with the work. Other duties, which I must necessarily perform, have +occupied every hour of my time. I am hoping that now the rough part of +this work is off our hands, I can make a readjustment of the work in +general that will give me time next year to participate in the finishing +process. The history of the matter is very brief. Our old fixed location +had become impossible, and a point was reached where it was necessary to +begin at once with whatever movable method we might adopt. I had been at +work for some time on a substitution of relative markings for fixed +ones, which would, without any change of classification, set our books +free. This was interrupted by sickness at the critical time, and it was +determined to adopt the Decimal classification as the most generally +used and the most susceptible of modification. Also, my assistants, on +whom the work would fall, were familiar with this method, and had +experience in working it. The changes that had been made were made +largely in deference to the desires of heads of departments. It was not +always easy to act on these suggestions inasmuch as a general adoption +of them would be fatal to uniformity. In consequence some of the changes +are in the nature of a compromise, and are tentative. The change now so +nearly accomplished has been made economically and, considering all +things, expeditiously. The credit of this is due to my assistants. They +have been untiring in their industry and their management of the +differences of opinion that they have encountered has been wise and +tactful. Mr. Jordan, my cataloger, has made a brief catalog of the +changes, which I enclose. You can make such use of this matter as you +may desire at your meeting, but I would prefer that nothing go upon +record. By next year we shall have the matter better digested, and I +hope some of us may be present at the meeting to discuss it. It is a +subject which has a perennial interest. + +In the absence of W. W. BISHOP, J. I. WYER read Mr. BISHOP'S paper on + +SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE. + + (_See_ p. 50.) + +After the reading of Mr. Bishop's paper there was some discussion in +regard to the great desirability of having published each year a list of +the dissertations presented to American universities. On the motion of +Dr. B. C. Steiner it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed +by the chair to consider the question of the section taking steps to +secure such an annual list. Mr. Fletcher appointed Dr. B. C. Steiner, W. +M. Smith and C. W. Andrews to form the committee. + +Mr. A. G. S. JOSEPHSON wished that a complete bibliography of university +theses could be made. + +The chairman announced that the election of officers for the next year +would take place, and called for nominations. + +Mr. Josephson nominated Mr. A. S. Root for chairman. Mr. Root was +elected. Dr. Canfield nominated for secretary Mr. W. M. Smith, and Mr. +Smith nominated Miss Emma A. Hawley. Mr. Smith was elected. + +After the election there followed a general discussion of the topics +presented during the afternoon, those receiving special notice being +classification, notation, the use of call numbers, department libraries +and university theses. + +In the discussion Mr. FLETCHER said: + +My thought about dispensing with shelf-marks in the card and other +catalogs (not really my thought, for I had it from one of our leading +librarians, who has not, however, put it in practice himself) is that +the great difficulties connected with the changing of shelf-marks in +catalogs when books are reclassified may be avoided by placing on the +card only the accession number (in case of a set the accession number of +the first volume), and then maintaining a key, consisting of a book +closely ruled in double columns, where for each book in the library the +shelf-mark is written in pencil against the accession number and changed +whenever the book is renumbered. Such a scheme could not be +satisfactorily applied in a library where the looking-up of the +shelf-mark is involved in the calling for books in most cases. I am +prepared to favor it only where (as is now the case in our own library) +a majority of the calls for books are made orally and answered by the +attendant without reference to shelf-mark. In our case these calls +amount to seven-eighths of all the calls, and in addition to this it +should be said that at least one-half the books drawn under our +open-shelf system are drawn without any "call" at all, so that we may +say, that if we had the "key" system it would come into play for perhaps +one-sixteenth of the books drawn. In libraries of moderate circulation +like our college and university libraries, and (for all but certain +classes which are most used) even in the large public libraries, it +seems to me that the key plan may work well. Of course the key if +subjected to constant use would be difficult and expensive to maintain, +owing to wear and tear. We should not fail to observe that three +separate and distinct features of modern library progress are each and +all working against the necessity, _i.e._, tending to minimize the +necessity, of shelf-marks in the catalog. + +These are, first, the open-shelf system; second, minute classification +and alphabetical arrangement in classes, and third, book-card charging +systems. Without enlarging upon these points, I would like to suggest +them to you as worthy of consideration. + +Mr. HODGES described briefly the classification of the scientific books +at Harvard. First, the serial publications of the broad learned +societies, the societies taking cognizance of all branches of learning, +are brought together arranged alphabetically by country and city. +Secondly, the general scientific serials and the special scientific +serials, however published, are arranged in a group; the general coming +first, the others following according to subject, astronomy, +mathematics, physics, chemistry, natural history, zoology, botany, etc. +When suggesting the separation of the serials in pure science from the +handbooks at the very outset of his work at Harvard, Mr. Hodges urged +that the serials constitute a record literature to which the +investigator must refer when carrying on original work, while the +handbooks are used by the pedagog when preparing for his classwork. The +general designation for the learned society group is L. Soc.; for the +scientific serials, Sci. The handbooks on physics are in a group +designated Phys.; the general treatises by Phys. 357-360. A treatise +published in 1892 is marked Phys. 358-92; another of the same year, by +Phys. 358.92.3. + +Mr. ROOT said: It may possibly have interest in this connection to note +that the catalog of the University of Goettingen, which was established +about 1750, has the feature which has been mentioned here as +characteristic of the Harvard system. The books are grouped in large +classes with an abbreviated heading, with minute sub-classification. +Just when this system was introduced I do not know, but I suppose it to +have been in use a hundred years or so, which I judge to be a longer +life than Mr. Fletcher is willing to allow to the D. C. + +Interesting remarks were made by several others, notably Mr. Andrews, +Dr. Steiner and Dr. Canfield. It is to be regretted that the revision of +their remarks has not been received in time for publication. + OLIVE JONES, _Secretary_. + + + + + CATALOG SECTION. + + +The Catalog Section of the American Library Association held two +meetings in connection with the Waukesha conference. + + + _FIRST SESSION._ + +The first session was held in one of the parlors of the Fountain Spring +House, on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 9. The chairman, ANDERSON H. +HOPKINS, called the meeting to order. + +It was _Voted_, That the section waive the formality of registration of +members preliminary to voting. + +It was _Voted_, That the chairman appoint a nominating committee of +three, to report at the close of the session. This committee was +appointed as follows: Miss Sula Wagner, Mr. Jones, Mr. Roden. + +A. H. HOPKINS: When the round table session on this subject was held +last year its object was, of course, to find out whether there was a +demand for a section of this kind. We found it out pretty soon. Now we +have the section. Then came the question, when I was asked to assume the +chairmanship for one more year, of how it might best be occupied. It +seemed to me for a time that perhaps the best plan would be to go to the +opposite extreme--from having been informal last year--and have set +papers, especially as the Association had decided not to take +stenographic reports of the meetings. However, a change came about in my +views when the interstate meeting was called at Atlantic City last +March. A meeting was held there of the Publishing Board's committee on +rules for a printed card catalog. The members of that committee were at +that time all of the opinion that no better plan could be followed for +this year's meeting of the Catalog Section than to have another +discussion similar to that of last year, but confining the talk chiefly +to knotty points which they met in the course of their work. That has +been done; but there have been added a few questions which have come to +your chairman in the course of the year from persons interested in the +section. + +The Publishing Board, in taking up the task of producing printed cards, +found that widely divergent practices must be shaped so that they would +work together. To this end they appointed a committee of seven and set +them the task of producing harmony among the jarring elements of +practice in all the libraries of this country, barring none. The head of +the catalog department of the Library of Congress was made chairman of +this committee; and, as you know, this great library and its chief, to +whom we all turn so gladly, are lending their cordial support to the +project, and realization now seems near at hand. + +Now what do we want? We want an arrangement whereby any one may be able +at a reasonable cost to get accurately made and well printed cards for +any book at any time. This and nothing else will do. (Applause.) + +The members of the Committee on Rules thought this session could not be +better occupied, as I said before, than in a discussion of certain +points, met by them in their attempts to produce a workable scheme which +would meet adequate support, it having at that time become evident that +the enthusiasm so manifest at Montreal had largely evaporated; probably +because it had not been made clear that the proposed plan was really a +workable scheme. Some of these points the chairman of the committee and +myself have selected and graded roughly into three classes, and I will +lay some of these before you. + +One of the chief troubles is going to lie between the _32 and 33 size +cards_. Let us hear from you on this subject, if you have anything you +wish to say about it. + +Mr. FLETCHER: Perhaps those present may be interested to know something +about the 32 and 33 card from the point of view of the Publishing Board. +The Publishing Board has been supplying the 32 or 33 size card as +required by subscribers for cards for current books. I cannot speak +authoritatively, but I think the board is nearly prepared to say that in +future, if these cards are prepared at the Library of Congress and +distributed from there, it will be found very much the wisest plan from +the beginning to use only the 33 size. It has not been declared +impossible at the Library of Congress to print the cards in such shape +that enough could be cut off to make the card a 32 card; neither has it +been decided by the board that it is not worth while to try earnestly to +bring that about; but the present impression, I think, is that the 32 +size will have to be left aside in the co-operative work. If there is a +strong sentiment here to retain the 32 size card, let us hear of it now. + +Mr. BOWKER: Couldn't Mr. Hanson, of the Library of Congress, give us a +report on the letters they received there in regard to the size of cards +used? And let me emphasize this thought, that in coming to a uniform +system we must approach as near uniformity as possible. It is impossible +to meet all the variances of cards in the several libraries, but we must +look towards drawing all the using libraries into as close uniformity as +possible. And I think the prevailing practice is shown best by the +statistics which I believe Mr. Hanson has with him. + +Mr. HANSON: The statistics Mr. Bowker refers to I have not with me. As I +recall the figures there are something like 19 out of 100 that use the +32 card. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I have Mr. Putnam's figures. I was astonished to find the +percentage that were using the larger card. Out of 185 reporting 138 +used the 33 card, 38 used the 32 card and only 19 (true those 19 are the +older, better established and larger libraries) used odd sizes. + +I will take occasion to ask Mr. Hanson to answer another question on +this point. I had an interview in his company last winter with the +representative of the Harvard Library, which uses the smaller card. We +then came to a satisfactory compromise, and I am surprised to hear Mr. +Fletcher say it is all in the air. It was understood that the Library of +Congress wanted for its subject headings, and we wanted for our subject +headings, a sufficient amount of space, and that they were not willing +to print below the punched hole. That leaves exactly the width of the 32 +card in the center of the 33. And the proposition agreed to by all of us +in this conversation was to print the 33 card with the broad margin +above and never go below the hole, so any library that wanted to could +buy the cards and cut them down on both top and bottom and have a 32 +card. It was understood to be satisfactory to all the 32 users that I +consulted, including Harvard, the largest, I believe, of them all. It is +that point that I would like to ask Mr. Hanson to report on--whether he +now feels that he must go higher or lower than the lines we then +indicated. + +Mr. HANSON: I don't feel it absolutely necessary; in fact we are +following out the measurements laid down by the Publishing Board now. I +have in my hand two cards--the title runs over on the second card at +considerable waste of space, as you can see. But the printers have their +measurements which provide for cutting away the space above and below to +accommodate the 32 card. But I believe it is going to be objectionable, +in the end, when it runs over on the second card. That is the only +objection I can see. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I should like to have Mr. Andrews state whether this card, +if it has to be cut down at the top as well as at the bottom, will allow +room for headings? + +Miss BROWNE: Instead of having to print a second card I don't see why we +can't print the 33 card; then if the 32 card libraries want it in their +catalog why can't they transcribe the extra line or so by hand on a +second card and cut off the bottom. In nine cases out of 10 it would not +make any difference. In one case in 10 where they would have to +transcribe on the second card, is there any reason why it could not be +done? + +Miss DOREN: I am not a user of the 32 card. The only objection I see, if +I were to use it, would be that perhaps I should have to pay a little +more for my card than those that use the 33 card, and it would make the +catalog a little more bulky. + +Mr. ANDREWS: Talking with Miss Crawford it was evident that the Dayton +library wanted a broad margin for analyticals and headings above the +print in the 33 card. That is exactly what we want. We don't want it as +much as they do, but I want to emphasize the necessity for a broad top +margin. That is the point which makes it desirable for 33 people as well +as for 32. + +Miss DOREN: I did not understand the question as referring to analytical +headings. We do want those above all things, and if we are to use the +card at all we need the broad margin at the top. Our use of the card +depends upon having a broad margin at the top. + +Mr. BOWKER: I should like a show of hands on this point. Are those +present, whether 33-card or 32-card people, of the opinion that, after +dropping the heading so as to leave ample room at the top to permit the +32 card to be cut out from the 33 card, as stated by Mr. Andrews, it +would be better to run the type down farther than the hole, if +necessary, on either side, and then cut and recopy for the 32 size, or +to make a double card both for the 33 and 32 size? + +I suggest that the show of hands be first from those who prefer to have +one card furnished for a title when possible, and then to transcribe the +lower part, if necessary, for the 32 card; and then from those who +prefer to have a second card wherever it is not possible to put the +material on the space of the 32 card as printed on the 33 size. Is that +clear? + +CHAIRMAN: I believe so. It includes, however, both the users of the 32 +and 33 cards, and instead of a show of hands let us have a rising vote, +and give time to count them. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who are in favor of printing below the 32-card limit +on the 33 card, rather than furnishing two cards to a title, please +rise. 56 persons rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who are in favor of confining the print to the 32 size +and having a second overflow card printed for the same title, please +rise. 17 persons rose. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I should like to call for a rising vote to learn how many +would like to urge that arrangements be made by which 32-size cards can +be furnished. Three persons rose. + +Mr. HANSON: I cannot think of any library printing cards that would care +to print any lower than the round hole. On the other hand, the library +must have three-quarters of an inch at the top of the card for headings. +Will that leave sufficient space for taking away from top and bottom? + +Mr. ANDREWS: They accepted it by that first vote. + +Mr. HANSON: Then they must punch the hole in the margin. + +CHAIRMAN: Or lose the part they punch out. If you will excuse me, I will +put forth a little argument of my own. + +Apropos of another report I had to make some time ago, I had heard that +the greatest library in this country, certainly in some respects, was +changing its plan to accommodate itself to the 33 card. I wrote to Mr. +Whitney, of the Boston Public Library, which as you know uses a card +larger than the 33, and it is a fact that with their immense catalog +running for so many years, and with so large a number of cards which +they cannot now cut down to the 33 size, they have found it advisable so +to modify their plan for titles henceforth that the cards may be cut +down to the 33 size on reprinting the old titles. Here is the letter, +the report from his cataloger. [Mr. Hopkins here read the letter.] If +they do not think it likely that ultimately they will use the 33 card +why should they take all that trouble? Now, the problem they had to deal +with was 10 times more difficult than that which the users of the 32 +cards have to deal with. All you have to do with a 32 card to make it a +33 size is to paste it on something big enough and provide space to hold +it. With such evidence as this before us why should we fret ourselves to +provide a 32 card when the change to the 33 can be so easily and so +cheaply made? + +Mr. BOWKER: May I add a word which Dr. Billings said to me? He said that +he preferred a printed catalog card to a written catalog card any time, +without reference to any question of uniformity. So he was actually +replacing his written catalog cards with the Library of Congress cards +or Library Bureau cards. I think that there is growing in the great +libraries a desire for some general method which will supply printed +catalog cards. + +CHAIRMAN: Is there any further discussion on this topic? If not we will +pass to the next. + +_Notes and Contents._ I read from the official report made by the +Committee on Rules to the Publishing Board: "The position of the +collation and series note to be on a separate line immediately after the +date and preceding other notes." Now we cannot take up the whole +question of notes, nor the question of the minority report which Mr. +Hopkins was asked to submit; but the question I would submit to you is +this: Is not the contents note really, logically, sensibly, a part of +the title? Is it not actually, in almost nine cases out of ten, more +important than the title itself? If it were not, would it not be +nonsense to print the contents note? If it is so, why separate the +contents note from the title by other relatively unimportant matter? Has +anybody anything to say? + +Mr. HANSON: It seems to me it would be well to say here, collation is +used for pagination, illustrations, maps, plates, etc., and size. That +is the imprint, as we have for convenience's sake called collation; and +the idea is that this information is to be paragraphed, on a separate +line, so as to set out the date and make the date end the line in twelve +point. + +Mr. BISCOE: I want to say a word on the other side. It seems to me that +it would be unfortunate to put the collation after the contents, +particularly where the contents are long. It would throw the collation +on the second card. To find out whether you had more than one volume you +would have to turn to another card. If you are looking for duplicates +you want to see at once not only the author of the book, but also the +number of pages, to show whether the edition is the same. And if for all +those purposes you have got to turn to a second card, it seems to me it +would be unfortunate. + +Mr. JONES: I agree strongly with Mr. Biscoe. I think the number of +volumes, size, etc., range in properly with the date, while the contents +should come afterward and range in with such matter as critical or +descriptive notes. Ordinarily you want those parts that I speak of +first, then your contents, like any other kind of descriptive or +explanatory notes. + +CHAIRMAN: Mr. Biscoe's position appears at first sight very solid and +plausible but there is nothing in it. The reason for this is that there +is only a small class of books that will call for a contents note. I +deprecate mentioning any institution, particularly The John Crerar +Library, but that calls for contents notes probably as often as any, and +I should like our cataloger to answer if he knows about how many cases +run over on the second card. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: We have printed so far about 25,000 cards and the number +of titles that run over to second cards is considerably below 1000; it +is nearer 500 than 1000. + +Mr. JONES: I should like to ask the chairman whether in foreign +bibliographies we do not find that the data, as to volumes, size, +etc.--called the collation--always come first. Should not we be setting +ourselves up in opposition to other catalogers if we put the collation +after the contents? + +CHAIRMAN: Possibly that it so; but if we gain a truth, what then? +Tradition is powerful, but it is not all. Sometimes it is very little +indeed. And this is one of the cases in which I believe it is very +little. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I hold in my hand one of the sample cards which have been +distributed, which has this arrangement. That represents what we now +call the old practice, which we are proposing to depart from--Cutter's +Rules say that the imprint, strictly, is place, date and form of +printing; and then goes on to say that for practical purposes the +imprint is considered as being enlarged so as to contain not only place, +date and form of printing, but also publisher, number of pages and +number of volumes. It seems to have been agreed some time ago by the +Committee on Rules and the Publishing Board that it was wise to bring +back the imprint to the old idea of giving the place, date and form of +printing and publisher. It was also pretty generally agreed that +form--or size as we now call it--number of pages and number of volumes, +and anything else that might describe the book from an exterior point of +view, should be called collation--we have not exactly agreed it should +be called that--and that this should be put in a statement by itself in +smaller type, after the title and imprint, the imprint being printed in +the same type as the title and even completing the line the title ends +on. Now the question is whether that line of smaller type should be +printed immediately after the title and imprint or whether it should +follow contents; that is to say, whether contents (called "contents" and +not "contents note") should not be attached immediately to the +title--which is Mr. Hopkins's idea, I understand, as he thinks logically +it belongs there. The card I have in my hand has contents occupying four +lines, because while it is one volume it contains four different +lectures. That brings before us the "contents note" and the other notes. +Now I understand the new proposition is that the collation should +follow the contents note, but precede other notes. + +CHAIRMAN: The thing I want is that the contents note should follow the +title. I called it "contents note" merely because it appeared in the +smaller type with the other note. + +Mr. FLETCHER: I wish to express my preference in accord with Mr. Jones +and one or two others, that the collation note should continue to occupy +the place it has always occupied, of immediate juxtaposition with the +imprint, and other notes should go below. + +CHAIRMAN: In explanation, permit me to take the floor again---- + +Mr. BOWKER: Has not the officer of The John Crerar Library given the +best argument for placing the collation before the contents? Mr. +Josephson has told us that probably the number of cards including +contents would be less than three per cent. Why should we not follow the +old practice and let the cataloger and the public continue to use the +usual thing? + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I did not say how many cards give contents notes, but how +many titles need more than one card. + +CHAIRMAN: That is the strong point. It is not three per cent. nor +anywhere near it. Those cards that ran over were not all contents notes. +The actual number of contents notes that run over is very small indeed. +And moreover, you have this bibliographical note on every card. You are +going to put it between the contents note and the title every time. + +Mr. HARRIS: I would like to ask what proportion of cards have contents +notes at all. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I don't think I can answer that. It is between ten and +twenty-five per cent. + +Mr. HARRIS: The point I was about to make was that I think it is well to +sacrifice something for the sake of uniformity, for the aid of persons +who consult the catalog; and as Mr. Josephson says only fifteen to +twenty-five per cent. of the cards have contents notes, in seventy-five +per cent. the collation would immediately follow the title. And +therefore it seems to me it is desirable not to have the contents note +follow the title. + +A show of hands was called for. + +CHAIRMAN: Before we have the show of hands, may I say one thing more? I +don't believe that most of you that have not been using these cards know +how useful the contents note is or what it is for. It is to furnish your +analyticals. If you want to analyze a volume of essays, for example, +your contents note does it all for you with just a little bit of +clerical work when the cards come in. You have fifty items that you +would like to represent in your catalog, and the card does it all for +you. It is costing you one to three cents instead of fifty or sixty +cents. + +Mr. L. P. LANE: I have learned a good deal since I have been in the +Boston Public Library by observing the practices which that library has +departed from. I know the library did in times past print contents and +have an entry designed to fit one particular item of contents and then +underline that item on the card. That has been found so unsatisfactory +that when we now recatalog anything and deem any item of contents worthy +a separate entry we catalog that item separately and print a second +card. + +Mr. ANDREWS: If the Library of Congress will do this we do not care for +many contents notes. I didn't understand the Library of Congress +proposed to print analyticals, but rather to print contents notes; that +they, and most of the libraries that print cards, found their economy on +this point. But it is really the Library of Congress that must be +consulted as to the desirability of many contents notes. + +Mr. HANSON: That has been one of the perplexing questions with us in +printing cards. We do use the contents as analyticals to some extent, +underscoring the particular item on the heading given. But where an +analytical is what we catalogers call an imprint analytical, that is, +with separate title and pagination, we find it more economical to print +a separate card for that title. In other cases and where we find it very +inconvenient to use the contents card, we print analyticals. + +CHAIRMAN: My own opinion is that it is best to put the collation at the +end. It is easiest found there. The thing I want to see is to have it go +below the contents. I want to say one thing more. The reason you think +more than one per cent. consult the note is because you are librarians. +Take your popular libraries, and they deserve to be considered, how +many readers are going to look for that note? + +Miss CRAWFORD: I am somewhat undecided in mind between the two +standpoints. It seems to me that the contents, from the nature of the +case and from the accessibility of the catalog, belongs rather at the +top. I believe you are right when you say that ninety per cent. would +use the contents first, rather than the bibliographical note. But the +critical notes and any other general information should come right next +to the contents. + +Mr. JONES: I wish to repeat that "collation" is a bibliographical +description of the book; if you want to describe a book or to order from +a bookseller you turn to that data. Collation, it seems to me, comes +naturally after the title, and I still hold that to separate it from the +title is not in accord with the general bibliographical practice of the +world. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of placing contents note immediately +following the title, please rise. Three persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of placing contents note after +collation, please rise. 52 persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: The next question is a recommendation from the committee: +"_That a column be set aside in the Library Journal for notifications to +libraries of decisions on doubtful points; e. g., 'Kate Douglass Wiggin +should not be changed to Riggs; or, Automobiles should be classified +...'_" + +In other words, that a kind of department be created, when the Central +Bureau is created, for giving librarians throughout the country a notion +of how these matters are to be treated. What is the opinion? Is there +any discussion? If not we will go on to the next point. + +A MEMBER: No discussion means that we agree to it, I understand. + +CHAIRMAN: I suppose so. If it doesn't you should say so quickly. + +A MEMBER: Does this recommendation say _Journal_ or journals? + +CHAIRMAN: _Journal_ is the word used. The _Library Journal_ is the +official organ of the A. L. A. Probably if the committee had gone beyond +that it would have been exceeding its province. + +"_The committee earnestly recommends that the practice of giving dates +of birth and death be used extensively. It is convinced that a very +large share of the work has already been done and may be easily obtained +for the use of the Central Bureau. Expressions from various members of +the committee have shown a great readiness to assist in this._" + +Mr. MERRILL: I would like to inquire whether that means that dates shall +be given only to distinguish men of the same name or whether they shall +be used in every case. + + +CHAIRMAN: It is not designed that the use of dates be intended only for +distinguishing writers, but it is urged that dates be given extensively. + +Mr. BOWKER: Doesn't that mean that the dates should be used where the +authors are not of the same names? + +CHAIRMAN: Yes. + +Mr. BOWKER: In the case of living authors, is it intended to give date +of birth if possible? + +CHAIRMAN: Yes. + +Miss BROWNE: At the Boston Athenaeum for years they have been giving +those dates on their cards, and now they are scratching them off. + +Mr. BOWKER: Does anybody know why? + +Miss BROWNE: I believe they consider they are not as desirable as a +means of distinction as some phrase might be, and so they scratch off +the date and give, for instance, "Henry James, _Novelist_; Emerson, +_Essayist_." + +Miss WAGNER: How would they classify William Morris? + +A MEMBER: Or Andrew Lang? + +CHAIRMAN: The next question is the following recommendation of the +committee: "_The committee recommends that the Central Bureau prepare a +biographical card giving the fullest form of name, dates, official and +honorary titles and degrees, membership of academies, etc., and all +forms of names and pseudonyms used._" + +Mr. FLETCHER: I suppose the idea is to prepare a biographical card for +each author for whom any card is issued. I don't know exactly how it +should be worked. I want to call your attention to the fact that the +Advocates' Library of Edinburgh tried this in preparing the first two +volumes of their catalog; and when they got the two volumes printed +they concluded it was too expensive, and gave it up. I wonder how many +libraries would advocate that the Library of Congress shall furnish us +cards, not only for the books, but whenever an author comes for whom +they have not furnished such a card that they shall furnish us a +biographical card, which we shall pay for? I do not understand that the +Library of Congress is preparing such a card now. It may be worthy of +discussion whether we want such a card prepared. + +Miss AMBROSE: It seems to me a card of that kind would be extremely +helpful in smaller libraries that are limited in biographical books. + +Mr. JONES: I would suggest that in the case of authors for whom we most +need those facts, new authors, the facts would not be available. Could +we have a copyright note by which each author should furnish the desired +facts? + +CHAIRMAN: Mr. Hanson could answer that, perhaps. + +Mr. HANSON: I have familiarity with copyright authors that many +librarians do not meet with, but whom we must have information about to +distinguish from other well-known authors of the same name. We have a +method of getting at them through the copyright records, and we write +them, sending a blank, and occasionally ask them to give information of +their other works. That is put on a preliminary card, and before every +new author such a biographical card is inserted. I believe this is an +old practice, used in many libraries. + +Mr. BOWKER: The Publishing Board would like a show of hands on how many +libraries would like such a biographical card. At first sight this +struck me as a most valuable suggestion. It would, of course, cost the +extra half cent or cent--whatever it might be--for the card; on the +other hand, it might be of great value to the reader. I suggest that we +have a show of hands, not _pro_ and _con_--simply _pro_. + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: I am especially interested in this, because we +tried such a card in our library. We thought an information card was +going to be a desirable thing. We tried it for about two years, and we +found it was very little used indeed for biographical purposes. People +wanted more information than we could give on a biographical card. Of +course it is very desirable to differentiate authors of the same name. + +Miss AMBROSE: Have those cards a distinct purpose, as of assisting the +catalogers aside from the public? + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: From the standpoint of a cataloger who has done +it, we didn't find it useful to us. It was more work than help. + +Mr. BRETT: Wouldn't it be more valuable to the small library than to the +larger library? A great many of the smaller libraries haven't time to +look up authors. It seems to me it would be of value in our library. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I think those cards would be of use not only to small +libraries, but to readers in larger libraries. I do not say, though, +that I think it was the purpose to print a card for every author. If the +heading used on the Library of Congress card gave all the information +desirable, I don't see any use of printing it again. I hope the +proposition will be put in three forms: Those who want such a card for +every author; those who only want a distinctive card in cases where +distinction is desired; and those who do not care for such a card at +all. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as favor such a card for general use, please rise. 16 +persons rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as favor such a card for distinctive purposes only, +please rise. + +Miss VAN VALKENBURGH: If we are going to have the same material on the +other cards we won't need it here. + +One person rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as do not care for such a card at all, please rise. +None voted. + +CHAIRMAN: We have still another of these topics: "_The committee +recommends as strongly as it can the importance of placing the subject +headings and classification numbers (D.C. and E.C.) on the bottom of the +card._" + +Miss BROWNE: These subject headings are simply suggestive. If any +cataloger has already started with, for example, "Birds" instead of +"Ornithology," he can simply go on as he has begun. The same way with +the D.C. and E.C. numbers. There are certain ones that perhaps are +absolute; others are suggested to go in one place, but would go +perfectly well in three or four other places; you take the one that fits +in with your scheme; if you have no scheme you can use the one that is +suggested. + +Mr. FLETCHER: The Committee on Rules has recommended this, and unless +objection is presented here this meeting might endorse this +recommendation. + +W. M. SMITH: I don't see how these marks could be put on without +preliminary classifying. + +Mr. HANSON: If the work is done at the Library of Congress, of course +the book has to be classified, and it is very easy to translate any +classification mark into either D.C. or E.C. It would be an additional +cost, of course, to print two or three headings at the bottom of the +card, but it has to be done. + +CHAIRMAN: In other words, the work has to be done for the Library of +Congress. + +Miss KROEGER: The subject headings are the most expensive part of the +catalog. It would be a mistake to leave off the marks. + +CHAIRMAN: A show of hands is called for. As many as favor recommendation +of this rule, please rise. 70 persons rose; contrary, none. + +Mr. BOWKER: I would like to say a word upon the question which was +raised of printing certain matter in the _Library Journal_. While the +_Library Journal_ is technically the official organ of the A. L. A. it +would seem desirable to send such material to all the library +periodicals, and I should suppose that it would be understood that the +committee might so do. + +CHAIRMAN: In the formal report of the committee to the Publishing Board +the same plan of numbering is followed that was followed in the last +issue, or edition, of Cutter's rules, of the A. L. A. rules. A number of +changes, additions, excisions and emendations have been made. I will +read the first. + +"1a. Enter books under surnames of authors when ascertained, the +abbreviation _Anon._ being added to the titles of works or editions +published anonymously." + +Now the question has been raised since, by a member of the committee, +and it was desired that it be placed before this section for decision, +If the heading of an anonymous book is always bracketed is it necessary +to add the abbreviation "_Anon._" to the end of the title? + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: It sometimes happens that an author signs his name at the +end of the preface. In that case the name is not on the title-page, and +should be bracketed on the heading. We have to distinguish those from +the really anonymous books in some way. You have to do one of two +things, either put the abbreviation "Anon." or the full word "Anonymous" +on the top line, or, as we do in The John Crerar Library, put a note at +the bottom. + +Miss CRAWFORD: It has been my experience that the word "Anon." at the +end of the line is sometimes confusing to the reader and brings up all +sorts of questions, and is taking space that might be needed for +something else. I do not see its value, and sometimes it is positively +misleading. The bracket expresses all that is of real use, and it +doesn't matter whether the author's name appears in some other place in +the book; at any rate it was not on the title-page. The brackets tell +that, and I don't see the use of the abbreviation. + +Miss WAGNER: I don't see that the public are interested in brackets or +in the word "Anon." It is for the public that the card is being made, I +understand. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: When I spoke I went on the supposition that the title +entry would, as is now usual, give the title only and omit the author's +name from the title. But if, as I hope, the Publishing Board will decide +to have the title-page copied exactly, giving the author's name in the +title as it is done on the title-page, then you don't need to +distinguish the anonymous authors from those who have signed in any +other place than the title-page, except that in the former case you put +a bracket around the name. As to the objection that the public is not +concerned with the brackets, that may be true; but the librarian is very +much concerned with knowing whether a book is published anonymously or +not. I should like to have instead of brackets a footnote, telling +"published anonymously" or "signed at the end of title-page" or "signed +at end of the book." + +Mr. FLETCHER: I would like to call attention to one or two things. In +the first place, many popular libraries might like to have extremely +simple cards. They will have to realize that they must take a good deal +of information they do not want if they are to take the cards made for +all libraries. Mr. Josephson's idea is a good one, that technicalities +shall be avoided in favor of good, plain English notes. "Anon." is +obscure to a great many people, while "published anonymously" is pretty +plain English. If such a note follows it is not necessary to use any +brackets. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I rise to suggest that we should discuss the question of +_size notation_. + +Mr. FLETCHER: What we have to consider here is whether this meeting +would favor one method or the other in size notation; and a +consideration of that question might be largely affected by the further +question, Is either of these methods to be followed for the printed +cards? If you should be told that in all probability neither of them +would be followed, it would prevent a good deal of waste of time in +discussing one as against the other. We have two old methods that are +mentioned in the reports. The third method, which finds a great deal of +favor and which may be adopted by the Publishing Board, is that the size +notation shall be represented by a mark giving the absolute measurement +of the book, perhaps in centimeters, perhaps in inches and fractions. + +Mr. HANSON: These three questions came before the committee at the +meeting at Atlantic City; one was to give the fold symbol, as is used +all over Europe and in the larger libraries of this country; the other +was to give the letter symbol adopted by the A. L. A. in 1877; the +third, presented by Mr. Hopkins, was to give measurements in centimeters +of the letterpress and of the page--not of the binding. A minority +report was submitted by Mr. Currier, Miss Kroeger and myself urging the +fold symbol. Mrs. Fairchild, Mr. Cutter and Miss Browne are the +majority, because I understood Mr. Hopkins to stand with them. + +Miss KROEGER: Mrs. Fairchild was undecided, saying she was inclined to +the exact measurement in centimeters; Miss Browne and Mr. Cutter voted +for the old letter symbol; so there was no majority of the committee. +Mr. Hopkins's vote was for the exact size. It was left with the +Publishing Board to decide. + +Mr. HANSON: The report is for the figure, but with a strong predilection +of the members who signed it towards exact measurement, providing that +should be adopted by the Publishing Board. Three of us argued in favor +of the fold symbol. There were too main reasons argued, one that the +great majority of readers in this country were familiar with the figure; +the 4to, 8vo and 12mo gave them the size of the book; and that the +majority of libraries used that rather than the letter. The other was in +favor of uniformity. We found that the fold symbol as a measure of +height, not in the old sense, was advocated by the Prussian, the Italian +and the French university libraries and others. But if the Publishing +Board should decide to adopt size measurement in centimeters I do not +believe there is anyone of the committee who will insist very strongly +on the retention of the one or the other. + +Mr. HARRIS: I think that bibliographically it is a mistake to take the +old fold symbol and apply it to size notation. It is not size--it +represents form notation. It is much simpler to give size in inches or +in centimeters, whichever you prefer, rather than to use the symbol +which denotes fold. + +L. P. LANE: It was said that the fold symbol was now almost never used +to indicate the fold. In the Boston Public Library we use it to indicate +the fold for foreign books and old books. We also use the same symbol in +the case of American books to indicate size. There is considerable +dissatisfaction with the practice and some of the cataloging staff would +prefer to give the size in inches. How would that apply to books not in +the condition in which they were published? Also I should like to ask +whether it might not be possible where the fold is easily distinguished, +to give both size and fold. + +Mr. HANSON: That is really the practice of the Prussian university +libraries. + +Miss BROWNE: My thesis for defending the size letter is that 25 years +ago the A. L. A. thrashed this matter all over and decided on the size +symbol. Mr. Bowker has used that letter symbol from that time on. Miss +Kroeger found a very large proportion of the libraries using the letter +symbol; library classes are teaching the letter symbol. My chief +objection to the fold symbol is that we are making one sign serve two +uses, which I think is always bad. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: If the Library Association 25 years ago decided to use +one symbol or another symbol, that is no reason why we should do so now. +The objection to using the fold symbol to denote size is, among other +things, as Mr. Lane suggested, that you need it in case of old books to +tell the fold. The only rational designation of size is by centimeters, +or inches, if you prefer. There is of course one difficulty in using +accurate measurement in centimeters, if you have a book that has been +bound and cut down. But that can be overcome, I think, by letting the +measurement mean letterpress and nothing else. In ordinary cases you +know about how wide a margin is if you know the side of the letterpress; +it is always a certain proportion. You don't need the size to tell on +what shelf the book is put, because that is given by the call number. So +in order to find a book you don't need the size notation; you need it to +see what size the page is. It is a purely bibliographical notation. + +[Mr. Hanson here read rule for size notation for books "notable for age +or rarity."] + +Mr. BOWKER: In the days of our youth, in fact almost as soon as we were +born, this Association, as Miss Browne has indicated, adopted the letter +symbol; and it seems to me that the reasons that operated for the choice +of the letter symbol are stronger now than they were then, because the +symbol has in the meantime come into quite general, if not universal +use. The Association at that time had a phrase to indicate size. The +objections to the old fold symbol still remain, and I think one very +strong one has been stated. It is not only that the numerical system of +8vo, 12mo, etc., has ceased to mean what it originally meant and is +confused with measurement size, but that it is used in England and +America with utterly different meanings; and that difference continues. +That is to say, the English use crown octavo and post octavo and two or +three names for 12mo, in such a way as to cross our use of the word 8vo +and 12mo and make a double confusion. I feel very strongly, for one, +that the method of breaking over from the octavo and duodecimo, etc., +the figure designation, into a definite and accurate letter designation +was a very ingenious and very useful move. It is difficult to get +general adoption of a modification of that sort, but the adoption has +been quite general, and to me it would seem a very great retrogression +to go back to the old figure symbol; we had better adhere to the A. L. +A. notation of 25 years ago and custom since, and give a symbol which is +in no sense confusing or misleading, following that, if you please, with +the actual size measurement in centimeters. + +Mr. RODEN: I understand, of course, that we cannot legislate upon the +subject, and possibly our discussion will not influence the legislature. +At the same time, as a representative of a popular library in the middle +west, I cannot help but regard with apprehension the small but insidious +innovations which these rules seem to display. Mr. Josephson has said +measurement is a bibliographical detail; in popular libraries it is a +gratuitous detail. It could very well, as the chairman suggests, be +placed at the end. In the public I am dealing with I should say the old +fold symbol is most commonly used and means most. It occurs to me that a +combination of fold and letter symbols might be used. I suggest this as +a little concession to the popular library, and it is the first I have +heard this afternoon. + +Mr. JONES: An objection to exact measurement is, that so far as the +greater mass of books that we have to deal with are concerned, it is not +very important whether they are a few centimeters larger or smaller, and +such books are often rebound in such a way that if we have an exact +description our copies do not correspond. I agree with Mr. Bowker that +the symbols adopted by the A. L. A. 25 years ago are sufficiently well +known by people who are handling books to be recommended as a system to +be adopted. + +Miss KROEGER: I have been teaching in the library school according to A. +L. A. measurements, yet it has always seemed to me somewhat absurd. None +of the publishers have adopted it; I suppose the newer libraries have. +The replies received to the questions sent to the various libraries +last June, except for the newer libraries, indicate that the majority +are using the fold symbol, and they would like to know why, if the +letter symbol is such a good thing, the publishers are still marking +their books 8vo, 12mo and 4to. The fold symbol means more to the mass of +the people than do the letters O or D. + +Mr. BOWKER: If I remember correctly the London _Bookseller_ is giving +the exact size and measurement now. + +Mr. HARRIS: Many literary and critical journals give the size of all +books recorded in inches. + +Mr. BOWKER: The Publishing Board is extremely interested in getting the +feeling of those here on the question. I want to suggest that when it +comes to the rising vote or show of hands, we take a somewhat +complicated vote: those who are in favor of the present A. L. A. letter; +those in favor of returning to the fold (I mean not in the usual sense); +those in favor of exact measurement in centimeters; those in favor of a +combination of letter symbol and centimeter; and those in favor of the +fold symbol and centimeter. The board wants all the information it can +get. + +CHAIRMAN: I will ask Mr. Bowker to state the first proposition. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those in favor of the letter symbol, the present A. L. A. +method, please rise. Twenty-four rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those in favor of returning to the fold symbol, the 8vo, +12mo and 4to please rise. Ten rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who prefer a designation of actual measurement, please +rise--with the understanding that those voting for this will then vote +their preference as to either inches or centimeters. Seventeen rose. + +CHAIRMAN: Your next proposition, Mr. Bowker. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who would prefer centimeters if exact measurement +should be adopted, please rise. Thirty-two rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Now those who would prefer inches if an exact measurement +were adopted. Three rose. + +CHAIRMAN: As many as are in favor of the exact measurement coupled with +the A. L. A. symbol, in case there is to be a combination--letter and +exact size--please rise. Thirty-two rose. + +CHAIRMAN: Now those who would prefer the combination of exact size with +figure symbol. Sixteen rose. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: We might have another vote on whether the size should +mean letterpress or book. + +CHAIRMAN: Before this is done I want to call attention to the effect of +binding after cataloging. If this scheme is going to take in foreign +books, and you are going to get cards promptly, a large share of the +books will be cataloged before they are bound. If a good binder does his +work conscientiously and as it should be done, if you give the page you +will have a more satisfactory measurement. + +Mr. HANSON: I have looked into this question recently, and I find, where +libraries do measure in centimeters they measure the paper. If the book +is bound they measure the outside cover, for the reason that when the +unbound book is trimmed down for binding what is lost is regained in the +binding. I have found no instance yet where the practice that is +advocated by yourself, the measurement of the letterpress, is followed +in actual work. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Let all those who want an exact measurement of the +letterpress please rise. Two rose. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Now those who want size to mean the outside of the book. +Fifty-five rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: I think it might clarify things if we take the vote of those +who favor the use of the symbol alone as against those who favor the use +of the symbol and exact measurement in centimeters. + +CHAIRMAN: Those who favor the use of the symbol alone as against the +combination of symbol with measurement please rise. Twenty-three rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: Those who favor combination of symbol with exact +measurement, please rise. Fifteen rose. + +Mr. BOWKER: If there is no other business I wish to move the very +cordial appreciation of the Catalog Section of the admirable report +which has been presented in such detail by the advisory committee of the +Publishing Board. _Voted._ + +Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Hanson, as chairman of the committee, I have great +pleasure in conveying to you and to your associates this appreciation, +which I know is most thorough on the part of all here. + +I would also like to move a vote of thanks to the chairman for his +admirable presiding during the session. _Voted._ + +L. P. LANE: I move that the program committee be requested to assign a +time before the end of the conference when there may be a continued +meeting of this section; and if such a time be found, that when we +adjourn we adjourn to that time. _Voted._ + +CHAIRMAN: Let me announce again that at the close of this session the +secretary, Miss Van Valkenburgh, will be ready to begin the registry of +persons who express themselves as willing to become members of this +section. + +Mr. ANDREWS: I would call attention to the fact that under the by-laws, +if the section wants to, it can adopt rules restricting membership; if +it doesn't adopt rules any member of the Association may be a member of +this section. It is a question whether we wish to confine this section +to catalogers. + +CHAIRMAN: It is an important point or might easily become an important +point. For the ordinary run of affairs it would be a matter of no +consequence, but it may be that this section will sometime wish to +promulgate some proposition and a little logrolling might vote it down. +What does the section wish to do in this matter? + +Mr. WINDSOR: I think we can safely leave it open to all who are +interested in the subject of cataloging. I don't see that there is +anything gained by leaving out anybody who is interested in the work. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: I move that a vote on this question be postponed. +_Voted._ + +Mr. HANSON: In the points that were outlined last year for discussion at +this meeting there were a great many details; we have not reached a +fifth of them. May I ask catalogers to get copies of the rules +recommended by the Committee on Rules and look them over and communicate +with any one of the members of the committee--Mr. Hopkins, Miss Kroeger, +Miss Brown or myself. It would be of the greatest assistance to us. + +[Miss Kroeger objected to giving out copies of the rules, because they +were incomplete.] + +CHAIRMAN: I think we have no right to make a general distribution yet, +to do so would perhaps exceed the province of the committee; but we +might lend copies to those who want to look them over. + +I will now call for the report of the _Committee on Nominations_. + +[The committee reported the names of Mr. Hanson, of the Library of +Congress, for chairman, and Miss Mary E. Hawley, Chicago Public Library, +for secretary.] + +Mr. HANSON: I am the chairman of the advisory committee and we have a +great deal of hard work before us. I would ask the section to accept my +resignation. I really do not feel I can give the time necessary to make +this section a success at the next meeting. + +CHAIRMAN: There are no rules governing us, Mr. Hanson, but I beg that +you do not insist on this, or if you feel you must resign that you do so +between now and the next session. + +The names submitted were unanimously elected, and adjournment was taken +subject to call of chair. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + +The second session of the Catalog Section was called to order on +Wednesday, July 10, ANDERSON H. HOPKINS presiding. + +CHAIRMAN: The matters that were of first importance to be brought before +the section were discussed yesterday. At the same time there are other +things that I am sure would be interesting; and perhaps you would prefer +to bring up your own topics, and each present something you would like +to talk about. + +Miss WAGNER: Is the Y. M. C. A. question proper for discussion? + +CHAIRMAN: I believe that question was received; please read it, Mr. +Hanson. + +Mr. HANSON (reading): Young Men's Christian Associations, mercantile +library associations and the like are to be entered under place. That is +1 i 21 of the rules suggested. + +Miss WAGNER: It is our practice to put the Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. +A.; Y. M. C. A., Boston; Y. M. C. A., New York; instead of putting it +under place. There is a separate association which has a distinctive +being and the local associations are branches. It seems this is much +more logical, and where the public would expect to find reports of the +Y. M. C. A. + +Mr. HANSON: I wish to state in support of Miss Wagner's contention that +Mr. Cutter in his new edition, which is now in manuscript, was rather in +favor of changing his rule, which reads as this one does. He has always +advised entering under the place; but he was now inclined to enter under +Young Men's Christian Association, not only for the general association +of the United States, but for the associations of the various states. A +majority of the committee, however, seemed inclined to enter the local +Y. M. C. A. under the place, on the ground that 99 per cent. would look +for Chicago Y. M. C. A. under Chicago, Philadelphia Y. M. C. A. under +Philadelphia, rather than under Y. M. C. A.; and that the same was true +of the mercantile library associations. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Was any argument brought forth to substantiate that +statement that nine-tenths of the people would look under the local +name? + +Mr. HANSON: No contention, except that it seemed to be the general +experience. + +Miss CRAWFORD: It seems to me if the committee would correspond with +public libraries there might be some change of opinion on the matter. + +Miss WAGNER: I find that Chicago enters Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A., +as the St. Louis Public Library does. + +Miss CRAWFORD: The logical thing has always seemed the fair thing in +this matter--to ask one's self the question, Has the organization a +national existence? And if so, to enter it under the generic name. The +Y. M. C. A. has a national existence, which is more important as a +governing body than any one of the local associations. And the same is +true of other organizations. If they have no national organization, then +I enter them under the local name; but if there is a national +association, then I enter under the generic name. + +Miss AMBROSE: Would you follow the same reasoning for entries under +Methodist Episcopal church, or would you put them under the place? It +seems to me the same reasoning would apply. + +Miss CRAWFORD: I shouldn't wish this logical process to supersede the +better rule of entering under the best known form. And I think in the +case Miss Ambrose mentions the best known form would be the locality. + +Mr. HANSON: Miss Wagner's question has launched us into the center of +the most difficult problem of all--that is, corporate entry, entry of +societies and institutions. There is an underlying principle which +governs our distinctions, I believe. There is a distinction to be made +between societies, and to some extent institutions; societies, including +royal academies, which are societies, to be entered under the first word +not an article; on the other hand, institutions, galleries, museums, +libraries, etc., which generally have buildings and are affiliated +closely with the place, to be entered under place, unless they have +other distinctive names--that is to say, names from persons or +geographical locations. That principle would to some extent affect the +Young Men's Christian Associations and mercantile libraries. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Would that override the other rule of entering under the +best known form? Would the institution entry override the principle of +entering under best known form? + +Mr. HANSON: That rule we have not formulated. We have not considered as +broad a rule as that--entry under best known form. We have tried to lay +down some rule that should govern entry under place and entry under +name; and what we are really trying to get at is best known form. + +Miss CRAWFORD: I appreciate that, and there ought to be some ground on +which to make exceptions. I think your distinction between institutions +and societies is a good one. Is not the Y. M. C. A. a good case to make +an exception? + +Mr. HANSON: Yes, that is the 21st exception, is it not, under the rule? +The general rule is, "Enter societies under the first word not an +article or serial number, of its corporate name." Then there are 22 +exceptions, and we began with the 21st. + +L. P. LANE: I don't know whether the practice of the Boston Public +Library is of interest, but personally I incline to the views Miss +Crawford has expressed. The Boston Public Library strives to use the +corporate name where there is a corporate name, carrying that practice, +I think, to an extreme degree, so that they enter Chamber of Commerce +under Chamber of Commerce, so and so. I understand under this rule +Chamber of Commerce would be entered under the name of the place. + +Mr. HANSON: Yes. We propose to enter all boards of trade, all chambers +of commerce under the name of the city or state. + +Miss KROEGER: That comes under rule 1 i 9: If a body's name begins with +such words as "board," "corporation," "trustees," enter that part of the +name by which they are usually known. + +Mr. HANSON: This will be very helpful to the committee, because it shows +that in the case of exception 21 there is a strong sentiment of entering +it under name instead of under place. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Would you make that same application to mercantile +libraries? It seems to me in that case the place is what people would +look for, just as they would for a public library. + +Mr. HANSON: Yes, personally I should feel disposed to give in on the Y. +M. C. A. question, but not on the mercantile library. + +Miss WAGNER: The mercantile library has no general organization. If you +enter the local Y. M. C. A. under the city you are forcing the people to +look in perhaps 30 or 40 places. + +Mr. BISCOE: Is it the purpose of the author arrangement to show what the +library has on Y. M. C. A.? + +Miss WAGNER: It is the purpose to show what the library owns under the +authorship of the Y. M. C. A. And to find that you force the person to +look into as many different places as there are Y. M. C. A.'s +represented in your catalog. The person who comes to your catalog +wanting to know what Y. M. C. A. publications you have has a right to +find them in one place. + +Mr. HANSON: He could always find it by cross-reference under the general +Y. M. C. A. to every local Y. M. C. A. represented in the catalog. The +contention at the meeting of the committee was that in a great majority +of cases a man is interested in a particular Y. M. C. A. If he comes to +study all Y. M. C. A.'s the catalog must make provision to help him. + +CHAIRMAN: I am one who maintains the thesis that no one has a right to +expect to find everything pertaining to Y. M. C. A. under Y. M. C. A. in +the author catalog. + +Miss WAGNER: It seems to me in the author catalog you have a right to +expect to find what the author has written, therefore you have a right +to find what the Y. M. C. A. is responsible for. + +Mr. BISCOE: Why isn't it the same thing to expect to find out everything +about the Episcopal church under "Episcopal church"? Isn't every branch +of the Episcopal church a part of the general Episcopal church? + +Miss WAGNER: The answer in our library would be that nobody asks for +that information, as they do for the Y. M. C. A. + +CHAIRMAN: Are you sure the reason they ask for the Y. M. C. A. in that +way is not because you catalog it that way, and they have learned to +look for it there? + +Miss WAGNER: My answer is that for the last seven years we entered Y. M. +C. A. under place. The change was made in agreement with the demand at +the issue desk. + +CHAIRMAN: That is just the kind of thing we want to find out. + +Miss CRAWFORD: Under 1 i 12 what would you advise regarding the Carnegie +libraries which in large numbers have assumed the name Carnegie since +the endowment of the building? Would you give them all as Carnegie +libraries of so-and-so, or would you still preserve the form showing the +library was supported by the city in which it was? For example, +Pittsburgh Carnegie Library and Atlanta Carnegie Library--introducing +the word Carnegie right after the city? Or would you advise putting the +word Carnegie for all of these libraries? + +Mr. HANSON: I have not had to deal with that question. I should think +they would be entered under the name of the city, and then if you want +to bring the entire Carnegie record together you can make a second +entry. + +CHAIRMAN: This raises the question whether or not the designation +"Carnegie library" is an official one. If it is not, then it is a name +which has come up by common consent, and it seems to me that nothing but +time would enable us to determine exactly how it should be treated; the +conservative thing would be to use the name of the place. + +Miss AMBROSE: I would like to hear an expression of opinion--it is the +same principle in three different places, 1 i 4, 1 i 5 and 1 i 16--as to +entering professional schools, libraries and observatories separately if +they have distinctive names separate from the corporations that they +belong to. + +Mr. HANSON: I think it would be better to enter the colleges of American +universities under the name of the university. It is an easy rule to +follow and a rule that has been followed in American libraries. On the +other hand we have peculiar cases--the medical schools, for instance, +which have distinctive names and are often situated a hundred miles from +the mother school. "College libraries and local college societies under +the name of the college, but the Bodleian library may be put under +Bodleian. Intercollegiate societies and Greek letter fraternities under +the name." I think all will agree with that. 1 i 16, "Observatories +under the name of the place, except that those having distinctive names +are to be entered under that name. Refer for university observatories +from the university." I personally think that is unfortunate; I would +prefer to see university and observatories under university. For +instance, for Washburn observatory I would say, "Wisconsin university, +Washburn observatory." + +Miss CRAWFORD: Under 1 h 1, "Enter Government bureaus or offices +subordinate to a department directly under the country not as +sub-heading under departments." Is it proposed to invert the name of the +bureau or office so as to bring the distinctive name to the fore or let +it read in its natural way? + +Mr. HANSON: The practice of inverting has been followed, I think, in the +majority of American catalogs. We have not as yet inverted our headings. +We are printing them in the order in which they read, as "Bureau of +Education"; but that does not mean we may not arrange entries under +United States, _Education_. + +L. P. LANE: It seems to me it would be most desirable to harmonize the +practice of the Superintendent of Documents with the Library of Congress +in this matter. In the "Comprehensive catalogue" there is this +inversion, and it seems to me it has been very judiciously done. In the +present practice of the Boston Public Library, however, it is not done. + +Miss AMBROSE: I should like a definition of the word "local" in 1 i 20. + +Mr. HANSON: 1 i 20: "Purely local benevolent or moral or similar +societies under the place." + +Mr. Cutter said that he had more trouble with this rule than with any +other. He had, in fact, I believe decided to enter under name, not under +place, but it seems during the discussion he changed back to the old +rule. + +Miss KROEGER: That was in deference to the majority vote. Mr. Cutter's +opinion favored entry under name. + +Mr. HANSON: His reason seemed to be that those referring to these local +societies were the citizens of the place where they were situated and +they sought the name of the society. If the people in other states, +using other catalogs, were looking for the societies, they would not +remember the name. In fact, the only thing that remains in one's memory +is the name of the place, and one naturally would look under the place +for it. + +CHAIRMAN: As I understand Miss Ambrose she raises the question how large +a locality might be meant--whether it should go to the limits of a +county or a state. I should have supposed it meant a narrower locality +and would apply to a city or town--a vicinage. + +Mr. JOSEPHSON: Perhaps it might be well to let the word "local" mean +here what it means in "local geography"--anything belonging to the +state--not taking in towns. + +I should like to bring up 1 k: "Enter commentaries accompanied by the +full text of the work under the name of the author." And then exceptions +only when the text is not to be readily distinguished from the +commentary. We have a good many cases where the text is particularly +short--a text of from four or five or ten pages--and then comes a +commentary of several hundred pages. It seems absurd to catalog a text +of five or ten pages accompanied by a commentary of five or six hundred +pages under the name of the author of the text. + +Miss KROEGER: That is provided for in the rule. "Except when the text is +distributed through the commentary in such a manner as not to be readily +recognized or is insignificant as compared with the commentary." That is +designed to fit just such cases. + +Mr. HANSON: There is another rule, on laws, 1 h 3: "Laws on one or more +particular subjects, whether digested or merely collected, to be entered +under the collector or digester, with added entry under country." + +I think that is a departure from the present practice, which has been to +enter New York laws on state taxation under New York, State Legislature, +and secondly under compiler or collector. + +Miss AMBROSE: If you had a compilation of road laws of Illinois, you +would put that under the compiler first and secondly under Illinois +State Legislature? + +Mr. HANSON: Yes. + +L. P. LANE: Under 1 h and 1 q I would like to ask whether a proclamation +by the king of England would be put under England, or Great Britain, +King, or under Edward VII.? + +Mr. HANSON: We enter such publications in two places; the official +proclamations or edicts under the name of the country with a subdivision +for king or sovereign, and then their private publications under their +names. + +Miss CRAWFORD: 1 j: "Enter a periodical under the first word, not an +article or serial number, of its title." + +What is the judgment of the committee upon newspapers? Should they +always be entered under the first word of their title, or would it be +better to enter under the name of the place? + +Miss KROEGER: We consulted Mr. Fletcher about the rules, and he +suggested this very point, bringing up the question of newspapers. And +we have a rough draft of a rule to enter newspapers under the name of +the place, putting the name of the place in brackets and not in the +title. 1 j also brings up the question as to whether it is to be under +the first word of the current title or of the original title. + +Miss GRAHAM: 1 i 15: "Exhibitions under the name of the place where they +are held." + +It would seem to me that in the case of the Pan-American Exposition, +that should be first, rather than Buffalo. Also the Columbian +Exposition. + +Mr. HANSON: I think a majority of the expositions in this country have +specific names. In the discussion of the committee I think Mr. Cutter +proposed the rule as follows: "Enter under the name of the place in case +of expositions, always making a cross-reference from the special name of +the exposition, if it has one." In all cases it would be necessary that +the cross-reference should be made from the special name by which it is +known--as the Cotton States, Pan-American, World's Columbian. + +CHAIRMAN: Is there anything more to say on this subject? If not, Miss +Graham, you might bring up that question you spoke to me about this +morning. + +Miss GRAHAM: The matter Mr. Hopkins refers to was regarding the revision +of the "A. L. A. catalog" of the 5000 best books. We feel the need in +small libraries, and I think the need is felt where libraries are trying +to organize, for a revision of that catalog. We all use that in small +libraries when making out lists of standard works. There are many of +them out of print. If we could have a revision of that catalog on +printed cards it seems to me it would be a great help in the work of +library extension as well as to smaller libraries which have little +cataloging force--where the librarian has to be cataloger. + +CHAIRMAN: I thought perhaps enough would be interested in this to raise +the question in such a way that the Publishing Board would take it up. +It may be cards are in existence that might be reprinted for this work. + +Miss AMBROSE: There is a supplement to this catalog just about ready to +come out. Would that include new editions or simply new books? + +Mr. FLETCHER: The matter has been put off to such a large extent that +the State Library at Albany has undertaken to publish this supplement; +but it has been delayed. They intend to print it for their own state +use, but allow the Publishing Board to distribute it to other places. As +to a revision, I do not know whether it has been undertaken. I think +that the original edition was not electrotyped, and that there are no +plates existing to reprint it from. + +CHAIRMAN: I will read a question from the Hartford Public Library on the +arrangement of author, editor and translator in a card catalog--whether +to be put in one alphabet or arranged separately? + +Miss CRAWFORD: That hits upon a very practical experience which we had +in Dayton. We arranged the works of an author under the author's own +works; then the author as editor; and then author as joint author; and +then the author as translator; alphabeting by the word which happened to +follow the name of the author at the top of the line. We tried that for +three or four years, and at the end of that time we ourselves in our own +use of the catalog were so continually running up against our own +arrangement as a thing which we never used and which was a constant +blunder to us that last year we set about rearranging all the authors so +as to bring them in one alphabeting order by the first word of the +title, regardless of whether it was as author, editor or compiler. Of +course when translator or editor of a specific person's work, that entry +was placed after the others. + +Mr. FLETCHER: That is our practice, after having used the other for some +time. We now undertake to put all the works of an author in a general +series, whether he is author, or editor, or collector, or whatever it +be, if the work is significant as his work. We put those all in one +alphabet, as if there was no such addition after his name, and then we +put at the end the two notes which are in the nature of cross-reference. +If a man is translator of somebody else's work we cannot very well put +those in as his works. Everything else we put in one series. + +Mr. PERLEY: In the library of the Institute of Technology, of Boston, we +arranged the authors, joint authors, translators and editors all in one +common alphabet. It seems to me in a library of this kind such an +arrangement is especially good, because the public patrons of the +library never seem to take very kindly to distinctions, however +interesting they may be to the librarians; and it happens very often +that the American translator is a good deal more important to the +American reader than the original author from whom it was translated. +And in the same way a joint author may take equal rank with the author +in the main entry. + +Miss CRAWFORD: 1 o: "Enter under highest title unless family name or +lower title is decidedly better known." Will you keep the title in the +vernacular in all cases? For example, will you always say "Fuerst von" +instead of the English form, and "Graf von," etc.? + +Mr. HANSON: There is a varying practice as to that. I will say for the +Library of Congress, where they are purely titles of honor or minor +noblemen, we use the vernacular; but we have found it advisable for +kings, in fact for sovereigns, to use the designation king, emperor, +pope, etc., in English. + +Miss KROEGER: Has anything been said about entering sovereigns and popes +in the vernacular or English form? The rule says, "_May_ be given in the +English form." + +Mr. FLETCHER: I think we should generally feel, as Mr. Cutter expresses +it in his rule, that this is a matter of progress; and before long our +library committees will not tolerate "Henry" instead of "Henri" for king +of France, or "Lewis" instead of "Louis." We are in a transition stage, +and this "May be" means that it is considered allowable while we are in +the transition stage to use the English form instead of the vernacular. +But give names of sovereigns in the vernacular. The same thing is true +of names of cities. Some librarians are leading us a little and giving +Wien for Vienna. + +Mr. PERLEY: It seems to me the use of the English form would largely +depend upon the length of the custom. I think for the names of the +Italian cities which have been given common English names since the +Middle Ages we are justified in using the English forms, and the names +of persons in the same way. + +Adjourned without day. + + + + + SECTION FOR CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS.[G] + + +The A. L. A. Section for Children's Librarians held two sessions during +the Waukesha conference. In the absence of Miss Annie Carroll Moore, +chairman of the section, the chair was occupied by Miss L. E. STEARNS, +who presided as honorary chairman. + + + _FIRST SESSION._ + +The first session of the section was called to order at 2.15 p.m., +Friday, July 5. + +The secretary read a communication from the chairman, Miss Moore, who +extended her cordial greeting to the Children's Librarians' Section, and +expressed regret that she was unable to be present. She also expressed +her satisfaction that the meetings should be conducted by one whose +contributions to the work of children's librarians, both by the pen and +the power of her magnetic personality, have been so far-reaching in +their influence. Miss Stearns' paper given at the Lake Placid +conference, 1894, she believed to be one of the most important +contributions to the development of work with children, as it set people +thinking and talking, and stimulated activity along the lines indicated. +In regard to the establishment of a separate section of the A. L. A., +Miss Moore said: "It is most encouraging and gratifying to feel that we +have the support of those whose interest in library work for children +precedes our own, and whose wise counsel may be counted upon in +considering the problems which have arisen out of a practical +experience. + +"It has been the chief object in the construction of this first program +to define certain phases of our work in order that we may proceed with a +clearer vision of its significance and with a better idea of how we are +to accomplish the results at which we seem to be aiming. It is hoped +that succeeding meetings may be rich in profitable discussions of +practical problems, but let us plan our programs with the utmost care, +that we may gather a body of matter which shall prove valuable for the +future as well as enlightening in the present. + +"Most hearty thanks are due to all who have assisted in the making of +the program, and to those who have volunteered to carry it to a +successful issue. + +"We feel especially grateful to the librarians at large who have so +generously responded by the preparation of papers, or by participating +in the discussions, to this special claim of ours upon their time and +thought." + +The secretary read a statement regarding + + + THE CLUB OF CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS. + +At the A. L. A. conference in Montreal in 1900 an informal meeting was +held for the purpose of personal acquaintance and co-operation among +those actively engaged in library work with children. + +As a result of this meeting an organization was formed, to be known as +the Club of Children's Librarians, of which Miss A. C. Moore was made +chairman, and Miss M. E. Dousman secretary. In order to facilitate the +work of the club it was decided to divide the work into departments, +each department to be in charge of a chairman appointed by the chair. + +The secretary of the club was instructed to inform the secretary of the +American Library Association of the formation of the club and to offer +its services in the making of the program for future sessions on library +work with children, if so desired. + +The result of this proposition was that at a meeting of the executive +board of the A. L. A. it was voted that a section for library work with +children be established, providing such section be acceptable to the +officers of the Club of Children's Librarians. The section was accepted, +and the program for the same was submitted by the officers of the club +to the program committee of the A. L. A. + +The establishment of a section devoted to work with children, as a +result of the efforts of the club, is a matter of congratulation for all +those interested in this branch of library work. Special thanks are due +the chairman, Miss Moore, for her unremitting efforts in making the +program for the sessions helpful and inspiring. Thanks are also due +chairmen of committees for their zeal in collecting valuable material +and for the presentation of practical and suggestive reports. + +In view of the establishment of the Section for Children's Librarians, +which makes possible the thorough treatment of children's library work, +it seems desirable that the Club of Children's Librarians be no longer +continued, its special purpose being accomplished; at the present +meeting of the section it is hoped to perfect its organization and +outline its plans for the coming year. + +The first paper of the session was by Miss CAROLINE M. HEWINS, and in +her absence was read by Miss HELEN E. HAINES. It dealt with + + BOOK REVIEWS, LISTS AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY OF + PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? + + (_See_ p. 57.) + +The subject was discussed by Miss HAINES, who said: + +Miss Hewins' criticisms and deductions are so sound that there is little +to add to what she has said, except in the way of assent. The children's +librarian who relies only upon what she can find in print to tell her +what she ought to think about children's literature, leans upon a broken +reed. In general, reviews in this field are valueless, owing to lack of +discrimination and of good taste, and to indifference. The reason for +this is the unimportance of the subject, from the standpoint of the +average reviewer or literary editor. Miss Hewins has stated with entire +fairness the conditions that control reviews of children's books. +Christmas time--the "rush season"--is practically the only time when +they are given attention, and then owing to the great mass of review +copies to be handled, notices are most inadequate. Indeed, most of these +notices are evolved from material supplied by the publisher with the +book--the trail of the publisher is over them all. + +There is not yet among children's librarians a sufficient "body of +doctrine"--critical judgment, knowledge of books--to produce +satisfactory library lists. Such lists are too often made up from +hearsay, or through selection from other lists, which is almost always +unsatisfactory. The most prevalent and serious defect in these annotated +library lists is the use of too many words which mean nothing. In this +work especially "the adjective is the enemy of the substantive." Even +the Carnegie list, excellent as a whole and probably the best of the +kind yet published, is crude in some respects, and would stand pruning. +There is too frequent use of such phrases as "a wholesome book," "a +cheery tale," "a children's classic," and there is too great a +preponderance of American books, of commonplace "series," of books in +what may be called the public-school rut. As an example of "what not to +do" in book annotation, extracts may be given from a recent annotated +list of children's books, which included the following: + +Warner, S. The wide, wide world. + +Miss Warner is one of the best friends a young girl can have as +chaperone into the delightful kingdom of romance. + +Weyman, S. The house of the wolf. + +A modern English version of a curious French memoir written about 1620. + +Church. Three Greek children. + +Mr. Church is an accomplished restorer of the antique, and has a keen +discrimination for points appealing to child-like magnetism. + +Cooper. The spy. + +A story founded upon fact. The same adventitious causes which gave birth +to the book determined its scenes and its general character. + + +It will be seen that not one of these annotations conveys an idea of +subject, quality, or treatment, while in two of them at least it is +evident that the annotator knew nothing at all about the book. + +Articles on children's reading are in general either sentimental or +prejudiced, and they are not of direct practical use to the children's +librarian. Reading such articles, however, is interesting and often +suggestive. Their best feature is the hints they now and then give of +some book or class of books that has pleased children, and that the +librarian does not know or had not thought of. + +Turning to specific points in Miss Hewins' paper, one is inclined to +question the stringent criticisms of the "Pansy" books, the "Prudy" +books, "Editha's burglar," and the like stories, that certainly do +delight many children, though they may not be of a high literary plane. +Nor do I believe in children's books carefully "written down" to their +audience and never rising above their comprehension. +"Words-in-one-syllable" books are obnoxious to a right-minded child. It +is a good thing to be given now and then what is above our +comprehension. What we don't quite understand holds a strong +fascination. Nor do I believe that the "horrors" of the old fairy +stories are particularly harmful--the thrills they impart have a subtle +charm, and most children delight in "horrors." The difficulty is to +steer between what is vulgar and coarse or trashily sentimental on the +one hand, and the limiting of a children's collection only to +"pretty-pretty" stories, innocuous but utterly without character or +variety, on the other. Such a collection should be made as broad, as +varied, as catholic as it can be, including old books, English +books--Miss Yonge, Miss Shaw, Miss Strickland--not just current and +American books. + +In conclusion, the most important thing is to know the books themselves. +This could not be possible for the librarian of a general collection, +but it is possible, and ought to be indispensable, for the librarian of +a special class of literature. A children's librarian can make herself +familiar with the literature suitable for children, and should do so. +Personal familiarity is better than all "evaluations" by other people. +There should be a constant interchange of criticism and experience among +those working in this field--it is as yet small enough to permit this. +This should be largely personal and individual--not brought out as a +public expression--until there is developed a better basis for critical +and literary discernment in this subject than now exists. The most +important thing to do is not to rush hastily into print--to "educate +ourselves in public"--but to set to work to know our books, and through +such knowledge to establish a fund of critical judgment and experience +that will later make it possible for the utterances of children's +librarians to carry weight in their own field of literature. + +There followed a "collective paper," in three parts, each part being +treated by a special writer. It dealt with + + + THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. + +In the absence of Miss WINIFRED TAYLOR Miss EDNA LYMAN read Miss +Taylor's consideration of + + I. FICTION. + (_See_ p. 63.) + +Miss LYMAN also read the second paper by Miss ABBY SARGENT, on + + II. FAIRY TALES. + (_See_ p. 66.) + +The third paper, in the absence of its author, Miss ELLA HOLMES, was +read by Miss BERTHA M. BROWN. It reviewed + + III. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN. + (_See_ p. 69.) + +The general subject was opened for discussion by F. M. CRUNDEN, who said +that he thought it was unwise to make a distinction between the reading +of boys and girls, as it tended to differentiate the sexes. + +He also believed in the reading and rereading of the classics and +standard literature to children as a means of checking the craving for +new books which is a characteristic evil of the American adult. The best +means of judging the quality of a new book was to set it in comparison +with an old one that had stood the test of time, so that familiarity +with, and an ample supply of, the best literature was one of the most +effective ways of raising the standard of taste as regards current +books. He also said that the well-brought-up child will usually choose +the best himself, though wise direction is necessary, for the books he +reads influence his whole life. Reading aloud to children is of great +value in bringing them to love books, and too strict a grading of books +by age suitability is inadvisable, as many very young children enjoy +books that at first thought seem beyond them. The boy who reads the best +books will not choose the worst companions. + +The program of the meeting was shortened, owing to arrangements of the +local entertainment committee, so that the conclusion of the discussion +on this subject was carried over to the next session. Before adjournment +a nominating committee was appointed, made up of Miss Linda A. Eastman, +Miss Edna Lyman and Mrs. Menzies. + + + _SECOND SESSION._ + +The second session of the section was held on the afternoon of Saturday, +July 6. The meeting was called to order at 2.30, when discussion was +resumed of the subject + + + THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. + +Miss W. W. PLUMMER said: + +I should much like to see tried Miss Sargent's plan for the story-hour, +_i. e._, the argument of the story being given first in the attendant's +own words, followed by a reading from some good version of the original, +with judicious skipping. If this has been tried anywhere, we should be +glad to know of it. We have given as a problem to our class of +children's librarians the selection of one or two books of Homer, of the +Odyssey preferably, to cut and edit for reading by or to children, and +have always found that what was left made an exceedingly interesting +story, that it seemed might be read just as it was. But, of course, such +an exercise would require an unusually good and very intelligent reader +to be a success. + + + _Fairy tales._ + +Belief, on the part of the author, at least while writing, is necessary +if one would preserve the true atmosphere of the fairy story and +communicate the right enjoyment to the child-readers. The fairy book in +which the author tries to be "smart" and is continually thrusting in his +own personality, is a failure. He must forget himself, leave the present +century, and for the time be as credulous as the child himself. + + + _Fiction._ + +The vulgarization of the child is one of the dangers we must avoid. What +if the boy's father does read the _New York Journal_ and the girl's +mother, when she reads anything, Laura Jean Libbey? It is our business, +as librarians for children, to see that by the time the child reaches +the same age he shall like something different and better. And how can +this be brought about if we let him steep himself in the smart, +sensational, vulgar and up-to-date children's books that naturally lead +to just such tastes in the adult? + +We must also guard against false reasoning. Some authors whom we have +probably never questioned will have to go, if thus examined. I am +thinking, for instance, of a writer for girls who has been generally +accepted. I examined her last book, the story of a little girl and her +grandmother, apparently plain people, who moved into a summer village +alongside of a family of fashionable city people. The question with the +children of the fashionable family and their friends was whether they +should or should not make a friend of the new girl--she was nice, but +evidently not rich, not fashionable, not one of their kind. The counsel +of the minority prevailed, and the children, boys and girls of 15 or 16, +kindly admitted her to their circle, though not considering her their +equal. How they held their breath at thought of their nearness to a +great mistake when they found she belonged to a fine old family of +another city, and had great expectations from the quiet grandmother! +"See how it paid to be polite!" is the tacit morality of the book, which +is full of the spirit of snobbery while professing to teach the +opposite. It behooves us, therefore, to dip into books before purchasing +or recommending. Nothing will take the place of knowing the books we +handle and having our own opinion of them. + +A thing we have to look out for is the intentional or unintentional +imitation of the names of well-received writers, _e.g._, the Marie +Louise Pool, author of "Chums," to whom Miss Taylor refers, is not the +Miss Pool who wrote "Roweny in Boston" and "Mrs. Keats Bradford," that +author having died two or three years ago. The person who uses the same +name, rightfully or wrongfully, writes very different and very inferior +books. + +At the information desk we have made lists for various classes and types +of person--but very often have had to lay these aside and make a special +selection for the individual, after talking with him or her. This is as +true for children as for adults--the books that appeal to one person do +not appeal to another of seemingly the same type. Until the proper +relation be established between the child and the librarian, he cannot +be influenced very much in his choice of books. Sometimes this relation +may be established in five minutes, sometimes in a week, a month, or a +year; sometimes it seems impossible to do it, and some other personal +influence must be waited for. + +People sometimes say that the children's own tastes in reading should be +our guide. This is true thus far: that if a child is reading books that +do not seem good for him in our judgment, we should find out what it is +_in_ these books that appeals to him; then look for the same thing in +books that are better written and lack the objectionable features, and +both librarian and child are satisfied. Children learn a great deal by +absorption, and if the children's librarian can give them the sort of +plot or incident they want and, at the same time, a book from which they +may absorb good English instead of bad, high ideals and a high code of +behavior instead of low ones, she has accomplished a great part of her +task. + + + _Science._ + +With regard to nature books for children, I am glad that Miss Holmes has +spoken frankly and pointed out to us the dangers we incur in rushing +into the purchase of a new kind of book without investigation. The +taking up of nature study and the study of art in the public schools has +meant a great pressure upon libraries for books which teachers and +pupils have heard of, but of the merits of which many of them as well as +ourselves are unable to judge. In order to have books enough to meet the +demand, our temptation is to buy entire series, every book we hear of in +these lines, whereas our best plan would be to get them for inspection +only, invite the inspection and criticism of some scientific person, or +some one conversant with art and its literature, and reject what they +condemn, putting in duplicates enough of the approved books to meet the +large demand. A thing we need to beware of is the stampede--the wild +rush to or away from a thing without reasoning, without stopping to +think, just because other libraries we know of are engaging in it. The +librarian needs at such times to keep cool, brace himself or herself +against the rush, and when the dust of the crowd is over think things +out and go ahead. And in these lines where special knowledge is +necessary do not let us think ourselves infallible or even altogether +competent; let us be humble enough to take advice and information from +those who have a real claim to know. + +J. C. DANA said: + +The papers we have heard read tell us that we can put no dependence on +book reviews; that the librarian must depend on herself. How can she do +it? There are no laws or rules or principles of book selection. Even if +there were, no librarian has time to read even hastily all the books for +children. + +If she wishes to evaluate them in the light of any possible principles +she may have laid down, she finds the principles themselves very shaky. +Experience is our only guide. A friend of mine much interested in +psychology, and especially in the psychology of young people, and +especially, again, in the influence on young people of the books read +during the years 12 to 16, tells me that as a result of considerable +study of nickel-libraries and news-stand story papers of what we call a +poor kind, he thinks this literature is generally harmless; is perhaps +even helpful; is well above the intelligence of most of those who read +it; and is largely written by men and women who seriously wish to help +to bring light and joy into the world. If our general opinion about +these nickel-libraries is to be given a shock such as that, what may we +not expect as to other classes of books, of our judgment on which at +present we are quite as sure? It is distressing, the amount of work that +is being done in this country nowadays even by the librarians themselves +in their attempt, each by herself alone, to come to sound conclusions in +regard to the value of books for children. We don't care to read these +books. We read them when we are weary, we read too many of them. Our own +taste, if originally good, gets perverted; our point of view gets +prejudiced; and our opinions are of very little value when formed. Why +not try co-operation? I suggest that you appoint a committee to +formulate some scheme for securing the beginning of an evaluated list of +children's books; and that this committee see that at least a portion of +the scheme, enough to show us another year how it can be successfully +carried on, be completed before our next annual meeting. I would +suggest, for example, that this committee, in the first place, collect +from members of the Association sufficient money in voluntary +subscriptions to pay for postage, clerical work and printing, in +beginning the evaluated list; that they then appoint some person to set +in motion the machinery necessary for getting together a set of +evaluations. She would perhaps begin by selecting almost at random 500 +story books for young people of the ages 10 to 14. This list she would +submit, in whole or in small sections, to as many active librarians who +are interested in children's literature, as she could get into +communication with. Having secured from them opinions, she would +tabulate the results of the reading of each book and compile from these +opinions a brief note. She would, perhaps, submit to us at the end of +the year a brief list, in type, with or without annotations, of story +books for children that are not good, another brief list of story books +for children that are good. Without going further into detail I think +you will see that in some such way as this, we can make the reading we +now do along these lines permanently helpful to one another. We can +perhaps in two or three years produce a foundation list of books for +young people on which we can depend; we can then continue the evaluating +process for other books as they appear from year to year. + +H. C. WELLMAN directed attention to the economy which would result from +a printed list of juvenile books to be prepared and issued by the +Section of Children's Librarians and used as a catalog of the juvenile +collections in public libraries. Such a list should not only embody the +joint opinion of the best authorities, but should effect a saving of 90 +per cent. in the work of preparing and the cost of printing separate +lists for each library. The joint lists, containing 500 or more titles, +could be set up with slugs, and revised and brought down to date in +frequent editions. Some simple notation could be adopted, and the +juvenile books in each library numbered to correspond. Then the list +could be purchased in quantities by the libraries and sold to their +borrowers at a cent apiece. The result would place within the reach of +even small libraries a juvenile list at an exceedingly low price, always +up-to-date, and of a quality and authority which should make it superior +to any similar lists ever issued. + +A motion was made by Mr. PERRY that a committee of three be appointed to +take action on Mr. Dana's suggestion. The motion was carried and a +special committee consisting of Mr. Dana, Mr. Perry and Miss Browning +was appointed by the chair to act upon the suggestion at some general +meeting of the Association.[H] + +In the absence of Miss H. H. STANLEY Mr. WELLMAN read Miss Stanley's +paper on + + REFERENCE WORK FOR CHILDREN. + + (_See_ p. 74.) + +Mr. WELLMAN then discussed the question of whether the bulk of reference +work with children should be carried on in the schools or at the +library, and urged the claims of the library. The ultimate aim of +reference work with children is to teach them to use the library during +school life and after for purposes of study and self-education. To +accomplish this end no person is so competent as the librarian and no +place so appropriate as the library. + +Miss LINDA A. EASTMAN said: + +Miss Stanley's excellent report appears to furnish just the sort of +basis for a discussion of one of the most vital questions in relation to +the work with children, such a discussion as may lead to a much-needed +definition of principles in regard to this side of the work. + +A word or two about special topics mentioned--under library facilities. +In addition to the books for reference mentioned by Miss Stanley, there +is one which may not yet have come to the attention of all children's +librarians because it is but just published--the new "Index to _St. +Nicholas_," published with the consent of the Century Company by the +Cumulative Index Co. It has its imperfections, but it certainly should +prove a useful reference tool for every children's librarian, and the +best simple stepping-stone yet furnished to the use of Poole and the +other indexes. + +Now, for the general subject, Miss Stanley says, "I think we are agreed +that for the children our aim reaches to a familiarity with reference +tools, to knowing how to hunt down a subject, to being able to use to +best advantage the material found. In a word, we are concerned not so +much to supply information as to educate in the use of the library." + +The aim is well stated, and we are agreed in it, I believe, but are we +agreed as to, and have we given sufficient thought to, the methods by +which this desirable aim is to be accomplished? Where, in that ideal +ultimate of co-operation between schools and libraries toward which we +are striving, will the necessary instruction be given, in the schools or +in the library? Or, if in both, where will the division of labor be +placed? I, myself, am inclined to think that the formal, systematic +instruction in the use of books should be given in the schools, with +sympathetic, systematic help on the part of the library. Is it not +possible that we, as librarians, seeing the need, are over-anxious to do +the whole work, or at least feel sometimes that we can do the whole work +more easily and better than we can get the overworked teachers to do +it--though a large part of the work really belongs to them. + +More than in any other work with the children, this reference work +requires that we go back of the children and begin with the +teachers--no, not with the teachers, but with the teachers in +embryo--the students in the normal schools. + +Miss ALICE TYLER, who followed, said that it was of the greatest +importance to teach children the use of the catalog, which should be +made to suit the mental capacity of children, using terms with which +they are familiar. + +In Cleveland the children's catalog was made upon these lines, using +simple subject headings based on headings used by Miss Prentice in her +"Third grade list" and the Pratt Institute lists. + +Teaching children in the children's room how to use the catalog is the +only way to make the future men and women more independent readers in +the public library. + +Mr. HENSEL closed the discussion with a short account of the reference +work done in the Columbus public schools. + +A paper by Miss CLARA W. HUNT was read on + + OPENING A CHILDREN'S ROOM. + (_See_ p. 83.) + +The discussion was opened by HENRY J. CARR, who said: + +I cannot say why I was selected to discuss Miss Hunt's paper, unless +because I was known to her and somewhat familiar with her work and the +particular children's room fitted up under her direction in the new +building of the Newark Free Public Library. + +I am so much in sympathy with Miss Hunt's views as expressed in the +paper, and regard them as so correct that I can do little but emphasize +the points she has brought out. She has been eminently wise in +presenting for consideration some of the proper guiding principles of +the children's room, something that is too often lost sight of in the +attitude taken by those responsible for their establishment and +operation. + +We should not look upon the children's room as a "kindergarten," or +playground for the younger children, so much as a stepping-stone to tide +them along to the reading of books adapted to more mature minds, and +hence to "graduate" them out of it as fast as possible. It has also a +purpose, which is a further reason for retaining in this room, more or +less, an aspect similar to that of the adults' rooms. Parents to some +extent come to select reading matter for their children, and those of +mature years but immature minds may drift into this department, if it is +not made too juvenile in tone and appearance. Hence, I prefer the name +Young People's Library to that of Children's Room. I have seen boys +stand aloof at first for fear of ridicule for going into the room "for +kids." I prefer to have the discharging of books done at one main desk, +as it keeps the children in touch with adults and gives all ages more +freedom in drawing from all departments. Hence we have no special +juvenile cards. I should advise to include on the children's shelves +good books for older readers; to avoid sets or the writings of +voluminous authors, as a rule; and to aim to seek the writers of those +good books that are apt to be overlooked. Discipline and good order +should be maintained at the outset, and after that the children should +be let alone, so far as possible. They like to have a chance to inform +one another; those becoming first familiar with the room and its methods +will only too gladly induct newcomers into its operation. + +Mrs. M. A. SANDERS said: + +The librarian from Newark speaks from experience, for hers is an ideal +children's room, both in equipment and administration. At the dedication +of the library the interest centered largely around that department. Her +interest in the children and their work, so ably expressed, carried me +back to the early 80's, when, as some of us remember, scarcely a round +dozen libraries could be found where children were admitted. On one side +of the door we saw a placard reading, "Children not admitted under 14 +years"; on the other, "Dogs not allowed." A strong appeal was made at +that time at the Thousand Island meeting for children's rights in the +public library by a librarian who was making a specialty of work with +children, and admitted them without an age limit. Glorious has been the +response, for the library that makes no provision for the children +to-day is the exception. + +At Pawtucket we open our children's rooms and bid them welcome, we open +our shelves, and their judgment in the selection of books often equals +our own. We decorate the walls with pictures that appeal to the +affections, we send them into the homes, and by and by we see an entire +family gathered around the table deeply interested in the pictures and +the description of them as they read from the books brought home by the +children. We put in our cases of birds, which the children delight to +study, and soon a mother says to us, "I never thought much about the +birds till the children began to talk about them, but we have been out +every morning listening for the new calls as the birds appear in the +spring." In these and various other ways we see the influence of the +children's room, which is broadening every day. + +There is, however, many a library where the children's room has not yet +materialized, either from lack of space or funds, that is exerting a +powerful influence through its children, and I question sometimes +whether it may not be a mistake to draw too sharp a line of separation. +Where should we draw our line? At just what age do girls and boys cease +to be children? That has been for me a serious question; I wonder if you +have escaped it, and if the children's room solves it. + +I am in hearty sympathy with the opinion expressed that "the management +and spirit of the children's room should correspond to that of other +departments of the library." There seems to be a tendency to make these +rooms a play-room--the children coming to be amused, and the time of one +person devoted to their amusement. If this is the design of the +children's room, our own young people at Pawtucket will be sadly +disappointed. While we will put in the pictures, the birds, the plants, +the busts and all else to make the room interesting, and while we will +have frequent talks in the lecture room, the children being quietly led +on to express themselves freely, the quiet dignity of the children's +library room as an important part of the library will be maintained. The +books will also be charged at the main charging desk for them, as we +feel that this bringing of the adult and the child into close contact is +of mutual benefit. + +The discipline of the children's department has never been a serious +question to us. Give them a very few brief rules, and enforce them, and +we shall have no great troubles to contend with; the children will +virtually take care of themselves. + +The question is asked us, "For what does the children's room stand, what +is its real purpose?" It is evident that it has a different purpose in +different libraries. To us the children's library room is for reading, +for study, for observation, for questioning undisturbed and +undisturbing, while the entire library is still at the service of any +child who desires to make practical use of it. + +Miss CHARLOTTE WALLACE read a paper on + + BULLETIN WORK FOR CHILDREN. + (_See_ p. 72.) + +Two papers were read on + + VITALIZING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY, + +Miss MAY L. PRENTICE treating + + THE SCHOOL. + (_See_ p. 78.) + +Miss IRENE WARREN presenting the side of + + THE LIBRARY. + (_See_ p. 81.) + +Owing to the lateness of the hour discussion of the last topics had to +be passed over. + +The chairman then called for the + + + REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. + +The committee on nominations wishes to submit the following names: For +president, Miss Annie Carroll Moore; for secretary, Miss Mary E. +Dousman. + +In suggesting the continuance of the present officers the committee does +not wish to establish a precedent, but there seems to be special fitness +and justice in asking Miss Moore and Miss Dousman to serve the section +for another year. To their earnest effort this section of children's +librarians is largely due; these well-balanced programs are a result of +their careful planning. The section can hardly be put in safer hands for +its second year. + +The officers named in the committee report were unanimously elected. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote G: This report is from notes furnished by Miss Mary E. +Dousman, secretary of the section.] + +[Footnote H: For report of this committee and action of Association +_see_ Proceedings, p. 130.] + + + + +STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS AND TRAVELLING LIBRARIES: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +An informal "round table" meeting for the consideration of the work of +state library commissions, including travelling libraries, was held in +the assembly room of the Fountain House on Tuesday afternoon, July 9. +The chairman, MELVIL DEWEY, called the meeting to order at three +o'clock, and in a few introductory remarks outlined the subjects to be +discussed. + +Mr. DEWEY: We have on our program this afternoon two of the most +interesting things in library work. The travelling library is reaching +out in its manifold forms with wonderful rapidity and gives very great +promise of usefulness for the future; organized work under the state +commissions is showing every year better and better results and +indicating that just as our schools increased their efficiency so +immensely by having state departments to look after them, we are +repeating the history of that evolution in our state library +commissions. We have only a single session this afternoon to discuss +these two subjects. If we were to give them one quarter of the time that +they ought to have, we would not get one quarter through, and I propose +therefore to deal only with questions and answers, and utilize one +another's experience or thought along these lines of state commission +work and work of administering travelling libraries. + +I have noted down some of the topics that have been given to me by +persons who wanted to have them discussed briefly; we will first take up +some of these. So much has been done in travelling libraries, that +perhaps we should clear the floor of that subject, and then consider the +work of the state commissions--and in that I mean all the work done by +the state in its official capacity--chartering libraries, library +legislation, inspection, travelling libraries--whatever the state may do +for public libraries. + +The first topic is, "What is the best method of getting travelling +libraries before the people?" Who has any experience or suggestion to +offer on that point--either of difficulties or successes? + +A MEMBER: Go to the pastors and school houses. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: Does the gentleman mean to put the travelling libraries +into school houses? Last Sunday I visited a man who had never heard of +such a thing as travelling libraries; he was a German pastor; and +probably that accounted for it. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Is there not objection to having travelling libraries in +school houses, for the reason that so many of the hours during which the +children have leisure to read, and their parents could read, the school +houses are closed? Another difficulty is the long summer vacation; and +still another is that to place the library in the school house makes the +travelling library merely a side issue. + +Mr. DEWEY: Where would you put it? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Find somebody to take it in special charge. A travelling +library in a community is bound to find some good woman who would rather +have charge of it than anything else in the world. + +Mr. DEWEY: Then you would put it in a private house? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: In a private house or a country post-office--wherever you +can find a person who believes in its use and will give service for it. + +Mr. GALBREATH: I should like to ask Mr. Hutchins, provided the teacher +is a man or woman who believes in the library, what objection is there +to placing it in the school house? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The teacher may be a person who believes in it, but he or +she makes the school of first importance. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: What difference does it make if the library is a side +issue, so long as it gets in its work? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: If it is a side issue it does not get in its work. + +Miss STEARNS: Let us go back to the original question, How to get the +travelling library before the people. The best method, we find, is to +take with you a county superintendent who is acquainted with all the +people in his county, or ought to be. Take your travelling library with +you also, just as a travelling man takes his samples. Do not start out +with a lot of circulars; take the books themselves right with you, in +the back of the wagon. When you have brought the people together open +your box; take out your _Scribner_ or your _Youth's Companion_; take out +your books on the Philippines, on birds, on cookery; show your audience +some good stories; and you will organize a library association ten times +quicker than if you had started out by writing letters. Those are +letters, very often, that are never answered, and you wait and wonder +why the people do not want the books. Go to the people with the books. +That is the way we find we can work best in Wisconsin. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Sometimes it is difficult to find the means to do the +work that Miss Stearns has mentioned, and possibly our experience, +briefly stated, in bringing the travelling library to the attention of +the people of Ohio might not be out of place here. We began by +advertising it through the daily and weekly papers. That brought us very +few responses. We next tried to reach the people through the official +organ of the teachers of the state. That brought us many responses from +rural schools. Our next effort was to reach the farming communities +through the state grange, which devoted one of its quarterly bulletins +to the travelling libraries. This brought many responses. We reached the +women's clubs through circulars issued to their membership, and this was +very effective in turn. We found it best to reach the people of the +state through the organs that were devoted to specific interests, +especially along educational lines. + +Mr. DEWEY: Did you go personally to the grangers, write to them, or send +printed matter? + +Mr. GALBREATH: We saw the lecturer of the grange, who issues a quarterly +bulletin in our state. We explained the system fully to him, and he +devoted almost an entire bulletin to an explanation of the system, and +advised the farmers of the state to patronize the travelling libraries. +Then we have published in Ohio the _Ohio Farmer_, which circulates +widely outside of the state. That took up the work and helped us +greatly. We reached the farmers by going to the public press and using +the organs that the farmers read. We reached the teachers in the same +way, and the women's clubs. We have advertised our system pretty widely +over the state, so that now we do not send circulars except when they +are requested. We are circulating about one thousand travelling +libraries in Ohio, and they go to all parts of the state. Not only that, +but we have travelling library systems in three counties of the state +that are in no way dependent upon the state for support and that are +doing excellent work. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Do the people pay anything for the libraries? + +Mr. GALBREATH: They pay transportation both ways, and that is all. + +Miss STEARNS: Do they always have to pay it? + +Mr. GALBREATH: Yes. + +Miss STEARNS: If you found a community too poor to pay, what would you +do? + +Mr. GALBREATH: We have not so far met that condition. Perhaps some +libraries have not been sent out because the people were too poor to pay +the charge, but if that problem does come up before us, we will try to +find some person who will pay the transportation. + +Mr. DEWEY: Are there no remarks to be made on the use of annotated +finding lists in travelling library work? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Annotations are worth a great deal, because the people, at +their homes, sit down and talk over the books in these lists, and they +get acquainted with the books and the authors. + +Mr. DEWEY: The best form of annotation, I take it, would be the brief +note, giving the best idea possible of the character of the book, and +telling the reader whether he wants to read it or not, not necessarily +as a matter of quotation from some one else. + +Miss STEARNS: It is always a good plan to put in the publisher and price +of the book; if the person gets interested in the book he can find out +how much it would cost and where he can get it. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: It would be well also to put in the number of pages, so +that people know how large a volume it is--150, 250, or 350 pages. + +Mr. DEWEY: Has any one else tried the use of a wagon, as described by +Miss Stearns--going right to the people and reaching the homes? That +means going out into the rural districts and dealing with the farmhouses +as individual homes. There must be the right person in the wagon, of +course, who can stand and speak for an hour perhaps and leave half a +dozen or a dozen books to start the work along. + +Miss STEARNS: That is the only way in the world by which you can find +what the people like to read--it is only by visiting the people, getting +acquainted with them, going right into their homes. The idea of sending +a box of books off in a freight car, not knowing anything about the +country or the people it is going to! If you want those books to do good +work, you must know where they are going. + +Mr. DEWEY: That is the way men sell goods. The librarian is just as +anxious to place his books to advantage as the merchant is to sell his +wares. If he is dealing with the rural community he follows just that +method. I am inclined to think that somebody is going to make a great +success with those wagons. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Where the demand for books is strong, as it is in Ohio, +and you have all that you can do to supply that demand, should not that +be attended to before you go out in a wagon to enlarge your field? + +Mr. DEWEY: Oh, yes; but in Ohio everybody expects to be President sooner +or later. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Isn't the point this: Where you only supply a demand you +reach the intelligent communities first and the neglected communities +are left out; but the libraries should reach the neglected communities. +We spend too much money in buying books and not enough in educating the +people to use the books. It is the same old story. You spend $10,000 for +books and not $200 for administration, and the administration is the +important point. + +Mr. DEWEY: There is another analogy. We used to have the schools only +for the bright boys. It is a modern idea to give education to the dull, +the backward, the blind and the deaf, but nowadays they are all being +trained. And we keep finding men who are among the strongest citizens of +their age, but who, if we get at their early history, we find were once +dull, backward boys that somebody hunted up and started along the right +lines. + +Mr. GALBREATH: What communities, as a rule, are first served in +Wisconsin? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The neglected communities. The community in which we are +meeting is in the wealthiest part of the state of Wisconsin. We have not +got a travelling library near here. We have only 300 of these libraries, +and we seek out the neglected communities; not because we do not care to +help the people here, but we must take the neglected ones first. + +Mr. GALBREATH: This is a practical question. It may be that after a +while we will all be seeking the neglected communities. What is the +practical method of going out into the state after the neglected +communities? How are you going to do it? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: That is where you have got to have missionary work, +personal contact. + +Mr. DEWEY: It is not a question of studying what to do; it is a case of +the man behind the idea. If a man starts out who is a born missionary, +he will go straight to the communities who need him, while another man +will take care of another class. We want to do all the work before us, +but if we are so situated that we cannot do both kinds of work in this +field, which is the more important to do first, cultivate the good field +or the poor field, which if you do not cultivate it will run to weeds +and escape us entirely? As Mr. Galbreath asks, if a community is anxious +to read, will you supply that, or will you stir somebody up that does +not want your supplies? In other words, if there is a field that is +rather poor, will you cultivate that at the expense of another field +that yields a good crop? + +Mr. GALBREATH: It seems to me that a neglected community is one that has +no library of any kind of its own; nine-tenths of our travelling +libraries go out to communities of that sort. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I would not take that as a definition. In an intelligent +community they buy books, they buy magazines, they have intelligent +people. A neglected community is one that is not reached by these means, +or by any means of civilization. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Suppose I go into a community which all the American +people are gradually leaving, only foreigners remaining. How can I reach +the foreign people that hardly have the English language in their homes, +and scarcely in the schools? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Take, for instance, one of those foreign communities. The +children go to school; some of them stay in school until they can barely +spell out the third reader, and then they go out and become American +citizens. Reading is hard work for them. You offer them a chance to read +a book, and they do not want it. But in that place we send first with +our travelling libraries the _Youth's Companion_ and the little picture +papers, to interest them in spelling out little short stories. Try +elementary books; simple books of American history and biography; lead +them on to better books. But the way is, first of all, to go to them. We +have many such communities in the northern part of the state, where the +people have come from foreign lands and know nothing about our customs. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Another question. I would ask Mr. Hutchins, if a farming +community should send to the state commission for a travelling library, +and with the request state that they had no library to which they had +access, if he would decline to send to them because they were an +intelligent community? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: No, we send libraries to these communities. We are sending +to all classes, but if Miss Stearns, in the northern part of the state, +finds a neglected community, and can work with them, and can find some +members of the women's clubs to go out and help, we send to them first. + +Mr. GALBREATH: I think that perhaps our methods do not vary so much +after all. The women's clubs are supplementing our work in that way. In +Ohio we have succeeded in interesting a number of the members of the +legislature, and frequently they come in and look over our maps +illustrating the travelling library work, and say, "There is in our +county a community that is very backward. They have no libraries there, +and they are not very intelligent. I wish you to write to So-and-so in +that community." We do a great deal of work in the line of reaching what +Mr. Hutchins calls the neglected communities. + +A MEMBER: I would like to ask Mr. Hutchins if he has forgotten that we +have something besides the readers in our Wisconsin schools? Under the +present school law every district in the state has the beginnings of a +library, and adds to that library each year. And we have in each of our +school institutes held during the summer a 45-minute period which is +spent in training teachers how to get children to read books, how to +interest them in the books, and how to show them to get from the book +the information it contains. And I would also like to ask if the library +placed in the school house is not as accessible to the district as a +library that may be placed at some central point? Very often people +would have to drive 25 or 30 miles to reach that central point, whereas +in the library in the school house the children can take the books to +their homes. During the long vacation the library need not be left in +the school house, but in some other place. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: A library in a school is a school library, no matter where +it may be, and the children do not go to the school house after they +leave the school. + +Mr. DEWEY: The library is an optional affair; the children are compelled +to go to school. On the other side, there are a number of advantages in +favor of the school building. + +Has anybody succeeded in getting from the railroads or express companies +special concessions for the transportation of library books? + +Mrs. DOCKERY: In Idaho, while the travelling libraries were in the hands +of the women's clubs. When they came in the hands of the state, the +railroads felt that they should have some compensation, and they gave us +half rates. The stage lines give us less than half rates. + +E. H. ANDERSON: In Pennsylvania the Adams and the United States Express +Companies, which are the two leading companies, have made this +concession: We can send out books at full rate going, and half rate +returning. These rates apply only on condition that the books returned +are paid for at the library, so there is no confusion at any other +station. + +Mr. MONTGOMERY: How about books that are transferred to another point? + +Mr. ANDERSON: We do not transfer them; they must all come back. + +G. F. BOWERMAN: The law of Delaware requires that the express companies +shall give the franking privilege, both coming and going, to all state +documents, and we intend, if possible, to extend that provision to our +travelling libraries, now that they are conducted by a state commission. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: On the question of express, my experience in Illinois is +that the shipping of our books has been unsatisfactory, and I have had +some conversation in the matter with the express companies. They seem +willing to give us some concessions, and I believe if this meeting would +recommend that the American Library Association take up the question of +express charges, that we could get for the whole United States a liberal +concession for travelling libraries. At least I think we could get as +much concession as is given the farmers for returning chicken coops. I +think if this is taken up by the Association, as an association, we +could get a very liberal reduction. + +Mr. BOWERMAN: The Seaboard Air Line runs a free travelling library +system, and I presume they send their books over that system free? + +Mr. DEWEY: Yes. They also pay expenses, but would they open those +privileges to other people? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: I want to raise one question. Isn't it a mistake to put the +library in the position of a beggar? Is it not better to pay for what we +get? + +Mr. DEWEY: If we have money enough. We would rather beg than have no +bread. We are willing to profit by whatever concession we can get which +will enable us to do our work. + +No one has spoken of the most important thing of all in this work. We +are reaching communities, but there are in all our states great numbers +of isolated homes and of farmers. They have more leisure than any other +class, especially in the winter, and we have to reach them through the +mails. We have a letter from Mr. Lane, of Harvard, upon the movement to +secure reduced postal rates for library books, undertaken through the +New England Education League by Mr. Scott. This matter is of great +importance to us all. [Mr. Lane's letter was read by Mr. Bowerman.] + +Mr. MONTGOMERY: In connection with that, has any one here tried to send +single books to individuals in any of the communities through the rural +delivery system? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: We have to a certain extent. We have not sufficient funds +to send out enough of the boxes, so we allow a school teacher in the +northern part of the state to draw out some book on some subject, and we +send these by the rural delivery, or by mail, whichever will reach him +most quickly, but of course we have to pay the regular postage. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: We have sent out a few books to the country domestic +science clubs through the mails, and we have a greater demand for them +than we could ever supply. Now I find this experience: the express +companies, in the matter of books, would carry a book more cheaply than +the United States mail. I am quite confident that the express companies +would return the books free, or at a very low rate, if the charges were +prepaid. I move that this meeting recommend that the American Library +Association take up the question of procuring reduced transportation +rates for all free circulating library books. + +Mr. DEWEY: If this large meeting is practically agreed on the importance +of that, we could send the recommendation into the Council meeting +to-night. It seems to me simply inconceivable that we are willing to +allow periodicals, bad and indifferent, and the yellow journals, to +receive the pound postal rate, while our libraries, suffering from lack +of income and working for the public benefit, cannot use the public +facilities as cheaply as the people who are using them for public harm +instead of public good. I had supposed there would be unanimous approval +of an act to register public libraries, owned and maintained for the +public benefit, so that they could receive the pound postal rate on +books. + +Mr. HOSTETTER'S motion was seconded. + +Mr. DEWEY: Let us see if there is anything more on this question before +the motion is put. There is a bill closely allied to this going into the +next Congress. Mr. Hutchins, will you state it briefly? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: We have twice tried to secure better transportation in the +state of Wisconsin. We have found rural mail carriers who said that they +would carry books to the farmers for a travelling library without cost, +but the United States law said that we could not do this; that we cannot +carry in this way anything under four pounds in weight except it is +stamped. Congressman Jenkins, therefore, has drawn a bill which gives +libraries authority to send their books free along rural mail routes. At +present the farmer must either carry the book himself and return it to +the public library, or he must pay postage. + +Mr. DEWEY: You say that the carriers cannot take packages under four +pounds without stamps? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Yes; the government rules that packages under four pounds +are to be sent by mail. Larger packages we could send by the carriers, +and we have sometimes thought of sending 15 or 20 books to a +neighborhood for distribution. I think that could be done, under the +government rule, if the mail carrier was willing to carry them. + +Mr. DEWEY: The idea is, that the carrier must not carry anything to +compete with the postal service. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: Mr. Jenkins, who has drawn this bill for us, has submitted +it to all the Senators and Representatives in the United States, and +nearly all favor it. Now, I am in favor of Mr. Scott's bill, which gives +libraries reduced rates through the whole United States. As things are +to-day, if you want to send a travelling library book 100 miles out into +the country it costs as much as to send it to San Francisco or New York. +If we can get the government to allow transportation by rural free mail +delivery it will be an entering wedge for this other bill. + +Mr. BOWERMAN: Why cannot the legislation adopting the rural mail +delivery also include this matter of the pound rates? Why not have both +provisions in one bill? My library is practically free to the whole of +Newcastle county, not confined simply to Wilmington, but it is a farming +community. We would like to send books to every part of the county, +practically to every part of the state. The library is practically free +to the state of Delaware, so far as people can come to us, but they +cannot come to us; we would like to go to them, but we cannot do it, +because of the expense. We could do it if we could afford sufficient +postage to send books. + +Mr. DEWEY: These are two closely allied questions. Has any one any +objection to this Jenkins bill, which, on its face, promises to be so +useful to us? I think we can get it, if we work together. + +Miss STEARNS: If the government admits library books into this country +free of duty, why cannot it allow a man to carry a book free on the +rural delivery route if he wants to do it? In our state we have people +who cannot afford to pay postage on the books; if the mail-carrier is +willing, in the goodness of his heart, to take the book to them, why +can't it be done? Why should not a book from a free library be sent +free? I do not mean from one state to another, but I mean by rural free +delivery. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: Would you make it optional with the carrier? Why not make +it compulsory? You say, "if he wants" to carry the book. Suppose he does +not "want" to carry it? + +Miss STEARNS: I would have it so that he can do it for nothing if he +wishes, or he can charge a little for express. The rural mail delivery +people have to work hard, and they make but little. Now, the United +States government has to employ good men to do this work, so it puts in +a premium by allowing them to conduct an express business in connection +with it. In order, however, that the government may receive its revenue, +it does not allow the carriers to carry any packages under four pounds +in weight. What we want is to have that embargo removed for free library +books, so that they may carry books weighing a pound or a half pound. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: The post-office would probably say that this would +interfere with the delivery of the regular mail. + +Miss STEARNS: If it interferes, then the whole express business +interferes. The carriers are doing such a business now for packages +about four pounds in weight. + +Mr. DEWEY: Then all you need to do is to attach a brick to your book and +make it weigh over four pounds. Is there any motion before the meeting? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: The motion of the gentleman from Illinois has not been +disposed of. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: My motion relates to express transportation. Rural +delivery is somewhat of an experiment, and it would not reach the case I +have in mind. We spend our money for expressage, and we want the +express companies to give us a minimum rate. + +Mr. DEWEY: I rule there is no motion before us until it is repeated. + +Mr. HUSE: I move that we recommend the passage of the Jenkins bill. We +ought to pay no attention to all this talk about lines of least +resistance. If we have no law, we will find the Post-office Department +ready with an objection that will answer any request we may make. If we +can get a law authorizing what we want, the Post-office Department will +obey it whether we seek the line of least resistance or not. + +Mr. DEWEY: Is the motion seconded? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: I rise to a point of order. There was a previous motion +made and seconded, and I call for the question. + +Mr. HOSTETTER: I made a definite motion in regard to the express +companies. It was made for the reason that arrangements can probably be +effected with the express companies, but we are not likely to get the +legislation we want. This motion was this: That this meeting request the +Council of this Association to negotiate with the express companies of +the United States for reduced rates upon travelling libraries and +travelling library books. + +The motion was adopted. + +Mr. HUSE: I renew my motion that we recommend the passage of the Jenkins +bill. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: The Jenkins bill provides that wherever there is +established a public library from which rural delivery routes radiate, +books may be carried upon those routes from the public library to the +patrons in the country without cost. They may not, however, be returned +free; in returning they must either be returned personally to the +library or postage must be paid. + +The motion made by Mr. Huse was adopted. + +Mr. DEWEY: We come now to the question of pound rates. That has been +before Congress for some time, and I think there is hope of its passage; +but it needs our support. I am heartily in favor of it. I think it is +just, and that a great deal of the criticism it has received is based on +misapprehension. Some people look only at the rates that extend +throughout the country, and say that the government will be carrying +books at a loss, but these books will largely circulate within 100 miles +of the library, and you will pay exactly the same rate within that +circuit as you would if sending to San Francisco. Does anybody want to +move that the Council be asked to support this bill? + +It was moved and seconded that the support of the bill be recommended. + +Mr. HUSE: It seems to me we are trying to get a good many things. If we +get the cheap postal rates, that will include rural delivery, and then +the express companies will come down in their rates to compete with the +government. + +Mr. DEWEY: The rural delivery is limited to a single section, and is +analogous to newspaper rates. + +Mr. HUSE: But if this pound rate is extended to library books the +express companies will come down in their rates, and the rural delivery +will be almost free. + +Mr. DEWEY: But in any case if we want all these things, it won't do any +harm to ask for them. + +Mr. EASTMAN: I would like to raise one point, and that is, what would be +the effect of the extremely cheap rates of postage upon small libraries +or upon libraries which we want to establish? In the remote parts of the +state, where the population is small, won't the tendency be to have one +great library dominate the whole state? Then when you go to a community +to awaken library interest the people will probably say, "We don't care +about a library; we can get our books from New York, or Albany, or +Cincinnati, or Chicago." Won't this measure tend to hamper the work of +establishing libraries in the small places? + +Mr. ANDERSON: That is a difficulty easily remedied. I do not think that +any library should act as a forwarding agent to a person in any place +where another public library is or can be established. Our library takes +that position very firmly. We refuse to be a forwarding agent to any +person; if a library, however small, asks us to send books, we are glad +to do it. I know we have helped small libraries by making people feel +that the small library was very important, as it could get concessions +that they reasonably could not obtain. + +Mr. DEWEY: Mr. Eastman's point, if this were a commercial question, +might have something in it, but as long as books are circulated free, we +should make the road free to the reader, for a short distance or a long +distance. + +The motion was adopted. + +Mr. DEWEY: We will now take up the topic of county libraries as units in +a state library system. Mr. Hodges, of Cincinnati, has something to say +on this. + +N. D. C. HODGES: By an act passed April 21, 1898, the privileges of the +Public Library of Cincinnati were extended to all residents of Hamilton +County. While the trustees did not derive any revenue from the taxpayers +outside of the city limits until the beginning of 1899, steps were taken +at once on the passage of the act to enable all the residents of the +county to avail themselves of their new privileges. There has been some +discussion in the public press as to whether this library or that might +claim priority as a county library. The Public Library of Cincinnati has +been loaning its books to all the residents of Hamilton County for more +than three years. I believe there is no other library in the state of +Ohio which had furnished books throughout a whole county before January +of this year. This method of supplying books over a comparatively +limited territory has interest when we are discussing the circulation of +books over a whole state from the state capital. + +For those who cannot, or will not, come to the central library, there +have been established throughout the county forty-one delivery stations. +Four of these are branch libraries. All these branch libraries had +previously been village libraries with very respectable histories; +started as subscription institutions they had in years past taken on a +public character and were supported partially by taxation. There are +several other local libraries in the county which are supported more or +less by taxation and which are likely to come under the general +management of the trustees of the Public Library of Cincinnati, as +otherwise the taxpayers in the regions where they are located will be +subject to double taxation for library purposes, and, moreover, there +seems to be a consensus of opinion among those who are interested in the +branches which have come under the wing of the central institution that +they have found the change to their advantage. + +Hamilton County is not a flat region. The old part of the city of +Cincinnati is located on what might be called the river bottoms, though +the land is, most of it, at a safe height above the river floods. Half a +mile or a mile back from the river there are sharp rises of four hundred +or five hundred feet to the hill tops, on which the newer portions of +the city are built. Again, these hill tops are not tablelands but are +cut here and there by deep gorges. The hilly character of the county +adds to the difficulty of transportation. It is slow work for a wagon to +climb the steep ascent from the old city to the suburbs. The library +does not have its own service of wagons, but depends on the local +expresses. There are portions of the county with which there is no +regular system of communication by stage or express. It is in these +regions, more or less inaccessible, though not uninhabited, that the +authorities of the library have placed travelling libraries. Twelve of +these travelling libraries were sent out in March of this year. In each +library there are 62 or 63 books. New books were purchased for the +purpose, books of a character likely to interest the readers, the new +novels with a 40% sprinkling of the best classed literature. The +travelling libraries were arranged in three circuits of four each. Each +library containing 62 or 63 books, the four libraries in a circuit +contain 250 volumes. The books in circuit A are the same as those in +circuit B and as in circuit C. The libraries were placed with school +teachers. Right here a difficulty has arisen on account of the closing +of the schools for the summer. The country schools have rather long +vacations. Some of the teachers are willing to care for their libraries +during the summer and see that they are open to the patrons. Some are +not in a position to undertake this work. For the summer months there +has been a gathering of these 12 travelling libraries at less than 12 +stations. The idea has been, in general, that one of these travelling +libraries should remain about six months at a station before it is moved +on. + +The Public Library has also sent out 36 travelling libraries to the 36 +fire companies of the city. Each of these smaller travelling libraries +contains 20 volumes and they have been moved more rapidly than the +larger travelling libraries sent to the remote parts of the county. The +deliveries to the delivery stations vary. With some there is a daily +delivery, with others triweekly, for a few twice a week and there are +two which have but one delivery a week. + +There are a good many women's clubs in Hamilton County, Ohio. Last +winter we received programs from 37 of these clubs, and reading lists +were prepared on these programs by the cataloging department. A club +alcove was set aside and an attendant assigned to aid any of the members +of the clubs visiting the library for study on the papers which were to +be read. We have not attempted to send out selected lots of books for +the clubs in the suburban districts. Much better work can be done for +the readers if they will only come to the central library; and it +cripples the resources of the library to scatter its reference books far +and wide. We have sent such selected lots of books for limited periods +to the university for the use of the students and professors, but, in +general, for such reference work the policy has been to encourage the +use of the central library. + +This brings me to the consideration of whether there is any advantage in +the system of county libraries. No very great expense is involved in a +journey from the most remote corner of Hamilton County to the central +library in the city. Those who are intent upon serious study can, in +most cases, make a journey of 15 or 20 miles. At the central library +with a concentration of financial resources there can but be a more +valuable collection of books. On the other hand, it is perfectly +feasible for the officers of the library to visit even the most remote +portions of the county and by personal interview estimate the character +of the people whom they have to serve; with the result of a more +intelligent distribution of books in the outlying districts. Serious +study is provided for at the central library, while desultory reading is +supplied through the delivery stations and travelling libraries. + +Dr. STEINER: It seems to me that it depends somewhat upon your unit of +local government as to how much you need a county library. I should +think in Massachusetts or Connecticut the county library would be rather +an unfortunate enterprise, unless used in connection with the town +libraries. But in many of the southern states the county library is +going to be almost indispensable. With us the unit of local government +is the county, except in the case of the incorporated municipality. +There is a county in Maryland with 75,000 people without a single +municipality. The county commissioners attend to the minutest details of +administration in that county. It is manifestly unwise that the state +should take all the functions of the local library. But it seems that in +the states where we have no township system, or where the township +system is little developed, the county library is at present a +necessity. + +Mr. DEWEY: How do you support the schools? + +Dr. STEINER: By a county tax. We have school districts; but their only +function is to have district trustees, appointed by the county +commissioners, whose duty it is to take care of the school house and +appoint teachers. The taxes are raised by the county. It is the same in +other southern states, so far as I know. + +W. T. PORTER: Mr. Hodges has said that the Public Library of Cincinnati +was a county library. Possibly that was a little misnomer, in that the +library still remains the Public Library of Cincinnati, but we have +extended the privileges of that library to the county at large. That was +done under act of legislature of 1898, continuing the board of trustees +of the public library in office, and then authorizing that board of +trustees to make a levy upon the county for the maintenance of the +library. + +Miss STEARNS: How much of the county is embraced outside of the city of +Cincinnati? + +Mr. PORTER: We have about 14 townships outside of Cincinnati township. +Our county is possibly 28 miles in extent. + +Miss STEARNS: Then it is a small county that you supply? + +Mr. PORTER: It is a small county, but the population is extensive. We +commenced the county delivery system in June, 1899. Up to the present, +and through the stations alone, there have been about 7500 new +registrations, and we are to-day, through our stations, carrying 20,000 +books. + +Mr. DEWEY: This question seems to be of a city library extending its +privileges. What I thought we were to talk about was whether the county +should be used as a library unit. That is quite a different matter. + +Mr. GALBREATH: But in this case the county here is the unit, and is +taxed for the support of the library. There are no other public +libraries in the county. + +Mr. DEWEY: But there is a different side to the question. Suppose you +take a rural community and establish a county library there? I think it +would be a great extravagance to maintain not only local libraries +throughout the state, but also county libraries; it is going to cost too +much. + +Miss STEARNS: Would it not be better to have a central library? + +Mr. PORTER: We have also in Ohio, something which approaches the county +idea, known as our Van Wert law. The state of Ohio, by an act, +authorized the county commissioners of any county to accept library +donations, funds, or building. Upon the acceptance of that donation the +county can be required to maintain a library within the building. In Van +Wert county, the Brumback Library building and grounds were given in +this way and the agreement was made with the county commissioners, that +they maintain thereafter a library. + +Mr. DEWEY: Our question is not whether such libraries should exist or +can exist, but are they desirable? + +Mr. HUSE: What is the use of asking questions that must be governed +entirely by local conditions? This matter must be governed by local +conditions. + +Mr. BRIGHAM: We are trying a line of rural travelling libraries in three +counties of our state, in advance of any county or state legislation. +Miss Brown, of Lucas county, and myself, in correspondence, could see no +reason why a travelling library sent to Sheridan should not go on to +another point, and to another point, and so on, and then back to +Sheridan, back to me, and then after it had made its rounds, take +another start, and so on. We tried the plan and it has worked so well +that we are now trying it in two other counties. What the development +may be I do not know, but the satisfaction and the gratitude of the +people in the small towns it reaches is worth all it has cost of extra +effort. + +Miss TYLER: The point of the plan is that the librarian of the +county-seat library is responsible for the travelling library. She +guards the books, watches over them and makes her library the point of +distribution. She distributes the books through the county, they come +back to her library for exchange, or are passed on to the next exchange, +whichever is most convenient; but they come under her direction. + +Mr. DEWEY: Let me state the point as I understand it. We are all agreed +that we must have local libraries for the people. They can go from their +homes into the library and take the books into their hands. If they are +in the city almost every day they can utilize the large city library. +When it comes to the question of sending books by mail or express we are +all agreed that each state must have a state library and its own state +commission. The question is, Should there be an intermediary point +between a state library and the local library? It seems, at first +thought, that there should be, because you would have a shorter distance +to travel, but all commercial experience is against this. Manufacturers +are closing factories all the while and paying transportation, because +they can do their work more cheaply in one place. Thus, repair of books, +checking lists, and all that kind of work can be done under a single +executive at some central point in the state more cheaply than if there +was a library in each county. In Wisconsin, with 71 counties, you would +have 71 libraries and you would have to duplicate great quantities of +books. My experience indicates that we can do this work more cheaply and +more economically by putting the books under control of a central +library. As to the extra distance, very often the identical trains that +would take the books from a county seat would have brought them from the +capital as it went through, so that they would have been received almost +without delay. Is it going to pay to introduce a new ganglion--that is, +the county library? + +Dr. STEINER: Take Baltimore county in Maryland. There is a county with +75,000 people; it has an electric lighting system, a police court, fire +engine houses; there are towns in that county of a thousand people. +There is no government in that county except the board of county +commissioners, who are as complete autocrats as the czar of Russia. +There is no municipality in the county; there is one town which has 5000 +people. You must have a county library with a county administration, +because you cannot have anything but the county library; you cannot +discriminate between one part of the county and another. That library +must send books equally to all parts of the county; you cannot put it +where the great centers of the population are, because you cannot +deprive any citizen of the county of his right to draw books. + +Mr. DEWEY: Of course, we are not discussing a peculiar condition such as +exists in Maryland. + +Dr. STEINER: It is not a peculiar condition; it is the condition of at +least one-third of the United States. + +Mr. GALBREATH: It seems to me that there is nothing peculiar about this +condition. Of course, it differs from conditions in the north, but it +includes a state government, to which the county is subordinate, and if +I understand Mr. Dewey, it is his purpose to do this work from the state +as a center, and the question he has raised is whether it is better to +do it from the county as a center, or from the state as a center. I +think that in our state it would be well to use the county as a center, +for a time at least. However, I believe that in our state "benevolent +neutrality"--to apply the term that Mr. Putnam used the other day--on +the part of the state librarian toward these matters would be more +effective than "benevolent assimilation," and we hope for much from the +county library system. + +Mr. DEWEY: It is a question of what we should encourage. Is it wise to +do this work by the county unit or the state unit? It is largely an +economic question. How can you give the people the best reading for the +least amount of money? + +R. P. HAYES: In North Carolina we have practically nothing in the +library field and the question is, shall we try for county library +development or state library development? I would like to get some +definite word on that. + +Dr. STEINER: It seems to me we should try distinctly for county +libraries. In the southern states at least there is no question about +it; you have got to have county libraries. I started with the idea of +the local township libraries, but we must wait until we have a township. +My idea is, in any county wherein there are no incorporated +municipalities or where the incorporated municipalities do not care to +support libraries, the county library is the proper thing. In the south +the county takes the place of the town in New England; it is the taxing +unit, the unit in which all the local administration is carried on. + +Mr. HUSE: It seems to me that for the south, as stated by the gentlemen +here from Maryland and from North Carolina, the county system is very +probably the best one; but in New England we could not work by a county +unit, any more than the people of North Carolina and even further down +south could run a toboggan slide nine months in the year--they would not +have the ice; we haven't the counties. At least, we have the counties, +but they are of no importance to us except to have court houses, and +courts of justice. Now, each state must solve this problem according to +its own conditions and according to the desires and enthusiasm of its +own workers. The gentleman from Maryland, I haven't any doubt, will soon +have the county system operating fully and successfully in his state, +and the same will be true in North Carolina and throughout the south; +whereas in New England it won't be done because the county is not a +unit. In Wisconsin and New York, Mr. Dewey and Mr. Hutchins, and the men +and women who know more than they do, will run the library system +safely; whether it is state or county. But we cannot adopt any general +rule or take any general expression of opinion, for the people in each +state must work out their own salvation according to their own +condition. + +Mr. DEWEY: There are a number of other topics that have been specially +asked for. + +Can state commissions provide travelling libraries for hamlets which +furnish the money, and make such hamlets travelling library stations? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I wish to say a few words on that question. All through +Wisconsin, when we started travelling libraries, some people found that +there was a chance to make money by using the idea in a commercial way. +They went to communities which had heard of the travelling libraries, +raised $150 or so for "subscription" and then sent about ten dollars' +worth of books once in six months. Now, the plan we have worked out may +be best described by this illustration: about a year ago Miss Stearns +heard that there was a little hamlet of fishermen far up in the state on +a point which juts out into Lake Michigan. It included about a hundred +people who had heard of the travelling libraries, but they did not want +to be indebted for a gift or a charity, and so they had a series of +entertainments, and raised fifty dollars. They sent the money down to us +and we agreed to buy a library in their name. That library was the +contribution of the fishermen of the hamlet of Jacksonport, and the +hamlet was made a travelling library station. You can see how such a +method works out. The second point is, that in communities where there +are a hundred people or so, and conditions are favorable, we offer to +give them travelling libraries on condition that they establish +permanent public libraries on lines that are satisfactory to us. We take +care of the travelling libraries and they take care of the local +libraries. + +It seems to me, that in this method we have struck finally the correct +principle, the principle of self-support. The state takes the money and +gives trained service in the selection of the books, in taking care of +them, and in keeping the books travelling around their circuit. The +citizens pay for their books, and have the feeling that they belong to +an organization. More than all, when they are collecting their library +fund, giving their little "dime socials," contributing two dollars or +five dollars apiece, they are advertising that library, and it seems to +me that the library that is coming to them that way means far more than +the library that is given to them as a charity. + +Mr. GALBREATH: Mr. Hutchins, how often do the communities raise that +fifty dollars? + +Mr. HUTCHINS: They raise fifty dollars once, and for that the state +engages to send them libraries during the life of the library given by +them, which we estimate to be about six years. + +Mr. DEWEY: What shall be the unit of circulation--the cataloged library +or the single book or combination? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: We have tried both in Iowa. One of the twins is growing +faster than the other, and of course that is the hopeful one. + +Mr. DEWEY: Which one is that? + +Mr. BRIGHAM: That is the individual, or the single book as the unit, +rather than the travelling library; but I believe that the shelf-listed +library will always exist. The shelf-listed library of 50 or 25 books +must be a necessity in the communities where there are no libraries, and +I am sorry to say that there are a great many communities of that sort; +but the communities in which there are libraries are increasing, and +wherever there is a local library, or wherever there is a woman's club, +there the single book can be used to the best advantage. There are +disadvantages in the use of the shelf-listed library. Before we adopted +the new system, we often had requests for library no. 38 or no. 53, and +later found that the request arose from the fact that there was a single +book, or perhaps two books in that library, that some one wanted, while +the rest of the volumes would come back comparatively unused. That was +not good business economy. We might better have sent those two books, +and I became more and more impressed with this fact, and was finally +able to partially adopt the other plan. We have now perhaps 2000 books +on our shelves that are issued separately; but we have nearly 5000 tied +up in libraries. Both classes are in use, but the expense to the local +library of getting our collection of 50 books for the sake of using +perhaps two volumes is unnecessary. I am more and more impressed with +the fact--though the remark may be unorthodox--that there is prevalent a +little fad for spending money for administration, and spending it not +always economically. I believe in spending money freely for +administration that is approved by good common sense; beyond that it is +a woful waste of money. And so I would keep the use of the single book +in mind. The women's clubs as you know, are studying more and more, and +are doing less and less miscellaneous reading. Suppose we are trying to +meet the wants of the women's clubs. We put up a library covering the +Victorian period in literature, and we find that some one wants a +certain number of books on the lake poets. What is the use of sending +the entire library? We may have a library made up on the lake poets. +Then, suppose one librarian or one secretary writes for what we may have +on Coleridge, another wishes material on Wordsworth. Why not send the +Coleridge books to the one, and the Wordsworth books to the other? In +that way, make the books count. We should not be penurious in the matter +of expenditure for cases or for printing, or for any other working +tools, but we should always keep in mind that the essential thing is the +book, and if we can get on without the book case, or without the cover +that envelops it, or without the shipping case, or without the +combination book case and shipping case, all the better. We cannot get +along without them altogether, but we can send small packages all over +the state wrapped in paper, and can get rid of a great deal of expense. + +Mr. DEWEY: When you send ten books, of course send them in paper, but +when you send 50 or 100, send them in boxes; that is cheaper. This is a +mere shipping question. + +Adjourned. + + + + + WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND WOMEN'S CLUBS IN ADVANCING + LIBRARY INTERESTS: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +The work that can be done by state library associations and women's +clubs to advance library interests was considered in a "round table" +meeting, held in the assembly room, Fountain Spring House, on the +morning of Wednesday, July 10. Miss MARILLA WAITE FREEMAN presided as +chairman. + +Miss FREEMAN: At the Montreal conference last year a round table meeting +of officers of state library associations was held for the discussion of +questions affecting association work. Certain subjects, some of which +were informally discussed at that time, seem naturally to invite our +attention at the present session. We are to consider the object and +functions of state library associations--whether they should attempt +other lines of effort than the holding of a general meeting; what +principles as to time and place of meeting, topics, and participants +should govern the preparation of a program. With this general subject +has been joined the allied topic of the work of women's clubs in +advancing library interests. Few of us fully comprehend even yet the +amount of effective library extension work which has been and is being +accomplished by club women in almost every state of the Union. I have +asked representative members from some of the states which have been +working along these lines to tell us of their work. We shall hear first +from Mr. J. C. Dana, of the City Library, Springfield, Mass., the +Western Massachusetts Club, and the Massachusetts Library Club, on + + + WHAT THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD BE. + +J. C. DANA: Perhaps the chief purposes of a state library association +are to arouse an interest in libraries among the public and to increase +the knowledge and enthusiasm of the members of the profession. The +mistake is often made of thinking that the chief purpose of an +association is to hold an annual meeting. It is thought that the annual +meeting once provided with a good program, and that well carried +through, the work of the association for the whole year is done. There +could not be a greater mistake. The benefits of a state association come +largely from correspondence between members, the preparation for the +meeting, and the securing of ideas, new methods and statistics by +circulating letters among members, and the publication in newspapers and +elsewhere of notes about the meeting which is to come and the meetings +which have been. One is almost tempted to say that a library association +performs its duty better if it is active during the year--carrying on +correspondence and thoroughly advertising itself--and holds no meeting +whatever, than it does if it holds an annual meeting and does not +advertise. + +Another mistake common to those who organize state library associations +is to suppose that they are chiefly designed for the benefit of those +who organize them. They do not realize that to help younger and less +experienced members of the craft is a chief purpose of the association, +and that if through it librarians generally are informed and encouraged, +the profession itself is thereby improved, and they are themselves +advanced in general esteem. + +It is, then, an association's business to be active all through the +year, to devote itself largely to such work in and between its meetings +as will benefit both beginners and past-masters among librarians, and, +always, properly to advertise its work. Along this last line let me say +an urgent word in favor of good printing. It is difficult to +overestimate the value to an institution like a library association of +an exhibition of itself, through all its circulars and programs and +lists, by means of the best printing that money can buy. + +The general state association, being the largest and richest of all +associations in a given state, should take upon itself some large +definite work of permanent value and as far as possible of general +interest; say the compilation of historical material, the making of a +useful index, the issuance of popular lists, etc., etc. This work may +continue along the same line for several years, ending in the +publication of something thoroughly worth while which shall have been +the means of arousing interest in the profession itself and of bringing +the members of it into touch with one another month by month and year by +year. + +As to the place of meeting of the state association, I doubt if much +benefit accrues, on the whole, from meetings held in remote places for +missionary purposes. I say this, of course, on the supposition that the +meetings thus held, being at places difficult of access, will not +generally draw a large gathering. Better results can generally be +reached in these same small communities by sending to them occasionally +one or two active representatives of the association to carry on a +little propaganda work, speak before a woman's club, before the school +teachers, or a local literary society on the local library problems. + +About the programs of association meetings, it is difficult to say +anything which will have general application. They must, of course, to a +considerable extent, fit local conditions. I do not think it advisable +to give up much time to local speakers, either for words of greeting or +for historical sketches. These latter are generally unspeakably dull. On +the other hand, if popular interest in a place is desired a local +speaker may be the one best means available for accomplishing your +object. + +Associations which are attended, as so many are, by librarians of +smaller libraries who rarely get abroad and do not often have an +opportunity to meet their fellows and to expand in the social atmosphere +of the library meeting, should cultivate to the greatest possible extent +what one may call the conversational feature. Not only should ample +opportunity be given before and after and between the sessions for +informal talks, but a portion of the formal gathering itself should be +devoted to brief and rapid exchange of ideas. This can be brought about +by a little preliminary wire-pulling. Let some one briefly open a topic, +and then let questions be offered, some of them by the most diffident of +those present who have previously been posted as to what they are to ask +and when. Manufacture a little spontaneity by way of an ice-breaker, and +it is surprising how freely genuine spontaneity will then flow. It is +unquestionably of great value to a librarian who is unselfishly giving +her energy to a small library in a remote place, trying to make her +books of use, to be able to express herself, no matter how briefly, on +some of the matters which touch her work at home. + +A state association should draw out the diffident; cheer the discouraged +ones; magnify our calling; compel public attention to the value of +libraries; be active the whole year through; and always keep a little +ahead of the general library progress in the state. + +Miss ELLA MCLONEY: It is unquestionably true, as has been stated, that +the annual meeting of a state library association is not the whole of +the work that must be done through the year. It is possibly only an +incident, but the fact is that in the nature of things the work of +preparation for this meeting must be carried on during at least half the +year. The preparation of the programs requires a great deal of +correspondence, and this must extend over a great part of the state and +during a great part of the year. Whenever any circulars or announcements +are issued, they should be sent to every library in the state; it does +not matter whether that library is likely to be represented or not, it +should have information as to the work that is being done by the state +association. + +So far as advertising a library is concerned it seems to me a good deal +of a problem. Of course, library people, like other people, need the +help of the newspapers, but if you want to get the newspapers interested +in libraries it will have to be on the strength of something more than +what libraries are going to do. In other words, it will have to be +something that the newspapers can take up as news and feel that the +public are interested in; they want material that is fresh and newsy, +and if you can furnish them with that, then the newspapers will be +willing to help. + +As to the printing of programs and other material, I am hardly prepared +to say that library associations should always have the best and most +expensive work. It is a proper thing, theoretically, to appear before +the public in the handsomest and most suitable dress possible, but when +every 25 cents is of importance and your treasury is practically empty, +and there is no one upon whom you can legitimately draw to fill it, I +think you must limit your work accordingly. + +About definite work to be done, it is true of a library association, as +of any other association, that it should do something that will furnish +a reason for its existence. In most cases the most definite thing, if +you are beginners in association work, will be the task of gaining a +foothold; but the time will probably come when it will be necessary to +undertake some definite work, that the life of the association may be +prolonged and finally assured. The Iowa association, for its first three +or four years, was a very frail child, and required most careful +nursing; but finally, about the fourth year, it began to seem as if +there was very good prospect of its growth and development. Miss Ahern, +whom Illinois has claimed for the last five years, and who was at that +time interested in the Iowa work, devised the plan of establishing a +four years' course of library study, an ambitious undertaking in the +condition of affairs in Iowa then. This was printed in a neat folder, +which was sent to every library in the state, with a circular telling +them what the plan was, and that the library association wished the +librarians of the state to enter upon this four years' course of study, +and asked all who would pledge themselves to do so to come to the next +meeting with their report of the work. I received seven letters in +response to all this circular work, and when the time for the annual +meeting came there was no one there to report. Librarians were too busy, +too far apart, and too poorly paid, to permit the work being carried on +systematically. It was dropped at that point; I think it could be done +now, and it may be taken up yet. It did furnish a common bond, although +the results were not very evident just then. + +The next thing, as has been the case with many other associations, was +the work of securing the library commission. We pegged away at that for +five years before we accomplished anything. Finally the State Federation +of Women's Clubs interested itself; we secured the commission, and the +work has been going on exceedingly well for the past year. We have made +no plan yet for further definite work, but some need will doubtless +develop. + +In regard to programs, they must, of course, as Mr. Dana said, be +adapted to local conditions, and the people who are primarily the +workers in the state association, cannot expect personally to get much +from the program or from the work of the association. But it is probably +true in most cases that these workers have opportunities of visiting +other libraries, and have facilities for work that are not open to the +librarians in the smaller places. The librarians of the smaller +libraries should be given something definite, something technical, +something that will be of help to them in the work from a professional +point of view. + +As to place of meeting, the Iowa meetings were always held in Des +Moines, the capital city, until two years ago. Then it was decided to +make the library association a movable feast. We met at Cedar Rapids +two years ago, last year at Sioux City, where we had a good meeting, +although not largely attended. Sioux City is in the extreme western part +of the state, and is not easily accessible by railroad, but we drew a +little from South Dakota, which was what we had counted on; some Dakota +people came and joined the association, and two of those people have +attended this A. L. A. conference. We meet next in Burlington, where +there are more libraries in the locality, and we expect a larger +attendance. I suppose the ideal condition would be to meet in some +central place, where there are library facilities, but I believe it is +worth while to move the association about; that is one way of +advertising it. + +Miss OLIVE JONES: I fully believe that the greatest work of the state +association it does through the librarians individually. It is of help +in the state in bringing out different lines of work, and in keeping the +library work before the public; but, after all, do we not gain more from +individual effort than from anything else? In educational problems, it +is coming to be realized that the work of the individual means more than +the work of any body of people, and I am fully convinced, if we can +bring librarians to our state associations, and have an association full +of enthusiasm and that intangible something which we call library +spirit, we will have more done for the state at large than by any +devising of general work along large lines. I would make a special plea +that in deciding where to meet, you should consider first the +librarians, and settle a pleasant place for the members who meet +fellow-workers only once a year. There are librarians who have no +vacation at all, except when their board kindly allows them to go to the +state association meeting; there are librarians who never know +personally anything of this larger work done all over the country, and +we should not ask such persons to come to a place where they are not +going to be comfortable, and which they must spend a good deal of money +to reach. We must be sure of having something for the librarians of the +smaller libraries; something technical, not too much, but something +which the librarian can take away, feeling that it has been worth while +to attend. I am not certain that we could have library instruction in +Ohio; we tried it and it did not seem to work; but if you can introduce +in the program one or two definite, technical papers, it is a good +thing. And at the same time give a chance for sociability and some +social entertainment. + +There is one other point, and that is in regard to the advertising that +we can do through individuals--you see my point is individualism. I +believe in newspaper advertising, but I think if you can work up a good +mailing list through your state, sending all your circulars to +individuals, you will do more than by newspaper advertising. And it is a +good thing to get one library in each city to keep a list of every one +in that city who ought to be specially interested in library work, +whether members of the association or not. Then let that librarian send +to the secretary of the association a duplicate of that list, so that +everything the state association issues goes to each person who should +be interested in library work. + +W. R. EASTMAN: In New York we are going through a little transition +period in state library association work. Formerly our state association +held occasional meetings in different places. It held one in midwinter +in New York City, with the New York Library Club. Then in the summer or +spring we held a meeting in the central part of the state. We tried to +make our programs as practical as could be, discussing not only +occasional technical points, but elementary points as well. We always +had good meetings; we got together a little circle of librarians who +were interested, and we thought the state association was worth keeping +up, although the state was so large that we reached only one or two +centers. About a year ago, under a new administration, Dr. Canfield +suggested that the annual meeting should always be held in one place. We +consented to try the plan, and decided to make Lake Placid, in the +Adirondacks, our meeting place. We met there, and the association, to my +surprise and somewhat to my disturbance, first voted always to meet in +one place, and then voted always to meet at Lake Placid. We then made a +proviso instructing the executive board to district the state into 10 or +12 districts, and lay out a plan by which every one of those districts +should have a library conference in the course of the year. Thus, +instead of one meeting of the state during a year, we are going to have +12 local conferences. Whether those local conferences will have an +organization I do not know; the board has not yet reported its plan. +Probably there will be some sort of a skeleton organization--a president +and secretary, and perhaps some one in charge of each local conference, +and then some member of the association will probably come and attend +the conference. Our object is to bring together the librarians and +library trustees for 50 miles around; if the teachers are interested, so +much the better. So, you see, we have begun to establish a system of +local conferences all over the state. It is not extravagant; it is +hopeful; I believe there is a great deal in it, especially for the +larger states. + +Miss STEARNS: I for one would protest against always meeting in one +place, unless as Mr. Eastman has described, the meeting is held at a +resort. I have known cases where meetings were held at one central, +large town, because it was so accessible; and the librarian of a little +library, who cannot have open shelves and all facilities, goes to this +town and sees its large library, with its red tape, and gets so +completely tangled up in the red tape of that institution that she will +never be able to disentangle herself. I believe in the migration of +meetings. + +H. C. WELLMAN: I am in hearty sympathy with what has been said in regard +to extending library work through the state. It is especially valuable +in the newer states of the Union, but in the older states, in New +England, in New York, and elsewhere, I think we must not attend too +strictly to the extension of library work, but must rather intensify it. +A state library association, as Miss Jones said, can do a great deal for +librarians and for the library profession. The Massachusetts Library +Club has done something in the way of giving a series of lectures, to +run two or three years. The first lecture dealt with paper making, the +subject being treated by an expert; then came book illustration, of +which most librarians knew absolutely nothing; and then, finally, book +binding, for which we had one of the best binders of the state to come +down and show us the tricks of the trade. You are all library school +graduates out here; but in the effete east nine-tenths of the librarians +have not had that technical training. I do not know anything that was of +more practical good to our club membership than that lecture on library +binding. There is another thing that we ought to do, and that is to give +attention to the more scholarly side of librarianship. We are so busy +organizing, so busy spreading library ideas, that we are in danger of +losing sight of scholarship. That is something the state association can +do--in the directions of literature, bibliography, and such subjects. I +think that should be emphasized more than has been the case. In the +Massachusetts Club we are trying a similar scheme to that of Mr. +Eastman; we are going to have one annual meeting, which will take in all +the library clubs all over the state. Then, besides that, the state club +meets about three times a year in different parts of the state. + +In concluding, I want to make sure that this round table is to be +continued, and I therefore move that this assembly petition the program +committee of next year for another round table meeting on this subject. +_Voted._ + +Miss M. E. AHERN: I want to say a word about this matter of having +peripatetic meetings. In the state of Illinois we have all the library +law and all the library books in the northern part of the state, and +then there is a part of the state down in the south that they call +"Egypt." There may be some libraries there, but we have been unable yet +to induce them to take their place in the state library association. Two +years ago, after having tried for several years to get these libraries +to come into the association, we brought the association to them, and +held our meeting in East St. Louis, under the most distressing +circumstances of weather and other uncomfortable conditions; and not a +single librarian from that community attended the meeting. We tried the +same plan last year in another place in the state, and I felt when the +meeting was over that we had not done much good there. Very few of the +local people came to the meeting. Later I heard that we did some good, +but I am inclined to think that the personal efforts of the librarians +at that place did more than the association did. I am not at all a +pessimist, but in Illinois this plan has failed to interest the people +of the indifferent districts in the work that the library association +was trying to do, and I have been almost convinced that it is the proper +thing for an association to get a central point and bring librarians in +touch with the vitalizing spirit of a good library conference, rather +than to try to take the association to an indifferent community. I want +heartily to emphasize the point made by Mr. Dana about local speakers. I +have suffered more than once from these local speakers. I have a most +distinct recollection of hearing a trustee talk for one hour and a +quarter on the beautiful, magnanimous and generous efforts made by +himself to run the local library. The point made by Mr. Wellman needs to +be taken cautiously. I think there is more danger of emphasizing the +scholarly side of librarianship at state meetings than there is of not +giving it sufficient attention. The American Library Association, in my +opinion, should stand for the higher tenets of the library faith, and +the scholarly side should be more emphasized than has been the case +heretofore in the meetings of the national association. With all our +different organizations, clubs, associations, conferences, round tables, +and so on, it seems to me that the American Library Association should +take care of the technical side, and the smaller questions, that must, +indeed, be settled by local conditions, should be taken up by the state +associations. While, of course, we want to have material of a high order +presented at the state association, at the same time we must remember +that these associations reach those people who cannot be touched in any +other way; and if they have come to get light on this new topic of work +for children, or if they are on the point of reorganizing their library, +or if they are having trouble with their board, they do not take kindly +to a dissertation on printing in the 15th century. + +One thing has been left out in the various interests which have been +brought forward, and that is the part of the trustee in the state +association meetings. A librarian may have all possible inclination, and +all the enthusiasm that we can give her, but if she does not have the +co-operation and the kindly sympathy of her library board, or at least a +majority of its members, life is to her a burden. Her condition is worse +than when she did not know, and did not know that she did not know. The +state associations have not so far been open enough to the trustees. It +seems to me that this is a subject well worth taking up, and we should +try to do more for the library trustees of the state than we have done +heretofore. Necessarily they take rather a material view of the +situation, and we should try to lead them away from the dollar-and-cents +view of library work. These two things need to be emphasized--keep in +mind the small librarian, and educate the trustee. Some one has said +that we need a library school for trustees quite as much as we need a +library school for librarians, and the more I see of libraries the more +I believe that. + +Mrs. E. J. DOCKERY spoke on + + + HOW A LIBRARY COMMISSION WAS SECURED IN IDAHO. + +I bring to you an accurate and complete history of the course adopted by +the club women of my state in securing library legislation, as I +personally participated in the work with other members of the Woman's +Columbian Club, the organization that had the direct and immediate +charge of the subject. + +It is a somewhat embarrassing confession to make that Idaho, with its +area of 87,000 square miles and a population of 164,000 souls, and its +sobriquet of "The gem of the Mountains," has not a free circulating +library. I make this statement, however, to emphasize the virgin field +in which we had to labor and the munificence of our legislators when we +consider the various tax burdens are so many and the number so few to +bear them. + +Boise City, the capital of our state, with a population of 10,000, is +the home of the Woman's Columbian Club of 200 members. This club, among +its many achievements, established and almost wholly supports a public +library of 2750 volumes at Boise; and its members stand in the vanguard +and do yeoman's service as leaders and in the ranks in all causes to +advance the moral, intellectual and material good of all the people of +the state that has granted women equal suffrage with men. + +The club strongly urges the formation of other woman's clubs throughout +the state, and encourages at all times the organization and development +of free libraries. + +The first really effective and aggressive step of the club in this +direction, and which led to important results, was the adoption of the +free travelling library scheme. Its zealous members, by united action +and individual effort, accumulated sufficient funds to put into +circulation 15 travelling libraries with a total of 800 volumes, and +invited discussion of this work in the public press. + +At the 1899 state teachers' meeting representatives of the club, on +invitation, espoused the cause of the travelling library and libraries +generally. The demand for library cases soon exhausted the Columbian +Club's ability to respond, and then an appeal for legislative aid was +determined upon, and systematic methods, principally through the press, +were pursued to awaken public sentiment favorable to the election of +friendly legislators. + +After the election of the legislators in 1900 the Columbian Club sent +circular letters to each one, setting forth the merits of the two bills +the club had prepared and upon which its energies were concentrated, +namely: a bill creating a state library commission, and a bill +authorizing common councils of cities and governing bodies of +communities to levy a tax not to exceed one mill on the assessed +valuation of property for the establishment and maintenance of free +reading rooms and libraries. + +Similar circular letters were sent to each of the 75 newspapers +published in the state. All women's clubs were importuned to co-operate, +and also all public school officials, teachers and educators of the +state. The press responded right royally with one single exception, and +book lovers and educators of high and low degree lent their willing +assistance. Representatives of the club again appeared before the 1900 +annual state teachers' meeting, and secured an official endorsement from +that body for the proposed library legislation. The state teachers' +association, in addition, advocated a law requiring that three per cent. +of all school moneys be set aside as a fund for school libraries, to +which the club women gave their aid and which also became a law. + +At the convening of the legislature in January of this year the leaven +had begun to work, thus paving the way for the successful lobbying by +the official representatives of the Columbian Club. + +The first step was the selection of a conspicuous legislator to stand +sponsor for our bills. In this we encountered an embarrassment of riches +in capable legislative material, but finally selected Senator S. P. +Donnelly, who cheerfully assumed the duty, and exerted the full force of +his wide popularity and marked ability from the time of his introduction +of the bills until the final vote upon them. + +The club members held frequent conferences with the educational +committee of both houses of the legislature and other legislators +specially interested in educational matters, and made plain to them the +inestimable benefits of the bills we championed. + +And in this connection I desire to make graceful acknowledgment to the +library workers of Wisconsin, as it was while a resident of this state I +received from them my first library inspiration; and particularly do I +desire to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. F. L. Hutchins, whose +personal communications and generous supply of library literature +enabled us to fully present our subject and to meet all objections +raised by some of the legislators. + +Every member of the legislature, with the exception of one in the lower +house, was buttonholed, and the consequence of that oversight was +manifested on the final voting day. + +In the meantime the club requested the home papers of the legislators to +continue to urge favorable action; and the club women from all parts of +the state, by letters, personal visits and petitions to the legislators, +did likewise. + +The instinct of partisanship, a peculiarity of all legislative bodies, +was not manifested in the least. + +On the day for the final action in the Senate Committee of the Whole the +Columbian Club was notified and attended in a body, the courtesy of the +floor being extended to us. + +Imagine our consternation, when the question was submitted to an aye and +nay vote, at not a voice being raised in its favor save Senator +Donnelly's. For a few moments silence so profound that it was almost +palpable prevailed, when presently Senator Kinkaid, who was in the +chair, without calling for the nays, solemnly announced, "The ayes have +it"; and delight supplanted our agonized distress as the pleasantry at +Senator Donnelly's expense and ours dawned upon us. + +The bill was then placed upon its final passage, and the senators, who +hesitated in their support on the ground of economy only, announced that +they would vote in favor of the bill, but desired it expressly +understood that they did so because they were intimidated by the +presence of the Columbian Club. The best of spirits prevailed, and our +bill providing for a state library commission of five members, two at +least to be women, passed the senate unanimously, the president of the +state university and the superintendent of public instruction to be _ex +officio_ members and the other three members to be appointed by the +governor; and the law appropriated $6000 for the purchase of travelling +library books and the maintenance of the commission for two years. + +The bill was sent to the lower house to take its course in that body, +but we were denied the privilege of practicing intimidation there. +Immediately upon its arrival in the house a member moved that it be made +a special order of business and be immediately placed upon its final +passage, and that a polite message be sent the president of the +Columbian Club that the house would perform its solemn duties without +the assistance or coercion of that club. + +The bill passed the house unanimously save for the solitary negative +vote of the member whom, by an inexplicable oversight, we failed to +interview, and who announced he so voted for that reason. + +This library commission bill was by all odds the most conspicuous matter +before the legislature, and the enrolled bill submitted to the governor +for signature was elaborately prepared and adorned with the club colors +by the attaches of the legislature. + +The commission has been in existence three months, or more properly +speaking, less than two months, for the necessary preliminary work did +not enable us to get before the public until May. Already we have been +invited to assist and direct the formation of six libraries and to +select books for the penitentiary library, have placed in circulation 10 +new travelling library cases in addition to the 15 cases donated to the +state by the Columbian Club, and have 20 more cases in preparation. + +While the law provided for the appointment of at least two women on the +commission, the governor appointed three, two of whom are members of the +Columbian Club; and our superintendent of public instruction being a +woman, we have four of the five members, and what is more especially to +the point, they are all club women. + +Woman's clubs may with propriety, I think, lay claim to some credit for +library laws in Idaho, and yet it is significant that the reason for +their power lies in the fact that the women of our state have in their +hands the wand of progress and civilization, the most powerful and +bloodless offensive and defensive weapon on earth--the ballot. In the +hand of the frailest of our sex this powerful weapon can strike as +deadly a blow at evil or as strenuous a blow for good as it can in the +hands of the brawniest of fighting men; no moral wretch of whatever size +and strength but what the very gentlest of our number can cancel his +registered will on election day; for an aspiring public servant to dare +oppose a righteous cause means sure defeat--for womanhood inevitably +arrays itself against the hosts of error. + +The women of our state, marshalled under the leadership of women's +clubs, stood in an unwavering and united array for all our library laws +and every other law that stood for good; and there were, all told, 15 +bills affecting education enacted into laws at the last session. + +Whatever of inspiration and encouragement the success of women's clubs +in Idaho may give our sister clubs in sister states, the success of +woman's suffrage there at any rate will help to silence the scoffers' +sneers and help put this ballot-sword, forged in the workshop of right +and justice, in the hand of every woman. + +In the absence of Mr. John Thomson Miss Neisser read Mr. Thomson's paper +on + + + HOW TO SECURE A STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION. + +I am asked "How to secure a state library commission?" I answer: + +_Ask for it._ + +_Urge it on the legislature._ + +_Strive persistently._ + +Without these three methods, there is little hope of getting a library +commission or the passage of good library legislation. + +Pennsylvania has been behind every other state in the Union in the +matter of library legislation and principally because hardly any effort +was made to procure the assistance of the legislature. Outside of a +dog-tax paid over for the support and maintenance of public libraries, +under an act approved in May, 1887, no real step was taken in this state +to secure the benefits of the public library movement until 1895. In +that year, it was sought to pass an act to authorize all cities and +boroughs of the commonwealth to levy taxes and make appropriations for +the establishment and maintenance of free libraries. Unfortunately, this +bill was stoutly opposed and was finally amended so as to affect only +cities of the first class. The most important subsequent legislation was +the approval by the governor in May, 1899, of a bill providing for the +appointment of a free library commission and defining its powers and +duties. Under this act, the governor had power to appoint five persons, +who with the state librarian, constitute the free library +commission--the state librarian being _ex officio_ secretary of that +body. The commission has power to give advice and counsel to all free +libraries in the state and to all communities which may propose to +establish them, as to the best means of establishing and administering +such libraries, the selection of books, cataloging, and other details of +library management; and the commission has certain powers of general +supervision and inspection. The section closes with the following words: + +"The commission shall also establish and maintain out of such sums as +shall come into their hands, by appropriation or otherwise, a system of +travelling libraries as far as possible throughout the commonwealth." + +Legislature adjourned without making any appropriation and the +commission found itself in the position described by Dickens when Mr. +Pickwick and his friends were authorized to travel where they liked, +make such investigations as they thought good, and generally to promote +science at their own expense. The commission was authorized under the +powers conferred upon it to purchase books, provide book-cases, print +whatever matter seemed good to it, and generally develop a travelling +libraries system throughout Pennsylvania _at its own expense_. Nothing +daunted, the members of the commission met in the state library on April +25, 1900 and organized, and being absolutely without funds, efforts were +made to secure contributions from benevolent friends of the movement and +$2800 were raised from 29 persons who generously placed in the hands of +the commission sufficient funds to enable it to start the work. In a +recent circular issued by the commission, the secretary calls attention +to the fact that Ohio already had more than 800 travelling libraries and +an appropriation of $5000 per year with which to carry on the work. +Michigan has many libraries and an appropriation of from three to five +thousand dollars per year. Wisconsin has six or seven hundred travelling +libraries, and New York nearly one thousand. Every state of any +importance in the Union has established and is maintaining travelling +libraries on