Report of the Treasurer, Jan. 1st to May 31st, 1912.
Reading edition
Receipts
Balance, Union Trust Company, Chicago, January 1, 1912 $2,005.66
Trustees Endowment Fund Interest 175.00
Trustees Carnegie Fund Interest 1,524.33
George B. Utley, Headquarters collections 4,815.50
A. L. A. Publishing Board, Installment on Hdqrs. expense 1,000.00
Interest on bank balance Jan. to May 17.34 $9,537.83
Expenditures
Checks No. 28-32 (Vouchers No. 437-505)
Distributed as follows:
Bulletin $ 187.90
Conference 15.50
Committees 54.17
Headquarters:
Salaries 2,103.10
Miscellaneous 308.33
Trustees Endowment Fund (Life mem.) 150.00
A. L. A. Pub. Bd. Carnegie Fund interest 1,524.33
Balance Union Trust Company, June 1, 1912 $5,194.50
George B. Utley, National Bank of Republic 250.00
Total balance $5,444.50
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. RODEN, Treasurer.
Chicago, June 1, 1912.
The following report of the finance committee was read by Dr. C. W. Andrews, chairman, and accepted.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To the American Library Association:
In accordance with the provisions of the constitution the finance committee submit the following report:
They have duly considered the probable income of the association for the current year and have estimated it at $19,450, and have approved appropriations made by the Executive Board to that amount. The details of the estimated income and of the appropriations are given in the January number of the Bulletin. The committee have also approved the appropriation to the use of the Publishing Board to any excess of sales over the amount estimated. The receipts and expenditures of the Publishing Board have been included in the figures given, so that they now exhibit the total financial resources and expenditures of the association.
On behalf of the committee the chairman has audited the accounts of the treasurer and of the secretary as assistant treasurer. He has found that the receipts as stated by the treasurer agree with the transfer checks from the assistant treasurer, and with the cash accounts of the latter. The expenditures as stated are accounted for by properly approved vouchers. The bank balance and petty cash, as stated, agree with the bank books and petty cash balances. The accounts of the assistant treasurer have been found correct as cash accounts.
On behalf of the committee Mr. E. H. Anderson has examined the accounts of the trustees for 1911, has checked the securities now in their custody, and certifies to the correctness of the figures, to the bonds on hand, and the balance in bank. He finds that at par value the bonds and securities amount to $102,500 for the Carnegie fund, and $7,000 for the Principal account.
He has examined the vouchers for the amounts transmitted to the treasurer and has compared the reports of the treasurer and trustees in regard to the number of new life memberships. He certifies that to the best of his knowledge and belief all of the accounts as submitted to him are correct.
All of which is respectfully submitted for the committee.
CLEMENT W. ANDREWS, Chairman.
The following reports which had been previously printed, were read by title and accepted.
A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD
With the issuance of the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, which is now in press, the Publishing Board practically completes an important group of bibliographical aids which has been in process of compilation or publication during the past five years. The chief publications embrace the following:
A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, to be issued in 1912.
List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs, 3rd edition revised by Mary Josephine Briggs. 1911.
Small library buildings; a collection of plans with introduction and notes by Cornelia Marvin. 1908.
Guide to the study and use of reference books, by Alice B. Kroeger. 1908.
Supplement to the above, compiled by Isadore G. Mudge. 1911.
Foreign book lists, embracing to date German, French, Hungarian, Norwegian and Danish, and Swedish.
550 Children's books; a purchase list for public libraries, by Harriet H. Stanley. 1910.
Selected list of music and books about music for public libraries, by Louisa M. Hooper. 1909.
Hints to small libraries, by Mary W. Plummer, 4th edition. 1911.
This list does not include a number of new tracts and handbooks, nor the tentative chapters of an A. L. A. Manual of library economy which it is proposed upon completion to assemble in book form. An index to annual library reports, which is well under way, will probably be put into type before the expiration of the calendar year. In addition, during the quintennial period now closing, the Board has been instrumental in securing the publication of the following important bibliographical aids bearing the imprints of other organizations: Index of economic material in documents of the states of the United States, prepared by Adelaide R. Hasse; A. L. A. Portrait index, edited by W. C. Lane and Nina E. Browne.
New chapters of the Manual of library economy are noted in another paragraph.
Directions for the librarian of a small library (3000 copies), by Zaidee Brown was reprinted for the League of library commissions from the type used by the Free public library commission of Massachusetts.
The library and social movements; a list of material obtainable free or at small expense (1250 copies), compiled by Ono Mary Imhoff, of the Wisconsin free library commission, was reprinted for the League from the type used for the edition of the Wisconsin free library commission.
Subject index to vol. 7 of the A. L. A. Booklist (2500 copies) was printed in June, 1911. Although proportionately valuable to vols. 1-6 the sale has been very unsatisfactory and is not an encouragement to prepare future yearly indexes.
During the past year the following publications have been reprinted: A. L. A. Index to general literature, edited by W. I. Fletcher, 1905 edition (500 copies); Cataloging for small libraries, by Theresa Hitchler (Handbook No. 2) (1000 copies); Binding for small libraries, compiled by the A. L. A. Committee on Bookbinding (Handbook No. 5) (1500 copies); Guide to reference books, by Alice B. Kroeger (1000 copies); and Cutter's Notes from the art section of a library (Tract No. 5) (1000 copies). A new edition of Miss Stearns' Essential in library administration (2000 copies) is now in press. It has been brought up to date by the author.
Publications out of Print—Several publications for which plates were not made have recently become out of print. Magazines for the small library, by Katharine MacDonald Jones, and Graded list of stories for reading aloud, by Harriot E. Hassler were both League publications which had been turned over to the Board. There is a steady demand for them and they should be either brought up to date and reprinted or something else issued on the same subject.
Questions of Policy—The work now nearing an end has engaged the attention and absorbed the resources of the Publishing Board to an extent that precluded entry into new fields calling for large expenditures. The editorial work involved in the compilation of the third edition of Subject headings, extending over a period of several years, and the editorial expenses incident to the publication of the A. L. A. Booklist have practically exhausted the current funds available for such service. Beginning with the new fiscal year, the funds derived from sales will doubtless care for all outstanding obligations, and the income from the Carnegie endowment can be devoted to maintain and to further strengthen the Booklist, and to undertake new enterprises.
Out of the great labor involved, and time required in the preparation of Subject headings, and of the A. L. A. Catalog, has developed the suggestion that work for new editions of the former compilation should be continuous, and that the Booklist bears a logical relationship to the A. L. A. Catalog. While the members of the Publishing Board are not fully prepared at this time to urge a definite permanent policy in this connection, an interesting suggestion comes from Mrs. Elmendorf, which well merits consideration in having an important bearing on future development. Her suggestion, in her own words, is this:
"Would it not be well to consider the publication of the A. L. A. Catalog in loose-leaf form on something the same principle as Nelson's Cyclopedia? Different parts of it might then be revised from time to time and the parts or pages might be for sale separately.
"It could be so printed that the pages might be mounted and arranged in a vertical file, headings being suggested at the bottom for arrangement as any library preferred, in regular classed order or in alphabetico-classed. A card index to the vertical file might be made to minimize the difficulties of the classed arrangement. The notes should be attractive notes, letting the presence of the book in this "Choice Catalog" vouch for its worth and in a general way for the treatment, for the choice should be guided by the best popular, readable treatment. I am more and more thinking that effective helps to awakened personal interest are needed and are lacking. The A. L. A. Catalog has always been too bulky, too costly, too much directed to the buyer for effective personal service. I have long been convinced that the greatest popular service can be performed even in the large libraries with quite a limited number of books, I think not more than 20,000, perhaps not more than 10,000. I should like to advertise that many adequately and attractively and watch the results.
"I know that there are many objections and difficulties to be met, and yet I believe that there is the germ of a workable scheme present."
List of Subject Headings—The chief publication of the year has been the new List of subject headings, revised and edited by Mary Josephine Briggs, cataloger of the Buffalo public library. After nearly five years of labor this third edition appeared October 1st, 1911 and has met with a most appreciative reception. 3000 copies were printed as a first edition. 1312 copies have already been sold (to June 1), and a steady demand continues. The reviews have been almost uniformly favorable.
A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11—The new A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, although not yet off the press as this report is written, will be distributed we hope about the date of the Ottawa meeting. It contains a selection of about 3000 of the best books published since the A. L. A. Catalog of 1904, with a list of books now out of print which appeared in that Catalog, and also of new editions. Children's books are listed separately. Five thousand copies are being printed as a first edition, of which nearly 3000 have been subscribed for in advance of publication. From the preface written by the editor, Miss Elva L. Bascom, the following extracts are selected:
"The general plan of the Catalog and the routine of co-operation in the selection of titles practically coincide with those of the original work except that the whole routine, from the preliminary selection to the final preparation for printing, has remained in the hands of one person.
"All titles have been submitted to the publishers for latest information, so that the list should be dependable for prices.
"The sixth edition (1899) of the Decimal Classification has been followed. This decision was made on the information that the smaller libraries had not to any extent adopted the seventh edition. It is to be hoped that when the time comes to revise the 1904 Catalog there may be at hand a complete revised edition of the "D. C." simplified for the requirements of the smaller libraries.
