BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK LISTS, AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY OF PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? (continued 3)
Reading edition
Lexington. Washington and Lee University. Bequest of his law library (1884), made available by death of his widow, from Prof. Vincent L. Bradford, of Philadelphia.
Norfolk. Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.
— Seaboard Air Line Travelling Libraries. Gift of $1000, from Andrew Carnegie.
Richmond. Public Library. Gift of $100,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.
Winchester. Public Library. Bequest of $250,000, from Judge John Handley, of Scranton, Pa.
WASHINGTON.
Seattle. Public Library. Gift of $200,000, for a new library building, to replace the one destroyed by fire Jan. 2, 1901, from Andrew Carnegie, on condition that the city make a guarantee to provide $50,000 yearly for maintenance and improvement.
Tacoma. Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted with the proviso that $7500 will be appropriated for maintenance annually if the gift is increased to $75,000. A site has already been selected.
WEST VIRGINIA.
Wheeling. Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.
WISCONSIN.
Appleton. Public Library. Gift of $663.54, from directors of Prescott Hospital.
— Gift of $500, for furnishing room, from women's clubs.
Ashland. Vaughn Library. Bequest of the Vaughn Library, valued at $60,000; also property which will give it an income of $1200 a year, from Mrs. Vaughn-Marquis, of Chicago.
— Bequest of 540 volumes, from Mrs. E. Vaughn-Marquis.
Columbus. Public Library. Gift of $1300, $1000 for endowment and $300 for immediate use, from Mrs. C. A. Chadbourne and F. A. Chadbourne.
De Pere. Public Library. Gift of $2000, towards furnishing a library of 10,000 volumes and upwards, if accepted before September, 1902, from A. G. Wells.
Green Bay. Kellogg Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for public library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and $2500 yearly for maintenance.
— Gift of a building site for new Carnegie Library, worth $2000, from Bishop Messmer.
Janesville. Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city council voted March 19, 1901, to appropriate $3500 yearly for maintenance.
— Bequest of $10,000, for a public library building, from F. S. Eldred.
Kenosha. Gilbert M. Simmons Library. Gift of a library building and furniture, costing about $150,000, from Z. G. Simmons, in memory of his son, Gilbert M. Simmons.
— Gift of $20,000, for purchase of books, from Z. G. Simmons.
La Crosse. Washburn Library. Gift of the Albert Boehm collection of stuffed birds, valuable but cost not stated, from citizens of the city.
Lake Geneva. Public Library. Gift of 750 volumes, from several ladies.
Lake Mills. Public Library. Gift of $1000, in addition, for building, from L. D. Fargo.
— Gift of $1700, for building site, from citizens of the place.
Madison. Free Library Commission. Gift of $35, for German travelling library, from citizens of Milwaukee.
— University of Wisconsin. The Germanic Seminary Library, comprising 1700 volumes, relating especially to Germanic philology and literature; purchased from a fund of $3146, raised by German-American citizens of Milwaukee and presented Jan. 1, 1899.
— Gift of $2645 for purchase of books for School of Economics and Political Science, from gentlemen in New York, Milwaukee, Madison, and other Wisconsin cities.
— Gift of $2350, for the purchase of books for School of Commerce, from five citizens of Milwaukee.
— Gift to the Germanic Seminary Library of 268 volumes, from the house of F. A. Brockhaus, of Leipzig.
Marshfield. Public Library. Gift of $2500, one-fifth to be expended annually for five years for books, from W. D. Connor.
Menomonie. Memorial Free Library. Gift of about $2000, for running expenses pending settlement of the estate of Captain A. Tainter, from his son and daughter, L. S. Tainter and Mrs. Fanny Macmillan.
Milwaukee. Law Library. Bequest of $10,000, one-half for endowment and one-half for the purchase of books, from A. R. R. Butler.
— Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a collection of books on literary subjects, from Mrs. A. A. Keenan, as a memorial to her husband, the late Matthew Keenan.
Oconomowoc. Public Library. Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. P. D. Armour.
— Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. P. D. Armour, Jr.
— Gift of $1500, toward library building, from Mrs. Bullen.
Oshkosh. Harris-Sawyer Library. Bequest of $75,000, toward new library building, from Marshall Harris.
— Bequest of $25,000, towards new library building, from Philetus Sawyer. The bequests of Mr. Harris and Mr. Sawyer were supplemented by $50,000 from the city. The Harris bequest of $75,000 was made in 1895 by Mrs. Abby S. Harris, to carry out the intentions of her husband. It was made on condition that within three years an equal amount should be raised for the same purpose. The bequest of $25,000 by Hon. Philetus Sawyer was made to assist in raising the latter amount, the balance of which was secured by the issue of city bonds. $90,000 remains as a trust fund.
— Gift of paintings, valued at $5000, from Leander Choate.
Racine. Public Library. Gift of $10,000, towards a public library, from citizens of that city.
Sheboygan. Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.
— Gift of $1000, or his salary of $500 per annum for two years, for a site for library building, from the mayor, Fred Dennett.
Stanley. Public Library. Gift of $12,000, $8000 for building and $4000 for equipment, from Mrs. D. R. Moon.
Superior. Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.
— Gift of $5500, for a library building site, from citizens of the town.
Waukesha. Carroll College. Gift of $20,000, for a library endowment fund, from donor whose name is not given.
Whitewater. Public Library. Gift of $3000, for a memorial collection of books, from Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Cook.
Note.—Foreign gifts include: For British provinces, Vancouver Public Library, $50,000 from Andrew Carnegie—For Canada, McGill University of Montreal four gifts ($14,000, $1300, $1000, $500) for various purposes: Ottawa Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Windsor Public Library, $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Sidney Public Library, $15,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Winnipeg Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Halifax Art School and Public Library, $75,000 from Andrew Carnegie—For Trinidad, Cuba, bequest for public library from Mary B. Carret—For Scotland, Glasgow district libraries, £100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Greenock, £5000 from Andrew Carnegie; Hawick, £10,000 from Andrew Carnegie.
SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS.
No.Gifts in money.Money for buildings. Books.Miscellaneous.Carnegie gifts.
N. Atlantic Division
Maine 9 $6,200 $145,847.26 $50,000
New Hampshire 4 11,000 10,000+
Vermont 2 2,000 50,000
Massachusetts 44 280,550 500,0006,508 v.+art works, etc.25,000
Rhode Island 10 532,000 175,000 566 v.++
Connecticut 28 199,887 154,000 6,265 v.+842 mss.+50,000
10,000 pm.
New York 74 128,030.86 6,025,655 + 29,737 v.engravings.5,808,200
178 pm.
New Jersey 15 72,000 50,000+ 7,623 v. 50,000
2,366 pm.
Pennsylvania 45 1,635,906 285,000+ 13,149 v.dried plants.1,216,500
2,705 pm.
S. Atlantic Division
Delaware
Maryland 2 26,250 50,000 25,000
District of Columbia
Virginia 6 251,000 150,000law library. 151,000
West Virginia 1 75,000 75,000
North Carolina 3 70,0005,000 v. services. 20,000
South Carolina
Georgia 2 20,000960 v. 20,000
Florida
Southern Cen. Div.
Kentucky 1 50,000
Tennessee 3 80,000942 v. 80,000
423 pm.
Alabama 3 70,000yes. 70,000
Mississippi 4 26,000 38,000
Louisiana 1 10,000 yes.
Texas 3 1,000 1,100 v.+ 1,000
Arkansas
Oklahoma Territory
Indian Territory
N. Central Division
Ohio 39 69,402 1,002,00049,553 v.+ 280,000
1,817 pm.
Indiana 22 94,700 370,000+ 5,275 v.+ms.350,000
Illinois 29 32,893.50 685,000 4,000 v.+615,000
Michigan 14 3,000 1,090,000 2,495 v.885,000
3,367 pm.
Wisconsin 40 90,993.54 543,700 3,258 v. paintings, etc.200,000
Minnesota 10500162,500 430 v.art works, etc.90,000
Iowa 1424,000307,000+ 220,000
Missouri 7 21,0001,475,000 1,050,000
North Dakota 150,000 50,000
South Dakota 2 40,000 40,000
Nebraska 3 70,000 2,000 v. 60,000
Kansas 4 6,000 40,000+ 40,000
Western Division
Montana
Wyoming
Colorado3128,000 108,000
New Mexico22,00025,000
Arizona
Utah2125,000 25,000
Nevada
Idaho
Washington2 250,000 250,000
Oregon428,6509,000 v.
California1013,000905,0002,500 v. 865,000
Cubapublic library.
British Provinces102,800374,000 360,000
Scotland3 575,000 575,000
SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY.
North Atlantic Division 231 $2,867,573.86 $7,395,502.26+63,848 v.++art works, mss., $7,199,700
15,249 pm.engravings, etc.
South Atlantic Division14 277,250 365,000960 v.++services. 291,000
South Central Division15 86,000 189,0002,042 v.++ 151,000
423 pm.
