BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK LISTS, AND ARTICLES ON CHILDREN'S READING: ARE THEY OF PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? (continued 7)

In concluding, I want to make sure that this round table is to be continued, and I therefore move that this assembly petition the program committee of next year for another round table meeting on this subject. Voted.

Miss M. E. Ahern: I want to say a word about this matter of having peripatetic meetings. In the state of Illinois we have all the library law and all the library books in the northern part of the state, and then there is a part of the state down in the south that they call "Egypt." There may be some libraries there, but we have been unable yet to induce them to take their place in the state library association. Two years ago, after having tried for several years to get these libraries to come into the association, we brought the association to them, and held our meeting in East St. Louis, under the most distressing circumstances of weather and other uncomfortable conditions; and not a single librarian from that community attended the meeting. We tried the same plan last year in another place in the state, and I felt when the meeting was over that we had not done much good there. Very few of the local people came to the meeting. Later I heard that we did some good, but I am inclined to think that the personal efforts of the librarians at that place did more than the association did. I am not at all a pessimist, but in Illinois this plan has failed to interest the people of the indifferent districts in the work that the library association was trying to do, and I have been almost convinced that it is the proper thing for an association to get a central point and bring librarians in touch with the vitalizing spirit of a good library conference, rather than to try to take the association to an indifferent community. I want heartily to emphasize the point made by Mr. Dana about local speakers. I have suffered more than once from these local speakers. I have a most distinct recollection of hearing a trustee talk for one hour and a quarter on the beautiful, magnanimous and generous efforts made by himself to run the local library. The point made by Mr. Wellman needs to be taken cautiously. I think there is more danger of emphasizing the scholarly side of librarianship at state meetings than there is of not giving it sufficient attention. The American Library Association, in my opinion, should stand for the higher tenets of the library faith, and the scholarly side should be more emphasized than has been the case heretofore in the meetings of the national association. With all our different organizations, clubs, associations, conferences, round tables, and so on, it seems to me that the American Library Association should take care of the technical side, and the smaller questions, that must, indeed, be settled by local conditions, should be taken up by the state associations. While, of course, we want to have material of a high order presented at the state association, at the same time we must remember that these associations reach those people who cannot be touched in any other way; and if they have come to get light on this new topic of work for children, or if they are on the point of reorganizing their library, or if they are having trouble with their board, they do not take kindly to a dissertation on printing in the 15th century.

One thing has been left out in the various interests which have been brought forward, and that is the part of the trustee in the state association meetings. A librarian may have all possible inclination, and all the enthusiasm that we can give her, but if she does not have the co-operation and the kindly sympathy of her library board, or at least a majority of its members, life is to her a burden. Her condition is worse than when she did not know, and did not know that she did not know. The state associations have not so far been open enough to the trustees. It seems to me that this is a subject well worth taking up, and we should try to do more for the library trustees of the state than we have done heretofore. Necessarily they take rather a material view of the situation, and we should try to lead them away from the dollar-and-cents view of library work. These two things need to be emphasized—keep in mind the small librarian, and educate the trustee. Some one has said that we need a library school for trustees quite as much as we need a library school for librarians, and the more I see of libraries the more I believe that.

Mrs. E. J. Dockery spoke on

HOW A LIBRARY COMMISSION WAS SECURED IN IDAHO.

I bring to you an accurate and complete history of the course adopted by the club women of my state in securing library legislation, as I personally participated in the work with other members of the Woman's Columbian Club, the organization that had the direct and immediate charge of the subject.

It is a somewhat embarrassing confession to make that Idaho, with its area of 87,000 square miles and a population of 164,000 souls, and its sobriquet of "The gem of the Mountains," has not a free circulating library. I make this statement, however, to emphasize the virgin field in which we had to labor and the munificence of our legislators when we consider the various tax burdens are so many and the number so few to bear them.

Boisé City, the capital of our state, with a population of 10,000, is the home of the Woman's Columbian Club of 200 members. This club, among its many achievements, established and almost wholly supports a public library of 2750 volumes at Boisé; and its members stand in the vanguard and do yeoman's service as leaders and in the ranks in all causes to advance the moral, intellectual and material good of all the people of the state that has granted women equal suffrage with men.

The club strongly urges the formation of other woman's clubs throughout the state, and encourages at all times the organization and development of free libraries.

The first really effective and aggressive step of the club in this direction, and which led to important results, was the adoption of the free travelling library scheme. Its zealous members, by united action and individual effort, accumulated sufficient funds to put into circulation 15 travelling libraries with a total of 800 volumes, and invited discussion of this work in the public press.

At the 1899 state teachers' meeting representatives of the club, on invitation, espoused the cause of the travelling library and libraries generally. The demand for library cases soon exhausted the Columbian Club's ability to respond, and then an appeal for legislative aid was determined upon, and systematic methods, principally through the press, were pursued to awaken public sentiment favorable to the election of friendly legislators.

After the election of the legislators in 1900 the Columbian Club sent circular letters to each one, setting forth the merits of the two bills the club had prepared and upon which its energies were concentrated, namely: a bill creating a state library commission, and a bill authorizing common councils of cities and governing bodies of communities to levy a tax not to exceed one mill on the assessed valuation of property for the establishment and maintenance of free reading rooms and libraries.

Similar circular letters were sent to each of the 75 newspapers published in the state. All women's clubs were importuned to co-operate, and also all public school officials, teachers and educators of the state. The press responded right royally with one single exception, and book lovers and educators of high and low degree lent their willing assistance. Representatives of the club again appeared before the 1900 annual state teachers' meeting, and secured an official endorsement from that body for the proposed library legislation. The state teachers' association, in addition, advocated a law requiring that three per cent. of all school moneys be set aside as a fund for school libraries, to which the club women gave their aid and which also became a law.

At the convening of the legislature in January of this year the leaven had begun to work, thus paving the way for the successful lobbying by the official representatives of the Columbian Club.

The first step was the selection of a conspicuous legislator to stand sponsor for our bills. In this we encountered an embarrassment of riches in capable legislative material, but finally selected Senator S. P. Donnelly, who cheerfully assumed the duty, and exerted the full force of his wide popularity and marked ability from the time of his introduction of the bills until the final vote upon them.

The club members held frequent conferences with the educational committee of both houses of the legislature and other legislators specially interested in educational matters, and made plain to them the inestimable benefits of the bills we championed.

And in this connection I desire to make graceful acknowledgment to the library workers of Wisconsin, as it was while a resident of this state I received from them my first library inspiration; and particularly do I desire to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. F. L. Hutchins, whose personal communications and generous supply of library literature enabled us to fully present our subject and to meet all objections raised by some of the legislators.

Every member of the legislature, with the exception of one in the lower house, was buttonholed, and the consequence of that oversight was manifested on the final voting day.

In the meantime the club requested the home papers of the legislators to continue to urge favorable action; and the club women from all parts of the state, by letters, personal visits and petitions to the legislators, did likewise.

The instinct of partisanship, a peculiarity of all legislative bodies, was not manifested in the least.

On the day for the final action in the Senate Committee of the Whole the Columbian Club was notified and attended in a body, the courtesy of the floor being extended to us.

Imagine our consternation, when the question was submitted to an aye and nay vote, at not a voice being raised in its favor save Senator Donnelly's. For a few moments silence so profound that it was almost palpable prevailed, when presently Senator Kinkaid, who was in the chair, without calling for the nays, solemnly announced, "The ayes have it"; and delight supplanted our agonized distress as the pleasantry at Senator Donnelly's expense and ours dawned upon us.

The bill was then placed upon its final passage, and the senators, who hesitated in their support on the ground of economy only, announced that they would vote in favor of the bill, but desired it expressly understood that they did so because they were intimidated by the presence of the Columbian Club. The best of spirits prevailed, and our bill providing for a state library commission of five members, two at least to be women, passed the senate unanimously, the president of the state university and the superintendent of public instruction to be ex officio members and the other three members to be appointed by the governor; and the law appropriated $6000 for the purchase of travelling library books and the maintenance of the commission for two years.

The bill was sent to the lower house to take its course in that body, but we were denied the privilege of practicing intimidation there. Immediately upon its arrival in the house a member moved that it be made a special order of business and be immediately placed upon its final passage, and that a polite message be sent the president of the Columbian Club that the house would perform its solemn duties without the assistance or coercion of that club.

The bill passed the house unanimously save for the solitary negative vote of the member whom, by an inexplicable oversight, we failed to interview, and who announced he so voted for that reason.

This library commission bill was by all odds the most conspicuous matter before the legislature, and the enrolled bill submitted to the governor for signature was elaborately prepared and adorned with the club colors by the attaches of the legislature.

