Report of the Treasurer, Jan. 1st to May 31st, 1912. (continued 2)
Reading edition
Libraries using borrowers' cards in a file at the library to indicate what the reader has out, are:
Oberlin.
Syracuse—call numbers of books are written on students' cards.
University of Kansas.
Virginia.
Wesleyan.
Tulane.
Those using a borrower's card which remains in the possession of the borrower, while he has books from the library, to indicate number of books out, date either of issue or when due, and a date of return are those employing the Newark system:
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
East Orange Library.
New York Public Library.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Public Library.
Syracuse uses the Newark system but retains cards in borrower's file (under borrower's number) at library.
As regards the discharge of books, the use of the Browne system presupposes a complete discharge of the book, in case of a borrower taking another at the time of its return.
Libraries retaining borrowers' cards at the library discharge at their leisure.
Where the Newark system is used (with the exception of the New York public library) an incomplete discharge is made at the time of the book's return—consisting of the stamping of the date of return on reader's card. It is obviously impossible to delay a reader while book is checked off. Checking off is then done at leisure either at charging desk by desk assistant or special assistant appointed for that work.
Counting of Issue
The eighteen libraries reporting on this subject may be grouped under the following heads:
Public or Circulating
Boston Athenaeum (subscription).
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
East Orange Library.
Forbes Library.
New York Public Library.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library (subscription).
St. Louis Public Library.
College or University
Oberlin College.
Syracuse University.
Tulane University.
University of Kansas.
Wesleyan University.
Westminster College.
State Libraries
Iowa State.
Virginia State.
Reference Library
Newberry Library.
Society Library
Library of the Medical Society of the County of Kings.
Eight of these libraries record statistics of reference use:
Newberry.
New York.
St. Louis Public.
Syracuse.
Tulane.
Virginia State.
Wesleyan.
Westminster.
The following do not include reference use on their statistics sheets, although in some cases it is probably kept separately:
Boston Athenaeum.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
East Orange.
Forbes.
Pratt Institute.
St. Louis Mercantile.
The Medical Society of the County of Kings and Oberlin College library make no record of reference use, but the latter records daily and monthly attendance.
Four libraries keep no record by class:
Boston Athenaeum.
Medical Society of Kings.
Wesleyan.
Westminster.
The following count the circulation on the day of issue:
Boston Athenaeum.
Newberry.
Pratt Institute.
St. Louis Public.
Virginia State.
Westminster.
In all the other libraries it is counted next morning, save in Kings County Medical, where only an annual count is made.
East Orange and New York use colored bookcards to indicate the various classes; St. Louis Mercantile uses different colors for fiction, non-fiction and pay-duplicates, and Tulane uses a colored slip for reference requests.
Two libraries, Iowa State and University of Kansas, report that no record of issue is made.
Public or Circulating Libraries
Boston Athenaeum. The manilla cards forming the author record are counted at night and the number is entered in a book. There is no entry by class and reference use is not reported.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta. Issue is kept in three groups for fiction, rent or pay collection and classed books. The latter are arranged under class numerically or alphabetically. Fiction and rent collection are alphabeted and all are counted on the following morning and entered on a daily sheet, juvenile issue being counted separately. No report on reference issue.
East Orange. Colored bookcards are used here to indicate different classes. The issue is counted on the following morning and arranged according to the Dewey Classification and entered in a statistics book. No report on reference issue.
Forbes. Counted by groups of classes.
New York Public. Colored bookcards are used here. Adult and juvenile issue are counted separately on the following morning:
1. By Dewey classes, issues in each class being added together to obtain the total issue in each group and the two groups then added for the grand total of the day.
2. By language.
3. Poetry, periodicals and music are counted separately as well as with their respective classes.
Reference books are charged on slips, signed by the reader, the number of volumes issued being noted on the upper right hand corner. At the close of the day these slips are counted twice, first by readers and second by volumes.