North Central Division185 342,489.04 5,835,200+67,011 v.++art works, mss., 3,880,000
5,184 pm. etc.
Western Division2343,650 1,433,00011,500 v. 1,248,000
468$3,616,962 .90$15,217,702 .26+145,361 v.++ $12,769,700
Cuba 20,856 pm. 1 library.
British Provinces102,800 374,000 360,000
Scotland3575,000 575,000
482$3,619,762.90$16,166,702.26+ $13,704,700
Total Gifts and Bequests to American libraries from all sources, $19,786,465.16, 145,361 volumes, and 20,856 pamphlets. The above figures do not include several buildings and other gifts, the value of which was not stated. Statistics of this nature must ever remain mere approximations until some uniform system of gathering them is devised and carried out.
REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD.
By Joseph L. Harrison, Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.) Athenæum.
In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year 1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of $830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of $927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), $627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the previous year.
As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest:
Books.
A. L. A. proceedings.—The board has in stock at its headquarters, 10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early consideration.
Annotated bibliography of fine art.—The "Bibliography of fine art," prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive, critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84 copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication, which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400.
Books for boys and girls.—The little, inexpensive, paper-covered handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists, prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000. It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board.
Library tracts.—Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?" was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received, and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library interests.
List of books for girls and women and their clubs.—This carefully selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year, showing a continued though not increased demand.
List of French fiction.—Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list, chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less than 500 copies.
List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs.—"Subject headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent.
Reading for the young.—Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition, compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound together. During the current year the original edition has become exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future.
Printed cards.
Current books.—It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in getting the cards to subscribers with—under often adverse conditions—most commendable promptness.
English history.—The annotated cards on English history continue to be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however, to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the extent of making them self-supporting.
Periodical and society publications.—The Publishing Board is now printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications. During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out. This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the sales.
Miscellaneous sets.—The board has now printed 16 of the so-called "Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of Science—Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical Association—Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical Association—Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum—Bulletin, 1892-98, nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society—Collections, 1792-1899; Old South Leaflets—series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution—Annual reports, 1886-96; Smithsonian Institution—Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97; Smithsonian Institution—Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S. Bureau of Ethnology—Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National Museum—Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum—Bulletin, 1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce"; Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America."
These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the board's work as "periodicals and society publications"—completed works like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the subscription.
The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science—Annals, 1900 to date; American Economic Association—Economic studies, 1896-97; American Economic Association—Publications, 1887-96; Bibliographica, 1895-97; Bureau of American Republics—Publications; Columbia University Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. Geological Survey—Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological Survey—Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories—Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories—Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos.
These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the Association.
In preparation and under consideration.
Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited, as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the index will be pushed to rapid completion.
Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an "Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books," cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts public documents.
In conclusion it remains to express the deep and sincere regret with which the board accepted the resignation of Mr. William C. Lane as its secretary and treasurer, tendered in December of last year on account of ill health and after a long period of most earnest, faithful and valuable service, and to repeat here the suggestion with which he closed his report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion made, it must be remembered, after years of closest attention to the workings of the board:
"The desirability of taking some definite steps toward putting the work of the Publishing Board on a broader and stronger basis is as evident as ever. In addition to the efficient service rendered by the assistant secretary, the Publishing Board could with advantage employ a portion, say half, of the time of a capable man who should combine business judgment and alertness with bibliographical tastes and knowledge of library interests. The time has come when both for its own sake and in justice to those who serve it the Publishing Board should have salaried officers. To make the change successfully, however, requires a better financial condition than it yet has."
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.
PUBLICATIONS. Copies sold in 1900.Copies on hand Dec. 31, 1900. Balances, Jan. 1, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date.Operations, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1900. Balances, Dec. 31, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date.
Spent.Received.Expenses.Receipts.Spent. Received.
A. L. A. Proceedings 2 1829 $5.56 $1.24$2.00$6.32
Books for boys and girls 188 643 $13.47 8.60$4.87
Bibliography of fine art 84 209 415.87 47.50368.37
List of French fiction 991 440 8.5120.6429.15
Books for girls and women { 107 218 pts. 474 4064 pts. } 66.1966.19
Reading for the young { 6 32 24 orig. supp. compl. 24 899 5 } 418.58 48.39370.19
List of subject-headings 296 55 227.85144.17390.36474.04
A. L. A. index, 2d edition 242.84 225.00 467.84
Portrait index 728.94 561.08 1290.02
Current book cards 467.37719.16860.39 608.60
English history cards 16.41134.0055.7661.83
Periodical cards 170,344 438.371795.751688.26330.88
Miscellaneous sets 41.85 235.48644.67 367.34
Library tracts 824 2174 125.1541.2083.95
Totals $1861.55 $1164.07 $4007.22$3873.26$2647.07$1816.33
General balance 697.48133.26930.74
$1861.55 $1861.55 $4007.22$4007.22$2647.07$2647.07
OTHER ACCOUNTS Bal.Jan. 1, 1900.Operations of 1900. Bal. Dec. 31, 1900.
Dr.Cr.Dr.Cr.Dr.Cr.
General expense and income account $1960.48 $345.55$2.15 $1617.08
Old members account 49.25 2.84 46.41
Library Bureau account455.00 1413.23 1327.75 369.52
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account 159.12 175.62 16.50
Other charges unpaid 69.41 69.41 241.69 241.69
Balance of cash $1100.66 3019.67 3296.69 $823.64
Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions 736.00 2717.26 2816.44 636.82
Totals $1836.66$2534.14 $1460.46 $2291.20
Balances 697.48 830.74
$2534.14$2534.14 $2291.20 $2291.20
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Waukesha, Wis., Thursday, July 4—Wednesday, July 10, 1901.
FIRST SESSION.[B]
(Methodist Church, Waukesha, Thursday evening, July 4.)
PUBLIC MEETING.
The meeting was called to order at 8.15 by President Carr, who announced that the American Library Association would take up the program prepared for its 23d annual meeting. The president then introduced Andrew J. Frame, of Waukesha, who extended a cordial welcome to Waukesha on behalf of the local committee, referring to the advance made in library development throughout Wisconsin, largely through the efforts of such men as Senator Stout, of Menominee, and Z. G. Simmons, of Kenosha, and the enthusiasm of the state commission.
Mr. Carr then delivered the
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. (See p. 1.)
The subject
WHAT MAY BE DONE FOR LIBRARIES
was presented by three speakers, T. L. Montgomery presenting
WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE CITY, (See p. 5),
Dr. E. A. Birge reviewing
WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE STATE, (See p. 7),
and Herbert Putnam outlining
WHAT MAY BE DONE BY THE NATION, (See p. 9.)
Adjourned at 10 p.m.
SECOND SESSION.
(Assembly Room, Fountain Spring House, Friday morning, July 5.)
President Carr called the meeting to order at 10.25, and announced that the usual reports of officers and committees would be taken up in due order.
The PRINTED REPORT OF 1900 MEETING was approved as presented and distributed.
The AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION, as approved at the Montreal meeting was submitted for ratification, and was adopted. It provides that in section 17, line 10, of the constitution the words "of the association," shall be stricken out, thus making the final sentence of that section read as follows: "It may, by a two-thirds vote, promulgate recommendations relating to library matters, and no resolutions except votes of thanks and on local arrangements shall be otherwise promulgated."
F. W. Faxon presented his
SECRETARY'S REPORT
During the 13 months since the Association met at Montreal the number of new members added has been 167.[C] Including with the new those who have rejoined (for they are practically new members), we have over 225, the largest year's increase in the history of the A. L. A. The system of giving to each person who joins an accession number, and after a lapse of membership for one or more years reverting to the old number when he again joins, is not to my mind quite fair to the regular continued membership. One of the charter members, to take an extreme case, may, after paying dues for 1876 only, come in again this year by paying for 1901 and yet appear on a par with the 1876 members who have faithfully kept up their membership for 25 years. Those rejoining members should be included with the total of new names added. There is a chance here for our statistician to devise a better system of accession. In March, 1901, the active membership reached the 1000 mark, an achievement which may well be recorded at the opening of a new century.
In January 4000 copies of preliminary announcements were mailed to members, and others supposed to be interested. The secretary compiled for this purpose a card catalog
of names, including in it members of all the state associations and local clubs.
In May a new handbook (68 pages and cover) 3-1/4 × 5-3/4 in., practically following the size of last issue, was sent out, giving list of members, officers and committees, statistical tables, lists of state and local library associations and state library commissions, necrology for the year, and other information of value to members and of use in extending the work of the A. L. A.
An edition of 4500 was printed at an expense of $160.60, and about half were mailed, in connection with circular no. 2 regarding the Waukesha meeting. The remainder should suffice for the coming year, with a small supplement to include the new members, and the by-laws to be passed at Waukesha, thus completing the new constitution.
Early in June the final announcement was sent out, with private post card enclosed, requesting advance registration. This was entirely successful, 476 persons registering for attendance, up to June 28. A printed list of these, for distribution at the early sessions of the meeting, will, it is confidently expected, more than justify the expense of its compilation. (800 copies, 24 pages, same size as handbook, $32.75.)