"The addition of subject headings (not given with the titles in the 1904 Catalog) was determined on before the decision to print only a class list was made. It has been a frequent request from the librarians of smaller libraries, who need help in this matter and who found it difficult to find the headings chosen for the Dictionary list in the 1904 Catalog. The new edition of the List of subject headings has been followed with some additions. Where the subjects of analytics are easily ascertainable, they are only recommended.
"While in the beginning the attempt was made to adhere fairly closely to the proportion of titles to each subject given in the 1904 Catalog, it was found impossible to do so without impairing the usefulness of the list. The output of books in the subjects grouped under Sociology has been so great, and the demand for them so heavy, that it seemed better to include a larger number than was originally planned rather than risk weakening the usefulness of the section. The greatest increase has been in Useful Arts, and this was intentional, since there is no division where the average librarian is more in need of help, nor where it is more difficult to find the "best book" on short notice.
"Two special lists are incorporated in the Catalog, both in answer to definite requests. One is a selection of about 50 titles of religious books specially chosen for Catholic readers. Two preliminary selections were made, one by an assistant in the St. Louis public library at the request of the librarian, Dr. A. E. Bostwick, and a second by the Rev. W. J. McMullen of Pittsburgh, at the request of the librarian of the Carnegie library of Pittsburgh, Mr. H. W. Craver. Both lists were then incorporated into a much more extensive one, covering all subjects, compiled by Mr. William Stetson Merrill, of the Newberry library. The final selection, limited to religious books, was submitted to Archbishop Ireland, and at his request was examined by the Rev. J. A. Ryan, of the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn."
The second list consists of 50 titles of modern drama and books about it. It was impossible to get any unanimity of opinion on such a brief selection and the editor is aware that it will satisfy a very small proportion of libraries. It is allowed to stand, however, for the suggestion it may give to the perplexed librarian of the smaller library.
"It is hardly to be imagined that any one ever prepared a list of this character and extent without wishing to ask the indulgence of possible critics and to explain why it is so much farther from perfect than it was expected to be. It seems a fairly simple task to select 3000 titles from the books published in eight years, but a list based on the co-operation of about 75 librarians and 100 experts, all fully engaged with their own work, and selected, edited and prepared for printing in the intervals between work having a prior claim, is bound to progress but slowly and to suffer many changes of fortune. One needs to be this sort of clearing house of opinion but once to realize how far apart our libraries are in the matter of book selection. In many cases what is one library's meat seems to be another's poison, and one soon reaches the conviction that there are no "best books" on any subject for a library of any size—if librarians alone are to be consulted. Happily, professors, special students and experts in general are less at variance. It is only fair to say that the Fiction and Children's lists represent librarians' votes only. It is to be doubted if the Fiction, at least, would have retained the proper amount of "light reading" if it had passed through the hands of literature professors. If it does not prove a good "working" selection the editor will be greatly disappointed, for it was on that ground alone that many titles escaped the deleting pencil."
A. L. A. Booklist—With the current number of the A. L. A. Booklist, volume 8 is completed. Since the initial number appeared in January, 1905, the Booklist has come to be regarded as an indispensable tool in every library. There has been no deviation from the original policy of furnishing to the libraries, and the numerous small libraries particularly, an unbiased guide in selection of books currently published. The number of titles listed from the 2500 annually examined, has been expanded from time to time, but the general character of the publication has been retained. Suggestions have come to the Board for change of name, for change of form and size, and for other changes that might lead to a larger use of the list by the general public. While the members of the Board have given careful consideration to the arguments presented, they have deferred reaching a final conclusion until practical unanimity can be arrived at as to the wisdom of the changes sought. A total of 7729 titles has been included in the 2456 pages which comprise the eight volumes of the Booklist:
A. L. A. BOOKLIST
Volume No. of Titles No. of Pages Nos. in Vol.
1 500 144 8
2 690 256 8
3 681 238 8
4 643 317 9
5 739 197 6
6 1,417 424 10
7 1,583 456 10
8 1,476 424 10
Total 7,729 2,456
Manual of Library Economy—Six chapters of the Manual were printed and ready for distribution previous to the Pasadena conference, namely:
1. American library history, by C. K. Bolton.
2. Library of Congress, by W. W. Bishop.
4. The college and university library, by J. I. Wyer, Jr.
17. Order and accession department, by F. F. Hopper.
22. Reference department, by E. C. Richardson.
26. Bookbinding, by A. L. Bailey.
During the latter half of 1911 the four following chapters were printed, also each in a separate pamphlet, appearing in the order here named:
20. Shelf department, by Josephine A. Rathbone.
15. Branch libraries and other distributing agencies, by Linda A. Eastman.
9. Library legislation, by W. F. Yust.
12. Library administration, by A. E. Bostwick.
Since their publication the following number of copies of each chapter have been sold (to March 31):
Chapter 1 528 copies
2 473
4 589
9 251
12 267
15 475
17 591
20 474
22 617
26 671
Total 4,936
Manuscripts for two more chapters, The library building, by W. R. Eastman, and Proprietary and subscription libraries, by C. K. Bolton, are ready and in the secretary's possession, but funds for printing are not in hand at present, owing to the heavy obligation incurred by the printing of Subject headings and the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, within so short a time of each other. It is hoped, however, to print these and perhaps some others before the end of the year.
Periodical Cards—The shipments of periodical cards sent out since the close of the last report of the Board (May 1, 1911) have comprised 3,009 titles and 180,241 cards, not including reprints of cards in which errors have been discovered after the cards have been distributed.
Copy is received regularly by the editor, Mr. William Stetson Merrill, every two weeks, on the fifth and twentieth of the month from the following libraries:—Columbia, Harvard, John Crerar, New York and Yale. This copy is edited promptly and prepared for the printer.
Advertising—The Board's publications have been regularly advertised in Library Journal and Public Libraries and in one special number of The Dial. For the rest circularization and correspondence from the headquarters office has been relied upon. During the year over 15,000 pieces of circular matter have been mailed from headquarters office in the interest of our publications.
Particular effort has been made to advertise widely the new List of subject headings and the A. L. A. Catalog. For the latter in addition to circularizing the libraries descriptive postal cards were addressed to 7,000 high school and normal school principals. From these circulars only about 100 orders for the Catalog can be directly traced. It seems plain that it does not pay to advertise our publications among the high schools. Slips advertising the Catalog were sent to the librarians of all the leading colleges, requesting that these slips be distributed to members of the faculty interested in book selection. This resulted in getting orders from many college libraries addressed, but very few from the teaching staff. Experience would indicate that libraries and librarians are the only classes to which advertising can profitably be addressed. We have endeavored to keep the state library commissions regularly informed on all our publications and all of them which issue monthly or quarterly bulletins list our new publications therein, generally with appreciative annotations and descriptions. Exhibits of publications have been made at several state library meetings visited by the secretary.
During the past year the principal libraries of England, Scotland and Ireland have been circularized with lists of our publications, and a very gratifying number of orders have been received as a result. When the revised edition of Subject headings appeared copies were sent to nearly all the library periodicals of the various countries of Europe with the result that they reviewed the book and quite a number of continental orders have been directly traceable to these reviews. Copies of Subject headings and the new A. L. A. Catalog have been ordered from almost every important country in the world.
This report would be incomplete without hearty acknowledgment of the excellent work of the Secretary, Mr. George B. Utley. To his good business judgment and careful and judicious management is due in great measure the splendid financial showing recorded in the accompanying fiscal statement. The affairs of the Board have never been in better shape than now. The sales are increasing encouragingly, the inventory shows a salable stock with less "dead" material than at any time for years back, and the office organization is now well systematized and effective.
HENRY E. LEGLER, Chairman.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Cash Receipts June 1, 1911, to May 31, 1912.
Balance, June 1, 1911 $2,337.70
Interest on Carnegie Fund 4,524.33
Receipts from publications:
Cash sales $3,781.47
Payments on account 7,690.89 11,472.36
Interest on bank deposits 4.53
Sundries 1.98 $18,340.90
Payments June 1, 1911, to May 31, 1912.
Cost of publications:
A. L. A. Booklist $1,940.35
Library and social movements (1250 copies) 25.50
Supplement to Guide to reference books, 1909-10 (3000 copies) 220.12
Subject headings, second edition reprint (200 copies) 132.30
Subject index to Booklist Vol. 7 (2500 copies) 223.00
Copyright on Hints to small libraries 1.03
Copyright on Supplement to Guide 1.03
Directions to librarian of a small library (3000 copies) 76.49
Government documents in small libraries, reprint (1000 copies) 25.50
Manual of library economy, Chap. 1, 2, 4, 17, 22, 26 376.55
Manual of library economy, Chap. 20 48.80
Manual of library economy, Chap. 15 62.80
Manual of library economy, Chap. 9 43.40
Manual of library economy, Chap. 12 37.55
Binding for small libraries, reprint (1500 copies) 29.00
Reprints from Bulletin 40.91
Cataloging for small libraries, reprint (1000 copies) 64.00
Library statistics tables 2.25
A. L. A. Index to general literature (part of reprint) 108.00
Notes on the art section of a library, reprint (1000 copies) 20.00
Guide to the use of reference books, reprint (1000 copies) 259.08
Subject headings, third edition (3000 copies) 3,518.96
Periodical cards 1,516.38 $8,773.00
Addressograph machine supplies 21.84
Furniture and fixtures 103.00
Advertising 282.15
Postage and express 631.49
Rent at Madison office 300.00
Travel 281.35
Salaries 3,670.00
Expense at headquarters 2,000.00
Supplies and incidentals 1,066.36
Printing (stationery, etc.) 43.25
Balance on hand, May 31, 1912 1,168.46 $18,340.90
SALES OF A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD PUBLICATIONS
April 1, 1911, to March 31, 1912.