Pratt Institute Free Library. The daily issue is counted on the day of issue and arranged in four groups—fiction, non-fiction, teachers and renewals, and entered on manilla slips which are divided into spaces for the ten Dewey classes and also for languages, duplicate pay collection, summer issue, delta and double star, the last two being special collections. These totals are all transferred to a daily statistics sheet. A reference record is not reported on, but is undoubtedly kept in some form.
St. Louis Mercantile. The issue is kept in seven and fourteen day trays and arranged by class, salmon colored cards being used for non-fiction and blue for fiction. Before the library opens in the morning the issue is counted and entered in a book under classes (Cutter). Reference record is not reported.
St. Louis Public. Issue is kept in trays, separated into groups for seven and fourteen-day fiction, the ten Dewey classes and (in summer) vacation issue. At night it is counted and entered on a statistic sheet, under the same heads. Reading-room issue is entered on the same sheet, also by class. The home issue is then separated by date, seven-days in one alphabet and fourteen-days in another, and arranged by author and accession number not class. This arrangement, by affording but one alphabet in which to search for a book due on a given date, reduces the opportunity for mistakes to a minimum. Three-day magazines are inserted with seven-day cards under the correct date. In the morning the circulation is revised for errors in alphabeting and also for illegible charges which are traced by means of a number, assigned to each assistant.
Reference use is entered on a form divided into four columns for main reference room, art room, technical department and totals. The entries are by class and the number of volumes given to each reader noted. All records are transferred the following morning to a permanent statistics book.
College or University Libraries
Oberlin. The author cards are arranged at night under date of issue by classes, fastened together with a rubber band and placed in the issue tray ahead of all previous circulation. In the morning they are counted and entered on a statistics sheet under class, then filed in the issue tray. Statistics of reference use are not kept.
Syracuse University. Statistics are recorded for home issue, reading room issue and attendance. When the books are charged they are divided into over-night and two week circulation; in the morning these are subdivided into twelve classes and again recorded as charged to students, faculty or departments. Methods of reporting reference use are not outlined but a record of some sort is made, probably at the discretion of the various reading-room attendants. One of the colleges (Applied Science) reports to the general library only once a year and others monthly. Other departments report only attendance.
Tulane University. Every morning charging slips are grouped into classes and counted. Yellow slips, indicating library use are counted in the same manner and then destroyed. Entry is made in a record book under class, library use being recorded in pencil and home issue in red ink directly beneath it.
University of Kansas. No record of issue is kept.
Wesleyan University. The issue is counted each morning in four groups; bound and unbound (issued to individuals), reserve, or books placed on reserve shelves and seminar, or volumes sent to seminars for temporary use. The last two groups are counted only at the time of issue, their reference use not being noted. Entry is made in a day book under these heads; no count is taken by classes.
Book cards are counted each evening for home circulation, reference books as they are given out during the day. There is apparently no record by class and the method of entry is not stated.
Westminster. Counted by class each evening. Reference books counted as issued.
State Libraries
Iowa State. No record of issue is kept.
Virginia State. A blank form spaced for fourteen classes is used for keeping the daily record of books given out both for reference and home use, the distinction being presumably indicated by the use of pen and pencil, although this point is somewhat obscure. At night these totals are added.
Reference Library
Newberry Library. There are six reference departments, each keeping statistics for men and women, morning and evening visitors and books used, the latter being entered by classes. These reports are drawn up at night and taken next morning to the accessions clerk who enters the figures in a permanent statistical record.
Society Library
Medical Society of the County of Kings. No record is here maintained of reference use. Home use slips are filed and counted annually to determine the circulation for the year but there is no record by class.
It is evident from the preceding tabulations that the reports of the various libraries are too uneven to admit of accurate comparison. Many points of interest, as the record of reference use, are omitted, although in many cases this record is doubtless preserved.
In closing your committee desires to acknowledge valuable assistance in the tabulation and discussion of the above results, rendered by three members of the St. Louis public library staff, Mrs. H. P. Sawyer, chief of the department of instruction, Miss Mary Crocker, chief of the open shelf department, Miss Jessie Sargent, first assistant in the issue department, and Miss Amelia Feary, of the catalog department.
ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman, ETHEL F. McCOLLOUGH, HARRY M. LYDENBERG,
Committee on Administration.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING
After correspondence, it was decided at the beginning of the year to make another effort to obtain from the Executive Board an appropriation which would make possible the repeatedly suggested inspection of library schools. Accordingly, such a request was made at the meeting of the Executive Board at Chicago last January, and an appropriation of $200 was obtained.
About the same time, a request was presented to the chairman of the Committee on library training, signed by representatives of nearly all the library schools, requesting that the committee recommend a minimum standard admission, length of course, and curriculum for library schools.
To this the chairman replied, calling attention to the reports of 1905 and 1906, in which an endeavor had been made to meet a part of the request, and requesting that the schools indicate in what respects these reports should be modified or supplemented. The replies to this request are most interesting and will be of great service to the committee. When all the schools have answered this inquiry, the replies will be manifolded and the committee will give the request careful consideration. A thoroughly satisfactory recommendation, however, will naturally follow, rather than precede, the contemplated inspection of schools.
A tentative scheme of points to be observed in the proposed inspection has been prepared, and is being considered by persons interested. When their criticisms and suggestions have been received, the committee will consider the scheme. When approved by the members of the committee, and when the committee has found a suitable person to make the inspection, the library schools will be given the opportunity to ask for such inspection, and to the extent of the funds available for the purpose, the inspection will be made.
In the light of the facts obtained in such a careful study of the library schools, it is hoped to make some recommendations which will be of service to the schools, and to the profession.
On account of the absence of the chairman of the committee from the country since the first of February, the work has progressed slowly. For the same reason, this report is submitted without being first considered and approved by the other members of the committee.
AZARIAH S. ROOT, Chairman.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORK WITH THE BLIND
The committee on library work with the blind notes with satisfaction the progress which has been made in the past year towards increasing the production of new embossed literature. The installation of stereotype-makers operated by electricity and of power presses in some of the printing offices means a constantly increasing stock of books for circulation. Most important of all there seem to be indications that a new era is dawning when all America can unite on one point type.
The eleventh convention of the American association of workers for the blind, held at Overbrook, Pa., June, 1911, was marked by one session unparalleled in the history of type discussions, when, during the report of the uniform type committee, the blind themselves contributed $1800.00 towards the creation of a fund to be used in making scientific tests and experiments to determine upon a uniform system of embossed point print. With the completion of the fund of $3,000 and the co-operation of certain printing offices, members of the committee have been hard at work preparing tests and making experiments. An outline of the work of this committee appears in the "Outlook for the blind" for April, 1912, (v. 6, no. 1).
Lists of new publications in embossed type as well as lists of magazine articles referring to the blind are published from time to time in the "Outlook for the blind," which is the only magazine in this country especially helpful to workers for the blind. Librarians are urged to place the "Outlook for the blind" on reading tables and among the current magazines and to encourage its reading by the general public, who need educating concerning the best methods of helping the blind.
Helen Keller has said, "I follow with keen interest your efforts to make the 'Outlook for the blind' a success. Nothing is more useful to the sightless than an intelligent magazine in their interest, setting forth their needs, making known what they can do to earn a living, and advocating movements of the right sort in their behalf. The 'Outlook for the blind' is just such a publication. The fact that influential and wise persons who have the welfare of the blind at heart favor the magazine makes it all the more valuable. It deserves liberal support from philanthropists and practical workers for humanity."
The Samuel Gridley Howe Society has been organized in Cleveland, Ohio, with headquarters at 612 St. Clair Avenue, N. E. "The plan of this society is to raise funds from local sources to defray the cost of the presswork, the paper and the very simple binding used," in the work of adding to the list of books in tactile print.
The list of publications already issued, in American Braille without contractions, includes titles by Deland, Davis, John Fox, Jr., Van Dyke and others.
The Michigan school for the blind, at Lansing, now publishes a magazine in American Braille, with contractions, entitled the "Michigan herald for the blind," issued monthly except July and August. The subscription price is 25 cents per year.
