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diff --git a/old/44406.txt b/old/44406.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8394a2f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44406.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: 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. 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