The commission has been in existence three months, or more properly speaking, less than two months, for the necessary preliminary work did not enable us to get before the public until May. Already we have been invited to assist and direct the formation of six libraries and to select books for the penitentiary library, have placed in circulation 10 new travelling library cases in addition to the 15 cases donated to the state by the Columbian Club, and have 20 more cases in preparation.

While the law provided for the appointment of at least two women on the commission, the governor appointed three, two of whom are members of the Columbian Club; and our superintendent of public instruction being a woman, we have four of the five members, and what is more especially to the point, they are all club women.

Woman's clubs may with propriety, I think, lay claim to some credit for library laws in Idaho, and yet it is significant that the reason for their power lies in the fact that the women of our state have in their hands the wand of progress and civilization, the most powerful and bloodless offensive and defensive weapon on earth—the ballot. In the hand of the frailest of our sex this powerful weapon can strike as deadly a blow at evil or as strenuous a blow for good as it can in the hands of the brawniest of fighting men; no moral wretch of whatever size and strength but what the very gentlest of our number can cancel his registered will on election day; for an aspiring public servant to dare oppose a righteous cause means sure defeat—for womanhood inevitably arrays itself against the hosts of error.

The women of our state, marshalled under the leadership of women's clubs, stood in an unwavering and united array for all our library laws and every other law that stood for good; and there were, all told, 15 bills affecting education enacted into laws at the last session.

Whatever of inspiration and encouragement the success of women's clubs in Idaho may give our sister clubs in sister states, the success of woman's suffrage there at any rate will help to silence the scoffers' sneers and help put this ballot-sword, forged in the workshop of right and justice, in the hand of every woman.

In the absence of Mr. John Thomson Miss Neisser read Mr. Thomson's paper on

HOW TO SECURE A STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION.

I am asked "How to secure a state library commission?" I answer:

Ask for it.

Urge it on the legislature.

Strive persistently.

Without these three methods, there is little hope of getting a library commission or the passage of good library legislation.

Pennsylvania has been behind every other state in the Union in the matter of library legislation and principally because hardly any effort was made to procure the assistance of the legislature. Outside of a dog-tax paid over for the support and maintenance of public libraries, under an act approved in May, 1887, no real step was taken in this state to secure the benefits of the public library movement until 1895. In that year, it was sought to pass an act to authorize all cities and boroughs of the commonwealth to levy taxes and make appropriations for the establishment and maintenance of free libraries. Unfortunately, this bill was stoutly opposed and was finally amended so as to affect only cities of the first class. The most important subsequent legislation was the approval by the governor in May, 1899, of a bill providing for the appointment of a free library commission and defining its powers and duties. Under this act, the governor had power to appoint five persons, who with the state librarian, constitute the free library commission—the state librarian being ex officio secretary of that body. The commission has power to give advice and counsel to all free libraries in the state and to all communities which may propose to establish them, as to the best means of establishing and administering such libraries, the selection of books, cataloging, and other details of library management; and the commission has certain powers of general supervision and inspection. The section closes with the following words:

"The commission shall also establish and maintain out of such sums as shall come into their hands, by appropriation or otherwise, a system of travelling libraries as far as possible throughout the commonwealth."

Legislature adjourned without making any appropriation and the commission found itself in the position described by Dickens when Mr. Pickwick and his friends were authorized to travel where they liked, make such investigations as they thought good, and generally to promote science at their own expense. The commission was authorized under the powers conferred upon it to purchase books, provide book-cases, print whatever matter seemed good to it, and generally develop a travelling libraries system throughout Pennsylvania at its own expense. Nothing daunted, the members of the commission met in the state library on April 25, 1900 and organized, and being absolutely without funds, efforts were made to secure contributions from benevolent friends of the movement and $2800 were raised from 29 persons who generously placed in the hands of the commission sufficient funds to enable it to start the work. In a recent circular issued by the commission, the secretary calls attention to the fact that Ohio already had more than 800 travelling libraries and an appropriation of $5000 per year with which to carry on the work. Michigan has many libraries and an appropriation of from three to five thousand dollars per year. Wisconsin has six or seven hundred travelling libraries, and New York nearly one thousand. Every state of any importance in the Union has established and is maintaining travelling libraries on from three to five thousand dollars per annum. A few travelling libraries only at present have been sent out in Pennsylvania. These are now in use, but the commission was afraid to undertake much work, as it did not know how soon its funds might be exhausted, and it might find itself unable to grant the applications for travelling libraries which are steadily coming in.

When it is asked how to secure a state library commission the second question how to secure an appropriation with which to carry on the work of the commission is necessarily involved. In the case of Pennsylvania (just brought to a happy issue,) the active interest of many of the leading newspapers throughout the state was sought and obtained. The editors of these papers were written to in person and a statement describing the scope and needs of the library commission and the amount of the appropriation hoped for was forwarded to each. With one or two exceptions, the editors printed much of this material as news, and a considerable number added editorials urging the importance of the movement. More valuable help could not have been secured. The smaller papers, which of course draw their material largely from the papers published in the larger cities, followed suit, and practically reprinted the same matter. Copies of the papers containing these articles were secured, and marked copies were sent to the representatives from their own neighborhoods. In this manner nearly three hundred of the newspapers throughout the state were communicated with, and their assistance had a great deal to do with the final granting of the appropriation. In this way information was laid before thousands of citizens who would otherwise have been uninformed on the matter. Beyond all this an explanatory letter fully detailing the position of the commission was sent by one of the commission to every member of the legislature and the secretary of the commission issued the excellently prepared circular (above referred to), several copies of which were sent to every member of the legislature and to others. The result has been that an appropriation of $3500 has been passed by both houses, and there is no reason to doubt that the bill will receive the governor's signature when the time comes for him to sign the appropriation bills for 1901-1902.

It would be waste of time at a round table meeting like this to dwell upon the benefits of the travelling libraries movement. The free library commission of Pennsylvania has determined to do its utmost to develop the movement throughout the state, and if a practical answer is to be given to the question, How to secure a state library commission?, I would say, Recognize the importance of the movement, strive early and late, through the newspapers, by means of circulars and by personal interviews, to interest the members of the legislature, and persevere unintermittingly in impressing your needs upon those who have the power to grant the necessary legislation and appropriation. Work early and late and do not stop working until you have secured what you want.

Mrs. Belle M. Stoutenborough spoke on

WHAT WOMEN'S CLUBS CAN DO TO FURTHER THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY.

I trust you will pardon me for adding the word "Nebraska" to my topic. Six years ago last October the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs held its second annual meeting at our state capital. Some two weeks before the meeting Mrs. Peabody, a name familiar to every librarian in this room, who was at that time our president, wrote me: "I am very anxious to bring the travelling library movement before the women of our state. Will you talk for 15 or 20 minutes on this topic before the Lincoln meeting?" If she had asked me to talk on the study of comparative anatomy, I should have been just as familiar with the topic, but in the reference room of the Omaha Public Library, I held a consultation with Poole's index, and succeeded in finding just one article on travelling libraries; it was in the January Forum of 1895, and if I am not mistaken, it was a brief history or sketch of the traveling library movement in New York. Here was my opportunity; what had been done in New York, could be done in Nebraska, although upon a smaller scale, by the Federation of Women's Clubs. I shall not forget how I trembled as I stood before that large audience and made my first plea for a travelling library. However, the secretary, in reporting the meeting, was kind enough to say that the audience at once caught the speaker's enthusiasm, and a committee was appointed for the formation of plans for a federation travelling library. A hundred dollars was subscribed, and sixty books purchased and sent out to eight clubs that first year. I know it seems like a small beginning to-day, but it was serious, earnest, and full of possibilities, and to-day the work is an educational factor in our state. I believe that these books which have gone out to the club women have not only enabled them to pursue certain lines of study, which otherwise it would not have been possible for them to have taken, but they have created in the minds of other members of the family a desire to possess good reference books. These books are sent out from my own home. The clubs receiving them are at no expense except in paying express charges for their return. The work is supported by voluntary contributions, and as to the salary of the librarian, she is paid over and over again in the thankful letters which she receives from the people who are using the books.