2000 copies of program (16 pages, handbook size) were printed and a copy mailed to each person who registered for attendance at the meeting, and to all members of the Association.
The secretary's expenses for the year, exclusive of handbook, will be about $400, the chief items being postage and printing. This seems justified, as it has been the means of increasing the income of the A. L. A. by more than the amount expended.
Number of letters and postcards written during the year 956, number received about 1000.
Gifts to the A. L. A. during the year have included:
Current issues of the New York Public Library Bulletin, and the Library Journal, from the publishers.
Reports of the Bristol meeting of the L. A. U. K., from the Honorable Secretary.
Report of the trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, Australia, 1900.
Catalogue of books on art, from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Library.
Statistics of labor, Conn., Report, 1901.
World Almanac, 1901.
Annual reports of several American libraries, including Philadelphia Free, Haverhill Public, Somerville Public, and Bowdoin College libraries.
In closing I wish to thank all upon whom I have called for information or help, for the promptness and cordiality of their response.
Gardner M. Jones presented the treasurer's report.
Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1900 (Montreal conference, p. 107)$54 75
Receipts, Jan.-Dec., 1900.
Fees from annual members:
From 3 members for 1898
From 61 members for 1899
From 780members for 1900
From 12members for 1901
–—
856 members at $2 $1712 00
Fees from annual fellows:
From 1 fellow for 1899
From 9fellows for 1900
–—
10 fellows at $5 50 00
Fees from library members:
From 1 library for 1899
From 29libraries for 1900
–—
30 libraries at $5 150 00
———
$1912 00
Life membership:
Alfred Hafner
Emma R. Neisser
2 life memberships at $25$50 00
Interest on deposit, New England Trust Co. 11 64
Donation 1 00
————
$2029 39
=======
Payments, Jan.-Dec., 1900.
Proceedings, including delivery:
Jan. 15. Publishers' Weekly, balance on printing and binding Atlanta Proceedings $142 92
Publishers' Weekly, delivery Atlanta Proceedings 66 27
Mar. 17. Publishers' Weekly, cartage50
Oct. 2. Publishers' Weekly, Montreal Proceedings and delivery 881 34
——— $1091 03
Stenographer:
June 30. J. H. Kenehan $30 75
July 7. G. D. Robinson 73 69
——— $104 44
Secretary and conference expenses:
April24.F. H. Gerlock & Co., printing handbook $59 00
F. H. Gerlock & Co., circulars, etc. 35 25
May 29.Henry J. Carr, postage, etc.112 90
June 30. F. H. Gerlock & Co., programs and circulars 37 75
July 24. Henry J. Carr, travel secretaries' expenses 67 92
Oct. 18. F. W. Faxon, stamped envelopes, etc. 15 60
Dec. 12. F. W. Faxon, salary, on account 50 00
——— $378 42
Treasurer's expenses:
May 29.Gardner M. Jones, postage, etc. $14 00
Oct. 2.Salem Press Co., printing bills, etc. 5 50
Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes, etc. 46 85
Dec. 24.Gardner M. Jones, expenses 31 55
——— $97 90
Trustees of the Endowment Fund, life membership for investment$50 00
————
$1721 79
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1900:
Deposit in New England Trust Co. Boston$201 55
Deposit in Merchants' Bank, Salem, Mass.106 05 $307 60
———— ————
$2029 39
=======
From Jan. 1 to July 1, 1901, the receipts have been $1650.00 and the payments $781.32, the balance on hand July 1 being $1176.28. The membership, hence the income, of the Association is increasing from year to year, but it should be borne in mind that increased membership means increased expenses. The secretary and treasurer are obliged to ask for more money for postage, stationery, printing, etc., and it is only by the most rigid condensation that the recorder is able to keep our conference Proceedings within our means.
The number of members in good standing on Dec. 31, 1900, was as follows:
Honorary members3
Perpetual member1
Life fellows2
Life members34
Annual fellows (paid for 1900)9
Annual members (paid for 1900)796
Library members (paid for 1900)29
——
874
During the year 1900, 208 new members joined the Association and seven died.
Gardner M. Jones, Treasurer.
The following report of audit was appended:
The Finance Committee have performed the duties laid down in the constitution; they have examined the accounts of the treasurer, during the period covered by his report, and find them properly kept and vouched for.
James L. Whitney Charles K. Bolton Geo. T. Little } Finance Committee.
Necrology.
1. Eleanor Arnold Angell (A. L. A. no. 1631, 1897) assistant librarian American Society of Civil Engineers, New York City. Born Jan. 23, 1874; died in New York City May 18, 1900. Miss Angell graduated from the Pratt Institute Library School in 1896 and was a member of the Pratt Institute Library staff until July, 1897. From Dec., 1897, to the time of her death she was assistant librarian of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
2. Hon. Mellen Chamberlain (A. L. A. no. 335, 1879) ex-librarian, Boston Public Library. Born in Pembroke, N. H., June 4, 1821; died in Chelsea, Mass., June 25, 1900. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844, taught school at Brattleboro, Vt., entered the Harvard Law School in 1846, was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1849. In the same year he took up his residence in Chelsea and began the practice of law in Boston. He held several municipal offices and was a member of both houses of the state legislature. From 1866 to 1870 he was an associate justice of the Municipal Court of Boston, then chief justice of the same court until his resignation in 1878. He was librarian of the Boston Public Library from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 1890. During his administration the library's collection of Americana was largely increased and the preliminary plans for the new building were developed. The remainder of his life was devoted to literary and historical work. Judge Chamberlain was recognized as one of the foremost students of American colonial history and his collection of autographic documents relating to American history was one of the finest in the country. This collection was deposited in the Boston Public Library in 1893 and became its property on the death of Judge Chamberlain.
(See "Brief description of the Chamberlain collection of autographs," published by the Boston Public Library.)
3. Henry Barnard (A. L. A. no. 104, 1877.) Born in Hartford, Ct., Jan. 24, 1811; died July 5, 1900. He graduated from Yale College in 1830 and in 1835 was admitted to the bar. From 1837-40 he was a member of the Connecticut legislature and during his term of service advocated reforms in insane asylums, prisons and the common schools. From 1838 to 1842 he was secretary of the board of school commissioners in Connecticut; from 1842 to 1849 school commissioner of Rhode Island; from 1850 to 1854 state superintendent of the Connecticut schools, and from 1857 to 1859 president of the State University of Wisconsin. From 1865 to 1867 he was president of St. John's College, and from 1867 to 1870 U. S. Commissioner of Education. He wrote and compiled many educational books and edited several educational periodicals, the most important being the American Journal of Education. In 1886 he published a collected edition of his works comprising 52 volumes and over 800 original treatises. Dr. Barnard received the degree of LL.D. from Yale and Union in 1851 and from Harvard in 1852. He was always greatly interested in libraries. In 1823 or 1824 he served as assistant librarian and made his first donation to the library of Monson Academy, and from 1828 to 1830 was librarian of the Linonian Society of Yale College, giving twice the amount of the small salary back to the library in books. During his connection with the legislature and common schools of Connecticut, 1837 to 1842, the district school library system was established and the power of taxation for libraries was given to every school society in the state. During his sojourn in Rhode Island he started a library in every town in the state. He joined the A. L. A. in 1877, and was made an honorary member at Chicago in 1893. He attended the conferences of 1876, 1877, and 1893.
("National cyclopedia of American biography," vol. I; L. J., 4:289.)
4. Enos L. Doan (A. L. A. no. 1909, 1899), librarian of the Wilmington (Del.) Institute Free Library. Born in Indiana about 40 years ago; died in Wilmington, Dec. 18, 1900. He was a graduate of Haverford College and was for several years connected with the Friends' School in Wilmington, first as teacher and later as assistant principal and principal. In the spring of 1899 he resigned that office to accept the appointment of librarian of the Wilmington Institute Free Library. He had previously been active in the development of the library, and as chairman of the library committee had aided in the reorganization of the former subscription library into a free public library.
(L. J., Jan., 1901.)^nbsp;
5. Josiah Norris Wing (A. L. A. no. 585, 1886), librarian New York Free Circulating Library. Born near Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 29, 1848; died in New York City, Dec. 20, 1900. His father, E. N. Wing, was engineer of the East Tenn. and Va. R. R. He was a Union man and after the siege of Knoxville removed to New York City. Here young Wing attended the public schools and entered the College of the City of New York, but before the close of the first year he became a clerk in the Mercantile Library. He was connected with the library for 13 years and became first assistant librarian, but his unceasing work and devotion to details injured his health and he was obliged to retire from active work. In 1880 he took charge of the library department of Charles Scribner's Sons, for which his library training well fitted him. In April, 1899, he was elected chief librarian of the New York Free Circulating Library. During the years he was in the book business Mr. Wing kept in close touch with library interests. He was a member of the A. L. A. for 14 years, and was almost from its beginning an active member of the New York Library Club. He had been treasurer of the New York Library Association for seven years, holding that office at the time of his death. He was also prominent in book trade organizations and in various civic reform movements in New York City. He was always ready to give help and service in any good cause and he will be missed by many friends among librarians and bookbuyers.