A. L. A. Booklist, regular subscriptions 1115 $1,115.00
Additional subs, at reduced rate of 50c 141 70.50
Bulk subscriptions paid 1,083.65
Extra copies 1659 242.78 $2,511.93
Handbook 1, Essentials in library administration 492 71.63
Handbook 2, Cataloging for small libraries 677 89.15
Handbook 3, Management of traveling libraries 88 12.73
Handbook 4, Aids in book selection 42 6.23
Handbook 5, Binding for small libraries 139 21.35
Handbook 6, Mending and repair of books 602 78.21
Handbook 7, U. S. Government documents 652 84.87 364.17
Tract 2, How to start a library 80 4.00
Tract 3, Traveling libraries 26 1.30
Tract 8, A village library 219 7.65
Tract 9, Library school training 196 9.55
Tract 10, Why do we need a public library? 390 13.50 36.00
Foreign Lists, German 100 42.25
Foreign Lists, French 150 26.09
Foreign Lists, French fiction 130 4.25
Foreign Lists, Hungarian 95 9.70
Foreign Lists, Norwegian and Danish 98 16.71
Foreign Lists, Swedish 105 18.56 117.56
Reprints, Arbor day list 30 1.50
Reprints, Bird books 33 3.30
Reprints, Christmas Bulletin 65 3.25
Reprints, Library buildings 139 13.78
Reprints, National library problem today 26 1.30
Reprints, Rational library work with children 64 3.20 26.33
Periodical cards, subscriptions 1,197.45
Periodical cards, Old South Leaflets 15.75
Periodical cards, Reed's Modern Eloquence sets 9 22.50
Periodical cards, Smithsonian reports set 1 15.00 1,250.70
A. L. A. Manual of library economy:
Chap. I. American library history 528 46.73
Chap. II. Library of Congress 473 34.60
Chap. IV. College and university library 589 52.67
Chap. IX. Library legislation 251 18.96
Chap. XII. Administration of a public library 267 20.44
Chap. XV. Branch libraries 475 32.71
Chap. XVII. Order and accession department 591 46.25
Chap. XX. Shelf department 474 34.65
Chap. XXII. Reference department 617 55.54
Chap. XXVI. Bookbinding 671 53.78 396.33
A. L. A. Index to general literature 31 177.00
Catalog rules 486 271.06
Children's reading (now out of print) 6 1.48
Girls and women and their clubs 57 13.55
Guide to reference books 686 888.25
Guide to reference books, Supplement 761 181.50
Hints to small libraries 203 136.69
Larned, Literature of American history 29 160.47
Larned, Literature of American history, Supplement 79 64.21
List of music and books about music 82 20.12
List of editions selected for economy in bookbuying 126 30.99
List of 550 children's books 346 55.85
List of subject headings, 2nd edition 218 397.45
List of subject headings, 3rd edition 1125 2,717.00
Plans of small library buildings 98 120.52
Reading for the young 9 6.61
Reading for the young, Supplement 16 3.94
Subject index to A. L. A. Booklist, v. 1-6 260 66.23
Subject index to A. L. A. Booklist, v. 7 961 84.49 5,397.40
League publications:
Anniversaries and holidays 13 3.25
Directions for librarian of a small library 1186 54.53
Graded list of stories for reading aloud 335 32.71
Library and social movement 1000 31.63
Magazines for the small library 313 29.38 151.50
A. L. A. Bulletin and Proceedings 258 87.96
A. L. A. Bulletin, Hopper reprint 462 11.85 99.81
Total sale of publications $10,351.73
REPORT OF THE CARNEGIE AND ENDOWMENT FUNDS
To the President and Members of the American Library Association:
The Trustees of the Endowment Funds in presenting their annual report for the year ending January 15, 1912, desire to say that there has been no change in the securities held by the Board. The market price of most of them remaining about the same, changes could not be made to the advantage and desired betterment of the fund.
The Trustees are pleased to state that all interest has been promptly paid.
Mr. E. H. Anderson of the New York public library was again deputed to audit the accounts of the Board and inspect the securities, and he gives to the Trustees, as the result of that examination, the following letter:
Dear Mr. Appleton:
Enclosed herewith are the vouchers from Mr. Roden, Treasurer of the American Library Association, and the receipt for the rent of the safety deposit box in the vaults of the Union Trust Company. I have written the chairman of the Finance Committee that I have examined these vouchers and found them in accordance with your type written statement.
The four type written sheets which you gave me yesterday I have checked as correct as to the bonds in your custody, as to the vouchers referred to above, and as to the cash balance on hand. I have certified to Mr. Andrews, the chairman of the Committee on Finance, that to the best of my knowledge and belief the reports contained on these sheets are correct.
Very sincerely,
(Signed) E. H. ANDERSON.
The General Endowment Fund has been increased during the year by the taking of seven life memberships by the persons named, adding to the Fund, $175.00.
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. KIMBALL, WM. W. APPLETON, W. T. PORTER.
Trustees of A. L. A. Endowment Fund.
CARNEGIE FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
Cash donated by Mr. Andrew Carnegie $100,000.00
Invested as follows:
June 1, 1908 5,000 4% Am. Tel. & Tel. Bonds 96-1/2 $ 4,825.00
June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Am. Tel. & Tel. Bonds 94-3/8 9,437.50
June 1, 1908 15,000 4% Cleveland Terminal 100 15,000.00
June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Seaboard Air Line 95-1/2 9,550.00
June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Western Un. Tel. 108-1/2 15,000.00
June 1, 1908 15,000 3½% N. Y. Cen. (Lake Shore Col) 90 13,500.00
June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Mo. Pacific 104-7/8 15,000.00
May 3, 1909 15,000 5% U. S. Steel 104 15,000.00
Aug. 6, 1909 1,500 U. S. Steel 106-7/8 1,500.00
July 27, 1910 1,000 U. S. Steel 102-1/2 1,000.00
102,500 99,812.50
Jan. 15, 1912 Union Trust Co. on deposit 187.50
$100,000.00
In addition to the above we have on hand at the Union Trust Company $150 profit on the sale of the Missouri Pacific Bonds, which we have carried to a special surplus account.
CARNEGIE FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT
1911
January 15, Balance $2,487.76
February 15, Int. N. Y. Central 262.50
March 1, Int. Missouri Pacific 375.00
March 1, Int. Seaboard Line 200.00
May 2, Int. U. S. Steel 437.50
May 2, Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00
July 5, Int. Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. 300.00
July 5, Int. Western Union Tel. Co. 375.00
August 9, Int. N. Y. Central 262.50
September 1, Int. Seaboard Line 200.00
September 1, Int. Missouri Pacific 375.00
November 1, Int. U. S. Steel 437.50
November 1, Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00
December 31, Int. Union Trust Co. 54.33
1912
January 2, Int. Western Union Tel. Co. 375.00
January 2, Int. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. 300.00 $7,042.09
Disbursements:
1911
March 2, Carl B. Roden, Treas. $2,487.76
August 15, Carl B. Roden, Treas. 2,000.00
October 6, Carl B. Roden, Treas. 1,000.00
December 27, Rent Safe Deposit Co. 30.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand 1,524.33 $7,042.09
ENDOWMENT FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
1911
January 15, On hand, Bonds and Cash $7,111.84
April 1, Life membership Mary E. Hawley 25.00
April 1, Life membership Mary F. Isom 25.00
May 1, Life membership H. W. Craver 25.00
August 9, Life membership M. S. Dudgeon 25.00
August 28, Life membership F. K. Walter 25.00
October 4, Life membership R. G. Thwaites 25.00
November 1, Life membership R. B. Stern 25.00 $7,286.84
Invested as follows:
1908
June 1, 2 U. S. Steel Bonds 98½ $1,970.00
October 19, 2 U. S. Steel Bonds 102-5/8 2,000.00
November 5, 1½ U. S. Steel Bonds 101 1,500.00
1910
July 27, 1½ U. S. Steel Bonds 102½ 1,500.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand, Union Trust Co. 316.84 $7,286.84
ENDOWMENT FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT
1911
January 15, Cash on hand $448.41
May 2, Int. U. S. Steel 175.00
November 1, Int. U. S. Steel 175.00 $798.41
Disbursements:
1911
February 15, C. B. Roden, Treas. $448.41
July 5, C. B. Roden, Treas. 175.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand 175.00 $798.41
COMMITTEE ON BOOKBINDING
During the year the special library edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, mentioned in last year's report, and at various times in the library periodicals, was placed on the market under considerable difficulty. As planned at first, three special library editions were all to be bound in England and imported for libraries by the publishers. Unfortunately, it was discovered after orders had been taken that the publishers could not, under the copyright law, import any copies, and notices to that effect were sent to libraries that had ordered these editions. The publishers then found that the cloth bound set, according to the A. L. A. specifications, could be manufactured in this country and again librarians received communications from the publishers. Owing to these various communications from the publishers, together with notices from this committee, many librarians remained without knowledge as to the real state of affairs.