In 1897, the Nebraska Library Association succeeded in introducing a bill in the legislature, creating a library commission for travelling libraries. It passed the lower house, and went into the senate, where it was "lost to sight, though to memory dear." In 1899, nothing daunted, the Nebraska Library Association was there again with its library bill. It passed the lower house, but it never reached the senate. Last June, the National Federation of Women's Clubs was held in the city of Milwaukee. Mrs. Buchwalter, of Ohio, the chairman of the program committee, planned for a bureau of library instruction or information, and this bureau was located in an upper room in the Milwaukee Public Library. The presiding genius in the room was Miss Stearns; I always think of her as the pioneer travelling library woman of the northwest. A clubwoman from Nebraska was in attendance at that meeting and instead of spending her time listening to the program, she passed the greater part of the week in that upper room, and there she learned the work which is being done by women's clubs throughout the length and breadth of our land in this library field, and she went back to Nebraska determined, if possible, to secure legislation for free travelling libraries in the coming year. It was a strange coincidence, that last October the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs again held their annual meeting at our state capital, and as before, the same woman who had presented six years before to that meeting, a plan for a Federation travelling library, was there to present a plan for free travelling libraries and a state library commission for Nebraska. The plan was formally and unanimously adopted, and a committee was appointed to co-operate with the Nebraska Library Association to secure legislation. In all this work, we never had any one who assisted us more ably than Mr. Wyer, the librarian of the state university, who was never too busy to advise us or to see a man that we could not reach, and he it was who drafted our bill and saw it through. To make a long story short, the first thing we did was to send out circulars suggesting that "a library day" be observed in the clubs; this library day was generally discussed throughout the state. Then we sent a petition which was circulated, not only in the towns, but among the farmers and their wives; and finally one March morning I received the following telegram: "Rejoice and be exceeding glad"—and I have been rejoicing ever since, for house bill no. 20, carrying with it an appropriation of $4000 for free public libraries, for free travelling libraries, and for the state commission, had passed, not only the lower house, but the senate. It received the governor's signature, and it means we are to have travelling libraries in Nebraska.

Miss Freeman: Mrs. Morris, of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and the General Federation of Women's Clubs, will be unable to be with us this morning on account of illness. We are, however, fortunate in being able to hear from Mrs. Youmans, the president of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs.

Mrs. Youmans: I cannot possibly fill Mrs. Morris' place, but I should not like to have this subject discussed without Wisconsin being represented.

We may gather from the deliberations of this association, that Wisconsin keeps a prominent place in library work among the states of the Union. If this is so, and I do not doubt it, it is, as we all know, due to the enthusiasm and energetic efforts of the Free Library Commission, and this commission will assure you that its members have had no more enthusiastic allies than the club women of the state. Work for libraries was the first work undertaken by Wisconsin women's clubs—the first work outside of their regular literary programs—and since the organization of the federation in 1896, it has been one of its most prominent lines of work. I suppose there are few clubs among the 150 in the federation that have not done something, sometimes important and sometimes unimportant, for the library movement. They have established libraries and free reading-rooms; they have helped to support libraries; they have made donations of books and money; they have sent out travelling libraries on their errands of usefulness; and they have also sent out travelling reference libraries especially for the uses of the study clubs. The federation at the present time is making a special effort toward securing as many of these travelling reference libraries as possible. The club women in the interior of the state have very inadequate reference facilities; we have now only six or seven of these reference libraries, and we feel comparatively rich that we are soon to have half a dozen more.

A great many of the public libraries in Wisconsin are due directly to efforts of club women. The public library of Waukesha is due directly to the efforts of a little coterie of club women; they started seven years ago, with prospects that could not possibly be called brilliant. They kept the library going for seven years from one month to another, in some way securing the money, and finally the burden was taken from their shoulders by the city council. Now, the library is not large; it is not, from a technical point of view, fine; and it certainly lacks many things that we hope to have in the future; but it has 2500 volumes, generally read and much valued by the people, it has become established as a regular necessary part of the municipal life, and I think it is sure of a regular though moderate support from the public funds. In a city a few miles north of here a woman's club has a fund of $500 towards a library building. It does not intend building a library with that sum; it does not intend to go on earning money by rummage sales and private theatricals; but it does expect to use that money and to use the interest of the members of the club as a center for developing library interests in the vicinity.

This work is illustrative of what is being done all over the state, and it is not so much the money that the club women collect for the libraries, nor the books they may secure, nor even the direct work that they do; it is the feeling that they disseminate as to the value of public libraries. The club woman, in her club work, finds the need of a good library; her associations and connections are such that she learns to value books more than she ever did before; she learns, too, that for the intellectual life of her vicinity it is necessary to have a public library; she helps to develop the public spirit that demands a public library; she helps to bring out an atmosphere in which public libraries germinate and grow and flourish. This, it seems to me, is the most important part of club work among club women. This is what they are doing in Wisconsin, and what they will continue to do.

Mr. Hutchins: I have been watching for years the work of the women's clubs and their enthusiasm for libraries. They are accomplishing a great deal, and there is just one thing I would like to say to the club women of the country, "Plan a study club, and in a few years you get a public library. Plan a library, and in a few years you get five study clubs."

CO-OPERATION BETWEEN A. L. A. AND GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS.

Miss Stearns: The American Library Association has fallen into a most successful alliance with the National Educational Association, as is demonstrated by the continuation of our meeting at Detroit. Now, the A. L. A. has never realized all that the General Federation of Women's Clubs has done for the promotion of library interests. This is the first time in the history of the A. L. A. that the women's clubs have been recognized on our program, and I move that the A. L. A. Council be requested to form an alliance between the American Library Association and the Federation of Women's Clubs for the promotion of library interests. Voted.

In the absence of Miss Marie S. Dupuis, the chairman read by title her paper on

THE WOMAN'S CLUB AND THE TRAVELLING LIBRARY.

The woman's club and the travelling library seem made for each other. So perfectly does the travelling library supply a suitable channel for the energies of the woman's club, and so admirably does the woman's club seem fitted for the work of sending out travelling libraries, that the one seems the natural and perfect complement of the other.

What a box of well-selected reading matter means to a rural community probably only those know who have lived in a rural community without the box. Others must draw upon their imaginations to picture farm homes without other current literature than a weekly local paper whose "patent inside" contains all the news they receive of the world's work; homes where the family Bible—not always present—and the children's school books form the only bound volumes of the family library, where even the deservedly ephemeral literature of the daily paper and the 10-cent magazine are unknown, though rural free mail delivery will soon alter this.

With numberless such communities on the one hand, we have on the other numerous women's clubs organized for self-improvement and "mutual aid," to use the fine phrase of Prince Kropotkin. And so closely are human interests interwoven that "mutual aid" means self-improvement, and self-improvement "mutual aid." It is doubtful if any form of educational endeavor undertaken by women's clubs is so fruitful in good results as the travelling library. It is the most practical form of educational work as yet undertaken by these organizations. The work of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs in this direction has been under the supervision of the library extension committee of that organization. More than one-third of the clubs of the state are now engaged in travelling library work. The number of libraries in circulation has doubled in the past year.

The plan usually adopted in the formation of a travelling library is for each member of a club to donate one or more books. A Parmelee or other suitable trunk bookcase is purchased for the collection, usually consisting of about 50 volumes, a record-book is provided, each volume is furnished with a library catalog and the rules for borrowers recommended by the committee, and the library is then ready to begin its travels.

Several libraries are grouped into county circuits—a unique feature of the Illinois plan—of four or more to a circuit. Two years has been found to be the average life of a travelling library, and a circuit of four libraries remaining in each community for six months will thus supply four communities with travelling libraries for two years.

With regard to the composition of the travelling library, the committee recommends that each library consist of about 50 volumes; that of these one-half shall be juveniles; that fiction shall be carefully selected, preference being given to standard works, those which have stood the test of time; that everything of a theological bias shall be excluded; that biographies, travels and nature studies and stories are particularly desirable, with other suggestions for particular communities or of a general character. We lay particular stress upon the proportion of juveniles being at least one-half, for the reason not only that children and young people are generally the most numerous class of readers, but also because many adults, unaccustomed to much reading, find juvenile literature more readily comprehensible. Considering the fact that our libraries are almost wholly the result of voluntary donation, it is remarkable and, indeed, extremely gratifying that the libraries sent out are of such a high degree of literary excellence. The outcome of the heterogeneous tastes of club members, they seem admirably adapted to the equally heterogeneous tastes of the communities to which they are sent. Improvement, however, is always possible, and for the coming year we have model lists of books drawn up as guides, if not patterns, for future libraries.

In states where a public travelling library system does not yet exist, the women's clubs seem excellently qualified for inaugurating and maintaining such a system until the time comes, as it surely will, when every state has its library commission and its travelling library fund.

TRUSTEES' SECTION.

A meeting of the Trustees' Section of the A. L. A. was held on July 6 in parlor C of the Fountain House, with Dr. Leipziger in the chair and Thos. L. Montgomery acting as secretary. There were 75 persons present. Dr. Leipziger made an opening address, outlining the work that might be discussed by the section.

Mr. Soule urged the election of trustees for a term of years only, and in the opinion of those present three years seemed the proper limit.

The question of whether members of the board of education should be admitted to library boards excited considerable discussion, in which Mr. Cooke, of Iowa, Mr. Porter, of Cincinnati, Mr. Crunden and the secretary took part. It was generally conceded that members of the board of education should not be trustees of libraries ex officio, but that there was no objection to electing them as individuals.

Mr. Eastman then read his very interesting paper on

LIBRARY BUILDINGS.

(See p. 38.)