The Xavier Braille publication society for the blind, 824 Oak Avenue, Chicago, which was organized in 1911, has since issued the "Catholic review," a monthly magazine in American Braille, with contractions, subscription $1.00 per year.
The Society for the promotion of church work among the blind announces that volumes 1 and 2 of the music of the Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church have been finished and are ready for distribution. Copies may be obtained from Mr. John Thomson, treasurer, 13th and Locust Streets, Philadelphia.
Since the fire in March, 1911, when the New York state library for the blind was almost totally destroyed, the new collection has grown with rapidity and is now nearly as large as at the time of the fire. Miss Mary C. Chamberlain, the librarian, writes, "We hope soon to make the collection larger than it has ever been."
The circulation of embossed books from the public library of Cincinnati, Ohio, "increased during the past year from 1,400 during 1910 to 3,900 during 1911, which was attributed to the fact that the library society for the blind has provided a catalog in point print, which is sent out."
The reading room for the blind in Washington, D. C., which was discontinued in 1911, has been reopened in the Library of Congress.
During the past year the Perkins institution for the blind has given away about 2,000 volumes in line type to libraries and schools, retaining a sufficient stock of duplicates for use in the circulating library of the school. The new library of the institution, now in course of construction at Watertown, Massachusetts, will be very large and commodious; it will be capable of holding 20,000 volumes, with provision for an extra gallery for 10,000 additional volumes if necessary.
In commemoration of the Dickens centenary, "Great Expectations" has been embossed in American Braille.
The committee plans a full report of libraries which are doing work for the blind and will endeavor to secure from them an outline of the work they are doing at present. In addition the special needs of readers will be sought with a view to having the books desired brought to the notice of one or more of the publishing houses. Efforts will be made to secure the establishment of additional libraries of embossed books in states where no such libraries are now maintained.
Respectfully submitted,
EMMA R. NEISSER DELFINO, Chairman.
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
Your Committee on Public Documents respectfully reports that two important reports relating to the printing, binding and distribution of government publications have been made and are now before Congress.
The first is the report of the Special Commission on Economy and Efficiency, appointed by President Roosevelt, and transmitted February 5, 1912, in a special message approving the same by President Taft, which "recommends that the work of distributing documents be centralized in the office of Superintendent of public documents in the Government Printing Office as a substitute for the present method of distribution by each of the departments, offices, and bureaus issuing such documents. The plan does not contemplate any change in the authority which determines the persons to whom documents shall be sent, but only that the physical work of wrapping, addressing, and mailing the documents shall be done at one place, and that the place of manufacture."
The second report is that made by the Congressional Committee on Printing of which Senator Smoot is chairman. This committee was appointed under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1905, and was directed to revise and codify the laws relating to public printing, binding and distribution of government publications. After seven years of investigations and hearings this committee has formulated and presented to Congress a new bill (Senate Bill 4239) covering this entire subject. This bill which makes radical changes in the general printing act approved January 12, 1895, has passed the Senate and is now before the House.
While both reports embody many recommendations and suggestions made by our association and by the librarians of our larger libraries, your Committee on public documents has thought best to delay its formal report until after the discussion at the sessions of the government documents round table, at which time a paper by Superintendent of Documents, August Donath, will be read, and possibly also one from Senator Smoot, who has written that other engagements will prevent him from being present and speaking.
As copies of the proposed bill and the special reports relating to the same have been sent to several librarians, it is hoped there will be a full and free discussion in order that any desirable changes or omissions in the proposed bill may be called to the attention of the Congressional Committee while there is an opportunity.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. S. GODARD, Chairman.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: No doubt all of you have very carefully and thoroughly read the printed report of the Publishing Board, which was distributed at the first session of this conference. It will therefore be unnecessary for me to point out to you some of the very important recommendations, or suggestions, which appear therein, and I mention it at this time merely for the purpose of adding that since the former session, through the generosity of Mr. Walter L. Brown of the Buffalo library, the Publishing Board is enabled to distribute in connection therewith a list which illustrates one of the very strong suggestions, as we think, which appears in that report. You will find this list for distribution at the entrance, and those of you who may care for it, may help yourselves as you pass out.[2]
We will now hear from the committee on deterioration of newspaper paper. We have had for the last two years some exceptionally interesting and important reports on that very important subject, and we are glad to know that Dr. Hill will at this time present a supplemental report covering the investigations which he has made during the last year, additional to the facts which he has reported heretofore. Dr. Hill will please report for this committee.