(Publishers' Weekly, Dec. 29, 1900; L. J., Jan., 1901.)
6. Huntington Wolcott Jackson (A. L. A. no. 884, 1890), president board of directors of the John Crerar Library. Born in Newark, N. J., Jan. 28, 1841; died in Chicago, Jan. 3, 1901. He attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and entered Princeton College. At the end of his junior year he enlisted in the army, where he secured rapid promotion. After a year at the Harvard Law School and a year spent in European travel and study, he finished his studies in Chicago and was admitted to the bar in 1868. He practiced law in Chicago and in 1888 was elected president of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Jackson was a warm and trusted friend of the late John Crerar. At Mr. Crerar's death he was, with Mr. Norman Williams, one of the executors of the will and a co-trustee of the John Crerar Library, then to be founded. For many years Mr. Jackson was chairman of the committee on administration and practically all of the details of administration were passed upon by him and some quite important changes were made by him. Mr. Jackson was a member of the A. L. A. from 1890 until his death, but there is no record of his attendance at any conference.
(See Report of John Crerar Library, 1900.)
7. Robert Crossman Ingraham (A. L. A. no. 205, 1879), librarian of the New Bedford (Mass.) Free Public Library. Born in New Bedford, Feb. 11, 1827; died there March 3, 1901. The New Bedford Free Public Library was instituted in 1852 and Mr. Ingraham was chosen its first librarian, then taking up the work to which he gave nearly half a century. Under his management the library grew from its nucleus of 5500 volumes to 72,000 volumes, and the strength and good proportions of the collection are due to his scholarship, unsparing labor, and discernment of local needs. For many years Mr. Ingraham had little or no assistance in the library, yet for more than 30 years he cataloged every book added to its shelves. He kept in touch with changes in library administration and was not prevented by conservatism from adopting those which his good judgment approved. Mr. Ingraham was a man of retiring disposition and simple tastes, a hard student with a marvellous memory. In addition to his great fund of general information, and knowledge of the books in his library, he was thoroughly posted in everything relating to the history of New Bedford, and had few equals in his knowledge of mosses and liverworts. He devoted his life to his library and his fund of erudition was always at the service of every one who sought his assistance.
(See W. R. L. Gifford in L. J., April, 1901.)
8. Eugene Francis Malcouronne (A. L. A. no. 1973, 1900), for the last 10 years secretary-treasurer and librarian of the Fraser Institute Free Public Library, of Montreal, died April 11, 1901. Mr. Malcouronne will be pleasantly remembered by many who attended the Montreal conference.
The treasurer's report was accepted.
C. C. Soule read the
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND.
To the Secretary of the American Library Association.
I submit herewith a report of the receipts and expenditures from the date of last report, June 6, 1900, to July 1, 1901, together with a schedule of assets, and an estimate of income for the ensuing year.
There are no donations to report. The permanent fund has been increased by the fees for three (3) life memberships, $75 in all.
In March, 1901, the mortgagor on a loan of $1000, bearing interest at six per cent., and falling due Aug. 1, 1903, asked leave to pay off the mortgage. He was allowed to do so on paying $53.97, being the difference between the six per cent. he was to have paid, up to maturity of the mortgage, and the four per cent. which the trustees can expect to get on reinvestment of the $1000 repaid. This repayment to the fund has been kept in bank until after this conference. If not needed by the Publishing Board as a loan, it can be invested at, say, four per cent. Of the $2102.18 now on deposit, subject to check, $655.04 is on interest account, available for expenditure as the Council may direct. (In addition to this, $301.03 income may be expected during the year 1901-2.) $1437.14 is on principal account to be invested as opportunity offers.
Charles C. Soule , Treasurer A. L. A. Endowment Fund.
ENDOWMENT FUND STATEMENT, JUNE 6, 1900-JULY 1, 1901.
Cash account—Received.
1900, June 6. Balance on hand, $619.27
1901, March 8. Repayment of mortgage loan, 1000.00
For permanent fund—life memberships.
1901, March 5. E. P. Thurston, $25.00
" S. H. Ranck, 25.00
June 21. B. C. Steiner, 25.00
——— $75.00
On interest account.
1900, June 28. Interest mortgage loan, $75.00
"29. " International Trust Co.'s deposit, 6.82
Aug. 14. " Mortgage loan, 30.00
Oct. 1. " " " 24.50
Dec. 27. " " " 75.00
1901, Jan. 14. " Brookline Savings Bank deposit, 40.80
Feb. 6. " Mortgage loan, 30.00
" " " Int. Trust Co., 6.82
March 8. " Mortgage loan, 53.79
Apr. 6. " " " 24.50
June 26. " " " 75.00
" 29. " International Trust Co. deposit, 16.48
———458.71
————
$2152.98
Paid out.
1901, Jan. 14. Interest added to deposit in Brookline Savings Bank, $40.80
Apr. 18. Rent of safe box for securities, 10.00 50.80
————
1901, July 1. Balance on deposit with International Trust Co., Boston, $2102.18
Assets.
Loan on mortgage at 7%, due Oct. 1, 1902, $700.00
" " " " 5% " Jan. 24, 1902, 3000.00
Deposit with Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, 4% interest 1050.80
" " International Trust Co., Boston, 2% "2102.18
————
Total,$6852.98
[Of this amount $6187.94 is principal, to be left intact, $665.04 is interest, available for use.]
Liabilities, none.
Annual expense, $10 for safe deposit box.
Available for appropriation by the Council, 1901-1902.
Cash on hand July 1, 1901 (interest account),$665.04
Interest on $700.00 @ 7%, 49.00
" " 3000.00 @ 5%, 150.00
" " 1050.80 @ 4%, 42.03
———-
$906.07
(If no part of the principal is needed as a loan by the Publishing Board, add also)
Interest on (say) $1500.00 invested at 4%,60.00
———
Estimated total, $966.07
The following report of audit was appended:
At the request of Charles C. Soule, treasurer of the Endowment Fund, we have examined his accounts and securities, and find evidence of investment of $3700 in mortgage loans, of deposit of $1050.80 in the Brookline (Mass.) Savings Bank, and of $2102.18 in the International Trust Company, of Boston. We also find his accounts correctly cast, with proper vouchers for all expenditures.
James L. Whitney Charles K. Bolton } of the Finance Committee.
Mr. Soule: In submitting this report, I would call the attention of the Association to the fact that the permanent fund is not as large as it ought to be. If you will remember, the attempt at collection, made with much vigor at first, had to be abandoned on account of general financial trouble through the country. No systematic effort has since been made to increase the fund. The work of the Association would be very much furthered if this fund were large enough to provide $5000 or $6000 of income, so that the Association could have two or three, or one or two, permanent paid officers, with a good allowance for travelling and incidental expenses. If any of you should be asked where an amount of say $100,000 could be placed with advantage to the general library cause, I hope you will bear in mind the inadequate funds of the Association.
The report was accepted.
In the absence of W. L. R. Gifford, chairman, the secretary read the
REPORT OF THE CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE.
The exhaustive report on co-operative cataloging rendered by the Co-operation Committee of last year has disposed for the present, so far as this committee is concerned, of the most important subject which has of late years been brought to its attention.
Dr. Richardson reports that the index to theological periodicals is progressing rapidly, and will probably be published before the next conference of the A. L. A. The index will cover the years 1891-1900, and will include all the standard theological periodicals, of Poole rank and upwards, in all languages of which there are representatives in American libraries, together with many references to theological articles in general periodicals, in all not less than 25,000 references. It will be an alphabetical subject index like Poole, but will differ from Poole in giving regular author-title entry, and will be more bibliographical in character through the select references to general periodicals. A feature of the index will be a very brief definition of each subject. Dr. Richardson has at present seven clerks engaged in the work, and is pushing it as fast as possible.
The dictionary of historical fiction, in preparation by the Free Library of Philadelphia, is making satisfactory progress, and will probably be issued within the coming year. Since the announcement was made at the Atlanta conference that this dictionary was in preparation there have been many inquiries concerning it, and the prospect of its publication will be welcome.
The committee has received no new information during the past year in regard to plans for bibliographical work, and it would emphasize the recommendations of previous years that all such plans be reported promptly to the committee, so that they may be published in its annual report.
William L. R. Gifford, Chairman.
In the absence of C. H. Gould, chairman, C. W. Andrews read the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN DOCUMENTS.
The committee begs to report, with considerable confidence, that this is positively its last appearance in connection with the list of French government serials, which has been long in course of compilation and publication. This work is now in its final stage, and as it will soon be in the hands of the reviewer, to say much in regard to it at present seems hardly necessary. Two points, however, require a word:
1. Recognizing the difficulties in the way of attaining anything like completeness in an enumeration of this nature, the committee deliberately decided to omit certain documents in favor of others. Thus it happens that no reference is made to the legislative proceedings of the several Revolutionary Assemblies, nor to other publications of equal importance.