Mr. Mauran, of St. Louis, spoke on

THE RELATION OF THE ARCHITECT TO THE LIBRARIAN.

(See p. 43)

Mr. Patton, of Chicago, said that the two papers showed the lack of any antagonism between the professions. He considered it absolutely necessary that the architect should be selected before anything else, in order that he should be familiar with all the librarians' requirements, and that the interior arrangement was the only matter that should be thought of then. The plan of giving premiums is bad, because it is no temptation to the skilled architect, but it is to the mere draughtsman. He also thought that library architecture must become a specialty.

Mr. Dewey asked, "What is the best way to get the combined judgment of several architects without offence to the profession, and yet give a proper remuneration for their labor?"

Mr. Patton answered that there was no objection to such consultations on the part of the profession, and that it was becoming more common every year. The objection to competitions was that there was no expert to make a fair decision. Competitions, as a rule, did not produce such good results as the appointment of a well-equipped and competent architect, to plan and oversee the work from the beginning. Under any circumstances expert advice might be had and should generally prove useful, especially when members of a library board were not prepared to give thorough attention to the architectural problems. Personally, he had often been employed as consulting architect, just as a physician might be called in that capacity.

Mr. Eastman stated that in the case of the Utica Public Library $150 had been given to each of ten architects for small sketches or outlines incorporating the requirements of the board.

Mr. Dewey thought that every state commission should have an expert, to whom should be referred all suggestions for plans for libraries, in order that the bad features may be called to the attention of the library board. In the case of very large institutions the national library should be appealed to.

This was by far the most interesting meeting that has been held by the section, and the interest taken in the discussion promises well for the future meetings.

Dr. Leipziger declining to serve as chairman, and the secretary having declined the nomination, Mr. D. B. Corey was elected chairman and T. L. Montgomery secretary for the ensuing year.

Thomas L. Montgomery, Secretary.

PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN BIBLIOGRAPHY: ROUND TABLE MEETING.

An informal "round table" meeting for the consideration of present and possible methods of professional instruction in bibliography, was held on the morning of Monday, July 10, in one of the parlors of the Fountain Spring House. A. G. S. Josephson was chairman, and J. I. Wyer, Jr., acted as secretary.

The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m. by Mr. Josephson, who opened the session with a paper on

A POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIBLIOGRAPHY.

In looking over the various definitions of the word bibliography, I have found two main groups, one narrow, one broad.

The narrow definition has been thus expressed by Prof. C V. Langlois: "Bibliography is the science of books. As library economy treats of the classification, the exterior description of books, of the organization and history of libraries; as bibliography treats of the history of the book as a manufactured product (printing, bookbinding, bookselling); so bibliography in the precise meaning of the word, is that particular part of the science of the book which treats of the repertories and which provides the means of finding, as promptly and as completely as possible, information in regard to sources."

As an example of the broad definitions I choose the one by M. E. Grand in "La grande encyclopédie" He defines bibliography as "the science of books from the point of view of their material and intellectual description and classification," and goes on to say that "there are three principal things to be considered in the study of bibliography: classification of books, ... (bibliographical systems); description of books (bibliographical rules); and the use of bibliographical repertories."

If we compare these two definitions we see that here the same word has been used for two distinct subjects, the one of which includes the other. Without here going deeper into the intricacies of these definitions, I will, for the purpose of this discussion, accept the broader of the two.

The question what instruction in bibliography should contain is already answered in the above definition itself.

The study of bibliographical systems for classification of books presupposes the study of the theoretical systems of classification of knowledge and this presupposes the study of the history of the sciences.

Bibliographical rules govern the practical art of book description, what is technically known as cataloging. There are various codes of rules, more or less arbitrary, as they are more or less the outcome of a compromise. But under all arbitrariness one will discern some underlying theory as to what a description of a book should contain. Such theories are founded on the practice of printing and publishing: thus the intelligent study of bibliographical rules presupposes the study of the history of printing and publishing.

Bibliographical repertories contain the systematic records of printed documents and the study of these repertories is what is called bibliography in the narrow sense. While the branches of study previously referred to may by some be regarded as of less value to the librarian there is surely none who will deny the necessity of his being thoroughly familiar with the literature of bibliographical repertories. However, I do not think that I am alone in the contention that all the different branches of bibliography in the broader sense are of the utmost importance to the librarian.

Dr. Dziatzko has pointed out that in such an eminently practical occupation as that of the librarian it is particularly important not to neglect altogether some kind of theoretical studies. There can be no studies of greater importance to the librarian than those just enumerated, namely, history of literature—the word taken in its broadest sense—history of the book in all its phases, and the study of bibliographical literature.

The library schools have done much to encourage the professional spirit of librarians and to develop the technical side of their work. It is, however, felt that something more is needed, something that a professional school or a training class cannot give, namely, solid bibliographical scholarship. This can, in my opinion, not be acquired except at a university with a faculty of specialists and an extensive equipment of bibliographical literature as a part of a large university library.

A post-graduate school of bibliography, such as I have in mind should offer instruction to two classes of students. The one class would be students in the other branches of instruction who would select as a minor one of the subjects offered by the school, and who should be required to pursue in the school the bibliographical study of their main topics and the preparation of the bibliographies that should be required as a necessary accompaniment to every dissertation. The other class would consist of persons wishing to prepare themselves for the professional work of the librarian and bibliographer. They would choose as their majors the studies offered at this school, and could choose as a minor any other scholastic subject. It would be of great importance to the would-be librarian, could he, while pursuing his special studies, be allowed to do university work in some other subject of his choice, such as literary history, philosophy, American history, mathematics, or the like.

As thorough bibliographical knowledge is the foundation for the work of the librarian, the central subject of instruction in the school should be the study of bibliographical repertories and of the record literature. This study should include seminar work in the handling of literary tools, in hunting up references on special questions, and in the preparation of bibliographical lists. This leads to the study of bibliographical methods. The principles of book description should be discussed, the leading codes of rules studied comparatively, their merits and defects discussed, but none should be taught as the one to be absolutely followed.

History of printing and bookselling comes next, preceded by an introductory consideration of palæography, particularly that of the 15th century. The steps leading to the discovery of printing with movable types, and the spread of the art over the world should be followed. Examples of the products of the first printing presses should be studied and described. Of later periods in the history of the book the most important seem to be the later 16th and the 17th centuries in England, and the 19th century in Germany.

A parallel study with that of the history of printing might be classification of knowledge and of books, with the history of science. The student might well be given his choice between these two topics, while that of bibliography in its narrower sense should be required of everyone. The history and interrelation of the various sciences is a subject of great importance not only to the classifier, but to the library administrator in general. It should be covered by special lectures by the representatives of the various sciences, connected by a theoretical course in the theory of classification, and followed by seminar work in classification of books.

A course preparing for the professional work of librarianship cannot be complete without the study of library administration. While we are not particularly concerned with this to-day, it should be said that this subject would naturally be a required one, and would cover particularly the history of libraries and of the methods of library administration. The technical training in the minor topics of library economy would not have any place in a school of this description.

I had hoped to be able to present at this meeting some statements from university authorities in regard to the establishment of a post-graduate school of bibliography at some university. I have not, however, succeeded in getting any statement of such definiteness that I can present it here. I can only say that the president of one of the larger western universities seems to look with some interest on the proposition. A letter from Dr. W. T. Harris, Commissioner of Education, says:

"It is very easy for me to say that I believe post-graduate courses in bibliography to be a most excellent thing, but whether there should be such a school established in Washington—I have no conviction on this question. I am not in a condition to say whether it would not be a most excellent thing to establish such a school in connection with the Library of Congress. Mr. Putnam is proceeding in a very intelligent manner to make the Congressional Library of use to the whole country. Would not a school of bibliography here in Washington have the best opportunity to do, so to speak, laboratory work in bibliography, and this in connection with the national library? I am not able to affirm an opinion on this question. The subject is very important and your letter was a letter which I wished to answer to some purpose, but I have not been able to do it, and this is merely an explanation of why I have not been able to do it.

"You very well name the studies of such a school: The literature of the subject; the use and handling of books as literary aids; bibliographical methodology; comparative history of literature and the sciences; classification of knowledge accompanied by the study of the various systems of classification of books; palæography, history of printing.

"It seems to me that one-tenth of all the librarians educated for the purpose of working in a library should take just such a course of instruction as this. This would give them directive power in the most important part of the librarian's duty."

The secretary read a paper by Dr. Joh. Leche describing the

COURSES IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OFFERED BY PROF. DZIATZKO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN.

The first and so far the only professorship in the auxiliary sciences of librarianship in Prussia was founded in 1886 in Göttingen as a consequence of the growing importance of libraries. This professorship has been filled since its foundation by Professor Dr. Carl Dziatzko.

The courses of lectures given have so far been as follows:

Library administration.