PRESERVATION OF NEWSPAPERS
Two years ago a report on the "Deterioration of newspapers" was presented to the American Library Association at the Mackinac conference, and as a consequence the executive board appointed Messrs. Frank P. Hill, Brooklyn public library, Horace G. Wadlin, Boston public library, and Cedric Chivers, bookbinder, a committee to consider the subject further and report back to the association. As stated at the Pasadena conference last year, the committee was appointed too late to make any satisfactory report at that time. This year the report can be only one of progress.
In order to bring the matter more clearly to your minds liberal quotations are made from the 1910 report.
"An examination of old Brooklyn and Manhattan papers showed that in many instances papers published within the last forty years had begun to discolor and crumble to such an extent that it would hardly pay to bind those which had been folded for any length of time. Upon further investigation it was found that practically all of these newspapers were printed on cheap wood pulp paper, which carries with it the seeds of early decay, and that the life of a periodical printed on this inferior stock is not likely to be more than fifty years.
"This is a serious matter and demands the attention of publishers and librarians throughout the country. It means that the material for history contained in the newspapers will not be available after the period mentioned, and that all such historical record will eventually disappear unless provision is made for reprinting or preserving the volumes as they exist at present. The historian depends to such an extent upon the newspapers for his data that it will mean a serious loss if some preservative cannot be found.
"As soon as the condition of the files of the Brooklyn public library was discovered a circular was sent to some of the prominent newspaper publishers asking (1) the result of their experience; (2) whether a better grade of paper was being used for running off extra copies for their own files; (3) what, if any, means were being taken to preserve the files in their own offices. It was hoped as a result of this circular that definite measures of improvement would be suggested. From responses received it is evident that there is a desire on the part of the publishers to meet the requirements of librarians and others on this subject; and it is likely that a conference of publishers and librarians will be held in the near future to consider the feasibility of printing some copies on better paper, but the answers showed that no special paper was used and that no means were taken to preserve (by reprinting or by chemical process) those in the worst condition.
"Inquiries were also sent to various manufacturers of paper with no better result. No encouragement was received from this source except that one manufacturer thought that some newspapers were using a better grade, and another, that he had just the paper which ought to be used. It was stated that two New York publishers used a better grade of paper for a few additional copies, but returns from these papers indicate that no difference is made at the present time."
During the past six months the members of the committee have been in correspondence with publishers regarding the possibility of striking off a few extra copies on a better quality of paper, and Mr. Chivers has taken upon himself the duty and responsibility of experimenting with a "cellit" solution prepared especially for the preservation of newsprint paper.
Early in June of this year the committee invited representatives of the leading New York and Brooklyn papers to meet in conference on the subject. The following papers were represented: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle by H. F. Gunnison, the New York American by Jerome Buck, the New York World by E. D. Carruthers, and the Publishers' Weekly by John A. Holden. The object of the conference was stated to be: 1st. The consideration of method of preserving bound volumes of newspapers; and 2nd. The possibility of publishers printing extra copies of the current issue on a better grade of paper for binding purposes.
Mr. Chivers stated that he had not used "celestron" the German product, but had made successful experiments with "cellit," an American solution. His investigation proved that the deterioration was due in a large measure to the exposure of the paper to light and air and that by covering the paper with a coating of "cellit" or "celestron" the pores were filled and oxidation prevented. He was afraid, however, that the question of expense would deter most librarians and publishers from dipping the volume page by page in the solution, as suggested in the earlier report of this committee, but expressed the hope that some method would be devised by which it could be used less expensively. Mr. Chivers was of the opinion that since oxidation begins at the edges the life of the paper may be extended from 50 to 75 years if the edges of the bound volume are painted with the solution, and that this treatment could be repeated with the same result. He called special attention to the necessity of binding newspapers as soon as possible after publication so that they need not be long exposed to the air. The desirability of this practice was emphasized by some of the publishers and by Mr. Arthur D. Little, the Boston chemist.