2. In addition to enumerating documents, this list indicates particular libraries where they may be consulted. It was, of course, unnecessary, even had it been possible, to mention all the libraries in the country which possess sets more or less complete. But it is hoped that the libraries chosen are so widely distributed as to save a would-be reader from undertaking a long journey when a shorter one would serve.
Such other features as call for notice will be referred to in the preface.
It would, however, be unbecoming if the committee failed now to recognize and thank Miss Adelaide R. Hasse for the pains and labor she has bestowed upon the list. She has co-operated with the committee from the first, and to her and to Mr. Andrews the committee is under special obligations.
The committee would further report that it now has on hand a considerable amount of raw material for a German list similar to the French; and it is hoped that progress may be made in arranging this during the present summer.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. Gould, Chairman.
W. I. Fletcher read the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TITLE-PAGES AND INDEXES OF PERIODICAL VOLUMES.
Your committee have understood their business to be the preparation of a note to be addressed to the publishers of periodicals, setting forth the views of librarians in regard to the issue of title-pages, etc., with periodicals. They, therefore, submit as their report the accompanying draft of such a note, with the recommendation that it be sent to the publishers of all leading periodicals, and that a committee on this subject be continued, to receive and act upon any correspondence that may be called out.
Thorvald Solberg W. I. Fletcher } Committee.
Note to publishers of periodicals, as to the furnishing in proper form of title-pages and contents. This note was drawn up by a Committee of the American Library Association and was approved by the Association.
As a result of much dissatisfaction among librarians with the irregularities and uncertainties connected with the issue, by publishers of periodicals, of title-pages and "contents" of volumes, the American Library Association has had a special committee considering the subject with a view to drawing up a suitable memorial to be presented to such publishers, looking to the securing of more uniformity and propriety in this matter. After mature consideration the committee have prepared the following recommendations as embodying the minimum of improvement which may reasonably be hoped for.
1. Title-pages and tables of contents should always accompany the number completing a volume, and not the first number of a new volume. [They should be stitched in, and not sent loose.] There are several cogent reasons for this recommendation:
(a) In many cases it is a serious detriment to the usefulness of a set in a library, if a completed volume cannot be bound until the receipt of the next number.
(b) More important is the need that the numbers of a volume shall constitute the volume in its entirety, so that as they are bought and sold there shall not be the necessity of handling also another number belonging to a different volume in order to complete the first. Now that libraries are buying periodical sets and volumes in such large numbers for use with Poole's and other indexes, it is of great importance to the book trade, as well as librarians, and must have a real bearing on the business interests of the publishers, that this matter, often trifled with, shall receive due attention. Publishers must come to feel that if it is necessary (which it generally proves not to be) to delay a completing number a day or two in its issue in order to insure its completeness in this respect, the delay is abundantly compensated for.
2. Title-pages and contents should be furnished with every copy of the issue of a completing number. We earnestly believe that by inserting title-pages and contents in all cases publishers will at once put a premium on the preservation and binding of their magazines, suggesting it to many who otherwise would not think of it. In the long run the demand for back numbers to make up volumes must more than compensate for the extra expense of putting in the additional leaves.
The policy of sending title-pages and contents only to those calling for them is suicidal, as it results in flooding the market with numbers from which volumes cannot be made up and by destroying the hope of making up sets weakens the demand which would otherwise exist for volumes and numbers of the periodical in question.
If an alphabetical index, in addition to a table of contents, is furnished, which is the preferable practice, the former should be paged to go at the end of the volume. When such an index is furnished, and no table of contents, the index should be printed to follow the title-page.
3. As to the form in which title-pages and contents should be issued: they should be printed on a two-, four-, or eight-leaved section, separate from other printed matter, either advertising or reading. Nothing is more important in binding volumes to stand the hard wear of our public libraries than that none of the earlier leaves in the volume shall be single leaves pasted in. One of the greatest abuses of the book trade at present is the disposition to have title and other preliminary leaves pasted in. Librarians find to their cost (what is not so obvious to the book manufacturer) that this does not work. An absolute requirement for good bookmaking is that the first and last portions of the book especially shall be good solid sections—no single leaves, nor do most librarians or owners of private libraries like to include advertisements, in order to secure these solid sections for binding. We feel sure that it is abundantly worth while for the publishers to squarely meet this demand.
4. Admitting that there may be cases in which it is practically impossible to furnish title and contents with the completing number of a volume, we would recommend for such cases that such a separate section as has been described be made and furnished with the first number of the new volume, stitched in at its end, not at its beginning. The last-named practice is likely to cause more trouble to librarians than any other that is common, as it is difficult to remove the section without making the number unfit to place in the reading room.
We would like to call the attention of periodical publishers to the difficulties arising from the common practice of printing some first or last leaves of reading matter on the same section with some pages of advertising. Most librarians prefer to remove the advertising leaves before binding the magazines. The practice referred to makes it necessary to bind in some advertising leaves or else take off and paste in single leaves of reading matter, sometimes three or four in one place, which is very inimical to good binding. Publishers are advised to have all advertising pages printed on separate sections if possible.
Desiring to meet, so far as possible, the views of publishers in regard to the matters referred to above, the committee will be pleased to hear from any to whom this note may come.
Mr. Fletcher: The committee have corresponded with some of the magazine publishers, and if any are disposed to consider what is here proposed an ideal system, your attention may be called to the fact that several of our magazine publishers are carrying it out. For instance, Houghton, Mifflin & Co.—I am not mentioning them as superior to others; others might be mentioned—but in their reply to a tentative letter Houghton, Mifflin & Co. say that "in all of our publications every one of these recommendations is strictly carried out." They took pride in replying to us that they believed they were doing exactly what we wanted—and several other publishers.
G. M. Jones: I understand the report to recommend that title-pages and indexes be fastened into the last number of the volume. Now it seems that in many cases it would be very much better to have them left loose. The case is this: In almost all public libraries of any size periodicals are put into some kind of a binder. On many accounts binders which perforate are the best, but we do not wish to perforate title-page and index, if we can help it, especially the title-page, and I would like to inquire why the committee considered it so essential that the title-page and index should be fastened into the number?
Mr. Fletcher: These questions were all considered by the committee, and I would say when I first drew up my suggestion on this point it was that title-page and index should be sent loose; but I found an overwhelming argument against that, when we came to consider that they were desired to be with every completing number; that those completing numbers are sold to the people in railroad trains and elsewhere and are coming into the second-hand periodical market, where we must look for many to make up our sets. Now as to the point which Mr. Jones has spoken of. If the magazine is to be perforated to be put in the binder, as the completing number is to have the title and index, as we proposed, in a separate section, it can be removed by undoing the stitching, or sewing, if it is sewed. That can be done before it is put into the binder. Of course there is no necessity for ruining, the stitching in its entirety. There may be some little objection there, but it is so slight that it seemed to the committee entirely counterbalanced.
Mr. Jones: Mr. Fletcher's reply is perfectly satisfactory on that point.
W. S. Biscoe: One other suggestion: Do I understand from Mr. Fletcher, if there is a table of contents, that the index be put after the title-page?
Mr. Fletcher: No, the suggestion is that if there is an alphabetical index and a table of contents, the index should be planned and arranged at the end of the volume, but that if only an index is furnished, and no table of contents, that would be in accordance with the usual practice in such cases—the index should go, like a table of contents, after the title-page.
Mr. Biscoe: If there is no table of contents the alphabetical index is to go after the title-page? It seems to me desirable that it should always go at the end of the volume.
Mr. Fletcher: I am very glad that point has been called attention to. I should like it if Mr. Biscoe would suggest an amendment. According to the report, when such an index is furnished, and no table of contents, the index should be printed to follow the title-page. We might say: if an alphabetical index is furnished, it should be paged to go at the end of the volume.
T. L. Montgomery: Was not the committee's report to provide for the printing of the alphabetical index in the place of a table of contents, thereby making it one section?
Mr. Fletcher: The advantage of that would be that there would be something to go with the title-page to make up the section. The title-page should be part of a section for binding as a separate section. I wonder if most of the librarians present haven't had the same exasperating experience which I have so often had with those title-pages which are separate leaves, and have to be pasted into the volume. There is hardly any practice so vicious in bookmaking as having the title-page pasted in. It almost always pulls out before the book is in any other respect at all dilapidated.
A. G. Josephson: I would suggest that the committee recommend that both a table of contents and an index should be furnished.
Mr. Fletcher: The committee would entirely agree to that, and it could very easily be done. If an alphabetical index, in addition to the table of contents, is furnished, a practice to be preferred might be to consolidate them.
Pres. Carr: I think, Mr. Fletcher, you should be able to modify your report, before printing, to incorporate those suggestions.