At the present time the committee understands that the cloth bound set, with special reinforcements, can be obtained directly from the publishers in this country, and that sets bound by Mr. Chivers can be obtained directly from him. Several complaints of the new bindings have come to the committee, but upon investigation, it was found in every case that the complaints were due to imperfect or torn pages and not to defective binding. Undoubtedly many imperfect sheets were passed in the first copies that were sold. We have reason to believe, however, that later sets have been more carefully collated. Complaints about the cloth binding have also been received from large libraries. As a matter of fact this edition was not intended for large libraries. From the beginning it has been stated that the cloth edition was for the use of small libraries. Large libraries were expected to get one of the leather editions.
It is quite evident that publishers are beginning to realize that good binding, especially of reference books, is an asset of considerable value when dealing with libraries. During the year the committee has several times been called upon for specifications and suggestions for the binding of large reference books. Perhaps the most noteworthy instance was that of the Century Company, which submitted samples of binding for the new edition of the Century Dictionary. The Century Company and the J. F. Tapley Company, of New York, which did the binding, adopted various methods of strengthening the volumes, and the samples submitted included not only all of the committee's specifications, but several others. The samples were so good and the honesty of purpose of the Century Company and the J. F. Tapley Company so evident that the committee felt no hesitation in stating that the result was the best piece of commercial (machine bound) binding ever brought to its attention. Visits of two members of the committee to the bindery showed that the specifications in every case were being lived up to. The committee, furthermore, obtained full description and specifications of this binding, which, with certain modifications, can be used as a standard for this kind of work.
Specifications for strong binding were also submitted to H. W. Wilson Company for the binding of the new volume of U. S. Catalog; to Robert Glasgow, of Toronto, for a set entitled "Makers of Canada"; and to the Review of Reviews Company for the "Photographic history of the Civil war." The specifications, as submitted, were adopted by the Robert Glasgow Co., and the Review of Reviews Co. The H. W. Wilson Co. adopted them with some slight modifications which met with the approval of the committee.
So far as the reinforcing of fiction and juvenile books by publishers is concerned, matters stand about the same as they have been for the past two years. The plan has practically been dropped by all publishers. In a few cases, books which the publishers have discovered are in constant demand by libraries, are kept in stock in special binding. Examples of these are the Little Cousin Series, published by Page, and the Peter Rabbit Series, by Warne. The number of titles of such books is very few.
It must not be supposed, however, that because the publishers have stopped doing this, such books are unobtainable. On the contrary, it is easier to get reinforced publishers' covers than ever before, and with the surety that the work is well done, which was not always the case when they were bound by the publishers. Those who wish to use the attractive publishers' covers, and at the same time have a book which will outlast the period of extreme popularity, can do so by ordering from one of the several firms which do work of this kind. In most cases the increased cost is greater than was the case when the books were done by the publishers, but the work is far better done and in the opinion of the committee the increased value more than compensates for the increased cost. Furthermore, the books are not injured for rebinding. In fact, in some cases the sewing of the book is designed to last during its lifetime. When the first cover wears out, all that is necessary is to re-case it.
While discussing the question of reinforced bindings it may not be amiss again to call attention to the special binding of the Everyman's Library. Experience in the use of these volumes only emphasizes their serviceability, attractiveness and cheapness. Whenever possible all replacements should be made from this collection.
During the year the publishers of two periodicals, Everybody's and World's Work, adopted a scheme of binding which necessitated cutting off the backs of signatures. It was apparent at once that this scheme made it necessary for libraries which bound these periodicals to have them overcast in sewing. Since few binders understand the proper method of oversewing and moreover generally charge extra for it, many libraries were put to much inconvenience and added expense. Protests from this committee to the publishers were promptly heeded, and as a result all libraries now receive the regular edition with folded sheets.
The correspondence of the committee has largely increased. Inquiries are frequently received from publishers, from binders and from librarians. Inquiries from librarians cover all phases of binding, and not infrequently the committee is asked for opinions as to the work of certain binders. In answering these questions about individual binding the committee has been at a disadvantage, because, except in the case of a very few binders, it has no definite knowledge of their work. To remedy this difficulty the committee has, with some hesitation, planned to establish a collection which shall include samples of the work of all binders which make a specialty of library binding. These samples are to be four in number and will show methods of binding fiction, juvenile books and periodicals. In addition to these samples binders are asked to answer 24 questions which cover methods, materials, and prices. It is hoped that, with these samples and answers to these questions, the committee will be in a position to form more definite opinions about the work of any binder, and librarians who ask for opinions will receive answers based on actual knowledge.
The scheme is yet in its infancy but already samples have been received from several binders, and letters from some of them express approval. The committee realizes that good binding may be done in several ways, and while members of the committee may have individual preferences, every effort will be made to give impartial opinions. Certainly no binder who does good work need fear unjust criticism. Librarians can help in this work by,
1. Sending names of library binders.
2. Urging binders to comply with the requests of the committee.
3. Asking for opinions when the collection is complete.
In view of the facts outlined above, it seems reasonable to suppose that one of the committee's most valuable functions is to act in an advisory capacity, not only to librarians, but to publishers and binders. For this reason all librarians are urged to submit their binding problems to the committee.
Magazine Binders
During the year a number of varieties of magazine binders have been examined. Several firms failed to respond to a request for a sample or did so too late. Others doubtless exist of which the committee has not heard. The result of study of this subject during the past three years, aided by the chapter dealing with it in Dana's "Book binding for libraries," Edition 2, is here set forth.
Of course no one binder is best for all libraries or for all requirements of one library. Each must decide for itself by noting the condition of its magazines when they are ready for the bindery whether any binder at all is needed. A library which has no money to spend on the more durable covers or dislikes them for any reason may use one of the methods described in the chapter in Dana referred to above. A method, used to some extent by the Brooklyn public library, consists, in brief, of putting on a brown paper cover and securing it by paste or brass staples to a bunch of advertising pages at front and back.
The best inexpensive binder is that known as the "Springfield." It can be made in any bindery, consisting simply of a cover with a stiff strip at the back in which are three eyelet holes, one at each end and one in the middle. The magazine is laced in with tape or shoe string. This method damages the magazine much less than others similar, some of which require drilling holes through from side to side. In principle the binder made by Cedric Chivers, Brooklyn, N. Y., is a more durable form of the Springfield and is heartily recommended.
Some libraries desire a binder from which a magazine cannot readily be stolen. This is a matter of local opinion. The best for this purpose appear to be the new "Bull dog" binder just put on the market by Gaylord Brothers, Syracuse, N. Y., and the "Buchan" binder mentioned by Mr. Dana. All such binders are heavy, clumsy, and slow in operation. For those magazines deceitfully put together without sewing or staples the "Bull dog" and the "Buchan" binder will both give satisfaction.
Among a multitude of other binders the best type is that whose mechanism consists of a stout rod firmly fastened though playing free at one end, and fastened at the other by a simple catch. Many built on this principle are too clumsy. A few are needlessly flimsy. Of those examined the best are the following:—
"Universal" made by J. J. Ralek, New York City.
"A. L. B." made by American Library Bindery, Philadelphia.
"Torsion" made by Barrett Bindery Co., Chicago.
For covering binders various materials have been used. For long service and good appearance we recommend pig skin back and keratol sides. Cow hide and buckram are cheaper and will not last as long. Canvas is ill suited for this purpose.
Respectfully submitted,
A. L. BAILEY, Chairman. ROSE G. MURRAY, N. L. GOODRICH,
Committee.
COMMITTEE ON BOOK BUYING
During the past year the A. L. A. Committee on Book buying has been negotiating with a Committee of the American Booksellers' Association with a view to bringing about a better understanding between the booksellers and the libraries.
Upon the request of the Committee of the Booksellers' Association, your committee made a statement of the situation, which was delivered to them in October, 1911. The booksellers' committee prepared a reply to this statement, which was delivered to your committee in April, 1912.
A meeting of the two committees was held on Thursday, May 6th, 1912, in Cleveland, but it was without any definite result. It was agreed that the two committees report progress to their respective associations and that they submit to their executive committee the statement and reply referred to, with a report upon the present situation and to ask to be allowed to continue the negotiations if the executive committee thought it wise to do so.
WALTER L. BROWN, Chairman, C. B. RODEN, C. H. BROWN.
COMMITTEE ON CO-ORDINATION
The following report is the result, in part, of a question referred to the Committee on Co-ordination by a meeting at the Pasadena conference.
The question was, Whether libraries are justified in making a moderate charge in connection with every volume lent, sufficient in the long run, to cover the administrative expense involved in looking up and sending the volume asked for: not as payment for the use of the book, but to relieve the lender of an undue burden of expense, unavoidably attendant upon the system of lending with some freedom to other libraries.
In the opinion of the committee this question could be most profitably discussed only in connection with the whole subject of inter-library loans. It is clear, both from past and present developments, and from the direction these developments are taking that inter-library loans are, as yet, merely in their infancy. It is clear, too, that such loans increase the efficiency of libraries which participate in them. Finally, it is evident that there is a marked tendency not simply to multiply library loans, but to enlarge the field within which it is considered appropriate to effect them—taking "field" both in a geographical sense, and as relating to different classes of borrowers. Accordingly, it is not surprising that additional machinery and new methods should be required, and that some at least, should already have been devised. Also, it is safe to predict that this growth in machinery and in methods will continue.