Considerable discussion arose over the question of printing extra copies of current issues on a better grade of paper, and the conclusion arrived at was that there was no practical objection to it, and that it could be done without very much extra cost of time, labor or paper.
The conference developed the fact that there was another drawback to the preservation of newspapers, namely, the poor quality of ink, and that nothing would be gained by using the better quality of paper unless a better quality of ink was used.
Mr. Carruthers, of the New York World, drew attention to the fact that the colored sections of the Metropolitan Sunday papers were destroyed by worms within a short time after publication.
So far as the committee was advised the first and only newspaper in the country to print extra copies on better paper was and is The Red Wing (Minn.) Republican, which furnishes copies of its publication to the State historical society for filing purposes.
Considerable publicity has been given the subject since the meeting through the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, and several valuable suggestions have been received.
Mr. Gunnison of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle writes:
"I have given considerable thought to the matter of the better grade of paper and have come to the conclusion that the only feasible way is to have rolls of good paper and use that after the regular edition of the paper is run off. As Mr. Carruthers of the World said, this would be almost impossible for some of the larger papers to carry out. The Eagle could do it very nicely because we have a different system of handling the paper and we shall try to put this into operation beginning with the first of the year."
As is well known the Eagle is one of the best newspapers in the United States, so that if anyone is particularly interested in securing for filing purposes a paper which will last for 100 years or more he should subscribe to the Eagle.
Miss Jane Roberts, of Newark, N. J., states that she uses a preparation put up by a Newark chemist and has met with success in its application.
Mr. Conde Hamlin of the New York Tribune sent in the following:
"I did think of one method which seemed to me would be less expensive than the use of a special grade of paper for the printing of a few copies. That would be to take a fine grade of French tissue paper and after separating the sheets which composed the paper to be preserved, covering both sides of the printed matter with this tissue and a fine grade of paste. This, of course, would make the bound volume much thicker but would preserve the paper itself.
"I doubt whether this suggestion is of any value but take the liberty of making it."
It was decided that the subject was of sufficient interest and importance to warrant further investigation and the conference adjourned to meet in September. We therefore recommend that the Committee be continued.
FRANK P. HILL, Chairman, HORACE G. WADLIN, CEDRIC CHIVERS.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: Inasmuch as the report of the committee contains a recommendation, that recommendation is now before you for action. Unless there are objections, the report will be referred to the executive board for consideration of the recommendations contained therein.
Dr. HILL: Mr. President, I hope we may hear from Mr. Chivers for a moment if he is here.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: With characteristic thoroughness Mr. Chivers has proceeded with his experiments as outlined by Dr. Hill, and we shall be very glad to hear from him at this time as to what he has found out.
Mr. CHIVERS: The report you have heard deals pretty fully with the subject, and I think the association may be congratulated upon the fact that the publishers of the more or less national newspapers, who would be required to print quite a number of copies, are willing to do it, but that is not the whole of the problem. The difficulty of bad paper and newspaper files will be felt in the future rather with local newspapers, because only a few copies would be required for filing purposes, and the printer would find special printing too troublesome and expensive.