F. W. Faxon: If the committee is trying to get at an ideal arrangement, it might be well to suggest that the publishers of magazines have some one who knows something about the contents make the index. We have a magazine in Boston that persists in indexing articles under "a" and "the," and proper names under "John" and "James." But if the committee is trying to get a rule that the publishers will be most likely to adopt, it seems to me they might suggest that the index be published in each concluding number of a volume, even though the index is put in place of that many pages of text. Of course it would not do to suggest that these pages be taken out of advertising, but as the text usually costs the magazine something, publishers would probably be willing to devote four of the pages they would have to pay for to an index, which would cost them much less.
Mr. Fletcher: I think it would interest the Association to know of an example that Mrs. Fairchild sent me some time ago of the way these indexes are made. Some periodical in New York had an article on motive power for the canals, and in the index it appeared under "Mule, Must the Canal Go?"
The report was approved and referred to the Council.
In the absence of Dr. J. S. Billings the secretary read the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON "INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE."
Your committee begs to report that the final conference of delegates of the various governments for the purpose of considering an International Catalogue of Scientific Literature was held in London on June 12 and 13, 1900, and, as intimated in the report of your committee last year, owing to the failure of Congress to make it possible for delegates with power to attend, no representatives of the United States were present. Mr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, who was visiting England at the time was informally in conference with various members of the Royal Society and rendered effective service in enabling them to reach a conclusion.
The conference decided to undertake the issuing of the Catalogue provided 300 complete subscriptions were received by October 1st, the quota of the United States in this being 45. During the summer the Smithsonian Institution issued a circular to American libraries and universities and learned societies and scientific men, announcing the fact, with the very gratifying result of the subscription to the equivalent of over 70 complete sets for a period of five years.
A meeting of the International Council to finally arrange for the beginning of the work was held in London on December 12 and 13, 1900, at which the necessary financial arrangements were agreed to, the Royal Society advancing certain sums and agreeing to act as publisher, and being authorized to enter into contracts, etc. Doctor H. Foster Morley was elected director and offices were secured at 34 and 35 Southampton street, Strand, London, W. C. The initial work has begun. The preparation of a list of periodicals to be indexed and a more careful revision of the schedules was the first work to be done. Thus far the periodical lists for Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Japan, Portugal, Canada, India and Ceylon have been printed. That for the United States is expected to be ready for transmission to London about August 1st.
In the absence of any provision, the Smithsonian Institution is carrying on the work for the United States, although with very inadequate force. It would be very desirable if legislation could be had to enable the Smithsonian Institution to prosecute this work more vigorously and without drawing upon its own funds.
J. S. Billings, Chairman. Cyrus Adler, Secretary.
Pres. Carr: Dr. Hosmer has, I think, a communication to make that is of concern to us all.
MEMORIAL TO JOHN FISKE.
Dr. Hosmer: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen:
We meet here in the midst of beautiful surroundings, but with considerable discomfort. Perhaps we hardly make it real to ourselves that this is in our country a time of calamity. Never in the course of a somewhat long experience, can I remember so many fatalities from the terrible heat of the summer. The newspapers have come to us from day to day with the list of victims from the great cities, and this morning comes in intelligence of a death which touches us librarians very closely—the death of John Fiske. He died yesterday at Gloucester, Mass., overcome by the heat; and I think it entirely right to say that in the death of John Fiske comes the extinction of the greatest force in American literature at the present moment. John Fiske, while not a member of our association, was at one time a librarian; he had a great interest in the Association; he was the personal friend of many of its members. It is perhaps quite right to say that no author at the present time is so frequently in the mouths and in the hands of the librarians. It has been thought fitting by the executive committee that we should make an exception in his case, and that there should be some formal mention of his passing. I regret very much that the time is so brief. What I have to say must be unconsidered.
In several directions, John Fiske was a great writer. First as regards the doctrine of evolution, the great idea which has come to the world in our day. What a great and solemn thing it is! The slow process through the lapse of ages from the monad to that which crawls, then to that which swims, then to that which flies, until we come at last to that which walks erect with brow expanded broadly to the light of heaven; the slow increment of intelligence in the brain, as species becomes merged in constantly higher species; the extension of infancy, with its beautiful sequence of humanity, of love, of spirituality. This has come to be accepted by scientific minds as the path which the divine energy chooses to follow in the work of creation. Now, among our American writers, I suppose there is no one who has had so much to do with the development of the doctrine of evolution as John Fiske. He was the intimate friend and counsellor of Darwin, of Huxley, of Herbert Spencer, of Tyndall. They recognized in him their peer, and if it is the case—and I believe it to be the case—that John Fiske contributed to the doctrine of evolution the idea of the "extension of infancy" as being the cause of what is most gentle and lovely in humanity he deserves to be named with the first of those who have been connected with that great theory.
In the second place as a historian, this wonderfully versatile man stands among the very first of the country. As a historian, John Fiske is not to be spoken of without discrimination. He had his limitations. I do not think that he had the power of picturesque description to the extent that Motley or Prescott possessed it. I do not think that he had the power of indefatigable research to the extent that it was possessed by our honored fellow-member, Justin Winsor. I do not think that he had the faculty of character-drawing as it was possessed for instance by the great historian, Clarendon, of the seventeenth century. But John Fiske had his gift, and it was a remarkable one. Taking a chaotic mass of facts, I know of no other American writer who had such genius to go in among them, to discern the vital links that connected one with another, to get order and system out of it, and then to present the result with a lucidity and a beauty which carried captive every reader. That was his faculty, as a historian; and he possessed it to such an extent and he used it in such a way that he is entitled to a place among our greatest historians.
Nor are these the only claims to distinction of this great man who has gone. As a religious leader, John Fiske is one of the foremost men of the time. His "Destiny of man," his "Idea of God," his latest noble address on the immortality of the soul, not yet published, are priceless writings, and men and women among the very best and brightest find in these books the best expression and guidance for their religious feelings.
Every one here has had opportunity, abundant opportunity, to know the greatness of John Fiske's mind. Few here, perhaps no other one, has had such opportunity as I have had to know the warmth and the generosity of his heart. For ten years in the Washington University, at St. Louis, we were colleagues; for 35 years we have been friends, and as I stand here before you to speak of him, my emotions fairly overcome me and I can do nothing but take my seat; but it is appropriate that in the American Library Association there should be some recognition taken of the passing from the midst of us of this great and noble figure.
Pres. Carr: After these fitting and touching words, we can hardly have it in our hearts to transact any further business this session, and therefore, if there is no objection, we will proceed to take an adjournment.
Mr. Crunden: I think a fitting action, on the suggestion of Dr. Hosmer, would be the appointment of a committee, with Dr. Hosmer as chairman, to draw up memorial resolutions. I make a motion to that effect.
The motion was adopted, and a committee was appointed, of J. K. Hosmer, George Iles, and R. G. Thwaites.
Adjourned 12 m.
THIRD SESSION.
(Fountain Spring House, Saturday morning, July 6.)
The meeting was called to order by President Carr at 10.20.
In the absence of R. R. Bowker, chairman, W. E. Henry read the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
The Committee on Public Documents this year makes an exclusively negative report. The Congress was occupied so exclusively with matters of larger public policy, particularly in relation with new territorial developments, that no attention was given in either house to public documents measures. A bill was presented in the House of Representatives by Mr. Heatwole, on somewhat different lines from the Platt bill offered in the Senate last year, but like that in essential conformity with the general position taken by the American Library Association. This bill did not, however, progress beyond the introductory steps.
Within the past twelvemonth the Indiana State Library has issued its useful "Subject catalog of U. S. public documents in the Indiana State Library," as an appendix to the 23d biennial report of the state library, covering 289 pages, and presenting a useful conspectus within its field. This index, while serving helpfully as a general key for the use of other libraries through the range of documents contained in each specific library, suggests the greater importance of an adequate subject index to U. S. government publications in general, which could be made a checklist by several state and other libraries. The Indiana State Library has also prepared an index to the Documentary Journal of Indiana from the beginning of that publication in 1835 to 1899, which is included in the 23d report of that library.
There is also little to report as to state publications, although there is evident a growth of interest in state bibliography, particularly in the state libraries. Part second of the bibliography of "State publications" is promised for the present year, including the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
A contribution of interest within this field has been made by the Acorn Club, of Connecticut, which has issued an elaborate bibliographical record of "Connecticut state laws," from the earliest times to 1836, compiled by A.C. Bates, librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society, a useful feature of the work being the indication, when possible, of some library in which each issue recorded may be found. Record may also be made, in this connection, of the work accomplished or accomplishing by the Public Archives Commission of the American Historical Association, headed by Prof. William McDonald, of Bowdoin College, as chairman, in which Professors Robinson, of Columbia, Caldwell, of Nebraska, Bugbee, of Texas, who are his associates on the committee, have the co-operation of representatives in the several states. While this commission does not concern itself specifically with bibliography, it is preparing the way for a better bibliography of state publications than has hitherto been possible, by investigating the conditions of the public archives of each state, with a view to inducing the systematic and more complete collection in each state of its own archives, including its printed documents as well as manuscript records.