Therefore, the Committee on Co-ordination has thought that it might be helpful, at the present time, to attempt a discussion (which will partake of the character of a symposium) in regard to the purpose and scope of inter-library loans. It is hoped that, as a result of this and subsequent discussion, it may become practicable to formulate some general rules for the conduct of inter-library loans. If a code of such rules could be framed, even granting that the provisions would, of course, bind no library against its will, one more step would yet have been taken in the direction of systematizing and extending a process which has already produced excellent results, and bids fair in the near future, to modify library practice in important particulars.
While the purpose of inter-library loans is uniform in the main, it varies to some extent, with the nature and duties of the participating libraries.
Neglecting minor differences, such libraries fall into two groups: Reference libraries, including libraries of colleges and universities; and libraries whose work is of a more popular character; or, to state the matter in terms of readers: Libraries, most of whose readers are "serious," and libraries, some, at least, of whose readers are not so very serious.
This distinction is not a sharp one, yet it produces wide divergence in the point of view, and in the practice of these two classes of libraries. A comparison of the third contribution to this symposium with the first and second will make this matter evident. Both points of view are accurate, and varieties of practice, provided only that they exist among the members of a comprehensive system, are the best guarantees of the ultimate achievement of great results.
C. H. GOULD, Chairman.
I.
The purpose of inter-library loans is to make available the unusual material in one library to an enquirer who cannot visit it in person and does not find available the identical material in some institution nearer at hand or which has a nearer constitutional duty to serve him. The service to him must be subject to the convenience of the constituency of the lending library and can be expected only if the risk and expense of it shall be met by the borrowing library in his behalf.
1. It is not to be expected therefore that a library will lend either (1) books which if not in the applicant library, are within the ordinary duty of the latter to supply; or (2) books in constant use among its own readers; or (3) books for the general reader as against the investigator.
2. It is not to be expected that material will be sought the transportation of which, even with the best precautions, involves a necessary injury,—as for instance, by strain,—or a contingent injury in its use outside of the walls of the institution owning it by persons over whose use it has no supervision. A stipulation for its use within the walls of the borrowing library, while entirely reasonable, may not cover the case completely, as the responsibility for the care of the material cannot, by a mere stipulation for care, be transferred from the owning to the borrowing library.
3. Subject to 2, the important service in inter-library loans being to make generally available the unusual book for the unusual need of the serious investigator, the fact that the book needed is either rare, or part of a set which may be marred by the loss of a single volume, or that it is even unique, as for instance a manuscript, ought not to be conclusive against the loan, for it is just through such material that the inter-library loans may render their most important service.
4. The applicant library should refrain from applying (a) for ordinary books which are within its constitutional duty to supply to its immediate readers, or (b) for unusual books requested for a purpose which it knows to be trivial, or by a person of whose discretion and seriousness it is not assured, or (c) for books which, within the legitimate provisions of a loan are to be had from some institution nearer at hand, or having a nearer constitutional duty to it and to the constituency which it serves, or (d) for books which upon their face must be in constant use in any library possessing them.
5. The lending library may reasonably stipulate: (a) That the entire cost of the service shall be met by the borrowing library, and may look to this library alone as responsible both for the safety and prompt return of the material and for the replacement of the material if lost or damaged, and (b) it may reasonably include as part of the expense: (1) packing; (2) carriage; (3) insurance; (4) the fraction, if estimable, which the particular loan should bear of the expense of administering the service. (c) As to the duration of the loan: that it shall not exceed the period of its local loans, with an allowance added for the transit both ways; and the lender may reasonably couple with this a right of summary recall. It may also impose penalties for delays in returning material, or for carelessness in its use or in repacking. It may of course reserve the right to decline further loans to a library which has shown indifference in these regards, or whose applications have been incessantly frivolous. (d) It may of course limit the number of volumes lent to any one library or for the use of any one investigator at any one time. (e) It may, without prejudicing applications from other institutions, deny the application of any particular library, because of lack of assurance as to the safety or intelligent use of the material if lent. Its decisions in this regard resting often upon the impressions of a general experience, ought to be unembarrassed. It should not therefore be called upon to explain them.
HERBERT PUTNAM.
II
A statement of general policy in regard to inter-library loans
The primary purpose of inter-library loans is the promotion of scholarship by placing books not commonly accessible and not in use in one library, temporarily at the service of a scholar who has access to some other library. It should not be allowed to interfere with the reasonable and customary use of books by home readers, and the extent to which sending can be carried depends on the local conditions of the lending library, the importance of the service to be rendered, the character of the books desired, the distance to which they are to be sent, and a number of other circumstances.
The larger university libraries, having large numbers of professors, advanced students and other professional scholars immediately dependent on them, may find it necessary to restrict the scope of their loans in justice to their local constituency, while others may rightly extend the system beyond the limits indicated, so as to meet the wants of readers in public libraries, teachers in high schools, and others.
Libraries should not be expected to lend text-books for general class use, popular manuals or books for the general reader, inexpensive books and those which can easily be procured through the book-trade, books to assist in school or college debates, or books for ordinary purposes of school or undergraduate study. Neither should they lend books which are likely to be in frequent demand by their own readers, or books which they do not lend at home on the ground that they ought always to be accessible on the shelves. In this respect practice will naturally differ widely, one library being ready to lend books which another would consider it necessary to keep always at hand.
Caution should be exercised in lending volumes of newspapers, periodicals or society transactions and parts of expensive sets, since such volumes, if lost, are disproportionately expensive and sometimes practically impossible to replace. Moreover, periodicals and society publications are often unexpectedly wanted for the purpose of verifying references, etc., and students may justly expect that they will always be accessible with a minimum of delay.
The borrowing library should bear the expense of transportation both ways, and additional charges, if required, for the insurance of specially valuable books. It should be financially responsible for the replacement of books lost or injured in transit.
Borrowing libraries should take pains to borrow from sources nearest at hand or most naturally under obligation to lend.
Titles of books wanted should be given with all practicable precision, both to insure getting the very thing asked for and to make the labor of finding the book as light as possible for the lending library.
Applications for loans should always be made through the librarian of the borrowing library and not directly by the professor or student for whose advantage the loan is desired. If books are lent on direct request of the individual, not transmitted through the library with which he is associated, this library cannot be held responsible for the prompt and safe return of the books or for replacing them if lost in transit. Librarians are therefore justified in declining to lend on direct request and in insisting that application must be made through the librarian.
A library is justified in placing a limit on the number of volumes which it may be expected to lend at one time to a single institution—say five or ten volumes.
Loans should be made for a definite period, but the length of this period naturally varies with the occasion. The period begins with the despatch of the book from the lending library and ends with the day on or before which the book should be sent off by the borrowing library. If an extension of time is desired, it should be asked for long enough in advance of the book's being due to enable an answer to be received. Books may always be recalled by the lending library in advance of the date originally named if needed for the reasonable service of its home readers.
In lending rare books, large volumes, portfolios of plates, etc., a library may be expected to insist that they must be used only within the building of the borrowing library. In some cases, it may be advisable to put the same restriction on all books lent.
Fines may properly be charged and collected for books detained beyond the allotted time without request for extension. Repeated failure to return books promptly, or negligence in packing them safely is sufficient ground for declining to make further loans. When books are sent out or returned, separate notice of the fact should be sent by mail, stating date of shipment, mode of conveyance, etc. It is recommended that blank forms prepared for this purpose be used. Applications for loans may also most conveniently be made on suitable blanks.
Libraries that are called upon for frequent loans are justified in making a moderate charge in connection with every volume lent, sufficient in the long run to cover the administrative expense involved in looking up and sending off volumes asked for. This charge is not to be considered as a payment for the use of the book, but is intended simply to relieve the lending library of an undue burden of expense unavoidably attendant upon the system of lending with some freedom to other libraries.
It is recommended that libraries arrange so that the services of some competent person may be regularly available at a moderate charge for looking up information, verifying references, etc., when the time and labor involved in such inquiries seem to exceed what may reasonably be demanded of the library staff. The employment of such a person to obtain specific information will also occasionally serve in place of making a loan.
It is also suggested that the possession of a cameragraph, for making rotary bromide prints, or other similar device by which facsimile copies can be made inexpensively, would often enable a library to send a satisfactory copy of portions of a rare book or manuscript in place of lending the original.
WILLIAM COOLIDGE LANE.
III
Inter-library loans
I. Purpose.
(1) Prompt service. (a) The book, if purchased, might have to come from a greater distance and so cause delay. (b) The book, if out of print, would take time to find or might not be possible for an agent to locate for a very long time, if at all.
(2) Economical service. (a) The library that loans the book. Rather than have a book, that has cost time and money, stand idle on the shelves, the library owning it would be better repaid for the expenditure if the book were used by more people. (b) The library that borrows the book. Rather than purchase a book which would seldom be requested, it would be better to borrow it, and use one's funds and time and shelf room for books that would be in constant demand. For example: take two special lines of library service here in California at the present time.