The laws of authors and publishers in the history of bookselling.

Books in the Middle Ages.

(The above courses have not been given in later years.)

Books and writing in ancient times.

History of printing and bookselling:

(a) previous to the Reformation.

(b) since the Reformation.

History and development of modern librarianship.

The lectures are held three times a week and have the same strictly scientific character as other university studies.

They demand therefore real co-operation between lecturer and students, putting before the latter, as they do, a rich and critically sifted material which gives them, in a way, a sharp outline only which they will fill out more or less fully according to their diligence in carrying on their studies. The lectures are made particularly attractive and stimulating through the exhibition of important examples of printing, if possible original works referred to or quoted in the lectures, etc.

Beside these public lectures, Prof Dziatzko gives once a week a bibliographical seminar for a smaller circle. The majority of the members of this seminar are the library volunteers who naturally are more numerous in Göttingen than at other Prussian university libraries. If it is true of the public lectures that valuable results are gained only by real co-operation of the students, these seminars directly demand independent work of the members. A considerable part, in fact half of the allotted time, is given to description of incunabula according to the rules formulated by Prof. Dziatzko and published in no. 10 of his "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten." Apart from the importance of incunabula for the history of printing, they are particularly suited to bring out questions of various kinds relating to bibliography and librarianship. The remaining seminar hours are given up to reviews and papers by the members. In most cases the subjects are selected at the suggestion of Prof. Dziatzko, but it is preferred that the members should select their own topics. The papers deal with the most varied subjects: questions of a purely practical nature alternate with scientific and historical investigations of bibliographical topics. (Several of these papers have afterwards been prepared for publication in Prof. Dziatzko's "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten.") The papers are followed by judicious criticism by Prof. Dziatzko and discussion by the members of the seminar. Whatever time is left is devoted to reading of old manuscripts, exhibition of bibliographical rarities and curiosities, important new publications, etc.

In connection with the palæographical studies just mentioned it should be noted that a special seminar in palæography, given by another professor, Dr. Wilhelm Meyer, is attended by many as a supplement to their bibliographical studies.

A. S. Root, librarian of Oberlin College, supplemented this letter with a description of his work with Dr. Dziatzko, stating that the real strength and power of the work consisted in the bibliographical seminar and the work with incunabula. In this work each student has assigned to him the work of a special city or a special press. He studies the books, catalogs them, and submits his work to Prof. Dziatzko for review. These papers are then discussed by the members of the seminar and sharply criticised by Prof. Dziatzko. The new literature of bibliography added to the library is periodically examined and discussed by the class.

G. W. Harris, librarian of Cornell University, gave in outline, the substance of a course of 15 lectures on bibliography, delivered one each week during a half year at Cornell. The nature of these lectures is general because in each department more or less stress is based on the use of special bibliographies, and each thesis for an advanced degree at Cornell must be accompanied by a satisfactory bibliography of the subject treated. The large collection of early imprints representing many of the different presses affords excellent opportunity to inspect and study examples of early printing. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that work in the bibliography of special subjects should be given by the heads of the departments concerned. Mr. Harris gave the following

SYNOPSIS OF LECTURES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

LECTURE.

I. Definition—Advantages of knowledge of bibliography; Range of bibliography; Antiquity of books. Ancient materials—Clay tablets of Assyria, Assyrian libraries—Palm leaf books of India—Birch bark books of Cashmere—Maya books and mss.

II. Papyrus and its importance, preparation, grades, roll form of books—Papyrus mss. and Egyptian literature.

III. Papyrus paper among Greeks and Romans—Methods of bookmaking and publishing in Greece and Rome. Writing instruments and inks—Mss. of Herculaneum—Public libraries of the ancients—Alexandrian and Roman libraries.

IV. Wax tablets of the Romans—Introduction of parchment—Change from roll form to square form of books—Results of this change—Palimpsests.

V. Latin palæography and various styles—Bookmaking in the Middle Ages—Schools of calligraphy—Scriptorium and its rules—Colophons—Monastic libraries.

VI. Secular scribes of Middle Ages; Gilds. Art of illumination with examples of illuminated mss.—Changes resulting from introduction of paper—Cotton vs. linen paper—Block printing in China and Europe—Block books.

VII. Invention of printing—Career of Gutenberg—Earliest printed books—Spread of the art in Germany, Italy, France, England—Printing in America.

VIII. Incunabula—Characteristics—Types, abbreviations, signatures, colophons with examples.

IX. Technical terms for sizes of books—Confusion of size and form—Signatures, water-marks, size notation.

X. Bindings of books—Historical sketch—Processes of book binding—Examples.

XI. Rare books—Fashions in books—Famous presses—Famous editions.

XII. Illustrated books—Methods of illustration—Manuals for collectors.

XIII. Classification of books in libraries; various systems briefly described, with examples.

XIV. Catalogs and cataloging; various kinds of catalogs briefly described, with examples.

XV. Aids in use of the library—Reference lists—Bibliographies, national and special, with examples.

Prof. Charles H. Haskins, professor of European history in the University of Wisconsin, presented an outline of his

COURSE IN HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.

My standpoint is that of the user, not the custodian, of books, and of the user of historical books in particular. There is no branch of knowledge more dependent upon bibliography than is history. The natural sciences, for example, get their bibliographies through current journals and their original materials in the laboratory, while the student of history must not only cover current literature thoroughly but is entirely dependent upon bibliographies to guide him to the primary sources of his subject of study. There is not as yet enough definite instruction in historical bibliography offered in American universities; indeed, there is some vagueness as to just what historical bibliography is. In the work at Wisconsin the course is divided into two broad sections. The first half of the course is taken up with a general account of the manuscript and printed collections of historical material in Europe and America. The second half begins with a description of the bibliographical tools which all students alike use, the national bibliographies, and the trade bibliographies of all the important countries, and goes on to consider the bibliographical materials peculiar to history and of prime importance only to the historical student. In this connection especial stress is laid upon the historical periodicals. The aim throughout the whole course is to indicate the nature and the range of historical material, where it is to be found, what and where are the sources, so that the student will come to know what he wants and where to find it. The course is given one hour each week through a half year and is taken entirely by graduate students. The registration is usually from 8 to 12. The work in the lectures is supplemented by many references to articles and books. In the latter part of the course the "Manuel de bibliographie historique" of Langlois is used as a text in the hands of the students. The second edition of this book, which is just out, forms an exceedingly satisfactory book for this purpose, and is supplemented by informal comment and mention of additional material. In this admirable little volume nothing of importance is omitted and very little indeed which is unimportant is included. Very much is made of the actual handling of the books by the students. No regular system of practical exercises in connection with this course has yet been worked out, but progress is being made in this direction. The object is primarily to impress students with the importance of the use of bibliographical tools. Considerable practice in the use of bibliographies is also given in all the advanced courses in history.

In general I have found that much inconvenience both to students and instructors results from the habit of secluding all the most important bibliographies in the catalog room. If it be true that these bibliographies are constantly needed in the catalog room, they should be duplicated for the use of the students. This practice of seclusion would not be worth mention did it not seem to be habitual in almost all libraries, and I wish here to register a special plea that bibliographies may be shelved just as publicly as any other section of the library.

I am much interested in Mr. Josephson's proposals for developing bibliographical instruction in universities. It seems to me he has taken hold of the matter by the right end, and the establishment of a course similar to that he suggests would not only be of value to future librarians by giving them wider opportunities for general training than they can get in special schools, but would also prove helpful to advanced students in all departments of study. I hope some university will take the matter up. I am in sympathy with any instruction, formal or informal, which brings instructors and students to a better knowledge of how to use the library and the books.

COURSES AT OTHER COLLEGES.

Mr. Root gave in detail the work he is doing at Oberlin in this line. He said:

We offer at Oberlin a course in bibliography in each college year. The first year the work has to do with the use of libraries, with questions of classification and cataloging, and is designed to aid the new students in becoming familiar with the methods in use in our own library and also with accepted methods in all well-conducted libraries. The course in the second year has to do with the history of books and of printing. This work is almost entirely historical. Some study is given to the process and history of binding, with examples of famous bindings. The third year work deals with palæography and the history and development of handwriting, illumination, and work with manuscripts in general. The fourth year work is in the nature of a seminar and is devoted to instruction in bibliography. After an outline of the leading national and trade bibliographies, problems in bibliography are handled and discussed. The courses fill half of the college year, one lecture per week being given. The work is entirely elective and the completion of all of it enables a student to elect one-eighth of his course in this subject. I should be glad to see recognition by the leading library schools of this work, perhaps giving students advanced credit when work has been satisfactorily done at any reputable college.

Walter M. Smith, librarian of the University of Wisconsin, briefly outlined the elementary work done there with new students, and maintained that formal lectures were not so good as practical instruction in the use of the library both from the librarian's desk and from the reference desk.