R. R. Bowker W. E. Henry Johnson Brigham } Committee.
Herbert Putnam: I would suggest that the Superintendent of Documents is here, and that possibly he might have some suggestion or recommendation to make on the subject of this report.
L. C. Ferrell: I suppose anything I may have to say will be in addition to what was said in the report of the committee on public documents, as the report was rather negative. The matter of bringing about any legislation requires time and involves a great deal of hard work upon somebody. This is especially so if the subject is one in which no member of Congress, in particular, has a personal interest. It generally takes 10 or 12 years to pass any bill of interest to the people that no member of Congress will take care of personally. If it is a matter like saving the country, you can get a fifty million dollar bill passed in half an hour, but you cannot get a member of Congress to take up and pass a bill changing the method of printing and the distribution of documents without a great deal of pressure. Now, if Mr. Heatwole, chairman of the House Committee on Printing, was here, I think we might accomplish something to advantage on that subject, because I think if he could meet this great body of librarians face to face, we might get him to commit himself as to what he will do next session. He has promised me to take up this matter next winter and revise the printing laws from "A" to "Z," as he expressed it, but whether he will do so or not, I cannot say. Now, I shall prepare another bill, or have the old bill introduced again, I do not know which, and, as long as I remain in the office of Superintendent of Documents, I shall endeavor to bring about legislation on the lines proposed in the bills heretofore presented to Congress. In the first place, I want all the government periodicals taken out of the Congressional series and bound in cloth, so that they can be distributed to the libraries as soon as they are printed. But one edition of any document ought to be printed, and that edition ought to have the same endorsement on the back and the same title on the inside. If we continue to print duplicate and triplicate editions—departmental, bureau, and congressional—librarians will always have trouble in classifying and cataloging them. As far as my record is concerned, I suppose most of you are familiar with it. I am constantly endeavoring to improve the service. I have adopted a cumulative index for the monthly catalog; cumulative for six months, with a consolidated index for the entire year, in the December number. That was done mainly because the annual catalog cannot be printed so as to be distributed promptly, and the monthly catalog fully indexed can be made to answer all temporary purposes. Now, we have three series of catalogs, as you all know, perhaps, each one serving a distinctive purpose. The document catalog, or comprehensive index—its official title—is intended for permanent use. It includes all documents printed during a fiscal year—July 1 to June 30, following. The document index is a subject, title, and author index of all congressional documents, indicating the number of each document and the volume in which it is bound up. In the monthly catalog all documents are arranged alphabetically under the author of the document, and everything related to the same subject is brought together in the index. Now, we are broadening out a little in our work; probably doing something Congress never contemplated we should do when the office was established. We are doing a good deal of bibliographical work, and I intend to enlarge upon it as I have the opportunity. We have published "Reports of explorations printed in the documents of the United States government, a contribution toward a bibliography," by Miss Hasse; a "Bibliography of U. S. public documents relating to inter-oceanic communication across Nicaragua, Panama, etc.," and we expect soon to take up the subject of documents relating to the various states, the purpose being to make a complete bibliography of everything printed in the U. S. public documents concerning each state and territory. We propose to take up the matter of documents relating to the Louisiana purchase first, because we are going to have a great exposition two years from now at St. Louis to commemorate that great event.
J. C. Dana presented the
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
Early last winter I secured from librarians, library assistants and teachers about 25 brief articles on co-operation between libraries and schools. These articles were written with special reference to teachers. I made a descriptive list of them and sent this list to leading educational journals in this country, with the request that the editors thereof select from it one or more of the articles and publish them prior to July 1, 1901. Largely through the kindness of Mr. Winship, editor of the Journal of Education of Boston, I got the promise of publication of these articles from educational editors to the number of 25. The articles were duly sent out. I regret to have to report that I have received notice of the publication of less than half a dozen of the whole number. A few others may have been published, but the editors have never notified me of the fact. The articles were brief and chiefly written by persons prominent in library work in this country, they were of general interest, and seemed to deserve publication. The fact that they did not get it is to my mind somewhat indicative of the comparative unimportance of libraries in the opinion of educational people of this country.
Since coming here I have learned of another little incident which throws some light on our relation to the educational profession of this country. From the office of Public Libraries the program of the meeting of the library department of the N. E. A. at Detroit was sent to 32 leading educational journals in this country with the request that they print it. Of these 32 papers two only printed the program as requested, or at least two only printed it and gave due notice of the fact.
From all this we may learn, as I have stated more than once before, that libraries and librarians are as yet held in small esteem by the educational people of this country. Our influence among them is not great. It is not considered that we are connected in any important way with educational work. This is the opinion held by the rank and file. I believe this to be true in spite of the fact that the leaders of the N. E. A. have themselves been more than generous to the library department. Those leaders, largely through the influence of Mr. Hutchins of Wisconsin, gave a special appropriation of over $500 to a committee of this department for the publication of a report on the relation of libraries and schools. This report has been quite widely circulated and has been well received by both teachers and librarians. We owe that to the N. E. A. We owe it to the appreciation of library work by the leaders of the N. E. A. Nevertheless, taking the teaching profession at large, I think it safe to assume that our experience with the educational journals during the past winter is indicative of the teacher's attitude toward libraries and their possible helpfulness in the school room. This fact should not discourage us. On the contrary it should stimulate us to make our collections and our work with them of still more consequence until it becomes quite impossible for anyone in the educational world to be ignorant of, or to fail to take advantage of, the assistance to every day teaching work which we believe our libraries can give.
It is quite difficult, of course, if not impossible, for us to produce any great effect on the teachers of the present day save through individual work in our respective communities. No one can ask for a better opportunity to see the result of such work than I have had myself. I have seen two or three hundred teachers in the course of four or five years changed from an attitude of indifference toward the library as an aid in every day school room work, to one of readiness not to say eagerness, to take advantage of every opportunity the library could possibly offer. Many other librarians have had similar experiences. But this work does not go on rapidly enough to influence the profession as a whole. The teaching profession as it now stands is, as I have said, indifferent toward us. One thing we can do, and that is, arouse an interest among those who are to become teachers. After individual work in our own towns the best thing we can do, and especially the best thing we can do as an association, is to stimulate an interest in library training in the normal schools of this country. Interest in this phase of practical work has increased very much in normal schools the last few years. This is especially true in the west; and perhaps more true in Wisconsin than in any other state.
Mr. Dewey has recently given this matter consideration and I shall be much pleased if he will say something further by way of supplementing this informal report of mine, on what has been done and what can be done in normal schools toward interesting teachers in the use of libraries in teaching.
Melvil Dewey: What Mr. Dana has said, though perhaps a little discouraging in its tone, is pretty nearly the truth; but we ought to remember this—the public school teachers and the other teachers of this country are a badly overworked class. Many a man and woman has broken down of nervous prostration in school, who has entered a library and worked hard and kept well. Our friends on the school side of educational work have a strain that comes from the disciplinary side. Worry kills more than work, and teachers have to meet this question of discipline; they have to take responsibility in the place of parents; they have an interminable number of reports to fill out; they have a mass of examination papers to read and deal with; and they have examinations to make until they are driven almost wild. Now, we go to them and present our case, our arguments for co-operation with the library. They admit it; they are convinced of it; but they have not vital energy and force enough to take up the matter and do much work in our cause. It is not that they doubt. They won't question the high plane on which we want to put the library, and they want to fulfil all their duties. I believe if we were to change places and were put into their routine, the majority of us would do just what they do—put it off until a more convenient season. I think that is the real trouble with our teachers. They are overworked, many of them; they are in certain ruts; and my suggestion is to try to reach them when they begin their work, through the normal schools. If we can get the normal school authorities to give the right kind of instruction and the right kind of a start to the teachers, we will accomplish a great deal more. We can do twice as much in working with the student teacher; it is like working in plaster of paris—easy while in a soft and plastic stage, but you leave it awhile and it hardens. So I should say, in considering this report, that we ought not to be discouraged. It is what we should expect, and we should turn our attention to, doing all we can to reach the young teachers who are now in a plastic state, ready to be moulded, but who in ten years will be dominant forces in education.
Miss M. E. Ahern: I wish to call attention to the fact that the program of the Library Department of the National Educational Association calls for a greeting from some representative of the A. L. A., and I therefore request, as secretary of that section and as an earnest member of the A. L. A., that you appoint some member to carry such greetings to the Library Department of the N. E. A.
It was voted that Mr. Crunden be appointed to represent the Library Association at the N. E. A. meeting.