(1) Books for the blind. Aside from a small collection in the San Francisco reading room and library for the blind for the local blind, and the small collection for the students in the Berkeley California institute for the education of the blind and the deaf, the state library has almost all the books and magazines used by the blind of the state. It would not be economical for other libraries or individuals to undertake to carry on this work, so the state library discourages anyone else buying such books and undertakes to furnish them to anyone needing them. If many want to read certain periodicals they are duplicated several times and sent in order to the various blind borrowers.
(2) Medical books and periodicals. The Lane medical library in San Francisco and the Barlow medical library in Los Angeles have perhaps the best medical collections in the state. The state library of course has and is building up a collection in this line for the use of the whole state, but it often borrows from the first two mentioned.
II. Scope.
There will be no limit, apparently, to the scope of inter-library loans in California. Each library at present makes an effort to loan anything asked of it by any other library. For example, the state library buys no fiction, but from the union catalogs of the county free libraries which is located at the state library, it is possible to tell where a certain book is located and to direct one to the other for a rush request of fiction.
Rare books are loaned by library to library and used by the borrower at the library.
Newspapers it is not necessary now to loan as by cameragraphing the needed extract from them, the expense, wear and tear, and risk of such loans are avoided. The same applies to articles in unbound or bound periodicals. Cameragraphing an article in a periodical also makes unnecessary the duplicating of certain periodicals because of some especially needed article. Cameragraphing is also economical in that it keeps the files in the library and so more material is always available for reference use.
Even reference books, however, are loaned or borrowed frequently to meet certain needs. So the scope is of necessity a matter of judgment of the particular case in question.
III. Extent of borrower's financial responsibility.
When a library borrows, it takes the financial responsibility, in case of loss or injury, and if the borrower is an individual, he takes it. The State library pays transportation on all loans to and from the county free libraries, and the county free library on all loans within the county. Loans to other libraries are usually paid—sending charge by the library sending the book and returning charge by the library returning the book.
The expense of administering the service of inter-library loans is not being considered here in California, and we believe that question will never arise here, no matter how great the demands on each other grow to be.
The spirit of co-operation is growing so rapidly here that the rivalry seems to be more who has and can give more rather than who can take more.
IV. Order in which libraries should be applied to for a loan.
There is no order here in California except that almost all libraries apply first to the State library and the State library being naturally the best informed on the special lines of strength in the various libraries in California, can request the library that is either known to have it or is likely to have it, to forward it to the library needing it. This is already possible for periodical files as there is at the State library a union list of periodical files in California libraries. Periodicals which are not in any California library, are borrowed with least loss of time, from the Library of Congress or Surgeon General's library.
V. Average duration of loans.
It would not be economical to plan a time limit on loans, as usually the library requesting it states the time the book will be needed and it is, if possible, loaned for that period. As soon as the library borrowing it is through with it, even if sooner than the time it expected to need it, the book is returned. Any book must of necessity be subject to recall by the library loaning it. There cannot well be a limit to the number of volumes loaned at any one time. That would naturally depend upon the need. No fines or other penalties for negligence in returning loans are necessary where there is a spirit of perfect co-operation, as librarians all understand the necessity of system, and in California at least, show great consideration for each other.
VI. Forms of application for loans; notice of shipment, etc.
The forms used by the State library and county free libraries in California have been found to be perfectly satisfactory. Requests are sent in to the State library in duplicate. One is returned with the disposition made of it written on it and the duplicate is kept on file as a record at the State library. If not in the State library a similar duplicated request is sent to some other library.
VII. Inter-library loans in California.
We in California find that a request is never refused and that requesting such loans in itself makes a library proud of its strength and of its place in the system and builds up in this way a strong feeling for co-operation.
The rules to be adopted for inter-library loans in California will be those that experience shows are necessary, and are likely to give the best results for California conditions.
J. L. GILLIS.
COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The Committee on Co-operation with the National Education Association is in a position to report that an appointment has been made by the executive board of the National Education Association of a representative of the American Library Association to speak at the third general session of its meeting in Chicago on the place of the library in educational movements. The committee feels that this recognition of the work of the library on the part of the National Education Association is a decided victory, as for many years the authorities of the National Education Association have courteously but constantly turned away from the request made by the American Library Association committee for a representative on their program.
A selection was made of Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, librarian of the St. Louis public library, to present the library cause before the National Education Association. It is needless to add with full assurance, that the matter is safe in his hands.
At the invitation of the president of the library department of the National Education Association, Mr. E. W. Gaillard of New York, the committee has endeavored as best it could in the short time allowed, owing to the lateness of the invitation, to make an exhibit of American Library Association material, booklists and material illustrative of the relations between libraries and schools, to be in place at the National Education Association meeting to be held in Chicago.
It seems, therefore, that the work of the past year is one that should afford satisfaction in the recognition that the American Library Association has received from the National Education Association.
President George E. Vincent, of the University of Minnesota, who will deliver an address at the Ottawa conference, at the invitation of the American Library Association program committee, has been invited to present the official greetings of the National Education Association to the American Library Association.
The committee through its chairman has advised with several groups of school librarians, but it has been the policy to confine action to affairs in which the national organizations as individual units were concerned.
MARY EILEEN AHERN, Chairman, GENEVIEVE M. WALTON, IRENE WARREN, GEORGE H. LOCKE, J. C. DANA.
The PRESIDENT: The next report is that of the committee on catalog rules for small libraries.
The SECRETARY: The chairman of this committee, Miss Theresa Hitchler, wrote me that she hoped to make a report through some other member of the committee, and that it was the hope of the committee to have that work finished by fall.
The PRESIDENT: Then the chair will accept that as a report of information.
Adjourned.
SECOND GENERAL SESSION
(Russell Theatre, Friday, June 28, 9:30 a. m.)
First Vice-President Henry E. Legler presided.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: It has always been a moot question as to what vice-presidents were for. Mrs. Elmendorf has undertaken the very doubtful experiment of endeavoring to find out, and so she has designated the respective vice-presidents in their order to preside over the meetings of the conference.
We shall reverse the order of the program and call for the committee reports first.
The following reports were presented and received, all having been previously printed, with the exception of the supplement to the report of the committee on library administration and that on work with the blind. The committee on international relations stated that they had no report to make.
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL AND STATE RELATIONS
Your committee's chief activity has been along the line of a parcels post, as we have felt that was the most feasible measure for obtaining lower postal rates. The chairman of the committee had personal interviews with the chairmen of the House and Senate committees on Post Office, and filed with the latter a formal endorsement of the parcels post, as well as the resolution looking in that direction, passed by the Council at its meeting in January last. The committee recommends that the continuance of this advocacy be authorized by the association.
We also recommend that the association endorse a movement for the better safeguarding of the national archives and rendering them accessible to students, feeling that the preservation of these governmental records is one of considerable importance, and one in which librarians have an especial interest, inasmuch as they have under their care manuscripts as well as printed books.
The attention of depository libraries is called to the report of Senator Smoot, on the revision of printing laws (62nd Congress, second session. Report 414, p. 33 and following) which discusses the proposed amendments to the laws with reference to depository libraries.
BERNARD C. STEINER.
COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION
Your committee has not been active during the whole year, the present chairman having been appointed to fill a vacancy. What it has done has been in the way of a small beginning toward a general survey of methods in public libraries, which it is hoped may be carried forward to completion in future years.
The scientific position that the first thing to do, in making an investigation, is to find out the facts, has only recently been taken in work of this kind. It has generally been assumed by those who have desired to better conditions of any sort that the existing conditions were well known to all. The fact is that no one person or group of persons is in a position to know all the conditions thoroughly and that the elementary task of ascertaining them and stating them is usually by no means easy. It is now generally recognized that we must have a Survey—an ascertainment and plain statement of the facts as they are—as a preliminary to action or even to discussion.
It has seemed to your committee that the general feeling, shared by the educational and industrial worlds, that methods are not always efficiently adjusted to aims should find some place also in the library. We are spending large sums of public money, and investigations by "economy committees," "efficiency bureaus" and the like are taking place all around us. It will be well for us to take a step in advance of these and get for ourselves some sort of a birds-eye view of our work, from the standpoint of its possible lack of complete efficiency—adaptation of end to aim. In order to do this we must first have a survey, which we conceive to involve in this case a statement of just what libraries are trying to do and just how, in some minuteness of detail, they are trying to do it. Comparison and discussion of methods will naturally follow later.
The method of taking up this matter was suggested by some very preliminary work done in the St. Louis public library. The head of each of the various branches and departments was asked to make a detailed written list of the various operations performed by the assistants in that particular department, dividing them into purely mechanical acts and those involving some thought or judgment. This in itself proved to be an interesting task and both information and stimulation resulted from it. Certain operations, common to the largest number of kinds of work, were then selected and tests were made, involving both speed of performance and efficiency of result. From a large number of such tests it is expected that some standardization of operations may result, or at any rate the cutting out of useless details and the saving of time for needed extensions of work. The object of an investigation of this kind is of course not to discover ways of making assistants work harder and faster but to find out whether the same amount of work, or more of it, may not be done with less effort.
To extend this bit of experimental work, which has not progressed beyond its first steps, to all the libraries of the United States is of course impossible without modification. Your committee has not the machinery to handle detailed lists of operations from thousands of different libraries. Fortunately it is easy to select operations that are common to very large numbers of libraries of divers sizes and kinds and in all parts of the country. As examples of such operations, and as a small beginning, we selected those of accessioning, charging and discharging, and counting issue. Even with a narrowing of the field to two operations, however, it was impossible to investigate these in all our libraries, or even in a large number. After a discussion by correspondence, revealing some difference of opinion, we decided to select about twenty-five libraries, as representative as possible of different sizes, different institutions and different localities. The list as finally made up was as follows:—
Public Libraries
New York
St. Louis
Pratt Institute
East Orange, N. J.