As you have heard, there is a substance called cellit, a solution of cellulose and spirit, into which the paper may be dipped, and thoroughly saturated. The spirit quickly evaporating leaves the paper quite tough. The result is a very satisfactory paper. It is, however, practically impossible to dip so large a surface as a newspaper into this solution. The fibre when wet is too weak to handle; also the spirit in the solution quickly evaporates, leaving a glutinous mass, impracticable to deal with. We understand that oxidation of the paper resulted from the action of light, air and deleterious atmosphere. If the newspaper for filing were not allowed to be used in the reading room but were set aside on the morning of publication, kept from the light and air, and a board or weight placed upon it, and if the volume were bound directly it was complete, very little mischief would happen. Again, if the edges of the volume were frayed out and this solution of cellit, which is comparatively cheap and quite practical to use in this way, should be painted upon the edges, you would have a newspaper file which would last for a great number of years. How many, I do not know, but the chemist who accompanied me to the British Museum, in conducting the examination of newspapers under the instructions of your committee, could see no reason why the paper should not last indefinitely. We discovered there—because in the British Museum there are more newspapers brought together than in any other place in the world—that newspapers which were left lying about before binding were in a very bad condition in the course of four or five years, while newspapers which had been bound some fifteen or twenty years, of the same kind of paper, were in thoroughly good condition, proving that if you could take care of the paper and not allow it to be exposed to the air there is no reason why even bad paper should not last a very long time. The rule should be made as I have suggested it. In the British Museum there had been no rule, but the exigencies of the binding shop had been consulted, and here and there a newspaper had been bound quickly, and it was all right; and if it had been left about, as some of them were, it was all wrong. That is my practical contribution to the discussion.
Dr. BOSTWICK: I would like to ask Dr. Hill if his committee investigated the newspaper report that it is now possible, or will be shortly possible, to obtain a thin, tough metallic sheet which can be printed upon. It was reported that that had been done.
Dr. HILL: Nothing of that nature came before the committee, Mr. Chairman, but I am sure that at the next conference some publisher or some commercial house will give us that desired information. I would say for the benefit of those who are interested in this subject, and a great many of us ought to be, that there are extra copies of the first report of the committee on the table for distribution.
Dr. BOSTWICK: I would like to ask Mr. Chivers if he proposes, in applying the cellit to the edges of the sheets, to apply it to the bound volume as a whole, and whether in that case the edges of the sheets would not stick together?
Mr. CHIVERS: No. The spirit very quickly evaporates and leaves a coating upon the edge of the paper. Last year at Pasadena I was able to show the edge of a piece of paper before and after treatment, and dealt with quickly it is not glutinous in any way, and the application is perfectly successful.
Mr. BOWKER: I would like to ask Mr. Chivers if it would not be practical to dip the newspapers by some such process as is used in the development of moving picture films or kodak films. They have rollers which carry the paper quickly through the solution.
Mr. CHIVERS: That occurred to me, but, if you will remember, I said the substance is a solution in spirit, which very quickly evaporates. The rollers might get clogged up in the course of a minute or two.
Dr. ANDREWS: Has the committee ever investigated the process used by the New York State library for the restoration of its manuscripts which came so near total destruction. The result there seemed to be admirable, but the process might be too expensive.
Mr. HILL: I would say, Mr. Chairman, that the committee had two or three letters from Mr. Wyer, the director of the library, but I do not think he mentioned that. He may be able to answer the question himself.
Mr. RANCK: I would like to ask if the committee gave any consideration to the temperature and humidity of the rooms in which the newspapers were kept, as having some bearing on the life of the paper.
Mr. CHIVERS: Some attention was given to that in the British Museum. The papers are carefully kept. The temperature there does not vary as it does in America. Sometimes it is humid more or less, but it does not vary so much. It is the action, not of the humidity, but of light and air itself upon the paper which produces early decomposition.
May I say in reply to Dr. Andrews that we certainly took into consideration the covering of the newspaper with other paper or some other material, and it is altogether too expensive. The report that I was able to give of the action of cellit meets the difficulty in a better way, and for a fraction of the cost and trouble.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: On behalf of the executive board the chair is requested to announce the appointment of the following committee on resolutions: Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites, chairman; Miss Mary W. Plummer, Mr. Judson T. Jennings.
The dainty bit of literature which appeared in connection with the first issue of the program and bulletin, bearing the signature of the president of this association, strong and persuasive as it was dainty, renders unnecessary any introduction by the present chairman to the program of this morning. The topics, as you will note, are attractive, they are in the hands of those competent to speak upon them, they grow out of the forceful keynote address at the initial meeting of this association; like the branches from a tree, they are consistent parts of the whole. We will begin by listening to MR. CARL H. MILAM, secretary of the Indiana public library commission, who will speak on