F. M. Crunden: Touching the subject before this meeting, I want to corroborate the statement made by Mr. Dana regarding the progress that comes quickly if you once induce the teachers of a city to accept, even in a small measure, the co-operation of the library. Only a few years ago we almost had to beg the teachers to use our books. We had to offer every inducement to them, and they did it, most of them, rather reluctantly. Now the great majority of our schools use the library books. Not long ago I asked three questions of the teachers using the library in their work: What value do you place upon the library in supplementary reading? What effect has it had thus far on the progress of your pupils in their studies? Is it an aid to the pupils? All these question were answered most satisfactorily to us. Several say the library books are worth as much as any study in the curriculum, while two of them say that the library books are worth all the rest. And regarding discipline, the universal testimony is that the library is an aid to the discipline. In the school where most reading is done, the principal tells me that the problem of discipline has been practically eliminated; they give no more thought to it, because the children are interested and pleasantly occupied, so they do not get into mischief. The library has aided in all studies, is the basis of language work, has improved the language of the children, and has given an interest to the school work that it did not have before. Now if the teachers can only understand that this is going to lighten their work instead of increasing it, they will accept the co-operation of the library.
Dr. Canfield: Just one word to express my appreciation of the fairness with which Mr. Dewey put before you the position of the teachers and to add this statement: You are all likely to forget that you determine the lines of your own work and that a teacher's work is laid out for her by other people, and it takes about all the time and strength of the pupil to meet the immediate demands of the curriculum, which is often very unwisely laid out. I want to add to that, as a proof of the interest taken by teachers, I know of my personal knowledge that the teachers of the high schools of New York have frequently placed their personal endorsement upon library cards for the pupils they have sent to the libraries and for whose books they are personally responsible. They cannot prove their interest in any better way than that.
Mr. Dana: I just want a moment to correct a possible impression that I was finding fault with the educational profession of this country. I was not finding fault with them, but finding fault with ourselves. If we are not yet a power to the teachers of this country, then it is our own fault. We do not as yet understand our own fitness, especially in relation to schools and reading in the schools, and we do not even know what we want to do, or what books to recommend. We do not know what the field of work in the schools is. How, then, can we expect to teach it; to urge a thing in regard to which we are not yet free of all doubts? The fault is our own possibly, and yet it is not all our own fault. It is largely a question of necessary time.
In the absence of Dr. E. C. Richardson, chairman, the secretary read the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION.
The Committee on International Co-operation in taking up the work referred to it by the Association has limited itself this year to a consideration of the question of a uniform standard of book statistics. This question is a two-fold one, first, what should be called a book, second, when statistics are classified, what are the most practical and useful classes?
In respect of the first matter, it recommends that all books for statistical purposes be divided into two or three classes. (1) Books of 50 pages or over; (2) books under 50 pages; or, where books of under eight pages are regarded at all, books of from eight to 49 pages; and (3) books under eight pages.
In respect of the second question, the chairman has prepared a comparative table of the usage of the Publishers' Weekly, Bookseller and Newsdealer, Publishers' Circular, Bibliografia Italiana, Hinrichs and Reinwald, arranging these in the order of the Dewey classification. This was printed by Mr. Bowker for the use of the committee, and is herewith submitted.
Table showing classification of book trade statistics.
Some of the chief matters for attention are the questions of Biography, whether by itself or scattered in classes; Literary History and Art, by itself or under Philology, or under Bibliography, or scattered; Juveniles, by itself or divided among Fiction, Poetry, Education, etc.; Scientific School Books, Geographies, etc., under subject or under Education; Art of War, Commerce, etc., under Economics or Technology. All these conflict somewhere in usage shown and in the judgment of the various members of the committee, although there is a majority for keeping Biography as a separate class—contrary to unanimous foreign usage.
DEWEY (order).pub. weekly. bookseller and newsdealer publisher's circular
00 Collected and mis. works. Literature and coll. works. Unclassified. Misc. includ. pamphlets, not sermons
010 Bibliography.
Period. and proceedings Year b'ks and serials in vols.
070 Newspapers.
100 Philosophy. Philosophy. Philosophy.
230 Theology. Theology and religion Religion. Christ sci., occultism, theosophy Theol. sermons, Biblical.
320 Polit. Sci. and Law. Law. Law, tech. Politics Law, jurisp.
Economics and social rel. Polit. and soc. sci. Sociological subj. Polit. and soc. sci. Trade and commerce
370 Education. Education. Education. Education, classical and philological
400 Philology.
500 Natural science Physics and math. sci. Mathematics, chem. and physic. sci. Biology. Nat. history (See below).
600 Useful arts, Gen. Useful arts. Technology.
610 Medicine. Medicine and hyg. Medicine. Medicine, surgery.
630 Agriculture. Domestic and rural. Farming and gardening.
Art of war.
700 Fine arts, Gen. Fine arts, il. gift books. Art, architecture. Art, science and il.books.
780 Music. On music and musicians
790 Games and sports Sports and amusements. Sports and games
800 Literary hist. and crit. (See below).
Poetry and drama Poetry and drama. Poetry and drama. Poetry and the drama.
Fiction. Fiction. Fiction. { Novels, tales, juvenile works and other fiction
Juveniles. Juvenile. Juveniles.
Other forms. Humor and satire. Belles lettres, essays, monographs, etc.
900 History. History. History. Hist., biog., etc.
920 Biography. Biog. and correspond. Biography.
910 Geog. travels and descrip. Descrip., geog., trav. Travel. Voyages, travels, geographical research
DEWEY (order).bibliog. ital. hinrich. reinwald.
00 010 070 100 Collected and mis. works. Bibliography. Period. and proceedings. Newspapers. Philosophy. Enciclopedia. Bibliografia. Atti accademici. Giornale politici. Filosofia-Teologia. { Bibliothekswesen, encyklopädien, Gesammt. werke. Sammel werke, Schriften Gelehrten. Gesellschaften Universatätswesen, etc. Divers.
230 Theology Pubbl. relig. e pie. lett. Theologie. Religion ((Philos. morale)
320 Polit. Sci. and Law. Legislazione, Guirisp., Atti del senato, atti duputati. Rechts u. Staatswiss. Droit et économie polit.
Economics and social rel. Scienze polit. soc. Stat. bilanci ecc. Handel, Gewerbe Verkehrswesen.
370 Education. Instruzione. Educaz. Libri scolastici. Erziehung u. Unterricht. Jugendschriften. Education.
400 Philology. Filologia storia lett. Sprach u. Litteraturwissen. Linguistique.
500 Natural science Scienze fisiche, mate. e nat. Naturwiss. Math. Sciences, medicales et naturelles.
600 Useful arts, Gen. Ingegneria-Ferrovie. Bau u. Ingenieurwissenschaft. Technologie.
610 Medicine. Medicina. Heilwissenschaft.
630 Agriculture. Agricolt. Industr. comm. Haus, Land u. Forstwiss.
Art of war. Guerra Marina. Kriegswissenschaft Art militaire et marine.
700 Fine arts, Gen. Belle arti. Kunst. Beaux arts.
780 Music.
790 Games and sports.
800 Literary hist. and crit.
Poetry and drama Lett. contemp. Poesie. Teatro. Schöne Litteratur. Littérature.
Fiction. Romanzi e nov.
Juveniles.
Other forms. Misc. e lett. popol.
900 History. Storia-Geografia. Geschichte. Histoire, Biog. polit.
920 Biography. Biografia contemp.
910 Geog. travels and descrip. Erdbeschreibung, Karten. Geographie.
Mr. Bowker, in behalf of the committee, has submitted the matter, through Mr. G. H. Putnam, to the International Congress of Booksellers, and it is hoped that there may be a committee appointed or empowered to confer with this committee, and that some practical result may be reached in spite of various difficulties. This committee therefore recommends for the purpose of library reports, etc., the use of the Dewey order and divisions given in the accompanying table, with such modification as may be necessary to meet book trade requirements, but in the case of all recommendations begs to make them subject to an international understanding, and asks that the committee be continued and given full power to adopt a recommended order, providing an understanding can be reached with a representative of the booksellers. If such an understanding is reached, efforts should be made to get the further concurrence of other library associations and bibliographical bodies generally.
Ernest C. Richardson, Chairman, for the Committee.
J. C. Dana for the
COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING
made a brief statement, that the committee as a whole had been unable this year to visit and report upon the schools. He presented, as the report of the committee, a letter from Dr. E. C. Richardson, one of its members who had visited several of the schools as lecturer.[D]
William Beer spoke briefly on
COLLECTION AND CATALOGING OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS.
The few remarks I have to make on this subject are prompted by a recent effort to collect from printed catalogs the scattered newspaper material for the first 15 years of the 19th century. The collection of information on the locality of files of newspapers up to 1800 has been commenced, and will in time be completed by Mr. Nelson, who publishes his results in the "Archives of the State of New Jersey." Many corrections will be necessary to his list, but it will even in its present shape be of great advantage to historical students.
The difficulty of the work increases almost in geometrical proportion as the dates approach the present era. The great increase of newspapers renders it necessary to divide the work into decades. I have chosen to carry it to 1815 on account of the importance to Louisiana history of the reports on the battle of New Orleans.
The particular feature in cataloging which I would fain see carried out in every library is the chronological conspectus, of which so admirable an example exists in Bolton's catalog of scientific documents, which is, or ought to be, familiar to all present.