Miss Sharp, librarian of the University of Illinois, stated that a one-hour course was given there for the general student body in the use of the library. Regular university credit is given, but students may attend these lectures optionally and many do so.

Andrew Keogh, of Yale University Library, described a short course in the use of the library offered at that university. Two lectures are given, one in the class room and one in the library, accompanied with actual demonstration with the books. Some further and more elective work is given as graduate work at Yale, but the elementary work is compulsory with all new students.

A letter was read from Dr. H. P. Talbot, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, giving full description of his

COURSE IN BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CHEMISTRY.

My attempts to interest my students in books and bibliographies are briefly these: For one term of 15 weeks of the junior year the students of the course in chemistry devote an hour each week (with two hours assigned for preparation) to practice in reading chemical German. The subject matter assigned is either from some work on general or analytical chemistry or from some current journal. Of late I have confined myself mostly to a work on inorganic chemistry. The purpose here is not at all to attempt to teach German, but to assist the students in acquiring a moderate facility in reading, that is, sufficient to enable them to get the essentials from an article, rather than to make a finished translation.

During the term following this, there is assigned to the class one or more (usually two) topics, and they are required to prepare and submit for inspection a bibliography of the journal literature upon these subjects. This year the topic assigned to the whole class was the "Determination of sulphur in irons and steels." The class (of 30) was divided into squads, and to each squad a second topic was assigned, such as "The use of sodium peroxide in analytical chemistry," "The preparation and analysis of persulphuric acid and the persulphates," "The recovery of molybdic acid from residues," etc.

General directions are given as to procedure in the compilation of the bibliography, the use of such periodicals as the Centralblatt as a starting point, and also the way to record and classify the references found.

This year we have used library cards for the recording of the references for the first time, with marked success. Each card was to bear the original reference, the Centralblatt or Jahresbericht reference, the title of the article (if possible) and a very brief statement of its contents. The cards were then to be grouped according to a classification to be worked out by the student.

Each student had finally about 200 cards, often with several references on a card. They were allowed to divide the journals among the members of a given squad, and to exchange cards.

The results are most satisfactory. The work has been well done as a whole, and already I hear of resolves on their part to keep up a card catalog of interesting articles, which is a promising symptom.

Each year for some time, I have devoted a single hour near the close of the year to a brief discussion of books, from the point of view of the needs of a person desiring to collect a small library. In this connection I have put into the students hands a list of "Standard works" citing the essential reference books on the subject, and have commented briefly on the list. Please understand that this list is not by any means infallible, and that there are doubtless other works just as good as those mentioned.

Our senior students are all required to compile a bibliography of the literature of the subject chosen as a thesis, and to prepare a brief review of all recorded work, before they can begin their investigation, and the way in which they attack this work seems to indicate that the familiarity with journals and methods gained in the work of the junior year outlined above stands them in good stead.

In connection with the instruction in the history of chemistry, frequent preparation of memoirs and a study of works in this field is also required.

The list of books referred to in Dr. Talbot's letter was divided under the following heads: History of chemistry, Physiological chemistry, Organic chemistry, Technical chemistry, Agricultural chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Biography, Dictionaries, Tables, Dyeing, Foods, General chemistry, Toxicology.

J. I. Wyer, librarian of the University of Nebraska, outlined a course of 16 lectures which are given there during the first semester of every alternate year, embracing national and trade bibliography, reference books, and thorough drill in subject bibliography. The work is primarily given as part of the apprentices' training for the library, but is attended by advanced and graduate students in other departments. Regular university credit is given for the work.

W. Stetson Merrill, of the Newberry Library, read a paper, entitled

A DESIDERATUM FOR LIBRARY SCHOOLS.

As I am desirous that you should apprehend precisely what it is that I am to suggest as a desideratum for the library schools, I will ask to be permitted to lead up to my point, rather than state it at the outset.

We are all of us daily impressed with the rapidity of change and enlargement in the arts, sciences and various achievements of knowledge to-day. In some departments, indeed, such as the natural sciences, we expect the accepted opinions of one decade to give place to others in the next decade. But we perhaps hardly realize that there is a similar progress in the historical, sociological and religious sciences, and in the fine arts. New facts are discovered, verdicts of history are reviewed, new schools of thought and methods of study are established; new men, new theories, new things come up every year, almost every day.

Now, a librarian is expected to bring the stores of knowledge to an inquiring public; to render available the resources of accumulated wisdom which but for him would be like gold hidden in the veins of the rock. To perform this function requires of course primarily a certain amount of educational training. A library assistant should be at least a high school graduate; the librarian of a library of research should be a college bred man, as such collegiate training will be found to his own advantage and to that of his library.

But how after all their training and preparation are librarians, library workers or students of library science to keep abreast of the time? This is really the problem in what may be called the higher education of the library profession. It may be thought that the reading of annual cyclopedias, periodicals and the latest treatises will suffice to keep members of the profession posted upon all subjects of importance. Yet a little consideration will show that by such means much time and labor are sacrificed. A library worker reads in such a case, not for general information, but to ascertain definite and pertinent facts of importance to him in his special field of work. What he wishes to know are indeed the new discoveries, facts and opinions; viewed, however, not in themselves as events in the progress of the sciences, but as bearing upon the classification and nomenclature of the respective sciences which treat of them, and upon the relations which those sciences bear to others. He needs also an up-to-date acquaintance with the great men of the time, not in a personal way, but through the contributions which they have made to knowledge. Otherwise he will not discern the authority upon any given subject from a tyro or an ignoramus. A true knowledge of bibliography does not consist merely in knowing lists of books or in knowing where to find such lists. It implies an acquaintance with the relative values of books as well.

A thoroughly equipped reference attendant or cataloger should also be familiar with the shibboleths and theories of the schools and with the opinions of scholars upon questions of the day. Now how is he to learn all this? He cannot learn it before he begins to study library work, because it is a growing, living thing—this mass of current fact and opinion. Yet he has no time to master each science for himself, and in merely cursory reading he will miss the point which is to be of most use to him in his particular line of work.

I reply that he needs the spoken word of the expert, framed and directed to meet the special requirements of his case. The expert who knows his subject in all its bearings can tell us at once just what we want to know, if we have a chance to ask him.

Let us have then before our library schools and—I may add also—our library clubs and associations, periodical talks by specialists upon their respective subjects, presenting in a concise form the progress of these sciences and arts with special reference to the needs of library workers, as outlined above.

Such a presentation will enable the librarian, the reference attendant, the cataloger or the classifier to perform his work with an assurance and a facility that can be acquired in no other way. He will be acting under expert advice. The special points to be brought out will be presented to the lecturer beforehand; he will prepare his statement, deliver it, and later answers inquiries which may have arisen. We all know how much easier it is to ask somebody about something than it is to look it up in some book. Let questions be noted as they occur and the class be given a chance to ask them of an authority.

These lectures or talks need not and should not be confined to student class rooms. Let them be public lectures which library workers outside the school may attend upon payment of a small fee. The intrinsic interest of a lecture upon some topic of the day whether literary, historical, political, or scientific, would attract in a way that a course upon pure bibliography can never do. As our library schools are so integrally a part, as a rule, of some system of collegiate instruction, there should be no difficulty in securing the services of different members of the faculty. I may repeat also that no more useful program of work for a library club during a season could be planned than a course of just such talks as I have described. To tell the truth, the matter of this paper first occurred to me in its bearings upon the work of library clubs. To them and to the directors of our library schools it is presented for their consideration.

Following this the representatives of the various library schools were asked to describe the

WORK OFFERED IN BIBLIOGRAPHY AT THE LIBRARY SCHOOLS.

Mr. Biscoe described the work at Albany, running through two years, the first being taken up with trade bibliography and the second with reference work and subject bibliography. The large resources of the New York State Library enable the students to see, study and use almost all books taken up and the work is accompanied with many problems. Further elective work is also offered to students desiring to specialize along this line.