Atlanta, Ga.
State Libraries
New York
Iowa
California
Connecticut
Virginia
University Libraries
Harvard
Syracuse
Oberlin
Kansas University
Shurtleff College
Alton, Ill.
Trinity College
Hartford, Conn.
Tulane University
New Orleans, La.
Reference Libraries
Grosvenor, Buffalo.
Newberry, Chicago.
Subscription Libraries
Mercantile, N. Y.
Athenaeum, Boston.
Mercantile, St. Louis.
Special Libraries
Bar Association, N. Y.
Academy of Medicine, N. Y.
Engineering societies, N. Y.
John Crerar, Chicago.
To the librarians of each of these libraries was then sent the following letter:—
To the Librarian:—
The Committee on Library Administration of the A. L. A. is beginning a survey of simple operations common to all sorts of libraries, especially with a view to finding out whether there is much diversity of detail in them, and ultimately of noting particular methods that seem likely to result in time-saving or in better results. For the moment, however, a mere survey, involving a detailed description of the method of performing certain kinds of work is all that is aimed at. The Committee has selected 26 libraries of very different sizes and types, and yours is one of these. If you are willing to co-operate, will you kindly send at once to the chairman a description, in as minute detail as possible, of the following operations:
Accessioning
The counting of issue
The charging of books
The discharging of books
Please describe each step of these operations seriatim and in detail, not omitting such as are purely mechanical, and noting points where different assistants would be apt to act in different ways. A description of the operation of accessioning in the New York public library (Reference department) is enclosed as a sample.
If you can not do this, please notify us immediately, that another library may be put on the list in your place.
Yours truly,
ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman, HARRY M. LYDENBERG, ETHEL F. McCOLLOUGH,
A. L. A. Com. on Administration.
Sooner or later we obtained the desired data from 20 of the 26 libraries to which this letter was sent. Only one, the Grosvenor Library of Buffalo, returned no answer. Five declined on various grounds. The California State library wrote to us: "We do not feel satisfied with our present arrangements and do not believe we are in a position to offer any suggestions that would be of service in connection with this investigation." The Mercantile library of New York wrote: "We regret that we find ourselves unable to co-operate with your committee in this undertaking." The librarian of Trinity college, Hartford, writes that "with the exception of student assistants the librarian is the entire staff." The senior regent of Shurtleff college, Alton, Ill., writes: "Our building is not yet complete and in the management of the old, we are so nearly without a system that I hardly feel it worth while to try to reply to these questions." The librarian of the New York Engineering Societies writes: "This library * * * has no charging system. Its system of accessioning will be abandoned as soon as possible. I suggest that you enter another library on your list."
Replies such as these seem to imply a misconception of the nature and purposes of a survey. Our object is to ascertain facts, not to gather a selected number of ideal cases.
For these five libraries the following were substituted:
Westminster College, Fulton, Mo.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Washington State Library.
New York Society Library.
Forbes Library, Northampton, Mass.
These furnished that data for which we asked, with the exception of the Washington State library, which declined. We have material, therefore, from 24 libraries altogether.
The last of this body of data comes to hand just as this preliminary report goes to press, but it is being digested and tabulated and some of the results, at least, will be ready for the Ottawa meeting, although there will not be time for any study of these results or for recommendations based thereon.
The reports from the various libraries will be on file at headquarters at Ottawa and will be accessible to all members of the association who desire to consult them.
Regarding the question of the counting of circulation through traveling libraries, deposits and the like, which has been referred to your committee, we beg to report as follows:—
The sending of books from a library to a school, a club, or some other place where they are to be used or circulated may be regarded in two ways by librarians. It may be held that the sending of the books from the library is itself an act of circulation or that the place to which they are sent for use or distribution is a temporary station of the library, and that sending books thereto is no more circulation than if they were sent to a library branch or delivery station. Obviously, if the former view is accepted, no use that is made of the book after it reaches the station can be recorded by the library. When we have lent a book to a reader we do not inquire how many persons in the family use it or whether a neighbor borrows it. The library borrower is responsible for it and it simply counts as one in the issue. But if the place to which it goes is to be treated as a station, then the use of the book at or from that station is part of the library record. If it is used in the school, club, or other place where it is deposited, such use is not circulation, however, but hall or library use, as if it had been used in a branch library. If it is issued from the station for home use, such issues, and every such issue, is properly counted with the circulation.
It seems to your committee that the second of these alternatives is the one that should be recognized, both from theoretical and practical reasons. The sending of a collection of books to a place where it is to be used resembles much more closely the temporary transfer of such collection to a branch than it does ordinary circulation. Practically also, it is desirable to take account of whatever use is made of the books in such places and logically this can be done only on the second theory.
On neither of the theories is it allowable to count the original sending as one issue and then to count or estimate issues from the station; or to count uses in the station as home issues.
Some libraries report that they are unable to secure proper statistics of use at the station and that they must therefore either count the original issue or guess at the use in some way, or fail to report it at all. In cases of this kind, whatever is done should be made plain by a note in connection with the published statistics.
To recapitulate, we recommend:
(1) That the act of sending books from the library to a station of any kind, no matter how temporary, be not regarded as an issue to be counted in the circulation, although separate account of books thus sent should be kept and may be published if desired.
(2) That books used in the station be counted as hall or library use and that books issued from the station be counted as home use.
(3) That where it is found necessary to depart from this method in any way, such departure be plainly stated in a foot note to the published report.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman. ETHEL F. McCOLLOUGH, HARRY M. LYDENBERG.
(Supplementary Report)
As a supplement to that portion of its report which has already been presented, your committee now submits the following preliminary tabulation and discussion of results. As is usual, in such investigations, our questions have not been interpreted in the same way by all to whom they have been addressed. Supplementary questions must therefore be sent out in many cases and these must be framed separately for each case. This will be the next work of this committee, should you see fit to continue it as at present constituted.
Your committee trusts that it is clearly understood that it does not desire to infer from the extremely small proportion of cases discussed anything that should be properly inferred only from a large number of cases. Facts are stated numerically, but no numerical conclusions are or can be drawn. At this stage of the investigation no recommendations at all can be made.
Accessioning
The material received varies so much in respect to the items reported upon, and the fullness with which each step is treated, that a second questionnaire must be sent out before there can be any uniformity of tabulation. For example:—
One librarian writes us, "We keep no accession book for ordinary circulating books, only for expensive art books" and fails to state what items are entered.
Another reports that "the books are accessioned, each separate volume being given a separate accession number" but does not say whether an accession book is used or not.
Two librarians write that "the Standard A. L. A. Accession book is used" and leave us to infer that every column is filled in.
And two assure us that the promised material will be sent in soon.
It is interesting to note, however, that only two libraries, the Boston Athenaeum and the Forbes library, use the Bill Method of accessioning. The other libraries all use an accession book, but differ widely in the number of items entered; for example, one library enters only author, title, source and price, and another has an accession book printed for its own use, including columns for the following: Date of entry, accession number, place of publication, publisher, date of book, size, class, additions classified (including a column for each of the main classes in the D. C. system, one for fiction, and one for juvenile books), volumes bought, volumes received as gifts, periodicals bound, pamphlets bound, the language of the book (4 separate columns marked Eng. Ger. Fr. and Other), source, publisher's price, discount, net price, binding, remarks.
The majority of libraries reporting, use the A. L. A. standard accession book or the condensed form of the same.
Libraries Using Book Method
Atlanta.
Bar Association of N. Y.
East Orange.
Iowa State Library.
John Crerar Library.
Kansas State University.
Kings County Medical.
N. Y. City Circulating Department.
N. Y. City Reference Department.
N. Y. State Library.
N. Y. Society Library (accessions only expensive art books).
Newberry Library.
Oberlin College.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library.
St. Louis Public Library.
Syracuse University.
Tulane University.
Virginia State University.
Wesleyan University.
Westminster College.
Libraries Using Bill Method
Boston Athenaeum.
Forbes Library.
Charging and Discharging
The data contributed on this subject are so uneven and varying that any accurate and minute comparison is impossible at present. The functions that constitute a charge or discharge are variously regarded by different libraries. The eighteen libraries forming the basis of this study, with a note of their charging systems, may be roughly arranged in the following groups:
College or University Libraries
Oberlin. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under date.
Syracuse. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under call-number.
University of Kansas. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under date.
Tulane. Single file. Book file under class.
Wesleyan. Double file. Borrowers' file under date and book file.
Westminster. Single file. Book file under date.
Public or Circulating Libraries
Boston Athenaeum (Subscription). Double record. Borrowers' file and book record under date.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta. Newark System (no details).
East Orange Public Library. Newark System (many variations).
Forbes Library. Browne System.
New York Public Library. Newark System.
Pratt Institute Free Library. Newark System.
St. Louis Mercantile Library (subscription). Browne System.
St. Louis Public Library. Newark System.
State Libraries
Iowa State. Reference. (Uses temporary slip when a book is issued for home use filed under date.)