from three to five thousand dollars per annum. A few +travelling libraries only at present have been sent out in Pennsylvania. +These are now in use, but the commission was afraid to undertake much +work, as it did not know how soon its funds might be exhausted, and it +might find itself unable to grant the applications for travelling +libraries which are steadily coming in. + +When it is asked how to secure a state library commission the second +question how to secure an appropriation with which to carry on the work +of the commission is necessarily involved. In the case of Pennsylvania +(just brought to a happy issue,) the active interest of many of the +leading newspapers throughout the state was sought and obtained. The +editors of these papers were written to in person and a statement +describing the scope and needs of the library commission and the amount +of the appropriation hoped for was forwarded to each. With one or two +exceptions, the editors printed much of this material as news, and a +considerable number added editorials urging the importance of the +movement. More valuable help could not have been secured. The smaller +papers, which of course draw their material largely from the papers +published in the larger cities, followed suit, and practically reprinted +the same matter. Copies of the papers containing these articles were +secured, and marked copies were sent to the representatives from their +own neighborhoods. In this manner nearly three hundred of the newspapers +throughout the state were communicated with, and their assistance had a +great deal to do with the final granting of the appropriation. In this +way information was laid before thousands of citizens who would +otherwise have been uninformed on the matter. Beyond all this an +explanatory letter fully detailing the position of the commission was +sent by one of the commission to every member of the legislature and the +secretary of the commission issued the excellently prepared circular +(above referred to), several copies of which were sent to every member +of the legislature and to others. The result has been that an +appropriation of $3500 has been passed by both houses, and there is no +reason to doubt that the bill will receive the governor's signature when +the time comes for him to sign the appropriation bills for 1901-1902. + +It would be waste of time at a round table meeting like this to dwell +upon the benefits of the travelling libraries movement. The free library +commission of Pennsylvania has determined to do its utmost to develop +the movement throughout the state, and if a practical answer is to be +given to the question, How to secure a state library commission?, I +would say, Recognize the importance of the movement, strive early and +late, through the newspapers, by means of circulars and by personal +interviews, to interest the members of the legislature, and persevere +unintermittingly in impressing your needs upon those who have the power +to grant the necessary legislation and appropriation. Work early and +late and do not stop working until you have secured what you want. + +Mrs. BELLE M. STOUTENBOROUGH spoke on + + + WHAT WOMEN'S CLUBS CAN DO TO FURTHER THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY. + +I trust you will pardon me for adding the word "Nebraska" to my topic. +Six years ago last October the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs held +its second annual meeting at our state capital. Some two weeks before +the meeting Mrs. Peabody, a name familiar to every librarian in this +room, who was at that time our president, wrote me: "I am very anxious +to bring the travelling library movement before the women of our state. +Will you talk for 15 or 20 minutes on this topic before the Lincoln +meeting?" If she had asked me to talk on the study of comparative +anatomy, I should have been just as familiar with the topic, but in the +reference room of the Omaha Public Library, I held a consultation with +Poole's index, and succeeded in finding just one article on travelling +libraries; it was in the January _Forum_ of 1895, and if I am not +mistaken, it was a brief history or sketch of the traveling library +movement in New York. Here was my opportunity; what had been done in New +York, could be done in Nebraska, although upon a smaller scale, by the +Federation of Women's Clubs. I shall not forget how I trembled as I +stood before that large audience and made my first plea for a travelling +library. However, the secretary, in reporting the meeting, was kind +enough to say that the audience at once caught the speaker's enthusiasm, +and a committee was appointed for the formation of plans for a +federation travelling library. A hundred dollars was subscribed, and +sixty books purchased and sent out to eight clubs that first year. I +know it seems like a small beginning to-day, but it was serious, +earnest, and full of possibilities, and to-day the work is an +educational factor in our state. I believe that these books which have +gone out to the club women have not only enabled them to pursue certain +lines of study, which otherwise it would not have been possible for them +to have taken, but they have created in the minds of other members of +the family a desire to possess good reference books. These books are +sent out from my own home. The clubs receiving them are at no expense +except in paying express charges for their return. The work is supported +by voluntary contributions, and as to the salary of the librarian, she +is paid over and over again in the thankful letters which she receives +from the people who are using the books. + +In 1897, the Nebraska Library Association succeeded in introducing a +bill in the legislature, creating a library commission for travelling +libraries. It passed the lower house, and went into the senate, where it +was "lost to sight, though to memory dear." In 1899, nothing daunted, +the Nebraska Library Association was there again with its library bill. +It passed the lower house, but it never reached the senate. Last June, +the National Federation of Women's Clubs was held in the city of +Milwaukee. Mrs. Buchwalter, of Ohio, the chairman of the program +committee, planned for a bureau of library instruction or information, +and this bureau was located in an upper room in the Milwaukee Public +Library. The presiding genius in the room was Miss Stearns; I always +think of her as the pioneer travelling library woman of the northwest. A +clubwoman from Nebraska was in attendance at that meeting and instead of +spending her time listening to the program, she passed the greater part +of the week in that upper room, and there she learned the work which is +being done by women's clubs throughout the length and breadth of our +land in this library field, and she went back to Nebraska determined, if +possible, to secure legislation for free travelling libraries in the +coming year. It was a strange coincidence, that last October the +Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs again held their annual meeting at +our state capital, and as before, the same woman who had presented six +years before to that meeting, a plan for a Federation travelling +library, was there to present a plan for free travelling libraries and a +state library commission for Nebraska. The plan was formally and +unanimously adopted, and a committee was appointed to co-operate with +the Nebraska Library Association to secure legislation. In all this +work, we never had any one who assisted us more ably than Mr. Wyer, the +librarian of the state university, who was never too busy to advise us +or to see a man that we could not reach, and he it was who drafted our +bill and saw it through. To make a long story short, the first thing we +did was to send out circulars suggesting that "a library day" be +observed in the clubs; this library day was generally discussed +throughout the state. Then we sent a petition which was circulated, not +only in the towns, but among the farmers and their wives; and finally +one March morning I received the following telegram: "Rejoice and be +exceeding glad"--and I have been rejoicing ever since, for house bill +no. 20, carrying with it an appropriation of $4000 for free public +libraries, for free travelling libraries, and for the state commission, +had passed, not only the lower house, but the senate. It received the +governor's signature, and it means we are to have travelling libraries +in Nebraska. + +Miss FREEMAN: Mrs. Morris, of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and +the General Federation of Women's Clubs, will be unable to be with us +this morning on account of illness. We are, however, fortunate in being +able to hear from Mrs. Youmans, the president of the Wisconsin +Federation of Women's Clubs. + +Mrs. YOUMANS: I cannot possibly fill Mrs. Morris' place, but I should +not like to have this subject discussed without Wisconsin being +represented. + +We may gather from the deliberations of this association, that Wisconsin +keeps a prominent place in library work among the states of the Union. +If this is so, and I do not doubt it, it is, as we all know, due to the +enthusiasm and energetic efforts of the Free Library Commission, and +this commission will assure you that its members have had no more +enthusiastic allies than the club women of the state. Work for libraries +was the first work undertaken by Wisconsin women's clubs--the first work +outside of their regular literary programs--and since the organization +of the federation in 1896, it has been one of its most prominent lines +of work. I suppose there are few clubs among the 150 in the federation +that have not done something, sometimes important and sometimes +unimportant, for the library movement. They have established libraries +and free reading-rooms; they have helped to support libraries; they +have made donations of books and money; they have sent out travelling +libraries on their errands of usefulness; and they have also sent out +travelling reference libraries especially for the uses of the study +clubs. The federation at the present time is making a special effort +toward securing as many of these travelling reference libraries as +possible. The club women in the interior of the state have very +inadequate reference facilities; we have now only six or seven of these +reference libraries, and we feel comparatively rich that we are soon to +have half a dozen more. + +A great many of the public libraries in Wisconsin are due directly to +efforts of club women. The public library of Waukesha is due directly to +the efforts of a little coterie of club women; they started seven years +ago, with prospects that could not possibly be called brilliant. They +kept the library going for seven years from one month to another, in +some way securing the money, and finally the burden was taken from their +shoulders by the city council. Now, the library is not large; it is not, +from a technical point of view, fine; and it certainly lacks many things +that we hope to have in the future; but it has 2500 volumes, generally +read and much valued by the people, it has become established as a +regular necessary part of the municipal life, and I think it is sure of +a regular though moderate support from the public funds. In a city a few +miles north of here a woman's club has a fund of $500 towards a library +building. It does not intend building a library with that sum; it does +not intend to go on earning money by rummage sales and private +theatricals; but it does expect to use that money and to use the +interest of the members of the club as a center for developing library +interests in the vicinity. + +This work is illustrative of what is being done all over the state, and +it is not so much the money that the club women collect for the +libraries, nor the books they may secure, nor even the direct work that +they do; it is the feeling that they disseminate as to the value of +public libraries. The club woman, in her club work, finds the need of a +good library; her associations and connections are such that she learns +to value books more than she ever did before; she learns, too, that for +the intellectual life of her vicinity it is necessary to have a public +library; she helps to develop the public spirit that demands a public +library; she helps to bring out an atmosphere in which public libraries +germinate and grow and flourish. This, it seems to me, is the most +important part of club work among club women. This is what they are +doing in Wisconsin, and what they will continue to do. + +Mr. HUTCHINS: I have been watching for years the work of the women's +clubs and their enthusiasm for libraries. They are accomplishing a great +deal, and there is just one thing I would like to say to the club women +of the country, "Plan a study club, and in a few years you get a public +library. Plan a library, and in a few years you get five study clubs." + + + CO-OPERATION BETWEEN A. L. A. AND GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. + +Miss STEARNS: The American Library Association has fallen into a most +successful alliance with the National Educational Association, as is +demonstrated by the continuation of our meeting at Detroit. Now, the A. +L. A. has never realized all that the General Federation of Women's +Clubs has done for the promotion of library interests. This is the first +time in the history of the A. L. A. that the women's clubs have been +recognized on our program, and I move that the A. L. A. Council be +requested to form an alliance between the American Library Association +and the Federation of Women's Clubs for the promotion of library +interests. _Voted._ + +In the absence of Miss MARIE S. DUPUIS, the chairman read by title her +paper on + + + THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND THE TRAVELLING LIBRARY. + +The woman's club and the travelling library seem made for each other. So +perfectly does the travelling library supply a suitable channel for the +energies of the woman's club, and so admirably does the woman's club +seem fitted for the work of sending out travelling libraries, that the +one seems the natural and perfect complement of the other. + +What a box of well-selected reading matter means to a rural community +probably only those know who have lived in a rural community without +the box. Others must draw upon their imaginations to picture farm homes +without other current literature than a weekly local paper whose "patent +inside" contains all the news they receive of the world's work; homes +where the family Bible--not always present--and the children's school +books form the only bound volumes of the family library, where even the +deservedly ephemeral literature of the daily paper and the 10-cent +magazine are unknown, though rural free mail delivery will soon alter +this. + +With numberless such communities on the one hand, we have on the other +numerous women's clubs organized for self-improvement and "mutual aid," +to use the fine phrase of Prince Kropotkin. And so closely are human +interests interwoven that "mutual aid" means self-improvement, and +self-improvement "mutual aid." It is doubtful if any form of educational +endeavor undertaken by women's clubs is so fruitful in good results as +the travelling library. It is the most practical form of educational +work as yet undertaken by these organizations. The work of the Illinois +Federation of Women's Clubs in this direction has been under the +supervision of the library extension committee of that organization. +More than one-third of the clubs of the state are now engaged in +travelling library work. The number of libraries in circulation has +doubled in the past year. + +The plan usually adopted in the formation of a travelling library is for +each member of a club to donate one or more books. A Parmelee or other +suitable trunk bookcase is purchased for the collection, usually +consisting of about 50 volumes, a record-book is provided, each volume +is furnished with a library catalog and the rules for borrowers +recommended by the committee, and the library is then ready to begin its +travels. + +Several libraries are grouped into county circuits--a unique feature of +the Illinois plan--of four or more to a circuit. Two years has been +found to be the average life of a travelling library, and a circuit of +four libraries remaining in each community for six months will thus +supply four communities with travelling libraries for two years. + +With regard to the composition of the travelling library, the committee +recommends that each library consist of about 50 volumes; that of these +one-half shall be juveniles; that fiction shall be carefully selected, +preference being given to standard works, those which have stood the +test of time; that everything of a theological bias shall be excluded; +that biographies, travels and nature studies and stories are +particularly desirable, with other suggestions for particular +communities or of a general character. We lay particular stress upon the +proportion of juveniles being at least one-half, for the reason not only +that children and young people are generally the most numerous class of +readers, but also because many adults, unaccustomed to much reading, +find juvenile literature more readily comprehensible. Considering the +fact that our libraries are almost wholly the result of voluntary +donation, it is remarkable and, indeed, extremely gratifying that the +libraries sent out are of such a high degree of literary excellence. The +outcome of the heterogeneous tastes of club members, they seem admirably +adapted to the equally heterogeneous tastes of the communities to which +they are sent. Improvement, however, is always possible, and for the +coming year we have model lists of books drawn up as guides, if not +patterns, for future libraries. + +In states where a public travelling library system does not yet exist, +the women's clubs seem excellently qualified for inaugurating and +maintaining such a system until the time comes, as it surely will, when +every state has its library commission and its travelling library fund. + + + + + TRUSTEES' SECTION. + + +A meeting of the Trustees' Section of the A. L. A. was held on July 6 in +parlor C of the Fountain House, with Dr. Leipziger in the chair and +Thos. L. Montgomery acting as secretary. There were 75 persons present. +Dr. Leipziger made an opening address, outlining the work that might be +discussed by the section. + +Mr. Soule urged the election of trustees for a term of years only, and +in the opinion of those present three years seemed the proper limit. + +The question of whether members of the board of education should be +admitted to library boards excited considerable discussion, in which Mr. +Cooke, of Iowa, Mr. Porter, of Cincinnati, Mr. Crunden and the secretary +took part. It was generally conceded that members of the board of +education should not be trustees of libraries _ex officio_, but that +there was no objection to electing them as individuals. + +Mr. EASTMAN then read his very interesting paper on + + LIBRARY BUILDINGS. + + (_See_ p. 38.) + +Mr. MAURAN, of St. Louis, spoke on + + THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN. + + (_See_ p. 43) + +Mr. Patton, of Chicago, said that the two papers showed the lack of any +antagonism between the professions. He considered it absolutely +necessary that the architect should be selected before anything else, in +order that he should be familiar with all the librarians' requirements, +and that the interior arrangement was the only matter that should be +thought of then. The plan of giving premiums is bad, because it is no +temptation to the skilled architect, but it is to the mere draughtsman. +He also thought that library architecture must become a specialty. + +Mr. Dewey asked, "What is the best way to get the combined judgment of +several architects without offence to the profession, and yet give a +proper remuneration for their labor?" + +Mr. Patton answered that there was no objection to such consultations on +the part of the profession, and that it was becoming more common every +year. The objection to competitions was that there was no expert to make +a fair decision. Competitions, as a rule, did not produce such good +results as the appointment of a well-equipped and competent architect, +to plan and oversee the work from the beginning. Under any circumstances +expert advice might be had and should generally prove useful, especially +when members of a library board were not prepared to give thorough +attention to the architectural problems. Personally, he had often been +employed as consulting architect, just as a physician might be called in +that capacity. + +Mr. Eastman stated that in the case of the Utica Public Library $150 had +been given to each of ten architects for small sketches or outlines +incorporating the requirements of the board. + +Mr. Dewey thought that every state commission should have an expert, to +whom should be referred all suggestions for plans for libraries, in +order that the bad features may be called to the attention of the +library board. In the case of very large institutions the national +library should be appealed to. + +This was by far the most interesting meeting that has been held by the +section, and the interest taken in the discussion promises well for the +future meetings. + +Dr. Leipziger declining to serve as chairman, and the secretary having +declined the nomination, Mr. D. B. Corey was elected chairman and T. L. +Montgomery secretary for the ensuing year. + + THOMAS L. MONTGOMERY, _Secretary_. + + + + + PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN BIBLIOGRAPHY: ROUND TABLE MEETING. + + +An informal "round table" meeting for the consideration of present and +possible methods of professional instruction in bibliography, was held +on the morning of Monday, July 10, in one of the parlors of the Fountain +Spring House. A. G. S. JOSEPHSON was chairman, and J. I. WYER, Jr., +acted as secretary. + +The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m. by Mr. JOSEPHSON, who +opened the session with a paper on + + + A POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIBLIOGRAPHY. + +In looking over the various definitions of the word bibliography, I have +found two main groups, one narrow, one broad. + +The narrow definition has been thus expressed by Prof. C V. Langlois: +"Bibliography is the science of books. As library economy treats of the +classification, the exterior description of books, of the organization +and history of libraries; as bibliography treats of the history of the +book as a manufactured product (printing, bookbinding, bookselling); so +bibliography in the precise meaning of the word, is that particular part +of the science of the book which treats of the repertories and which +provides the means of finding, as promptly and as completely as +possible, information in regard to sources." + +As an example of the broad definitions I choose the one by M. E. Grand +in "La grande encyclopedie" He defines bibliography as "the science of +books from the point of view of their material and intellectual +description and classification," and goes on to say that "there are +three principal things to be considered in the study of bibliography: +classification of books, ... (_bibliographical systems_); description of +books (_bibliographical rules_); and the use of _bibliographical +repertories_." + +If we compare these two definitions we see that here the same word has +been used for two distinct subjects, the one of which includes the +other. Without here going deeper into the intricacies of these +definitions, I will, for the purpose of this discussion, accept the +broader of the two. + +The question what instruction in bibliography should contain is already +answered in the above definition itself. + +The study of _bibliographical systems_ for classification of books +presupposes the study of the theoretical systems of classification of +knowledge and this presupposes the study of the history of the sciences. + +_Bibliographical rules_ govern the practical art of book description, +what is technically known as cataloging. There are various codes of +rules, more or less arbitrary, as they are more or less the outcome of a +compromise. But under all arbitrariness one will discern some underlying +theory as to what a description of a book should contain. Such theories +are founded on the practice of printing and publishing: thus the +intelligent study of bibliographical rules presupposes the study of the +history of printing and publishing. + +_Bibliographical repertories_ contain the systematic records of printed +documents and the study of these repertories is what is called +bibliography in the narrow sense. While the branches of study previously +referred to may by some be regarded as of less value to the librarian +there is surely none who will deny the necessity of his being thoroughly +familiar with the literature of bibliographical repertories. However, I +do not think that I am alone in the contention that all the different +branches of bibliography in the broader sense are of the utmost +importance to the librarian. + +Dr. Dziatzko has pointed out that in such an eminently practical +occupation as that of the librarian it is particularly important not to +neglect altogether some kind of theoretical studies. There can be no +studies of greater importance to the librarian than those just +enumerated, namely, history of literature--the word taken in its +broadest sense--history of the book in all its phases, and the study of +bibliographical literature. + +The library schools have done much to encourage the professional spirit +of librarians and to develop the technical side of their work. It is, +however, felt that something more is needed, something that a +professional school or a training class cannot give, namely, solid +bibliographical scholarship. This can, in my opinion, not be acquired +except at a university with a faculty of specialists and an extensive +equipment of bibliographical literature as a part of a large university +library. + +A post-graduate school of bibliography, such as I have in mind should +offer instruction to two classes of students. The one class would be +students in the other branches of instruction who would select as a +minor one of the subjects offered by the school, and who should be +required to pursue in the school the bibliographical study of their main +topics and the preparation of the bibliographies that should be required +as a necessary accompaniment to every dissertation. The other class +would consist of persons wishing to prepare themselves for the +professional work of the librarian and bibliographer. They would choose +as their majors the studies offered at this school, and could choose as +a minor any other scholastic subject. It would be of great importance to +the would-be librarian, could he, while pursuing his special studies, be +allowed to do university work in some other subject of his choice, such +as literary history, philosophy, American history, mathematics, or the +like. + +As thorough bibliographical knowledge is the foundation for the work of +the librarian, the central subject of instruction in the school should +be the study of bibliographical repertories and of the record +literature. This study should include seminar work in the handling of +literary tools, in hunting up references on special questions, and in +the preparation of bibliographical lists. This leads to the study of +bibliographical methods. The principles of book description should be +discussed, the leading codes of rules studied comparatively, their +merits and defects discussed, but none should be taught as the one to be +absolutely followed. + +History of printing and bookselling comes next, preceded by an +introductory consideration of palaeography, particularly that of the 15th +century. The steps leading to the discovery of printing with movable +types, and the spread of the art over the world should be followed. +Examples of the products of the first printing presses should be studied +and described. Of later periods in the history of the book the most +important seem to be the later 16th and the 17th centuries in England, +and the 19th century in Germany. + +A parallel study with that of the history of printing might be +classification of knowledge and of books, with the history of science. +The student might well be given his choice between these two topics, +while that of bibliography in its narrower sense should be required of +everyone. The history and interrelation of the various sciences is a +subject of great importance not only to the classifier, but to the +library administrator in general. It should be covered by special +lectures by the representatives of the various sciences, connected by a +theoretical course in the theory of classification, and followed by +seminar work in classification of books. + +A course preparing for the professional work of librarianship cannot be +complete without the study of library administration. While we are not +particularly concerned with this to-day, it should be said that this +subject would naturally be a required one, and would cover particularly +the history of libraries and of the methods of library administration. +The technical training in the minor topics of library economy would not +have any place in a school of this description. + +I had hoped to be able to present at this meeting some statements from +university authorities in regard to the establishment of a post-graduate +school of bibliography at some university. I have not, however, +succeeded in getting any statement of such definiteness that I can +present it here. I can only say that the president of one of the larger +western universities seems to look with some interest on the +proposition. A letter from Dr. W. T. Harris, Commissioner of Education, +says: + +"It is very easy for me to say that I believe post-graduate courses in +bibliography to be a most excellent thing, but whether there should be +such a school established in Washington--I have no conviction on this +question. I am not in a condition to say whether it would not be a most +excellent thing to establish such a school in connection with the +Library of Congress. Mr. Putnam is proceeding in a very intelligent +manner to make the Congressional Library of use to the whole country. +Would not a school of bibliography here in Washington have the best +opportunity to do, so to speak, laboratory work in bibliography, and +this in connection with the national library? I am not able to affirm an +opinion on this question. The subject is very important and your letter +was a letter which I wished to answer to some purpose, but I have not +been able to do it, and this is merely an explanation of why I have not +been able to do it. + + "You very well name the studies of such a school: The literature of the + subject; the use and handling of books as literary aids; + bibliographical methodology; comparative history of literature and the + sciences; classification of knowledge accompanied by the study of the + various systems of classification of books; palaeography, history of + printing. + + "It seems to me that one-tenth of all the librarians educated for the + purpose of working in a library should take just such a course of + instruction as this. This would give them directive power in the most + important part of the librarian's duty." + +The secretary read a paper by Dr. JOH. LECHE describing the + + + COURSES IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OFFERED BY PROF. DZIATZKO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF + GOeTTINGEN. + +The first and so far the only professorship in the auxiliary sciences of +librarianship in Prussia was founded in 1886 in Goettingen as a +consequence of the growing importance of libraries. This professorship +has been filled since its foundation by Professor Dr. Carl Dziatzko. + +The courses of lectures given have so far been as follows: + + Library administration. + The laws of authors and publishers in the history of bookselling. + Books in the Middle Ages. + (The above courses have not been given in later years.) + Books and writing in ancient times. + History of printing and bookselling: + (_a_) previous to the Reformation. + (_b_) since the Reformation. + History and development of modern librarianship. + +The lectures are held three times a week and have the same strictly +scientific character as other university studies. + +They demand therefore real co-operation between lecturer and students, +putting before the latter, as they do, a rich and critically sifted +material which gives them, in a way, a sharp outline only which they +will fill out more or less fully according to their diligence in +carrying on their studies. The lectures are made particularly attractive +and stimulating through the exhibition of important examples of +printing, if possible original works referred to or quoted in the +lectures, etc. + +Beside these public lectures, Prof Dziatzko gives once a week a +bibliographical seminar for a smaller circle. The majority of the +members of this seminar are the library volunteers who naturally are +more numerous in Goettingen than at other Prussian university libraries. +If it is true of the public lectures that valuable results are gained +only by real co-operation of the students, these seminars directly +demand independent work of the members. A considerable part, in fact +half of the allotted time, is given to description of incunabula +according to the rules formulated by Prof. Dziatzko and published in no. +10 of his "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten." Apart from +the importance of incunabula for the history of printing, they are +particularly suited to bring out questions of various kinds relating to +bibliography and librarianship. The remaining seminar hours are given up +to reviews and papers by the members. In most cases the subjects are +selected at the suggestion of Prof. Dziatzko, but it is preferred that +the members should select their own topics. The papers deal with the +most varied subjects: questions of a purely practical nature alternate +with scientific and historical investigations of bibliographical topics. +(Several of these papers have afterwards been prepared for publication +in Prof. Dziatzko's "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten.") +The papers are followed by judicious criticism by Prof. Dziatzko and +discussion by the members of the seminar. Whatever time is left is +devoted to reading of old manuscripts, exhibition of bibliographical +rarities and curiosities, important new publications, etc. + +In connection with the palaeographical studies just mentioned it should +be noted that a special seminar in palaeography, given by another +professor, Dr. Wilhelm Meyer, is attended by many as a supplement to +their bibliographical studies. + +A. S. ROOT, librarian of Oberlin College, supplemented this letter with +a description of his work with Dr. Dziatzko, stating that the real +strength and power of the work consisted in the bibliographical seminar +and the work with incunabula. In this work each student has assigned to +him the work of a special city or a special press. He studies the books, +catalogs them, and submits his work to Prof. Dziatzko for review. These +papers are then discussed by the members of the seminar and sharply +criticised by Prof. Dziatzko. The new literature of bibliography added +to the library is periodically examined and discussed by the class. + +G. W. HARRIS, librarian of Cornell University, gave in outline, the +substance of a course of 15 lectures on bibliography, delivered one each +week during a half year at Cornell. The nature of these lectures is +general because in each department more or less stress is based on the +use of special bibliographies, and each thesis for an advanced degree at +Cornell must be accompanied by a satisfactory bibliography of the +subject treated. The large collection of early imprints representing +many of the different presses affords excellent opportunity to inspect +and study examples of early printing. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that +work in the bibliography of special subjects should be given by the +heads of the departments concerned. Mr. Harris gave the following + + + SYNOPSIS OF LECTURES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY. + + LECTURE. + + I. Definition--Advantages of knowledge of bibliography; Range of + bibliography; Antiquity of books. Ancient materials--Clay tablets + of Assyria, Assyrian libraries--Palm leaf books of India--Birch + bark books of Cashmere--Maya books and mss. + + II. Papyrus and its importance, preparation, grades, roll form of + books--Papyrus mss. and Egyptian literature. + + III. Papyrus paper among Greeks and Romans--Methods of bookmaking and + publishing in Greece and Rome. Writing instruments and inks--Mss. + of Herculaneum--Public libraries of the ancients--Alexandrian and + Roman libraries. + + IV. Wax tablets of the Romans--Introduction of parchment--Change from + roll form to square form of books--Results of this + change--Palimpsests. + + V. Latin palaeography and various styles--Bookmaking in the Middle + Ages--Schools of calligraphy--Scriptorium and its + rules--Colophons--Monastic libraries. + + VI. Secular scribes of Middle Ages; Gilds. Art of illumination with + examples of illuminated mss.