Miss Plummer spoke for the Pratt Institute School. During the first year a general course of instruction in bibliography is offered, beginning with trade bibliography, students being referred to the leading works of reference in English, French and German through lectures and problems given during the year. Each student is required to prepare a reading list on a selected subject, requiring considerable research work, which must be satisfactory to the instructor. The leading national and subject bibliographies are included in the lectures, and the problems frequently require consultation of these. Ten lectures are given on the history of books and printing. This is merely an outline course offered partly that students may discover any latent inclination toward the historical course, that they may know there is that side to their work. "In the special lessons in French and German cataloging which we expect to undertake this fall," she said, "a study of foreign catalogs will be a prominent feature, and the students will collect for themselves a vocabulary of bibliographical terms in these languages. In the broad sense of the term bibliography, as we find it in the 'Century dictionary,' the subject is fairly well covered by the second year's historical course. Through the courtesy of the New York Public Library the class has had opportunity to do most of its work at the Lenox Library where there is a fine collection of reference books. The course begins with a study of reference books on the history of printing, bibliographies of the 15th century, etc., and books such as Hain, Panzer, etc., and the more general bibliographies, e.g., Brunet, Graesse. The history of bookmaking is studied from the period of the manuscript through the 15th century, and some work with American and other books has been done each year. The materials used in the earliest times, the methods of production and the steps leading to the invention of printing are all treated. The history of printing is studied by country, town, and printer, chronologically, and a study of the types used by different printers is made. For practical work the class catalogs 15th century books. The books used for consultation in this course have been very numerous, and perhaps a good working knowledge of them has been the most important feature of the work. The class was not and could not be limited to books in English, but used and in part translated books of reference in foreign languages. In the work with manuscripts the historical course depends upon instruction given by Prof. Egbert, professor of Latin palæography of Columbia University, who has made up a course especially adapted to the object of our work and to the time we have to give. Twenty-three lectures, only a few of which are devoted to the bibliography of the subject, comprise the instruction, two hours' work outside being necessary on each lecture. Much more is usually done by the students, who generally live in New York city while taking the historical course. The study of successive handwritings and abbreviations as illustrated by blue-prints furnished by the professor, leads naturally to early printed books, whose types were modelled after the handwriting of the period. Reports of the work of this class have been very satisfactory."

Miss Kroeger, of the Drexel Institute Library School, described a course of 15 lectures on the history of books and printing, given at her school.

The lectures embrace the following subjects:

I. The development of language, oral and written. Ancient systems of writing. Derivation of the English alphabet. The preservation of literature. Earliest forms of permanent records, literature, books, and libraries in the ancient civilizations of the east.

II. The literatures of Greece and Rome. The book in the classical age. Alexandria as a literary center. Barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire. Decline and extinction of ancient culture. Destruction of books and libraries.

III. The book in the Middle Ages. The preservation and the production of books in the monasteries. Development of the illuminated manuscript. The early Renascence in its relation to literature and books.

IV. The later Renascence: revival of learning. Recovery of ancient literature. Rome, Florence, and Venice as the centers of activity. Multiplication of manuscripts. The formation of modern libraries.

V. The art of engraving as the precursor of printing. The invention and diffusion of printing. The chief centers and the great masters of printing. The printed book and its influence upon civilization.

VI. Book illustration in ancient, medieval, and modern times.

VII. Books and libraries in Europe and the United States. Types of modern public libraries.

VIII. Makers and lovers of books, and their libraries.

Miss Sharp told of the instruction in bibliography given to the students in University of Illinois Library School by the professors at the university. Several of the professors give lectures on the bibliography of their various subjects; a subject is assigned to the students before the lecture, they are required to examine bibliographies, reviews, and the books themselves, as far as accessible in the library, and to select ten books which they would buy first for a library of 10,000 vols. This selection is criticised by the professor, who meets the class, gives them an outline of his subject, speaks of the principles of selection, mentions the writers who are considered authorities, and calls to the attention of the students valuable material not to be found in the trade lists. This is in the first year; in the second year the professors give their lectures first and the class will select their books for criticism afterwards. The professors have given most generous co-operation in the work; but their work has been uneven and many of them fail to catch the librarian's and bibliographer's point of view, and most of them acknowledge that their studies are limited to the advanced works, so that they do not know what to recommend for the small public libraries.

An interesting discussion followed as to the relation between university librarians and professors in mutual co-operation in bibliographical work.

Miss Kroeger suggested that library students who felt a special inclination for some scholastic subject might take up such study as a supplement to the library school course.

To this Mr. Haskins remarked that the proper way would rather be the opposite, namely that the student of history, for example, who wished to take up library work, might take a course in library economy as a supplement to his university studies. He pointed out that a university graduate did not at all need to spend two years in getting familiar with library technique.

Mr. Hanson, of the Library of Congress, Mr. Andrews, of The John Crerar Library, and Miss Clark, of the Department of Agriculture Library at Washington, all emphasized the need of scientific experts who should also be trained in bibliography and library economy. The opinion was strongly expressed that there was no greater desideratum in instruction in library work at present than a course offered to trained scientists who would be willing to add to their scientific training a fair knowledge of library methods.

TRANSACTIONS OF COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Meetings of the Council of the American Library Association were held in connection with the Waukesha conference, on July 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, in all six sessions being held. There was also a short meeting of the executive board on July 9.

Of the 25 members of Council 15 were present, as follows: C. W. Andrews, R. R. Bowker, W. H. Brett, H. J. Carr,[I] F. M. Crunden, J. C. Dana, Melvil Dewey, Electra C. Doren, W. I. Fletcher, J. K. Hosmer, George Iles, Mary W. Plummer, Herbert Putnam, Katharine L. Sharp, Charles C. Soule. In addition, the members of the executive board served as ex officio members and officers of Council. They included the president, Henry J. Carr; ex-president, R. G. Thwaites; secretary, F. W. Faxon; recorder, Helen E. Haines; treasurer, Gardner M. Jones. The first and second vice-president—E. C. Richardson and Mrs. Salome C. Fairchild—were not present during the conference.

PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL.

Place of next meeting. Invitations for the 1902 meeting of the American Library Association were received from Detroit, Mich.; Charleston, S. C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Brevard, N. C.; from a New Hampshire Board of Trade, suggesting a resort in the White Mountains, and from the Massachusetts Library Club, urging that the meeting be held on the eastern coast, near Boston. It was Voted, That place and date of next meeting be referred to the executive board, with recommendation to meet at a resort on the New England seaboard near Boston.

Nominations for officers. It was Voted, That the ex-presidents present at the meeting be appointed a committee to submit nominations for officers for 1901-2. This committee reported at a later session of the Council, and the nominations submitted were adopted, with the provision that the ticket include also without distinction names sent in on nominations signed by five members of the Association.

By-laws. H. M. Utley, chairman of the Committee on By-laws, reported the draft of by-laws prepared by that committee. This was discussed and amended, each section being separately considered and voted upon. It was Voted, That the entire body of by-laws, as amended, be adopted, subject to such arrangement of sections as may be made by the president and secretary.

The by-laws were later presented to the Association in general meeting. (See Proceedings, p. 129.)

Endowment Fund and Publishing Board. Charles C. Soule, trustee of the Endowment Fund, reported that the income of the fund now on hand and to accrue during the year amounted to about $1000, and recommended that the sum of $500 be added to the principal of the fund, unless required by the Publishing Board or for other purposes of the Association.

W. I. Fletcher, for the Publishing Board, stated that the board would need during the ensuing year an appropriation as ample as could be secured; and it was Voted:

That the trustees of the Endowment Fund be authorized to transfer to the Publishing Board the income of the Endowment Fund now on hand and to accrue during the coming year.

Reduced postal and express rates on library books. Recommendations were submitted from the Round Table Meeting on state library commissions, as follows:

1, That the Council be requested to arrange for securing reduced rates from the express companies for travelling libraries;

2, That the Council be requested to give its support to the Jenkins bill providing for the transmission of library books by rural free delivery;

3, That the Council be requested to actively interest itself in securing lower postage rates on library books.

After discussion it was Voted, That a committee of five of the Council be appointed on express and postal rates for library books, to negotiate with the express companies, to co-operate

with regard to Congressional legislation, and to report further to the Council as to the postal question.

The committee was appointed as follows: E. H. Anderson, chairman; J. S. Billings, W. C. Lane, R. R. Bowker, Johnson Brigham. It was Voted:

That in case of the inability of any member of the committee to serve, the retiring president be authorized to fill vacancies.

Relation of libraries to the book trade. It was Voted, That the executive board be requested to appoint a committee of five to consider and report upon the relation of libraries to the book trade.

Cataloging rules for printed cards. It was Voted, That the Council authorize the promulgation of the proposed A. L. A. cataloging rules for printed cards, so soon as the Publishing Board and its special advisory committee, and the Library of Congress, shall have agreed upon the details of same;

That the committee on cataloging rules for printed cards be requested also to formulate the variations from those rules which they recommend for manuscript work.

List of American dissertations. The College and Reference Section submitted the following communication:

"To the Council of the A. L. A.:

"The College and Reference Section, at its recent meeting, appointed the undersigned, a committee to prepare and report to the council the draft of a request with reference to an annual list of American dissertations for the degree of doctor of philosophy or science. We would, therefore, respectfully ask that the approval of the Council be given to the plan outlined herein, viz:

"To send to such institutions of learning in the United States and Canada as confer the degree of doctor of philosophy or science, after residence and examination, the following circular letter:

"To the President and Faculty of ——,

"Gentlemen: The College and Reference Section of the American Library Association, with the approval of the Council of such Association, respectfully requests that your institution publish in its annual catalog, or corresponding publication, a list of the dissertations accepted from persons who have been granted the degree of doctor of philosophy or science during the preceding academic year, and a supplementary list of all dissertations printed since the publication of the last annual catalog. This list should contain the following particulars: The full name and year of graduation of the author; the full title of the dissertation; the year of imprint, and, if a reprint, the title, volume, and pagination of the publication from which it was reprinted.