Virginia State. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file by titles.
Reference Libraries
Newberry Library. No attempt has been made to study the charge or discharge of books for library use.
Society Library
Medical Society of King's County. Borrowers' record.
Reversing this arrangement and grouping under charging systems, we have:
Newark System—6.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
East Orange Public Library.
New York Public Library.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Public Library.
Syracuse University (modified).
Browne System—2.
Forbes Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library.
Double File—Borrower and Book—6.
Boston Athenaeum.
Oberlin College.
Syracuse.
University of Kansas.
Virginia State Library.
Wesleyan University.
Single File—Book File under Date or Class—3.
Iowa State Library.
Tulane University.
Westminster College.
Borrowers' Record—1.
Medical Society of County of Kings.
It is evident from this tabulation that libraries of the same character use the same systems—identical in their essentials but different in detail. College libraries and those whose use corresponds to that of a college library find with but two exceptions a double file useful—one of borrower and one of books—the latter varying greatly in arrangement, owing to the distinctions between students and faculty.
A résumé of the college and state systems studied follows:
Iowa State. When book is issued, assistant copies the call number from the book plate upon a manila charge slip, then adds the name of borrower and her date of loan. Charge slips are deposited temporarily in a drawer, and next morning are arranged by call-number and filed in the charging tray. There are no fines; books are issued subject to call. The first of each month the tray is examined; all slips bearing a date a month old are taken out, compared with the shelves to ascertain if the books have been returned, and shelved without being discharged, and with the shelf list, to verify the call number; at which time the author and title are copied on the reverse side of slip. Notices requesting the return of books are filled in with the author, title and date of loan, and sent to borrowers. Date of notice is placed on charge slips with colored pencil, and the slips refiled in tray. In discharging books, the slips bearing corresponding call numbers are taken from tray and destroyed.
Oberlin College. Charge. Book pocket contains two cards, one white, one pink with author's name, title of book and call number and accession number. Borrower signs name on both and leaves on desk. Dating slip with date of issue is put in book pocket. Assistant stamps both cards with date of issue—filing white cards by call number under date and pink card alphabetically with borrower's card under borrower's name. These are ultimately divided into two files, the "day file" and the "long file," the latter including books drawn by professors and others privileged to retain them more than two weeks. When book is returned dating slip is taken out and saved for future use. Book is checked off by finding book card in file and borrower's name is checked from that. Pink card is then withdrawn from borrower's file.
Syracuse University. Borrower's cards are kept on file by serial number. When a book is issued its call number is written on borrower's card and date of issue stamped on it and on dating slip. Book card is stamped with borrower's number and date of issue. Borrower's card is filed under number and book card filed by call number. When book is returned book is checked off, date on borrower's card stamped with date of return and the card put in regular file of borrower's cards. (The book card system itself seems to be the Newark).
Tulane University. Borrower makes out a temporary book card which is filled out with the book data, his name and address and date and is filed by class. When book is returned temporary book card is destroyed.
University of Kansas. Corresponds to Oberlin except that book card filed with borrower's card is not signed or dated and that the single file is by class. Has two files—one for students under date and one for faculty under name. Books are discharged at students' leisure by checking off.
Virginia State. Borrowers' file and book file of temporary book cards alphabetically under title.
Wesleyan. When book is issued a manilla slip is written giving name of borrower, call number, author and title. The date due is stamped on dating slip in book. Slip is placed in box and next morning a second slip is made from it giving call number first, then author, title and name of borrower. Date due is then stamped on both cards. First card (borrower's slips) are filed (by date if student, by name, if professor). The other slips (book cards) are filed alphabetically under author. Book is discharged by checking off—both slips being withdrawn from issue and presumably destroyed.
Westminster. No students' cards. Permanent book card—stamped with date and borrower's name. Date stamped on book pocket. Cards filed under date. Assistant discharges at leisure by checking off.
Public or circulating libraries prefer the Newark or Browne system—the majority the Newark:
Boston Athenaeum. Corresponds to Oberlin save that day of year instead of day of month is used for dating. That one slip is filed in borrowers' case with information relating to borrower's assessments, etc., instead of with borrower's card, and that the single file is by author. When book is returned date of return is stamped on book slips when book is checked off.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta. Newark system, using slots in desk to sort cards. No details of checking off.
East Orange. Newark system, using colored bookcards to distinguish classes. Magazines and four weeks' books not stamped on reader's cards. In children's room non-fiction not stamped on reader's card. Books checked off near charging desk.
Forbes Library. Browne system. Borrower's pockets filed numerically under each letter of alphabet in order of registration. Fiction and non-fiction pockets kept in separate file. When book is issued borrower gives his number by which his pocket is found. Book card is taken from book pocket and put in borrower's pocket and date of return is stamped on book pocket. Book record is kept by arranging under date, book cards in pockets alphabetically under author and title. (Details of information on book card not given). Book is discharged by withdrawing book card from borrower's pocket and transferring to book pocket. Recent books (last two years) are evidently discharged and shelved at once. Others three times a day. Empty borrower's pockets are filed throughout the day.
New York Public. Newark system. Book card has author's surname, title of book, class number and accession number. Variously colored book cards are used to indicate various classes. Assistant makes hurried examination of book to be issued and copies borrower's card number on book card and stamps date with dating pencil on reader's card, book pocket and book card—the latter to be done at leisure if there is a rush. Puts borrower's card in pocket and gives books to reader. Book card is dropped in proper slot in desk (ten slots indicating the ten classes). Book cards filed under date of issue by class author and accession number. Book cards for foreign books are arranged alphabetically after book cards in English. When book is discharged, assistant checks off book comparing date of card with that of book, examines book for damage and then cancels date on reader's card, restoring card to reader. (Note. It hardly seems that this checking off before cancelling date on reader's card can be done except in a very slack hour, and must cause annoying delay to reader). Books are then placed on truck to right of assistant, later revised and shelved.
System has many exceptions, one of which is to write reader's card number on dating slip as well as book card. Others are the writing of Special or Sp. on book card, opposite card number to indicate the privilege of extended time to special cardholder, as well as on dating slip. In this case, call number or accession number is written on card (presumably reader's card) and the use of branch initial on reader's card to show card issued from a branch other than that from which book is borrowed.
This library uses a reader's receipt file for books returned without card—a slip giving name, address, card number, class number, date of issue and return. This system with variations is also in use in the St. Louis public library (called the "write-ups") and also in the Pratt Institute free library and supposedly many others.
Pratt Institute Free Library. Newark System. Uses different ink pads for fiction and non-fiction, and dating pencils. Puts book cards into slots in desk; fiction, non-fiction and teachers. Stamps dates first and then writes card number. Uses different ink pad for discharging. Charging and discharging (including checking off done at same desk) done by same assistant except in a rush hour. Checking off however is done at assistant's leisure—that is, the reader's card is stamped off before book card is found. Book cards are filed by class under date. Keeps a separate renewal file.
St. Louis Mercantile Library. Browne system, with separate reader's identification card, seldom used. Uses blue reader's pocket for fiction, salmon color for non-fiction, and manilla pockets for pay duplicates. Book card corresponds in color, except in case of regular books issued as extras. Book card has Cutter class number, author and title. Assistant stamps date due on dating slip and book card which is placed in reader's pocket. Pockets are put temporarily in tray near issue desk and later filed by class, under date due. Books are discharged by charging assistant at charging desk, by taking book card from pocket and slipping it into book. Empty reader's pockets are constantly being filed in regular reader's file.
St. Louis Public Library. Newark system. Different colored ink-pads for seven day and fourteen day books and for discharging. Reader's number first written on bookcard, then book card, dating slip and reader's card stamped. Reading-room books charged on slips filled out by reader. Two books generally are issued on one card but "Additional Books" stamped on reader's card entitles cardholder to a greater number of volumes, of non-fiction, usually six. This privilege is granted to educators, social workers and others engaged in serious study, at the discretion of the head of the circulation department.
Discharging is done at a separate desk in the usual way, receipts being filed for books returned without reader's card. Books are placed on a truck and checked off by a special assistant.
Society Library
The Medical Society of the County of Kings—Uses a borrower's receipt, giving author, title, accession number and borrower's signature. These receipts are filed by borrower's name. When book is returned, it is discharged by stamping date of return on receipt and placing in file of cancelled loans.
The libraries using colored book cards to denote the classes are:
East Orange Public Library.
New York Public Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library—colors simply indicating fiction or non-fiction.
Those using colored book cards for their double file (borrower's and book) are:
Boston Athenaeum.
Oberlin College.
At the time of book's issue bookcards are dropped into a drawer through slots designating classes of the books issued by the following libraries:
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
New York Public Library.
Pratt Institute Free Library—designates
fiction, non-fiction and
teachers.
Libraries using temporary bookcards, filled out at time of book's issue by borrower or assistant:
Iowa State.
Tulane University.
Virginia State.
Wesleyan University.
Libraries using a borrower's record for privileged classes (professors, etc.) and a time record for students:
Kansas University.
Oberlin University.
Syracuse University.
Wesleyan University.
Cards identifying the readers appear to be required by all the libraries save Westminster. These vary—those of the Boston Athenaeum, Medical Society of County of Kings, apparently taking the form of a subscription entry while the St. Louis Mercantile Library issues one as an identification card, which is seldom called into use.