--Changes resulting from introduction + of paper--Cotton vs. linen paper--Block printing in China and + Europe--Block books. + + VII. Invention of printing--Career of Gutenberg--Earliest printed + books--Spread of the art in Germany, Italy, France, + England--Printing in America. + + VIII. Incunabula--Characteristics--Types, abbreviations, signatures, + colophons with examples. + + IX. Technical terms for sizes of books--Confusion of size and + form--Signatures, water-marks, size notation. + + X. Bindings of books--Historical sketch--Processes of book + binding--Examples. + + XI. Rare books--Fashions in books--Famous presses--Famous editions. + + XII. Illustrated books--Methods of illustration--Manuals for + collectors. + + XIII. Classification of books in libraries; various systems briefly + described, with examples. + + XIV. Catalogs and cataloging; various kinds of catalogs briefly + described, with examples. + + XV. Aids in use of the library--Reference lists--Bibliographies, + national and special, with examples. + +Prof. CHARLES H. HASKINS, professor of European history in the +University of Wisconsin, presented an outline of his + + + COURSE IN HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. + +My standpoint is that of the user, not the custodian, of books, and of +the user of historical books in particular. There is no branch of +knowledge more dependent upon bibliography than is history. The natural +sciences, for example, get their bibliographies through current journals +and their original materials in the laboratory, while the student of +history must not only cover current literature thoroughly but is +entirely dependent upon bibliographies to guide him to the primary +sources of his subject of study. There is not as yet enough definite +instruction in historical bibliography offered in American universities; +indeed, there is some vagueness as to just what historical bibliography +is. In the work at Wisconsin the course is divided into two broad +sections. The first half of the course is taken up with a general +account of the manuscript and printed collections of historical material +in Europe and America. The second half begins with a description of the +bibliographical tools which all students alike use, the national +bibliographies, and the trade bibliographies of all the important +countries, and goes on to consider the bibliographical materials +peculiar to history and of prime importance only to the historical +student. In this connection especial stress is laid upon the historical +periodicals. The aim throughout the whole course is to indicate the +nature and the range of historical material, where it is to be found, +what and where are the sources, so that the student will come to know +what he wants and where to find it. The course is given one hour each +week through a half year and is taken entirely by graduate students. The +registration is usually from 8 to 12. The work in the lectures is +supplemented by many references to articles and books. In the latter +part of the course the "Manuel de bibliographie historique" of Langlois +is used as a text in the hands of the students. The second edition of +this book, which is just out, forms an exceedingly satisfactory book for +this purpose, and is supplemented by informal comment and mention of +additional material. In this admirable little volume nothing of +importance is omitted and very little indeed which is unimportant is +included. Very much is made of the actual handling of the books by the +students. No regular system of practical exercises in connection with +this course has yet been worked out, but progress is being made in this +direction. The object is primarily to impress students with the +importance of the use of bibliographical tools. Considerable practice in +the use of bibliographies is also given in all the advanced courses in +history. + +In general I have found that much inconvenience both to students and +instructors results from the habit of secluding all the most important +bibliographies in the catalog room. If it be true that these +bibliographies are constantly needed in the catalog room, they should be +duplicated for the use of the students. This practice of seclusion would +not be worth mention did it not seem to be habitual in almost all +libraries, and I wish here to register a special plea that +bibliographies may be shelved just as publicly as any other section of +the library. + +I am much interested in Mr. Josephson's proposals for developing +bibliographical instruction in universities. It seems to me he has taken +hold of the matter by the right end, and the establishment of a course +similar to that he suggests would not only be of value to future +librarians by giving them wider opportunities for general training than +they can get in special schools, but would also prove helpful to +advanced students in all departments of study. I hope some university +will take the matter up. I am in sympathy with any instruction, formal +or informal, which brings instructors and students to a better knowledge +of how to use the library and the books. + + + COURSES AT OTHER COLLEGES. + +Mr. ROOT gave in detail the work he is doing at Oberlin in this line. He +said: + +We offer at Oberlin a course in bibliography in each college year. The +first year the work has to do with the use of libraries, with questions +of classification and cataloging, and is designed to aid the new +students in becoming familiar with the methods in use in our own library +and also with accepted methods in all well-conducted libraries. The +course in the second year has to do with the history of books and of +printing. This work is almost entirely historical. Some study is given +to the process and history of binding, with examples of famous bindings. +The third year work deals with palaeography and the history and +development of handwriting, illumination, and work with manuscripts in +general. The fourth year work is in the nature of a seminar and is +devoted to instruction in bibliography. After an outline of the leading +national and trade bibliographies, problems in bibliography are handled +and discussed. The courses fill half of the college year, one lecture +per week being given. The work is entirely elective and the completion +of all of it enables a student to elect one-eighth of his course in this +subject. I should be glad to see recognition by the leading library +schools of this work, perhaps giving students advanced credit when work +has been satisfactorily done at any reputable college. + +WALTER M. SMITH, librarian of the University of Wisconsin, briefly +outlined the elementary work done there with new students, and +maintained that formal lectures were not so good as practical +instruction in the use of the library both from the librarian's desk and +from the reference desk. + +Miss SHARP, librarian of the University of Illinois, stated that a +one-hour course was given there for the general student body in the use +of the library. Regular university credit is given, but students may +attend these lectures optionally and many do so. + +ANDREW KEOGH, of Yale University Library, described a short course in +the use of the library offered at that university. Two lectures are +given, one in the class room and one in the library, accompanied with +actual demonstration with the books. Some further and more elective work +is given as graduate work at Yale, but the elementary work is compulsory +with all new students. + +A letter was read from Dr. H. P. TALBOT, of the Massachusetts Institute +of Technology, giving full description of his + + + COURSE IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CHEMISTRY. + +My attempts to interest my students in books and bibliographies are +briefly these: For one term of 15 weeks of the junior year the students +of the course in chemistry devote an hour each week (with two hours +assigned for preparation) to practice in reading chemical German. The +subject matter assigned is either from some work on general or +analytical chemistry or from some current journal. Of late I have +confined myself mostly to a work on inorganic chemistry. The purpose +here is not at all to attempt to teach German, but to assist the +students in acquiring a moderate facility in reading, that is, +sufficient to enable them to get the _essentials_ from an article, +rather than to make a finished translation. + +During the term following this, there is assigned to the class one or +more (usually two) topics, and they are required to prepare and submit +for inspection a bibliography of the journal literature upon these +subjects. This year the topic assigned to the whole class was the +"Determination of sulphur in irons and steels." The class (of 30) was +divided into squads, and to each squad a second topic was assigned, such +as "The use of sodium peroxide in analytical chemistry," "The +preparation and analysis of persulphuric acid and the persulphates," +"The recovery of molybdic acid from residues," etc. + +General directions are given as to procedure in the compilation of the +bibliography, the use of such periodicals as the _Centralblatt_ as a +starting point, and also the way to record and classify the references +found. + +This year we have used library cards for the recording of the references +for the first time, with marked success. Each card was to bear the +original reference, the _Centralblatt_ or _Jahresbericht_ reference, the +title of the article (if possible) and a very brief statement of its +contents. The cards were then to be grouped according to a +classification to be worked out by the student. + +Each student had finally about 200 cards, often with several references +on a card. They were allowed to divide the journals among the members of +a given squad, and to exchange cards. + +The results are most satisfactory. The work has been well done as a +whole, and already I hear of resolves on their part to keep up a card +catalog of interesting articles, which is a promising symptom. + +Each year for some time, I have devoted a single hour near the close of +the year to a brief discussion of books, from the point of view of the +needs of a person desiring to collect a small library. In this +connection I have put into the students hands a list of "Standard works" +citing the essential reference books on the subject, and have commented +briefly on the list. Please understand that this list is not by any +means infallible, and that there are doubtless other works just as good +as those mentioned. + +Our senior students are all required to compile a bibliography of the +literature of the subject chosen as a thesis, and to prepare a brief +review of all recorded work, before they can begin their investigation, +and the way in which they attack this work seems to indicate that the +familiarity with journals and methods gained in the work of the junior +year outlined above stands them in good stead. + +In connection with the instruction in the history of chemistry, frequent +preparation of memoirs and a study of works in this field is also +required. + +The list of books referred to in Dr. Talbot's letter was divided under +the following heads: History of chemistry, Physiological chemistry, +Organic chemistry, Technical chemistry, Agricultural chemistry, +Analytical chemistry, Biography, Dictionaries, Tables, Dyeing, Foods, +General chemistry, Toxicology. + +J. I. WYER, librarian of the University of Nebraska, outlined a course +of 16 lectures which are given there during the first semester of every +alternate year, embracing national and trade bibliography, reference +books, and thorough drill in subject bibliography. The work is primarily +given as part of the apprentices' training for the library, but is +attended by advanced and graduate students in other departments. +Regular university credit is given for the work. + +W. STETSON MERRILL, of the Newberry Library, read a paper, entitled + + + A DESIDERATUM FOR LIBRARY SCHOOLS. + +As I am desirous that you should apprehend precisely what it is that I +am to suggest as a desideratum for the library schools, I will ask to be +permitted to lead up to my point, rather than state it at the outset. + +We are all of us daily impressed with the rapidity of change and +enlargement in the arts, sciences and various achievements of knowledge +to-day. In some departments, indeed, such as the natural sciences, we +expect the accepted opinions of one decade to give place to others in +the next decade. But we perhaps hardly realize that there is a similar +progress in the historical, sociological and religious sciences, and in +the fine arts. New facts are discovered, verdicts of history are +reviewed, new schools of thought and methods of study are established; +new men, new theories, new things come up every year, almost every day. + +Now, a librarian is expected to bring the stores of knowledge to an +inquiring public; to render available the resources of accumulated +wisdom which but for him would be like gold hidden in the veins of the +rock. To perform this function requires of course primarily a certain +amount of educational training. A library assistant should be at least a +high school graduate; the librarian of a library of research should be a +college bred man, as such collegiate training will be found to his own +advantage and to that of his library. + +But how after all their training and preparation are librarians, library +workers or students of library science to keep abreast of the time? This +is really the problem in what may be called the higher education of the +library profession. It may be thought that the reading of annual +cyclopedias, periodicals and the latest treatises will suffice to keep +members of the profession posted upon all subjects of importance. Yet a +little consideration will show that by such means much time and labor +are sacrificed. A library worker reads in such a case, not for general +information, but to ascertain definite and pertinent facts of importance +to him in his special field of work. What he wishes to know are indeed +the new discoveries, facts and opinions; viewed, however, not in +themselves as events in the progress of the sciences, but as bearing +upon the classification and nomenclature of the respective sciences +which treat of them, and upon the relations which those sciences bear to +others. He needs also an up-to-date acquaintance with the great men of +the time, not in a personal way, but through the contributions which +they have made to knowledge. Otherwise he will not discern the authority +upon any given subject from a tyro or an ignoramus. A true knowledge of +bibliography does not consist merely in knowing lists of books or in +knowing where to find such lists. It implies an acquaintance with the +relative values of books as well. + +A thoroughly equipped reference attendant or cataloger should also be +familiar with the shibboleths and theories of the schools and with the +opinions of scholars upon questions of the day. Now how is he to learn +all this? He cannot learn it before he begins to study library work, +because it is a growing, living thing--this mass of current fact and +opinion. Yet he has no time to master each science for himself, and in +merely cursory reading he will miss the point which is to be of most use +to him in his particular line of work. + +I reply that he needs the spoken word of the expert, framed and directed +to meet the special requirements of his case. The expert who knows his +subject in all its bearings can tell us at once just what we want to +know, if we have a chance to ask him. + +Let us have then before our library schools and--I may add also--our +library clubs and associations, periodical talks by specialists upon +their respective subjects, presenting in a concise form the progress of +these sciences and arts with special reference to the needs of library +workers, as outlined above. + +Such a presentation will enable the librarian, the reference attendant, +the cataloger or the classifier to perform his work with an assurance +and a facility that can be acquired in no other way. He will be acting +under expert advice. The special points to be brought out will be +presented to the lecturer beforehand; he will prepare his statement, +deliver it, and later answers inquiries which may have arisen. We all +know how much easier it is to ask somebody about something than it is to +look it up in some book. Let questions be noted as they occur and the +class be given a chance to ask them of an authority. + +These lectures or talks need not and should not be confined to student +class rooms. Let them be public lectures which library workers outside +the school may attend upon payment of a small fee. The intrinsic +interest of a lecture upon some topic of the day whether literary, +historical, political, or scientific, would attract in a way that a +course upon pure bibliography can never do. As our library schools are +so integrally a part, as a rule, of some system of collegiate +instruction, there should be no difficulty in securing the services of +different members of the faculty. I may repeat also that no more useful +program of work for a library club during a season could be planned than +a course of just such talks as I have described. To tell the truth, the +matter of this paper first occurred to me in its bearings upon the work +of library clubs. To them and to the directors of our library schools it +is presented for their consideration. + +Following this the representatives of the various library schools were +asked to describe the + + + WORK OFFERED IN BIBLIOGRAPHY AT THE LIBRARY SCHOOLS. + +Mr. BISCOE described the work at Albany, running through two years, the +first being taken up with trade bibliography and the second with +reference work and subject bibliography. The large resources of the New +York State Library enable the students to see, study and use almost all +books taken up and the work is accompanied with many problems. Further +elective work is also offered to students desiring to specialize along +this line. + +Miss PLUMMER spoke for the Pratt Institute School. During the first year +a general course of instruction in bibliography is offered, beginning +with trade bibliography, students being referred to the leading works of +reference in English, French and German through lectures and problems +given during the year. Each student is required to prepare a reading +list on a selected subject, requiring considerable research work, which +must be satisfactory to the instructor. The leading national and subject +bibliographies are included in the lectures, and the problems frequently +require consultation of these. Ten lectures are given on the history of +books and printing. This is merely an outline course offered partly that +students may discover any latent inclination toward the historical +course, that they may know there is that side to their work. "In the +special lessons in French and German cataloging which we expect to +undertake this fall," she said, "a study of foreign catalogs will be a +prominent feature, and the students will collect for themselves a +vocabulary of bibliographical terms in these languages. In the broad +sense of the term bibliography, as we find it in the 'Century +dictionary,' the subject is fairly well covered by the second year's +historical course. Through the courtesy of the New York Public Library +the class has had opportunity to do most of its work at the Lenox +Library where there is a fine collection of reference books. The course +begins with a study of reference books on the history of printing, +bibliographies of the 15th century, etc., and books such as Hain, +Panzer, etc., and the more general bibliographies, _e.g._, Brunet, +Graesse. The history of bookmaking is studied from the period of the +manuscript through the 15th century, and some work with American and +other books has been done each year. The materials used in the earliest +times, the methods of production and the steps leading to the invention +of printing are all treated. The history of printing is studied by +country, town, and printer, chronologically, and a study of the types +used by different printers is made. For practical work the class +catalogs 15th century books. The books used for consultation in this +course have been very numerous, and perhaps a good working knowledge of +them has been the most important feature of the work. The class was not +and could not be limited to books in English, but used and in part +translated books of reference in foreign languages. In the work with +manuscripts the historical course depends upon instruction given by +Prof. Egbert, professor of Latin palaeography of Columbia University, who +has made up a course especially adapted to the object of our work and to +the time we have to give. Twenty-three lectures, only a few of which are +devoted to the bibliography of the subject, comprise the instruction, +two hours' work outside being necessary on each lecture. Much more is +usually done by the students, who generally live in New York city while +taking the historical course. The study of successive handwritings and +abbreviations as illustrated by blue-prints furnished by the professor, +leads naturally to early printed books, whose types were modelled after +the handwriting of the period. Reports of the work of this class have +been very satisfactory." + +Miss KROEGER, of the Drexel Institute Library School, described a course +of 15 lectures on the history of books and printing, given at her +school. + +The lectures embrace the following subjects: + + I. The development of language, oral and written. Ancient systems of + writing. Derivation of the English alphabet. The preservation of + literature. Earliest forms of permanent records, literature, + books, and libraries in the ancient civilizations of the east. + + II. The literatures of Greece and Rome. The book in the classical age. + Alexandria as a literary center. Barbarian invasions of the Roman + Empire. Decline and extinction of ancient culture. Destruction of + books and libraries. + + III. The book in the Middle Ages. The preservation and the production + of books in the monasteries. Development of the illuminated + manuscript. The early Renascence in its relation to literature + and books. + + IV. The later Renascence: revival of learning. Recovery of ancient + literature. Rome, Florence, and Venice as the centers of + activity. Multiplication of manuscripts. The formation of modern + libraries. + + V. The art of engraving as the precursor of printing. The invention + and diffusion of printing. The chief centers and the great + masters of printing. The printed book and its influence upon + civilization. + + VI. Book illustration in ancient, medieval, and modern times. + + VII. Books and libraries in Europe and the United States. Types of + modern public libraries. + +VIII. Makers and lovers of books, and their libraries. + +Miss SHARP told of the instruction in bibliography given to the students +in University of Illinois Library School by the professors at the +university. Several of the professors give lectures on the bibliography +of their various subjects; a subject is assigned to the students before +the lecture, they are required to examine bibliographies, reviews, and +the books themselves, as far as accessible in the library, and to select +ten books which they would buy first for a library of 10,000 vols. This +selection is criticised by the professor, who meets the class, gives +them an outline of his subject, speaks of the principles of selection, +mentions the writers who are considered authorities, and calls to the +attention of the students valuable material not to be found in the trade +lists. This is in the first year; in the second year the professors give +their lectures first and the class will select their books for criticism +afterwards. The professors have given most generous co-operation in the +work; but their work has been uneven and many of them fail to catch the +librarian's and bibliographer's point of view, and most of them +acknowledge that their studies are limited to the advanced works, so +that they do not know what to recommend for the small public libraries. + +An interesting discussion followed as to the relation between university +librarians and professors in mutual co-operation in bibliographical +work. + +Miss KROEGER suggested that library students who felt a special +inclination for some scholastic subject might take up such study as a +supplement to the library school course. + +To this Mr. HASKINS remarked that the proper way would rather be the +opposite, namely that the student of history, for example, who wished to +take up library work, might take a course in library economy as a +supplement to his university studies. He pointed out that a university +graduate did not at all need to spend two years in getting familiar with +library technique. + +Mr. HANSON, of the Library of Congress, Mr. ANDREWS, of The John Crerar +Library, and Miss CLARK, of the Department of Agriculture Library at +Washington, all emphasized the need of scientific experts who should +also be trained in bibliography and library economy. The opinion was +strongly expressed that there was no greater desideratum in instruction +in library work at present than a course offered to trained scientists +who would be willing to add to their scientific training a fair +knowledge of library methods. + + + + + TRANSACTIONS OF COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE BOARD. + + +Meetings of the Council of the American Library Association were held in +connection with the Waukesha conference, on July 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, in +all six sessions being held. There was also a short meeting of the +executive board on July 9. + +Of the 25 members of Council 15 were present, as follows: C. W. Andrews, +R. R. Bowker, W. H. Brett, H. J. Carr,[I] F. M. Crunden, J. C. Dana, +Melvil Dewey, Electra C. Doren, W. I. Fletcher, J. K. Hosmer, George +Iles, Mary W. Plummer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. +Soule. In addition, the members of the executive board served as _ex +officio_ members and officers of Council. They included the president, +Henry J. Carr; ex-president, R. G. Thwaites; secretary, F. W. Faxon; +recorder, Helen E. Haines; treasurer, Gardner M. Jones. The first and +second vice-president--E. C. Richardson and Mrs. Salome C. +Fairchild--were not present during the conference. + + + PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL. + +_Place of next meeting._ Invitations for the 1902 meeting of the +American Library Association were received from Detroit, Mich.; +Charleston, S. C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Brevard, N. C.; from a New Hampshire +Board of Trade, suggesting a resort in the White Mountains, and from the +Massachusetts Library Club, urging that the meeting be held on the +eastern coast, near Boston. It was _Voted_, That place and date of next +meeting be referred to the executive board, with recommendation to meet +at a resort on the New England seaboard near Boston. + +_Nominations for officers._ It was _Voted_, That the ex-presidents +present at the meeting be appointed a committee to submit nominations +for officers for 1901-2. This committee reported at a later session of +the Council, and the nominations submitted were adopted, with the +provision that the ticket include also without distinction names sent in +on nominations signed by five members of the Association. + +_By-laws._ H. M. Utley, chairman of the Committee on By-laws, reported +the draft of by-laws prepared by that committee. This was discussed and +amended, each section being separately considered and voted upon. It was +_Voted_, That the entire body of by-laws, as amended, be adopted, +subject to such arrangement of sections as may be made by the president +and secretary. + +The by-laws were later presented to the Association in general meeting. +(_See_ Proceedings, p. 129.) + +_Endowment Fund and Publishing Board._ Charles C. Soule, trustee of the +Endowment Fund, reported that the income of the fund now on hand and to +accrue during the year amounted to about $1000, and recommended that the +sum of $500 be added to the principal of the fund, unless required by +the Publishing Board or for other purposes of the Association. + +W. I. Fletcher, for the Publishing Board, stated that the board would +need during the ensuing year an appropriation as ample as could be +secured; and it was _Voted_: + +That the trustees of the Endowment Fund be authorized to transfer to the +Publishing Board the income of the Endowment Fund now on hand and to +accrue during the coming year. + +_Reduced postal and express rates on library books._ Recommendations +were submitted from the Round Table Meeting on state library +commissions, as follows: + +1, That the Council be requested to arrange for securing reduced rates +from the express companies for travelling libraries; + +2, That the Council be requested to give its support to the Jenkins bill +providing for the transmission of library books by rural free delivery; + +3, That the Council be requested to actively interest itself in securing +lower postage rates on library books. + +After discussion it was _Voted_, That a committee of five of the Council +be appointed on express and postal rates for library books, to negotiate +with the express companies, to co-operate with regard to Congressional +legislation, and to report further to the Council as to the postal +question. + +The committee was appointed as follows: E. H. Anderson, chairman; J. S. +Billings, W. C. Lane, R. R. Bowker, Johnson Brigham. It was _Voted_: + +That in case of the inability of any member of the committee to serve, +the retiring president be authorized to fill vacancies. + +_Relation of libraries to the book trade._ It was _Voted_, That the +executive board be requested to appoint a committee of five to consider +and report upon the relation of libraries to the book trade. + +_Cataloging rules for printed cards._ It was _Voted_, That the Council +authorize the promulgation of the proposed A. L. A. cataloging rules for +printed cards, so soon as the Publishing Board and its special advisory +committee, and the Library of Congress, shall have agreed upon the +details of same; + +That the committee on cataloging rules for printed cards be requested +also to formulate the variations from those rules which they recommend +for manuscript work. + +_List of American dissertations._ The College and Reference Section +submitted the following communication: + +"_To the Council of the A. L. A._: + +"The College and Reference Section, at its recent meeting, appointed the +undersigned, a committee to prepare and report to the council the draft +of a request with reference to an annual list of American dissertations +for the degree of doctor of philosophy or science. We would, therefore, +respectfully ask that the approval of the Council be given to the plan +outlined herein, viz: + +"To send to such institutions of learning in the United States and +Canada as confer the degree of doctor of philosophy or science, after +residence and examination, the following circular letter: + + "_To the President and Faculty of ----_, + + "GENTLEMEN: The College and Reference Section of the American Library + Association, with the approval of the Council of such Association, + respectfully requests that your institution publish in its annual + catalog, or corresponding publication, a list of the dissertations + accepted from persons who have been granted the degree of doctor of + philosophy or science during the preceding academic year, and a + supplementary list of all dissertations printed since the publication + of the last annual catalog. This list should contain the following + particulars: The full name and year of graduation of the author; the + full title of the dissertation; the year of imprint, and, if a reprint, + the title, volume, and pagination of the publication from which it was + reprinted. + + "We also request your institution to require a title-page for each + dissertation, giving, in addition to the full name of author and title + of dissertation, the year in which the degree was conferred, and in + which the dissertation was printed, and, if a reprint, the title, + volume and pagination of the publication where it was first printed. + + "A compliance with these requests will be a most valuable service to + the college and reference libraries of the country." + +The section further instructed us to suggest to the Council the +desirability of the compilation and publication of a complete list of +such dissertations to July, 1900. + + BERNARD C. STEINER, } + WALTER M. SMITH, } _Committee_. + CLEMENT W. ANDREWS, } + +It was _Voted_, + +That the circular letter prepared by the Committee of +the College and Reference Section be approved, and that the executive +board authorize the necessary slight expense of printing and postage +required; + +That a committee of the College and Reference Section be appointed to +secure the publication of the list of dissertations referred to without +expense to the A. L. A. + +_Prosecution of book thieves._ Communications were read from C. K. +Bolton, recommending that the Council appropriate, when necessary, from +the income of the Endowment Fund, money to be used in the detection or +prosecution of book thieves. It was pointed out that "a few men +systematically rob libraries, particularly in small poor towns that +happen to have some rare books. To gather evidence and rid us of these +men requires money, and seems very properly to come within our field of +work." No action was taken on the subject. + +_Minute on John Fiske._ The memorial minute on John Fiske, prepared by +the special committee, consisting of J. K. Hosmer, George Iles and R. G. +Thwaites, was submitted to the Council and recommended for presentation +to the Association, to be spread upon the records. (_See_ Proceedings, +p. 130.) + + + TRANSACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. + +_List of American dissertations._ In accordance with vote of Council, +the following committee from the College and Reference Section was +appointed to arrange for the publication of the list of dissertations +proposed by the section: B. C. Steiner, C. W. Andrews, W. M. Smith. + +_Committee on resolutions._ A committee on resolutions to serve during +the Waukesha conference was appointed, as follows: Herbert Putnam, Mary +W. Plummer, J. C. Dana. + +_Secretary's expenses._ A communication was received from the Finance +Committee, recommending that the sum of $425 be allowed for the expenses +of the secretary's office for the year ending July 16, 1901. It was +_Voted_, That $100 additional be also appropriated for the secretary's +expenses for the past year. + +_Non-library membership._ It was _Voted_, That the names of 38 persons +not engaged in library work, as presented by the treasurer, be accepted +for membership in the Association. + +No meeting of the incoming Council or executive board was held, and the +appointment of special and standing committees, reporters, etc., was +therefore deferred. + + HELEN E. HAINES, _Recorder_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote I: Also, as president, _ex officio_ member of executive board +and council.] + + + + + ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE. + + +An Elementary Institute, for the presentation of "first principles" in +library work, was held in the assembly room of the Fountain Spring House +on Tuesday evening, July 9. In the absence of Miss Cornelia Marvin, +chairman, Miss L. E. Stearns presided. The meeting was quite informal, +and there were no prepared papers, except one by Miss GRATIA COUNTRYMAN +on + + OPPORTUNITIES. + (_See_ p. 52.) + +An introductory speech was made by Mr. Dewey, who spoke of the +educational force that libraries should exert in the community, and the +varied field before the public library of to-day. There was some general +discussion, in the course of which J. C. Dana read a letter describing +pioneer library work carried on in the Yukon district of Alaska, and E. +P. McElroy told of some interesting incidents connected with the work of +his library at Algona, Iowa. + +An early adjournment was made to attend the display of stereopticon +views of library buildings which was given on the same evening. + + + + + ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. + + +A most enthusiastic reunion of the alumni of the Illinois State Library +School was held at Waukesha on July 5, in connection with the meeting of +the A. L. A. + +Forty-seven members of the Alumni Association sat down to a long table +which had been spread for them in the dining-room of the Fountain Spring +House, where a very pleasant hour was passed in renewing old friendships +and hearing about the work of classmates who had gone out to make +themselves famous in the library world. + +Following the dinner a business meeting was held, after which the +members listened to a most interesting report by Miss Katharine L. +Sharp, director of the Illinois State Library School, on the growth and +present condition of the school, showing the changes which have come to +it from its connection with the University of Illinois. + +Miss Sharp gave an outline of each course as it is now given in the +school, noting the changes which have been made and the reasons for +these changes. The report was of especial interest to the early +graduates of the school, who could follow the changes made in the course +of instruction, the general development in scope and methods, and could +so well comprehend the great growth of the school since its +establishment at Armour Institute of Technology, in Chicago, in 1893. + + MARGARET MANN, _Secretary_. + + + + + THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE WAUKESHA CONFERENCE. + + BY JULIA T. RANKIN, _Carnegie Library, Atlanta, Ga._ + + +To chronicle the social side of the twenty-third annual meeting of the +American Library Association is a pleasant duty. To recall all of the +courtesies extended to us by our hosts of the Middle West would take +more time than is at my disposal and more space than the Proceedings +allot to the frivolous recreations of the strenuous librarians. Through +the entire period of the meeting, the good people of Waukesha did +everything in their power to make the time pass pleasantly and Mr. +Walker, the proprietor of the Fountain Spring Hotel, worked early and +late to make the members comfortable. Golf had a few members marked for +its own, and these were not deterred by the +110 deg.-in-the-shade-conditions. Dancing was in order every evening after +the meetings (Sunday excepted) and the gentleman from Washington is said +to have solved the problem of how often a man can dance with the same +girl in a given evening. The piazzas were ample and as each led to some +spring sooner or later, the "water habit" became popular. The +dining-room was, in the language of the daily papers, "taxed to its +utmost," but all shortcomings were treated with good-natured +indifference when it was understood that the hotel had never +accommodated so many people in its history, and the management promptly +increased its force of servants to meet the occasion. + +According to the program the social side of the conference should have +begun on the evening of July 3 with "friendly greetings" at 8.30 p.m.; +but as the New York party did not arrive until 9 p.m., and the New +England party not until 2 a.m., it will readily be seen that the +friendly greetings had to be postponed. Social amenities, however, +commenced on the morning of "the Fourth" when the proverbial early bird, +arrayed in cool flannels or faultless duck, promenaded the long veranda +of the Fountain House and greeted the later arrivals. As the "later +arrivals" had almost all come from a distance during one of the hottest +weeks of the hottest summer known, and were consequently covered with +dust and cinders, it was tantalizing to see the earlier arrivals in such +cool array, and welcome speeches were cut short until the dust of travel +could be removed. + +The coolness of the evening found a refreshed, summer-attired conference +wending its way to the Methodist Church where the public meeting was +held. The speeches were interrupted repeatedly by the festive small boy +and his Fourth of July crackers. The explosions caused untimely mirth +when they punctuated or emphasized the well rounded periods of the +orators. The formal meeting was followed by informal groups on the +veranda of the hotel and at the springs where thirsty mortals never +tired of drinking the "fizzy" waters, that have made Waukesha famous as +the "Saratoga of the West," and, indeed, the place has many features +similar to its famous Eastern prototype. + +Friday evening was devoted to various dinner parties of the alumni of +the library training schools, and the dining-room with its long tables +and flowers presented a festive scene. College yells and class cheers +resounded through the halls. One got a good idea of the number of +technically trained library assistants now dispersed over the country. + +Saturday evening the hotel management provided a dance for the guests +and the great dining hall was transformed into a gay ballroom. Although +Mr. Cutter was absent the dancing contingent was ably represented, and a +delightful evening was enjoyed. + +The program meetings were well attended and the many papers presented +during the sultry days of the first week made Sunday a welcome day. The +Rest Cure seemed to be the order of the day until after lunch, when most +of the members went to Milwaukee to see the public library, where an +informal reception was held. Misses Stearns, Dousman, Van Valkenburgh +and Stillman entertained a party of 40 at White Fish Bay. A trolley ride +to Milwaukee and on to this beautiful bay proved a good appetizer for +the very excellent lunch provided. The view of the lake was keenly +enjoyed and the day was clear and cool. Twenty miles home and an early +supper, and most of us were willing to retire early, for the trip to +Madison next day was scheduled for an early hour. + +Although the day spent in Madison was not strictly a "social" feature of +the conference, yet so delightfully did the citizens of Madison welcome +the visiting librarians that the record of the day in truth belongs to +the social chronicler. Its pleasures came as a complete surprise to +those who had not prepared themselves with Appleton's guide and other +works of ready reference. The building of the Historical Society is +certainly one of the most beautiful and sensibly arranged libraries in +the United States and its situation on the outskirts of the grounds of +the University of Wisconsin leaves nothing to be desired. In fact it +would be hard to picture a more beautiful situation for a university +town than this. The lakes, the undulating landscapes and the beautiful +roads extending for twenty-five miles and maintained by a committee of +public spirited men, who also are responsible for planting the roadsides +with hardy shrubs, trees and flowers, make the external conditions +ideal. The whole party was driven through the town, the university +campus, and through five or six miles of the park roads, and was then +escorted through the library building by Mr. Thwaites, Mr. Bradley and +the assistants. It was while the members were being driven through the +town that the new library anthem was perpetrated, and + + "Of all the cakes + My mother makes + Give me the gingerbread!" + +will go down in A. L. A. history linked with + + "Here's to Mr. Bradley + Who smiles on us so badly, + gladly, + madly, + sadly!" + +The whole 350 found chairs in the gymnasium of the university and +disposed of every one of the doughnuts promised to them by Mr. Thwaites +in his eloquent address on Luncheons the previous day. The afternoon was +spent in inspection of the beautiful new library building, and here an +hour or so later the "official photograph" was taken, the delegates +being seated on the steps of the library with its stately facade for +background. + +Madison refused to maintain us after five o'clock, and on our return to +Waukesha we found that the City Federation of Women's Clubs of Waukesha +would be "at home" in our honor, so we put on our prettiest frocks and +were presented in due form. The reception committee comprised Mrs. H. Y. +Youmans, president of the State Federation; Miss L. E. Stearns, Mrs. O. +Z. Olin, Mrs. C. E. Wilson, Miss Winifred Winans, Miss Emily Marsh and +Miss Kate Kimball. A bevy of pretty girls served tempting ices and a +musical program was delightfully rendered. + +Tuesday's program was almost too much for even the most confirmed +conference attendant. From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. till 6 did +we sit and listen or stand and discuss the program. At 9 p.m. Mr. +Eastman's display of library architecture, by means of a stereopticon, +proved to be one of the most interesting features of the meeting. It is +wonderful the advancement made in this form of library development; and +still more wonderful how many bad libraries are still being built when +so much information is to be had on the subject. + +Later the dining-room was cleared and the conscientious librarians who +had sat all day in interesting sessions were invited to relieve the +monotony of work with the terpsichorean muse. It was a pretty sight to +see the girls in their muslin frocks and all the young and old members +meet in the measures of a Virginia reel. And such a reel; it will go +down to history as _the_ dance of the Waukesha meeting. Staid librarians +growing bald with the weight of a nation's libraries; quiet instructors +in library economics, all unbent to the fascination of this +old-fashioned country dance. + +Wednesday's sessions were somewhat broken by the necessary preparations +for departure. In order to leave nothing undone the hotel management +arranged a fire spectacle this last afternoon of the conference and the +fair grounds looked their best with flames leaping in the air and the +black smoke rolling on. There was a large attendance of spectators, +including the town fire department who declared the exhibition a great +success. + +Then came the leavetakings, and after many handshakings and hearty +appreciations of hospitality, the conference gradually disintegrated and +only a small number of us were among that fortunate party lined up along +the wharf at Milwaukee to take the lake trip to Buffalo _en route_ to +our homes. + +We stood in silence as the big white _Northwest_ loomed in sight. This +ship and its twin-sister the _Northland_ represent the perfection of +modern lake travel and rival the trans-Atlantic liners in elegance and +comfort. It was a sleepy party that sought staterooms early. The morning +came fine and cloudless, and although the dawn and sunrise on the water +seemed to come very early in this high latitude, it was a thing of +beauty--an aquarelle of Nature's best workmanship. The trip to Mackinac +was marked by the organization of the Infinite Eight, a secret society +having blood-curdling ritual and banded together for offensive and +defensive tactics in the war upon the cuisine--led by the gallant +survivor of the "Adventures of a house-boat." This company attacked +everything that was before it and demolished everything within its +reach. Not until the last day were any reverses recorded and then +Neptune with his trident reduced the gallant band to four. In memory of +this glorious record the survivors have applied for arms consisting of a +ship rampant on a field azure and the motto + + Puellae Pallidae non ad cenam veniunt. + +When Buffalo was reached the Pan-American exhibition claimed everyone's +attention. Most of the party were there by eleven o'clock and spent the +rest of the day. Mr. Elmendorf claimed a number of the men and gave them +a delightful dinner in "In Nuremburg," and everyone was in front of the +great pilons in time to see the electricity turned on at 8.30, after +which the gondoliers became popular. It was Georgia Day at the +Exposition and the A. L. A. members who had attended the Atlanta +conference were greeted by a familiar figure in the person of Mr. +Cabiniss, who had addressed the Association at Atlanta and was one of +the orators of the day. The most popular part of the proceedings, +however, was the singing of the refrain + + "He laid aside a suit of gray + To wear the Union blue" + +which was cheered and encored many times. + +Sunday was spent at Niagara Falls by most of the survivors and +everything was accomplished, even to going under the American Falls. +Many goodbyes were said in the Nuremburg restaurant at the Exposition +that evening and the shutting off of the electric light closed one of +the pleasantest post-conference trips in the history of the Association. + + + + + OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES + + SERVING IN 1900-01 AND DURING WAUKESHA CONFERENCE. + + +_President_: Henry J. Carr, Scranton Public Library. + +_First vice-president_: Ernest C. Richardson, Princeton University + Library. + +_Second vice-president_: Salome Cutler Fairchild, New York State + Library. + +_Secretary_: Frederick W. Faxon, Boston Book Co. + +_Treasurer_: Gardner M. Jones, Salem Public Library. + +_Recorder_: Helen E. Haines, _Library Journal,_ New York. + +_Registrar_: Nina E. Browne, A. L. A. Publishing Board, Boston. + +_Trustees of the Endowment Fund_: Charles C. Soule, Brookline; John M. + Glenn, Baltimore, Md.; G. W. Williams, Salem, Mass. + +_A. L. A. Council_:[J] Henry J. Carr, John C. Dana, Melvil Dewey, + George Iles, Mary W. Plummer, R. R. Bowker, C. A. Cutter, W. I. + Fletcher, W. E. Foster, Caroline M. Hewins, Wm. H. Brett, F. M. + Crunden, Frank P. Hill, Hannah P. James, J. N. Larned, C. W. Andrews, + John S. Billings, Electra C. Doren, Wm. C. Lane, J. L. Whitney, C. H. + Gould, J. K. Hosmer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. + Soule. + + _Executive Board_: President, ex-president (R. G. Thwaites), + vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, recorder. + + _Publishing Board_: Chairman, W. I. Fletcher; W. C. Lane, George Iles, + R. R. Bowker, Melvil Dewey. + + + STANDING COMMITTEES. + +_Finance_: James L. Whitney, George T. Little, Charles K. Bolton. + +_Co-operation_: W. L. R. Gifford, W. R. Eastman, Electra C. Doren, J. G. + Moulton, Agnes E. Van Valkenburgh. + +_Public Documents_: R. R. Bowker, Adelaide R. Hasse, W. E. Henry, + Johnson Brigham. + +_Foreign Documents_: C. H. Gould, C. W. Andrews, L. B. Gilmore, James + Bain, Jr. + +_Co-operation with Library Department of N. E. A._: J. C. Dana, Melvil + Dewey, F. A. Hutchins. + + SPECIAL COMMITTEES. + +_By-Laws_: H. M. Utley, W. C Lane, B. C. Steiner. + +_Gifts and Bequests_: Reporter, George Watson Cole. + +_Handbook of American Libraries_: F. J. Teggart, T. L. Montgomery, C. W. + Andrews. + +_International Catalog of Scientific Literature_: John S. Billings, C. + W. Andrews, Cyrus Adler. + +_International Co-operation_: E. C. Richardson, R. R. Bowker, S. H. + Ranck, Mary W. Plummer, Cyrus Adler. + +_Library Training_: John C. Dana, W. H. Brett, Electra C. Doren, Eliza + G. Browning, E. C. Richardson. + +_Title-pages to Periodicals_: W. I. Fletcher, Thorvald Solberg. + + SECTIONS AND SECTION OFFICERS. + +_College and Reference Section_: Chairman, W. I. Fletcher; secretary, + Olive Jones. + +_State Library Section_:[K] Chairman, L. D. Carver; secretary, Maude + Thayer. + +_Trustees' Section_: Chairman, H. M. Leipziger; secretary, T. L. + Montgomery. + +_Catalog Section_: Chairman. A. H. Hopkins; secretary, Agnes E. Van + Valkenburgh. + +_Children's Librarians' Section_: Chairman, Annie C. Moore; secretary, + Mary E. Dousman. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote J: Also includes members of executive board.] + + + + + ATTENDANCE REGISTER. + + ABBREVIATIONS: F., Free; P., Public; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; As. + Assistant; Ref., Reference; S., School; Com., Commission; Tr. Trustee. + + +Abbott, Elizabeth Lilyan, As. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Adams, Katharine S., Ln. Adams Memorial L., Wheaton, Ill. + +Adams, Zella Frances, Library Organizer, 624 Church St, Evanston, Ill. + +Ahern, Mary Eileen, Ed. _Public Libraries_, Library Bureau, Chicago, + Ill. + +Allen, Jessie. As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Allen, Jessie M., 229 No. Topeka Ave., Wichita, Kan. + +Allen, Sylvia M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Ambrose, Lodilla, As. Ln. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Anderson, Edwin Hatfield, Ln. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Andrews, Clement Walker, Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Apple, Helen, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Applegate, Elsie, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Bacon, Gertrude. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Baker, Florence E., State Hist Soc. L., Madison, Wis. + +Baldwin, Clara F., Ln. Minn. State L. Commission, 514 Masonic Temple, + Minneapolis, Minn. + +Ball, Lucy, Ex. Ln., 210 N. Union St., Grand Rapids. Mich. + +Bangs, Mary Freeman, 80 Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass. + +Bardwell, Willis Arthur, As. Ln. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Bardwell. Mrs. Willis A., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Barker, Bess L., As. P. L., Portland, Oregon. + +Barnard, Pierce R., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Barnes, Mrs. Clara P., Ln. Gilbert M. Simmons L., Kenosha. Wis. + +Bate, Florence E., McClure, Phillips & Co., 141 E. 25th St, N. Y. City. + +Bates, Flora J., Cataloger, 7013 Yale Ave., Chicago. + +Beck, Sue, Ln. P. L., Crawfordsville, Ind. + +Beer, William, Ln. Howard Memorial L. and Fisk Free and P. L., New + Orleans, La. + +Bell, Martha W., Ln. P. L., Beloit, Wis. + +Benedict, Laura Estelle Watson, Ln. Lewis Institute. Chicago, Ill. + +Bennett, Helen Prentiss, Ln. P. L., Mattoon, Ill. + +Berryman, J. R., Ln. State L., Madison, Wis. + +Best, Mrs. Louise L., Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Billon, Sophie C., Ln. L. Assoc, Davenport, Ia. + +Biscoe, Ellen Lord, Albany, N. Y. + +Biscoe, Walter Stanley, Senior Ln. State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Bishop, William Warner, Ln. Academic Dept., Polytechnic Institute of + Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Blend, Belle, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Booth, Jessie. As. P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Bowerman, George Franklin, Ln. Wilmington Inst. F. L., Wilmington, Del. + +Bowerman. Mrs. George F., Wilmington, Del. + +Bowker, R. R., Ed. _Library Journal_, N. Y. City. + +Bradley, Isaac S., Ln. and Asst. Supt. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Branch, Elizabeth, Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Brett, W. H., Ln. P. L., Cleveland, O. + +Briesen, Henreiette von, Ln. P. L., Manitowoc, Wis. + +Brigham, Johnson, Ln. State L., Des Moines, Ia. + +Brigham, Mrs. Johnson, Des Moines, Ia. + +Brigham, Mabel. As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Brown, Bertha Mower, Ln. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. + +Brown, Gertrude L., Cataloger F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Brown, Margaret W., Travelling L. As., State L., Des Moines, Ia. + +Brown, Walter L., As. Supt. P. L., Buffalo, N. Y. + +Browne, Nina E., Sec'y A. L. A. Publishing Board, 10-1/2 Beacon St., + Boston, Mass. Registrar, A. L. A. + +Browning, Eliza G., Ln. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Buntescher, Josephine, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Burnet, Duncan, 701 Glenwood Av., Avondale, Cincinnati, O. + +Burns, Adeline, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Burton, Kate, Ln. P. L., Geneva, Ill. + +Calkins, Mary J., Ln. P. L., Racine, Wis. + +Canfield, Dr. James H., Ln. Columbia Univ. L., New York, N. Y. + +Cargill, Joseph, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Carpenter, Mary F., Ln. State Normal School, West Superior, Wis. + +Carr, Henry J., Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa., and Pres. A. L. A. + +Carr, Mrs. Henry J., Scranton, Pa. + +Carter, Lillian M., As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Carver, L D., Ln. State L., Augusta, Me. + +Carver, Mrs. L. D., Augusta, Me. + +Chapin, Artena M., 1st As. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Chapman, Mabel E., Ln. Milwaukee-Downer College, Milwaukee, Wis. + +Chapman, Susan, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Chase, Adelaide M., 109 Brooks St, W. Medford, Mass. + +Chase, Jessie C., As. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Cheney, John Vance, Ln. Newberry L., Chicago, Ill. + +Chipman, Kate, Ln. P. L., Anderson, Ind. + +Clark, Josephine A., Ln. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. + +Clarke, Elizabeth Porter, Ref. Ln. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Clatworthy, Linda M., Cataloger P. L., Dayton, O. + +Coad, Priscilla, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Cole, Theodore Lee, ex-Trustee, 13 Corcoran Bldg., Washington, D. C. + +Colerick, Margaret M., Ln. P. L., Fort Wayne, Ind. + +Cooke, Thos. F., Pres. F. L., Algona, Ia. + +Corey, Deloraine Pendre, Pres. P. L., Malden, Mass. + +Corey, Mrs. Deloraine P., Malden, Mass. + +Cory, H. Elizabeth, Ln. Carnegie L., Lawrenceville Br., Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Countryman, Gratia A., As. Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Crafts, Lettie M., As. Ln. Univ. of Minnesota, Tr. P. L., Minneapolis, + Minn. + +Craver, Harrison Warwick, As. Carnegie L. Technical Science Dept., + Pittsburgh, Pa. + +Crawford, Esther, Head Instructor Summer School for Librarians, State + Univ., Iowa City, Ia. + +Crim, Margaret E., Clerk P. L. Com. of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. + +Crunden, Frederick M., Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Curran, Mrs. Mary H., Ln. P. L., Bangor, Me. + +Cutter, William Parker, Chief Order Division L. of Congress, + Washington, D. C. + +Dana, John Cotton, Ln. City L., Springfield, Mass. + +Danforth, George F., Ln. Indiana Univ. L., Bloomington, Ind. + +Davis, H. W., _Milwaukee Free Press_, Milwaukee, Wis. + +Davis, Olin Sylvester, Ln. P. L., Lakeport, N. H. + +Dean, C. Ruth, As. P. L., St Louis, Mo. + +Decker, Cora M., As. Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa. + +De Moe, Claire, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Denison, George A., C. & G. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass. + +Denton, J. H., Chairman P. L. Com., Toronto, Canada. + +Dewey, Melvil, Director State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Dexter, Lydia Aurelia, 2920 Calumet Ave., Chicago. Ill. + +Dickey, Helene L., Ln. Chicago Normal S., Chicago, Ill. + +Dill, Miss Minnie A., As. Ln. P. L., Decatur, Ill. + +Dillingham, W. P., Tr. State L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Dippel, Clara E., As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Dixson, Mrs. Zella A., Ln. Univ. of Chicago, Chicago. + +Dockery, Mrs. E. J., F. L. Com., Boise, Idaho. + +Donaldson, Allison, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Doolittle, Hattie A., Ln. Williams F. L., Beaver Dam., Wis. + +Doren, Electra Collins, Ln. P. L., Dayton, O. + +Douglas, Matthew Hale, Ln. Iowa Coll. L., Grinnell, Ia. + +Dousman, Mary Ella, Head Children's Dept., P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Downey, Mary E., As. Ln. Field Columbian Museum, Chicago. + +Drummond, Mary, Tr. Adams Memorial L., Wheaton, Ill. + +Dudley, W. H., As. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. + +Durham, Josephine E., Ln. P. L., Danville, Ill. + +Dwight, Agnes L., Ln. F. P. L., Appleton, Wis. + +Earl, Mrs. Elizabeth C., P. L., Com. of Indiana, Connersville. Ind. + +Eastman, Linda A., Vice-Ln. P. L., Cleveland, O. + +Eastman, William Reed, Inspector P. L. Dept., State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Eaton, Harriet L., As. P. L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Elliott, Carrie. Ref. Ln. P. L., Chicago. + +Elliott, Julia E., Ln. P. L., Marinette, Wis. + +Ellison, Mrs. Annette C., Children's Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Elrod, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Columbus, Ind. + +Engle, Emma R., As. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Ensign, Katherine W., 404 E. 2d St., Duluth, Minn. + +Evans, Mrs. Alice G., Ln. P. L., Decatur, Ill. + +Faddis, Miss Zoe, As. Chicago S. of Education L., Chicago. + +Fairbanks, May L., Ln. Cornell Coll., Mt. Vernon, Ia. + +Fatout, Nellie B., Ln. P. L., Elwood, Ind. + +Faxon, Frederick Winthrop, Manager Library Dept., The Boston Book Co., + Boston, Secretary of A. L. A. (address 108 Glenway St., Dorchester, + Mass.) + +Faxon, Mrs. F. W., Dorchester, Mass. + +Felt, Anna E., Financial Secy. Board of Library Directors, Galena, Ill. + +Fernald, Helen Augusta, 384 Adams St., Dorchester, Mass. + +Ferrell, Cullom Holmes, Washington, D. C. + +Ferrell, L. C., Supt. of Documents, Washington, D. C. + +Ferrell, Mrs. L. C., Washington, D. C. + +Field, Walter T., Library Dept. Ginn & Co., 378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, + Ill. + +Field, Mrs. Walter T., Chicago, Ill. + +Fitzgerald, Eva M., Ln. P. L., Kokomo, Ind. + +Fletcher, William I., Ln. Amherst Coll. L., Amherst, Mass. + +Flint, Col. Weston, Ln. P. L. of the District of Columbia, Washington, + D. C. + +Forstall, Gertrude, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Foss, Sam Walter, Ln. P. L., Somerville, Mass. + +Foster, Mary Stuart, As. Wis. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Foye, Charlotte H., As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Frame, Hon. A. J., Waukesha, Wis. + +Frame, Walter, Waukesha, Wis. + +Freeman, Marilla Waite, Ln. P. L., Michigan City, Ind. + +Gainer, Mrs. C. A., Ln. State L., Boise, Idaho. + +Galbreath, C. B., Ln. State L., Columbus, O. + +Gale, Ellen, Ln. P. L., Rock Island, Ill. + +Ganley, Marie, Cataloger P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +George, Helene Thekla, Ln. F. P. L., Sioux Falls, S. D. + +Gerould, James Thayer, Ln. Univ. of Missouri L., Columbia, Mo. + +Glatfelter, Mr. J. H., L. Bldg. Committee, State Normal School, + Emporia, Kan.; Supt. City School, Atchison, Kan. + +Godard, George S., Ln. State L., Hartford, Conn. + +Goding, Sarah E., As. Ln. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Goldberger, Ottilie, Clerk P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Gould, H. A., L. Dept. A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, Ill. + +Goulding, Philip S., Head Cataloger Univ. of Missouri L., Columbia, Mo. + +Gove, Hon. P. L., Mayor, Waukesha, Wis. + +Graham, Emma, Ln. P. L., Sidney, O. + +Gray, John H., Tr. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Greene, Janet M., Organizer, 4812 Indiana Ave., Chicago. + +Gunthorp, Pauline, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hackett, Irene A., Ln. Y. M. C. A. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Hafner, Alfred, Bookseller, 9 E. 16th St, New York, N. Y. + +Hafner, Mrs. Alfred, New York, N. Y. + +Haines, Helen E., Managing Ed. _Library Journal_, N. Y. City. Recorder + A. L. A. + +Hall, Howard J., Ln. Univ. of Arizona L., Tucson, Ariz. + +Haller, F. L., Trav. L. Commissioner, care Lininger & Metcalf Co., + Omaha, Neb. + +Hamilton, Ella A., Ln. P. L., Whitewater, Wis. + +Hanna, Belle S., Ln. P. L., Greencastle, Ind. + +Hanson, James Christian Meinich, Chief Catalog Division, L. of + Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Hardy, E. A., Sec. P. L., Lindsay, Ont. + +Harpole, Minnie P., As. Ln. Library Bureau, Chicago. + +Harris, George William, Ln. Cornell Univ. L., Ithaca, N. Y. + +Harrison, Joseph Le Roy, Ln. Providence Athenaeum, Providence, R. I. + +Harter, Lyle, Ln. P. L., Huntington, Ind. + +Hartswick, Howard B., 1st As. State L., Harrisburg, Pa. + +Hartswick, Mrs. Jennie Betts, Clearfield, Pa. + +Hawley, Emma A., As. Ln. State Hist Soc., Madison. Wis. + +Hawley, Mary E., As. Cataloger The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hayes, Rutherford Platt, Asheville, N. C. + +Henderson, Mrs. Kate A., Ln. P. L., Joliet, Ill. + +Henneberry, Kate M., As. Ln. P. L., Chicago. + +Hensel, Martin, Ln. P. School L., Columbus, O. + +Henry, W. E., Ln. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hild, Frederick H., Ln. P. L., Chicago, Ill. + +Hill, Cora M., Supt. Circulating Dept. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Hill, Prof. J. H., Latin Professor; Chairman L. Committee, State Normal + School, Emporia, Kan. + +Hilligoss, Gertrude, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hine, J. W., Art Metal Construction Co., Boston. + +Hine, Mrs. J. W., Boston. + +Hoagland, Merica, L. Organizer of Indiana, Office of P. L. Com., State + House, Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hock, Mrs. Maggie, Kokomo, Ind. + +Hodges, Nathaniel Dana Carlile, Ln. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Hoover, Anna F., Ln. P. L., Galesburg, Ill. + +Hopkins, Anderson Hoyt, As. Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Horne, Miss Lulu, As. City L., Lincoln, Neb. + +Hornor, Martha, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Hosmer, Prof. James Kendall, Ln. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Hostetter, A. B., Supt. and Sec'y Illinois Farmers' Institute, + Springfield, Ill. + +Hostetter, Mrs. A. B., Springfield, Ill. + +Hough, Georgia Rodman, Ln. P. L., Madison, Wis. + +Howard, Clara E., Student Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Howey, Mrs. Laura E., Ln. Hist. Dept. State L., Helena, Mont. + +Hoyt, Jessie F., As. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. + +Hubbard, Anna G., Ref. Ln. State L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Hubbell, Jennie P., Ln. P. L., Rockford, Ill. + +Huse, Hiram A., Ln. State L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Hutchins, Frank A., Sec. Wisconsin F. L. Commission, Madison, Wis. + +Hyer, F. S., Agent Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 378 Wabash Ave., Chicago, + Ill. + +Iles, George, Journalist, Park Ave. Hotel, N. Y. City. + +Ingalls, Jennie, Ln. P. L., Fort Madison, Ia. + +Johnson, Mary Hannah, Ln. Howard L., Nashville, Tenn. + +Jones, Elizabeth D., Pasadena, Cal. + +Jones, Gardner Maynard, Ln. P. L., Salem, Mass. Treasurer A. L. A. + +Jones, Mary Letitia, Ln. P. L., Los Angeles, Cal. + +Jones, Olive, Ln. Ohio State Univ. L., Columbus, O. + +Josephson, Aksel Gustav Salomon, Cataloger The John Crerar L., Chicago, + Ill. + +Jutton, Emma R., Reviser Univ. of Ill. L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Kautz, F. R., Tr. Butler Coll. L., Irvington, Ind. + +Kealhofer, William, Tr. Washington Co. F. L., Hagerstown, Md. + +Keefer, Jessie G., As. P. L., Scranton, Pa. + +Kellogg, Myra, As. P. L., Indianapolis, Ind. + +Kelso, Tessa L., with Baker, Taylor Co., N. Y. City. + +Kennedy, John Pendleton, L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Keogh, Andrew, Ln. Linonian & Brothers L., Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn. + +Kercheval, Margaret McE., 1st As. Howard L., Nashville, Tenn. + +Kerr, Willis Holmes, Acting Vice-Pres. Bellevue Coll., Bellevue, Neb. + +Knudson, Signa, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Kohler, Minnie, Ln. P. L., Moline, Ill. + +Krengel, F. W., Adv. Dept. _Public Libraries_, Library Bureau, Chicago, + Ill. + +Kroeger, Miss Alice Bertha, Ln. Drexel Inst. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Lamb, Mary J., As. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis. + +Lane, Harriet, Ln. P. L., Freeport, Ill. + +Lane, Lucius Page, As. P. L., Boston, Mass. + +Langton, Joseph F., As. Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Larson, Charles A., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Lawson, Publius V., Vice-Pres. L. Board, Menasha, Wis. Pres. Fox River + Valley L. Assoc. Pres. Winnebago County Board of Libraries. + +Leach, Davis Parker, Ln. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. + +Leavitt, Charlotte D., Ln. McClymonds P. L., Massillon, O. + +Leipziger, Dr. Henry M., Consulting Ln. Aguilar F. L., New York, N. Y. + +Leipziger, Pauline, Ln. Aguilar F. L., New York, N. Y. + +Leonard, Charles H., 414 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Leonard, Mrs. Charles H., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Lewis, Kate, West Superior, Wis. + +Light, Matilda M., As. P. L., Dayton, O. + +Lindsay, Mary Boyden, Ln. F. P. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Little, George T., Ln. Bowdoin Coll. L., Brunswick, Me. + +Lucas, Stella, Ln. Memorial F. L., Menomonie, Wis. + +Luce, Cyrus G., Pres. Michigan L. Com., Coldwater, Mich. + +Luce, Mrs. Cyrus G., Coldwater, Mich. + +Lyman, Edna. Children Ln. Scoville Inst., Oak Park, Ill. + +McCaine, Mrs. Helen J., Ln. P. L., St. Paul, Minn. + +McCormick, Lilian, Ln. Superior P. L., West Superior, Wis. + +McCrory, Harriette L., Ln. F. P. L., Cedar Rapids, Ia. + +McCullough, Elizabeth, Ln. P. L., Logansport, Ind. + +MacDonald, Katharine A., As. Sec. F. L. Com., Madison, Wis. + +McDonnell, Pearl, As. Ln. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash. + +McElroy, E. P., Ln. F. P. L., Algona, Ia. + +McIlvaine, Caroline M., As. Newberry L., Chicago. + +McIlvaine, Mabel, As. Newberry L., Chicago. + +McIntosh, Margaret, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +McKee, Horace A., Library Bureau, Chicago. + +McKee, Syrena, Ln. P. L., Leavenworth, Kan. + +McKillop, Samuel, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +McLane, Mary, Ln. Joseph Dessert P. L., Mosinee, Wis. + +McLoney, Ella M., Ln. P. L., Des Moines, Ia. + +McMahon, Joseph H., Cathedral L., New York City. + +McNeil, Anne H., Ln. St. Supt. Office, Madison, Wis. + +Macomber, Mary E., Ln. Kellogg-Hubbard L., Montpelier, Vt. + +Macpherson, Maud R., As. Ln. Gilbert M. Simmons L., Kenosha, Wis. + +Manchester, Bessie I., As. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Mann, Margaret, As. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., Champaign, Ill. + +Martin, Deborah B., Ln. Kellogg P. L., Green Bay, Wis. + +Marvin, Cornelia, Instructor F. L. Com., Madison, Wis. + +Marvin, Mabel, Head Cataloger, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. + +Marx, Bertha, Ln. P. L., Sheboygan, Wis. + +Mattison, Olinia May, As. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Mealey, Edward W., Pres. Trustees Washington Co. F. L., Hagerstown, Md. + +Meleney, G. B., Manager Library Bureau, Chicago, Ill. + +Meleney, Harriet E., Chicago. + +Melvill, Jessie D., Substitute Ln. P. L., Galena, Ill. + +Menzies, Mrs. Minnie, Children's Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Merrill, Julia Wright, As. Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Merrill, William Stetson, Chief Classifier Newberry L., Chicago, Ill. + +Merryman, Bertha, Marinette, Wis. + +Meyer, Emma, Ln. P. L., Delphi, Ind. + +Miller, Else, Supt. Delivery Stations, P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Mills, M. Emily, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Miner, Mrs. Sarah H., Cataloger Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison, Wis. + +Mitchell, Tryphena G., Ln. Vaughn L., Ashland, Wis. + +Montgomery. Thomas L., Ln. Wagner F. Inst. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Montross, Elizabeth, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, Ill. + +Moody, Katharine Twining, As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Moore, Evva L., Ln. Scoville Inst., Oak Park, Ill. + +Morris, F. M., Bookseller, 171 Madison St., Chicago. + +Moulton, John Grant, Ln. P. L., Haverhill, Mass. + +Mudge, Isadore G., Ref. Ln. Univ. of Ill. L., Urbana, Ill. + +Neisser, Emma Rittenhouse, Travelling Libraries, F. L., Philadelphia, + Pa. + +Nelson, E. A., Ln. State L., St. Paul, Minn. + +Newman, L. M., Chippewa Falls, Wis. + +Nicholl, Mary Wylie, Ln. Bellevue Coll., Bellevue, Neb. + +Nicholson, Mrs. George T., 4009 Lake Ave., Chicago. + +Nunns, Anne E., As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Oakley, Minnie M., As. Ln. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +O'Brien, Margaret A., As. Ln. P. L., Omaha, Neb. + +Ogden, Miss J. F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Ogilvie, Jane, Ln. P. L., Antigo, Wis. + +Olcott, Florence, As. Ln. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Paddock, Catherine D., Library Organizer, 5451 Cornell Ave., Chicago. + +Palmer, W. Millard, Bookseller, 20 Monroe St., Grand Rapids, Mich. + +Parham, Nellie E., Ln. Withers P. L., Bloomington, Ill. + +Parker, H. W., Ln. Mechanics' Inst. L., New York City. + +Parker, Keta B., Acting Ln. Virginia L. McCormick Theological Seminary, + Chicago. + +Parmele, Ella Goodwin, Ln. State Normal School L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Parsons, N. B., Library Bureau, Chicago. + +Parsons, Mrs. N. B., Chicago. + +Patenaude, Rose E., Ln. Peter White P. L., Marquette, Mich. + +Patten, Katharine, As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Patton, Adah, Student Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Patton, Normand S., Architect, Chicago. + +Payne, W. P., Pres. Trustees P. L., Nevada, Ia. + +Payne, Mrs. W. P., Nevada, Ia. + +Perley, Clarence W., As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Perry, Chesley R., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Pierce, Mary, Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Pifer, Ida F., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Plummer, Mary Wright, Director Pratt Inst. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Poirier, Lydia M., Ln. P. L., Duluth, Minn. + +Pollard, Annie A., 2d As. P. L., Grand Rapids. Mich. + +Porter, Washington T., Tr. P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Potter, Kate M., Ln. City L., Baraboo, Wis. + +Potter, Lucy A., As. Ln. State Normal School L., Oshkosh, Wis. + +Pray, T. B., State Normal S., Stevens Point, Wis. + +Price, Anna M., Ln. Univ. of S. Dakota L., Vermillion, S. D. + +Price, Helen L., L. Organizer, Urbana, Ill. + +Putnam, Mrs. Hannah, Canton, Ill. + +Putnam, Herbert, Ln. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Radcliffe, Alice, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Rankin, Julia Toombs, As. Ln. Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga. + +Reed, Mrs. Adele C. Paxton, Ill. + +Reeve, Dr. J. T., Secy. F. P. L., Appleton, Wis. + +Remmer, Mary E., Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Resor, Mrs. Josephine H., Ln. Parlin L., Canton, Ill. + +Riblet, L. E., Waukesha. Wis. + +Ringier, Margaret, Deputy Ln. P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Robertson, Josephine Chester, Head Cataloger Univ. of Chicago, Chicago. + +Robinson, Lydia G., As. P. L., Chicago. + +Roddy, Marie Louise, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Roden, Carl B., Supt. Order Dept. P. L., Chicago. + +Rommeiss, Emma, As. P. L., Chicago. + +Root, Azariah Smith, Ln. Oberlin Coll, L., Oberlin, O. + +Roper, Eleanor, Senior As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Rose, Emma E., Ln. P. L., Fond du Lac, Wis. + +Russel, J. R., Ln. P. L., Butte, Mont. + +Russell, Janet, Ln. P. L., Merrill, Wis. + +Ryerson, E. Egerton, As. Ln. P. L., Toronto, Can. + +Sacksteder, M. A., Open Court Publishing Co., Chicago. + +Salisbury, Grace E., As. Ln. State Normal S., Whitewater, Wis. + +Salisbury, O. M., Agent Ginn & Co., Madison, Wis. + +Sanders, Mrs. Minerva A., Ln. F. P. L., Pawtucket, R. I. + +Sawyer, Ida E., Cataloger Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. + +Schmidt, Eliza, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Sears, Minnie E., As. Cataloger Univ. of Illinois L., Champaign, Ill. + +Seely, Blanche, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago. + +Seeman, Samuel, William G. Johnson & Co., Pittsburg, Pa. + +Seeman, Mrs. Samuel, Pittsburg, Pa. + +Scott, Mrs. Frances Hanna, Ln. Mich. Coll. of Mines, Houghton, Mich. + +Sharp, Katharine Lucinda, Head Ln. and Director State L. S. Univ. of + Illinois, Champaign, Ill. + +Shaw, R. K., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Shepard, Rhoda C., Ln. Shortridge High S., Indianapolis. Ind. + +Silverthorn, Nellie C., Ln. P. L., Wausau, Wis. + +Simonds, May, As. Mercantile L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Simonson, Roger A., Library Bureau, Chicago + +Simpson, Frances, Cataloger Univ. of Illinois L., Champaign, Ill. + +Skavlem, Gertrude J., As. Ln. P. L., Janesville, Wis. + +Skinner, Marie A., Ln. P. L., Lake Forest, Ill. + +Smith, Elizabeth, Sec'y L. Board, De Pere, Wis. + +Smith, Elizabeth Church, As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. + +Smith, Faith E., Ln. P. L., Sedalia, Mo. + +Smith, Laura, Chief Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Smith, Susan T., Ln. State Normal S., Chico, Cal. + +Smith, Walter McMynn. Ln. Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison. Wis. + +Smythe, Elizabeth Harris, Circulating L., 31 Washington St., Chicago. + +Soule, Charles Carroll, ex-Trustee, Pres. The Boston Book Co., Boston, + Mass. + +Sperry, Ethel, Waterbury, Conn. + +Sperry, Helen, Ln. Bronson L., Waterbury, Conn. + +Stearns, Lutie E., Library Organizer Wisconsin F. L. Com., Madison, + Wis. + +Steiner, Dr. Bernard C., Ln. Enoch Pratt F. L., Baltimore, Md. + +Stern, Renee B., 5515 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago. + +Stevens, Edith, Boone, Ia. + +Stevens, Olive, As. Ln. Iowa State College L., Ames, Ia. + +Stevenson, William Marshall, Ln. Carnegie F. L., Allegheny, Pa. + +Stewart, Rose Gemmill, Cataloger F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Stillman, Mary Louise, Supt. Issue Dept. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Stites, Katherine, Ln. F. P. L., Hoopeston, Ill. + +Stout, Hon. J. H., Trustee Mabel Tainter L., Menomonie, Wis. + +Strohm, Adam, Ln. Armour Inst, of Technology, Chicago. + +Stuart, William H., Leary, Stuart & Co., 9 S. 9th St., Philadelphia, + Pa. + +Stuart, Mrs. William H., Philadelphia, Pa. + +Stuntz, Steve C., As. Univ. of Wisconsin L., Madison, Wis. + +Swan, L. P., Ln. State Normal School L., Whitewater, Mo. + +Thayer, Maude, As. Ln. State L., Springfield, Ill. + +Thorne, Elizabeth G., Ln. F. L., Port Jervis, N. Y. + +Thwaites, Reuben Gold, Sec. and Supt. State Hist. Soc, Madison, Wis. + +Thwaites, Mrs. R. G., Madison, Wis. + +Todd, Marie A., As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. + +Tuttle, Elizabeth, As. Ln. L. I. Hist. Soc, Brooklyn, N. Y. + +Tyler, Alice S., Sec. Iowa L. Com., Des Moines, Ia. + +Urban, Gertrude, As. P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Utley, Henry M., Ln. P. L., Detroit, Mich. + +Van Valkenburgh, Agnes E., Head Cataloger P. L., Milwaukee, Wis. + +Vincent, Mrs. Anna C., As. Ln. P. L., Rockford, Ill. + +Voges, Aug., Bookseller, Chicago. + +Waddell, Nina T., 2d As. Ln. P. L., Kansas City, Mo. + +Wagner, Sula, Cataloger P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +Wales, Elizabeth B., Ln. P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Walker, Evelyn H., Ln. All Souls Church, 3939 Langley Ave., Chicago. + +Wall, Lenore, Cataloger P. L., Quincy, Ill. + +Wallace, Anne, Ln. Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga. + +Wallace, Charlotte Elizabeth, Ln. Hazelwood Br. Carnegie L., Pittsburg, + Pa. + +Warren, Irene, Ln. Univ. of Chicago School of Education, Chicago. + +Waters, W. O., Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Watson, Carrie M., Ln. Univ. of Kansas L., Lawrence, Kan. + +Weber, Mrs. Jessie Palmer, Ln. State Hist. L., Springfield, Ill. + +Weber, Linda, Springfield. Ill. + +Webster, Ida M., Ln. P. L., Lincoln, Ill. + +Wellman, Hiller Crowell, Ln. P. L., Brookline, Mass. + +Welsh, Robert Gilbert, Manager Library Dept. Charles Scribner's Sons, + New York City. + +Wescoat, Lulu M., As. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. + +West, Mabel G., Cataloger Knox College L., Galesburg, Ill. + +Wheelock, Mary E., Ln. P. L., Grinnell, Ia. + +Whitaker, Alfred E., Ln. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, Col. + +White, Peter, State L. Commission, Marquette, Mich. + +Whitten, Robert H., Sociology Ln. State L., Albany, N. Y. + +Whitten, Mrs. Robert H., Albany, N. Y. + +Whitney, Mrs. Carrie Westlake, Ln. P. L., Kansas City, Mo. + +Wilkerson, Elizabeth B., Cataloger Cossitt L., Memphis, Tenn. + +Williams, Lizzie Annie, Ln. P. L., Malden, Mass. + +Williams, Mary, As. Hampton Inst. L., Hampton, Va. + +Wilson, Halsey W., Cumulative Book Index, Minneapolis, Minn. + +Windsor, Phineas L., As. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. + +Wing, Florence S., Student Univ. of Illinois L. S., Champaign, Ill. + +Wire, Dr. G. E., Deputy Ln. Worcester County Law L., Worcester, Mass. + +Wood, Harriet Ann, Cataloger P. L., Cincinnati, O. + +Wood, Mary Whistler, Cataloger P. L., Chicago. + +Woods, Henry F., Ln. P. L., East St. Louis, Ill. + +Wright, Charles Edward, Ln. Andrew Carnegie F. L., Carnegie, Pa. + +Wright, Mrs. Mary L., Ln. P. L. Streator, Ill. + +Wright, Purd B., Ln. F. P. L., St. Joseph, Mo. + +Wyer, James Ingersoll, Jr., Ln. Univ. of Nebraska L., Lincoln, Neb. + +Wyer, Malcolm G., Excelsior, Minn. + +Youmans, Mrs. Henry M., Pres. Wisconsin State Federation of Women's + Clubs, Waukesha, Wis. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote K: The State Library Section held no meeting, as such, but its +interests were represented in the meeting of the National Association of +State Librarians, held simultaneously with the A. L. A. meeting, and +reported in _Library Journal_, July, 1901, p. 397.] + + + + + ATTENDANCE SUMMARIES. + + BY NINA E. BROWNE, _Registrar; Librarian of Library Bureau, Boston; + Secretary A. L. A. Publishing Board_. + + + BY POSITION AND SEX. + + Men. Women. Total. + + Trustees and other officers 24 11 35 + Chief librarians 56 118 174 + Assistants 31 136 167 + Library Bureau, booksellers, + etc. 23 4 27 + Library school students 3 3 + Others 14 40 54 + --- --- --- + Total 148 312 460 + + + BY GEOGRAPHICAL SECTIONS. + + 9 of the 9 No. Atlantic states sent 87 + 6 " 9 So. " " " 23 + 2 " 8 So. Central " " 4 + 8 " 8 No. " " " 318 + 5 " 8 Western " " 16 + 5 " 8 Pacific " " 9 + Canada sent 3 + --- + Total 460 + + + BY STATES. + + Me. 4 + N. H. 1 + Vt. 3 + Mass. 22 + R. I. 3 + Conn. 4 + N. Y. 28 + Pa. 22 + Del. 2 + Md. 3 + D. C. 14 + Va. 1 + N. C. 1 + Ga. 2 + La. 1 + Tenn. 3 + Ohio. 18 + Ind. 27 + Ill. 119 + Mich. 14 + Wis. 93 + Minn. 13 + Ia. 18 + Mo. 16 + Kan. 5 + Neb. 6 + S. D. 2 + Mont. 2 + Col. 1 + Ariz. 1 + Cal. 3 + Oregon 2 + Idaho 2 + Wash. 1 + Canada 3 + --- + Total 460 + + NUMBER OF LIBRARIES REPRESENTED FROM EACH STATE. + + Me. 3 libraries represented by 4 + N. H. 1 " " 1 + Vt. 2 " " 3 + Mass. 9 " " 10 + R. I. 2 " " 2 + Conn. 3 " " 3 + N. Y. 13 " " 17 + Pa. 8 " " 16 + Del. 1 " " 1 + Md. 2 " " 3 + D. C. 4 " " 11 + Va. 1 " " 1 + Ga. 1 " " 2 + La. 1 " " 1 + Tenn. 2 " " 3 + Ohio. 9 " " 17 + Ind. 16 " " 24 + Ill. 38 " " 86 + Mich. 4 " " 8 + Wis. 35 " " 76 + Minn. 5 " " 9 + Ia. 12 " " 14 + Mo. 6 " " 16 + Kan. 2 " " 2 + Neb. 4 " " 5 + S. D. 2 " " 2 + Mont. 2 " " 2 + Col. 1 " " 1 + Ariz. 1 " " 1 + Cal. 2 " " 2 + Oregon. 1 " " 2 + Idaho. 1 " " 1 + Wash. 1 " " 1 + Canada. 2 " " 3 + + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +Some inconsistencies and obvious errors in punctuation and +capitalization have been corrected without further note. + +Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. + +Unusual spellings have been retained, except as noted below. + +Inconsistencies in spelling have been fixed in cases where there was a +clear majority of a given spelling, and otherwise retained. + +On p. 7, the word "multimillionaires" was broken between lines in the +original; it has been arbitrarily rendered as "multimillionaires" as +opposed to "multi-millionaires". + +On p. 22, the phrase "to have so-called expert opinions expressed +concerning books" had "concernings" in the original. + +On p. 43, "expense" was "exepense" in the original. + +On p. 48, the phrase "independent and autonomous institutions" had +"autonymous" in the original. + +On p. 62, the phrase "The best reviews of children's books ever written" +had "childen's" in the original. + +On p. 67, "unquestionable" was "unqestionable" in the original. + +On p. 68, there is mention of "'The pink hen,' by Cuthbert Sterling. +There is a fairy tale called "The Pink Hen", by Cuthbert Spurling; this +may be what was meant. + +On p. 71, "expressing" was "experssing" in the original. + +On p. 79, the word "summer-school" was split across lines; +"summer-school" was arbitrarily chosen instead of "summerschool". + +On p. 82, the word "handbooks" was split across lines; "handbooks" was +arbitrarily chosen instead of "hand-books"; both were in use at the time. + +On p. 86, "questions" was "questtions" in the original. + +On p. 109, the phrase "have examined the accounts of the treasurer" had +"trueasurer" in the original. + +On p. 111, in the obituary numbered "8", the word "died" was surmised; +the original is unclear. + +On p. 114, the phrase "the demand which would otherwise exist" had +"exists" in the original. + +On. p. 117, the phrase "although with very inadequate force" appeared in +the original on a line ending in "in-" followed by a line starting with +"dequate"; hence, "indequate". + +On p. 120, the word "inter-oceanic" was split across lines; it was +arbitrarily made "inter-oceanic" as opposed to "interoceanic". + +On p. 130, in Sec.8, "...meeting of the Association appoint a +committee..." was "...meeting of the Association appoint a a +committee..." in the original. + +On p. 138, the phrase "and, secondly, when we are sure" appeared in the +original on a line ending in "sec-" followed by a line starting with +"condly"; hence, "seccondly". + +On p. 144, the phrase "wished that a complete bibliography" appeared in +the original on a line ending in "con-" followed by a line starting with +"plete"; hence, "conplete". + +On p. 152, the phrase "These subject headings are simply suggestive" had +"heading" in the original. + +On p. 155, the phrase "purely bibliographical notation" had +"biliographical" in the original. + +On p. 156, the word "letterpress" was split between lines once, and +written as "letter-press" once; these have been changed to "letterpress" +for consistency with previous usage. + +On p. 159, the phrase "the purpose of the author arrangement" had +"arangement" in the original. + +On p. 162, the phrase "regardless of whether it was as author" had +"regardlesss" in the original. + +On p. 190, the phrase "the frailest of our sex" had "frailiest" in the +original. + +On p. 191, the phrase "the support and maintenance of public libraries" +appeared in the original on a line ending in "pub-" followed by a line +starting with "lib"; hence, "publib". + +On p. 199, the phrase "AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GOeTTINGEN" had "GOTTINGEN" +in the original. + +On p. 210, the phrase "at 9 p.m. Mr. Eastman's" was missing the full +stop after the "m" in the original. + +On p. 210, the phrase "the monotony of work" had "monotany" in the +original. + +On p. 213, the phrase "Craver, Harrison Warwick" had "Harison" in the +original. + +On p. 217, the phrase "Shortridge High S." had "Shortbridge" in the +original. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Papers and Proceedings of the +Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS OF 23RD MTG OF AM.LIB.ASSOC. *** + +***** This file should be named 44406.txt or 44406.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/4/0/44406/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Colin M. Kendall and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. 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