"We also request your institution to require a title-page for each dissertation, giving, in addition to the full name of author and title of dissertation, the year in which the degree was conferred, and in which the dissertation was printed, and, if a reprint, the title, volume and pagination of the publication where it was first printed.

"A compliance with these requests will be a most valuable service to the college and reference libraries of the country."

The section further instructed us to suggest to the Council the desirability of the compilation and publication of a complete list of such dissertations to July, 1900.

Bernard C. Steiner Walter M. Smith Clement W. Andrews } Committee.

It was Voted, That the circular letter prepared by the Committee of the College and Reference Section be approved, and that the executive board authorize the necessary slight expense of printing and postage required;

That a committee of the College and Reference Section be appointed to secure the publication of the list of dissertations referred to without expense to the A. L. A.

Prosecution of book thieves. Communications were read from C. K. Bolton, recommending that the Council appropriate, when necessary, from the income of the Endowment Fund, money to be used in the detection or prosecution of book thieves. It was pointed out that "a few men systematically rob libraries, particularly in small poor towns that happen to have some rare books. To gather evidence and rid us of these men requires money, and seems very properly to come within our field of work." No action was taken on the subject.

Minute on John Fiske. The memorial minute on John Fiske, prepared by the special committee, consisting of J. K. Hosmer, George Iles and R. G. Thwaites, was submitted to the Council and recommended for presentation to the Association, to be spread upon the records. (See Proceedings, p. 130.)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

List of American dissertations. In accordance with vote of Council, the following committee from the College and Reference Section was appointed to arrange for the publication of the list of dissertations proposed by the section: B. C. Steiner, C. W. Andrews, W. M. Smith.

Committee on resolutions. A committee on resolutions to serve during the Waukesha conference was appointed, as follows: Herbert Putnam, Mary W. Plummer, J. C. Dana.

Secretary's expenses. A communication was received from the Finance Committee, recommending that the sum of $425 be allowed for the expenses of the secretary's office for the year ending July 16, 1901. It was Voted, That $100 additional be also appropriated for the secretary's expenses for the past year.

Non-library membership. It was Voted, That the names of 38 persons not engaged in library work, as presented by the treasurer, be accepted for membership in the Association.

No meeting of the incoming Council or executive board was held, and the appointment of special and standing committees, reporters, etc., was therefore deferred.

Helen E. Haines, Recorder.

ELEMENTARY INSTITUTE.

An Elementary Institute, for the presentation of "first principles" in library work, was held in the assembly room of the Fountain Spring House on Tuesday evening, July 9. In the absence of Miss Cornelia Marvin, chairman, Miss L. E. Stearns presided. The meeting was quite informal, and there were no prepared papers, except one by Miss Gratia Countryman on

OPPORTUNITIES.

(See p. 52.)

An introductory speech was made by Mr. Dewey, who spoke of the educational force that libraries should exert in the community, and the varied field before the public library of to-day. There was some general discussion, in the course of which J. C. Dana read a letter describing pioneer library work carried on in the Yukon district of Alaska, and E. P. McElroy told of some interesting incidents connected with the work of his library at Algona, Iowa.

An early adjournment was made to attend the display of stereopticon views of library buildings which was given on the same evening.

ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

A most enthusiastic reunion of the alumni of the Illinois State Library School was held at Waukesha on July 5, in connection with the meeting of the A. L. A.

Forty-seven members of the Alumni Association sat down to a long table which had been spread for them in the dining-room of the Fountain Spring House, where a very pleasant hour was passed in renewing old friendships and hearing about the work of classmates who had gone out to make themselves famous in the library world.

Following the dinner a business meeting was held, after which the members listened to a most interesting report by Miss Katharine L. Sharp, director of the Illinois State Library School, on the growth and present condition of the school, showing the changes which have come to it from its connection with the University of Illinois.

Miss Sharp gave an outline of each course as it is now given in the school, noting the changes which have been made and the reasons for these changes. The report was of especial interest to the early graduates of the school, who could follow the changes made in the course of instruction, the general development in scope and methods, and could so well comprehend the great growth of the school since its establishment at Armour Institute of Technology, in Chicago, in 1893.

Margaret Mann, Secretary.

THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE WAUKESHA CONFERENCE.

By Julia T. Rankin, Carnegie Library, Atlanta, Ga.

To chronicle the social side of the twenty-third annual meeting of the American Library Association is a pleasant duty. To recall all of the courtesies extended to us by our hosts of the Middle West would take more time than is at my disposal and more space than the Proceedings allot to the frivolous recreations of the strenuous librarians. Through the entire period of the meeting, the good people of Waukesha did everything in their power to make the time pass pleasantly and Mr. Walker, the proprietor of the Fountain Spring Hotel, worked early and late to make the members comfortable. Golf had a few members marked for its own, and these were not deterred by the 110°-in-the-shade-conditions. Dancing was in order every evening after the meetings (Sunday excepted) and the gentleman from Washington is said to have solved the problem of how often a man can dance with the same girl in a given evening. The piazzas were ample and as each led to some spring sooner or later, the "water habit" became popular. The dining-room was, in the language of the daily papers, "taxed to its utmost," but all shortcomings were treated with good-natured indifference when it was understood that the hotel had never accommodated so many people in its history, and the management promptly increased its force of servants to meet the occasion.

According to the program the social side of the conference should have begun on the evening of July 3 with "friendly greetings" at 8.30 p.m.; but as the New York party did not arrive until 9 p.m., and the New England party not until 2 a.m., it will readily be seen that the friendly greetings had to be postponed. Social amenities, however, commenced on the morning of "the Fourth" when the proverbial early bird, arrayed in cool flannels or faultless duck, promenaded the long veranda of the Fountain House and greeted the later arrivals. As the "later arrivals" had almost all come from a distance during one of the hottest weeks of the hottest summer known, and were consequently covered with dust and cinders, it was tantalizing to see the earlier arrivals in such cool array, and welcome speeches were cut short until the dust of travel could be removed.

The coolness of the evening found a refreshed, summer-attired conference wending its way to the Methodist Church where the public meeting was held. The speeches were interrupted repeatedly by the festive small boy and his Fourth of July crackers. The explosions caused untimely mirth when they punctuated or emphasized the well rounded periods of the orators. The formal meeting was followed by informal groups on the veranda of the hotel and at the springs where thirsty mortals never tired of drinking the "fizzy" waters, that have made Waukesha famous as the "Saratoga of the West," and, indeed, the place has many features similar to its famous Eastern prototype.

Friday evening was devoted to various dinner parties of the alumni of the library training schools, and the dining-room with its long tables and flowers presented a festive scene. College yells and class cheers resounded through the halls. One got a good idea of the number of technically trained library assistants now dispersed over the country.

Saturday evening the hotel management provided a dance for the guests and the great dining hall was transformed into a gay ballroom. Although Mr. Cutter was absent the dancing contingent was ably represented, and a delightful evening was enjoyed.

The program meetings were well attended and the many papers presented during the sultry days of the first week made Sunday a welcome day. The Rest Cure seemed to be the order of the day until after lunch, when most of the members went to Milwaukee to see the public library, where an informal reception was held. Misses Stearns, Dousman, Van Valkenburgh and Stillman entertained a party of 40 at White Fish Bay. A trolley ride to Milwaukee and on to this beautiful bay proved a good appetizer for the very excellent lunch provided. The view of the lake was keenly enjoyed and the day was clear and cool. Twenty miles home and an early supper, and most of us were willing to retire early, for the trip to Madison next day was scheduled for an early hour.

Although the day spent in Madison was not strictly a "social" feature of the conference, yet so delightfully did the citizens of Madison welcome the visiting librarians that the record of the day in truth belongs to the social chronicler. Its pleasures came as a complete surprise to those who had not prepared themselves with Appleton's guide and other works of ready reference. The building of the Historical Society is certainly one of the most beautiful and sensibly arranged libraries in the United States and its situation on the outskirts of the grounds of the University of Wisconsin leaves nothing to be desired. In fact it would be hard to picture a more beautiful situation for a university town than this. The lakes, the undulating landscapes and the beautiful roads extending for twenty-five miles and maintained by a committee of public spirited men, who also are responsible for planting the roadsides with hardy shrubs, trees and flowers, make the external conditions ideal. The whole party was driven through the town, the university campus, and through five or six miles of the park roads, and was then escorted through the library building by Mr. Thwaites, Mr. Bradley and the assistants. It was while the members were being driven through the town that the new library anthem was perpetrated, and